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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-15 3:00 PM - Public Lands Advisory - Minutes KITTITAS COUNTY PUBLIC LAND ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMISSIONERS' AUDITORIUM, 205 WEST 5TH ROOM 109 SPECIAL MEETING WEDNESDAY 3 :00 PM April 15, 2026 Board members present: Vice Chairman Marc Eylar, Bill Essman, Emily Briski, Gary Berndt, Joseph Blazek, Tom Morris, and Pat Kelleher. Absent: Fred Slyfield, Vincent Pruis, Bridget Wood, Greg Parker, and Chairman Cory Wright. Others : Gail Weyand, Chief Administrator; Bradley Gasawski, Planner I; Dick Swanson & Francie Castrilli . At 3 : 02 PM Vice Chairman Eylar opened the Public Land Advisory Committee Meeting. CITIZEN COMMENTS There were no citizen comments. APPROVE MINUTES Vice Chairman Marc Eylar presented the minutes from 3/25/26 . Bill Essman made a motion to approve the minutes, Tom Morris seconded. Motion passed with all in favor. NEW BUSINESSS Vacancy Interviews - Committee members interviewed Dick Swanson and then Francie Castrilli for the one vacancy the committee has open. The committee members took turns asking the applicants questions on how they would help on the committee and what goals they would have if they served on the committee. Gary Berndt asked if this committee was separated by districts. Vice Chairman Eylar said this group was not separated by districts. Bylaw Amendment - Vice Chairman Eylar brought up the 4-member quorum that was voted in at the 3-25-26 meeting. After reviewing it with legal, we are unable to do the 4-member quorum. All County boards and committees operate under the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) , so the quorum cannot be less than the majority. Vice Chairman Eylar said there is a flexibility for some, but not under the OPMA. The BOCC has resolution 2017-153 outlining it. Bill Essman asked about the possibility of a proxy vote if someone was unable to attend a meeting. Could they call their vote in. Bradley Gasawski mentioned references to Robert' s Rules and if it would be acceptable. Vice Chairman Eylar spoke about other boards and being able to call in if they are unable to come in person. Emily Briski said they would have to make the Webex meeting not open to the public. 2026-4-15 MINUTES Pat Kelleher spoke about the consistency of having meetings and people showing up for the meetings . Tom Morris spoke about when he joined the committee, they had members that hadn' t shown up for a year. The committee talked about the excused absences and what constitutes one. How much notice needs to be given. Bradley Gasawski talked about the bylaw amendments regarding the attendance have not been adopted. Emily Briski asked if it was three unexcused absences for removal off the committee. Tom Morris thought it was three consecutive unexcused absences. Vice Chairman Eylar said people need to make a commitment to show up to the meetings. Vice Chairman Eylar noted that everything that is redlined in the amendment changes need to be adopted or get rid of. There was no action on the agenda to select a new member. Dick Swanson and Franci Castrilli were invited back to the May 20 meeting. Gary Berndt told both applicants that he appreciated them both applying. They have gone years without getting applicants to apply. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. OTHER BUSINESS Tom Morris asked if there was a way to get an answer about a proxy before the next meeting. The committee talked about how other committees handle meetings and attendances. Tom Morris asked why we approved the last members and didn't have it on the agenda. We didn't do it then, why can't we do it now. The committee members talked about the legality of it. Vice Chairman Eylar said since he is presiding over the meeting, he was not going to break any rules. Gary Berndt mentioned the Department of Interior manages 5 agencies. The Forest Service has been under the Department of Agricultural. That is changing. Gary Berndt said that we are going to need to have a conversation with the Forest Service, the largest landowner in Kittitas County, about what that' s going to mean. They are moving all the offices. Tom Morris said right now they are in Virgina and they are moving the headquarters to Utah. Bradley Gasawski asked the members if there was anything specific, they would like to see presented at PLAC or something you want to learn more about, or some way PLAC can help the county make decisions on things. Pat Kelleher mentioned reaching out to Public Works to possibly add the green dot roads to the atlas. Pat Kelleher was requesting that they put as much readily available information into the atlas as possible without cluttering the purpose. Vice Chairman Eylar mentioned public lands and ownership on it. Bradley Gasawski thought there may be a question of funding involved in accomplishing this. Vice Chairman Eylar asked about whether Grant PUD was presenting on the next meeting. Bradley Gasawski asked the members to come up with any questions they would have for Grant PUD on anything they would like to see down there. Vice Chairman Eylar apologized to Francie and Dick for not having an 2026-4-15 MINUTES answer for them today. Vice Chairman Eylar hoped they will show up at the next meeting so we can take action on this one vacancy. Emily Briski made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Vice Chairman Eylar seconded. Meeting concluded at 3 : 57 PM. KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON 4 � � Gail Weyand, Chief Marc Eylar, Vice Chairman Administrator 2026-4-15 MINUTES