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SETTING BOCC PRIORITIES FOR 20031BRAWSTORMING <br />John Link made reference to Looming Issues and Fiscal Operation Capital and said that selection <br />of the mechanism and process far creating a new financing plan for solid waste is one of the most <br />critical items that the Board needs to address in this coming budget. Also, it is important to decide <br />how to address any additional'h cent sales tax revenue for the current year and next year. In his <br />perspective, the countywide classification and pay study needs to be addressed. <br />Under County and Facility Development, there are no higher priorities, but all are important. Under <br />Human Services, the Humane Society of the United States study of the animal shelter and mental <br />health reform is top priority. Under Community Planning, the Comprehensive Plan is the top <br />priority. <br />Commissioner Goals: <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the HSUS study and said that one thing that was not <br />mentioned that the Board had discussed previously was that we had read in proposals for both <br />humane societies that doing an assessment did not necessarily solve the problems unless there <br />was also some other mediation. He wanted to make sure that there would be a mediation process. <br />John Link said that they have not forgotten this aspect and have talked with Andy Saks from the <br />Dispute Settlement Center. This will be incorporated with the Humane Society's approach. They <br />still anticipate that everyone will not accept the report from the Humane Society. This is where the <br />mediation would come in. <br />The Board agreed with this process. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the Board's involvement in the study since the County <br />Commissioners are getting all of the correspondence from the concerned citizens. John Link said <br />that the intent was to have HSUS interview the stakeholders, including the County Commissioners, <br />members of the APS Board, staff, and the citizens. <br />Health Director Rosemary Summers said that HSUS would be developing an itinerary when they <br />do the site visit for the interviews. The HSUS would like to present the recommendations and the <br />report directly to the Board of County Commissioners as well as to the APS Board and the Board <br />of Health. They are not planning to make the presentation to the staff before the report to the <br />boards. <br />Chair Brown said that it would be important to see the full scope of all the legal possibilities of how <br />animal control could be set up. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to Human Rights and Relations and the Resolution of <br />County Position on English as a Second Language Program. He does not know anything about <br />this. He knows that there is going to be some impetus to challenge the County to be a model <br />employer, and this is not mentioned in the resolution. He thinks this needs to be mentioned. <br />Gwen Harvey said that there is a vacant position that was designed to be the coordinator for this <br />function. <br />Chair Brown made reference to the last bullet under Human Services, the Management Team, and <br />said that this is so important. <br />