HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-07-02-minutes-200pm-public-hearing07/02/2019 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON COMMISSIONERS AUDITORIUM SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 2:00 P.M. JULY 2, 2019
Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright; Vice-Chairman Brett
Wachsmith and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Mark Cook, Public Works
Director/Interim Engineer; and approximately 12 members of the
public.
PUBLIC HEARING FISH LEASE PUBLIC WORKS
At 2:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN WRIGHT opened a Public Hearing to consider a
Lease with FISH for the Elmview Building and Lot C-30 of the
Kittitas County Airport Amended Binding Site Plan.
MARK COOK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/INTERIM ENGINEER reviewed
information for a proposed Lease with FISH for the Elmview Building
and Lot No. C-30 of the Kittitas County Airport Amended Binding Site
Plan. He said the current market rate for land lease is
$0.14/square foot and FISH is requesting the Board of County
Commissioners consider applying tenant improvement costs against the
lease costs. He said if the Board approved a Lease with FISH, the
Prosecutors office could draft the document and have it for their
consideration at the next Agenda Session. The Board of County
Commissioners asked Staff questions and for clarification on a
proposed Lease.
THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: DAVE RATLIFF Vice-Chairman of the
Airport Advisory Committee said they had not been advised of the
Public Hearing. They opposed the proposed Lease with FISH and felt
it was incompatible with the area. BRIAN McELROY reviewed
information from FISH and expressed concerns of any overnight
sheltering with a distribution center. He felt it would encourage
and promote homeless camps in the area. He suggested the Board
review its long lasting improvements to the facility as it is public
money that’s being given. GAYL CURTISS said their last two Point-In-
Time counts resulted in a total of 19 homeless people and she didn’t
believe that their new, temporary facility would be overrun with a
homeless camp. She said FISH would only be located there for a
limited amount of time and they would begin launching a campaign to
build elsewhere. VIRGIL THORVSON explained how he didn’t have any
issues with FISH and the services they provide, but thought
something temporary can change into something permanent, and urged
the Board to consider putting a time limit in their lease. He also
explained how it was not an appropriate use of property out at the
07/02/2019 MINUTES 2
Airport. PEGGY MORACHE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FISH said they record
everyone who is served at their facility and only 1% of the
population is transients. She noted how they’ve never had an issue
of people sleeping in the driveway at the Church where they’ve
previously been located or even at the cold weather shelters. She
said it’s their goal within the next 12 months to break ground for a
pantry and a warehouse to make their operations whole and they want
to be sure that wherever they are located, their facility is
attractive and professional. TERRY LARUE questioned what the
liability was to the County by having FISH located out there and the
possible impacts to fire and police. He felt it was a land use issue
and questioned why it hadn’t gone before the Airport Advisory
Committee. He felt that there wasn’t anyone against the services
FISH provides, but it was more about it not fitting in with the
Airport area. LAURIE FRITZ said she works for FISH and thought it
was sad to see the building crumbling since Elmview had been located
in it. She urged the Board to approve a lease as they are in need of
a warehouse for food and a place to serve the community. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. COMMISSIONER WACHSMITH moved to approve a Lease Agreement between
Kittitas County and FISH and to direct Staff to prepare enabling
documents. COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ seconded. Motion carried.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT moved to amend motion to include FISH’s terms for
one year with (2) 6-month extensions, for a maximum of 2 years. COMMISSIONER WACHSMITH seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT moved to waive the CPA requirement. COMMISSIONER WACHSMITH seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Vote on the original motion passed 3-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:38 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Cory Wright, Chairman