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10/12/2005: "BOCC Still Working On Forming Citizens Committee"

PW Director Jon Shannon proves a photo is worth a 1000 words -Matt Zybas listens to BOCC - BOCC staff behind him

The idea of forming an advisory committee to the BOCC on EPFs (Essential Public Facilities), came from the previous BOCC, as a way of answering concerns from the public on the construction of EPFs. The original intent was to form a committee that would act as a disinterested group to review the need, and siting, of EPFs in San Juan County.

The push for a committee came as a result of the possible purchase of the LaFarge beach on San Juan island for a barge landing, and its possible use as a storage area for gravel, but at the last moment the former Board stepped back from forming a committee. (See past story: Who Needs A Committee ) After the recent purchase this year of land on SJ island for development of a PW yard and storage area, the cry for a EPF committee was once again heard by the BOCC, and the new Board stated they would quickly form a committee to advise them on EPFs.

Responding to continued questions from the public on why it is taking so long to appoint a committee to "do something" or advise "someone" on the long range planning of Public Works projects, the BOCC once again put the subject on their agenda and met with PW (Public Works) Director Jon Shannon & the CD&PD (Community Development & Planning) Director Matt Zybas; and yet once again failed to not only appoint a committee, but also failed to define it's mission, who it would respond to, and what it would respond on.



Public Works Director Jon Shannon told the board that he did not understand how the committee would intersect with existing county committees. He said it would be helpful to him if the Board would clearly state to him "Why do we want to do this? What outcome is expected from this, and what do you need that you don't have?"

Commissioner Bob Myhr listed what he believed should be the areas the committee should look at: Solid waste, maintenance facilities, office/ administrative space, and raw materials storage. These are siting issues, and he said the committee should look at the issues on a county wide level; but that he would exclude barge landing sites, as that was another level of review.

Commissioner Lichter pointed out that the past minutes of the Board clearly show the committee was to address PW's long range plans, and the concerns of the Kelsey South proposal for a PW facility, but now it seems to have expanded into something else. Myhr responded that he will always want to look at the impacts on the county as a whole, and not to limit reviews to specific projects

The Board did agree that the committee should be of an odd number, consisting of seven or eight members, but did not come to a consensus on the degree and the scope of the committee's work. There was also a question raised as to where the staff support for the committee will come from. Director Shannon wanted it to go to the CD&PD, and volunteered to move budget money around in his department to help fund the administrative costs of the committee and then make the funding available to the CD&PD to help them defer the costs of staffing the committee. The Board was split on which department should provide support -regardless of where the money came from.

Shannon make it clear he was not very excited about having a committee, but at the end of the meeting he told the Board that he could see some value in having the committee test PW assumptions that PW has made based on previous Board directives. As an example he cited the work toward a transfer station that PWs has been moving forward on for years, but now is not clear if that is a priority for the current board, or not.

The Board will meet again next week and try to finalize a mission statement. Commissioner Myhr said the Board should also continue to solicit candidates for the committee.