Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994/04/18 - Lower Hood Canal CWD t LOWER HOOD CANAL CLEAN WATER DISTRICT APRIL 18, 1994 ATTENDANCE: Mary L. Faughender, Commissioner William O. Hunter, Chairperson Laura E. Porter, Commissioner Wayne Clifford, Water Quality Director Brad Banner, Health Services Director Al Adams, Lower Hood Canal Clean Water District Chair Terri King,WSU Cooperative Extension Harry Martin The Lower Hood Canal Clean Water District meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. by Chairperson William O. Hunter. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Cmmr. Faughender/Porter moved and seconded the March 21, 1994 minutes be approved as circulated. Motion carried unanimously. F-aye; H-aye; P-aye. CORRESPONDENCE The correspondence from the public hearings were considered by the Board and passed on to Wayne Clifford. ASSESSMENT PROPOSAL - CALL FOR HEARING Wayne Clifford,Water Quality Director,reviewed his memorandum dated April 18;1994 to the Board regarding the two assessment options proposed for the Lower Hood Canal Clean Water District. Multiple/Larger On-site sewage systems would be,assessed $250; Public Parks with RV Connections $450;Tideland Parcels $26; Other On-Site Sewage Systems not larger or multiple connection $52. Cmmr. Porter questioned if the Public Parks with RV Connections is for any number of connections. Mr. Clifford responded they just looked at public parks, for example Twanoh has 12 - 13 connections. Chairperson Hunter stated the information before the Board is just a working paper for calculating information. He questioned if the definition of a public park is one that is publicly owned. Mr. Clifford concurred that was the intent. The question was raised if there are private parks within the District. It was pointed out Snooze Junction is a private park and they would fall under the multiple/larger on-site sewage system category. Cmmr.Porter/Faughender moved and seconded to call for a public hearing to consider testimony and adoption of the Table Two assessment amounts on May 3, 1994 at 3:00 p.m. Harry Martin asked why the Board needs to have another public hearing. Chairperson Hunter noted they aren't sure if it is necessary to hold a public hearing. They are going to ask the Prosecutor. Some of the fees proposed are higher than what they had at the hearing. Cmmr.Porter added the,public hearing notice for the fee adoption stated the County would consider testimony on$48 fees for structures with on-sites and$48 fee for tidelands. There was no mention of the other categories. 0 LOWER HOOD CANAL CLEAN WATER DISTRICT APRIL 18, 1994 - PAGE 2 They are creating new fee categories with significant fees. They felt the safest and quickest way to deal with this is to call for a public hearing and move forward so everyone can have an opportunity to testify on the proposed fees. Cmmr. Faughender interjected the public originally were commenting on the $48. The current proposal is amended slightly. Those that fall within the multiple/larger on-site sewage systems have the potential of being charged $250 instead of the $48. The Board is worried if that goes beyond responding and whether they have a right to be heard on the basis of the new fee. The Board would rather be safe than sorry. They are anticipating the Prosecuting Attorney will not be able to give them an answer without some research which might take two weeks. If they don't set the hearing immediately, it will cost two more weeks. Al Adams also expressed his frustration that the Board will lose a lot of enthusiasm. The Clean Water District Advisory Board sees a lot of time pass with no returns. He questioned how much fine tuning can be done. Chairperson Hunter commented the Board's intent is to be open to the public process. They invited the public to a hearing and listened to them and would like to respect their wishes by giving them merit. He agreed the public process is slow. Mr.Adams stressed it is discouraging to volunteer his resources and then have the process continue. He stated he does have a passion about some of these things they spend time on. Cmmr.Porter/Faughender made a motion to table the above mentioned motion. Motion carried unanimously. F-aye; H-aye; P-aye. The Board took a brief recess to seek legal counsel. Mike Clift, Chief Deputy Prosecutor, arrived at the meeting in response to the Board's question if a public hearing is necessary. Wayne Clifford explained the process and how they arrived at the present situation. The Board questioned if the assessment proposal which the Board is considering is a significant enough change they need to have another public hearing. Mr. Clift responded, no, it is close enough. The public realizes whenever there is an advertisement for an assessment or tax, for example, there will be public testimony and the minds of the decision makers can change based on the testimony. The public is put on sufficient notice and can appear at the hearing if they think there interests will be harmed other than what is said in the paper. He again stated he felt the Board can adopt the fee and be finished. Cmmr. Porter/Faughender moved and seconded to remove from the table the motion to set a public hearing. Motion carried unanimously. F-aye; H-aye; P-aye. Cmmr. Porter/Faughender withdrew the motion and second. Cmmr. Porter commented it is the intent to adopt the assessment amount column. She noted her discomfort with the definition of Other On-site Sewage Systems. She offered the language in the Totten-Little Skookum Clean Water District where there is a structure associated with a specific system. It — doesn't seem to fairly reflect there is a system out there. If it is not affiliated with any structures, they shouldn't have to pay an assessment if it isn't being used. LOWER HOOD CANAL CLEAN WATER DISTRICT APRIL 18, 1994 - PAGE 3 Mr. Clifford stated it is their intent. Cmmr. Porter/Faughender moved and seconded to adopt the Table Two Assessments, as the Lower Hood Canal Clean Water District assessments and amend the definition for the category of Other On-site Sewage System not larger or multiple connection to add at the beginning, "Structures associated with . . ." Motion carried unanimously. F-aye; H-aye; P-aye. Harry Martin asked how they came to determine the particular price. Cmmr.Porter expressed there was a lot of testimony that the burden on the tideland owners was unnecessarily heavy. It seemed reasonable to say they could pay half. There was a lot of testimony on the two public parks and quantity and potential pollutants coming from them. The Board looked at the recommended schedule if there were to be one fee and several hook-ups. That fee would add up to approximately $450. The current proposal sets a flat fee. If they were to charge per hook-up it would have been hard to administer. They would have had to go out and count all the hook-ups. The multiple larger on-site was also based the same way. Also, the multiple hook up the Board looked at the average would be using the flat fee plus $10 per hook-up. This would also be less complex to administer and less time discussing the amount of hook-ups and generate the same type of revenue. Harry Martin questioned how many multiple/larger on-site sewage systems there are. Mr. Clifford referred to the column in Table Two listed as Number of Assessments. Al Adams expressed his personal support of Table Two. The committee will be reviewing this at their meeting tonight. It was noted that this action will also be adopted at Tuesday's meeting to ensure all the legal requirements are met. It was discussed how soon the assessments could go out. Cmmr.Porter supported the assessment effective after April when the taxes are due with the burden of the taxes on the public. The timing will probably be an advantage. Mr. Clifford stated they usually allow 60 days to get their payment in. It was noted June 1st would be a good date. Cmmr. Porter commented they need to be open and align the actions they have with the recommended procedural action that are coming from the Auditor. Since they haven't done this, she hoped they could get the assessment out June 1. However, she would prefer to do it right. She also suggested that an interfund loan be approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Al Brotche,Auditor, questioned why the Totten-Little Skookum Clean Water District uses an assessment year, physical year, from July - July. Mr. Clifford stated it just happened to fall in that time frame. Mr.Adams urged the Board to get staff going as soon as possible. SURVEY PROGRESS REPORT A copy of the progress report was attached to the agenda circulated at the meeting. LOWER HOOD CANAL CLEAN WATER DISTRICT APRIL 18, 1994 - PAGE 4 ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 2:08 p.m. due to no further business. Respectfully Submitted, Rebecca S. Rogers LOWER HOOD CANAL CL WATER DISTRICT illia/m O. Hunter, Chairperson M.L. ughender, Co issioner Laura E. Porter, Commissioner