HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance March 3 20151
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
March 3, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
(11: 02:47 AM)
Present: Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan and Ken Mann.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Pete Kremen, Carl Weimer and Barbara Brenner,
EXECUTIVE REPORTS
The Executive reported on the following items:
• The Jordan Creek culvert failure
• Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad petition to the Utility and
Transportation Committee (UTC) to close the crossing at Valley View Road
• The new County website project
• The recent National Association of Counties (NACO) conference in Washington
D. C.
• Engaging the Cities in the new jail project
• Release of the Draft Comprehensive Plan chapters and associated
environmental impact statement (EIS)
• A new Park Department online reservation feature
• A local union vote on a new employee contract
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY
CODE CHAPTER 2.02 TO REVISE COUNCIL MEETING RULES (AB2015 -082)
Browne gave a report on the two ordinance options. He moved to recommend
adoption of Attachment B, the version that adopts Roberts Rules of Order.
The committee discussed Sturgis parliamentary procedure versus Robert's Rules of
Order, whether they should require a second to a motion prior to any discussion, the
transparency of motions that require a second, the possibility of allowing the proposer of a
motion to speak to the motion before a second is required, the responsibility of the Chair to
enforce the rules of parliamentary procedure, the requirement to put complicated motions in
writing, what problems exist that would be fixed by adoption of one of these ordinances, the
option to include language that defines what is a complicated motion, and the ability of
anyone to call for the question when discussion becomes too long.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/3/2015, Page 1
1 Browne withdrew his motion to recommend Attachment B and moved to
2 recommend adoption of Attachment A. They can revisit the ordinance in a year.
3
4 The motion failed by the following vote:
5 Ayes: Browne (1)
6 Nays: Buchanan and Mann (2)
7
8
9 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
10 _
11 1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2015 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, SECOND
12 REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,364,947 (AB2015 -067)
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14 Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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16 The motion carried by the following vote:
17 Ayes: Browne, Buchanan and Mann (3)
18 Nays: None (0)
19
20 2. ORDINANCE (AMENDMENT NO. 1) AMENDING ORDINANCE 2013 -060
21 ESTABLISHING THE STATE STREET BUILDING ACQUISITION AND
22 IMPROVEMENT FUND AND RELATED CAPITAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION
23 (AB2015 -068) (11 :36:31 AM)
24
25 Mann moved to recommend adoption to the full Council.
26
27 The committee discussed whether the contracts for this project would come to the
28 Council for approval and the success of the project to clean up the Champion Street
29 address.
30
31 Jack Louws, County Executive, answered questions.
32
33 The motion carried by the following vote:
34 Ayes: Browne, Buchanan and Mann (3)
35 Nays: None (0)
36
37
38 COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
39
40 1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
41 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT PROGRAM INTERLOCAL LOAN AND
42 GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE PORT OF
43 BELLINGHAM FOR THE C STREET TERMINAL INFRASTRUCTURE
44 REHABILITATION PROJECT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,000,000 LOAN AND
45 $1,000,000 GRANT (AB2015 -083)
46
47 Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
48
49 The committee discussed whether it's appropriate to distribute loan and grant funds
50 to government taxing authority.
51
52 Jack Louws, County Executive, answered questions.
53
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/3/2015, Page 2
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The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan and Mann (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO APPROVE THE
PURCHASE OF A REPLACEMENT FRONT LOADER, USING THE WASHINGTON
STATE CONTRACT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $147,978.70 (AB2015 -084)
Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The committee discussed the cost of repair versus the number of hours the
equipment has been used, whether the County uses contractors for backup equipment and
service, how long the County has owned two front - loaders, how many hours per year are
both County -owned front - loaders used at the same time, whether third -party contactors
would be available for service during snow events, and how the County is standardizing its
equipment use.
The following people answered questions:
• Eric Schlehuber, Public Works Department
• Jack Louws, County Executive
Brenner asked for information on how many hours per year each County -owned front
loader is used.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: Mann (1)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
yhe ,;nadjourned at 12
C 14
05 p.m.
r 'Iif`r
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHAT OM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Rud Browne, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/3/2015, Page 3