[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,97],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6378690,"mediaKeyId","2137121-3bfa1d6e7b4132c6a0258f69c789bcd7","parentId",2137121,"title","Commissioners discuss capital request for courtroom space as behavioral-health bed openings increase","audioSeconds",341,"startMs",7995000,"endMs",8336000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2137121-3bfa1d6e7b4132c6a0258f69c789bcd7&start=7995&end=8336","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2137121-3bfa1d6e7b4132c6a0258f69c789bcd7/thumbnail_7995000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6378690/Thurston-County/Washington/Commissioners-discuss-capital-request-for-courtroom-space-as-behavioral-health-bed-openings-increase","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6378690-2be0674b15d9e932db59102623dd7099/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153657&Signature=N~bzeuBP5z-mePjFalAxHYn9T4-7imJqMFG~DrxShMRV3A1CN~C79Iy-9SQbmbJ~eBxfjDPApTjla6jgd9gxvH1iBNXtXxJJIc0TBo0d1BpQzkIVf8UTsuqJboaFGdyiur6UHnqmnx6sAtb1~czn6bCk-9qCfkd8kjb82NoVW5AJjtafOv5ccJEptRcdPKDHacGNzxH85SNXExfnQlwKSsc72clH0upwZFn9OB4VrdcRZOF25Jz9u4MrXOIfkQySa98ozZ0wYfo0nQPXiLZm5cUCaiKePx6ySWInu3MnmpSGD3wjtzIXnh9fZH~-uYJceC~0oDd80IRqvCKQNXdGiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Thurston County, Washington","date","2025-01-22T08:00:19Z","article","Thurston County commissioners on Jan. 21 discussed a request to seek state capital funding to expand courtroom space and other capital needs after state-funded behavioral-health facilities increase bed capacity.

County staff and Superior Court representatives described four operational pressures the county expects when additional behavioral-health treatment beds come online: insufficient judicial-calendar time, limited courtroom space, a surge in filings that burdens court and facility operations, and an increase in jury trials that would require additional courtroom capacity and a judge. Judge Ndu Thomas and court staff relayed those concerns to commissioners and Senator Bateman’s staff during recent conversations, county staff said.

County Manager Leonard Hernandez reported that the Behavioral Health Authority has allocated operational dollars to help cover increased per-case costs, but the court’s concern centers on capital needs — physical courtroom and facility space — to serve additional court proceedings tied to treatment placements. Commissioner Wayne Fournier and others urged staff to prepare a narrowly focused capital-budget request for the Hilltop courthouse renovation (and related courtroom modifications) rather than a broad, multi-project ask.

Commissioners directed county staff to coordinate with Superior Court, Thurston-Mason Behavioral Health authorities and the county’s legislative contacts to assemble a concise capital request and to seek Senator Bateman’s assistance in advancing the request. Staff said they will verify operational funding that has been committed for per-case costs and will return with a short estimate of capital needs and recommended next steps to the board.

Ending: County and court staff will hold a follow-up meeting with the Superior Court judge and behavioral-health partners to finalize a capital ask and clarify which operational costs — if any — the county should request from the Legislature.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 21, 2025 Thurston County Board of Commissioners Agenda-Setting Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","County and court leaders are coordinating a capital request to address courtroom and calendar capacity needed to handle increased behavioral-health cases tied to new treatment beds. Staff will work with Superior Court and state legislators on a focused capital ask.","taxTitle","taxId",4614,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6378694,"Thurston County to lead regional heat-pump group-purchase campaign under new interlocal agreement",141,486000,627000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2137121-3bfa1d6e7b4132c6a0258f69c789bcd7&start=486&end=627","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2137121-3bfa1d6e7b4132c6a0258f69c789bcd7/thumbnail_486000.jpg","/articles/6378694/Thurston-County/Washington/Thurston-County-to-lead-regional-heat-pump-group-purchase-campaign-under-new-interlocal-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6378694-547cd615f56ab07a9e98a66cd1563d55/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153657&Signature=G0VO1bXX4l3dkCWBOrrUqGkb14iINKvwVs5HpDLwTEAUjxEP8oSyJ6LQr2Qkl1qHQxZRH5mZjBn5jwx1yfFJ6kpjudiQFXKjOk8wrxMN0ou0TWcwdWhuNH2~iYxt3oO8TFrmJDEetP8~md~OLid4nZWfmtSpPtna1COZQmTkCvt33BY4Zzs3M-oojlHPQMbq2rFGWwfLo3YyDYQTh7QIaMY8harTDx~iq2KgrVUe56~ui1BuL8bFvYH9cbYH2FgSOaxJIft4rGSdQSttjM7bnqc~JNif38ErbD9OHXjMe-VDke8GI2TuV7GMD8h101MN4ygsZVkpXz7rcNYFHFkl~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thurston County is serving as lead jurisdiction for a regional heat-pump and heat-pump water-heater group-purchase campaign under an interlocal agreement presented Jan. 21 to the Board of County Commissioners.

Doctor Rebecca Harvey, climate mitigation senior program manager, told commissioners the interlocal agreement (ILA) defines partner roles among Thurston County and the cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Tenino. The county will handle contracting with selected installers for the overall program and will oversee administrative functions. The ILA includes a not-to-exceed administrative budget of $47,000, allocated across four partner jurisdictions at a per-partner cost not to exceed $11,007.50; the money will come from the county’s existing climate mitigation budget.

Harvey said the county closed an RFP for installers on Jan. 10 and received 10 submittals. Staff had shortlisted six finalists and planned interviews to select a set of installers; she estimated final capacity would likely land in the range of three to five installers to support local businesses while meeting anticipated installation demand. Harvey also said a future contract with Habitat for Humanity is expected to administer low- and moderate-income subsidies funded by grant dollars.

Commissioners asked about installer capacity and selection; Harvey said she would return in February with a contract recommendation for the low-income administrator and continued staff work on installer contracts. The ILA’s administrative cost will be split among participating jurisdictions and is within current budget authorization for climate mitigation.

Ending: Commissioners approved placing the interlocal agreement on the consent agenda for the afternoon meeting; staff will return with the installer contract and the Habitat for Humanity agreement for subsidized installations.","County staff presented an interlocal agreement to coordinate a regional heat-pump and heat-pump water heater group-purchase campaign across Thurston County and partner cities. The administrative budget is capped at $47,000 and shared among participating jurisdictions.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6378699,"Thurston County sets March 4 public hearing on countywide planning policy updates, including UGA swap rules",0,2017000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2137121-3bfa1d6e7b4132c6a0258f69c789bcd7&start=2017&end=2017","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2137121-3bfa1d6e7b4132c6a0258f69c789bcd7/thumbnail_2017000.jpg","/articles/6378699/Thurston-County/Washington/Thurston-County-sets-March-4-public-hearing-on-countywide-planning-policy-updates-including-UGA-swap-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6378699-42020e69f1c0d1b0e57733003f5d767f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153657&Signature=Ixwb9TMlPdwcWX~Fi7077e-9aWrGXRxYjEV5CKuOmE-ddziOnLz3ev~1vPbdaOg9chBB834BL77WB~cPyDorXpMrih2YuulDeTiywlowLvs4SUgs5tJ1BNbuSN-692tNhv1muVtyADJF3bEYIC0KNgG8CPF6phjA~fPxf1MOiPKM7nM6NFWGo8temQUTNRZeBcjTQIBxx-GZ0dzO5Z7ZPm4dsXaUiPpDCL92jMy7tydxExklKAvllagCzxDWTv7~Xs-AzG0td69B5ASbjrVw9iF~5pJnJtqD5-RQt5QgUFLFhJOquiQFvYgvTG4aeDzbdj1lRwskSyql2~gvvHiYEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thurston County commissioners authorized the clerk of the board on Jan. 21 to set a public hearing — now scheduled for March 4 — on proposed amendments to countywide planning policies that reflect recent state law changes, including rules on tribal participation and new provisions commonly described as \"UGA swaps\" (urban growth area swaps).

County planning staff told commissioners the proposed updates include language to reflect two sets of state laws (2022 and 2024) on UGA swaps and clarified that the Washington State Department of Commerce rulemaking treats the two laws as distinct. Staff said Commerce held a public hearing Jan. 6 and that final rules remain pending; staff also said the county can move forward on some policy updates while delaying other UGA-swap–specific actions if the board prefers.

Commissioners debated whether to set a single fixed hearing date in the agenda or to authorize the clerk to schedule the hearing and make necessary adjustments as legal-notice timing requires. Commissioner discussion emphasized the tradeoff between giving the public a definite date at the time of agenda publication and retaining flexibility when legal-notice windows or staff workloads require rescheduling. The board accepted a compromise to set March 4 as the hearing date and authorize the clerk to make necessary adjustments.

Planning staff said they expect substantial public testimony: more than 40 written comments had arrived over the preceding weekend and staff will provide commissioners with a consolidated packet summarizing written comments and issues raised. Staff also said the county has been tracking related state rulemaking closely to ensure local policies do not conflict with forthcoming Commerce rules.

Commissioners discussed options for phasing action — for example, adopting travel- and tribal-participation–related updates now while waiting for Commerce’s final rules on UGA swaps, or adopting all updates now and revising later if rulemaking requires. Staff advised that the board could formally act on any piece or hold action pending final rulemaking; the earliest final action on the countywide planning policies would be at the board’s first February meeting if the board so chooses.

Ending: The board set the hearing for March 4 and authorized the clerk to make any necessary adjustments to accommodate legal-notice timing. Staff will compile written comments and provide commissioners a packet before the hearing.","County staff set a March 4 public hearing to consider amendments to countywide planning policies that would, among other items, respond to new state rules about tribal participation and the so-called UGA-swap laws. Commissioners discussed whether to set the date or leave the clerk authority to adjust it.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6378704,"Thurston County commissioners vote to oppose bill provisions that would shift county budget lead to auditor",3136,4587000,7723000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2137121-3bfa1d6e7b4132c6a0258f69c789bcd7&start=4587&end=7723","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2137121-3bfa1d6e7b4132c6a0258f69c789bcd7/thumbnail_4587000.jpg","/articles/6378704/Thurston-County/Washington/Thurston-County-commissioners-vote-to-oppose-bill-provisions-that-would-shift-county-budget-lead-to-auditor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6378704-4fefc32631007196ce359d83ec3e48e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153657&Signature=o4ogNuPRn0lyZ7CM0cko7NiiHOODVQFMxnmjFV6GX0wN4ujlUaxJBcd1WQ418GQOJuD8ti1I~I7kFqAjyrbOcG4oVEkiR9j53gYwCYOqUvG01uFCUSqxY~hnZPzqxmJevYUmzGFwCowZpWUUbPl0IJ7cutbwzphX693fkd~dqCGUEdOh2fKhm-OqpWT-zk-hk0EDgUj8r49VOFSdvDVJ4vB~RaGJOxrgA9-Dx~6eEmyRtuM-V7yt1cbkv3oyJT8JuzVUZSZxTZx8d06B4aRcBUCRyzCgrxMlsYUl2Lsozmq85uBSxLoC~vjpBYNMvCEobb3Z96GaDhu8eCcx0-GkVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thurston County commissioners voted Jan. 21 to oppose proposed legislation known in materials as “5154,” after commissioners and staff raised concerns the bill’s language would shift primary responsibility for preparing a county budget to the county auditor and narrow the commissioners’ ability to employ staff to prepare a competing or parallel budget.

The board acted after a report from County Manager Leonard Hernandez and legal and association contacts raised questions about how the bill would alter long-standing, locally negotiated practices for preparing and presenting the county budget. Chair Ty Mentor said staff had only recently learned the measure was scheduled for a legislative hearing this week and recommended commissioners weigh in quickly.

Commissioners said the bill’s text replaces prior language that allowed commissioners to employ staff who could take a leading role in budget preparations with language that limits those staff to “assist with” the auditor’s preparations. County Manager Leonard Hernandez and multiple commissioners argued that change would effectively give the auditor primary authority for the county’s budget process and could be executed by statute rather than local agreement.

Commissioner Wayne Fournier moved that the board oppose 5154; the motion was seconded and carried on a vote recorded as 3 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 abstentions. The board instructed staff and the county’s lobbyist to prepare talking points and, if necessary, to sign the county in as opposing the bill at the hearing. Commissioners asked staff to coordinate with the Washington Association of Counties (WAC) and other counties that had expressed concerns, and to make staff available to accompany any commissioner who testifies.

Hernandez said some provisions of the draft bill are narrow “clean-up” items (for example clarifying clerk-of-the-board duties) that staff do not oppose, but the budget-staffing and auditor-authority sections raise concerns serious enough that the county should ask the Legislature to pause or amend the measure so stakeholders can negotiate. Several commissioners expressed reluctance to frame the disagreement as a personal dispute with the auditor’s office and asked that the county’s statements focus on the statutory and operational impacts rather than personnel.

The board’s action follows conversations over the last year about how county budget work is shared among the commissioners’ offices, the county manager and the auditor. Commissioners asked staff to produce a short, rapid bill analysis and a set of concise talking points so any commissioner who testifies can answer technical questions. County lobbyist Deborah (last name not specified in the transcript) and staff were directed to coordinate testimony and follow-up with WAC and other counties that may sign on to the county’s position.

The board’s recorded motion did not single out any amendments to keep in or out; staff will return with recommended language and a communication plan for the county’s position.

Votes at a glance: motion to oppose 5154 — outcome: approved; recorded tally: 3 yes / 0 no / 2 abstain.

Ending: Commissioners said they will continue to work with lobbyists and peer counties to refine the county’s objections and return to the board with suggested text or next steps before any further legislative action.","At a Jan. 21 agenda-setting session the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners voted to oppose proposed legislation (filed as 5154) that commissioners said would change who leads the county budget process, narrowing commissioners' ability to employ staff for budget preparation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners discuss capital request for courtroom space as behavioral-health bed openings increase

Thurston County to lead regional heat-pump group-purchase campaign under new interlocal agreement

Thurston County sets March 4 public hearing on countywide planning policy updates, including UGA swap rules

Thurston County commissioners vote to oppose bill provisions that would shift county budget lead to auditor