BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of October 18, 2004

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 18, 2004 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Sheriff Dave Brown gave an update on Mount St. Helens, which included downsizing the Joint Operations Center to minimum staffing level, situational reports, weather, road/area closures, personnel and equipment, and the financial impact.

Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer, gave an update on the proposed Rock Creek Cove bank stabilization project, Drano Lake project, placement of asphalt grindings on Carson Creek Road and a section of North Fork Road, completion of hydro seeding of various areas, and various Road Crew maintenance activities.

Jeremy Boyer, Wildfire Project Coordinator for WSU Cooperative Extension Firewise Project, reported on the 4-H Program, Forest Youth Success Program, forestry activities, gardening and pest management, and gave an update on the Firewise Project.

Commissioner Quinn moved, seconded by Commissioner Talent and motion carried to remove Item C (Invitation to Bidders for Prisoner Transport Vehicle, set deadline to receive bids for 4:00 PM Friday, October 29, 2004, set date to open bids for 10:00 AM Monday, November 1, 2004) from the Consent Agenda and approve the remainder of the Consent Agenda as follows:

A. Minutes of October 4, 2004.

B. Acknowledge West End Community Comprehensive Subarea Plan, set workshop for 7:00 PM Monday, October 25, 2004 and set a public hearing to consider adoption of Plan for 7:00 PM, Monday, November 15, 2004 at Canyon Creek Middle School, 9731 Washougal River Road.

D. Set public hearing for 11:00 AM Monday, November 1, 2004 to consider adoption of Carson Stormwater Facilities & Flood Hazard Management Plan.

Commissioner Talent moved, seconded by Commissioner Quinn and motion carried to approve a license agreement with MiniSoft, Inc. for the purchase of 12 copies of MiniSoft 320 software and annual support to upgrade the existing Spillman dispatch and record keeping system at the Sheriff’s Office.

Terry Blaisdell, Central Services Director, advised of concern with the need to look at an additional server for storage due to the amount of data collected for the Firewise project and the need to limit access to this information.

Commissioner Quinn moved, seconded by Commissioner Talent and motion carried to approve the new job description for summer college hires for the Community Events and Recreation Department, as recommended by the Personnel Committee.

The meeting recessed at 11:20 a.m. Monday, October 18, 2004 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.

A public hearing was held to consider a Notice of Administrative Appeal filed by John Karpinski, attorney for Richard and Jensen Askay, of the Mark Riehl Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance (MDNS) for construction of a bridge across Canyon Creek to access a proposed four-lot Planned Residential Development. Mark Mazeski, Senior Planner, gave a staff report, presented photos of the area and a flow chart listing the many different permits required to complete the entire project. John Karpinski, attorney for appellants Richard and Jensen Askay, advised that the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklist provided information only for construction of the proposed bridge over Canyon Creek and stated his concern with the mitigation measures set out in the MDNS issued by the Planning Department. He requested the Board to reverse the MDNS and require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the entire project. Richard Askay, appellant and co-owner of the adjacent property, presented a site map of the area, stated that the applicant should be required to provide additional environmental information based on the entire project, and requested an EIS for the entire project because of unstable soils and erosion. He submitted petitions from citizens in the Canyon Creek area requesting an EIS be conducted for the entire project. Mark Riehl, applicant, gave an overview of his proposal, which included the creation of four-lots and the need to construct a bridge off of Canyon Creek Road, over Canyon Creek, in order to access the proposed lots. Lisa Renan, Habitat Biologist for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, stated she supports the Askay appeal, feels the project needs expertise from various agencies, the SEPA checklist should include the entire project, and advised that Fish and Wildlife does not concur with the SEPA review because it does not meet their environmental standards. Following comments from others present, which included both support and opposition of the project, the hearing was closed to public comment. Commissioner Talent moved, seconded by Commissioner Quinn and motion carried unanimously to uphold the decision of the Planning Department, that the Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance was properly issued.

The meeting recessed at 3:50 p.m. Monday, October 18, 2004 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 19, 2004, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.

Scott Pineo, Community Events and Recreation Director, gave updates on recreation programs, the Teen Adventure Program, Fairgrounds activities, swim center activities, Rock Creek Center activities, parks and boat launches, and advised of a proposal sent to the City of Stevenson requesting Hotel/Motel Tax funding for three annual events.

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, gave an update on an upcoming Commissioner workshop scheduled for October 25, 2004 at Canyon Creek Middle School and the public hearing process for the West End Community Comprehensive Plan, an upcoming Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting to be held on November 9, 2004 at Hood River, OR, and advised that Wasco and Hood River Counties are moving forward with the adoption process of the Revised Management Plan.

Charly Boyd, Watershed/Shorelines Planner, gave an update on surface water rights in the Washougal River basin.

Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer, gave a report on usage of cell phones within the Public Works Department and radio usage charged to Departments.

The meeting recessed at 11:45 am. Tuesday, October 19, 2004 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.

Dale Robbins, of the Regional Transportation Policy Organization, gave a presentation on the Hood River Bridge replacement, which included background history, objectives, location alternatives, new bridge design, cost, and intermediate needs.

The meeting recessed at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, October 19, 2004 and reconvened at 11:10 a.m. Thursday, October 21, 2004, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.

Commissioner Quinn moved, seconded by Commissioner Talent and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending October 21, 2004 in the amount of $195,278.51.

Auditor Mike Garvison gave an update on the 2004 General Election.

The Board met in executive session from 11:50 a.m. until 12:05 p.m. regarding personnel, with no action taken.

The meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m. Thursday, October 21, 2004.

ATTEST: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON

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Commissioner

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Commissioner

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Clerk of the Board Commissioner

Aye _______

Nay _______

Abstain _______

Absent _______