BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of November 28, 2006

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss scheduling from 9:50 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Albert E. McKee present, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Albert E. McKee present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

A plaque was presented to Dave Cox for 25-years of dedicated service to Skamania County. 

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.       Minutes for week of November 21, 2006.

2.       Set public hearing for 1:30 PM Tuesday, December 19, 2006 to consider adoption of Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program.

3.       Contract with Zakula Beal Auctioneers for sale of surplus vehicles.

4.       Contract with Employment Security Department for renewal of land lease for Employment Security Department facility at 704-A SW Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson, Washington.

 

Tod LeFevre, Public Works Director/County Engineer reported on Public Works staffing, Road Department, Solid Waste, Building Department, engineering, surveying/right of way, bridges, and equipment and rental revolving fund.

 

John Carlson, Emergency Management Coordinator reported on monitoring of Mount St. Helens, Community Emergency Response Team program, National Incident Management System compliance, Region IV Mass Casualty Incident Trailer, Self Defense Kit training, Emergency Operations Center progress, pandemic flu, and search and rescue.

 

Dolores Morgan, Interim Counseling Center Director reported on personnel, Counseling Center structure, services and programs.

 

Ann Lueders, Safety Committee Chair reported on the Safety Committee meeting of November 14, 2006.  Following discussion of a summary of reports, Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations for the following reports: 2006-19, 2006-24, 2006-26, 2006-27, 2006-E-12, 2006-E-18, 2006-E-19, and 2006-E-22, with a comment on 2006-24 that the Risk Manager would send a letter to the department clarifying procedures; and a comment on 2006-E-22 that drop off and pickup of vehicles shall be during normal hours of business.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to approve the Personnel Committee’s recommendation for a reclassification of the Senior Services Case Manager position from Range 17 to Range 18.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 11:50 a.m. until 12:10 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, November 28, 2006 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Ordinance 2006-13 amending Skamania County Code Title 10 Traffic, Chapter 10.08 Parking Restrictions, by adding new Section 10.08.065 Smith-Beckon Road, new Section 10.08.075 Washougal River Road, amending Section 10.08.100 Metzger Road; and amending Section 10.16.011 Violation-Parking-Penalty by adding a reference to Sections 10.08.065 and 10.08.075.  Rick Hollatz, Engineering Technician gave a staff report and advised of the need to make corrections to mileposts on Smith-Beckon Road from 0.00 to 0.26 and 0.135 to 0.395, and the need to delete Carson Elementary from the text.  Discussion included prohibiting parking along Smith-Beckon during ball games at the ball field of Wind River Middle School, and parking along the walking path on Metzger Road.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to continue the hearing to 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 18, 2006 to allow Public Works to provide information regarding no parking on Smith-Beckon Road.

 

A public hearing was held to consider a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Services Application for 2007.  The grant would provide $108,434 in CDBG funds for essential services for low- and moderate-income persons in Skamania and Klickitat Counties.  Linda Schneider, Executive Director for Washington Gorge Action Programs explained the services provided with funding from this grant, which includes nutrition, employment, money management, emergency services, and linkages to provide information and referral to other agencies.  Information regarding the availability of CDBG funds, eligible uses, and income guidelines was available and distributed to interested parties in attendance.  Comments from the public included concern for needs of homeless people in community and the need for affordable housing.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2006-48, authorizing submission of the 2007 CDBG Public Services Grant Application and Certifications of to the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:20 p.m. Tuesday, November 28, 2006 and reconvened at 7:05 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

A public hearing was held at Canyon Creek Middle School, 9731 Washougal River Road to accept testimony on and consider adopting the Westend Subarea Plan, as submitted by the Planning Commission, with proposed changes by the Board of Commissioners.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of letters from Kay Jonas, Richard Potter, Gerald Harteloo, Paul Smith, Mary Repar, and Donnarae and David Querry.  Commissioner Pearce explained the Board of Commissioner’s proposed changes to the Planning Commission recommended Westend Subarea Plan dated February 21, 2006: 1) including up to 32 acres of Neighborhood Commercial designation at “5 Corners”; 2) allowing cluster developments through the Westend Subarea Plan as conditional use applications, except in Commercial Resource Lands since no homes are allowed in this designation; 3) modify the siting of communication towers as regulated in the County-Wide Zoning Code (Title 21), which would require listing attached communication facilities located on BPA towers as an allowable use in all designations; listing attached communication facilities not located on BPA towers as an administrative review use in all designations; listing co-location of communication towers and new communication towers as a conditional use in Rural Lands 2 designation; listing co-location of communication towers and new communication towers as an administrative review use in Rural Lands 5, Rural Lands 10, Forest Lands 20, Commercial Resource Lands 40 and Neighborhood Commercial designations.  Comments from the public included: opposed to changes by Board of Commissioners, opposed to Neighborhood Commercial at 5 Corners, request and for Commercial for Washougal River Mercantile, opposed to Forest Lands 20 for areas with existing smaller lot sizes, support for Commercial for Washougal River Mercantile Store and American Legion Post 122, request for notification and participation in process for new cell towers, opposed to cluster developments.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  Following Board discussion regarding questions and comments presented from the public, Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to require new communication towers to be a conditional use in all designations, and attached communication facilities as an administrative review in all designations.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to designate Commercial for the property known as the Washougal River Mercantile.  Following discussion of cluster developments, the Board was in agreement to not include cluster developments in the Plan.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to continue the hearing for further deliberations by the Board to 6:00 p.m. Monday, December 18, 2006 at Fire District #4 Fire Hall, 10042 Washougal River Road.

 

The meeting recessed at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 28, 2006 and reconvened at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, November 29, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works and Planning and Community Development to discuss solid waste bins, parking ordinance, snow parking, Swift Area, George Barnes Short Plat, and Wind River Boat Ramp, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss Western WRIA 29 joint meeting, press release for Underwood meeting, Future Forum Working Group, Washington DC map, Washougal River commercial, and milfoil, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Recreation and Facilities Director to discuss winter weather preparations, event security policy, Fair equipment, federal forest funds, milfoil eradication project, Wind River Boat Ramp, Christmas in the Gorge Open House, and a CTED meeting, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 29, 2006 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board of Commissioners of Klickitat and Skamania Counties held a joint public meeting for the purpose of considering adoption of the proposed Watershed Management Plan for Western Water Resource Inventory Area 29 (Western WRIA 29), which includes Rock Creek, Wind River, Little White Salmon River, and Western Tributaries to the Columbia sub-basins.  Present were Klickitat County Board of Commissioners Don Struck and Ray Thayer and Skamania County Board of Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson, and Albert E. McKee.  Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director and Charly Boyd of Advanced Planning Solutions gave a staff report on the proposed Watershed Management Plan and presented four draft motions for discussion and consideration.  No comments were received from the public.  Commissioner Struck moved to adopt the Watershed Management Plan for Western Water Resource Inventory Area 29 as submitted to this joint session with the stipulation that approval of the Plan is based on the understanding that those portions of documents in the Plan’s Appendices pertaining to subbasins that are excluded from the Plan (i.e., the White Salmon River subbasin, the Jewett, Catherine, and Major Creeks subbasins, and the eastern portion of the Tributaries to the Columbia Subbasin) are not relevant to the Plan and receive no endorsement or standing under the Plan; and further moved that approval of the Plan is based on the understanding that any detailed implementation plan(s), or amendments to the Plan, shall be subject to the same approval processes as are required for approval of the original plan, including public hearings and final approval by the county legislative authorities.  Commissioner Richardson seconded motion.  Following discussion of Klickitat County’s concern with the need to stay involved with any amendments to the Plan should a permanent split of WRIA 29 occur, Commissioner Struck withdrew the motion.  Commissioner Pearce moved to adopt the Watershed Management Plan for Western Water Resource Inventory Area 29 as submitted to this joint session with the stipulation that approval of the Plan is based on the understanding that those portions of documents in the Plan’s Appendices pertaining to subbasins that are excluded from the Plan (i.e., the White Salmon River subbasin, the Jewett, Catherine, and Major Creeks subbasins, and the eastern portion of the Tributaries to the Columbia Subbasin) are not relevant to the Plan and receive no endorsement or standing under the Plan; and further moved that any future Western WRIA 29 Implementation Plan(s) do not require approval of Klickitat County based on the understanding that those portions of WRIA 29 excluded from the adopted Western WRIA 29 Plan may not be addressed, included, or in any way affected by any such future implementation plans.  However, any amendment to said Plan would be subject to the same approval process as the original Plan, including public hearings in each county and a joint hearing in Skamania County.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Struck and carried unanimously.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:25 p.m. Wednesday, November 30, 2006 and reconvened at 2:50 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop to discuss the 2007 milfoil budget, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday, November 29, 2006 and reconvened at 10:50 a.m. Thursday, November 30, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss the budget and public health, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to proclaim November 30, 2006 as Methamphetamine Awareness Day in Skamania County.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss the budget, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve a voucher to A&J Select in the amount of $519.11, removing two gift certificates in the amount of $10.00 until additional information is provided.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending November 30, 2006 in the total amount of $152,507.82.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to set a public hearing for 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 21, 2006 to consider Ordinance 2006-17 amending Skamania County Code Title 2, Chapter 2.44.020 Precincts Designated, changing district lines for County Commissioner Districts due to increased voter registrations in the west end of Skamania County.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve a Non-Discrimination Agreement with the Department of Transportation for Public Works grants and to name Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services as the Title VI Coordinator for Skamania County.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve a letter to the City of Washougal supporting the SR 14 Roundabout Design Concept.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss the budget, with no action taken.

 

The meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m. Thursday, November 30, 2006.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON