Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order by Carol Johnson at 7:35am. Todd Ortloff led the flag salute.

Thought of the Day:

Peggy:  Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.

Minutes:

None to approve.

Guests:

Randy J. introduced Mark Lane, new CFO for the county. Doreen Hunter, new VP for local housing unit. Jim Stoffer, Sequim School Board.

Announcements:

Jon said annual dues are now $50.

Andrew May said that Olympic Peninsula has been featured as the #1 place to visit in both AAA magazine and USA Today. The ice rink was a success and they beat projections. The goal is to make enough to purchase their own rink in 3 years.

Peggy asked if anyone was doing something for the Coast Guard to help with the government shutdown. PABA is not currently.

Carol said Dept. of Ecology Master Shoreline Program is open Jan 14 – Feb 28 for comments. It’s important to submit individually and PABA will count as only one per Kaj.

Monday Jan 21 is MLK Day and by a show of hands asked by Carol, we will have a meeting on Tues., Jan 22.

Program:  Rep. Mike Chapman

Mike talked about being appointed to a Committee on Committees which determines who the chairs are. He said the Agriculture and Resource Committee is now the Rural Development Agriculture and Resource Committee. He’s on the Labor Committee, Finance Committee, and Rules Committee saying that is where most bills get voted out. Most bills did not make it to the house floor. Sarah is his intern and can be contacted to find him.

He introduced two bi-partisan bills and will have a Republican co-sponsor signed on.

1. Rural Manufacturing: will lower B & O rate for smaller companies. it will also help pulp and paper with preferential tax rate.
2. Federal Opportunity Zone where the state can offer tax credits in rural communities. B & O dollars would be invested and jobs created. Metrics would be in place.
3. Prime sponsor for assistance in state indigent defense.
4. An act where State Corrections Officers will be allowed to have protection for concealed carry.
5. Also worked on a bill for a condominium regulation revamp where he sat with builders, trial lawyers and Realtors to relax liability around multi-family dwellings. He talked about how WA is exploring Cascade Care which would give a family of 4 making up to $63K a year access to an insurance plan at no extra cost.

Sam Phillips asked him to be mindful of ambulance reimbursement rates, that they should be reasonable. Out of $1K they get $120 reimbursement and the community is picking up the rest of the cost.

Kaj asked about Carbon Tax and Capital Gains Tax. Rep. Chapman said carbon will not be discussed soon. He prefers a free market driven plan. B&O tax increase is dead and we need property tax relief. They will probably not act on a Capital Gains tax. he sees a citizen’s initiative for property tax relief and capital gains tax on 2-5% of the state.

Peggy asked about laminated timber. Rep Chapman says that’s why there is a manufacturing bill. The industry has had interest in the state but the tax structure is not competitive. You can go 13 stories now with CLT.

Carol asked what the Governor’s top 2-3 priorities are. Rep Chapman said he’s running for president, orca recovery, and green energy bill. He talked about green companies providing good jobs.

Shenna asked about school bonds / levies. He said a simple majority will not pass. He also said increased mental health care in schools is a big priority.

Wendy Sisk said in hiring for high skill jobs, there is a significant struggle for housing. How can the state help grow our local workforce OMC is our largest employer and Peninsula Behavioral Health has increased 30% in two years and has had to hire from outside. He said they have increased funding for the nursing program at Peninsula College and housing is tricky, it’s a free market. He’s hoping liability and stormwater relief will help.

Cherie thanked him for the #1 top story in the PDN year in review being the suicide barrier. He said Morse Creek is next with a possible boulevard project and he’s also working on a corridor project for Sequim to Blyn.

Upcoming Meeting:

Jan 15: Jodi Wilkinson, Juvenile Corrections
Jan 22: Marc Abshire, Chamber of Commerce
Jan 29: Bill Lindstrom, “Strait Press”

Meeting adjourned at 8:43am.