HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance March 25 20141
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
March 25, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 11:10 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
(11:10:14 AM)
Present: Sam Crawford, Rud Browne and Barry Buchanan.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Ken Mann, Barbara Brenner, Pete Kremen, and Carl Weimer.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS — WHATCOM COUNTY BUSINESSES
1. INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING FROM WHATCOM COUNTY BUSINESSES,
FEATURING: GARY GRAHAM FROM SHUTTLE SYSTEMS, DREW ZOGBY FROM
ALPHA TECHNOLOGIES, AND IAN RAE FROM CHUCKANUT BUILDERS
(AB2014 -132)
Dodd Snodgrass, Port of Bellingham, introduced the two presenters.
Gary Graham, Shuttle Systems, submitted and read from a presentation (on file).
He described the history of his company.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of the company's number of employees
and revenue and whether their employees commute to the company from Bellingham.
Drew Zogby, Alpha Technologies President, submitted and read from a presentation
(on file). The number of employees is 700 in the U.S. and 400 in Washington State.
Buchanan asked and there was discussion of interest in the Alpha Technology
alternative energy test site.
Browne stated he thanks Mr. Zogby for allowing a British Columbia (B.C.) company
to enter the U.S. market.
Brenner asked and there was discussion on whether Alpha Technologies can step in
and provide services that its customers don't provide in certain areas.
Browne asked and there was discussion of how the County can help Alpha
Technologies grow. Zogby stated the County can facilitate promotion at the gateways to
Whatcom County, attract young technical professionals to the area, and provide easy
housing availability.
Dodd Snodgrass, Port of Bellingham, answered questions.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/25/2014, Page 1
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COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2014 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, EIGHTH
REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,053,575 (AB2014 -114) (11:55 :47AM)
Browne moved to recommend adoption to the full Council.
Weimer stated and there was discussion of a letter received from Futurewise this
morning regarding settlement issues, which may impact the budget item.
Brenner stated she would like to remove the North Bellingham regional stormwater
facility item and vote on it separately.
Mann referenced and there was discussion of the Futurewise letter and the
appropriate use of economic development improvement (EDI) fund.
Browne moved to amend to remove the $40,000 to Council for outside legal
counsel, and there was discussion.
The motion to amend failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Buchanan (1)
Nays: Crawford and Browne (2)
The motion to recommend approval carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford and Browne (2)
Nays: None (0)
Abstain: Buchanan (1)
2. RESOLUTION AMENDING THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE
DISTRICT 2014 BUDGET, SECOND REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $42,700
(AB2014 -115) (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD
CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (12 :05 :24 PM)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the Whatcom County Flood Control
Zone District Board of Supervisors.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of a delay by the Nooksack Tribe.
Paula Cooper, Public Works Department, answered question and gave a staff report.
Crawford stated and there was discussion that he is against the motion because the
County would be using County taxpayer money, but the primary beneficiary is the Tribe,
which caused the delays.
Browne asked and there was discussion of the effect of losing the school's septic
system and whether the casino drain field is at risk.
Jack Louws, County Executive, asked the Council to establish a dollar amount for
staff to ask from the Tribe.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/25/2014, Page 2
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Kremen stated and there was discussion about decertification issues within the Tribal
membership, which have delayed all other issues for the Nooksack Tribe.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of whether the Tribe pays County taxes.
Browne stated and there was discussion of the County talking to the Tribe about the
issue.
Brenner stated the school district is the major beneficiary, and don't hold up the
project.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: Crawford (1)
3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
INVESTMENT (EDI) PROGRAM — EDI BOARD RECOMMENDATION TO MODIFY
GUIDELINES TO ADD SINGLE AND MULTI - FAMILY HOME CONSTRUCTION AS
AN ALLOWABLE USE (AB2013 -332) (12:22 :19 PM)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Crawford stated he's against expanding the use of these funds for rental housing and
this motion.
Brenner stated and there was discussion about the projects not coming to the
Council for approval if they are under $25,000 and whether there is information about what
jobs and training will be created.
Jack Louws, County Executive, answered questions.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Buchanan (2)
Nays: Crawford (1)
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
1. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE CAMP
HORIZON FOUNDATION FOR THE OPERATION OF BAY HORIZON PARK
(AB2014 -122) (12 :34 :08 PM)
Browne moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Browne and Buchanan (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND HERRERA ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSULTANTS, INC. FOR DESIGN AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/25/2014, Page 3
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LOWER CANYON CREEK SALMON HABITAT RESTORATION/ FLOOD HAZARD
MANAGEMENT PROJECT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $59,027 (AB2014 -123)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the Whatcom County Flood Control
Zone District Board of Supervisors.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Browne and Buchanan (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:35 p.m.
ATTEST:
, Council Clerk
-, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Sam Crawford, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/25/2014, Page 4