The Courthouse Journal A Joint Publication of the Washington State Association of Counties & Washington Association of County Officials May 5, 2000 Number 4 TWO WASHINGTON COUNTIES RECEIVE NATIONAL AWARDS FROM NACO Two Washington counties have received Acts of Caring awards from NACo. The awards were delivered to Skagit and Clark Counties at a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on April 13. The awards are in recognition of outstanding programs using volunteers to make our local communities better places to live. Skagit County received their award for their Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Skagit's RSVP program has been in existence since 1976 and this year marks the 23rd year in partnership with the federal RSVP. As needs have grown, and more agencies have come to depend on senior volunteers, the county's portion of the program support has grown to more than half of its annual budget. RSVP promotes volunteerism and matches seniors age 55 and over with meaningful volunteer opportunities in public and non-profit agencies to meet local needs. Currently in Skagit County, more than 800 RSVP volunteers serve in 90 agencies including police departments, schools, hospitals, senior centers, museums, food banks and more. The 133,000 hours of service are valued at more than $1.7 million. Contact: Donna Sitts, (360) 336-9315 Clark County received their award for their juvenile court community accountability boards. The boards were established in 1978 and comprise trained citizen volunteers of the Juvenile Court who meet with youth charged with first or second time misdemeanor offenses. The boards are responsible for processing youth through a diversion program instead of going before a court and judge. The volunteers are sworn into service by superior court judges. They meet with youth ages 12 - 18 and encourage them to take responsibility for their actions by making an agreement that includes a statement of consequences. Some 45 volunteers, ages 15 - 75, from diverse ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds, participate on the boards. In 1999, 534 youth and their parents met with board volunteers. Contact: Jeff Amram, Clark County Superior Court. Congratulations to both counties for these outstanding volunteer programs. ************************************** ENVIRONMENT, LAND USE & RESOURCES ************************************** NEW SHORELINES MANAGEMENT RULE PROPOSAL AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT The Department of Ecology is seeking reaction to a rule pre-proposal which would allow a county or city to simultaneously comply with new Shoreline Master Program guidelines and achieve protection from take liability under the Endangered Species Act 4(d) rule. Ecology developed this alternative in consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service after NMFS indicated that the December version of shorelines guidelines did not adequately protect fish. Ecology now plans to offer counties and cities the December version (Path A) and the NMFS collaboration (Path B) as optional approaches to revise Shoreline Master Programs. In order to receive ESA 4(d) legal protections for shorelines permitting activity, local jurisdictions would have to comply with the prescriptive Path B approach or separately negotiate with NMFS using the more flexible Path A approach. Path B contains provisions designed to provide NMFS with added certainty that development will not result in further degradation of the shoreline environment. The Path B guidelines go beyond the December draft in the following areas: (1) monitoring & adaptive management; (2) regulatory enforcement; (3) inventory; (4) restoration of degraded shorelines; (5) cumulative impacts; (6) vegetation conservation; (7) management of channel migration zone; and (8) definition of properly functioning conditions. A copy of the Path B pre-proposal can be obtained from Neil Aaland at the Department of Ecology (naal461@ecy.wa.gov) or 360-407-7045. Ecology plans to formally propose the Path A and Path B alternatives in the Washington State Register on June 7, followed by eight to ten public hearings in July, leading to rule adoption in September. Ecology must receive comments on the Path B pre-proposal by May 10. ************************************** SMART GROWTH ROUNDTABLES WELL-ATTENDED Over the last two weeks, the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development has held four regional "Smart Growth" roundtables in Yakima, Spokane, Everett and Olympia. DCTED considers "Smart Growth" to be a term describing a vision of strong communities, a vibrant economy, a healthy environment, and respect among people - all being achieved together. Two themes emerged from the workshops - attended by county and city elected officials and staff, developers, realtors, community activists, state agency staff, and others: a need for greater infrastructure and for better coordination of economic development activities. A statewide Smart Growth workshop, including some of the roundtable participants, takes place on May 22. Issues raised during these workshops will be used in developing legislative and budget proposals for 2001. Questions about the Smart Growth should be directed to Shane Hope, Managing Director for the Growth Management Program at 360-753-2222. ************************************** SRF BOARD PROPOSES LATE 2000 GRANT CYCLE POLICIES At its May and June meetings, the Salmon Recovery Funding Board will be establishing policies and guidelines for the "Late 2000" Grant Cycle. These policies and guidelines cover a wide variety of issues, each important in guiding the type of projects the Board intends to fund. Program policies, once adopted by the Board, are the keystones to a fair and effective grant program. The Board now seeks comment and advice on the proposals. Lead Entities have expressed need for as much time for the application and review process as possible. At the same time, the Board will need to demonstrate results to legislative and congressional decision-makers this fall and winter. For these reasons, SRFB staff is requesting comment as soon as possible on the draft materials - by May 15th. If it is feasible, the Board may be able to make major decisions for the Late 2000 cycle on the second day of its May 23-24 meeting, rather than waiting until June as previously announced. This could allow additional application time for the Lead Entities. The draft proposal can be obtained on the web at: http://www.wa.gov/iac/SRFBwhatsnew.html. It is based on initial directions provided during the April Board meeting, together with further Board, staff, and constituent suggestions. The principal difference is that the proposed schedule will give lead entities more time to evaluate and prioritize projects in their watershed(s). In addition, the proposed schedule allows the Board to make its funding decisions in time for the 2001 Legislature. This will not only show the Legislature how the Board's funds were allocated, but also demonstrate the unmet need for funding for habitat restoration and protection. All comments on the Late 2000 policies should be made by mail or e-mail by May 15th. The Board will also solicit testimony on the proposed policies at its May 23-24 meeting in White Salmon. If the Board is able to make decisions on the issues in the document at that meeting, grant application materials could be available to Lead Entities around June 1. Send comments to: Salmon Recovery Funding Board, P. O. Box 40917, Olympia, WA 98504-0917 or salmon@iac.wa.gov ************************************** GMA GRANTS PROCESS BEGINS AGAIN Another $1.5 million is available in GMA competitive grants for FY 2001, with awards up to $50,000 for a single jurisdiction. Grants are available in the following categories: Compliance -- to help counties and cities meet basic GMA requirements; Conservation - to help conserve farmland, forestland or open space; Critical Areas - to help protect critical areas, incorporating best available science; Economic or Financial Opportunities - to help plan for sustainable economic development or explore inter-local options for revenue and cost sharing; Rural Communities - to help provide for development and quality of life in rural areas; Special Projects; and Urban Livability - to improve development and quality of life in urban growth areas. Grant applications may be obtained by calling 360-753-2222. Completed applications must be postmarked by May 26, 2000. ************************************** HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES ************************************** PIERCE COUNTY STEPS UP METHAMPHETAMINE EFFORTS Pierce County has been at the forefront of recent activities to grasp the problem of exponentially expanding methamphetamine manufacture, sale, and use. It is estimated that Pierce County is home to 40% of the over 700 meth labs currently known to exist in the state. This number has grown by leaps and bounds over recent years. The County has taken several steps to grapple with the problem. They've passed a $1 million emergency measure to finance four additional deputies, two detectives, a deputy prosecuting attorney and other staff all targeted at meth labs. The new measure also calls for a get-tough policy on jailing accused meth lab operators. Pierce's move comes at a time when the state Department of Ecology reported that they don't have adequate manpower to supervise the cleanup of the labs being busted currently much less those which would come from increased enforcement. $15 million in federal funds has been requested but so far nothing has been authorized. So the county is trying to get going on its own by using higher than anticipated sales tax revenues and unanticipated investment revenue. County Executive Doug Sutherland said the county can meet the cost for the year 2000 but funding would have to be arranged for future years. It is a given that increased efforts in this area will put a squeeze on jail bed space, but the additional funds can be used to purchase beds in other communities such as Yakima if necessary. The second piece of the effort was a summit held this past week in Pierce County attended by state, federal, and local officials to discuss this issue. Governor Locke has pledged the use of state National Guard forces to assist in the efforts to bring this frightening trend under control. Their aid will be a big help since local agencies and DOE are undermanned in these efforts and we want to thank the Governor for his offer. These efforts to attack the meth lab problem come at the same time that state and local substance abuse professionals are exploring the possibilities of asking the legislature to declare a new war on drugs and for the first time since 1989, put substantive new funds into substance abuse treatment and prevention programs and services. It is estimated that current efforts only reach about 20% of the population in need of service. The result is something we in local government are only too aware of, more and more drug offenders in our criminal justice system. One local official reported 100% of the population in his detention center at a particular point in time was drug-affected. ************************************** KING COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVES CHILD CARE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM The King County Council recently approved a landmark pilot project, the first of its kind in the nation. The County Council passed legislation to improve the wages of childcare workers beginning with a pilot project whose budget, standards, and guidelines were approved. Councilmember Greg Nickels was quoted as saying, "Our major goal is to increase the quality of child care available to our working families. We need to be able to attract - and keep - quality people in this profession and provide them with professional development opportunities. Our children's well-being depends on it." The pilot program will target childcare workers who serve low-income families in south King County and rural east King County. It will provide wage subsidies for participating providers and provide incentives for the continuing education of child care workers. Councilmember Louise Miller, who supported the measure, said research shows that in addition to improved wages, training is another key element for the retention of childcare workers. "The more training and education provided to our child care workers, the more we'll see services that enhance all children's social and educational development." The pilot is designed to operate for five years. It will be evaluated for its effectiveness. ************************************** LAW & JUSTICE ************************************** CRIMINAL JUSTICE FACILITIES GRANTS TO BE OFFERED As reported in the April 28 Courthouse Journal, $612,000 additional federal funding for local justice facilities is available from the federal Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth-in-Sentencing (VOI/TIS) grant program, which is administered by the state Department of Corrections (DOC). A portion of these funds will be available to local governments in 2001 to help construct, expand or improve local jails. This additional funding brings the total VOI/TIS funds provided during the 1999-01 biennium to $4.1 million. Applications for the grants utilize a standard Request For Proposal (RFP) process and may be for up to $200,000 per jurisdiction per year. The grant requires a 10 percent local cash match. Funds awarded must be spent within three years. Local proposals must result in expanded bed capacity for confinement of violent offenders. Constructing or expanding jail space for nonviolent offenders and criminal aliens is allowed if it frees up existing confinement facilities to be used for violent offenders. According to the DOC, grant information will be distributed to all county sheriffs and corrections directors in early September with a late October application deadline. For more information or to be added to the mailing list for applications, contact Helen Shreve, grant management analyst at DOC, at 360-753-4638. During two annual rounds of grant awards, the following counties have previously received VOU/TIS grants: Clark, Grant, Mason, Okanogan, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Yakima, and the tri- jurisdictional partnership of Chelan County, Douglas County and the City of Wenatchee. ************************************** INTERESTED IN COURT REFORM? COMMITTEES NOW FORMING The Board for Judicial Administration, chaired by Chief Justice Richard Guy, has established the Project 2001 Committee to study a variety of issues relating to court reform. The need for improvement in court operations was raised by Justice Phil Talmadge in an address last November at the WSAC Fall Legislative Conference, and in a number of bills introduced last legislative session. WSAC has been asked to join the Project 2001 committee, which already has met, and to appoint representatives to each of three working groups. It is expected that Project 2001 will conclude its work during the fall with legislative recommendations. The workgroups will address case management, jurisdiction and portability, and trial court administration and make recommendations to Project 2001 for policy changes and fiscal impacts. The Case Management Work Group is to evaluate the current capability of superior courts to timely process cases and recommend improvements, training, or other means such as courthouse facilitators or alternative dispute resolution to improve case management. The Jurisdiction and Portability Work Group will review existing programs and methods used by courts to adjust the workload balance between trial courts, including both civil and criminal cases. The Trial Court Administration Work Group will analyze administrative services provided by multiple courts in a jurisdiction for efficiency, duplication and improvement. It is expected to recommend strategies for more effective use of trial court personnel and specific actions to reinforce the role of presiding judges. Please contact Paul Parker or Bill Vogler by May 12 if you are interested in participating in Project 2001 on behalf of WSAC. The WSAC Executive Committee will make the appointments the week of May 15. ************************************** F.Y.I. ************************************** WSALPHO ANNOUNCES CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR AWARDS WSALPHO announces its annual Call for Nominations for the Awards for Excellence in Public Health. The purpose of the awards program is to provide for recognition of local health departments and others for worthy contributions to the health of their communities, reflecting the core functions of public health and the spirit of the Public Health Improvement Plan. The rationale for the awards includes providing peer recognition and appreciation for good public health work being performed, increasing the public awareness of the role and contributions of local health departments, providing recognition of significant contributions to public health, developing a clearinghouse of local public health projects of note, and encouraging excellence in public health work. There are four categories of nominations: (1) Department/District Award for work specifically related to core functions/PHIP, (2) Department/District Award for innovative and effective programs, (3) Department/District/State Department of Health Award for work that represents a significant contribution to public health, and (4) Community Contribution Award for individuals or organizations outside of public health making a significant contribution to the health of a community's or the entire state's residents. Nominations may be made by the leadership of any Local Health Department/District, any Board of Health, the leadership of the State Department of Health, or any local community organization. Nominations are due July 1, 2000. Contact Vicki Kirkpatrick, WSAC Office, to obtain a Nomination Form. Forms have been sent to all local health jurisdictions. ************************************** CONFERENCES & TRAININGS ************************************** 94TH ANNUAL AUDITORS' CONFERENCE The 94th Annual Washington State Association of County Auditors (WSACA) Conference will be held in Kitsap County this year on June 14 - 16. The WSACA licensing committee meeting will be held in conjunction with the annual conference on June 13 and the morning of June 14. Among other sessions on June 14, a presentation of "What's New for 2000" will be made by Doug Ellis from the Public Disclosure Commission. Thursday offers a full day management-training seminar presented by Wally Wilkins, Ph.D. Wednesday evening there will be a dinner honoring retiring Secretary of State Ralph Munro. The election of the new officers for WSACA will be Thursday and the installation of the new officers will be Friday morning. ************************************** IMPORTANT TRAINING FOR THOSE DEALING WITH THE MENTALLY ILL COMING UP The Seattle Police Department, Crisis Intervention Team, in partnership with the King County Mental Health, Chemical Abuse and Dependency Services Division is presenting a conference entitled "Police and Mental Health Partnerships." The conference is designed for law enforcement and mental health/substance abuse professionals involved in designing, administering, or providing programs and services to improve responses to persons experiencing mental illness and other behavioral crises. The cost of the two-day conference is $50 if registered by May 12 ($75 if late) and it will take place at the Arctic Building, Dome Room at 700 Third Avenue in Seattle on Monday, May 22 and Tuesday, May 23. There will be presentations on communications with aggressive, mentally ill and emotionally disturbed individuals and active listening, along with special sessions devoted to starting and sustaining a crisis intervention team, involvement with street populations, mental health and chemical dependency, and interactions with seniors. For additional information please call Seattle Police Department Sgt. Lis Eddy at (206) 684-8183 and leave your name and address. This is a very timely training with recent events. ************************************** HOUSING CONFERENCE ANNOUNCED The biggest housing conference of the year has been announced for September 25 - 27, 2000. Titled Housing Washington 2000, the three-day affordable housing conference will take place at the Spokane Center in Spokane. The goal of the conference is to provide a forum for learning, stimulating discussion and ideas, forging new and strengthening existing relationships, and building collaborative efforts to support the creation of more affordable housing for the residents of Washington State. New this year will be pre-conference workshops on September 25. The conference is co- sponsored by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, CTED's Housing Services Division, Growth Management Program, and Community Services Division, and the Washington Low Income Housing Network. Futurist David Pearce Snyder and Mary Ann Gleason of the National Coalition for the Homeless are just two of the top-level speakers who will present. WSAC endorses this conference as it has in the past. For conference information, call (425) 576-1710, leave a message at 1-800-767-HOME (4336) or conference@bombar.com, or visit the website at www.wshfc.org/conf. ************************************** COMINGS EVENTS ************************************** May 17-20 National Association of Counties' (NACo) Annual Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference, Ada County, Boise, Idaho. 22-25 Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Annual Spring Meeting, West Coast Hotel, Wenatchee. 30 1999 Foreign Protection Full Faith and Credit Act Training, sponsored by the Prosecuting Attorneys' and Sheriffs' and Police Chiefs' Associations, Jefferson County Courthouse, Port Townsend, 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Four C.L.E. credits. (360) 753-2175 June 1 1999 Foreign Protection Full Faith and Credit Act Training, sponsored by the Prosecuting Attorneys' and Sheriffs' and Police Chiefs' Associations, Whatcom Crisis Services, Bellingham, 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Four C.L.E. credits. (360) 753-2175 10-14 International Association of Clerks', Recorders', Election Officials' and Treasurers' (IACREOT) Annual Conference, Cleveland, Ohio. 11-14 Government Finance Officers' Association Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois. 11-15 International Association of Coroners' and Medical Examiners' Annual Conference, Mundelein, Illinois. 13-16 Washington State Association of County Auditors' Annual Conference, Silverdale on the Bay Hotel, Silverdale. 14 County Auditors' Licensing Conference, Silverdale on the Bay Hotel, Silverdale. 14-16 Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys' (WAPA) Summer Training Program, Campbell's Lodge, Chelan. 17-21 National Sheriffs' Association Annual Conference, Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio. 18-20 Washington Association of Coroners' and Medical Examiners' Summer Training, Double Tree Inn, Tukwila. 19-23 Washington State Association of County Clerks' Annual Conference, Quality Inn, Clarkston. 19-23 Washington State Association of County Treasurers' Annual Conference, Friday Harbor Inn, Friday Harbor. 19-23 Washington State Association of County Assessors' Annual June Conference, Yakima. 19-23 Association of Washington Cities' (AWC) Annual Conference, Spokane. 27-30 Washington State Association of Counties' (WSAC) Annual Conference, Shilo Inn, Ocean Shores. 29 1999 Foreign Protection Full Faith and Credit Act Training, sponsored by the Prosecuting Attorneys' and Sheriffs' and Police Chiefs' Associations, Clark Regional Communications Center, Vancouver, 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Four C.L.E. credits. (360) 753-2175 30 1999 Foreign Protection Full Faith and Credit Act Training, sponsored by the Prosecuting Attorneys' and Sheriffs' and Police Chiefs' Associations, Thurston County Courthouse, Olympia, 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Four C.L.E. credits. (360) 753-2175 ************************************** COURTHOUSE RAMBLINGS ************************************** Whitman County Commissioners have appointed Eunice Bibler as interim county treasurer to take the place of Mary Crawford, who retired May 1. Bibler will serve as treasurer until commissioners appoint someone to fill the unexpired term, July 1. ************************************** JOBS ************************************** COWLITZ COUNTY, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST II OR I - Cowlitz County is accepting applications for an Environmental Health Specialist II or I (depending on the qualifications of the person hired) in the Building and Planning Department. This position applies both state and county environmental health standards for water quality, solid waste and on-site sewage systems to departmental development applications administered by the Building and Planning Department. Requirements for EHS I: BA degree involving study in sanitary science environmental health, bacteriology, a health science, chemistry, physics, biology, zoology, civil engineering or other closely related science. Requirements for EHS II: 2 years of experience as a Sanitarian or Environmental Health Specialist in a public agency, and registration or ability to become a Registered Sanitarian in the State of Washington or through the National Environmental Health Association at the time of hire or appointment. Note: Ability to become registered means that the Washington State Board of Registered Sanitarian's Association or the National Environmental Health Association has accepted a candidate for reciprocity in writing. Starting salary for EHS I is $2,694 per month. Starting salary for EHS II is $3,108 per month. Applications and complete job description can be obtained by visiting Administrative Services, 207 4th Avenue N, Kelso, WA 98626 or calling (360) 577-3065 or TDD (360) 577-3061. This position will remain open until filled. Cowlitz County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ***** WALLA WALLA COUNTY, ASSOCIATE/SENIOR PLANNER - Walla Walla County Regional Planning Department has a job opening for an Associate or Senior Planner, DEQ. This employee is responsible for land use, environmental, and development proposal review work compiling, analyzing, modifying, and illustrating a variety of economic, social, and physical factors consistent with state and county laws, ordinances, and the county comprehensive plan. Employees of this class will have technical responsibility under the policy and administrative guidance of the Planning Director and/or Senior Planner for work on assigned projects and for coordinating their efforts with the other county departments, various planning committees, the Board of County Commissioners, and the general public. AICP certification is preferred at the Senior Planner level. Minimum qualifications are: Bachelors Degree in Planning, Geography or an associated field and one (1) year of responsible experience which provides a familiarity with land use controls, comprehensive plans, economic development, environmental regulations, and mapping techniques. Additional experience will be required to qualify for the Senior Planner position. An application form and complete job descriptions are available at the Walla Walla County/Regional Planning Department, 310 W. Poplar, Suite 001, Walla Walla, WA 99362, (509) 527-3200 or by email at wwcopan@co.walla- walla.wa.us. Salary range $2,400 - $3,063/month, DEQ. Deadline for submittal of application is May 15, 2000. Walla Walla County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all ADA requirements. ***** THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES is looking for qualified candidates to fill an exempt Env. Division Manager position. Needs an understanding of SEPA & NEPA. Closes May 19. Salary: up to $66,000/yr. depending on qualifications. For a complete recruitment announcement and details: www.wa.gov/dop/statejobs click on Job Information then All Current Job Openings listed by job category Exempt/Washington Management Service. Look for job title Division Manager, Env. Quality & Compliance Division; 2) call Toni at 360-902-1602; 3) e-mail: toni.palzer@wadnr.gov **** END ****