Council Schedule Highlights Week of May 20th, 2019
Monday, May 20th, 2019
1:30 pm Community Development Committee
Derek Young, Chair
Dave Morell, Vice Chair
Marty Campbell
Jim McCune
Douglas G. Richardson
Regularly scheduled meetings are broadcast live and replayed on channel 22 (Comcast and Click! Network) and channel 20 (Rainier Connect). Access meeting materials at www.piercecountywa.org/councilcommittees.
Parks Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan Update and Committee Discussion
Presenter: Kimberly Freeman, Resource Stewardship Superintendent
The PROS Plan is due for an update this year. It’s purpose is to asses our current and future needs for park facilities and programming to serve unincorporated Pierce County. The Gig Harbor and Key Peninsulas are both served by metropolitan park districts, though some County properties remain on this side of the bridge. We also help support them with capital funds for projects.
I think it’ll be interesting to see how things have changed since the last plan update. For example, here’s how people perceived Pierce County park services in 2014. While we’re now making some significant investments thanks to the increased Park Impact Fee, those projects are just now coming online.
Tuesday, May 21st, 2019
9:30 am Human Services Committee
Connie Ladenburg, Chair
Marty Campbell, Vice Chair
Douglas G. Richardson
Dave Morell
Derek Young
Regularly scheduled meetings are broadcast live and replayed on channel 22 (Comcast and Click! Network) and channel 20 (Rainier Connect). Access meeting materials at www.piercecountywa.org/councilcommittees.
Proposal №2019–22, Proposal Evaluation Committee for Senior Center Services
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Connie Ladenburg and Derek Young
In late 2017 the Council decided to change the way it funds senior centers around Pierce County with a desire to make appropriations more strategic.
The bill sets up an advisory commission and prioritization for investment as follows:
- Deference to programs and activities provided in unincorporated areas of the County
- Consideration for senior center services that demonstrate the ability to consistently deliver high-quality, cost-effective programs that improve the health, well-being, and independence of vulnerable populations.
High-quality programs are defined as those that:
- Respond to the needs and interests of a diverse population of older adults from different cultural, generational and socioeconomic backgrounds, and with increasingly complex social and physical needs;
- Offer and encourage participation in evidence-based programs;
- Employ strategies to increase participation from older adults who do not regularly attend senior centers including, but not limited to, those who do not have access to a senior center in their neighborhood; and those whose language and culture may present a challenge to participation;
- Build upon neighborhood strengths and community assets;
- Develop partnerships that leverage and fully utilize existing resources, and which are supported by diverse and sustainable funding streams; and
- Hire and retain quality staff and provide opportunities to develop local leaders/volunteers to support the center and the community.
Children’s Mental Health Summit
Presenter: Jamie Kautz, Director, Pediatric Care Continuum, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
If you’re reading this, you’ve likely heard me talk about Pierce County’s unconscionably poor behavioral health system. Its failures are clear and I’m frustrated we haven’t been able to make more progress.
Particularly troubling is the impact on children suffering from a behavioral health disorder. This presentation will focus on their needs, gaps in our system, and hopefully, what the Council should be doing about it.
Analysis of Point-in-Time and Housing Inventory Count
Presenter: Jason Escareno, Senior Legislative Analyst
We had a brief presentation on the annual PIT count from Human Services staff, but Council research staff developed their own analysis. I’ve already drawn my own conclusions — WE NEED MORE HOUSING!!! — but interested to know what they’ve found.
Regularly scheduled meetings are broadcast live and replayed on channel 22 (Comcast and Click! Network) and channel 20 (Rainier Connect). Access meeting materials at www.piercecountywa.org/councilcommittees.
Proposal No. R2019–66, Intent to Issue Bonds for Public Safety Communications Center
Sponsored by: Councilmember Douglas G. Richardson
At long last, we’re finally building the new administrative and operations facility for South Sound 911. Thought it’s an independent agency, it doesn’t currently have a credit rating or bonding authority so the County will act as the bank issuing bonds to be paid by the SS911 tax.
The location is on the site of the old Puget Sound Hospital where the Council had previously approved construction of a new General Services Building. When that proposal fell through, and SS911 was unable to acquire another suitable site, we transferred the site to them.
My Weekly Calendar
A couple of 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. Now I’m adding a link to the calendar as well. 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.
