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Board Meeting Minutes 02/09/20151 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON BOARD MEETING MINUTES February 9, 2015 The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) for Lewis County, Washington, met in regular session on Monday, February 9, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. Commissioners Edna J. Fund, P.W. “Bill” Schulte, and Gary Stamper were in attendance. Chair Fund determined a quorum, called the meeting to order and proceeded with the flag salute. Chair Fund introduced children from the Pe Ell School District and asked them to lead the flag salute. Commissioner Schulte moved to approve the minutes from the 10:00 a.m. meeting held on Monday, February 2, 2015. Commissioner Stamper seconded the motion. Motion Carried 3-0 PUBLIC COMMENT Hal Washburn, Cinebar, commented on the County Website and the posting of the minutes and meeting. Larry Larmon, Chehalis, stated he had to leave early so he wanted to comment on the hearing for unmarked cars. He spoke against this Ordinance. Jo Coleman, Centralia, spoke with concern to the unmarked police cars having the ability to pull people over. She feels this is dangerous. Dianne Dorey, Assessor, introduced R. C. Cavazos as her new Chief Appraiser. EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION The BOCC recognized Bonnie Wangen for 40 years of service to Lewis County as she retires. NOTICE Commissioner Schulte made a motion to approve the Notice Agenda item one. Commissioner Stamper seconded the motion. 1. Call for Bids: For the 2015 Lewis County Legal Publications. Bids are due to the Clerk of the Board on or before 9:30 a.m. on Monday, March 23, 2015. Resolution No. 15-046 Chair Fund stated bids are due to the Clerk of the Board on or before 9:30 am on Monday, March 23, 2015. 2 CONSENT Commissioner Stamper made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda items one through seven. Commissioner Schulte seconded the motion. 2. Resolution No. 15-047 Approval of warrants and payroll for payment. Chair Fund stated this Resolution approves 154 regular warrants for a total payment against the County in the amount of $370,018.84. This also approves 221 payroll warrants and 447 automatic deposits dated February 5, 2015 for a total payment against the County in the amount of $3,244,918.33 3. Resolution No. 15-048 Approving a service contract between the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and Cascade Mental Health. Kevin Hanson, Chief of Corrections, stated this approves a revised service contract between Cascade Mental Health Care and the Lewis County Sheriff's Office. This contract provides new mental health programs to care for inmates in the Lewis County Jail. This program will be funded from the .1% sales tax dollars (Fund 110) designated for individuals with chemical dependency, alcohol, and mental illness. 4. Resolution No. 15-049 Approving the purchase of five (5) Sheriff patrol vehicles. Tim Elsea, Public Works Director, stated the Lewis County Public Works Department has determined that five patrol vehicles in the fleet are in need of replacement. This Resolution would authorize the County Engineer to sign contracts between Columbia Ford & Dwayne Lane's Chrysler for the purchase of five 2015 patrol vehicles in the total amount of $156,264.84. 5. Resolution No. 15-050 Approving a match agreement between Lewis County and Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP). Tim Elsea, Public Works Director, stated this resolution will approve a Match Agreement between Lewis County and WFLHD, FHWA for FLAP grant funding. Lewis County applied for and was awarded FLAP grant funding by WFLHD for road improvements to 9.53 miles of Cispus Road near Randle. The first step in moving the project forward is to execute a Match Agreement. The purpose of this agreement is to document the intent of Lewis County to meet the (13.5%) match requirement for the federal funding. The purpose of this project is to stabilize stream banks, culvert replacement, pavement repair, an asphalt prelevel course to repair spot locations as necessary, and a single application of chipseal surfacing. It is Public Works' intent to complete the projects using the following funding sources: 3 FLAP Funds - $660,129.00 Lewis County Matching Funds - $103,026.00 Total - $763,155.00 Approval of this resolution will authorize the Public Works Director/County Engineer to sign the FLAP Match Agreement for this federally funded project. 6. Resolution No. 15-051 Approving and entering into an inter-local agreement for support services with the City of Centralia. Lee Napier, Director of Community Development, stated this inter-local agreement between the City of Centralia and Lewis County to update the Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (Hazard Plan). 7. Resolution No. 15-052 Appointment of a member to the Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area on Aging Advisory Council (LMTAAA). Danette York, Director of Health and Social Service, stated the LMTAAA is a governmental agency sponsored by the three counties to manage, monitor, plan, fund, coordinate, and advocate for services and programs that serve the elderly and younger disabled persons. The Agency has an 18 member Advisory Council that provides input and advice to the Agency staff and makes funding and legislative recommendations to the Agency and the Agency’s Board. Six people from each county are appointed to a two-year term and can be re-appointed up to three terms. There is currently an open position. The BOCC will appoint Mildred Wood, who resides in Ethel, to this position. This appointment would be effective as soon as the resolution is signed and continue through December 31, 2016 Motion Carried 3-0 HEARING Hearing Ordinance 1261 Chair Fund announced the hearing and asked for a staff report. Glenn Carter, Prosecutor's Office, stated on January 5, 2015, we had a hearing on this same subject and at that time I said I would come back with the Sheriff so he could answer questions from the public as well as the BOCC. Under the existing law the Sheriff is already authorized to use unmarked vehicles for purposes of special undercover and confidential investigative purposes. From time to time the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is engaged in investigative activities where the use of an unmarked vehicle enhances the effectiveness of the investigation as well as provides an extra measure of personal protection to the officers involved. All we are doing here is 4 adding to the existing authority that the Sheriff Office has to using unmarked vehicles and to ratify the use of the unmarked vehicles for the other general undercover or confidential investigative purposes including traffic control as a possibility. Commissioner Schulte stated the first question brought up at the last hearing is whether Lewis County use unmarked cars to do traffic stops. Sheriff Snaza stated there is specific traffic unit where unmarked cars are used for traffic. We have approximately 20 unmarked vehicles. There will be a traffic stop if violations occur in front of a detective. Detectives are often asked to assist deputies in difficult situations. We have six detectives that were plain cloths. They are required to where descriptive clothing that identifies them as a Sheriff with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner Schulte asked if Mr. Carter is aware of any unmarked cars in any other departments of the County. Glenn Carter stated the Sheriff’s Office is the only department that he is aware of having unmarked cars. Ron Averill, Centralia, asked what is the definition of unmarked cars. Sheriff Snaza stated we have a variety of unmarked vehicles. Our Corrections Chief drives an unmarked vehicle that is an Impala with exempt plates and no emergency lights on it. We have confidential undercover vehicles that have cold plates. Our detective vehicles still have spot lights, exempt plates. Jo Coleman stated she is concerned on the dark windows on an unmarked car. She stated with an area with no cell phone service, what are citizens supposed to do if an unmarked car puts a light on and the citizens can’t see whom it is? Sheriff Snaza stated the citizen should continue to travel the normal speed and drive to a well-lite area. Walter Wilson asked if the Sheriff’s Office uses personal vehicle in enforcement. Sheriff Snaza stated no Hal Washburn asked if there was any unmarked car other than the Sheriff’s Department. 5 Commissioner Schulte stated our vehicles are run by Public Works and he checked with the County Engineer and asked him if there are any unmarked cars other than with the Sheriff’s Department and there are not. Chair Fund asked if there were any questions. There were none. She closed the question and answer portion of the hearing and opened the formal hearing. Glenn Carter and Sheriff Snaza asked that their previous comments be adopted into the record. Bernie Rodgers spoke against this Ordinance Karen Callies spoke against this Ordinance due to it allowing unmarked cars to be used for traffic stops. Walt Wilson spoke against this Ordinance due to it allowing unmarked cars for traffic stops. Hal Washburn spoke against this Ordinance and provided information showing items that you can purchase on the internet to make your vehicle look like a police car. Robin Roy stated she is opposed in using unmarked police cars for traffic stops. Jude Cooper spoke against this Ordinance and stated if we are already covered under the State why add more paperwork. Dan Townsend spoke against this Ordinance. Bob Bozarth spoke against this Ordinance Ron Averill stated we have a number of agencies in the State and have local city forces that use unmarked cars that are not governed by the Ordinance of the County. If you are stopped by an unmarked police car it is unlikely going to be County or City. It is likely going to be the State Patrol. Jo Coleman spoke against this Ordinance Chair Fund asked if anyone else would like to testify. There was none. She closed the hearing and asked for a motion. Commissioner Schulte stated he is not in support of unmarked cars doing traffic control stops. Whether we pass this or not, you can be stopped in Lewis County by an unmarked vehicle from Chehalis, Centralia, or the State Patrol. Reading through this and listening to the questions he feels we need to go back and work on this Ordinance some more. 6 Commissioner Stamper stated he also has questions on this Ordinance and would like to look at this again. Commissioner Schulte moved to hold this agenda item until the March 9, 2015 BOCC Meeting. Commissioner Stamper seconded. Motion Carried 3-0 There being no further business, the Commissioners’ public meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m. on February 9, 2015. The next public meeting will be held Monday, February 23, 2015. Please note that minutes from the BOCC’s meetings are not verbatim. A recording of the meeting may be purchased at the Commissioners’ Office. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON ATTEST: Edna J. Fund, Chair Karri Muir, CMC, Clerk of the Board P.W. Bill Schulte, Vice-Chair Lewis County Commissioners Gary Stamper, Commissioner