2018 Council Accomplishments
2019 Priorities Public Safety Committee
Chair: Jim McCune, District 3 Legislative Staff: Jeff Cox, Senior Legal Analyst Clerk: Kate Kennedy, Senior Committee Clerk • • • • • •
Public Safety Awareness Campaign: Firearms safety/ education, human trafficking. Specialty Courts: Review effectiveness of programs. Quality of Life Crimes: Property crimes, nuisances, trespass agreements, homeless encampment issues. Southsound 911 & Combined Communications Network: Single County Wide Communication System (SCWCS) Networks and systems. Drug Policy: Enforcement, Treatment, funding, court ordered residential recovery facilities. Efficient systems within public safety and justice departments.
Committee Responsibilities
The Public Safety Committee shall consider and make recommendations on matters including, but not limited to: • • • • • • • • •
Animals Assigned Counsel Budget, Supplemental Budgets, Budget Goals and Proviso Compliance Combined Communications Network (CCN) Corrections Courts Criminal Justice; Emergency Preparedness Firearms Safety Standards
• • • • • • • • • • •
Health Juvenile Justice Juvenile Services Medical Examiner Nuisance Probation Prosecuting Attorney Public Safety Sheriff South Sound 911 Watercraft
Opioid Epidemic, joint summit with Tacoma, joining 150 leaders to address issue; resulting in task force implementation plan with three domains of I) prevention/ education, 2) access to treatment, and 3) ensuring “right service at right time”.
PIERCE COUNTY COUNCIL
Task Force created to proactively prepare for Governor’s plan to close Western State Hospital, civil committed beds.
2019 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Human Services moved from Select to Standing Committee status. Family Wage Job Credit established, to attract and/ or expand companies with skilled/educated, high wage Jobs. Advancement of key infrastructure and transportation initiatives. Chronic nuisance furthered from task force recommendation implementation, to improve responsiveness through: staffing, regulatory authority & procedures, and targeted nuisance enforcement. Permit streamlining with changes to zoning, sign, and subdivision codes; and other regulations and design standards. Streamlined process for county engineer to update roadway speeds throughout the county, including school speed zones.
Facilities & Infrastructure
Economic Development
Behavioral Health & Homelessness
Public Safety
Abatement & Public Nuisance
Wheeled All-Terrain Vehicle routes designed, a first for the County which provides for recreational tourism and sets forth to be part of a larger system. Established urban growth and land capacity bank procedures by amending key countywide planning policies and requirements providing sanitary sewer service within urban growth areas. Substantive changes in 40 years to Shoreline Master Plan Program, setting forth development policies and regulations. Protected 22,392 acres of prime farm land by amending Agricultural Resource Lands Designation. Agricultural Advisory Committee actively addressing the continued viability of farming and agriculture resources. Public safety funding for five additional deputies and a prosecutor to handle abatement cases.
Mission Statement
The Pierce County Council represents and serves the citizens of Pierce County, working to ensure that Pierce County is an exceptional place for families individuals, and business to grow and be successful. The Council acts in the best interest of its citizens by establishing policies that guide County government, allocating resources to implement policies and monitoring implementation. The Council is transparent in their actions to remain accountable to our citizens.
Funding establishment of Veterans Court. Funding establishment of coresponder program.
piercecountywa.gov/council