Sledding into the Holidays
Last week we concluded the last of the Council business for the year, but not without a late flurry of unexpected activity.
Supplemental Budget
At our normal Tuesday afternoon Council meeting, we passed the final supplemental budget for 2017. Most of it was in response to typical year-end adjustments. The Health Department is particularly grant dependent so that budget fluctuates significantly depending on funding levels.
Addressing Changes
The Council also approved addressing changes necessary for adoption of federal standards for Next Gen 911.
The changes will also make it easier for first responders — including those from outside of the area who assist during disasters or major emergencies — to find properties.
Addresses on Key Peninsula with a “KPN” directional will use “NW,” while those with a “KPS” directional will use “SW.” Anderson Island and Fox Island addresses will no longer have a directional. Currently, the directional for Anderson Island is “AI,” while the directional for Fox Island is “FI.” Approximately 365 addresses on Key Peninsula and Anderson Island that are considered problematic will also be corrected.
More than 16,000 property owners will receive a notice in January 2018 with their new official address. The changes will go into effect April 1, 2018. Mail services will honor old addresses through April 1, 2019 to give property owners time to update their address with their contacts.
Next Generation 911 is a system that allows the public to contact 911 via text messages, as well as through phone calls. Under Next Generation 911 standards, addresses must meet U.S. Postal Service standards before the 911 system is upgraded. The majority of Pierce County addresses meet these standards, while the addresses on Key Peninsula, Fox Island and Anderson Island do not due to their current directionals.
Opioids
On Friday afternoon we had a rare Special Council Meeting. After months of research and due diligence, the Prosecutor recommended that the Council file suit against opioid manufacturers. Here’s a brief explanation. Expect more from the Prosecutor this week.
Legislative Agenda
Although the Council will have no formal meetings this week, that doesn’t mean it’s vacation time. I’ve recently begun meetings with members of our Legislative delegation to discuss priorities of the Washington State Association of Counties.
Of particular importance to Pierce County is funding for indigent defense. This is a constitutional duty of the State, but unlike most others, Washington has shifted nearly all of the burden to county government. While Washington counties pay for 94% of the cost of assigned counsel, in most others it’s less than 50%. If we are successful, that could mean several million dollars we could reinvest in the under-resourced Sheriff Department or behavioral health services. I’ll also be working on a solution for the Hirst decision.
We’ll also host the entire delegation at our annual breakfast meeting to discuss the County’s local agenda, as well as issues legislators are working on that might be of local interest.
Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce Forum
At this Thursday’s Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Forum I’ll be giving an update on the 2018 Budget, Council actions over the last year, and a look ahead to next year’s agenda. It’s also an opportunity to answer questions from the public.
The forum is a free, weekly breakfast meeting hosted by the Chamber but open to the public at Cottesmore. Doors open at 7am, with the program beginning at 7:30am.
Next Year
Council business will resume on January 2nd when you can expect votes on leadership and committee assignments.
My Weekly Calendar
Earlier this year we got a request for my forward looking calendar. Rather than have staff waste their time on public record requests, I started publishing screen shots. 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.
