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2021-11-30 Legislative RoundtableLegislative Roundtable November 30, 2021 1:11 p.m. Present: Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope, Commissioner Grose, County Manager Erik Martin, Rep. Jim Walsh, Rep. Ed Orcutt, Rep. Peter Abbarno (briefly), Sen. John Braun, Pe Ell Mayor Lonnie Willie, Judge RW Buzzard, Geoff Soderquist, Rickie Anders, Richard Stride, Lara McRea, Josh Metcalf, Matt Comisky, JP Anderson, Eric Johnson, Vader Mayor Joe Schey, Rob Hill, Jonathan Meyer, Andrew Logerwell, Scott Tinney, Chris Roden, Michelle Whitten, Ruth Peterson, Shad Hail, Dusty Breen, Assessor Dianne Dorey, Centralia Schools Superintendent Lisa Grant, Geoff Soderquist, Centralia Mayor Max Vogt, Mindy Greenwood, Becky Butler, Jami Lund, Morton Mayor Dan Mortensen, Centralia Mayor Max Vogt, Andrew Logerwell, Connie Riker, Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes, Jonathan Meyer, Toledo Mayor Steve Dobosh, Treasurer Arny Davis Guests: Various members of the public and press via YouTube Recorder: Rieva Lester 911 Communications Lewis County County Manager Erik Martin said Lewis County 911 Communications is requesting $7.6 million to complete needed replacements and upgrades to its aging radio infrastructure. The group discussed funding sources available to cover similar projects. Rep. Orcutt voiced support for the county’s request. North Lewis County interchange Josh Metcalf said Public Works is requesting continued financial support to improve the north Lewis County interchange. Josh said local growth has spurred the need for improved infrastructure, especially along Harrison Avenue. He said traffic from commuters and commercial freight vehicles, coupled with rail traffic, creates caused congestion and delays. Fish passages Josh Metcalf said Public Works is requesting $10.8 million to complete fish passage projects along the Newaukum River and its tributaries. Josh said Lewis County has hundreds of culverts countywide. He said the county currently is working on 10 projects for which it is requesting funding. He said the county has been combining grants with county dollars to make the best use of available funding. Josh said he can provide a map of the projects as well as financial breakdowns of the projects. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) overview Lewis County Budget Manager Becky Butler provided an overview of the ARPA. Broadband technology County Manager Erik Martin said the county has applied for $21.5 million in broadband grant funding for a public-private partnership that would serve the greater Winlock area. Mapping, outreach Lewis County Alliance (formerly known as the Economic Development Council) Executive Director Richard DeBolt a dig-once effort to maximize available funding. He said the effort will allow entities to coordinate their efforts on infrastructure, etc. He and Infrastructure Initiatives Program Manager Todd Chaput outlined Lewis County Alliance’s efforts to develop a map that includes various entities’ projects taking place across the county. Richard asked the state to provide funding for a pilot project to help map projects. Infrastructure Initiatives Program Manager Todd Chaput said mapping efforts are underway. Todd encouraged the cities to share their project information so it can be included. Richard noted that the map’s timelines are being based upon timelines for the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT). Richard said entities could save up to 40 percent off labor costs by implementing a dig-once policy. Commissioner Grose praised the efficiencies the use of mapping provides. Water-sewer improvements Public Works Director Josh Metcalf discussed water-sewer improvement projects the county is spearheading. At 2 p.m., Commissioner Pollock announced that the Legislative Roundtable was recessing until 2:15 p.m. At 2:17 p.m., the meeting resumed. Unfunded mandates Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) Executive Director Eric Johnson discussed unfunded mandates. He noted that in 1993, Washington voters passed Initiative 601, which created a requirement that local governments must be reimbursed by the state for the costs of any new programs or increased services imposed on them. Eric noted that WSAC is currently in litigation with the state in response to unfunded mandates related to ballot box requirements. Eric noted that the state did appear to try to mitigate unfunded mandates in response to recent action related to the Blake decision. Legislative impacts on Sheriff’s Office, Juvenile and mental health Sheriff Rob Snaza and Chief Dusty Breen discussed impacts of recent legislative reforms for law enforcement. Juvenile Court Administrator Shad Hail and Juvenile Probation Manager Rickie Anders discussed recent bills that affect Juvenile. Shad noted that one of the bills – one that requires juveniles to have access to legal representation – goes into effect Jan. 1 and that the Office of Public Defense has not provided guidance on how to respond. He also discussed concerns regarding truancy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rickie Anders discussed efforts to help fight truancy. She discussed concerns regarding school attendance and the Becca Bill. Rickie said Lewis County’s school unenrollment rate for 2020 was 6.2 percent. She said she fears the rate will be even higher for 2021 and that the higher rate likely will lead to higher youth pregnancy rates, higher drop-out rates, etc. Rickie said Cascade Community Healthcare President / CEO Dr. Richard Stride discussed House Bill 1310 and its impact on Lewis County. He said the bill had led to safety concerns for the mobile crisis teams and other first responders. Dr. Stride said the bill is excessively ambiguous and undermines public safety. Behavioral health Public Health & Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed response and prevention for behavioral health matters. He said caseloads have grown dramatically. He noted that the county is working on a “train the trainer” effort to help parents and others learn how to identify and respond to behavioral health needs. Blake decision response Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney Jonathan Meyer Has addressed the highest number of cases statewide. He noted that it goes beyond just drug convictions as it also affects other convictions and individual may have, such a delivery charges, robberies, etc. Jonathan said the county has averaged $500 to $800 in refunds per case. Mindy Greenwood of Cascade Mental Health Care echoed concerns about fallout from the Blake decision. She noted that death by overdose is not a deterrent for drug users. Collecting legal financial obligations (LFOs) Lewis County Clerk Scott Tinney said he believes the amount of Lewis County’s potentially refundable LFOs in response to the Blake decision tops roughly $3.5 million. Scott discussed LFOs in general, noting that Washington state provides the lowest amount of funding for indigent defense in the nation. Timber harvests and forests American Forest Resource Council Manager Matt Comisky discussed timber harvests and forests statewide. He Keeping Washington Evergreen Bill • Buffers, Clean Water Assurances and the Adaptive Management Program • USFS Region 6 Funding – Disaster Assistance in CR Bill, Infrastructure Bill, etc. • Good Neighbor Authority and 2SHB1168 Update • CNW v Commissioner Hilary Franz Supreme Court hearing • Trust Land Transfer Workgroup • Encumbered Lands • Community Forests program • Climate Commitment Act Rule Making and forestry • Assorted Trust Land Related legislative requests • DNR Sustainable Harvest Calculations for FY2025 to FY2034 • Downward trends in harvests Flooding County Manager Erik Martin discussed the proposed water retention facility on the Chehalis River near Pe Ell. He noted that water would flow through the facility 90 percent of the time. Erik said the facility would act as a dam 10 percent of the time when flooding requires it. Erik said the footprint of the proposed facility affects mostly land owned by Weyerhaeuser. Erik said the group has looked at vegetation management as well as ways to monitor temperatures. Erik said the facility would store water in a temporary reservoir during major floods and then slowly release it back to the river as conditions return to normal. Most of the time, the river would flow at its natural rate through outlets in the facility, and fish would pass through freely. Erik said the proposal also includes improvements at the airport, including increasing the height of the existing levee. Erik said catastrophic floods cost the area $330 million. He said the proposed facility would decrease that dramatically. Erik noted that the project, which would cost an estimated $500 million, would pay itself off within two flooding events. Water banks Commissioner Lindsey R. Pollock, DVM, discussed water banking, which is the practice of forgoing water deliveries during certain periods and “banking” either the right to use that water in the future or transferring it to another user. She outlined the county’s needs as well as the different types of demand. Dr. Pollock said the county’s next steps would be to develop county code, secure funding for water right acquisitions and develop a list of potential acquisitions Centralia turf project Centralia Schools Superintendent Lisa Grant discussed the district’s partnership with the city and the Sports Hub. She and Centralia Athletic Director Tim Ahren discussed the benefits adding turf to the facility would provide. He said he saw a similar program in the city of Round Rock, Texas, and that the additional tourism due to the turf fields led to economic vitality. Portions of the fields are owned by the city and that portions are owned by Todd Chaput said the Sports Hub is funded through a bond through the state. He said the Sports Commission receives a $2 TPA tax. Todd said the PFD owns the site and leases it out to the Sports Hub. Dr. Grant said it would cost roughly $1.2 million to turf the fields. Mayors’ Roundtable Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes aired concerns about state lawmakers not fulfilling their roles, redefining law enforcement while not addressing needed changes and allowing the governor to continue to use unrestricted powers. He also pleaded with lawmakers to address homelessness. Commissioner Grose said it’s bothersome that the nation has decriminalized criminal activity. The commissioners discussed canceling the Dec. 3 Mayors’ Meeting. Meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.