HomeMy WebLinkAboutres1991-092WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCI.' tGENDA BILL NO. 91 -386A
I �AR�IN E Initial Date Date Received in council Office: Merida Date: Assi ned To:
originator- council /V90
vision Head- 11/19/91 Council
Department Head -
Prosecutor Review-
Purchasing/Budget Dir.- '
Executive
SUBJECT.
Setting forth budget- related.recommendations and /or policy statements to complement
the 1992 budget ordinance.
ATTACHMENTS:
Public Hearing Needed? Yes /� f No /x x/
SUMMARY STATEMENT-
Setting forth budget - related recommendations and /or policy statements to complement
the 1992 budget ordinance.
ORIGINATOR'S RECOMMENDED ACTION.-
COMMITTEE ACTION (including dates):
COUNCIL ACTION (including dates):
11/26/91 Passed 7 -0
Related File Numbers:
Ordinance or Resolution Number. RES91 -092
\rr \bud \budgeLres, SUBSIITUTE, REVISED 11/26/91 SPONSORED BY: Finance Committee
PROPOSED BY: Finance Committee
INTRODUCTION DATE: 11/19191
1 - RESOLUTION NO.. 91 -092
2 SETTING FORTH BUDGET - RELATED RECOMMENDATIONS
3 AND /OR POLICY STATEMENTS TO COMPLEMENT
4 THE 1992 BUDGET ORDINANCE -
5 WHEREAS, the Finance and. Personnel Committee will deliver its findings and
6 recommendations for the 1992 budget to the Whatcom County Council on November 19,
7 1991, with a cover memo, detail changes, list of provisos, and other items to be attached to
8 the budget ordinance (as Exhibit B) in order to clarify the wishes of the Committee and of
9 the Council; and
10 WHEREAS, in addition to those documents the Committee would like to set forth
11 some requests and policy statements that emerged as a result of this year's budget
12 deliberations, and is asking that the Council adopt these statements on November 26, 1991,
13 when the budget ordinance is adopted;
14 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that the
15 following statements are adopted as the formal requests and policies of the Council:
16 A. The Council would like. the Administration to report on the feasibility of
17 combining the responsibilities of the Administrative Services Manager, Public Works, into
A other areas; the Committee feels the existence of this position may present a duplication of
19 effort, and the duties may be better accomplished by reassigning some of them to other
20 management -level positions within Public Works.
21 B. The Council would like the Administration to cooperate with the Council in the
22 establishment of a committee for the purpose of determining the scope and responsibility
23 of the County's road operations, including: The possibility of leasing, rather than purchasing,
24 heavy equipment; and the possibility of contracting for more road repair and maintenance
25 functions; and other money - saving measures. The committee would be expected to make
26 a report to the Council and Administration by September, 1992, prior to the Council's_
27 budget review.
28 C. The Council continues to be very interested in any efforts toward centralization
29 of the County financial and accounting systems, and requests the Administration to report
30 on implementation of those operations in consultation with the Au_ ditor, Treasurer, Public
31 Works Accounting and other pertinent staff members.
32 D. The Council would like the Health Department to work toward rescheduling staff
33 availability so that the public may conduct business with the Health Department during
34 lunch hours. The practice of closing a department and leaving an answering machine on
35 during the lunch hour is not acceptable. The Department should look at possibly opening
36 at 8:30 a.m. and closing at 4:30 p.m. to give staff members an hour of uninterrupted work
37 time in each day.
Budgetres, REVISED 11/19/91 Page 1
1 E. While the Committee has taken a careful look at the overall budget and specific
2 line items in some cases, making some reductions to those accounts, the Council does not
3 wish to send the message that people are punished for not spending all their money.
4 Rather, departments and agencies should continue to spend carefully and consider budgeting
5 on an as- needed basis.
6 F. The Council requests that the Administration cooperate with the Council Office
7 in an analysis of the benefits and disadvantages of possibly making the Park Department a
8 regular County department.
9 G. The Council requests the Administration to examine the possibility of centralizing
10 purchasing functions within County government, and is particularly concerned about the
11 performance of purchasing /stores activities at the County Shop by personnel not under the
12 responsibility of the Purchasing Director. This situation seems one where a transition of
13 control should occur.
14 H. Social Services /Human Services money for additional requests are recommended.
15 This is made possible by reducing money spent on departmental supplies, travel, etc. While
16 this is a recognition of the increasing needs in society, we are also mindful that revenues are
17 decreasing. Finance Committee recommends:
18 1. That money granted for additional requests for social services and
19 Combined Treatment should be treated as one -time "grants" and therefore not included in
20 each agency's base budget next year. They should be shown separately.
1'1 2. Council should undertake its 1990 commitment to review with the
22 Administration the appropriateness of a centralized Human Services division of County
23 government for 1993. Taking a look at this and other options for handling the increasing
24 demand for social services was one of the Council's original purposes for hiring an analyst
25 for the Council Office.
26 I. The Council requests that the Administration report to the Council on additional
27 approaches that might be pursued to increase public notice of various meetings, hearings,
28 projects and the like. The Council recognizes that additional funding might be required to
29 implement additional measures and would appreciate a review of the potential costs and
30 options.
31 J. The Council wishes to emphasise that the determination not to fund the Geologist
32 and Hydrologist positions at this time in no way indicates that they intend to deviate fron
33 the "one stop" building permit process as. it exists. Rather, the Council wishes to gather
34 additional information to determine the optimum utilization of these contemplated positions,
35 and intends to reserve sufficient funds within the projected Ending Fund Balance to institute
36 appropriate positions later in the year.
37 K. The Council wishes to acknowledge the fine service and commend the dedicated
38 members and employees of the Humane Society in their important work. Prior to the next
19 budget, it is our recommendation that the Humane Society meet with the Council Budget
40 & Program Analyst for the purpose of developing appropriate long range financial
Budget.res, REVISED 11/19191 Page 2
1 information and formats that would allow the Council to better evaluate Humane Society
2 requests for additional funding.
3 BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Clerk of the Council shall distribute a copy
4 of this resolution to all departments of the County, upon its passage by the Council.
5 APPROVED this 26th day of November, 1991.
-6 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
7 ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
8 r
9 Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk me . Warner, Chairman
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