03/03/2009: "Council Responds To PW Report With Questions"

(Joh Shannon & PW Staff respond to Council questions on report)

The reaction of the members of the County Council to a formal presentation by PW (Public Works) on where to build a new transfer station was low key, muted, and perhaps worrisome for those who may believe the selection of the Beaverton Valley site is a foregone conclusion.

While the questions from the council Indicated they would like to have more Information on the cost to the taxpayer to develop the sites, and more information on potential traffic impacts to non-motorized use of the roads, there were also questions on how the report arrived at some of the conclusions.

Some of the information that came out of the presentation was: the cost estimates used in the report were not what the actual costs would be; the traffic analysis did not include possible impacts on bicycle and pedestrian use of the roads in question; PW had not included the Town in the planning process; PW is not required to include all relevant information in the report; there have been no development plans based on the least expensive development possible; it is possible to argue both ways on some of the conclusions, and price is not relevant for the Beaverton Valley proposed site "since the County already owns it."

One recurring issue for the Council was the use of financial estimates that PW admitted had little, if any validity since they had been generated by sets of assumptions made about how the competing sites could be developed, and to what extent.

Councilman Gene Knapp asked few questions, but at one point he asked "Why are the numbers in there, if we cannot use them?' The response was " We wanted to tell you that cost is important."
Councilman Bob Myhr noted that the cost estimates used "have no meaning."

When Councilwoman Lovel Pratt asked "how do we get a range of what the costs are for the sites," she was informed that "we cannot do it without doing an analysis of the sites, but that will cost more money, and will prolong the process."

With respect to the cost of development, Public Works Director Jon Shannon said "any of the sites can be made to work" as a transfer station, but until one is selected, and plans are drafted for the design of a transfer station, it is not possible to know the cost."

Pratt later returned to the question of cost, and asked "are we not suppose to consider the cost in our decision?' Jon Shannon replied "you will have to."

As for what is known, the Final EIS will be released on Wednesday (3-11-09), the Council will take a tour of the all of the sites; the Council will meet on March 21st with the Town Of Friday Harbor to discuss, and include them, in the selection process, and the Council will formulate a public participation plan.

The Council may hold a work session for the public to ask questions of staff, and there may be two or more public hearings, with the first one scheduled for March 31st .