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2018-12-04 MINUTES 3 <br />decisions. It would also allow the Commissioners to communicate <br />freely with citizens regarding proposed land use projects and <br />reduce the County legal exposure for quasi-judicial decisions. <br />The Planning Commission recommended the Conditional Use Permits <br />(CUP) and Preliminary Plats to remain recommendation by Hearing <br />Examiner and decision by the Board with by a vote of 3-1. <br /> THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: JEFF SLOTHOWER encouraged the Board <br />to adopt the proposed amendments without the Planning <br />Commission’s recommendation. He reviewed examples of the <br />benefits of having a professionally trained Hearing Examiner <br />make the determinations who is free of any political influence. JERRY MARTENS said he has firsthand experience of seeing how a <br />Hearing Examiner would be beneficial to the citizens by allowing <br />them to make final land use decisions. He felt the Commissioners <br />job was to set policy and not determine projects. PAT DENEEN <br />expressed his support of the proposed amendment. He felt the <br />Commissioners should be the ones who make the policy decisions <br />and set rules. He encouraged them to allow a Hearing Examiner <br />make the final land use decisions. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN spoke in favor of the proposed amendment <br />for a Hearing Examiner who is professionally trained and could <br />lessen the risks of litigation. <br /> COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to amend Docket Item 18-03, as <br />presented by Staff. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN seconded. <br /> COMMISSIONER WRIGHT said he is not an expert in land use and was <br />not hired to be one. He felt the Board of County Commissioners <br />were to develop strategy and policy. He provided an example of <br />an appeal earlier in the day where the County was the applicant <br />of a project; made a determination; and then made the decision <br />on the appeal. He felt the Board could be using their time in <br />other areas which would benefit the community and fully <br />supported the proposal. CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ said she was not in <br />favor of the recommendation. She explained when the citizens <br />elected her to the position of a County Commissioner; it was to <br />allow her to make the decisions and not a Hearing Examiner. She <br />was unsure if the Hearing Examiner shared the values of Kittitas <br />County. <br /> <br />Motion carried 2-1 (Chairman Osiadacz opposed). <br />