This document is a review of the County Council meeting, Tuesday, October 18, 2022. Information related to agenda changes, Consent Agenda, and Public Comment are on the County website.
San Juan County, WA - October 18, 2022 - Watch the recording of this week's County Council meeting here: AV Capture All
PUBLIC HEARING(S) – PUBLIC TESTIMONY ACCEPTED: To Approve 2022 Public Facilities Finance Assistance Program Awards – Christine Minney, Council Chair & PFFAP Application Review Committee Member
The Public Facilities Finance Assistance Program Awards (PFFAP) Evaluation Team met Monday, August 29 to review the applications submitted through the RFP process, which closed Friday, July 29. Available funding for the 2022 grant cycle is $484,487 (plus approx. $237,000 additional funds carrying forward from previous funding cycles). Council considered the Review Team’s recommendations on September 13 and scheduled a public hearing for October 18, 2022. San Juan County Council decided to continue the public hearing on November 8, 2022 to gather additional information about several applications.
Noxious Weed Program Assessment Increase; Schedule Public Hearing for Tuesday, November 8 (1st touch) – Brook Brouwer, PhD, County Extension Director
In order to provide support for increased staffing and operations costs to meet the growing demand for noxious weed control services from the residents of San Juan County, the San Juan County Noxious Weed Control Board recommends increasing the Noxious Weed Control Board assessment rates to: $9.25 per parcel and $1.85 per acre Non-Forest Land and $0.925 per parcel and $0.185 per acre Forest Land.
The San Juan County Noxious Weed Control Board last received an increase in 2009 (Ordinance No. 1-2009, “An Ordinance Amending San Juan County Code Chapter 2.42 To Increase The Noxious Weed Assessment”), which established the current assessment rate: $6.25 per parcel and $0.625 per acre Non-Forest Land and $0.625 per parcel and $0.0625 per acre Forest Land (as defined by RCW 84.33 and RCW 84.34)
This proposed increase was voted on and passed during the Noxious Weed Board regular meeting Friday October 7th, 2022. San Juan County Council voted to set a public hearing for the noxious weed program assessment increase for Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 9:15.
Financial Policies – Milene Henley, Auditor
San Juan County does not have a consolidated set of financial policies. We have some very specific financial policies, including a Debt Policy, a Fixed Assets Policy, a Travel and Meal Policy, etc. But we do not have a consolidated set of general financial policies for the County. Creating a Consolidated Financial Policies Manual for the County has been a goal of Auditor Milene Henley, and her presentation a draft for council’s review.
Revising the Parks & Fairgrounds Fee Schedule – Brandon Cadwell, Director Parks & Fair
The Parks & Fair fee schedule has not been holistically updated since 2019. In June 2022, Council approved adjustments only to the county fair entry prices. The total review and adjustments have looked to simplify the schedule that provides greater consistency across the department for both visitors and staff. It looks to provide small increases in some areas to keep items as affordable as possible for the visiting public as it adjusts for inflation during the last four years. Other fee items have been removed from lack of use or practical enforcement or lowered to encourage use through a lower threshold. The Parks and Recreation Commission and the Fair Board have both thoroughly reviewed and support these adjustments. County Council voted to approve the resolution revising the parks and fairgrounds fee schedule.
San Juan County Comprehensive Plan Briefing – David Williams, Director Community Development; Sophia Cassam, Planner
The Department of Community Development provided the County Council (Council) with the Planning Commission’s recommendations on the 2036 Comprehensive Plan (Plan) Update. Staff briefed the Council and sought feedback on the Section B, Element 10, Economic Development.