The Courthouse Journal A Joint Publication of the Washington State Association of Counties & Washington Association of County Officials July 7, 2000 Number 12 Correction In the last edition of the Courthouse Journal it was reported that Whatcom County Councilmember Bob Imhof was running as a Democrat against incumbent Doug Erickson, who was identified as a Democrat. Representative Erickson is a Republican. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused. ************************************** WSAC CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS ************************************** WSAC SUMMER CONVENTION The 94th Annual Convention met in Ocean Shores last week and over 225 county officials, guests and speakers participated. While the attendance was off somewhat from previous years everyone was pleased with the content of the program. The tone was set early when the Board of Directors met and adopted a new mission statement. It was the first time the statement had been reviewed and discussed in over 20 years. The Board had met in a retreat at Yakima in early June and decided to re-write the old mission statement, which had been adopted in 1979. The Board felt the new mission statement better reflected the goals and objectives of the Association as it looks to the future. In addition, the Board decided to write a five-year strategic plan, which will be considered for adoption at the Fall Legislative Conference in November, in Pasco. A copy of the Mission Statement is attached to the back of this Courthouse Journal. President Bettie Ingham convened the meeting Wednesday morning by calling on the Association to meet the future by building healthy communities, the theme for this year's convention. She pointed out that the state of WSAC was very healthy. The Board had held a retreat at which it talked about changing the direction of the Association. They have embarked on a course of cooperation with both WACO and AWC. As examples, next year the Legislative Rally will be held jointly with WACO and AWC to tell legislators what local governments' needs are. In 2002 both WACO and WSAC will hold the first-ever joint meeting combining WACO's annual conference with WSAC's fall conference. Stew Menefee, Grays Harbor Prosecuting Attorney and WACO President, and Dean Dossett, Mayor of Camas and AWC President, both addressed the membership and reinforced Bettie Ingham's call for cooperation between all local governments. Glen Hiemstra, futurist, gave a thought provoking presentation on Counties, Communities and the Future. He urged the members to think what clear changes will occur in the next 5 to 20 years and apply them to how counties will be managed. Many candidates for state office were present including State Auditor Brian Sonntag and Public Lands Commissioner candidates Pierce County Executive Doug Sutherland and State Senator Georgia Gardner, from Whatcom County. Harold Hochstatter, State Senator from Grant County and candidate for Governor also spoke. Three candidates for Insurance Commissioner, John Coniff, Mike Kreidler, and Don Davidson also made presentations. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE BRIDGE The luncheon speaker on Wednesday was Supreme Court Justice Bobbe Bridge. She told WSAC members that during the years she was a Superior Court Judge in King County she thought of herself as a member of local government. She said that the courts and local governments need to work together and that the collaboration of the three branches of government was no longer a desired goal, but a necessity. She emphasized that access to justice is a significant issue to everyone. And, while she recognized that the Founding Fathers feared consolidation of powers, and judicial independence puts pressure on local elected officials, the public still expects efficiencies and effectiveness from all branches of government. Bridge also singled out Thurston County Commissioner Diane Oberquell for her successful efforts to restore lost Becca funds, which were dollars returned to local communities. She summed up her statements by saying that when you are building healthy communities, don't forget the judges. GOVERNOR LOCKE Governor Gary Locke was the Thursday luncheon speaker and he made a special effort to come to Ocean Shores. Earlier in the day he had declared a state of emergency in Benton County where wildfires were raging over 50,000 acres near the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. He drove to Ocean Shores to address the membership and then had to immediately leave to visit Benton County. The Governor began his remarks by recognizing the many years of service Bettie Ingham had given to the citizens of Yakima County. He also noted that Maureen Morris was leaving OFM and joining WSAC staff. Governor Locke covered the I-695 legislation and recognized that counties would receive 53% of their lost revenue while public health received 90%. He said that a digital divide exists between parts of the state and that must be corrected. His administration is leading efforts to bring more government services to the internet. He said that while the Department of Licensing will be putting auto tab renewals on-line, the state will bear the full cost and the counties will not lose a single penny. The Governor also addressed the concerns counties have had in development of the shorelines guidelines. He said that he will submit funding for implementation in his next budget and supported efforts to give local governments time to complete the updates. ************************************** SENATE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE HEARING The Senate State and Local Government Committee held a hearing during the convention and was briefed by the Secretary of State's office on the impacts of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that blanket primaries are unconstitutional. They testified that it would be very difficult to prepare and hold a closed primary by September and that no political party from Washington had asked them to do so. Since last week, the state Democrats have requested a closed party primary and have indicated they will go to court by July 17th if the Secretary of State does not comply. Following the hearing on the blanket primary the committee chair, Senator Julia Patterson, opened up the meeting to a general discussion on issues of importance to the counties. Island County Commissioner and WSAC Vice President, Mike Shelton, Snohomish County Councilmember Barbara Cothern, and Clark County Commissioner Betty Sue Morris all made presentations to the committee. Bill Vogler and Fred Saeger also made presentations in behalf of WSAC and WACO. Penni Newman, Chemical Dependency Coordinator for Pierce County also talked about chemical dependency issues. Other members of the Association addressed the committee on a variety of issues. ************************************** HOUSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE HEARS DIVERSE VIEWPOINTS ON SHORELINE PROTECTION AND RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT On Tuesday, June 27, the House Local Government Committee met at the WSAC Conference and heard a variety of viewpoints on Ecology's proposed Shoreline Regulations and on rural economic development. Pacific County Commissioner Pat Hamilton criticized the rule proposal, indicating that it would severely impact the property rights of farmers and families with shoreline property. Snohomish County Councilmember Dave Somers indicated that science had advanced since the rules were first adopted nearly thirty years ago and that greater shoreline protection was needed. Both indicated that counties will need funding to revise and implement new shoreline master programs. Representatives from the agricultural and development communities also criticized the content of the rules. A lobbyist for the oyster industry supported the proposal. Clallam County Commissioner Mike Doherty thanked the Committee for its focus on rural economic development and the 2000 Legislature's passage of rural telecommunications legislation. Yakima County Commissioner Bettie Ingham also thanked the Committee for its recent help, especially the sales tax credit for economic development. Committee members were very impressed with how Yakima County is investing the money in community projects countywide that will help generate new jobs and revenue. ************************************** RESOLUTIONS AND POLICY STATEMENT Four resolutions were adopted at the membership meeting on Friday, June 30, and the WSAC Policy Statement originally adopted last November was slightly modified. The Resolutions seek increased jail funding, acknowledge the need for counties to respond to the impacts of Endangered Species Act and salmon recovery, oppose the proposed shoreline management guidelines, and oppose dam breaching on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. They are attached to the Courthouse Journal. The resolutions and the revised Policy Statement will be posted on the WSAC website. ************************************** WSAC EXPRESSES OPPOSITION TO SHORELINES PROPOSAL At the WSAC annual meeting last Friday, the membership voted to support a resolution stating county opposition to the proposed shoreline guidelines. A letter citing the resolution and stating WSAC opposition to the guidelines was delivered to Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons prior to the July 5 public hearing on the Shoreline Rule proposal. The letter indicated that all members are concerned about the cost of implementation and many - particularly those from rural areas - have concern about specific provisions. It also stated that WSAC remains willing to work with Ecology in developing a reasonable approach that is fully funded by the Legislature. A copy of the letter is attached to the Courthouse Journal. The Resolution followed action earlier in the week at the WSAC Conference by the Rural Issues Subcommittee identifying the shoreline proposal as the single most important rural issue and asking that WSAC engage all legal and administrative resources to prevent implementation of the proposed rule. The Legislative Steering Committee discussed the request of the Rural Issues Subcommittee but did not take action on the request. ************************************** NEW APPROACHES ON WATER SHARED King County Executive Ron Sims says that it is up to counties to break the paradigm of water resources in our state; counties can broker solutions better than any form of government. That challenge kicked off an exciting discussion of solutions to water resources and water quality problems being developed around the state by counties and other partners. Michelle Mazzola of the Foster Creek Conservation District in Douglas County is working to develop a multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for 1,000,000 acres of agricultural land owned by 1025 landowners. The HCP, targeted for completion in 2002, will cover three species of fish, sage and sharp-tailed grouse, pygmy rabbits and other species. Farmers will get regulatory certainty, a safe harbor from ESA third-party suits, and protection for incidental "take" of the covered species. Mark Tompkins of the San Juan County talked about alternative water supplies being used in the water-short San Juan Islands. Due to low- producing wells and contamination concerns, people are using seawater treatment systems, rainwater catchment systems, hauled water and low capacity wells with storage reservoirs for drinking water supply. Water reuse is commonly used for irrigation purposes. Jim Pemberton from the City of Anacortes talked about tribal-county-city- PUD partnerships which have ensured a long-term water supply for municipal and industrial use contingent on development of an instream flow agreement on the Skagit River. John Sims of the Quinault Nation also talked about county-tribal partnerships and discussed the 10-year forest management plan being developed by the Quinault Nation as a key part of its water quality improvement efforts. ************************************** JAIL ISSUES DRAW A CROWD AT CONVENTION As most counties struggle to deal with jail overcrowding some are finding innovative and common-sense ways to stretch both space and funding while also maintaining public safety and community wellness. The WSAC annual convention highlighted several approaches for success with a panel presentation on "The Future of County Corrections: Strategies to Overcome Underfunding & Overcrowding." More than 60 WSAC members attended the 75- minute program. Panelists included Ken Ray, Yakima County Director of Corrections and Security; Steve Thompson, King County Director of Adult and Juvenile Detention; John Riley, Spokane attorney who assisted with development of the nine-county Martin Hall juvenile facility; and Michelle Lester, account manager for Justice Benefits, Inc., which contracts with local governments to secure federal entitlement dollars for law and justice needs. In his presentation, Ray identified three key elements necessary to meet the current challenges in local corrections: 1) strategic population management, i.e. appropriate use of alternatives to incarceration; 2) entrepreneurial thinking, including the use of innovative jail industries and partnerships with other communities; and 3) "community decisioning" to build and maintain broad-based community support for jail operations, including alternatives to incarceration. Following this approach, Yakima County corrections increased expenditures 77 percent from 1988 to 1999 but in the same time period increased jail-generated revenues 220 percent and increased its contribution to the county general fund by 21 percent. For more information, contact Ken Ray at 509-574-1704. Thompson's message focused on some of the driving forces behind overcrowding and increasing costs. One, in particular, is a marginal increase in average length of stay(ALOS) resulting in substantial cost increases . For example, in King County the jail admission growth rate from 1992 to 1997 actually decreased 0.8 percent but the ALOS increased 3.8 days, resulting in an average daily population growth rate of 30.5 percent or 540 more offenders per day. If the county holds bookings constant at the 1992 rate but increases the ALOS by just 1 day it increases the average daily population by 160 per day - approximately $1.5 million in annual operating costs. Thompson proposed that the small increase in the ALOS offered little benefit to either the offender or the community, and could not justify the increased costs. Thompson can be reached at 206-296-1268. Riley shared the secrets behind the success of the Martin Hall juvenile facility - a secure facility in northeastern Washington that is publicly owned by a consortium of nine counties, privately operated, and makes money. This uniquely successful regional approach was made possible by state legislative action, which also would allow other similar cooperative facilities to be developed. For more information, Riley is available at 509-624-5265. Lester outlined the services that her company provides to bring new federal dollars into local government coffers. Justice Benefits, Inc. (JBI) of Dallas, Texas, specializes in federal revenue maximization for local government law and justice needs. For example, various federal government entitlement programs will reimburse a percentage of local dollars spent for services being provided by jails, but many small local governments are unaware of the programs and can't justify the staff FTEs necessary to process the paperwork. JBI currently has contracts with 13 Washington jurisdictions, including Whitman County and Yakima County. The contracts operate on a no-risk contingency basis, with no payment due to JBI until the claims have been paid to the county by the federal government. Lester may be reached at JBI's Vancouver office at 360-449-3971. ************************************** CONVENTION ATTENDEES REVIEW BLUE RIBBON TRANSPORTATION "OPTIONS"; WSAC PREPARING OFFICIAL COMMENTS ON OPTIONS The WSAC annual convention provided three opportunities to review and discuss the recently released transportation "options" prepared by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation (BRCT). All the meetings drew good attendance and generated thoughtful discussion. The Blue Ribbon "options" document is available at www.brct.wa.gov/brct/docs/htm. During a six-hour retreat Monday afternoon, representatives of WSAC, county engineers, and the County Road Administration Board (CRAB) plowed through the BRCT's 64 options and identified 12 possible priorities for attention by county officials and staff. A subsequent meeting with the WSAC Transportation Subcommittee validated the selection of these as priorities. They were further reviewed at a two-hour presentation and discussion session Wednesday afternoon, attended by more than 100 WSAC members. Presenters were Connie Niva, Chair of the Washington state Transportation Commission and member of the Blue Ribbon Commission; and Chris Mudgett, Special Projects Manager at CRAB. Judie Stanton, Clark County Commissioner and member of the BRCT, moderated the presentation. The 12 priority items are as listed in the "options" document, Nos.: 2, 7, 12, 21, 23, 27, 29, 30, 33, 34, 47 and 57/63(combined). Please note, however, that the selection of these 12 do not indicate support for them. Rather, some were deemed important because counties might wish to oppose them or offer alternative suggestions. All of the options are worth reviewing, but county officials with limited time might wish to focus on this smaller number. Based on the convention discussion, and follow-up comments, WSAC is preparing a single, official comment letter to the BRCT. Deadline to submit comments to WSAC staff is Monday, July 17. Please submit comments to Sophia Byrd, Policy Director for Transportation, at sbyrd@wacounties.org. The Transportation subcommittee, chaired by Snohomish County Councilmember Gary Nelson, will review a draft comment letter and forward it to the WSAC Legislative Steering Committee for final approval and distribution to the Blue Ribbon Commission. The Transportation Subcommittee will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at the WSAC conference room to discuss the draft comment letter. ************************************** COURT REFORM IN PROGRESS Project 2001 is well under way. Started in response to a myriad of court reform bills in the 2000 legislative session, Project 2001 was established by the Board for Judicial Administration, headed by Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Guy. The overview committee of Project 2001 created five workgroups, including Trial Court Administration, Jurisdiction and Portability, Case Management, Warrant Resolution and Domestic Relations. WSAC staff is participating in the court reform efforts along with four county representatives: Mike Shelton, Island County Commissioner, Larry Gossett, King County Councilman, Diane Oberquell, Thurston County Commissioner, and Tim Botkin, Kitsap County Commissioner. The court reform session at the WSAC Annual Convention in Ocean Shores was led by Mike Shelton, Island County Commissioner. Panelists included Judge Tom Swayze, Co-Chair Project 2001, Siri Woods, Clerk, Chelan County, Steward Menefee, Prosecutor, Grays Harbor County, and Judge Michael Roewe, Lewis County District Court. Judge Swayze traced the roots of Project 2001 emphasizing the surprising amount of support garnered for Washington Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge's bill that would have combined all levels of trial courts into one judicial system. Judge Swayze notes that legislators jumped at court reform opportunities. The bill sailed through committee, but Chief Justice Guy insisted that the judiciary be given an opportunity to guide court reform. Judge Swayze noted that Minnesota, Oregon, and California have implemented sweeping court reform measures but he cautioned that the goals of efficiency and economical use of resources may not be met by merging the courts. Siri Woods, Chelan County Clerk, outlined how and why counties would have to pay for most reform. She emphasized that financial reform is needed more than court reform, and readjusting the split between county and state responsibility for court costs should be top priority. Grays Harbor County Prosecuting Attorney Steward Menefee identified the biggest judicial problem as lack of court resources and judges, not necessarily organizational issues. He warned that the Legislature has been told that structural changes will decrease costs while increasing efficiency. With no jail space available and no extra courtrooms, additional judges won't necessarily solve problems. Lewis County District Court Judge Michael Roewe urged county officials to get involved with court reform, since county officials work with the judicial system and have a better opportunity to understand it. Because court reform is facially attractive to state legislators, counties must be prepared to respond to numerous bills aimed at consolidation of courts and/or elimination of municipal courts. These solutions are more appealing to the Legislature than increasing funds for the court system. Project 2001 workgroups have already met and more meetings are scheduled through the summer. The deadline for workgroup reports looms, with reports expected at the Board for Judicial Administration this fall. The workgroups cover a lot of ground, presenting a landmark opportunity to influence the direction of the court system. Counties should maintain and possibly increase their presence in court reform discussion. Information about Project 2001 is found at: www.courts.wa.gov. Contact Paul Parker or Sophia Byrd if you are interested in participating or want more information. ************************************** INITIATIVES UPDATE ************************************** SIGNATURE GATHERING FOR INITIATIVES In a recent article in The Seattle Times there was an interesting description of the number of individuals who now work as paid part time signature gatherers. Some of these individuals have traveled from state to state working on campaigns. One individual who says he has also gathered signatures for initiatives from Massachusetts to California is currently working on a charter schools initiative and a school construction proposal and indicates he picks up about 1,000 signatures per week. The usual rate of payment is between $1 and $2 per signature. The article indicates that the signature gatherers working on Tim Eyman's two initiatives receive $1.50 per signature for I-745 (Transportation) and $.85 per signature on I- 722 (Son of I-695). One person interviewed had been a part-time real estate agent in San Diego and began gathering signatures as a means to supplement his income. This individual now relies on signature gathering as his main source of income, indicating that recently working on I-745 and I-717 (another property tax proposal) he earned more than $5,000. Another individual indicated that he spent four weeks working on I-722 and I-745 for Eyman, as well as the Charter School Proposal, I-729, during which time he had collected more than 9,000 signatures. One of the most recognized of these signature gathering firms is one that is operated out of Tacoma, called Washington Initiatives Now (WIN) and is operated by Sherry Bockwinkel. However, the firms hiring workers in Washington are not limited to Washington firms alone. Currently, two California firms are hiring gatherers on behalf of Washington Initiatives; Arno Political Consulting from Sacramento and National Petition Management in Roseville. Attached to this Courthouse Journal is a copy of a summary description of eight initiatives that are actively out gathering signatures, an indication of the organization supporting each proposal and whether they are using paid or volunteer signature gatherers or, in some cases, both. ************************************** SEVERAL INITIATIVES HEADED FOR BALLOT This week the Office of the Secretary of State reports that several initiatives appear likely to qualify for the ballot. Signatures totaling 180,000 have already been turned in by Tim Eyman for I-722 (Son of I-695) and I-745 (Transportation), and he has indicated that he will turn in additional signatures by the July 7 deadline, raising the totals for those two initiatives to approximately 250,000 signatures apiece. Last week, supporters of I-732 which guarantees teachers a cost of living raise, turned in 290,000 signatures. It is expected that there will be approximately 250,000 signatures turned in on I-717, which reduces the state property tax; I-728, which is a class size reduction initiative; and I-729 which allows for charter schools. In addition, supporters of I- 713, which bans steel-jawed leg-hold traps, turned in 250,000 signatures on July 5. It now appears that as many as seven initiatives could qualify for the November ballot this fall. The last time that voters had an opportunity to vote on this many ballot propositions was in 1994, when initiatives could only be submitted every other year. In 1997, Washington voters saw five initiatives on the ballot which is the second most ever submitted. ************************************** ENVIRONMENT, LAND USE & RESOURCES ************************************** SALMON RECOVERY FUNDING BOARD MAKES MORE DECISIONS ON GRANTS PROCESS On June 20 & 21, 2000, the Salmon Recovery Funding Board met and decided issues regarding the Second Round 2000 Grant Cycle and a request from the Department of Fish and Wildlife for lead entity assistance. At its May meeting, the Board decided on some of the requirements and guidelines for the Second Round 2000 Grant Cycle and set the June 21 meeting for discussion and decision on the remaining issues. Below is a summary of the decisions made by the Board at their June meeting. Detailed minutes will be posted on the web site after approval by the Board at the July meeting. Technical Review and Evaluation Process: 1. Emphasis on wild salmon: After discussion, the Board agreed with the emphasis but not exclusive focus on "wild" salmon. It is up to NMFS and USFWS to develop the criteria for "wild" salmon. 2. The three main parameters the technical panel will use: local benefit, certainty, and regional importance: The Board agreed with the parameters with some rewording to clarify the definitions and what the Board is asking for. 3. Three steps for the technical evaluation process and the staff role: The Board concurred with the staff's process recommendation: lead entity meeting with the technical panel; list review by the technical panel; and finally a recommendation report from the technical panel and staff. 4. Model for early interaction between the technical panel and lead entities: The technical panel meets with each of the lead entities in their watershed to gain an understanding of the watershed, discuss potential projects and the processes used to develop project lists. Although this model provides the greatest opportunity for communication, it is also the most expensive and requires the most time dedication by the technical panel members. 5. Appointment process and composition of the technical panel: The Board decided to select a technical panel consisting of members that have expertise and work experience in a variety of areas, including fish, habitat and conservation biology, geomorphology, hydrology, and watershed ecology, to ensure that a diversity of perspectives will be brought to the evaluation process. The Board also believes it is important that the co- managers and the two federal agencies that administer the ESA (USF&W and NMFS) be part of the panel. Panel members should have a good understanding of watershed functions, salmon life history and associated risks, assessment methodology, and salmon recovery issues statewide. The panel will consist of six or seven technical panel members to be appointed by the SRFB at the July meeting. Names will be proposed by the agencies listed above (USF&W, NMFS, NWIFC and WDFW), lead entity participants, SRFB members, and the general public. The list will be sent to the LEAG and SRFB agency members for comment prior to the July meeting, and the panel members will be appointed at the July SRFB. 6. The evaluation questions for lead entity lists: The Board approved background questions and eight evaluation questions with some revision for clarification, to add information on stock priority, and to reflect the Board's earlier decision on the emphasis on "wild" salmon. Lead Entity Operation and Maintenance: At the June SRFB meeting, the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) requested funding, not to exceed $150,000, from the SRFB to provide "operation and maintenance" money for four new lead entities. Previous funding provided by the Legislature was allocated by WDFW for support of the current 21 lead entities. After allocation of the existing funding, WDFW staff received applications from San Juan and Douglas Counties and is anticipating applications from Northwest Washington and the Yakima Basin for lead entity operations and maintenance funding. WDFW supports the SRFB decision to limit its grant programs to geographic areas covered by lead entities to ensure efficiency and encourage "bottoms-up" participation in salmonid recovery. Implicit in this decision is the need to quickly gain appropriate lead entity coverage in areas of the state with important salmonid issues. This need for lead entity coverage resulted in the request by WDFW to the SRFB for additional funding for the four new lead entity areas. If, for any reason, one or more of the four new lead entities fails to meet statutory guidelines, the subsequent contract between SRFB and WDFW will be reduced. After the presentation and discussion, the Board approved up to $150,000 to WDFW for establishment of four new lead entity areas for this funding cycle. This is a one-time request and will be handled legislatively in the future. Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Salmon Recovery Funding Board will be on July 12 & 13 in La Conner. There will be a tour on July 13 in conjunction with the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation. The regular meeting of the Board will be held on July 12, Maple Hall, La Conner. The agenda is not yet established but will mainly focus on budget issues for the 2001-03 biennium and appointment of the technical panel. ************************************** LAW & JUSTICE ************************************** STUDY FUNDED TO LOOK AT FEASIBILITY OF "REGIONAL JAILS" The Washington State Law & Justice Advisory Council voted at its July 5 meeting to fund a one-time $75,000 grant to study whether "regional jails" might help address county jail and state corrections capacity problems. The grant, which is from Department of Corrections Partnership Funds, will pay for a full-time staff person and a half-time clerical position for 11 months. The grant is being administered by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC), and will involve a planning group with representation from WSAC/WACO, Association of Washington Cities, state Office of Financial Management, state Department of Corrections and other relevant stakeholders. The staff and planning group will analyze state and local corrections budget data, develop options for sharing correctional capacity among local and state agencies, and identify steps required to implement the options ultimately chosen by the policy makers. County commissioners interested in representing WSAC on the planning group should contact WSAC as soon as possible. Staff contact is Sophia Byrd at sbyrd@wacounties.org. ************************************** SEX OFFENDER INFORMATION - IS IT ON YOUR WEB SITE? As convicted sex offenders complete their sentences and are released back into the communities, local governments are attempting to notify neighboring residents. Technology is assisting in the notification process. Some counties send emails to interested persons. Some counties post sex-offender information on the county Web site. What does your county do? If you are posting sex offender information on a county Web site, please contact WSAC staff Sophia Byrd or Tom King at sbyrd@wacounties.org or tking@wacounties.org, and send us the Web site address. WSAC is compiling a list of Web sites with sex offender information for use by counties considering development of such online notification programs. ************************************** TRANSPORTATION ************************************** TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT GRANTS AVAILABLE The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has announced a call for projects for Transportation Enhancement grant funding. Approximately $24 million is available for fiscal year 2002-03. This is the last call for projects under the existing federal transportation act (TEA-21). A call-for-projects brochure is attached to this Journal. For more information on the Transportation Enhancement Program, contact Stephanie Tax at WSDOT Highways & Local Programs (H&LP) at 360-705-7389 or visit the H&LP Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/TA/ProgMgt/GRANTS/ENHANCE.HTM Projects eligible for Transportation Enhancement grants are transportation- related activities that are designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation's intermodal transportation system. The program provides for implementation of a variety of non-traditional projects, ranging from restoration of historic transportation facilities, to bike and pedestrian access, to landscaping and beautification, to mitigation of water pollution from highway runoff. The application deadline varies per Metropolitan Planning Organization/Regional Transportation Planning Organization schedule. All projects must be reviewed for eligibility by the H&LP service center between October 1-16, 2000, to be considered for funding. Final applications are due to the Transportation Improvement Board on December 1, 2000. A recommended project list will be sent to the Legislature in February 2001. ************************************** COUNTY KUDOS ************************************** WHATCOM COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES NOW PAYABLE ONLINE In a move to combat the estimated 101,369,863 hours that American citizens spend daily waiting in lines, Whatcom County has announced that online payment of property taxes will soon be a reality for the area's 56,000 property owners, making it the first county in the state of Washington and one of a dozen counties in the country to offer this service. This is the first of several planned online government services being made available for Whatcom County residents through a partnership with ezgov.com, which builds software and applications that bring local and state government activities to the Internet. "We are committed to making the lives of Whatcom County citizens easier, and being able to pay taxes over the Internet is just one way to do that," says Whatcom County Treasurer Barbara Cory. "By partnering with ezgov.com, Whatcom County is leading the way to simplified government." The new online service will work by allowing property owners to search for tax information by either street address or parcel number. Property owners are then prompted to enter the name of their bank and account number to create a secure online check that will be debited directly from the owner's account. An instant confirmation of payment is then delivered to the property owners, who can print it out to save for their records. Those choosing to pay their taxes online will be charged a $4 fee per payment. There is no fee to access property tax information. Access to the service is through or ************************************** COUNTY NEWS ************************************** GASB 34 The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has created quite a stir in the government finance community by issuing Statement 34, also known as the new financial reporting model. It is important for local governments to understand that this change will not impact everyone. If an entity is currently reporting on a cash basis, or in accordance with the BARS Category 2 manual, which is distinguished by population, it will not be required to implement GASB 34 changes. For those currently issuing financial statements that comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles these are some of the Statement 34 changes: An entity-wide financial statement that will be presented using the full accrual basis of accounting, and will also require the reporting of infrastructure information. This statement will provide a different method of associating revenues with expenditure programs. Fund financial statements which no longer show information by fund type, but rather present only "major funds" (the largest or most significant) with all other funds summarized within the fund type. A requirement that budget to actual statements include the original budget, final budget, and actual results. A reconciliation of the amounts shown on the budgetary basis used in the budget to actual statement, the full accrual basis of accounting used in the entity wide statements, and our current basis of accounting used in the fund statements. A new Management Discussion and Analysis section will be required, which is supposed to provide a user with an overall assessment of the financial results for the reporting period. Currently, the Statement and its implementation guide are available from the GASB, but the real question is how we are going to implement the new reporting model in this State. The State Auditor's Office and the Local Government Advisory Committee, made up of individuals from County and City government and their associations, have put together task forces and are making decisions of how to best implement the model in a cost-effective manner. Local governments can follow the work and decisions that are made at the Auditor's web site located at www.sao.wa.gov. Two major decisions have already been made. The first involves the State Auditor's Office not making an overhaul of the BARS manuals. They have committed to keeping the changes to the day-to-day accounting procedures to a minimum. The approach to reporting under GASB 34 can be thought of as a "spreadsheet approach." In order to create the entity wide statements, there will be a crosswalk created to get from our current statements to the new statements. It is anticipated that this will eliminate a lot of the work that governments could have faced from a GASB 34 change. All draft changes to the BARS manual and reporting requirements should be available from the State Auditor in Spring of 2001 for review and comments. The second decision requires GAAP reporting entities to move to the GASB 34 reporting model for the 2002 fiscal year. This will mean a more consistent application of the reporting model and should eliminate confusion concerning the effective dates and comparable information. If you would like more information on the implementation of GASB 34 in Washington state, please contact Christina Yost at (360) 753-3574 or Alexandra Bonham at (360) 664-3149. ************************************** ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ON ELECTRONIC RECORDING TASK FORCE Four county treasurer representatives have been added to the Washington State Electronic Recording Task Force. The new members are: Whatcom County Treasurer Barbara Cory; Thurston County Treasurer Robin Hunt; Klickitat County Treasurer Dani Burton; and Grays Harbor County Treasurer Ron Strabbing. The focus of the task force is to explore the applications of the electronic recording of documents in Washington state. Information on the task force can be accessed at ************************************** BLANKET PRIMARY IN JEOPARDY In a letter to Secretary of State Ralph Munro, the Washington State Democratic Central Committee Chair, Paul Berendt, has demanded the Secretary of State conduct this year's primary in a manner where a voter would be required to choose only a ballot which would contain the names of the Democratic nominees. Berendt's demands falls on the heels of a United States Supreme Court case originating in the state of California that the "blanket primary" system violates the party's freedom of association. The lawsuit eventually ended up in the United States Supreme Court where the court sided with the Democratic and Republican parties, thus invalidating the blanket primary. Berendt has stated that the Democratic party will sue the state if the secretary of state does not conduct this year's primary according to the process as outlined in the United States supreme court case. The secretary of state's response is that they have no legal authority to change the way in which the primary is to be conducted. Berendt states in his letter that considering county auditor's have recently conducted the presidential primary where voters were required to choose a ballot, changing this year's primary should not be a burden on the county auditors. However, Berendt fails to take into consideration that the county auditors had months to prepare for the presidential primary. The Berendt letter states that this method of conducting the primary would not create "an administrative nightmare, huge expense or extreme confusion or disruption for voters." However, there are any number of administrative differences between the presidential primary and our state primary. The state primary requires ballot rotation as well as conducting a primary where local county offices will be on the ballot. Another issue further complicating the proposed change in the primary process is how to accommodate minor party candidates. Whatever additional costs accrue because of the possible changes to the primary fall in the middle of the county budget cycle and could strap an already burdened county budget because the state does not reimburse the counties for state election costs during the even year election cycle. ************************************** COUNTY CLERKS' MEET IN CLARKSTON County Clerks and deputies from 29 counties attended the 94th Annual Conference of the Washington State Association of County Clerks (WSACC) in Clarkston last week. President Betty Gould, Thurston County Clerk, presided over the five day event. Asotin County Clerk Linda Hough and her staff, who hosted the conference, put a "capital H" on hospitality. The evening entertainment was as outstanding as the all-day meetings in which county clerks dealt with issues ranging from child support to land torrens; electronic filings to receiverships; credit cards to court reform; and, records retention to writs. Clerks toted home over eight pounds of issue papers and memories of tons of fun. A conference highlight had to be the dinner excursion on a jet boat through Hells Canyon on the Snake River. The incredible scenery was dotted with bighorn sheep, elk and deer as well as Native American petroglyphs. Jetting the rapids was a new and unforgettable thrill for many. Retired Asotin County Clerks Inez Ingraham and Louisa Holzmiller joined the group on Thursday evening for the annual banquet. The evening quickly became the "Night of the Superheroes." Attending WSACC officers Dean Logan, Rena Hollis, and Marianne Walters were adorned in rather tacky red superhero capes and other equally tasteless props as their "superhuman" feats on behalf of the association were touted and their personal foibles were exposed. President Betty Gould presented each with a "superhero" t- shirt for all their efforts. Other awards included those given to State Senator Jeralita Costa and State Representative Patricia Lantz for their support of WSACC's 2000 legislative endeavors. The coveted "Clerk of the Year" award was presented to Thurston County Clerk Betty Gould. The award, initiated in 1984, is given to the county clerk who is selected by the entire WSACC membership as one who has made outstanding contributions to the association. Betty represents WSACC in numerous capacities. Under her leadership, WSACC has undergone a successful and complete reorganization in the past two years. The Friday morning business meeting concluded the conference. Since the WSACC officers now serve two year terms, an election of new officers will not be held until June 2001 in Snohomish County. ************************************** TREASURERS MEET FOR 94TH ANNUAL CONVENTION The Washington State Association of County Treasurers held its 94th Annual Conference in Friday Harbor on beautiful San Juan Island, June 20-23. Host Kathy Turnbull, San Juan County Treasurer, did an excellent job in executing the conference and provided sunshine each day. Lewis County Treasurer Rose Bowman presided over the meetings, which convened Tuesday morning. Following opening ceremonies, committee meetings were held and deputy treasurers attended a workshop on "Using Alternatives in a Paper Based World," with Susan Youngsma. The afternoon was spent in a personal property collections workshop led by Phil Sanders, property tax supervisor, King County. Wednesday, several seminars were held throughout the day, including another by Susan Youngsma on doing business electronically; a session on local improvement districts presented by Spokane County Treasurer Linda Wolverton and her staff; and, finally, day to day employment law, labor and management perspectives with Lori Province of the Washington State Labor Council and Chuck Foster, of Foster and Associates. An evening reception held by State Treasurer Mike Murphy, followed by the President's Reception honoring Rose Bowman, ended the day. The President's Reception was a cruise around the San Juan Islands aboard the M.V. Island Spirit. On Thursday, the day was spent with the treasurers conducting a business meeting and the usual lively roundtable session. Deputies were impressed with a workshop on check fraud business practices and another on working with difficult customers, conducted by Cedric Gonter of the Auburn Police Department. During the luncheon on Thursday, conference attendees were treated to an superb guest speaker, who resides in Friday Harbor (another coup by Kathy Turnbull). Mark Anderson, president of Technology Alliance Partners and of the Strategic News Service, made a fascinating presentation on e-commerce and its driving forces. Anderson's company provides trends and marketing alliance assistance to countries and companies interested in the convergence of telecom and computing. He regularly appears on CNN TV, the Wall Street Review, and National Public Radio, and has been recently quoted in The New York Times, PC Week, The Discovery Channel Magazine and many other magazines and papers. Thursday night, a banquet at the Yacht Club provided a perfect ending to the day with more outstanding local talent, Lira Franc and the Blue Chips. Treasurers' President Rose Bowman was presented with her president's plaque and retiring Skagit County Treasurer Judy Menish received a distinguished service award from the Washington Association of County Officials for her 10 « years of service as treasurer. Rose Bowman gave the President's Award to Phil Sanders, King County property tax supervisor, for his excellent work on all of the Treasurers' Association educational programs over the past year. The week ended on Friday morning, with the treasurers finishing up their business and returning home with stories to tell about the great conference, its location, and the fun ferry rides. Many were lucky enough to see the resident pods of orca whales (after a history lesson of whales by a representative of The Whale Museum one day at lunch), porpoises, seals, deer and many other forms of sea and wild life, as well as gorgeous sunsets and the unique shops and restaurants of Friday Harbor. New officers elected by the Treasurers' Association for the ensuing year were: Bob Dantini, Snohomish County, president; Linda Wolverton, Spokane County, president-elect; Darwin Parker, Benton County, vice president; Kathy Turnbull, San Juan County, secretary; and Dave Griffiths, Chelan County, treasurer. The 2001 conference will be held in Wenatchee and the 2002 conference will be in Bellingham. The Treasurers will meet for their Annual Fall Legislative meeting at the Summit Inn, at Snoqualmie Pass, September 18-19. ************************************** NEW WHITMAN COUNTY TREASURER APPOINTED Bob Lothspeich has been appointed as Whitman County Treasurer by commissioners, and began his new duties on July 1, replacing Mary Crawford who retired May 1. Lothspeich has served as the Colfax city treasurer for the past year and a half, received his CPA in 1990 and has a background in accounting. ************************************** NEW PIERCE COUNTY SHERIFF ANNOUNCED Pierce County Executive Doug Sutherland has chosen Operations Chief Paul Pastor as County Sheriff until the end of this year, succeeding Sheriff Mark French, who retired the end of June. Pastor will keep the job until Sutherland finishes his term as county executive, also at the end of this year. Whoever voters elect as county executive this November will decide whether to retain Pastor or hire someone else. Pastor has 24 years of experience in law enforcement, including nine with Pierce County. In the 1980's, Pastor was in charge of training staff at the State Criminal Justice Training Academy. He joined Pierce County in 1986 as an inspector in charge of internal investigations, and in 1991, became the Everett Police Chief, leaving after 22 months. Pastor then had stints with the Snohomish and Clark County Sheriff's offices before returning to Pierce County in 1996 as chief of operations. ************************************** MEMBER'S CORNER ************************************** COMMISSIONER BOLENDER ANNOUNCESDECISION NOT TO SEEK RE-ELECTION (Submitted by Mason County Board of Commissioners) Mason County Commission Chairman John Bolender has announced that he will not seek a second term in office. After consideration of the time he spends away from his family and business interests, against the political commitments he made to the public, he has decided not to seek a second four year term. Commissioner Bolender stated, "I have enjoyed the short time I have been able to serve the residents of Mason County." The Commissioner indicated he feels Mason County is moving forward and in the right direction. "It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the residents of Mason County, thank you for that opportunity," the Commissioner said. ************************************** BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ************************************** COUNTY VACANCIES ON TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT BOARD Positions are open on the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) for a county engineer/public works director, and county commissioner. There is no incumbent in the engineer position, which has been held for two four- year terms by John Trent, Pierce County Public Works Director. He is not eligible for reappointment. Commissioner Leo Bowman has served one four- year term in his position and is seeking reappointment. The WSAC board of directors makes recommendations for both positions to Secretary of Transportation Sid Morrison. Please send nominations for the positions to WSAC no later than July 17, 2000. Nominations should be routed to Sophia Byrd at sbyrd@wacounties.org. The WSAC board or executive committee will select two names for each position and forward these to Morrison, who will make the final selection. ************************************** MEETINGS/WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES ************************************** URBAN CAUCUS MEETING SET FOR AUGUST 6TH AT SEA-TAC The Urban Caucus met at Ocean Shores to discuss issues of special concern for the upcoming Legislative session. Members were particularly interested in funding for criminal justice, infrastructure (including multi-modal transportation) and Environmental Costs. Urban Caucus members will receive a meeting notice with a specific location for the meeting which is planned to last from 10 AM to 1PM as well as an agenda. ************************************** AFFORDABLE HOUSING CHALLENGES FOCUS OF MAJOR CONFERENCE Futurist David Pearce Snyder, Mary Ann Gleason of the National Coalition for the Homeless, John Bohm of the National Housing Conference and Alma Felix Green, CEO of the Women's Development Group of Rhode Island, are just a few of the top level speakers at Housing Washington 2000 this year. The 7th annual statewide conference on affordable housing takes place September 25-27 at the Spokane Center and is presented by Washington State Housing Finance Commission and the Washington State Office of Community Development in partnership with the Washington Low Income Housing Network. Meet the challenge with your colleagues to help meet the need for all Washington residents. This three-day conference will explore the following themes: The need for economic diversity and partnership; Connecting with community; Systemic and holistic approaches (infrastructure requirements, jobs, child care, transportation, etc.); and Service supports to special populations. For more information call 1-800-767-HOME (x773), e-mail: conference@bombar.com, or visit www.wshfc.org/conf. ************************************** ECOLOGY SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED WATER QUALITY LOANS AND GRANTS The Department of Ecology is seeking public comment on its proposal to provide $89 million in grants and low-interest loans for 73 projects. Communities across the state asked for funding for 221 projects totaling $267 million to clean up polluted water and to prevent further pollution. Along with representatives from other natural resource agencies, Ecology reviewed the funding applications based upon criteria that included existing or potential water-quality problems, the effectiveness of the proposed project to solve the problem, and local community coordination. The money comes from the Centennial Clean Water Fund and the State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund. Projects help communities upgrade and improve municipal wastewater-treatment plants to serve growing populations; reduce and manage pollution from stormwater, urban development and agricultural practices; and engage in other projects to improve salmon, steelhead and bull trout habitat. Ecology will host two meetings to discuss the proposed projects and get comments from citizens. Tacoma Tuesday, July 11, 10 a.m. Pierce Co. Library, 3005 112th St. E., Rooms A, B and C Spokane Thursday, July 13, 10 a.m. West Central Community College, N. 1603 Belt, Newton Rm. 9 Through Aug. 2, people may send comments on the proposed funding projects, to Kim McKee, Dept. of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, Wash., 98504-7600 A complete list of projects in your coverage area is available on the Department of Ecology Web site - http://www.wa.gov/ecology/wq/funding/2001 ************************************** F.Y.I. ************************************** MEDICO LEGAL EXAM SET IN TACOMA The American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators certification examination will be held in Tacoma, July 29, at the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office, 3619 Pacific Avenue, at 8:30 a.m. Washoe County (Nevada) Coroner Vernon McCarty will proctor the test. Interested parties are asked to call the Board Headquarters in St. Louis, MI (attn: Julie) at (314) 268-5970, and also Ed Duke in Pierce County to confirm attendance. ************************************** DRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE INFORMATION John Payne, Clark County Deputy Treasurer, has been re-appointed to the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) Advisory Committee for a three-year term as an active Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) member. He has forwarded WACO a copy of the information provided at the last board meeting on the new PERS III plan. If you would like a copy of the information please call the WACO office. ************************************** UPCOMING MEETINGS & CONFERENCES ************************************** July 14-19 National Association of Counties' (NACo) Annual Conference, Charlotte, N.C. 23-27 National District Attorneys' Association (NDAA) Annual Summer Conference, Spokane. COURTHOUSE RAMBLINGS Columbia County Treasurer Lydia Buettner has announced that she will be retiring on December 31, after over 13 years in office. ****** The County Clerks' Auxiliary's three remaining original members recently donated $150.00 to the Washington Counties' Scholarship Fund in memory of Mitchell Sundseth, late husband of former Pend Oreille County Clerk Winnie Sundseth. Don McKeehen, Don Bafus and Bob Bradley, spouses of County Clerks in Skagit, Whitman and Okanogan counties respectively, along with Mitch Sundseth, formed the Auxiliary several years ago and developed a complete summer agenda for the group to coincide with the Annual Conference of the Washington State Association of County Clerks at the same locations. The "original" members said, "Mitch was a member of our original gang - an energetic, fun loving guy who is truly missed." ****** Roxanne Bese, Supervisor, King County Vehicle Licenses Section, has received the Governor's Award for Service and Quality Improvement. These awards are given out quarterly to state agencies who are involved in improving quality, service and efficiency of state government. Governor Locke presented Bese with this award with the rest of the team at a reception May 30, in Olympia. Bese was a member of the Personalized License Plate Process Team that included the Department of Licensing (DOL) and Department of Corrections (DOC). They worked together to improve the process of issuing personalized license plates. Originally, the cardboard temporary plate was created by hand stamping or printing each individually. DOL would send an order via US mail to Correctional Industries (CI) to make the plates. Once the plates were made, they were shipped back to DOL to be mailed to the customer or to King County, who then mailed them to the customer. Under the new, more efficient process, only vehicles without current plates receive a temporary plate. The others carry an informational letter indicating that an order is pending. The plate order is faxed to CI each Monday morning, CI makes the plates and they are now mailed directly to the customer. Congratulations to Roxanne for her superb work on this committee! ****** Willis Tucker, the first elected county executive in Snohomish County passed away last week after a four-year fight with cancer. Tucker was elected in 1979 and served until 1990. Willis was an active member of WSAC and many remember his numerous jokes, some more risqu‚ than others. But mostly he is remembered as a county official with a good sense of humor and a serious commitment to good government. He had many friends in the county family and will be missed. See attached Everett Herald article. JOBS Policy Director, Washington State Association of Counties - represents county commissioners, councilmembers and executives of all 39 counties. Seeking policy director with professional experience in legislative lobbying, policy analysis, and membership assistance. One of 3 policy directors. Experience working with local government preferred. Salary to $70,000 DOQ. EOE. Excellent benefits and working conditions. Submit r‚sum‚ and letter of application no later than July 17, 2000 to WSAC, 206 10th Avenue SE, Olympia, WA 98501-1311. ****** Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Section Manager - Washington State Department of Ecology is recruiting for a Water Quality Program Section Manager in their Central Regional Office in Yakima, Washington. Typical salary range is $60,000 to $64,000. This position manages a multidisciplinary staff of 25 and a biennial budget of more than $3 million directed toward water quality protection and restoration work throughout central Washington. The position directs a professional staff responsible for making regulatory decisions through permits and enforcement actions, delivery of educational programs, and providing technical assistance to businesses, local governments, and others. An application packet can be obtained from: Department of Ecology, Julie Ruster, (360) 407- 6448 (e-mail @ jrus461@ecy.wa.gov). Resume packets must be postmarked or received by 5:00 p.m., August 4, 2000. The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam era veterans are encouraged to apply. Persons of disability needing assistance may call Department of Ecology at (360) 407-6186 or TDD (360) 407-6206. ****** Planning & Development Services Director, Whatcom County, Bellingham, WA - Starting salary range $65,196 - $70,452/year. The County needs a proven manager to build consistent practice and to gain the respect of staff. This position requires a Master's in business administration, public administration, or related field and 6 years of progressively responsible experience including 3 years management experience. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. July 24, 2000. Required application packet is available at Whatcom County Human Resources, (360) 676-6802, M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email your application request to hr@co.whatcom.wa.us. Call our jobline (360) 738-4550 or visit our website at www.co.whatcom.wa.us for more details. Equal Opportunity Employer. ****** Island County (Coupeville) Treasurer has an opening for a full time property tax collector, accountant/bookkeeper. BA or AA degree and/or equivalent experience desired. Good computer skills and experience working with the public. Closes 7/14/00. Island County Application required. Call (360) 679-7372. EOE ****** Cowlitz County, Appraiser III - Cowlitz County is accepting applications for an Appraiser III in the Assessor's Office. This position appraises assigned land and buildings to determine the fair market value of same for ad valorem tax purposes with responsibility for utilizing the appropriate appraisal method and/or techniques. Requirements: Two years full-time appraisal experience and successful completion of the Department of Revenue Residential and Commercial Appraisal Courses, IAAO Course I and II, or equivalent. Starting salary $2,818 per month; subsequent annual steps $2,973. - $3,131. Applications and complete job description can be obtained by visiting Admin Services, 207 4th Avenue N, Kelso, WA 98626 or calling (360) 577-3065 or TDD (360) 577-3061. Applications and r‚sum‚ must be returned to Admin Services by July 14, 2000. Cowlitz County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ****** The Pacific County Department of Public Works has an opening for an Operations Manager. This position serves as an important member of the DPW management team. The successful candidate will be responsible to plan, organize, direct and monitor the activities and operations of the Road Maintenance Division. Nineteen employees, including two Road Supervisors currently staff the Division. Minimum qualifications include a BS degree in civil engineering, construction management or closely related field; plus six years of progressively responsible work in county, municipal or closely related road system maintenance work. At least three of these years must be as manager or supervisor of a discrete work division including direct responsibility for performance of a team; or demonstrated equivalent combination of education and/or experience. A valid driver's license is required at the time of hire. Starting salary: $3526 to $4486, plus benefits, DOQ. Call (360) 875- 9368 for application packet and complete position description or visit the Pacific County website at www.co.pacific.wa.us. To assure consideration, applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 24, 2000. However, the position will remain open until filled. Pacific County is an equal opportunity employer. ****** Grays Harbor County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has an opening for a deputy prosecuting attorney with a beginning annual salary of $33,264., plus benefits, depending upon experience. Two or more years of trial experience is preferred, but not required. Applicants must be admitted to practice law in Washington State, and must hold a valid Washington State drivers license, or have the ability to obtain such a license. Applicants are subject to a background check because of the sensitive nature of the position. This is a union exempt position. The successful applicant must establish residency in Grays Harbor County within six months of accepting employment. Submit application, r‚sum‚, including references and writing samples (if available) to: Grays Harbor County Prosecutor's Office, 202 North First Street, Post Office Box 550, Montesano, WA 98563, (360) 249- 3951, Fax: (360) 249-6064. Applications are to be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 21, 2000. Grays Harbor is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ****** Building Official - City of Olympia, WA - Job No. 00-27, $4,245 to $5,159 per month, and excellent benefits. The City of Olympia, WA, is looking for a Building Official to manage the Building Services Division of the Community Planning and Development Department. The successful candidate must possess excellent management and supervisory skills, comprehensive technical knowledge, and a proven customer service orientation to work in one of the most dynamic regional economies in the country. Successful performance in this key position requires superior organization and leadership abilities; proven success as a team builder and motivator; excellent verbal and written communications skills and an in-depth knowledge of commercial and residential building and construction industry practices, building and construction inspection, code enforcement, and plan review. Minimum Exp/Ed requirements: Five year's work experience in building code enforcement as a building inspector and/or plans examiner, or comparable private sector experience is required. Additional college level course work/experience in supervision; certification as a Building Inspector and/or Plans Examiner through the I.C.B.O.; and/or Certification as a Building Official by the C.A.B.O. preferred. Application deadline: Review of applications begins on July 31, 2000. Applications will be accepted until finalists are chosen for the position. Obtain application from City of Olympia, HR Dept. 900 Plum St. SE, P.O. Box 1967, Olympia, WA 98507-1967. 24-hour Job line: (360) 753- 4444 Box: 8383. EOE/ADA. ****** Building Permit Services Division Manager, King County , WA - Annual salary range $67,044 - $84,144. The Building Permit Services Division Manager plans for, directs, and manages a division of the Department of Development and Environmental Services which is responsible for the intake, review and approval, and construction inspection of building permit applications, and oversees the department's public information services. The King County Fire Marshal's Office and Code Enforcement Section also report to this Manager's position. The position is responsible for ensuring the division's annual objectives are met and the application of codes and processing of building permit applications is professional, efficient, and within target timelines. The program includes working in partnership with the King County Executive, the King County Council, other King County departments, the community, and as a member of the department's management team. A Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, architecture, engineering or a related field; plus five years of progressively responsible supervision management experience is required. To request a full job description and application procedures, please call (206) 296-6725 or send an e-mail request to kathy.graves@metrokc.gov. A cover letter and resume must be submitted to the Department no later than July 17, 2000. ****** Land Use Services Division Manager, King County, WA - Annual salary range $67,044 - $84,144. The Land Use Services Division Manager plans for, directs, and manages a division of the Department of Development and Environmental Services which is responsible for producing the review of land development proposals in unincorporated King County. The Division applies codes, policies, and standards to applications affecting zoning, sensitive areas, rights-of-way, plats, and subdivisions. There is a high degree of public interaction. The position is responsible for ensuring the division's annual objectives are met and the application of codes and processing of land use applications is professional, efficient, and within target timelines. The program includes working in partnership with the King County Executive, the King County Council, other King County departments, the community, and as a member of the department's management team. A Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, planning, engineering, or a related field; plus five years of progressively responsible supervision management experience is required. To request a full job description and application procedures, please call (206) 296-6725 or send an e-mail request to kathy.graves@metrokc.gov. A cover letter and resume must be submitted to the Department no later than July 17, 2000. ****** Investment/Debt Management Accountant II, #00-064 - Salary: $2,970 - $3,790/month. Applications Accepted Until Position Is Filled. The City of Vancouver, Washington is seeking candidates for the position of investment/debt management accountant II. The candidate selected will be working with approximately a $150 million dollar portfolio with a majority of investments in the following securities, US Treasuries, Government Agencies, Bankers Acceptance, Commercial Paper, and Certificates of Deposit. In addition, the ideal candidate will possess a background and/or understanding of municipal debt issuance, cash management functions, and banking industry transactions. This position requires a self starter who is able to perform a majority of the work independently while at times coordinating and sharing work responsibilities with other team members. Application materials are available at the Human Resources office, 703 Broadway, Suite 500, Vancouver, WA 98660, or by calling 696-8419, or www.ci.vancouver.wa.us.