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September Membership Meeting 9/21 6 pm

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and Q&A 

Housing in Jefferson County

The Jefferson County Democrats will present a panel discussion on the critical issue of housing in Jefferson County, followed by a moderated Question and Answer period. The Panel will be moderated by Amanda Funaro, member of the Joint Housing Oversight Board.  You do not have to be a member of JCD or register to attend the Panel Discussion. The panel discussion will begin at 6 PM.  See below for ZOOM link information. 

Housing Panel members will include:

  • Greg Brotherton, Jefferson County Commissioner
  • Cherish Cronmiller, OlyCAP Executive Director
  • Scott Rosekrans, Pastor, Community United Methodist Church (where Peter's Place is located)
  • Justine Gonzalez-Berg, Director, Housing Solutions Network

A business meeting will be held following the presentation. You must be a member of JCD and have pre-registered to be able to vote on the endorsement vote. The business meeting will include an endorsement vote, and votes on resolutions.  The Zoom room opens at 5:45 PM and the program begins at 6 PM.  Zoom Meeting link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85782614508?pwd=UWFNcG1jUWc2U2loQVI5VTNWQklQdz09

Meeting ID: 857 8261 4508    Passcode: 221260

Endorsement consideration - The Executive Board of the Jefferson County Democrats recommends endorsement of Libby Wennstrom for Port Townsend City Council. This endorsement will require a 2/3 vote of eligible pre-registered JCD members present and voting at the Sept 21 meeting to take effect. We are still operating under the emergency rules mandated by the State Democratic Party, so we must meet and vote virtually, without paper ballots. Voting methods will be similar to those used at the JCD reorganization last December.

UPDATE:  The membership voted to endorse Libby Wennstrom for Port Townsend City Council Position 5.  The Vote tally was 46 for, 11 against. 

You must have Pre-Registered by September 14, 2021 to be able to vote on the endorsement vote. Eligible voters include all JCD Members in good standing on August 31, 2021. Eligible voters also include former members whose membership has lapsed since September 21, 2020, and who renewed their membership before the September 14, 2021 Pre-Registration deadline.   To check your membership status or to renew, contact membership@jeffcodemocrats.com Everyone who pre-registered should have received a unique voting ID via email.  

Tiny Home Communities as Supportive Housing – Wednesday, Dec 16, 2020 *Online*

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Date: Wed., Dec. 16, 2020
Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m. Location: Online.

Jefferson County’s housing crisis is going from bad to worse as the economic impact of COVID-19 hits. This webinar demonstrates why Tiny Home Communities are an effective, sustainable solution to the housing affordability crisis. This webinar on supported, self-governing tiny home villages for the unhoused and housing precarious features a presentation on Bellingham’s Unity Village by co-founder Doug Gustafson. A panel discussion follows with Gary Keister, Executive Director of Bayside Housing; Josh Castle, Director of Community Engagement for Seattle's Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI); Jesse Thomas, co-founder of the Community Build Project constructing 12 tiny shelters; Barbara Morey, housing advocate and Joint Housing Task Force member; and Brian Thompson, who gives a hand up to fellow tenters through advocacy and teaching survival skills. Register here. Send questions here.

FYI: AFFORDABLE HOUSING SALES & USE TAX PROPOSAL

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RESCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING: SALES & USE TAX FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING & SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ORDINANCE: MONDAY, December 21, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. *Online*

NOTICE OF RESCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING AND PUBLIC COMMENT

ON DRAFT SALES & USE TAX FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING & SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ORDINANCE 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the public hearing originally scheduled for December 14, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. has been RESCHEDULED by the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners for MONDAY, December 21, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Chambers, Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 for the purpose of taking public testimony regarding an Ordinance Imposing a Sales and Use Tax for Affordable Housing & Supportive Services in accordance with House Bill 1590 (Chapter 222, Laws of 2020) and RCW 82.14.530. If enacted, the ordinance would create a 1/10th of one percent sales tax for affordable housing & supportive services; which is equivalent to one dollar added for every $1,000 purchase. Funds would be used for constructing or operating affordable housing & supportive services in Jefferson County.

Per the May 29, 2020 Jefferson County Public Health Officer Order, the BOCC meetings will be held virtually. To view the meetings live go to www.co.jefferson.wa.us and follow the links under “Quick Links: Videos of Meetings-Streaming Live.” Those without internet can listen by dialing Phone #: 1-646-749-3122 - enter Access Code: 661-198-069#. (Access for the hearing impaired and others can be accommodated using Washington Relay Service at 1-800-833-6384.)

To provide oral testimony, dial 1-646-749-3122 and enter access code: 661-198-069# by 1:30 p.m. so your call can be taken, then stay on the line until called upon to provide up to three minutes verbal testimony.

Written testimony submitted on or after November 30, 2020 to the BoCC will be considered part of the hearing record. Written testimony will continue until the end of the Public Hearing, unless extended by the Board of County Commissioners. Written public testimony may be submitted by Email to: jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us; or by Mail to: Jefferson County Commissioners’ Office; PO Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368.  Written testimony must be received by the close of the public hearing.

After taking public testimony and deliberating, the County Commissioners will decide whether or not to adopt the ordinance, with or without changes.

The proposed SALES & USE TAX FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING & SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ORDINANCE is available for viewing by clicking on the link below. Per the May 29, 2020 Jefferson County Public Health Officer Order, the BOCC meetings will be held virtually. To view the meetings live go to www.co.jefferson.wa.us Follow the links under “Quick Links: Videos of Meetings-Streaming Live” or those without internet can listen by dialing Phone #: 1-646-749-3122 - enter Access Code: 661-198-069#. Access for the hearing impaired and others can be accommodated using Washington Relay Service at 1-800-833-6384.

Click on the links below to view:

DRAFT SALES & USE TAX FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING & SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ORDINANCE

PUBLIC HEARING COMMENTS

https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=624

FYI: A COMMUNITY CALL TO ACTION FOR HOUSING

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Now more than ever, affordable housing is key to our health and economic recovery and must be central to any rebuilding strategy. The strength and future of our community, the health of our families, and the vitality of our local businesses are at stake.

SIGN YOUR NAME TO STAND WITH US AT:

https://housingsolutionsnetwork.org/sign/