BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of November 14, 2006

 

A special meeting was held on Monday, November 13, 2006 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair and James D. Richardson present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 4:00 p.m. until 4:55 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 4:55 p.m. Monday, November 13, 2006 and reconvened at 5:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Ordinance 2006-14 adopting and establishing rules for Open Space, Agricultural and Timber Land Current Use Assessment Programs.   Sharon DoByne, Assessor Administrative Assistant gave a staff report and advised of the number of properties under the Timber Land Program, the market value, taxable value, value loss and tax shift to other property owners.  Discussion included acreage requirement, tax shift, and opt out clause.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  The hearing was continued to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, November 16, 2006 to allow the Prosecutor to make revisions to Section 3.45.09 Management Plan to allow the property owner to prepare a management plan, and to Section 3.45.11(b) Primary Use for Forest Crop Production to change the required acreage to twenty acres including a residence.  

 

The meeting recessed at 6:25 p.m. Monday, November 13, 2006.

 

The Board met in executive session on Tuesday, November 14, 2006, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair and James D. Richardson present, regarding personnel from 9:10 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. and regarding potential litigation from 9:45 a.m. until 9:55 a.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, November 14, 2006 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair and James D. Richardson present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

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

1.       Minutes for week of November 7, 2006.

2.       Acknowledge Claim for Damages from Guy Biesanz.

3.       Acknowledge Claim for Damages from Charles Lamb.

4.       Set public hearing for 11:15 AM Thursday, December 21, 2006 to consider Ordinance 2006-15 adopting new Chapter 6.12 to Skamania County Code entitled Right To Farm to promote & protect agriculture and farm forestry and its dependent rural communities; and to recognize & encourage subsistence farming on all parcels of land within Skamania County.

 

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

 

Terry Blaisdell, Central Services Director reported on scheduled computer replacements, new equipment purchases for various departments, gave updates on various projects and programs.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:38 a.m. Tuesday, November 14, 2006 and reconvened at 1:40 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Nancy Ryke, Mt. Adams District Ranger and Tom Mulder, Mount St. Helens Monument District Ranger gave updates on Forest Service activities and advised that the Forest Supervisor declared a forest emergency due to recent extreme weather conditions.  Discussion included road damage, federal funding, Title III Forest Crew, timber sales, snow plowing, Wind River well testing, Wind River Road project, and a letter from the Forest Supervisor regarding collaboration between the County and Forest Service.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Ordinance 2006-11 amending Skamania County Code Title 22 Skamania County Management Plan for the Columbia River Gorge (NSA) to be consistent with revisions to the National Scenic Area Management Plan made by the Columbia River Gorge Commission through a Plan Amendment (PA-05-02) to allow commercial uses in Historic Structures.  Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director gave a staff report and advised of a request from Gorge Commission staff to return the text to Section 22.14.050(E)(1)(x) Review Uses because it currently is in the Columbia River Gorge Management Plan, even though it should have been removed.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  The Board advised of concerns with adding text back into the ordinance that makes no sense.  The hearing was continued to 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2006 for deliberations by the Board.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday, November 14, 2006 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss the 2007 Annual Construction Plan, 2007 budgeted employees, 2007 ER&R budget, and 10-year Road Department revenue forecast, with no action taken.  A site visit to Salmon Falls Road was scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Friday, November 17, 2006.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to withdraw the local emergency due to extreme weather conditions declared on November 7, 2006.

 

A public hearing was held, continued from November 14, 2006, for deliberations by the Board to consider Ordinance 2006-11 amending Skamania County Code Title 22 Skamania County Management Plan for Columbia River Gorge (NSA) to be consistent with revisions to the National Scenic Area Management Plan made by the Columbia River Gorge Commissioner through a Plan Amendment (PA-05-02) to allow commercial uses in Historic Structures.   Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve Ordinance 2006-11 amending Skamania County Title 22 without the text in Section 22.14.050(E)(1)(x).

 

The meeting recessed at 11:10 a.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2006 and reconvened at 11:25 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss a hearing examiner ordinance, long-range project list, and neighborhood commercial poster, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss newly elected official trainings, elected official retirements, Public Development Authority, and health insurance, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 12:05 p.m. until 12:15 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The Board continued in a staff workshop to discuss reclassifications and personnel, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2006 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with City of Washougal Mayor Stacee Sellers and City Administrator Nabiel Shawa to discuss State Route 14 intersection roundabouts, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Senior Services to discuss contract issues, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2006 and reconvened at 3:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Skamania County Cable TV Board members to discuss a Public Access Channel proposal, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2006 and reconvened at 10:10 a.m. Thursday, November 16, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Walt Loehrke, Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC) Member reported on the CRGC meeting of November 14, 2006.  Discussion included air quality, Gorge Commission future forum, creation of an advisory committee, 20th Anniversary of the National Scenic Area, casino, rules changes, enforcement, elected officials tours, Burdoin Mountain slash burn, planning meetings, GIS, Columbia River Highway reconstruction, Salmon Falls Park and Ride, and truck traffic on SR14.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 10:30 a.m. until 10:50 a.m., with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to appoint Ken Cole to position #3 on Skamania County Noxious Weed Control Board for a four-year unexpired term, expiring March 31, 2009.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve an amendment to the agreement with the City of Stevenson to add Stevenson-Carson School District to the membership of the City-County Cable TV Board and to increase the duties of the Cable TV Board for oversight of the Public Education Channel.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to acknowledge receipt of a letter from the City-County Cable TV Board regarding the Public Access Channel.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve a request, joint with the City of Stevenson, to Millennium Digital Media Systems for delivery of the remaining capital grant of $10,000, pursuant to Section 6.2 Access Equipment and Facilities, Playback under the Franchise Agreement, for the purchase of equipment to operate the Public, Education and Government Channel.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to forward a letter from Attorneys Randall C. Krog and Christopher R. Lanz, requesting an increase in compensation for indigent defense services for Skamania County Superior Court to Skamania County Superior Court Judge for negotiations directly with the Attorneys.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve a request from the Public Development Authority to exchange some of Buildings and Grounds maintenance hours for a $6,000 credit of Public Works labor costs for the well pump test project at the Wind River site.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to offer the sale of surplus vehicle #725, a 2003 Ford F-350 Truck, to Skamania County Emergency Medical Services for the purchase price of $1,000.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending November 16, 2006, 2006 in the total amount of $127,943.99.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, November 16, 2006 and reconvened at 11:30 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

A public hearing was held, continued from November 13, 2006, to consider Ordinance 2006-14 adopting and establishing rules for Open Space, Agricultural and Timber Lands Current Use Assessment Programs.   The hearing was continued to allow the Prosecutor make revisions to Section 3.45.09 Management Plan to allow the property owner to prepare a management plan, and to Section 3.45.11(b) Primary Use for Forest Crop Production to change the required acreage to twenty acres including a residence.   Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to acknowledge receipt of a letter from R. Robert Burns regarding management of timber land by property owners.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve Ordinance 2006-14 with text changes to Section 3.45.09 to allow the property owner to prepare a management plan, Section 3.45.11(b) changing the required acreage to twenty acres including a residence, and Section 3.45.14 clarifying that all parcels which opt out shall be taxed as of January 1, 2007 at market value.

 

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

 

The Board advised they would be attending an elected official’s luncheon at River’s Edge Café at 12:00 p.m. today and a site visit to Salmon Falls Road at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, November 17, 2006.

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, November 16, 2006.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON