BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of February 13, 2006

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discussion federal legislation on federal forest funds from 9:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. on Monday, February 13, 2006 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair and James D. Richardson present. Commissioner Albert E. McKee participated via phone conference.

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 13, 2006 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair and James D. Richardson present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to remove item #11 for discussion and approve the remainder of the Consent Agenda as follows:

1. Minutes for week of February 6, 2006.

2. Acknowledge receipt of Girone Subdivision Final Plat amending Lot #3 of Maple View Acres Subdivision, set for review & discussion at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 21, 2006.

3. Set public hearing for 1:30 PM Monday, March 6, 2006 to consider a request from Jeff Bragato for a variance to the front setback requirements to construct a garage on property located at Northwoods -Cabin #24.

4. Resolution 2006-13 amending the 2006 Work Plan of the Community Strategic Plan.

5. Resolution 2006-14 invitation to bidders for one (1) 50 cubic yard drop box with retractable lid & two (2) 39 cubic yard recycle containers for Solid Waste, set deadline to receive bids for 4:00 PM Friday, March 10, 2006 and set date to open bids for 10:00 AM Tuesday, March 14, 2006.

6. Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency to provide funding for Community Emergency Response Teams training.

7. Memorandum of Understanding with Bridge of the Gods Little League (BOGLL) outlining procedures for ticket sales for Blazer Basketball game tickets sold as fundraiser for BOGLL.

8. Advance Planning Solutions to provide professional consulting service during the adoption process of watershed plans.

9. Agreement with Dept of Ecology for Coordinated Prevention Grant funds for Solid Waste reduction & recycling project.

10. Agreement with JL Enterprises NW, Inc for maintenance of large format copy machine at Public Works.

11. Exceptional qualifications for Jay Johnston for position of Deputy Sheriff at Step B of Range 18.

12. Award bid for crushed aggregate contract for 2006.

Darlene Dickson, Senior Services Director presented information on the transit cost per trip and advised of improvements in working with mechanics for service of Senior’s vehicles.

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to sign certifications and assurances required by Washington State Department of Transportation for transportation grants for Senior Services.

The Board discussed the exceptional qualifications for Jay Johnston for the position of Deputy Sheriff at Step B of Range 18, as recommended by the Personnel Committee. Sheriff Dave Brown advised he felt the experience level of the applicant qualified him for a Step C of Range 18 and requested the Board to consider approval at Step C. He requested that the current Personnel Policy be reviewed for revisions. Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to table this request at this time.

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to authorize Scott Pineo, Director for Community Events and Recreation to sign Special Use Applications and Permits with the Forest Service for recreation events.

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to authorize Karen Witherspoon, Director for Planning and Community Development to sign a contract amendment with Black Bear Systems, Inc for modifications to the permit tracking software program.

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to authorize the purchase of a Cisco 3550 Network Switch for the Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $3,654.36.

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to authorize the purchase of various equipment for the Sheriff’s Office to improve the safety of first responders and citizens, to be purchased from the State Homeland Security/Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Fund in the approximate amount of $269,722.63.

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to table a request from Public Works to mail a letter from Washington State Association of County Engineers (WSACE) to the County’s professional services roster and small works roster consultants to solicit contributions for WSACE’s 100 Years of Service Celebration in September 2006.

The meeting recessed at 10:45 a.m. Monday, February 13, 2006 and reconvened at 1:40 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

The Board participated in a workshop to discuss proposed Ordinance 2006-02 establishing a moratorium on land divisions and development in the Swift Area, with no action taken.

The meeting recessed at 2:10 p.m. Monday, February 13, 2006 and reconvened at 3:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

A public hearing was held to consider adopting Ordinance 2006-02 establishing a moratorium on the acceptance and processing of land divisions (subdivision, short subdivision and exempt division by deed), the acceptance and processing of building permit applications requiring the creation of a new water source (individual wells and/or water systems) after the adoption of this moratorium, and the acceptance and processing of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Checklists related to Forest Practices Conversions for any parcel located within Township 6 North, Range 5 East; Township 7 North, Range 5 East; Township 6 North, Range 6 East; and Township 7 North, Range 6 East, Willamette Meridian. All the aforementioned area is generally known as the Swift Subarea of Skamania County. Karen Witherspoon, Director for Planning and Community Development presented a staff report, which included the need for clarification of available water, fish and wildlife concerns, increased land development, and the Swift Subarea Plan. She also advised of the need for changes to the proposed ordinance to include language regarding the water issue and to delete language referring to land divisions exempted by deed and delete language referring to building permits with regard to acceptance and processing of applications requiring the creation of a new water source. Commissioner Pearce advised of receiving letters from Wes Hill of Vancouver and Bradley Andersen of Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, attorney for Dave Creagan and Jerry Sauer. Present were representatives from Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, PacifiCorp, Gifford Pinchot Task Force and members of the public. Discussion included possible impacts on fish and wildlife habitat and natural resources due to new and proposed development, concern regarding personal investments and obligations for existing plans for development, employment opportunities created by development, water reservation, concern that other resources should be exhausted before establishing a moratorium, and a request for 60-day window before implementation of the moratorium. The hearing was closed to public comment. Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to continue the public hearing to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2006 for deliberations by the Board, and to allow the acceptance of written comments until 5:00 p.m. this date.

The meeting recessed at 4:00 p.m. Monday, February 13, 2006 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 16, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

The Board advised of participating in a site visit with Public Works at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 to view slide activity in the County.

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve an exceptional qualification for Jay Johnston for the position of Deputy Sheriff at Step B of Range 18, as recommended by the Personnel Committee.

Several citizens advised of concerns regarding an issue with sea lions affecting fishing and fishing businesses. The Board advised they have no authority regarding this matter and provided contact information for them to address their concerns.

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending February 16, 2006 in the total amount of $83,604.25.

Walt Loehrke, Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC) member reported on the CRGC meeting of February 14, 2006. Discussion included proposed changes to plan amendments, Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, and the federal budget proposal.

The Board participated in a workshop with the Building Department to discuss proposed amendments to the building code set out in Skamania County Code Title 15. Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to set a public hearing for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 9, 2006 to consider adoption of amendments to the building code.

The meeting recessed at 11:10 a.m. Thursday, February 14, 2006 and reconvened at 2:10 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss a memo regarding Solid Waste Laborer increased time, Forest Service special use permits, Fair truck, retreat schedule, and formatting/legal review of documents, with no action taken.

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to rescind the motion action of this date setting a public hearing to consider amendments to the building code.

The meeting recessed at 2:20 p.m. Thursday, February 14, 2006 and reconvened at 2:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

A public hearing was held, continued from February 13, 2006, for the purpose of deliberations by the Board to consider adopting Ordinance 2006-02 establishing a moratorium on the acceptance and processing of land divisions (subdivision, short subdivision and exempt division by deed), the acceptance and processing of building permit applications requiring the creation of a new water source (individual wells and/or water systems) after the adoption of this moratorium, and the acceptance and processing of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Checklists related to Forest Practices Conversions for any parcel located within Township 6 North, Range 5 East; Township 7 North, Range 5 East; Township 6 North, Range 6 East; and Township 7 North, Range 6 East, Willamette Meridian. All the aforementioned area is generally known as the Swift Subarea of Skamania County. The audience was advised that public comment was closed at the hearing on February 13, 2006. Written comments were received and accepted from Bradley Andersen of Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, attorney for Dave Creagan and Jerry Sauer, Nita King, and Mike Baker. Karen Witherspoon Director for Planning and Community Development advised of changes to proposed Ordinance 2006-02, which consisted of new language regarding the water issue and deleting language referring to land divisions exempted by deed and language referring to building permits with regard to acceptance and processing of applications requiring the creation of a new water source. Commissioner Pearce advised that adoption of the Watershed Plan for the Water Resource Inventory Areas 27 and 28 has been postponed at this time pending further hearings by Cowlitz County. Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to adopt Ordinance 2006-02, as revised, establishing a moratorium on the acceptance and processing of land divisions (subdivision and short subdivision), the acceptance and processing of applications requiring the creation of a new water source (individual wells and/or water systems) after the adoption of this moratorium, and the acceptance and processing of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Checklists related to Forest Practices Conversions for any parcel located within Township 6 North, Range 5 East; Township 7 North, Range 5 East; Township 6 North, Range 6 East; and Township 7 North, Range 6 East, Willamette Meridian. All the aforementioned area is generally known as the Swift Subarea of Skamania County.

The meeting recessed at 2:50 p.m. Thursday, February 14, 2006 and reconvened at 3:05 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to authorize the Planning Commission, with regards to the West End Subarea Plan, to take whatever time is necessary to work through the process before forwarding a draft plan to the Board of Commissioners, and to recommend that the Planning Commission send a simple survey to the 900+ landowners within the Subarea who did not comment on the Plan to obtain input on critical concerns.

The meeting adjourned at 3:10 p.m. Thursday, February 16, 2006.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON