EYE ON JEFFERSON: Home Opportunity Fund focus of public hearing

The three Jefferson County commissioners will host a hearing declaring an emergency regarding the availability of affordable housing Monday.

The special meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Superior Court courtroom on the second floor of the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

Commissioners will take oral and written testimony about a proposed resolution to send to voters that would establish a Jefferson County Home Opportunity Fund to create or preserve affordable housing for low- and very low-income households. If approved by a simple majority in the Nov. 7 general election, the ballot measure would authorize a property tax levy of about 36 cents per $1,000 assessed property value for seven years, generating approximately $1.9 million per year.

At the commissioners’ regular meeting earlier Monday, which will begin at 9 a.m. in commissioners’ chambers at the courthouse, the board will consider establishing objectives and procedures for the 2018 county budget.

Other items on the consent agenda include consideration of:

• A call for bids Aug. 14 in commissioners’ chambers regarding improvements to the Quilcene solid waste drop box site.

• An agreement not to exceed $26,000 with Bothell-based HWA Geosciences Inc. for materials testing services for the Center Road overlay project, Phase 5.

• A $291,930 program agreement with the state Department of Social and Health Services for services to clients with developmental disabilities in Jefferson County.

• A trading partner agreement with the state Health Care Authority for electronic date interchange.

On the board’s regular agenda:

• A proclamation declaring a Veterans Stand Down on July 31.

• Awarding special achievement in geographic information systems to Doug Noltemeier, GIS coordinator, and Charlotte Stockard, GIS analyst/cartographer.

• Awarding Clerk of the Year to Ruth Gordon, county clerk, from the Washington State Association of County Clerks.

• A proclamation proclaiming the week of July 31 as Jefferson County Employee Recognition Week.

At noon will be the quarterly elected officials/department head meeting.

During the county administrator briefing session at 1:30 p.m., the board will hear from Environmental Health on possible changes to two Conservation Futures projects: the Snow Creek Watershed acquisitions and Bishop Dairy Preservation.

Other county committee meetings, which are in conference rooms at the county courthouse, unless otherwise noted, are:

• Jefferson County Finance Committee — 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday, first-floor conference room. On the agenda are a debt policy draft for review and possible adoption, a treasurer’s report for the second quarter of this year and an update on and interest-bearing checking account.

• Civil Service Commission — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, county courthouse.

• Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board — 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jefferson County Public Health’s Pacific Room, 615 Sheridan St.

Port Townsend city

The hearing examiner will continue a public hearing from July 7 on the new Salish Coast Elementary School conditional use permit and variance at 2 p.m. Friday.

The hearing will be in City Council chambers at historic City Hall, 540 Water St.

The City Council will not meet this week.

Council office hours, during which members of the public can discuss any topic with a member of the City Council, take place from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the mayor’s office at historic City Hall.

Other city committee meetings, which are in conference rooms at City Hall, 250 Madison St., unless otherwise noted are:

 Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board — 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, first-floor conference room.

 Council Finance and Budget Committee — 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, third-floor conference room. On the agenda are water rate study results and midyear financials.

 Port Townsend Planning Commission — 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, council chambers in historic City Hall, 540 Water St. The special meeting, rescheduled from Thursday, will be on the Critical Areas Ordinance.

 Climate Action Committee — 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jefferson County Public Health’s Pacific Room, 615 Sheridan St. The special meeting is rescheduled from Aug. 23.

Port of Port Townsend

Port of Port Townsend commissioners will mull asking for bids for 2017 stormwater treatment improvements when they meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The regular session will be in chambers, 333 Benedict St.

The port also will consider a U.S. Coast Guard lease; an amendment to a professional services agreement with Landau Associates Inc. changing the scope of the work, time and duration of the contract; and reimbursement amount for work on the boatyard stormwater treatment design.

Port commissioners will go into executive session on litigation prior to adjourning.

Chimacum School Board

The Chimacum School Board will conduct a public hearing for the 2017-18 budget when it meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The meeting will be in the Chimacum High School library, 91 West Valley Road.

A copy of the proposed budget is available at the district office.

Jefferson PUD

Jefferson County Public Utility District commissioners will review and prioritize applications for the PUD communications specialist position when they meet at 10 a.m. Monday.

The special meeting will be at 230 Chimacum Road, Port Hadlock.

Commissioners and staff will review applications in executive session and prioritize them in open session.

Development authority board

The Fort Worden Public Development Authority board of directors will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

The board will meet at Commons B (Building 210) at Fort Worden, 200 Battery Way.

The directors will consider resolutions regarding accounts and a human resources service contract, as well as hear a presentation on special project feasibility studies.

They also will hear staff reports on the state capital budget status and updates on Makers Square, staffing and food and beverage.

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