V. ADMINISTRATION PART I

A. Chair's Report

WSABRB Conference

Chair Felt reported that six board members and Ms. Miklethun attended the Washington Association of Boundary Review Boards (WSABRB) Annual Conference in October in Stevenson, WA.  He added that the conference was well attended and featured retired Executive Secretary Lenora Blauman as a speaker on board procedures.  Mary Lynne Evans added that it was nice to have new boundary review board members attend the conference, including a representative from the newly formed board in Chelan County.  Additionally, she noted that the session on planning in Skamania County, a non-growth management planning county with a national scenic area, was particularly interesting.  Chair Felt and Stephen Toy echoed that sentiment.  Stephen Toy added that the presentation on the historical Murphy’s Corner annexation in Snohomish County was also of particular interest and value.  Other attendees reported that they found the conference to be a successful learning experience.   Ms. Miklethun shared that the 2023 WSABRB Conference will be held in Pierce County.

Stephen Toy and Mary Lynne Evans reported that they attended the APA Washington Annual Conference in Vancouver at the same time as the WSABRB Conference.  Stephen Toy shared that the APA WA Conference had a focus on planning in relation to affordable housing and implementation efforts associated with state legislation regarding the same.  Mary Lynne Evans reported being a panelist for the “Wisdom for Planning Survivors” session.  

Voucher Process

Chair Felt stated that members should have received their Board-related activity payments for the first half of 2022 and invited Ms. Miklethun to speak regarding potential improvements to the voucher process.  Ms. Miklethun shared that the staff have been processing voucher payments semi annually since COVID started but that the staff would like to change that to a quarterly process.  She then invited board members to provide feedback to that proposal.  She also stated she would be sharing a sample voucher with members to demonstrate what information staff needs from members in order to process vouchers for payment.  She thanked Ms. Velasquez for all the work she does related to the voucher process.  Chair Felt then thanked the staff for their efforts and reminded members that they need to turn in their completed vouchers in a timely manner.  Several members stated that a quarterly process would work for them.  Jay Hamlin asked if late payments could be accommodated.  Ms. Miklethun responded that late vouchers could be processed if they were paid by the end of the biennium in which the expenses were incurred.  She added that payment in a subsequent biennium was not ideal and should be avoided if possible.

December Meeting 

Chair Felt stated that the Board has traditionally had a short meeting in December followed by a holiday dinner and reported that Mary Lynne Evans had been working on planning this event.  Mary Lynne Evans shared that the event would likely be held again at Piatti at U Village on the normal meeting date of December 8 and that additional information will be forthcoming.  The meeting will begin at 5:30 P.M.

Member Announcements

Claudia Hirschey announced that after 16 years of service to the Board, she would not seek another term after her current terms ends in January 2023.  She expressed her appreciation for the relationships she has made with members and for fond memories of meetings, hearings, dinners and other events.  Members thanked her for her many contributions throughout the years and expressed how much they would miss her.

Sylvia Bushnell announced that after 13 years of service to the Board, she would be resigning immediately due to personal commitments.  She shared how her work with community in Skyway led her to the Board and expressed her gratitude and appreciation for the relationships she built with members and for gratifying experiences of the work of the Board.  She thanked the members for their support.  Members expressed that they greatly valued her commitment and service to the Board and stated that she would be greatly missed by all.  Many members added that she had been a wonderful mentor to several new members over the years and that she brought valuable experience working with communities affected by potential annexations.

B. COMMITEE REPORTS

1. Personnel Committee

Chair Felt asked Ms. Miklethun to provide an update regarding the Personnel Committee.  Ms. Miklethun shared that the Personnel Committee will need to complete her six-month probationary performance appraisal.  She added that it was her understanding that Stephen Toy has agreed to serve as Acting Committee Chair and will lead this process.  Members thanked Stephen Toy for taking on that task.

2. Legislative Committee

Chair Felt shared that he, Mary Lynne Evans and Ms. Miklethun have been attending the Roadmap III meetings as well as the APA Legislative Committee meetings on Fridays to plan for the 2023 Legislative Session.  Committee Co-Chair Mary Lynne Evans added that she has been working with the WSABRB Legislative Committee members regarding setting up meetings with legislators and will have additional details at a later date.

3. Budget Committee

Committee Chair Claudia Hirschey stated that it was her understanding that the King County Council has been conducting budget hearings and that the Councilmembers have not posed any questions to staff regarding the Board’s proposed budget.  She added that the County Council is scheduled to have a hearing and potential vote on the budget on November 15, 2022.

4. Nominating Committee

Chair Felt reported that the Nominating Committee met to consider two candidates for the remainder of the special purpose district member term that was vacated after Van Anderson’s passing earlier this year.  He stated that Acting Committee Chair Jay Hamlin would provide additional information in later parts of the meeting per the agenda.

VI. EXECUTIVE SESSION

Chair Felt called the Washington State Boundary Review Board for King County into Executive Session at 8:10 P.M. to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(g). The Executive Session lasted for 15 minutes until 8:25 P.M. as Chair Felt announced it would, and the Board came back into regular session at 8:25 P.M.

VII. VOTE FOR A NEW MEMBER

Action: Acting Nominating Committee Chair Jay Hamlin moved to appoint Cheryl Scheuerman to the vacant special purpose district member position starting with the December 2022 meeting through the remaining position term which ends on February 28, 2025. Chair Elect Hank Margeson seconded the motion.

Board members voted nine in favor of approving the motion.  Claudia Hirschey abstained from the vote.  Cheryl Scheuerman is appointed to the vacant special purpose district member position which ends on February 28, 2025.

Acting Nominating Committee Chair Jay Hamlin and Bob Cook then stated that the Nominating Committee found the second candidate for the position, Teresa Platin, to be highly qualified for a position on the Board.  They then suggested as the Board now has another vacancy due to the Sylvia Bushnell’s resignation that the Board should ask that the King County Executive nominate Ms. Platin to fulfill the remainder of Sylvia Bushnell’s term.

Action:  Bob Cook moved to direct Ms. Miklethun to request that King County Executive Dow Constantine consider Teresa Platin for the Executive-appointed Board position most recently filled by Sylvia Bushnell which ends on January 31, 2025.  Chair Elect Hank Margeson seconded the motion.

Board members voted ten in favor of approving the motion.  Ms. Miklethun will request that King County Executive Dow Constantine consider Teresa Platin for the Executive-appointed Board position most recently filled by Sylvia Bushnell which ends on January 31, 2025.

VIII. DISCUSS AND VOTE FOR CHAIR ELECT 2023/CHAIR 2024

Acting Nominating Committee Chair Jay Hamlin reported that at its October 19, 2022 meeting, the Nominating Committee reviewed the Board roster and discussed which members had previously served as Board Chair and for how many terms.  He shared that the Nominating Committee discussed nominating Bob Cook for the 2023 Chair Elect/2024 Chair position.  Acting Nominating Committee Chair Jay Hamlin then stated that the Nominating Committee discussed the fact that Bob Cook is a respected member that excellently represents fire districts and has great knowledge of Board procedures.  He then relayed that Bob Cook is willing to serve in this capacity.

Action:  Acting Nominating Committee Chair Jay Hamlin moved to appoint Bob Cook as the 2023 Chair Elect/2024 Chair of the Washington State Boundary Review Board for King County.  Stephen Toy seconded the motion.

Board members voted ten in favor of approving the motion.  Bob Cook is appointed as the 2023 Chair Elect/2024 Chair of the Washington State Boundary Review Board for King County.

IX. ADMINISTRATION PART II

C. Executive Secretary’s Report

1. OPMA DISCUSSION REGARDING MEETING FORMAT

Ms. Miklethun stated that in its last session, the Washington State Legislature amended the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) which governs the Board’s regular and special meetings, but not its public hearings.  She relayed that this amendment allows the Board to continue to meet completely remotely via Zoom as long as there is an emergency declaration in place.  She added that the Board is currently operating under the King County Executive’s emergency declaration regarding Covid 19, but that the Governor’s emergency declaration expired on October 31, 2022.  She then stated that when the Executive rescinds the current order, the Board will need to make a decision regarding its meeting structure going forward.  Ms. Miklethun shared that the Board has three options for this future structure: 1) the Board could declare its own emergency and continue to meet virtually after the King County Executive rescinds his emergency declaration; 2) the Board could meet in person; or 3) the Board could meet in a hybrid manner with at least one person, potentially only Ms. Miklethun, holding the room open for attendance by the public.  She added that there may be some nuances to those options, for example, if the Board decided to meet in person, it could establish a policy that members could participate in a certain number of meetings virtually throughout the year.  Members had several questions and comments including what public spaces may be available for in person meetings and what costs may be associated with those spaces.  Jay Hamlin stated that he was not in favor of the Board declaring its own emergency.  Members also discussed that an in person option would make the Board more accessible to the public.  The members decided to discuss the matter further at the December meeting and directed Ms. Miklethun to prepare a written summary of the options for members. 

2. NEW MEMBER ONBOARDING/TRAINING 

Ms. Miklethun shared that she will be providing OPMA and Public Records Act (PRA) training to for new member Cheryl Scheuerman and offered to open up that training to other members as a refresher.  Mary Lynne Evans stated that new member mentorship by a current member works very well for training/onboarding generally.  Chair Felt echoed that sentiment.

3. OTHER UPDATES

Ms. Miklethun reminded members that the office would be closed on November 11 for Veterans Day, and she and the members thanked Chair Elect Hank Margeson and Marlin Gabbert for their service in the armed forces.  She added that Karen Meyering of King County Regional Planning would be providing a written report to the Growth Management Planning Council on annexation activity from 2020-2022 prior to its meeting on November 30.  She added that there were some other events of potential interest for members including an upcoming session on participatory budgeting with the City of Seattle and also a MRSC Land Use Caselaw Update training on December 8.

D. Correspondence:

General Correspondence/Articles of Interest 

1. SEATTLE TIMES

2. MRSC