The Okanogan County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on August 3, 2010, with Chairman, Commissioner Andrew Lampe, Mary Lou Peterson, and Brenda Crowell, Clerk of the Board present. Commissioner Don Hover out of the office during the AM.

Motion - Consent Agenda
Commissioner Peterson moved to approve consent agenda items 1-10 as presented. Motion was seconded and carried.

1. Commissioners Proceedings July 26^th & 27^th, 2010
2. Resolution 195-2010 – Transfer #17 Corrections
3. Resolution 196-2010 – Transfer Sheriff
4. Resolution 197-2010 – Transfer Sheriff’s Special Projects
5. Resolution 198-2010 – Transfer Juvenile
6. Resolution 199-2010 – PT Victim Witness Position
7. Letter National Park Service – George Turnbull
8. Letter USFS – Tom Tidwell
9. Letter DOE – Ted Sturdevant
10. Letter US F&WS – Ken Berg

eri Timm presented the staff report for the Pearrygin Lake Planned Development. The project was presented by ICF Jones & Stokes on behalf of Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission for a phased Planned Development and Development Agreement. The proposed development consists of improving and adding to the amenities of the existing Pearrygin State Park including the West Campground, East Campground, and Studhorse Mountain Area. The existing development is 50 acres and the complete project build out will include approximately 160 acres of development and 707 acres in open space.

Linda Bently, Washington State Parks and Bill Frasier, Regional Planner explained the project.

Linda stated that the staff report probably accurately reflects the project. She pointed to maps of the proposed project. She would also like to add into the record a letter from the Fire District 6. The Fire district had some mitigation they would like to see but there is no way to amend the measures until a review of all the measures are completed without redoing SEPA. Commissioner Peterson asked if the store, which is being demolished, will be replaced. Bill replied that there will still be a store operating until the second store is built during Phase II. Commissioner Peterson also asked that since this would be a state park if they would be raising rentals. Mr. Frasier stated that those rates are set by the state commission and would not be a result of this park development. A new well has been drilled that will supplement the entire park for domestic water use.

Jeri reported that the Planning Commission recommends adoption. All conditions of approval have been met.

Commissioner Lampe noted that no public were present for comment.

Motion – Direct Staff to Prepare Ordinance - Planning
Commissioner Peterson moved to direct staff to prepare an ordinance adopting a Zoning Map amendment which changes the subject property from Methow Review District Valley Floor 5 and Uplands 20 to Planned Development. Motion was seconded and carried.

Motion – Development Agreement -- Planning
Commissioner Peterson moved to approve the Development Agreement for Pearrygin Lake Planned Development 2009-1, subject to the findings of fact and conclusions of law. Motion was seconded and carried.

Ordinance 2010-004 – Zoning – Pearrygin Lake PD
Commissioner Peterson moved to approve Ordinance 2010-004, rezone of Pearrygin Lake PD. Motion was seconded and carried.

Update – Public Works
Frank Sautell reported on the status of the gravel pits and noted that there was some minor damage to ditches and road shoulders from the recent hail storm. There are flash flood warnings for Okanogan and Chelan Counties due to a slow moving storm. Commissioner Peterson asked how the work is coming on the Peter Dan Canyon Road. Frank stated it should be completed by now. Guardrails are also being installed.

Motion - Voucher Approval - Commissioners
Vouchers certified and audited by the Auditing Officer as required by RCW 42.24.080 and those expense reimbursement claims certified as required by RCW 42.24.090 have been recorded on a list and made available to the Board. As of this date, the Board did by unanimous vote to approve the vouchers in the amount of $511,690.50 and payroll in the amount of $1,545,281.23. Warrant numbers are cited on the attached blanket voucher list.

Resolution 200-2010 – Supplemental Appropriation – Current Expense
Commissioner Lampe opened the hearing and noted that no staff or public were present for comment.

Commissioner Peterson moved to approve Resolution 200-2010 in the amount of $274,087 to Current Expense, Non-Departmental. Motion was seconded and carried. (attached)

Settlement Agreement – Solid Waste Wage and Benefit
Commissioner Peterson moved to approve a settlement agreement with Teamsters Local Union 760 for the Solid Waste Wage and Benefit Settlement Agreement. Motion was seconded and carried.

Commissioner Peterson moved to approve the Addendum to the Warranty, Support and License Agreement with HART Intercivic and authorize the Auditor, Laurie Thomas to sign. Motion was seconded and carried.

Support Letter - Grand Coulee Dam School District
The Commissioners signed a support letter on behalf of the Grand Coulee Dam School District their School building project proposal. (attached)

Nicole Kuchenbuch, Trina Stucker, Bonnie Lawrence, Darlene Hagjney, Sheila Corson,
Perry recapped the previous day’s work session. He referred to the map which designates, by color, the proposed land designations.

Perry explained walking some of the planning assumptions out of the resource designations over into the rural designations. In the resource designation there should be a lot of tools for land owners to use for commercial activity. As it exists under the minimum requirement district, there are a lot of conditional use permits. What he proposed instead in the resource zones Ag-20, now those conditional use permits would be bumped to permitted uses. This would simplify the process people would have to go through. They wouldn’t have to go through the county’s public hearing process in front of the Board of Adjustment. It becomes just an administrative process.

Perry discussed the four proposed amendments to the Comp Plan and Zone Code as noted on the memo he submitted. (attached)

Review Changes to Resource Designation

Perry suggested rather than changing the rural low density they make the rural low designation compatible with the ag zones. Commissioner Hover stated they need gravel, cement, and contracting materials for building needs and he doesn’t want to deny that resource and for them to have to go to Brewster to get it. Commissioner Peterson asked whether it conforms with the rest of the county now? Perry stated no. Commissioner Peterson asked if it is written anywhere that they are the same in anyway. Perry stated no it is not. Pits that were in place prior to the rezone are fine it is all new pits that are not included, but don’t confuse conforming and non conforming pits. Commissioner Hover wants to look at that closer. As it is currently those zones are not currently allowed in the Methow review district. How the board get there is through zoning. The rural 20 currently is the uplands 20 and the ag 20 has a much longer list of permitted uses and allows more activity around clustering. It is not mirrored in the rural 20 zone it is more restrictive. It sounds like some can be written in to move resource designation to rural low. Permitted versus conditional uses. Commissioner Peterson stated for pits 3 acres or more has to be permitted and certified. Doe these need additional permitting throughout the county? The planning commission said if it was commercial it would need to be permitted but if it is for private use then no. The county code will not require it unless it is for profit. Commissioner Hover stated that if the rural designation is high no one would like to have dump trucks and heavy equipment disturbing the peace with in that residential area. But in the lower rural it might be more acceptable.

Perry will take a look at the circulation layer and see where the designations fall.

Perry stated we should still zone public lands in case in the rare occasion that ag activities take place there. The resource designation it too restrictive, Perry suggested using a different zone in order to allow more activity. Rural low should be compatible with Ag 20 and Ag 5, which would allow more permitted uses. Perry suggested creating a list of things that can be done within these designations in order to support the economic flexibility in these areas. Perry will create the language for this proposal.

We could create an exempt process for those over 5 acres or less than 4 acres if the board wants to. Commissioner Hover wants to leave as many reasonable options as possible. He does want it tight enough so it doesn’t get abused. Commissioner Lampe would like to look some scenarios. You can’t use the simple administrative process over and over again, but only do it once with in a period of time. The more onerous processes could still be done to divide the parcel but this way it’s giving the land owner more tools to do things. More things will be listed that can be done that aren’t currently in the code right now and more of them will go from conditional to permitted. Perry will build some language to present to the board.

Commissioner Peterson would like to discuss the Black Canyon scenario of including in the MRD. Some of the Methow groups discussed different things but were never unanimous. Commissioner Lampe would like a buildable lands analysis on the Black Canyon area in order to justify including it or not. He wants to make sure there is enough buildable dirt there to warrant even doing the expansion. Perry pointed out there is hardly any private property in the canyon and most is already divided down as far as it can be. Either side of the canyon is publically owned. Perry will do the analysis and present it to the board. He believes including Black Canyon in the MRD was a political move by someone.

Perry outlined how this policy would benefit the county’s standing on forest issues, fire hazards, etc... Commissioner Peterson asked if this is required to be in our plan. Perry replied, this comes in to play when applying for grants and will help obtain them. Perry thinks there is opportunity in creating the policy. If we create a policy which doesn’t need to be part of the comp plan but that embraces healthy forests, ties back to coordination, woody debri removal, biomass, cleaner burning, energy independence, create sustainability, reduction of dead debri and reduction of risk of catastrophic fire, emissions ADT’s hydro power renewable, water supply storage and connection of storage and power generation then it can be a benefit to have it in place. Commissioner Hover stated we need this in place in order to use it to our advantage. Commissioner Peterson doesn’t want this in place unless absolutely necessary. Commissioner Lampe stated if the county does apply for grants it may be a requirement for the application. Commissioner Hover and Lampe would like to look at some draft language for this policy.

Needs of the industry will be a section addressing – calculations, forest ag, soil, and water. Commissioner Peterson stated calculations have been done by some of the involved groups like cattle and mining who have gathered certain facts and data that should be included.

Vision statements will be addressed at a later date and are currently boxed at this time.

Commissioner Lampe asked when the board could expect the scenarios to be presented. Perry replied he will see once he has finished framing what they’ve discussed today and could present them during the public review. Commissioner Peterson asked what our target date for Public Hearings will be. She would like to have a couple public reviews first. Commissioner Lampe’s best guess would be November for the public review or early next year. Perry stated it could be physically possible the first of September and public hearings the later part of October, that is if there is agreement on the drafts. He doesn’t make any predictions though. As soon as a revised draft is presented with the changes, there could be a month of review.

Commissioner Lampe, at the conclusion of the meeting asked for citizen comments.

Nicole Kuchenbuch with the Coalition for Property Rights, asked with regards to the neighborhood vision statements, how the Methow sub unit will be identified in the comp plan will they have specific reference in the land use designations? Perry stated specific reference will be in both.

Under the new consideration would those selling gravel to the county be no distinction it would be under state law.

Lower Methow buildable land analysis

How is setting aside our principals advancing our purpose in the county, where is dancing around their octagon leading us and why do we need the grants and why invite them in?

Support NCRTPO Proposal Letter
Commissioners signed a support letter to NCRTPO in support of the Methow Valley SR 20 paved bicycle riding path.

Discussion – Food Sense Agreement – Margaret Viebrock – Extension Office
Margaret Viebrock explained the need for the verification of the support of the Food Sense assistance for the Okanogan County schools. This is an actual cost share contribution for 3^rd quarter food sense.

Commissioner Peterson moved to approve the nutrition food sense and education for the third quarter. Motion was seconded and carried.

Margaret discussed that the maintenance made the extension office parking spot a handicap spot. Margaret suggested a loading and unloading spot for the 4-H folks in order to use for about a half hour of time. She suggested using the weed board spot for this. Commissioners will need to take a look at the area and rearrange some of the designated spots. The office is open half a day. There have been complaints from those who want to come in the afternoon. If there was a portion of the MOA that could be used to staff some afternoons it would be helpful. The commissioners stated there are no problems with using that money as long as it is there or to move it around as needed.

Joe Somday and Dave Rodriguez came in to discuss an issue with the salary survey. Joe stated there have been no raises in the Sheriff’s office administration.