Council Schedule Highlights Week of June 11th, 2018
This week I’ll be speaking at a couple of meetings on the Key Peninsula:
- Key Peninsula Community Council on Wednesday 7pm, at the Key Center Fire Station.
- Town Hall hosted by Longbranch Improvement Club Thursday 6:30pm, at LIC Clubhouse.
Monday, JUNE 11th, 2017
Changes to Document Recording Fee:
Last session the Legislature changed the document recording fee for housing. ESSHB 1570. This Bill amended the law in the following ways:
The DRF is increased by $22, and made permanent. The sunset provision was eliminated. This makes a total homeless DRF of $70.
The total DRF funds are allocated between the County and the State as follows:
- $52 split 60% County/ 40% State
- $8 split 90% County/ 10% State
- $10 of the DRF remains 100% with the County
A County may use the additional surcharge fees collected to pay off general obligation bonds issued by the County for homeless housing and assistance.
1:30pm Public Safety, Human Services, and Budget
Dan Roach, Chair
Derek Young, Vice Chair
Connie Ladenburg
Jim McCune
Pam Roach
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/councilcommitteesVideo archives are available at www.piercecountytv.org.
Sheriff Hiring Process
Presenter: Chief Nick Hausner, Sheriff’s Department
I’m not certain what the focus of the presentation will be, but we have quite a few openings in the Sheriff’s Department and we’ve been exploring out of the box recruitment methods. Like other departments, we’re also seeing a wave of retirements which has made it a struggle to hire up fast enough to keep pace. Those vacancies show up particularly in the detachments… Peninsula included.
Legal Information Network Exchange Pricing Update
Presenter: Kevin Stock, Clerk of the Superior Court
LINX is our criminal justice platform. This pricing update will be about how the charges are distributed to the various departmental users and outside agencies.
Tuesday, JUNE 12th, 2017
9:30am Economic and Infrastructure Development Committee Meeting
Douglas G. Richardson, Chair
Connie Ladenburg, Vice Chair
Pam Roach
Jim McCune
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
Proposal №2018–28, Condemnation Proceedings — Grant of Authority to Prosecutor An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Authorizing the Prosecuting Attorney to Commence Condemnation Proceedings (after 180 days from the date the County presents the first formal offer) to Acquire Real Property for County Road Project (CRP) 5650, Entitled 22nd Avenue East/152nd Street East Intersection, and Providing Notice to Affected Property Owners of Record of the Final Action Specifically Relating to the Following Property: Tax Parcel Number (TIN) 0319224039.
Sponsored by: Councilmember Douglas G. Richardson
This bill would authorize the Department and Prosecutor to pursue condemnation for land necessary for improvements to an intersection at 22nd Avenue East/152nd Street East in Parkland.
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
Proposal No. R2018–76, Appointment — Planning Commission A Resolution of the Pierce County Council Confirming the Appointment of One New Member (Kathryn Jerkovich, District 7) to the Pierce County Planning Commission.
Sponsored by: Councilmember Derek Young
Unfortunately Andy Markos’s tenure representing District 7 on the Planning Commission has come to an end. As chair of the Commission, Andy has led them through some difficult, complicated subjects and served Pierce County ably.
On the bright side we have an impeccably qualified person to fill the position. Kathryn Jerkovich is a Gig Harbor resident and planner for BCRA with over 25 years experience in architecture, engineering, construction and development.
I’m grateful that Kathryn has stepped up to serve us once again and look forward to her recommendations.
Proposal №2018–24, Charter Amendment — Biennial Budget An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Proposing Amendments to Article 6 of the Pierce County Charter to Revise the Annual Budget to a Biennial; Requesting the Auditor to Submit These Amendments to the Voters at the November 2018 General Election; and Requesting the Prosecuting Attorney to Draft an Appropriate Ballot Title.
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Rick Talbert, Connie Ladenburg, Derek Young, and Douglas G. Richardson
A desire of mine since starting with the Council is to move the County to biennial budgets. While the idea got lukewarm response initially, the Executive announced his support earlier in the year.
Some, including myself, thought that the current Charter language already provided enough latitude for the change. It says that a budget must be proposed and passed annually, but that could be a supplemental budget which is in keeping with current practice.
After reviewing with legal counsel the Executive and our staff agree that this is the cleanest way to go about a change.
So why do this at all? The main reason is that it saves staff time and allows for deeper, more meaningful budget discussions. Currently we go through the same process each year which starts almost as soon as the previous year is passed. That leaves little time for a deep dive into a particular department, or to spend more time tinkering with assumptions.
Gig Harbor and Tacoma both use a biennial budget, as does the State. I had pushed for one in Gig Harbor for years but ironically, I was leaving the Council when we made the leap.
The main concern is that longer forecasts for revenue and spending can be less accurate, but with such a large budget, we pass frequent supplementals throughout the year. Unlike the Legislature, local councils are year round bodies.
I’ll make my case in greater detail later. The charter requires a supermajority of the Council to put a charter amendment on the ballot.
Proposal №2018–31s, Charter Amendment — Direct Legislation Procedures An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Proposing Amendments to Sections 5.10, 5.40, 5.50, 5.60, 5.70 and 8.65 of the Pierce County Charter to Streamline and Clarify Direct Legislation Procedures; Adopting New Sections 5.15 and 8.15 to Provide Definitions; Requesting the Auditor to Submit these Amendments to the Voters at the November 2018 General Election; and Requesting the Prosecuting Attorney to Draft an Appropriate Ballot Title.
Sponsored by: Councilmember Douglas G. Richardson
During the charter review process the Auditor brought to light a number of issues with our referenda procedures. This was another issue where the Charter Review Commission decided that they already had a large number of proposals and asked the Council to use its authority to address issues later.
These are considered technical, rather than substantive changes by the Auditor and staff.
Proposal №2018–37, Claims Against the County An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Amending Section 4.36.040 of the Pierce County Code, “Claims Against the County — Approval or Denial.”
Sponsored by: Councilmember Douglas G. Richardson
It’s well established in state law that the Council is the body which pays claims and settles lawsuits on behalf of the people of Pierce County. The Council has delegated some authority to the office of Risk Management, up to $250,000, however the Council remains in control. The Prosecutor’s Office is the County’s attorney and will make recommendations, but again, the Council is the client.
For some reason there is some language in code that seems to hint at a potential veto for the Prosecutor’s Office. This is an error and would seem to be contrary to state law, so it’s something brought up for correction.
Proposal No. R2018–71 & R2018–72, For and Against Committees — Charter Amendment №48 & №49
To put the charter amendments on the ballot we also need to appoint “For” and “Against” committees. If you are interested in serving on a committee for either of the charter amendment proposals, please let me know. You may also want to plan to be at the Council meeting to make your case.
If we don’t have any names to put forward, the Auditor will advertise for committee volunteers.
My Weekly Calendar
Last year 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.
