HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance October 14 20141
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
October 14, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
(I1: 02:34 AM)
Present: Sam Crawford, Rud Browne and Barry Buchanan.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Barbara Brenner, Pete Kremen, Ken Mann and Carl Weimer.
EXECUTIVE REPORTS
Jack Louws, County Executive, reported on the following items:
• Two park proposals scheduled for Council introduction
• Presentation this Friday of the 2015 -2016 Budget and upcoming Council
discussions
• The recently- approved new jail contract
• His approval of the three Swift Creek contracts on this agenda
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. RESOLUTION DECLARING THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE
DISTRICT'S INTENTION TO LEASE PROPERTY ON RIVER ROAD (AB2014-
298)
(Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of
Supervisors.)
The following staff answered questions:
• Dan Gibson, Prosecutor's Office
• Andrew Hester, Public Works Office
• Mike McFarlane, Parks and Recreation Department Director
The Committee discussed allowing the right of first refusal to an adjacent landowner
who has farmed the land for decades, statute requirements of a competitive process,
whether an exception can be made if it's flood property, soil testing and short -term farming
practices that would damage the land, whether they would set any precedents that they
should be concerned about, and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) standards
that address soil.
Browne moved to recommend approval to the Flood Control Zone District Board of
Supervisors. He moved to amend to lease the land by public auction to allow all
landowners the option of last look.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/14/2014, Page 1
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Gibson stated staff prepared an alternative resolution with the auction option.
Hester read from the alternate resolution. "Be It Further Resolved that the Board of
Supervisors hereby directs the Whatcom County Treasurer to lease this property at a public
auction to the highest and best bidder, at a location and time determined by the Treasurer;
and...."
Browne accepted the language from staff as his motion to replace the resolved
statement, "Be it Further Resolved that the sealed bids feF 'ease ef this pFepeFty shall be
Bellingham, WA 98225, ne later than 2:00 p.m. en Oeteb,�; said bids will be epened at
that time the Board of Supervisors hereby directs the Whatcom County Treasurer to lease
this property at a public auction to the highest and best bidder, at a location and time
determined by the Treasurer."
The motion to amend the resolution carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Browne and Buchanan (3)
Nays: None (0)
Browne submitted a handout proposing an addendum to Exhibit B (on file) and
moved to amend Exhibit B to include additional addendum language.
Buchanan asked staff to find out if a farm plan includes some of the things this
amendment asks for.
The motion to amend failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne (1)
Nays: Crawford and Buchanan (2)
The motion to recommend approval as amended carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Browne and Buchanan (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND WHEELER CONSULTING
GROUP FOR THE SWIFT CREEK REPOSITORY SITING AND ANALYSIS, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $160,000 (AB2014 -321) (11:34:53 AM)
- and -
2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND WATERSHED SCIENCE &
ENGINEERING FOR THE SWIFT CREEK NORTH FORK RE -ROUTE ANALYSIS,
IN THE AMOUNT OF $180,000 (AB2014 -322)
- and —
3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO AWARD A BID
TO THE LOW BIDDER, TRIMAXX CONSTRUCTION, INC. AND ENTER INTO A
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/14/2014, Page 2
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CONTRACT FOR THE 2014 SWIFT CREEK BANK ARMORING AND SEDIMENT
REMOVAL, IN THE AMOUNT OF $443,900.63 (AB2014 -323)
(Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of
Supervisors.)
Roland Middleton, Public Works Department, described the Swift Creek background
and funding sources. He encouraged the Council to advocate that Swift Creek return to the
Model Toxics Program or be included in the Environmental Legacy Stewardship Account
(ELSA), both of which can pay for the phase I projects.
Middleton gave a staff report on the three agenda items.
The Committee discussed the location of bank armoring and the sediment removal
project; whether those working on the project will wear protective gear; not creating
liability issues if contractors don't take proper precautions; incorporating Councilmember
Browne's proposal in additional phases, and; whether Wheeler and Watershed Science &
Engineering will communicate with each other, since the two projects affect the same
drainage.
Browne referenced AB2014 -322, submitted handouts (on file), and proposed a
small scale hydro plant on the north fork. It would generate power, which is a revenue
source. Diverting the water may be easier than obtaining easements for digging another
channel. It may provide an opportunity to collect clean water off the slope of the south fork
and pump it to the north fork. He asked staff to review his proposal as part of the process.
Middleton stated it could be reviewed as a future phase of the process.
Buchanan moved to recommend approval of AB2014 -321 to the Flood Control
Zone District Board of Supervisors.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Browne and Buchanan (3)
Nays: None (0)
Browne moved to recommend approval of AB2014 -322 to the Flood Control Zone
District Board of Supervisors.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Browne and Buchanan (3)
Nays: None (0)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval of AB2014 -323 to the Flood Control
Zone District Board of Supervisors.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Browne and Buchanan (3)
Nays: None (0)
4. RESOLUTION REQUESTING COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR THE REMODELING OF
509 GIRARD STREET, 322 N. COMMERCIAL STREET (CIVIC BUILDING) AND
1500 N. STATE STREET (BUILDING AND PROPERTY) (AB2014 -324) (11:54:47
AM)
Crawford reported on this item.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/14/2014, Page 3
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Browne moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The Committee discussed why the Northwest Annex is not included, the estimates on
State Street environmental components, and including in the resolution the amount they
anticipate spending on the remodel.
Jack Louws, County Executive, answered questions.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Browne and Buchanan (3)
Nays: None (0)
S. ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2013 -003 (THIRD AMENDMENT)
TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT FUND FOR THE NEW JAIL PROJECT 2013 -2014
(AB2014 -306B)
Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, gave a staff report.
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Dewey Desler, Special Projects, answered questions.
The Committee discussed whether this ordinance includes more than the amount the
Council approved two weeks ago, the expertise of and expected outcomes from the
contractor, whether this is similar to a loan origination fee, working with the County
Treasurer, and whether this will go before the voters.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Browne and Buchanan (3)
Nays: None (0)
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND WILSON ENGINEERING, LLC
FOR DESIGN ASSISTANCE FOR CEDAR HILLS /EUCLID STORMWATER
IMPROVEMENTS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $88,720 (AB2014 -325) (12:21 :19 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 AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND PACIFIC SURVEY &
ENGINEERING, INC. FOR PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR ROAD AND
ELECTRICAL UPGRADES AT SILVER LAKE PARK, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$119,414 (AB2014 -326) (12 :21 :39 PM)
Rod Lamb, Parks and Recreation Department, gave a staff report.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/14/2014, Page 4
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Mike McFarlane, Parks and Recreation Department Director, answered questions.
The Committee discussed whether this serves the County's customers, the age of the
road system, whether camping fees pay for that park, the process used for the survey of all
the systems, topographic mapping, and how many large recreational vehicles (RVs) come
through each year.
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Browne and Buchanan (3)
Nays: None (0)
3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE WASHINGTON STATE
MILITARY DEPARTMENT TO SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE THE WHATCOM
COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE - DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,980 (AB2014 -327) (12:35 :17 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)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:36 p.m.
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Sam Crawford, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/14/2014, Page 5