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2024-03-13 Directors' UpdateDirectors’ Update March 13, 2024 9:01 a.m. Present: Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope, Meja Handlen, John Abplanalp, Mindy Brooks, Lee Napier, Geoff Soderquist, Becky Butler, BJ Kuykendall, Amber Smith, Daleyn Coleman, Robert Bradley, Doug Carey, Ross McDowell, Kate Chatterton, Alex Murray, Casey Mauermann, Caroline Garibay, Coleman Rogers, Eric Eisenberg, Graham Gowing, Heidi Palmer, Justia Madrigal, Matt Jaeger, Matt Thuston, Sarah Hensley, Sherri Dokken, Sara Bumgardner, Erika Katt, Barb Russell Guest(s): Patty Howard, Mitchell Townsend, Christina Wollman of PERTEET, unnamed guests Recorder: Rieva Lester Public comment: Patty Howard urged the commissioners to decline moving forward with the proposed needle exchange ordinance. Patty said the county’s health officer and Public Health and Social Services Advisory Committee have reviewed peer-reviewed materials and have shared concerns about the proposed ordinance that should be addressed. The commissioners discussed a resolution to approve a contract with Candace Sanders for Court Facilitator services for family court cases. Meja Handlen discussed a resolution to appoint one individual to a regular-member position and four individuals to alternate-member positions on the Veterans’ Advisory Board (VAB). Daleyn Coleman discussed a resolution to approve a collective bargaining agreement between Lewis County and Teamsters Sheriff's Support Services from March 19, 2024, through December 31, 2025. The commissioners said they would delay the item until further review March 18. John Abplanalp discussed a resolution to approve Consolidated Contract #CLH31017 Amendment #17 between the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Lewis County. Geoff Soderquist discussed a resolution to approve an Interlocal Agreement between Lewis County and City of Napavine for all services required to complete development of fish passage structure designs at two sites crossing Ripple Creek, Napavine, Wash. Geoff Soderquist discussed a resolution to list the bids received and contractor selected for the Lewis County 2024 Rock Proposal. Geoff Soderquist discussed a resolution to list the bids received and contractor selected for the Lewis County Material Purchase Haywire Road Rehabilitation. Geoff Soderquist discussed a resolution to approve an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Centralia and Lewis County for management of Stage 1 and Stage 2 for the Westside Connector - Phase I Improvement Project. Geoff Soderquist discussed a resolution to the proposed vacation of an undeveloped right of way, being a continuation of undeveloped Huntington Avenue N in Packwood. Robert Bradley discussed an upcoming hearing for Ordinance 1354 - Add Chapter 8.80 to Lewis County Code to regulate sterile needle and syringe exchanges operating in Lewis County and make violations of the chapter a civil infraction or a misdemeanor. Commissioner Pollock shared several concerns about the proposed ordinance, including the following: • It limits access to clean needles • The 1 to 1 exchange of dirty needles for clean needles is too high • It hampers the prevention of bloodborne diseases • It allows IDs from countries to the north but not countries from the south • It creates unnecessary hurdles, especially for those in rural areas • The draft version available online doesn’t reflect revisions made March 8 Commissioner Pollock made a motion to move two consent items and eight deliberation items (excluding the Teamsters CBA and the hearing for Ordinance 1354) to the Tuesday, March 19, 2024, BOCC Business Meeting agenda. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Commissioner Swope made a motion to move the hearing for Ordinance 1354 to the Tuesday, March 19, 2024, BOCC Business Meeting agenda. Commissioner Brummer seconded. The commissioners discussed the possibility of delaying the hearing a week. The motion to add the hearing for proposed Ordinance 1354 to the March 19, 2024, Business Meeting passed 2-1, with Commissioner Brummer and Commissioner Swope voting in favor and Commissioner Pollock opposed. Roundtable Meja Handlen discussed code violations at a property at 650 Shorey Rd. in Chehalis. Becky Butler said budget amendments are due March 16. BJ Kuykendall said the fairgrounds will host Dairy Day for kindergartners in the spring. Wednesday Workshop Legislative recap (session ends March 7): No discussion. Hazard Management Plan Update: Christina Wollman of PERTEET provided an overview of the draft Hazard Mitigation Plan. The group noted that Arbor Health chose not to participate. Lee Napier noted that the plan is adopted every five years. Commissioner Brummer said he would reach out to Arbor Health. Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update: Lee Napier said she will reach out to the cities and invite them to an upcoming Planning Commission meeting. Mindy Brooks said urban growth area (UGA) fall under the county’s jurisdiction. Mindy said the county has UGA co-management interlocal agreements (ILAs) with Chehalis, Centralia and Winlock, each of which is a different version. She said Community Development has developed a standardized ILA template. The commissioners directed staff to share the standardized ILA template with the cities and to alert the cities with existing ILAs – Chehalis, Centralia and Winlock – that those ILAs are expiring and will be replaced with .09 (Distressed Counties): Commissioner Pollock asked if the county should apply for .09 funding for Ceres Hill Road improvements, noting that the fund has $1 million available. The group also discussed the potential reallocation of ARPA funds earmarked for the Vader water project. Commissioner Pollock noted that Josh Metcalf also is applying for County Roads Administration Board (CRAB) funding for the project. The commissioners agreed to have staff apply for the grant. Flood Control District 2 vacancies: No update. Bid opening: Commissioner Brummer noted that bids for the 2024-2025 newspaper of record will be opened during the March 19 Business Meeting. County Manager performance review: At 10:25 a.m., Commissioner Brummer announced that the Board would be going into executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) until 10:35 a.m. to review the County Manager’s job performance. At 10:35 a.m., Commissioner Brummer extended executive session until 10:40 a.m. Executive session ended at 10:40 a.m. Commissioner Brummer noted that no decisions had been made. Commissioner Swope made a motion to authorize a one-step increase to the County Manager’s salary effective March 16, 2024. Commissioner Pollock seconded. Motion passed 3-0. The commissioners discussed correspondence from Chad Ruben regarding pear trees planted along a farm inside Winlock city limits. Commissioner Pollock suggested the landowners look at the right-to- farm act and / or rules surrounding noxious weeds. Commissioner Brummer said he will reach out to the city to ask that Winlock address the property owners’ concerns. Becky Butler noted that the Washington State Bar Association’s Board of Governors voted on March 8 to slash the number of cases public defenders are allowed to take, a move the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) has warned could cause increases totaling $400 million across the state, crippling counties that already are struggling financially. Meeting adjourned at 10:48 a.m.