Welcome to Jefferson County, Washington

Recommended 2010 Jefferson County Budget Available for Review
The County Administrator has transmitted a Recommended 2010 Jefferson County Budget to the Board of County Commissioners for review and action. The Recommended 2010 Budget totals $ 53,260,521 for all funds.

- The General Fund is $15,634,625; and
- Other Funds total $37,625,896.

Details of the Recommended 2010 Budget can be viewed and downloaded on-line by following this link.

Public comments on the Recommended Budget are invited. The Board of County Commissioners will host a Public Hearing, 4:30 PM Monday, December 7 in the Superior Courtroom in the Jefferson County Courthouse. Citizens will hear a brief presentation about the budget and may address verbal or written comments to the Commissioners. Written comments are also welcome from now anytime up through the end of the hearing.

After hearing from citizens at the Public Hearing, the Board of County Commissioners will deliberate on the proposed budget, consider public comments, and may request budget modifications. Adoption by the Board of a final 2010 Jefferson County Budget is tentatively scheduled for December 14.

Balancing General Fund revenues and expenditures has been accomplished with the cooperation of all branches of Jefferson County government. This includes service cuts that are painful, and that impact public services in every department.

Final Open House for WSDOT SR 19/20 Corridor Plan
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will host the final SR 19/20 Corridor Plan Open House on Thursday, November 19, 2009, at the Chimacum Middle School Commons, 91 W. Valley Road. The public is invited to stop by anytime from 3:30 to 6:30 PM. The agency plans to share its final transportation improvement recommendations for the corridor from SR 104 to the Port Townsend ferry terminal. The plan is expected to be adopted early next year. For more information, visit this website: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr19/corridorplan.

Parks and Recreation Service Plan
for 2010
View the .pdf version (4 MB) of the power point presentation given to the County Commissioners on September 28^th, 2009. It describes the service plan for Jefferson County Parks and Recreation for the remainder of 2009 and all of 2010.
Parks and Recreation is actively recruiting individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses to help us keep our parks open by adopting them.
For more information please contact Matt Tyler at 360-385-9129 or mtyler@countyrec.com

Now Accepting Passport Applications
The Jefferson County Auditor’s Office is pleased to announce that it now accepts passport applications on behalf of the U. S. Department of State.

U.S. citizens planning international travel may apply for their passports Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Jefferson County Courthouse located at 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend.

For application forms, information on documentation required, fees, and a wealth of other passport and international travel information, visit the only official website for passport information - travel.state.gov.

Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Update
Late-October ’09 Status:
After the Board's thorough and detailed review of the Planning Commission proposal, they directed staff to make numerous revisions. The 10-22-09 DRAFT Locally Approved SMP document is provided to the Board for final review before they take action by resolution, anticipated for November 9. The extra time spent in deliberations leads the Board to consider requesting another WA Dept. of Ecology grant contract timeline extension to December 31. Further SMP review by the state Department of Ecology will then follow, including another public comment period, with final adoption anticipated no sooner than Spring 2010. Learn more on the SMP Formal Review page.

This is part of a multi-year, legally-required project to update the County's existing Shoreline Master Program (SMP; JCC 18.25) in compliance with new State requirements. The project has included extensive public outreach since 2006. Learn more on the SMP Public Outreach page.

The SMP contains goals, policies and regulations regarding protection, use, development and restoration activities along qualifying lake, river and saltwater shorelines in Jefferson County. All shoreline activities must comply with the program, whether a permit is required or not. This update provides the opportunity for new scientific information and community values to shape the future of our treasured shoreline resources. Learn more on the Shoreline Management & Planning page and the SMP Update page.

Attention Vendors
Jefferson County Department of Public Works
Solicitation for Vendor List
Pursuant to RCW 39.04 and Jefferson County Ordinance No. 05-0601-92, Jefferson County is seeking qualified vendors for inclusion in our Vendor Listing. Supplies involve amounts less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). Supplies may include, but are not limited to:
Asphalt and Emulsions, Automotive and Truck Equipment and Parts, Building Materials, Communication Equipment and Supplies, Construction Equipment & Parts, Custodial Supplies, Fuel, Office Equipment and Supplies, Paint, Paper Products, Propane, Rock and Gravel, Snow and Ice Removal Equipment and Supplies, Traffic Signs, Waste Handling Equipment & Parts, Welding Equipment and Supplies.
Any vendors currently licensed and in good standing with the State of Washington that are interested in being listed on Jefferson County's Vendor List may obtain application forms by going to the Public Works website and click on Business Opportunities from the Quick Links.

2010-2015 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program
On July 27, 2009, the Board of County Commissioners adopted through Resolution 42-09 a Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the period from 2010 through 2015. The TIP is a list of capital transportation projects that the County anticipates undertaking in the next six years, including anticipated funding sources for each project. Visit the TIP page for more information and access to documents and maps.

County Blogs
Jefferson County Public Works has made "blogging" part of its public involvement approach. Parks & Recreation has had a blog in operation since summer 2007. Now the transportation planning program has initiated a blog to talk about local transportation issues. A new Solid Waste website will be launched soon with help from WSU Extension. The new site will have the feel of a blog, complete with public comment capability.

Public Works will start Web-based conversations by posting topic entries. In addition to providing information, a goal is to foster ensuing discussion that proves informative for government officials as well as participants from the general public. Some outside entities, such as Jefferson Transit, may also post entries from time to time on the transport blog.

Of special interest for the transport blog is community dialogue about the future of transportation for our county. No idea is too "out there" in terms of thinking ahead and envisioning what this place may be like many years from now. To that end, the blog title is "Jefferson County, WA - Visionary Transport Blog." Here's a direct link: http://visionarytransport.blogspot.com

The Parks & Rec blog can be found here: http://countyrec.blogspot.com. Anyone is welcome to visit the Public Works blogs and offer ideas and feedback.

South Discovery Road
Realignment Project
Jefferson County Public Works is preparing for construction of the South Discovery Road Realignment project, which will begin at the intersection with Cape George Road (mile post 3.62) and extend approximately 2000 feet to the intersection of Olympic Blvd. (mile post 4.00). This project adjoins Discovery Bay, the Discovery Bay Camp & Mission Center, the Chevy Chase Beach Cabins, and the Discovery Bay Golf Club. Construction is now anticipated to begin in 2010, due to right of way acquisition delays.