[0:05] We're going to go ahead and move into our first public hearing. This is a public hearing for updates to chapter 2.02 of the Thurshing County Code. It is 3.33 p.m. The purpose of this public hearing is to accept and consider public comment on the proposed ordinance rescending ordinance 16179 and amending chapter 2.02 of the Thurshing County Code relating to regular and special meetings of the Board of County commissioners. This is a hybrid public hearing.

[0:35] Hearing those wishing to testify have joined in person by zoom emailed and comment or mailed and comment if you wish to testify

[0:41] Please visit the Thurson County home page online and select announcements of public hearings on the left-hand side

[0:47] The information to join this public hearing really has been posted there if you do not wish to testify

[0:52] But would like to listen and follow along please watch the live stream through the Thurson County YouTube channel to help us manage attendance

[0:58] Robin Campbell and trim county manager will provide information on this topic

[1:02] Assuming those on Zoom want to testify, we will read your name out loud.

[1:06] You will have four minutes to testify, time would not be given to another person when you're called on please state your name and address for the record.

[1:15] The public hearing is now open, so Robin will now present background information of the proposed resolution written comments submitted and any additional information requested by the board.

[1:26] Go ahead.

[1:27] Thank you, Commissioner.

[1:28] There's the county code chapter 2.02 govern county meetings, specifically those meetings

[1:38] of the board of the county commissioners.

[1:41] In 2023 during the legislative session, state law was changed regarding public meetings.

[1:49] R-C-W-3632-O-E-O requires that the board hold regular meetings in the county seat, but

[2:00] sub-3 authorizes the board to hold the quarterly meetings outside the county seat.

[2:09] This is a flexibility that was not available to the board prior to the changes in state law.

[2:20] And so, we are recommending that the ordinance be amended to align with state law and provide the board the flexibility to hold quarterly meetings.

[2:35] should you choose to do so outside of the county seat within the communities that you serve.

[2:42] There are other items in this update that are mainly just administrative cleanup items,

[2:51] but the main change in the code is to provide flexibility to the board for these alternative

[2:59] location meetings. I'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Questions?

[3:07] Is there a limit to how many can be held outside the county seat per year?

[3:11] One per quarter. I do all in tonight. Yeah.

[3:18] Any additional questions?

[3:22] Okay, we'll go ahead

[3:23] and move into public testimony. And for this item, I do not have anyone on my sign-up sheet

[3:30] Is there anyone who would like to provide public testimony and

[3:37] zoom? I'm just seeing Keely and

[3:39] Auditor Hall.

[3:42] Okay, so moving forward to discussion. Any discussion commissioners need to have

[3:49] at this time. I think this is great.

[3:55] Okay, there's no further discussion. Is there a motion to close

[3:57] the public hearing? No, second. It's been moved and seconded. I'll, I need discussion. I'll call for

[4:05] with a vote. Mr. Claus, I, Mr. Farnier, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Menser, Mr. Mejia, I,

[4:16] and, um,

[4:17] Interim County Manager, can you tell us the next steps for this?

[4:22] Uh, the next steps for this is we would, um,

[4:28] add the code to, or the amendments to the county code, and, um,

[4:34] then we can have a discussion with the board in January on if you'd like to schedule

[4:41] these meetings in the other areas of the county.

[4:45] You need a motion from the board today.

[4:49] Who's this the public care ward and we adopt the ordinance?

[4:51] I have you close the public hearing.

[4:55] Yes.

[4:55] So you have an option to move.

[4:58] I'm sorry.

[4:59] You have an option to move to approve the change to the county code.

[5:04] Thank you.

[5:04] there was no recommended action, so I just wanted to make

[5:09] there's only a agenda but not on the public.

[5:12] Sorry, I'm ready to make that motion.

[5:13] And I'm sure it's ready for.

[5:14] I move to approve ordinance rescinding ordinance 16179

[5:20] and amending chapter 202, Thurson County Code relating to regular and special

[5:24] meetings of the Board of County Commissioners.

[5:27] Sir, a second.

[5:28] Second.

[5:29] So moved and seconded.

[5:30] Any discussion?

[5:31] I mean, how many times do you have to read the ordinance to adopt it?

[5:35] Is it take two readings? One reading?

[5:37] No, no. You can take action right now, and that's you're done.

[5:41] And then there's not a second reading, and I don't have to over.

[5:47] Okay, I'll call for the vote.

[5:48] Mr. Claude.

[5:49] I, Mr. Farnier.

[5:50] Hi.

[5:50] Mr. Edwards.

[5:51] Hi.

[5:51] Mr. Minster.

[5:52] Hi.

[5:52] Mr. Hia.

[5:53] Hi.

[5:54] Okay.

[5:54] The ordinance, the Manning Chapter 2.02, a Thurshing County Code, has been adopted.

[6:01] So with that we will move on, that will conclude the first public hearing, we will move on to our second public hearing.

[6:09] The second public hearing is a public hearing to receive testimony regarding proposed 2024 election precinct maintenance plan.

[6:16] The purpose of this public hearing is to accept and consider public testimony on the proposed 2024 election precinct maintenance plan.

[6:23] In accordance with RCW-29A.16.040, precinct boundaries may be altered at any time as long

[6:31] as sufficient time exists, prior to a given election and that no precinct exists, 1500

[6:37] active registered voters.

[6:39] The City of Yom had multiplied annexations.

[6:43] So if you wish to testify, please make sure you sign in on the table outside this room.

[6:48] currently I have one person who's here as an observer but we'll see if they wish to testify.

[6:57] You will have four minutes to testify. We will call your name out loud for oral testimony.

[7:02] When you hear a name, please come forward and provide your address. Time may not be given to

[7:07] another person.

[7:13] We're going to go ahead and this public hearing is now open. Auditor Hall will

[7:21] I will provide background information on the proposed amendment written comments submitted for the public hearing and any additional information requested by the board auditor hall.

[7:30] I'll go ahead and pass it over to you.

[7:32] Great. Thank you very much.

[7:34] Every 10 years, we draw new precincts for the decennial census, but in between those 10 years, we have to adjust precincts for a couple of reasons.

[7:48] and really it's to comply with state law.

[7:54] So we modified precincts for city annexations,

[7:59] which is the case here,

[8:01] and also precincts have a 1500-person limit.

[8:07] So quite often we split them just because they're getting too large.

[8:12] In this case, it's strictly due to annexations,

[8:16] and I will turn it over to staff who will walk through all of the

[8:23] precinct adjustments that we're going to

[8:26] request to be made today.

[8:36] Thank you, Auditor Hall.

[8:41] This is better? Yes.

[8:43] My name is Lynn Wattenabe, I'm the lead election technician.

[8:48] So with that, this is a 2024 precinct maintenance plan. I have gone over it a couple times with

[8:55] the prior, they're the current sitting three commissioners.

[8:59] So if I go too fast for the new two, please let me know.

[9:04] All right, so for an overview, there are no changes to the Five County Commissioner District

[9:07] Boundaries that were approved in 2022.

[9:10] Thurson County currently has 286 voting precincts.

[9:14] In accordance with RCW 29A.16.040, no changes may be made during the period starting seven

[9:21] days prior to the first day for candidates to file for the primary election.

[9:25] This changed from 14 days during the 2023 legislative session.

[9:30] Also, no precinct may exceed 1500 active registered voters.

[9:34] In accordance with RCW29A16.050, every voting precinct must be

[9:39] wholly within a single congressional district, a single legislative district,

[9:43] a single district of a county legislative authority, and if applicable, a single city.

[9:48] Every voting precinct must be composed as nearly as practical of contiguous and compact areas.

[9:54] So the overview, there's five City of Yom annexations,

[10:01] Railway Road, Vansal Morris Road, Grove Road, which has two areas,

[10:05] and State Route 507 Southeast annexation.

[10:08] And we also have one City of Yom boundary correction.

[10:16] So the first area is the City of Yom railway road annexation.

[10:19] It affects Longmeyer, which is precinct 126, and has approximately

[10:24] 634 voters.

[10:25] The second precinct is yell number three, which is precinct 703, has approximately 1274 voters.

[10:33] The approximate voters in a new precinct is zero.

[10:38] So the proposal is to add the annex parcel to yell number three, precinct 703, and again

[10:44] the approximate voters affected is zero.

[10:50] So the new voter total for long-mire, precinct 126, is 634, and the new voter total for

[10:55] number three, precinct 703 is 1,274.

[11:03] The second area is the Vansal Morse Road annexation.

[11:07] It affects Longmeyer, precinct 126, approximately 634 voters,

[11:12] and Yelp number three, precinct 703,

[11:14] which has approximately 1,274 voters.

[11:18] This affects approximately two voters.

[11:24] So we're proposing to add the annex area

[11:25] to Yelp number three, precinct 703,

[11:28] and again, it affects about two voters.

[11:32] So the new voter total for Longmeyer,

[11:34] Precinct 126 is 632.

[11:37] And the new voter total for Yelp number three,

[11:39] Precinct 703 is 1,276.

[11:44] Any questions on those two?

[11:48] So the next area is a Grove Road annexation.

[11:51] It affects Longmeyer, Precinct 126.

[11:53] Again, approximate voter total is 632.

[11:56] Yelp number three, Precinct 703,

[11:58] approximately 1,276 voters.

[12:01] approximate voters in the new precinct is 14.

[12:07] So the first area for this

[12:08] Grove Road annexation is to move the parcel into Yelm number 3,

[12:13] precinct 703, which has approximately five voters.

[12:20] So the new voter total for

[12:21] Longmeyer precinct 126 would be 627. And the new voter total for Yelm number 3,

[12:26] precinct 703 is 1,281.

[12:32] The second area again adding the annexed area to Yelm number 3,

[12:36] Precinct 703, and there's approximately nine voters in that area.

[12:43] The new voter total for Longmeyer, Precinct 126, will be 618, and the new voter total

[12:48] for Yelp number 3, Precinct 703, 1,290.

[12:55] Next is state route 507 southeast annexation.

[12:58] This affects deshoots, Precinct 125, and has approximately 1,271 voters, and it affects

[13:05] about zero voters.

[13:06] So this annexation does cross a congressional district boundary, so the proposal is

[13:15] to create a new precinct and yelp, precinct 706, with approximately zero voters, because

[13:25] a precinct cannot cross a congressional district boundary.

[13:31] So the new voter total for this shoots precinct 125 is 1271, and the new voter total for new

[13:38] Two, yellow number six, precinct 706 is zero.

[13:43] Any questions on those?

[13:46] Is it just between two boundaries that can't be absorbed either way?

[13:50] No, the city limits if you could go back a slide.

[13:57] It's sandwiched in between two boundaries that don't.

[14:00] It's, so the congressional district boundary currently follows the current city limits.

[14:04] And so the annexed area is just on the other side of that congressional district boundary,

[14:10] and there's no City Yelp precincts on the other side.

[14:14] This would be the only City Yelp precinct

[14:16] in Congressional District 3.

[14:19] Everything else is in Congressional District 10.

[14:24] Gotcha.

[14:28] We have three, so we'll go.

[14:29] Three is the South.

[14:30] I found my precinct.

[14:34] Yep.

[14:34] Even three.

[14:40] Okay, so the last area is a boundary correction.

[14:43] It affects Fristo, was it just precinct 124,

[14:46] has approximately 633 voters,

[14:49] and Yelp number one, precinct 701,

[14:51] which has approximately 1,078 voters.

[14:54] This affects approximately zero voters.

[15:00] And then this is just that the city of young boundaries should follow the creek lines and not parcel lines. Again, it affects zero voters. So the new voter total for Fristo, which is precinct 124 is 633. And the new voter total for yellow number one, precinct 701 is 1778.

[15:21] So the proposed results, again, no changes to Commissioner district boundaries and no voter total change for Commissioner districts. Proposed 2024 precinct count is 287. Approximate voters

[15:32] was affected is 16, which is 0.008%.

[15:36] Voting precincts added one, which is Yom number six.

[15:40] Legal descriptions added one, Yom number six.

[15:44] Precinct boundary adjustments to the City of Yom annexations

[15:46] and precinct boundary adjustments is five.

[15:49] Precinct legal descriptions amended

[15:51] due to City of Yom annexations and precinct boundary adjustments

[15:54] is five.

[15:55] And the Commissioner District Legal Descriptions amended.

[15:58] Only internal precinct boundary changes, excuse me.

[16:01] only internal precinct changes, no external biology changes and no total voter changes is one,

[16:07] and that's Commissioner District 2, to reflect the one added precinct.

[16:14] Any questions?

[16:22] Okay,

[16:27] I'm sharing this screen. I know we're coming earlier to you than normal, but that's because

[16:33] we have five elections next year, so this is really the only time we have. Okay, thank you.

[16:45] I

[16:48] guess I just want to point out that there's a lot of work that goes into this to follow

[16:54] the rules and sometimes I think the public has a hard time of making sense of them, but

[17:01] they are the rules and we've got to follow them and that's where it is.

[17:05] So good job.

[17:07] Thank you.

[17:07] Yeah.

[17:07] Staff does an amazing job.

[17:08] So

[17:12] with that we will move on to you public comment on a mark no but I will ask Mitch

[17:20] Larson.

[17:24] Okay so and I'm not seeing anyone be as soon as there anyone would like to provide

[17:31] public testimony on this. Okay so we will move into discussion is there any discussion

[17:40] on this item.

[17:45] The only question is I'm jumping ahead a little bit, but there's a proposed

[17:49] actions on the agenda, one of which adopts boundary changes and one talks about

[17:55] Commissioner District 2 legal descriptions. Are those both things

[17:58] redundant? Yes, please. So there are two

[18:03] different ordinances. One is to update county code for the precinct legal descriptions.

[18:08] The other one is to update the county code for the Commissioner District

[18:14] So the precinct boundary legal descriptions is updating because we're moving the boundaries

[18:20] around.

[18:21] And then the Commissioner District Legal is because the Commissioner District Legal

[18:24] Descriptions is a list of precincts.

[18:26] And so for Commissioner District, excuse me, Commissioner District 2, we have to add precinct

[18:31] 706.

[18:32] All the changes were that we just went through are all in District 2.

[18:36] So it's just a corresponding clean up.

[18:40] Yes, and it's because we added a new

[18:42] precinct, so anytime we add or remove a

[18:44] precinct from one of the commissioner districts,

[18:46] we have to update the legal.

[18:48] Thank you.

[18:52] You're wondering if I'm going to get

[18:54] redistricted out or be perpetually there.

[18:57] No, thank you.

[18:59] That was very good.

[19:01] Is there a motion to close the public hearing?

[19:04] I'm going to close public hearing.

[19:06] Second.

[19:07] Okay, it's been moved and seconded.

[19:08] any discussion? I'll call for the vote.

[19:11] Mr. Fah, aye.

[19:12] Mr. Fah, aye.

[19:13] Mr. Edwards, aye.

[19:14] Mr. Mentor.

[19:15] Mr. Meaghan, aye.

[19:17] Next, we have two motions in front of us.

[19:20] Is the board ready to move forward?

[19:22] Yes, ma'am.

[19:23] Is there a motion?

[19:25] Okay, first I will move to adopt the ordinance

[19:27] for proposed legal description and precinct boundary changes.

[19:30] Updating five precincts with boundary line adjustments

[19:33] and creating one new precinct.

[19:34] Sir, second.

[19:35] Second.

[19:36] moved and seconded any discussion. I'll call for the vote. Mr. Claus, I, Mr.

[19:42] Farnier. Aye. Mr. Edwards. Aye. Mr. Mincer.

[19:45] Aye. Mr. Mincer, I'm sure we hear. Aye. Okay, so our second motion. Yes. I move to adopt the

[19:52] ordinance for a men in Commissioner District 2, Commissioner District No. 2 legal description.

[19:56] Second. Remove and seconded any discussion. I'll call for the vote. Mr. Claus, I, Mr. Farnier.

[20:03] Mr. Edwards. Mr. Minter. Mr. Minter. Yes, fine. Okay.

[20:09] Thank you Auditor Haugh and thank you.

[20:12] That did a great much.

[20:17] So that will conclude our two public hearings. We will move back to our regular

[20:24] set agenda.

Thurston County Public Hearing: December 12, 2023

Transcript