PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County commissioners approved their leg of a three-pronged agreement between the county, city of Port Townsend and Port of Port Townsend, which sets up a new framework to map out future economic growth in a county long divided on the issue.
The commissioners made good on their part of a “joint economic development planning agreement,” with commissioners Chairman David Sullivan, D-Cape George, ceremoniously joining Port Townsend Mayor Michelle Sandoval and port Chairman John Collins in signing the pact.
While Sullivan said the agreement was “the recognition that we are all in this together,” Sandoval said her intent in the agreement was “I want us all to thrive.”
“In a bad economic time or good economic time, we all need to work together,” she said.
Before he signed the agreement, Collins said, “Let me cut to the chase: The bottom line here [is], yes ,let’s do it.”
‘First step’
Bill Wise, chairman of Team Jefferson, the county’s economic arm formed after the county dropped its funding and dissolved the former Economic Development Council of Jefferson County because there was no unity on its board, said he saw the agreement as an opportunity “and I think this is the first step.”
“You are clearly showing the leadership to set a better tone for economic development in Jefferson County,” Wise said.
During the county commissioners’ public comment period Monday, former Port of Port Townsend Commissioner Herb Beck voiced concern about the economic consultant being hired for more than $30,000 to develop a report, saying he was concerned it would be just another report for the shelf and forgotten.
Under the joint economic development planning agreement, the city, county and port each agree to pay up to $10,600 to hire an economist with Vancouver, Wash.-based E.D. Hovee & Co. consultants.
Beck said he prefers the money go directly into something that would stimulate the local economy, such as the Quilcene Community Center.
Citing Beck’s comments, County Commissioner Phil Johnson said, “We’ve go to make sure it doesn’t sit on a shelf.”
Finishing studies
Sandoval said the funding was not a full-blown consultant report but finishing up past studies that would be part of the ongoing county and city comprehensive plans.
She called the agreement “a consistent, lawful strategy to implement infrastructure” and bring in an economist.
The county commission was the third and final government body to approve and sign the agreement with the city and port.
The City Council in its action Feb. 6 authorized Sandoval to execute a memorandum of understanding with the port and county that clarifies land uses allowed at the port’s Jefferson County International Airport and maps out a future of working together on economic growth.
The agreement calls for collaborative negotiations for a joint economic development planning agreement and a market analysis to determine which economic sectors are most likely to experience growth in the county.
In another related action Monday, the commissioners approved adding a member of the Port Hadlock urban growth area as a voting member to the Joint Management Steering Committee, a public panel that will advise the county, city and port on economic development matters through the agreement.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
