PORT TOWNSEND — A three-way agreement among Jefferson County, the city of Port Townsend and Port of Port Townsend sets up a new framework of government cooperation to map out future economic growth in a county long divided by how to approach the issue.
Such a spirit of collaboration could help the state fund future efforts to build commerce in the county that historically has been at political loggerheads over the issue, said Katherine Baril, who oversees the county’s contracted economic development agency, Team Jefferson.
Jefferson County commissioners comprised the third and final government body to approve the agreement Tuesday.
Baril said Team Jefferson met with the state Department of Commerce more than a year ago and found the agency’s representatives critical of Jefferson County’s lack of unity and collaboration on economic issues.
‘They laughed at us’
“They laughed at us,” Baril told the county commissioners, who unanimously approved the county’s agreement to collaborate with the city and port.
Baril said the agreement in writing would not be as important as “the process of building relationships.”
City Councilwoman Kris Nelson told the county commissioners, “We think it’s a wonderful first step [toward reaching] a coordinated economic development plan.”
Nelson, who is also Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce president, said the agreement — called a memorandum of understanding — would created economic development that is complementary.
“As the county thrives, the city thrives altogether,” she said.
Port of Port Townsend Commissioner John Collins told the county commissioners that the agreement would ensure that the government entities are “all in the same ship,” and he urged that meeting be set up to forge ahead on the future planning of economic development.
Collins and fellow Port of Port Townsend Commissioner Dave Thompson last Wednesday approved the port’s part in the agreement.
The City Council in its action Feb. 6 authorized Mayor Michelle Sandoval to execute the memorandum of understanding with the port and county that clarifies land uses allowed at the port’s Jefferson County International Airport and maps out a future of working together on economic growth.
Joint negotiations
The agreement calls for collaborative negotiations for a joint economic development planning agreement and a market analysis to determine which economic sectors are mostly likely to experience growth in the county.
Based on the agreement, the city will not appeal the county commissioners’ approval of a 24-acre light-industrial rezoning at the airport.
Whether a Joint Growth Management Steering Committee to guide the future economic planning process would be formed was still to be decided.
The City Council last year considered appealing the county commissioners’ approval of the Port of Port Townsend’s 24-acre light industrial-essential public facilities rezoning proposal at the airport, but after hearing pleas from county residents to not go through the Land Use Planning Act appeals process, the council backed away.
County Administrator Philip Morley joined port Executive Director Larry Crockett and City Manager David Timmons in coming up with the initial agreement.
The were guided by Al Scalf, county director of community development, city Planning Director Rick Sepler and the port’s contracted planning consultant, Eric Toews.
The intention is to come up with a joint strategy for growth management countywide, city leaders agreed.
Meeting in April
The three governments are expected to meet jointly over the issue in April after meeting in January and agreeing to gather again in 90 days.
The agreement follows more than five years of acrimony over the direction of economic development in the county, with some city leaders concerned about losing business and tax dollars to new county businesses.
Heated debate without solution led the county commissioners to pull funding from the Jefferson County Economic Development Council, ultimately leading to its demise.
The county commissioners then formed Team Jefferson, contracting economic development functions with Washington State University’s Port Hadlock Extension with Baril as its director.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.