HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance May 6 20141
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
May 6, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 11:08 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
(11: 08:35 AM)
Present: Sam Crawford, Rud Browne and Barry Buchanan.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Barbara Brenner, Pete Kremen, Carl Weimer, and Ken Mann.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. PRESENTATION BY THE OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL REGARDING
SUBSTANDARD HOUSING IN WHATCOM COUNTY (AB2014 -181)
Dave Finet, Opportunity Council, submitted and read from a presentation (on file).
Much of the substandard housing is occupied by seniors. Substandard housing is both
owner and rental housing. He described the revolving loan program and how the program
is used by low- income residents, seniors, and single mothers. He read the presentation
regarding the service territory. The Opportunity Council will do what it can for houses, but
one in five are not repairable. He described program funding since 2002.
Mann asked and there was discussion of the difference between entitlement and non -
entitlement areas.
Kremen described the benefits of the program. He asked and there was discussion
of whether there is opportunity for funding from Puget Sound Energy (PSE), the State, and
the federal government.
Brenner stated making sure people aren't living in unhealthy circumstances is a
public service. Make this a County priority. She asked and there was discussion of any
leveraging they can do if the County provides some funds.
Browne asked and there was discussion of whether there have been failures to
collect on the loans and whether they charge an interest rate equal to inflation.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNTY AUDITOR REGARDING ELECTION
ENVELOPES (AB2014 -182) (11:32 :20 AM)
Debbie Adelstein, County Auditor, gave a staff report and stated they received about
111 complaints based on 126,000 ballots mailed out and 70,000 ballots returned. When the
County shifted to all -mail voting, it returned to the envelope used before with the signature
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/6/2014, Page 1
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on the outside. Thirty -five of 39 counties in Washington State use these types of
envelopes. The cost savings is $15,000 per year in not having to use the specially- designed
fold -over envelope, plus a 30 percent time saving from staff scanning and reviewing the
signatures. There hasn't been an opportunity to get further citizen input. Staff researched
the issue.
Diana Bradrick, Auditor's Office, continued the staff report and stated land records
are available to the public. People sign documents all the time, so signatures are already
out there. Privacy rights advocacy groups don't address signatures as a document to be
kept confidential. A signature isn't considered a high risk for those kinds of issues. Mail
should not be put in an unsecured mailbox.
Adelstein stated that if someone wants to steal the signature, all they have to do is
walk off with the envelope, whether the signature is on the inside or outside. A signature
doesn't give anyone access to anything. Identity theft is done through account and
identification numbers, not signatures. However, there are alternatives to drop off a ballot
in secure locations.
Buchanan asked and there was discussion of whether there are concerns from the
League of Women Voters or political parties. Adelstein stated there are not.
Brenner stated she is paranoid and is concerned about it. They are giving up
personal information little by little. Few people have locked mailboxes.
Kremen stated the Auditor and her staff are commended for taking complaints and
concerns seriously. Identity theft has become more sophisticated and prevalent, but he
accepts the Auditor's explanation. Going back to the old way would cost many thousands of
dollars more. He's satisfied with the process the way it is.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of whether the State law requires a signed
ballot.
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
1. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND GEOTEST SERVICES, INC. TO
PROVIDE MATERIALS TESTING, INSPECTION AND GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN
SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL
CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $330,000 (AB2014 -173)
(I1: 50:02 AM)
Browne moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Brenner stated she's happy that the contractor is managing its own contract. The
flood staff could do the same thing.
Mann asked and there was discussion about who can stamp engineer drawings.
Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, answered questions.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Browne and Buchanan (3)
Nays: None (0)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/6/2014, Page 2
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2. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND HKP ARCHITECTS, LLP FOR
THE WHATCOM COUNTY COURTHOUSE BUILDING CONDITION SURVEY, IN
THE AMOUNT OF $507,856.67 (AB2014 -174) (11 :53:21 AM)
Jack Louws, County Executive, gave a staff report. A total replacement of the
courthouse exterior was recommended in 2007. The original estimate was over $900,000
to do the damage assessment. The Facilities Division reassessed the work order with the
contractor to reduce the amount of work. There is no estimate for the cost of repairs,
because they need to assess damages first. This will be a difficult project. It is a multi -year
effort. They will have to mitigate employee concerns. It's valuable to do the project now.
Costs will increase if they delay. He's not pleased with the project, but they must take care
of public infrastructure now. He recommends approval.
Mike Russell, Administrative Services Department, answered questions.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of the product the County will receive for
this money and whether an option is to tear the building down and start over.
Mann asked and there was discussion of the reason for doing a detailed review and
what is wrong with the building.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of what happens if they don't do this now.
Buchanan asked and there was discussion of how relevant is the report from 2007,
whether the County took action on the report, and the cost of the report.
Brenner stated the building remodel in 1990 did nothing to solve essential problems
with the building.
Kremen described the history of the remodel and the extent of the problems with the
building.
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Browne and Buchanan (3)
Nays: None (0)
(Clerk's Note: Discussion continued later in the meeting.)
3. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE NOOKSACK
SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THE YOUTH, IN
THE AMENDED AMOUNT OF $114,000, FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF
$242,000 (AB2014 -175) (12 :13 :24 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)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/6/2014, Page 3
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4. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE MT BAKER
SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THE YOUTH, IN
THE AMENDED AMOUNT OF $115,000, FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF
$245,000 (AB2014 -176) (12 :13:43 PM)
Buchanan 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 HKP ARCHITECTS, LLP FOR
THE WHATCOM COUNTY COURTHOUSE BUILDING CONDITION SURVEY, IN
THE AMOUNT OF $507,856.67 (AB2014 -174)
(Clerk's Note: Discussion continued from earlier in the meeting.)
Browne stated and there was discussion that the County doesn't seem to receive
many bidders for the contracts it has.
Jack Louws, County Executive, described the request for qualifications (RFQ) process
for hiring professional services and the request for proposal (RFP) process for hiring a
company for a road project.
Buchanan asked and there was discussion of what isn't being done because the
scope is being reduced.
Mike Russell, Administrative Services Department, answered questions.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:22 p.m.
ATTEST:
, Council Clerk
-, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Sam Crawford, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/6/2014, Page 4