STAFF REPORT
The county council has approved a 2014 budget, a capital improvement plan and a staffing, pay and benefits plan.
“I am very proud of the budget,” said Councilman Rick Hughes. “Milene Henley and Mike Thomas worked really well together … this is the most important thing we do, and we had very few hassles.”
The bottom line: $54,469,654 for the “Grand Total County” budget; $6,124,203 for the capital improvements plan, included in the budget; 219.7 full-time equivalents, which means roughly 220 employees. FTEs refer to the ratio of the total number of paid hours during a period (part time, full time, contracted) by the number of working hours in that period Mondays through Fridays.
The $54.5 million budget is 2.6 percent less than the 2013 budget of about $55.6 million. The 2014 staffing level of 219.7 FTEs represents a reduction of about six FTEs. Because employees are hired, fired and retire during the year, the actual number of people working for the county might not be reduced.
The largest budget reduction was about $1.5 million for county roads, from about $11.8 million in 2013 to roughly $10.3 million budgeted for 2014. “Roads” is a budgetary line item that varies from year-to-year based on the availability of federal and state contributions to local road construction. From 2012 to 2013, for instance, county road funds went up by about $3 million because of outside grants.
Expenditures for county parks will increase by almost $400,000 –mostly because of a capital expenditure of about $380,000 for a new Parks and Fair Administration Building. The solid waste projects line item is up by about $550,000, from about $720,000 in 2013 to about $1.275 million in 2014.
Major planned capital expenditures included in the 2014 capital improvement plan are $250,000 for a patrol boat based on Lopez and $600,000 for the public safety boat acquisition, most of which will be financed by a federal grant. The county is also planning on spending $874,000 for realignment of Cattle Point Road, $550,000 for the Deer Harbor Bridge project, $430,000 for Orcas Island road improvements and $380,000 on the West Beach Road Culvert Replacement, also on Orcas.
Assessor Charles Zalmanek’s budget is $916,963, but $75,000 of that is being withheld until he provides the county council with a written report on the current use of the farm and agriculture program including: the criteria used to determine compliance, the way he notifies property owners of receipt of materials and analysis of the current use program from January 2007 to December 2013. He must also provide a written report on the status of new construction valuation.
Budget Process
The budget process includes a review of county income from the multiple tax and grant sources, and a compilation of county department budget requests and income estimates.
After clarifications by and discussions with department managers and Thomas, Henley prepares a proposed budget to present to the council.
At meetings, the council studies the documentation and receives additional input from Thomas. After suggestions for changes are applied, Henley presents a draft budget for further hearings, including at least one hearing at which the public can testify and present their views. The auditor then prepares a final draft, the manager prepares a draft ordinance, council members review the drafts and the council schedules a final hearing, which occurred Dec. 3 on Lopez.
The vote to approve the budget by the three councilmen was unanimous.
Orcas open house with county
The question and answer session of the county’s Orcas open house became heated when islanders shared stories about the community development and planning department.
“Why do we need lawyers? Why do we need to fight our government? This is a small community and a small government. It’s frustrating,” said Ron Mourning.
The meeting was hosted by Councilman Rick Hughes, Auditor Milene Henley and County Manager Mike Thomas, County Planner Colin Maycock and Eastsound Planning Review Committee Chair Gulliver Rankin on Dec. 4 at the fire station.
Michael Durland talked about an ongoing boundary line and permitting problem he has had with Community Development and Planning, which has required him to hire a lawyer for litigation.
“There must be a different procedure for citizens,” he said.
Other audience members echoed his concerns, calling for a citizens’ board of appeals or ombudsman to look at building code and permitting concerns.
Kathleen Speed and Leith Templin both asked the county to learn from mistakes and read the code consistently.
Earlier in the evening Thomas told the crowd that some of his goals include making the permitting process easier, speeding up permit turnout in certain cases, customer service training and implementing new office hours on Monday through Friday, 9 to 4 p.m.. There may be a possibility for a pre-application for commercial projects to help process permits.
“Part of our efforts are to get out into the community more,” said Thomas.
Rankin echoed this comment by saying, “they are walking the walk this year,” in reference to county officials attending Eastsound meetings and events.
Improvements for Eastsound
Since the first of December, county crews have been working on A Street in front of the post office to install stormwater collection piping and catch basins.
This project will begin to alleviate long-standing drainage problems. Work will extend along A Street from the northwest corner of the theater parking lot east to the northeast corner of the theater.
Next year the county plans to complete storm water construction from the Village Stop to North Beach Road.
There are also likely road improvement projects happening on Prune Aly in 2014 as well as chip sealing in Eastsound. The county is looking at road improvements from Nordstrom Lane to McNallie Lane.
“Are the safety improvements and the widening something the public wants?” Hughes told the Sounder. “Do we really need to get it done right now? Could we use the money in Eastsound instead?”
Some audience members asked for more disabled friendly sidewalks and paths in Eastsound. The need for streetlights was also brought up. Hughes said there are conduits on the sidewalks that allow for street lamps.
Sadie Bailey asked what the county is doing to protect Eastsound swale.
“I wouldn’t want an auto repair shop right next to an Eastsound swale,” she said.
Another topic of interest was the possibilities of kiosks in town. In a recent EPRC survey 29 out of 37 Orcas residents said they would like some kind of kiosk in Eastsound.
As far as kiosks on county property, Rankin said, there is no language in county code for the structures.
“Basically kiosks are not prohibited and they are not approved,” he said.
County code does not allow drive-throughs in Eastsound except banks, post offices and the ferry. Also no vending is allowed on public sidewalks, but you can vend on your own store front. Kiosks can be located on private property like the coffee shop and the farm stand near Hogstone, the ice cream truck across from the public restrooms and the whale watching booth near Brown Bear Bakery.
Rankin and Hughes also discussed the Sub Area Plan, which establishes general patterns for future land use, transportation and other infrastructure needs.
“Our plan has to maintain a village character,” said Rankin. “That is unique to Eastsound.”
To see the Eastsound Subarea Plan, go to http://goo.gl/mhbLba.
