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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution To Award Public Facilities_2021KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 2021 AGENDA STAFF REPORT AGENDA DATE: May 18, 2021 ACTION REQUESTED: Request to Approve a Resolution to Award the Distressed County Sales and Use Tax Funding for 2021 and Direct Staff Prepare Public Facility Grant Agreements for 2021 Award Recipients BACKGROUND: The Council of Governments (COG) met on April 21, 2021 reviewing 2021 Public Facility Grant applications. The COG is recommending that the Chamber of Commerce be funded at historic levels ($92,000) and that the Horse Park Authority not receive funding during this grant cycle (2021). The recommended level of grant funding matches staff s forecast of available funding at approximately $1,200,000 for 2021. The following applicants are recommended for funding: CenterFuse ($72,000), Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce ($92,000), Snoqualmie Pass Public Utility District ($300,000), City of Cle Elum ($450,460) and the City of Ellensburg ($283,868). INTERACTION: Public Works. RECOMMENDATION: Move to Approve and Sign the Resolution to Award the Distressed County Sales and Use Tax Funding for 2021 as recommended by the Conference of Governments and direct staff prepare Public Facility Grant Agreements for 2021 Award Recipients. HANDLING: Return one original to Public Works. ATTACHMENTS: Resolution; Letter of Recommendation; Draft Minutes from April COG meeting. LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook, Director. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COUNTY OF KITTITAS STATE OF WASHINGTON RESOLUTION NO, TO AWARD THE 2021 DISTRESSED COUNTY SALES AND USE TAX FUNDS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENTS WHEREAS: The 1999 Legislature did pass RCW 82.14.370 Sales and Use Tax for Public Facilities in rural counties; and WHEREAS: These funds are for the purpose of financing Public Facilities which are defined as bridges, roads, domestic and industrial water facilities, sanitary sewer facilities, earth stabilization, storm sewer facilities, railroad, electricity, natural gas, buildings, structures, telecommunications infrastructure, transportation infrastructure or commercial infrastructure and port facilities in the State of Washington; and WHEREAS: The Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners makes distressed County sales and use tax funding available to cities pursuant to an annual grant program; and WHEREAS: The COG as directed, met April 21, 2021 reviewing 2021 grant applications to consider if they met the economic development needs of the county and communities within the county; and WHEREAS: The COG is presenting the results and their recommendations for the funding as described herein: CenterFuse ($72,000); Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce ($92,000); Snoqualmie Pass Public Utility District ($300,000); City of Cle Elum ($450,460); City of Ellensburg ($283,868); and WHEREAS: An agreement for receiving funds is required for all grant applicants and said funds will be available upon execution of funding agreements; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The Board of County Commissioners, after due consideration, does hereby accept the Conference of Government's recommendations to distribute the 2021 Sales and Use Tax for Public Facilities in Rural Counties in accordance with RCW 82.14.370 as described; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The Public Works Department will prepare 2021 Public Facility grant contracts and manage these contracts through the Public Facilities Fund Number 108. DATED this 18th day of May 2021, at Ellensburg, Washington. Attest: ❑ Clerk of the Board- Julie Kjorsvik BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON Brett Wachsmith, Chairman Laura Osiadacz, Vice -Chairman ❑ Deputy Clerk of the Board- Mandy Buchholz Cory Wright, Commissioner Kittitas County � City of Cie Elum - City of Ellensburg - City of Kittitas - City of Roslyn - Town of South Cie Elum KITTITAS COUNTY CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENTS May 4, 2021 Board of County Commissioners 205 W. 5`h Avenue Ellensburg, WA 98926 Dear Commissioners: The Conference of Governments (COG) convened on April 21, 2021, considering the merits of funding seven (7) applications competing for approximately $1.2 million in the County's Public Facilities Fund - Unencumbered Fund Balance of Distressed County Sales & Use Tax. Table One (below) reflects the project name, the amount requested, and the COG recommended level of funding. TABLE ONE: Recommended Level of Funding for 2021 Project Name Requesting Agency Sales & Use Tax Sales & Use Tax Funding Requested Funding Received Finance of Personnel Per Ellensburg Business RCW 82.14.370(3)(a) Development Authority, $72,000.00 $72,000.00 dba CenterFuse Finance of Personnel Per Kittitas County Chamber RCW 82.14.370(3)(a) of Commerce $192,000.00 $92,000.00* Well Development Snoqualmie Pass Utility $300,000.00 $300,000.00 District Phase 3A — First Street Downtown Revitalization City of Cle Elum $450,460.00 $450,460.00 Fiber Telecommunications City of Ellensburg $283,868.00 $283,868.00 Infrastructure Covered Arena and Washington State Horse Associated Build -Out Project Park Authority $325,000.00 $0.00 Underground Utility Kittitas County Bowers $32990900 Project was Extension/Taxilane Extension Field ,. Withdrawn K.C.C.0.0 - 411 North Ruby Street, Suite 1 - Ellensburg, WA 98926 - PH (509) 962-7523 - FX (509) 962-7663 *The application for Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce was not scored due to oversight in application submittal requirements. COG has elected to recommend awarding an amount consistent with previous years. Thank you for the opportunity to play a critical role in the evaluation and application of funds that will assist in improving the economic development picture for the entire Kittitas Valley community and we recommend you approve the funded projects as submitted. Sincerely, Commissioner Cory Wright Conference of Government Chair Cc: All Applicants All COG Members Candie Leader, Administrative Supervisor Mark Cook, Public Works Director Page 2 of 2 KITTITAS COUNTY CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENTS MINUTES Webex Regular Meeting WEDNESDAY 5:30 PM APRIL 21, 2021 Committee Members Present: Commissioner Cory Wright, Amy Cziske, David Miller, Bruce Tabb, John Glondo, Tom Missel, Geoff Scherer, John Camarata, Jay McGowan Committee Members Absent: Jim DeVere, Steve Sowers, Rich Coleman Others: Mark Cook, Candie Leader - Public Works Four (4) Members of the Public CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:32 p.m. SCORING AND FUNDING RECOMMENDATION DISCUSSION FOR RECEIVED APPLICATIONS Mark Cook gave a summary of the amount of funds available for award along with the average scores for the projects reviewed. Mark Cook stated that if the group elects to fund the Chamber of Commerce this will bring the total amount in funding requests to one point five (1.5) million which is above the amount available at one point two (1.2) million. Mark Cook added that at an early meeting this year he recalls a conversation stating that COG would obligate historically funded amounts to the Economic Development Groups. Mark Cook asked the group for their recollection of the conversation. Bruce Tabb stated that the Chamber of Commerce's application was outside of the set guidelines for submittal and would like to recognize the work they do but the application was not scored. Commissioner Cory Wright added that scoring the economic development applications is hard and Bruce Tabb added that the Board of County Commissioners need to make the decision on funding the Chamber of Commerce's request. Discussion was held on the scoring of Snoqualmie Pass Utility District's 04-21-2021 Minutes 1 application and the lack of land secured and no matching funds. Commissioner Cory Wright questioned if the Washington State Horse Park Authority was part of the City of Cle Elum and Bruce Tabb inquired about who owned the facilities. Jay McGowan stated that the land is leased from the City of Cle Elum and the facilities revert to the City of Cle Elum however, the City of Cle Elum does not manage or have any involvement. Further discussion was held. Bruce Tabb made a motion to fund all applications at the requested amounts except for Snoqualmie Pass Utility District and Washington State Horse Park Authority. For discussion of the motion Commissioner Cory Wright stated he would not vote for the motion because the importance of the Snoqualmie Pass Utility District's project and the creation of water rights along with the growth at Snoqualmie Pass he feels the project should be awarded funds. Amy Cziske stated she agrees with Commissioner Cory Wright. Discussion was held. Bruce Tabb amended his original motion to now include Snoqualmie Pass Utility District to receive requested funding. Tom Missel seconded the motion with motion passing 9-0. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY AND MARCH Commissioner Cory Wright inquired if there are any changes to the minutes as presented. Jay McGowan stated he attended the March 17th meeting as a call-in user and would make a motion to amend those minutes to reflect his attendance. Geoff Scherer seconded the motion. Motion passed to approve the February minutes as presented and the March minutes with amendment. SPECIAL JOINT MEETING WITH BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Cory Wright stated that the Special Joint Meeting scheduled with the Board of County Commissioners has been scheduled for May 19th at 5:30pm. Commissioner Cory Wright stated this is the regularly scheduled meeting date and time. TIP STRATEGIES PROPOSAL DISCUSSION Commissioner Cory Wright stated that he brought this topic forward for discussion. Commissioner Cory Wright gave background on the previous economic development plan that was developed around ten (10) years ago but there was no implementation. Commissioner Cory Wright continued that he would like to discuss with the group on updating the plan and following through with the implementation. Bruce Tabb gave insight on the previous work that was done and build on the strengths and establish a level of responsibility and accountability for seeing the plan get off the ground. Commissioner Cory Wright asked if the group would be interested in having a presentation from 04-21-2021 Minutes 2 TIP Strategies and the fee for the work could potentially be funded with federal dollars. Discussion was held. Commissioner Cory Wright stated he will contact TIP Strategies for attendance at the next meeting. David Miller stated he will not be able to attend the May meeting. OTHER BUSINESS: There was no other business for discussion. Meeting was adjourned at 6:31 pm. KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON Candie Leader, Clerk Chairman 04-21-2021 Minutes 3