HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance August 5 20141
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
August 5, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Member Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Rud Browne and Barry Buchanan
Absent: Sam Crawford
Also Present: Barbara Brenner, Pete Kremen, and Carl Weimer.
Buchanan moved to appoint Rud Browne as acting Chair for this meeting.
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Crawford (1)
EXECUTIVE REPORTS
Louws reported on the following items:
• Governor Inslee was in town last week to talk about several environmental
issues.
• He met with Representative Jeff Morris last week on landslide issues.
• He met with Lummi Indian Business Council Tim Ballew to discuss several
issues.
• He attended the funeral of Lummi Nation leader Penny Hillaire.
• Vendor demonstrations were last week for a telecommunications contractor.
• He encourages the Council to think about the flood fund and the possibilities
for funding the water action plan.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND RH2 ENGINEERING, INC. FOR
THE UPDATE OF THE WHATCOM COUNTY COORDINATED WATER SYSTEM
PLAN — REGIONAL SUPPLEMENT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $174,776 (AB2014-
267) (11:06:26 AM)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Brenner stated this is redundant. They haven't decided their priorities. It is targeted
at only one type of provider. Fund the Planning Unit instead. Postpone this item. It isn't
urgent.
Browne stated he is concerned about the audit of the water system providers. He
received information from staff and is satisfied. He respects Councilmember Brenner's
concerns, but this has to be done through the water action plan. This has to be done
regardless of what comes from the water resource inventory area (WRIA) 1 Planning Unit.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 8/5/2014, Page 1
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Brenner stated the County isn't legally required to do this. It's impossible to get the
private well owners educated on what's going on. They have to know more information
before getting this specific.
Browne stated this is about public water systems, not private well owners.
Brenner stated they need to get background information first. Also, the Coordinated
Water Systems Plan expands its role.
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Crawford (1)
2. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2014 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET,
FOURTEENTH REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,813 (AB2014 -273)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Crawford (1)
3. ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 3.06, GRANT
APPLICATIONS, TO CLARIFY REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANT APPROVAL AND
APPROVAL EXEMPTIONS (AB2014 -275)
Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department, stated the administration asks to
amend Exhibit A, section 3.06.010(A), "All federal and /or state grants dens that
propose County...."
Buchanan moved to amend the proposed ordinance as recommended by staff.
Brenner asked if pass- through grants will continue to go to the Council. Bennett
stated they will.
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Crawford (1)
Browne moved to recommend approval to the full Council as amended.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Crawford (1)
4. REQUEST ACCEPTANCE OF PETITION AND PETITIONER'S SECURITY
RELATING TO THE FORMATION OF AN IRRIGATION DISTRICT (TO BE
KNOWN AS THE DRAYTON WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT) (AB2014-
224A)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 8/5/2014, Page 2
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Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Brenner asked and there was discussion about the parcel acreages. She's also
concerned that there isn't a clear explanation that those with the most property have the
most votes.
Ed Glock, Agricultural District Coalition Co- Chair, stated he would assume that would
be in there.
Dana Brown - Davis, Clerk of the Council, stated the Council Office will mail a packet
of information to the voters. The information clearly says the process allows two votes per
five acres. The process allows voters to come to the Council with questions about the poll
book.
Browne asked and there was discussion about the required number of petitioners
and whether the petitions meet the requirement for the number of petitioners for each
district.
Kremen stated consult with legal counsel to make sure they've met the legal
requirements for the petition.
Weimer stated he has questions about what this action authorizes these districts to
do, and how that may or may not conflict with County activities regarding growth
management. Have a discussion about how that might work with Planning staff.
Marty Mayberry stated the issue before the Council now is to approve or determine if
the criteria have been met to go to election. There will be plenty of time to debate if it
should go to election. Legal counsel has told them that they have met the legal criteria.
The issues of merit and how it works in the overall water action plan will be debated during
the election process.
Linda Twitchell, Building Industry Association of Whatcom County, stated it's difficult
to determine whether this is going to impact farmers. Many residents will be impacted as
well. Make a clear statement about the intent of these items at the evening meeting.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Crawford (1)
S. REQUEST ACCEPTANCE OF PETITION AND PETITIONER'S SECURITY
RELATING TO THE FORMATION OF AN IRRIGATION DISTRICT (TO BE
KNOWN AS THE LAUREL WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT) (AB2014-
225A)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Crawford (1)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 8/5/2014, Page 3
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6. REQUEST ACCEPTANCE OF PETITION AND PETITIONER'S SECURITY
RELATING TO THE FORMATION OF AN IRRIGATION DISTRICT (TO BE
KNOWN AS THE SOUTH LYNDEN WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT)
(AB2014 -226A)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Crawford (1)
7. REQUEST ACCEPTANCE OF PETITION AND PETITIONER'S SECURITY
RELATING TO THE FORMATION OF AN IRRIGATION DISTRICT (TO BE
KNOWN AS THE SUMAS WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT) (AB2014-
227A)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Crawford (1)
8. RESOLUTION APPROVING A LOCAL AGENCY PARTICIPATING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION (WSDOT) AND AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN AGENCY PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND WSDOT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THREE
COMPACT ROUNDABOUTS ON SLATER ROAD (AB2014 -279)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of whether the City of Bellingham will
contribute to this.
Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, gave a staff report and stated staff is working
with the City of Bellingham, City of Ferndale, and the Lummi Nation to develop co- funding
interlocal agreements. Construction will begin immediately after Labor Day.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Crawford (1)
Jack Louws, County Executive, stated he thanks County and State staff for
developing a creative way to increase traffic flow significantly on an interim basis.
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEM
1. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND NORTHWEST DATA SUPPORT
TO DEVELOP A STORMWATER INVENTORY AND MAINTENANCE TRACKING
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 8/5/2014, Page 4
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DATABASE FOR THE MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $27,350 (AB2014 -280)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Brenner asked if this will make the process easier if they have this data management
system.
Cathy Craver, Public Works Department, stated it does. This will create an efficient
system for putting information in an electronic form.
Browne asked how the data collection is done. Craver stated most has already
occurred. This request allows electronic access to the data for work crews in the field.
Moving forward, they will collect data electronically.
Buchanan asked if this information is within the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Craver stated this item is specific to NPDES.
Weimer asked about ongoing maintenance and tracking being a large expense for
NPDES. He asked how this will take in all the new maintenance information. Craver stated
this allows crews to enter data about what needs to be maintained and what has been
maintained. This system will also work for the inspector.
Weimer stated don't create a barrier to future upgrades that will save money.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Crawford (1)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:41 a.m.
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Rud Browne, Acting Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 8/5/2014, Page 5