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