HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-18-minutes-200pm-public-hearing05/18/2021 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON WEBEX SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 2:00 P.M. MAY 18, 2021
Board members present via WebEx: Chairman Brett Wachsmith; Vice-
Chairman Laura Osiadacz; and Commissioner Cory Wright.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Mandy Buchholz,
Administrative Supervisor; Jim Goeben, IT Director; Candie Leader,
Administrative Supervisor; Neil Caulkins, Deputy Prosecutor; Josh
Fredrickson, Engineer; Mark Cook, Public Works Director; Doug
Fessler, Network Administrator; Greg Zempel, Prosecutor; Liz Remeto,
Finance Manager; and 4 members of the public.
This meeting was provided to the public via Webex, and they were
previously notified on the Agenda as to where they could access and
provide public comments.
PUBLIC HEARING CDBG – FISH FOOD PANTRY AUDITOR
At 2:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened a Public Hearing to consider
a Community Development Block Grant for community development and
housing needs, inform citizens the availability of funds and
eligible uses of the State Community Development Block Grant, and
receive comments on proposed activities, particularly from lower
income persons residing in the Kittitas County area. Up to
$900,000.00 may be available to Kittitas County on a Statewide
competitive basis to fund public facility, community facility,
economic development, planning and affordable housing projects that
benefit low-and moderate-income persons. He said it was for the
FISH Community Food Bank pantry design and renovation of an
administration building.
PEGGY MORACHE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FISH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK,
reviewed their grant application to the Department of Commerce for
Community Development Block Grant funds in the amount up to
$900,000.00. She indicated the grant application was for a new,
expanded, and improved food bank; an expanded and improved food
pantry; and expanded and improved administrative spaces. She said
the proposed expansion would also allow for additional employment
including drivers and staffing in the warehouse.
JUDY PLESS, BUDGET & FINANCE MANAGER said she had been working with
the Commissioner’s Office Staff and representatives from FISH
Community Food Bank on the grant application and had no concerns.
05/18/2021 MINUTES 2
THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. APPLICATION FISH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK AUDITOR VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ moved to approve a Community Development
Block Grant Application to the Department of Commerce for the FISH
Food Pantry design and renovation of an administrative building, in
an amount up to $900,000.00. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT seconded.
The Board expressed support of the project and hoped by obtaining
grant funding, it would help move the project forward. Motion
carried 3-0.
PUBLIC HEARING BLUESPAN WIRELESS, LLC PUBLIC WORKS CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened a Public Hearing continued from May 4,
2021 to consider a County Wide Telecommunications Franchise with
Bluespan Wireless, LLC. He noted the record was open.
MARK COOK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR reviewed the updates that had been
done to the Franchise Agreement since the previous Public Hearing
including changes to the liability clause. NEIL CAULKINS, DEPUTY PROSECUTOR also provided information for the Board including public
benefit and explained the scrivener’s errors which had been
corrected.
BRIAN LAIRD, LEGAL COUNSEL FOR BLUESPAN WIRELESS, LLC said they have
been working with County Staff and thanked everyone for their time
in getting the document prepared. ATTORNEY ERIN ANDERSON reviewed
the differences between wireless versus cable franchises. She
thanked everyone for working through the document to ensure there is
consistency for everyone. SCOTT STACE, CEO OF BLUESPAN said they
were dedicated to the area and looked forward to working with the
County and allowing for additional options for their citizens.
THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. JIM GOEBEN, IT DIRECTOR described portions of the proposed Agreement
that did not match previous ones.
AGREEMENT BLUESPAN WIRELESS, LLC PUBLIC WORKS VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ moved to approve a Non-Exclusive
Telecommunication Franchise with Bluespan Wireless, LLC to Use
County Roads, Rights-of-Way and Other County Property within
Kittitas County. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH seconded.
05/18/2021 MINUTES 3
COMMISSIONER WRIGHT said he would not be supporting the motion. He
said he was a proponent of economic development but felt the
Agreement had been jammed through the system and has an unclear
path. VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ said there are rural areas that do not
have sufficient wireless options and felt it was important to have
accessibility to them. She felt there had been adequate time to
review and discuss the Franchise Agreement and would be supporting
the motion. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH said the County would be working on
making the process better for the future.
Motion carried 2-1 (Commissioner Wright voted against the motion).
PUBLIC HEARING FEE SCHEDULE PUBLIC WORKS
At 2:47 p.m. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened a Public Hearing to consider
adopting the proposed 2021 Kittitas County Department of Public
Works Fee Schedule.
MARK COOK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR provided a Staff Report and
reviewed the proposed rate increases to their fees to capture full
cost recovery. He indicated numerous permits were not currently
meeting that objective and the proposed fee schedule significantly
revamps the existing fee structure and targets better alignment
between permit processing effort and cost.
THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. RESOLUTION 2021-080 FEE SCHEDULE PUBLIC WORKS VICE-CHAIRMAN OSAIDACZ moved to approve Resolution No. 2021-080,
Setting the 2021 Kittitas County Department of Public Works Permit
Fees, effective June 1, 2021. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT seconded. Motion
carried 3-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:54 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Brett Wachsmith, Chairman