The Okanogan County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on August 9, 2010, with Chairman, Commissioner Andrew Lampe, Mary Lou Peterson, Commissioner Don Hover and Lanie Johns for Brenda Crowell, Clerk of the Board present.

Update – Planning
Darlene Hajny, Bonnie Lawrence, Ted Murray, and Jeri Timm

Perry Huston updated the commissioners on the "Delisting of the Grey Wolf." They discussed the judge’s ruling for this.

Perry gave an update on the Trail Projects. Ted is in the process of doing a change order for the fencing on the Similkameen Fencing project. The commissioners stated that obtaining an easement for the trail through a private property owner’s land is not an option. BLM has scouted an alternative route to construct the road up to the trail head. Ted advertised for requests for quotes for the fencing project, but it did not include additional work for the wood railings. He understood that a couple vendors were not interested in doing the special railing. Separate from the RFQ, Fiddler Fencing stated they could the additional railing. Another company who we received a bid from indicated they weren’t interested in doing the railing. These companies are on the small works roster. Commissioner Peterson asked that new quotes be solicited for that includes the work to do the railings.

The Back Country Horsemen did secure funding for a portion of the trail. They are a voluntary group who will be doing some of the trail work. They have insurance. Perry will forward the info to the commissioners.

There is a group that wants to save the Old Power house on the Similkameen River. Ted said he would be interested in speaking with the group about it. Ted had a conversation with the state about this, but it is slow.

Eastlake Sewer Service Area hook-up policies.

There are eight proposed lots off of Eastlake Road with access off Eader Lake Road that are shown on Nine Mile No. 1 and Nine Mile No.2 short plats maps presented by Perry for this discussion. Perry discussed framing the process of the application. The past practices would be that the hook up fees would be paid when the lots sold prior to final. If the line was placed on Eader Road it would take 2300 feet for the lots to be serviced. Out of the shoot, it would be those residences obligation to pay before the project went to final or to a bond for future build outs. The eight lots are about 1.5 acre average size. The intervening owners are in favor of the project, but don’t like the idea of having to pay for it. There is a potion that is covered by ULRID. Perry wants to make sure he is properly reflecting the county policies. If it were to come off of Eastlake road there would be about 1400 fee, which would cost less. This project is different because the water and sewer services are not bundled. Oroville water is not needed. Commissioner Peterson asked what their water source will be. Jeri stated they proposed drilling four wells. Under DOE, they should be able to do this, however this is subject to change. The property is on a steep slop and getting water where it needs to be may be challenging. There is no choice of whether or not to do the system. The lake water quality must be considered. The fee structure does need to be addressed and looked at. Perry encouraged the board to discuss this at Board of Health. The building permits are problematic because of the timing. There is a disconnect between obtaining the building permit and closing of the lots. Collecting the fee at closing could be a problem. The final is having the short plat approved when they have something to sell. The lot subdivision must be recorded before being able to sell. The line would have to be in prior to finalizing of the plat or it could be bonded. It could be conditioned in the development agreement that the neighbors participate. Since the lots are only an acre and a half, could they put onsite septic for use on the lots? A group B system could be done on the larger lot. We do have some tools to use being sensitive to having things in place when it is needed. The participants need to be active from the start. We don’t want to make it too expensive otherwise no one will be able to afford it. We have to find a happy medium. This is the city expansion area. Until we have the policies in place, it is essentially Perry’s decision. The challenges can be addressed through the appeal process. He is about 30 days out for the inter governmental agreement with Oroville in complete. Commissioner Peterson asked if we were consistent with Champerty Shores. They have to have Oroville water. They want to hook to the Oroville system. It is as consistent as possible.

Perry suggested letting the process unfold unless the commissioners give him something else. Commissioner Peterson explained consistency is very important and wants all sewer projects to be consistent. Commissioner Hover noted the ULID is an assessment to those in the service areas which would be stubbed out to the property line. They would be paying a blend of costs that would cover the whole plus an assessment. The commissioners offered no specific direction to this particular plat.

Kittitas County Hearing did extend the comment period. Do the commissioners’ wish to offer comments. Commissioner Peterson said definitely. Perry will compose some for review.

Public Hearing – Supplemental Appropriation – Current Expense
Commissioner Lampe opened the hearing for staff comment, seeing none he closed the public hearing for staff then opened to public comment, seeing none he closed the hearing for public comment.

Motion Resolution 207-2010 Supplemental Appropriation Current Expense
Commissioner Peterson moved to approve the resolution 207-2010 Supplemental Appropriation to Current Expense in the amount of $300,000. Motion was seconded and carried.

Public Hearing – Supplemental Appropriation – Prosecutor
Commissioner Lampe opened the hearing for staff comment, seeing none he closed the public hearing for staff comment opened to public comment, seeing none he closed the hearing for public comment.

Motion – Resolution 208-2010 Supplemental Appropriation - Prosecutor
Commissioner Hover moved to approve resolution 208-2010 Supplemental Appropriation to the Prosecutor’s budget in the amount of $18,000. Motion was seconded and carried.

Motion – Methow EMS District
Commissioner Hover moved to adjourn as the Board of County Commissioners and convene as the Methow EMS District Board of Directors. Motion seconded and carried.

Commissioner Hover moved to approve the MEMS District vouchers in the amount of $32,010. Motion was seconded and carried.

Commissioner Hover moved to adjourn as the MEMS District Board and reconvene as the Board of County Commissioners.

Discussion – Homeless Housing Coalition
Lael Duncan, Margo Amelong, Claudia Clausnitzer , and Roger Bauer

The Coalition met prior to this meeting in order to discuss issues and solutions to funding their agencies around the county. The Board wanted to hear and discuss what solutions the Housing Authority came up with for awarding/allocating dollars. Lael stated they looked at where they were in the 2060 Affordable Housing funds and looked at the award process for RFP. Their intention is place an RFP in the newspaper approximately August 16^th,with estimated dollar amounts. All the RFP’s will be due in the OCCAC office on September 30, 2010 with awards around the end of October. Commitments issued will be subject to receiving funding at the estimated amount. Funds would then be available sometime the end of January or February 2011. They don’t actually get the accounting until the middle of January. Actual disbursement allocations are usually in February. One allocation has been made over a five year period to Claudia Clausnitzer’s agency for $25,000. She can wait until February, for the balance, if there are other immediate needs before then.

Claudia updated the board on the HUD funding they were awarded and talked about using it to leverage more funding. The funding will be used for nine units but would like to do 15 units, but more assistance will be needed. Nine units would come from HUD assistance money and the other six would be rental assistance to provide housing for seniors who don’t qualify for HUD, but who still need assistance. There has been interest by the Veterans. They won’t break ground till 2012. The grant amount was 1.2 million and is an outright grant with no repayment. The housing authority purchased property behind Ace Hardware. The $25,000 will be used for the first payment on the land. Lael stated it may take a while, sometimes a year, to get the HUD money and the $25,000 will be used to finance the project actual funds start coming in. Claudia’s agency will receive an additional $25,000 for the next four years out of the 2060 monies. They already received it for 2010 and it was used for the down payment for this land.

Commissioner Peterson said they didn’t realize that they were dedicating money for one project five years in advance without requiring an application each year to get the funds. The Oroville board felt slighted because they needed the funds to keep the housing open in the wintertime. It didn’t get funded to stay open. The commissioners would like to see the monies spread out equally to those who need it. The commissioners want everyone to get a share and finding a balance between the agencies will be challenging. There are so many who have needs, throughout the whole county. Margo is talking about the 2060 funds which is just one fourth of the recording fees collected. The other three fourths are dedicated for homeless. Roger stated this is the last year for OBHC to receive the funds. Roger noted that there are more monies received but the budget just didn’t include them. A supplemental will be needed. Roger stated the ongoing funding Cheryl is talking about could come out of the 2163 funds or some other fund. Lael said, in the first year, there wasn’t enough funds collected to go around, but now there could be enough to go around. Claudia stated they had to tell people to come down here in order to get the help.

Commissioner Peterson asked if there are there any solutions to keeping the Oroville Housing open this winter? The will likely need about $10,000. The process for letting each agency know the submittal dates and deadlines and so everyone knows what they are supposed to do and how can they come up with the $10,000 to keep it open in the winter. Oroville Housing will submit an RFP for this. Lael reiterated that funding that has already been collected could be used until February monies come in. A long term funding solution should be made based on a percentage of funds received. The state will be imposing a consolidated homeless plan and all the contracts for homelessness will be coming through the county and back out to the single entity who will then distribute the funding. All the recording fee dollars are used as the county’s share of the funding and has to align with the state programs which take away the whole local control thing. Negotiations are ongoing at this point. The state would like to see permanent supportive housing versus emergency shelter.

The state imposes so many restrictions to comply with it makes it very difficult to fit. With the no child left behind legislation families can no longer be shuffled around to the available housing. A real accurate count of how many families are actually using the shelters is needed. It is difficult to mesh three or four programs. Different programs have different reporting requirements that must be met. They don’t make it easy. There has been a large increase in family homelessness. It is hard to evaluate and count how many people are being served.

Commissioner Peterson said there needs to be a cohesiveness within the county should one shelter be full but others have bed space. Those who open beds should be able to provide them. We need to maintain the ones that are working until the permanent housing is built.

Solutions to the above issues were discussed to find the most effective way to spend the dollars. Each entity could use the lion’s share of the fund one year and the next entity another year. There should be a yearly prioritization of projects for the money.

And, the funds need to be spent consistent with the 10 year plan.

Commissioner Lampe will meet with the coalition to have clarity of the solutions available and bring it back to discuss with the other commissioners.

Oroville housing gets sufficient funding out of the Homeless Housing.

Meet with the coalition to hash out a workable plan to allocate the funds in the future.