HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-18-minutes-200pm-public-hearing08/18/2020 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON WEBEX SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 2:00 P.M. AUGUST 18, 2020
Board members present via WebEx: Chairman Brett Wachsmith; Vice-
Chairman Laura Osiadacz; and Commissioner Cory Wright.
Others present via WebEx: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Mark
Cook, Public Works Director/Interim Engineer; Taylor Crouch, Deputy
Clerk of the Board I; Mandy Buchholz, Deputy Clerk of the Board II;
Neil Caulkins, Deputy Prosecutor; Benjamin West, Director of Airport
Operations and 24 members of the public
Kittitas County is currently in Phase 3 and in person participation
is prohibited. The public was encouraged to join the meeting by
joining a WebEx event online.
PUBLIC HEARING FISH FOOD BANK LEASE PUBLIC WORKS
At 2:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened a Public Hearing continued
from August 11, 2020 to consider a proposed land Lease with FISH
Community Food Bank. He noted the record was closed.
MARK COOK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/INTERIM ENGINEER reviewed a Staff
Report and noted the changes that had been made since the previous
Public Hearing, as requested by the Board. The changes included a
lease rate from $0.16/square foot to $0.14/square foot and the first
year of lease payment would be relieved ($13,661.20). The land
conveyance in ownership had been eliminated and the appraisal
process was defined to include comparable commercial industrial park
properties in Kittitas County. He explained that due diligence on
the part of FISH resulted in a decision to terminate the lease
process, the conveyed improvements on Lot C-30 would revert back to
the County. If the improvements by FISH adjoining existing
improvements on the site could not be divested in the event of a
reversion triggering event, FISH would pay the County a sum of
$150,000.00. The insurance requirements were added to FISH as well
as liquidated damages were removed from the lease for wrongful
termination. All construction must be completed within 5 years and
FISH is to provide the County a written summary of estimated
construction schedule. BENJAMIN WEST, DIRECTOR OF AIRPORT OPERATIONS
also provided an update and indicated the documents had been
reviewed by the Prosecutor’s Office.
COMMISSIONER WRIGHT felt there was still a lot of work to be done on
the internal processes for future leases and did not want a repeat
of the Lease with Central Washington University back in 1992. The
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Board agreed on how they all look forward to working with FISH in
the years to come and appreciated the many benefits they provide to
community members in Kittitas County. PEGGY MORACHE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR FISH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK provided information on what
services they offer to the residents of Kittitas County and how they
assist with connecting people with other resources that are
available in our community.
LEASE FISH/AIRPORT GROUND LEASE PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ moved to approve a Memorandum of Lease and an
Airport Ground Lease Agreement between Kittitas County and FISH, a
Washington nonprofit corporation, for Kittitas County Parcel No.
955301, commencing on September 1, 2020 and ending on August 31,
2050. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
PUBLIC HEARING PHEASANT LANE – PUBLIC ROAD NETWORK PUBLIC WORKS
At approximately 2:15 p.m. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened a Public
Hearing to consider the establishment of an unopened County Right-
of-Way known as Pheasant Lane onto the Public Road Network.
MARK COOK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/INTERIM ENGINEER reviewed a Staff
Report and said indicated how Staff previously briefed the Board on
the public access issues associated with Pheasant Lane. He
explained the background, recent discussions with the Public Lands
Advisory Committee, financial impacts and their recommendation. NEIL CAULKINS, DEPUTY PROSECUTOR provided clarification to the Board
on questions they had relating to a road vacation and being taken
off a primary road system.
THOSE TESTIFYING: JOHN PETERSON questioned what road improvements
would be done and they would rather not have a lot of additional
public access. DEL KNUDSON said he had property for sale in the area
and questioned what the public access would result in if the Board
were to approve the request. DAWN AMBROSE asked if the Board knew
where Pheasant Lane ended and asked for clarification on the
proposed miles that would be on the Public Road Network. MARK BRAIN
asked where the 3.05 miles ended and he would rather keep it private
and not make it public access. DEVONA VADER said her property abuts
DNR land and they already have issues relating to trespassing. She
preferred to keep it private unless it’s already owned by the
County, and asked if gates could be provided to the owners due to
the increase in public accessing the area. JAY THOMPSON said he
owns a parcel in the area and has worked a lot on the easement. He
was cautious about opening it up to more public use. LISA BREWER
explained how she has been a resident for over 15 years and is
concerned with an increase in more public to access lands, and that
there are already a lot of people that hunt and trespass on their
private property from August through February each year. THERE BEING
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NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to continue the Public Hearing to Tuesday
September 1, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH seconded. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT explained how he’d like more time to look into
where the area and taking it onto the proposed Public Road Network. COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ said the Public Lands Advisory Committee was
in support of the proposal and at that time they had received
support from various citizens who live in the area.
Motion carried 3-0.
PUBLIC HEARING PARKE CREEK ROAD PUBLIC WORKS
At approximately 2:52 p.m. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened a Public
Hearing to consider the establishment of an additional length on
Parke Creek Road onto the Public Road Network.
MARK COOK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/INTERIM ENGINEER provided a Staff
Report and recommended an establishment of an additional 4.3 miles
onto Parke Creek Road onto the Public Road Network. He said the
Public Lands Advisory Committee have also recommended approval of
the request.
THOSE TESTIFYING: FRED SLYFIELD said they own land in the area and
expressed his support of the project. MARCIA HOLLINGER said the
area was very primitive and had concerns of people driving the road
as if it was a speedway, and at some point they would lose control. W.R. ESSMAN said he was a member of the PLAC and Kittitas County
Field & Stream Club. He said he understood the concerns but would
be happy if the County would put money into the improvements. He
said he had also witnessed people driving too fast in the area
already. CATRINA CARDWELL explained how she lives in the area and
respected the efforts of the proposed project but did not want it
unless the County was to maintain it. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED.
RESOLUTION 2020-143 PARKE CREEK ROAD PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to approve Resolution No. 2020-143,
Establishing Unopened County Right-of-Way, Extending Parke Creek
Road Approximately 4.3 miles. COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ seconded.
Motion carried 3-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:14 p.m.
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KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Brett Wachsmith, Chairman