Council Schedule Highlights Week of January 14th, 2019
Monday, JANUARY 14th, 2019
1:30pm Public Safety, Human Services, and Budget
Jim McCune, Chair
Pam Roach, Vice Chair
Connie Ladenburg
Dave Morell
Derek Young
This meeting will be broadcast live and replayed on channel 22 (Comcast and Click! Network) and on channel 20 (Rainier Connect) Electronic meeting material can be accessed at http://www.piercecountywa.org/councilcommittees Video archives are available at www.piercecountytv.org.
Trueblood Diversion Program Grant Update
Presenter: Carol Mitchell, Director of Justice Services and Special Projects, Executive’s Office
The Trueblood case is a lawsuit against the State for failing to adequately provide for competency evaluations and treatment for people experiencing behavioral health crisis leading to arrest and incarceration. Once jailed and their competency to stand trial called into question, they would languish in jail often for longer than a sentence for the underlying crime would require, and leaving worse off than they started.
A federal judge began fining the State for failing to comply and directed those dollars to a number of diversion programs designed to help this population. In Pierce County we’ve used it to fund law enforcement co-responders and therapeutic courts.
The State has agreed to a settlement and this briefing will be on its Pierce County impact.
Tuesday, JANUARY 15th, 2019
9:30am Human Services Committee
Connie Ladenburg, Chair
Marty Campbell, Vice Chair
Douglas G. Richardson
Dave Morell
Derek Young
This meeting will be broadcast live and replayed on channel 22 (Comcast and Click! Network) and on channel 20 (Rainier Connect) Electronic meeting material can be accessed at http://www.piercecountywa.org/councilcommittees Video archives are available at www.piercecountytv.org.
Presentations on Mobile Community Intervention Response Team (MCIRT) and Mobile Outreach Crisis Team (MOCT)
Presenters: Kim Zacher, CEO, Comprehensive Life Resources; and Silvia Riley, Manager Crisis Services, Behavioral Health Services, MultiCare Health System
A little over a year ago we made the first county investments in behavioral health in about a decade. That included two mobile programs to go to people who are suffering rather than waiting for them to come to use.
The MCIRT program reaches out to people with a team of professionals including social workers, mental health providers, and nurses. The idea is to build trust and transition them to traditional services where they can recover or develop coping mechanisms rather than utilizing more expensive emergency systems.
The MOCT program was an existing crisis response system operated by MultiCare. We decided to add public funding to reach more people who could be helped by a crisis specialist when the situation may otherwise involved law enforcement.
Chambers Bay Ground Lease Discussion
The Executive has negotiated a lease proposal for development of a resort at Chambers Bay. Unfortunately, that was done without input from the Council along the way. I have some concerns about the language and financial structure as it stands. Additionally, there appears to have been no independent review by anyone with background on such developments to tell us if it’s a good deal.
Though I understand the desire to get moving quickly, this is a long term lease so it’s critical that we do our due diligence.
Proposal No. R2018–165, Appointments to External Boards and Commissions for 2019 A Resolution of the Pierce County Council Making Appointments of Councilmembers and Staff to Positions on External Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Other Organizations for the Year 2019.
Sponsored by: Councilmember Douglas G. Richardson
In addition to our duties as members of the Pierce County Council, we represent the County on a number of external boards and commissions for various different agencies and advisory bodies.
Sometimes it’s simply acting as a fiduciary, others can have a huge impact on policy and laws.
This year I’ve asked to continue on the Legislative Steering Committee for the Washington State Association of Counties where I serve as co-chair. This will be a hugely important session for counties on a variety of issues, particularly behavioral health, Puget Sound recovery, and criminal justice funding.
The Growth Management Policy Board is Puget Sound Regional Council’s land use body where I’ve represented Pierce County since joining the Council. We’re in the midst of updating our regional land use plan called Vision 2050. A wide range of social and transportation problems all find their roots in the region’s rapid growth. We need a change of direction to ensure we protect our quality of life, environment, and make sure everyone benefits from the explosion of economic development we’ve seen.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health is made up from members of city and County government. We’re responsible for protecting and improving the health of all people and places in Pierce County.
Other boards and commissions I’ve asked to continue on:
- Alliance for a Healthy South Sound
- Pierce County Flood Control Zone District Exec Board
- Pierce County Regional Council
- Rainier Communications Commission
- West Sound Local Improvement Organization
A new request is to replace former Councilmember Rick Talbert on the Pierce Transit Board. I had previously served there representing other small cities and towns when I was on the Gig Harbor Council. Public transportation is critical to people who rely on it, but as our county continues to grow and exceed the capacity of our local roads, we’ll want to encourage people to choose transit for their daily business. While Sound Transit gets a lot of attention for the big regional projects, it’s local transit that can have the greatest impact on people’s lives.
Proposal No. R2018–172s, Historic Preservation Grant Fund Disbursement
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Connie Ladenburg and Dan Roach
Each year we make small grants for historic preservation based on recommendations from our Landmarks & Historic Preservation Commission. District 7 projects receiving funding are:
- Longbranch Improvement Club — Phase II Window Restoration
- Fort Nisqually Foundation — Restoration of Historic Buggy
- Harbor History Museum — The Shenandoah Collection
Wednesday, JANUARY 16th, 2019
9:30am Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors
Marty Campbell
Connie Ladenburg
Jim McCune
Dave Morell
Pam Roach
Douglas G. Richardson
Derek Young
This meeting will be broadcast live and replayed on channel 22 (Comcast and Click! Network) and on channel 20 (Rainier Connect) Electronic meeting material can be accessed at http://www.piercecountywa.org/councilcommittees Video archives are available at www.piercecountytv.org.
White River Flood Risk Reduction
Presenter: Anne-Marie Marshall-Dody, Floodplains and Watershed Services Manager, Pierce County Planning and Public Works
The White River is experiencing an explosion of sediment buildup that has increased flooding dangers. Basically you can think of Mt Rainier as a giant pile of sand and gravel. That reduces the amount of water flow necessary before a flood event occurs.
King and Pierce counties, as well as cities bordering the White River are working on solutions along with habitat restoration which are often mutually beneficial.
Floodplains for the Future
Presenter: Anne-Marie Marshall-Dody, Floodplains and Watershed Services
One thing I’m proud of is that Pierce County is leading the way for new flood control techniques that can best be described as letting rivers be rivers.
Rather than building large engineered levies that the river is constantly trying to tear down, this system steps back protection areas allowing rivers to meander naturally, determining its own channel migration path.
Pierce County is piloting the program for the State.
My Weekly Calendar
A couple years ago we got a request for my forward looking calendar. Rather than have staff waste their time on public record requests, I decided to publish screenshots. If you have questions, feel free to call. Keep in mind, my schedule isn’t static. Things will get added, deleted, changed, etc. There are conflicts that I have to pick between. But if people want to see where I’m at and who I meet with, that’s fine by me.
