HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance October 8 20131
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
October 8, 2013
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Ken Mann called the meeting to order at 1:48 p.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
(1:48:58 PM)
Present: Ken Mann, Sam Crawford and Carl Weimer.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Bill Knutzen, Pete Kremen, Barbara Brenner and Kathy Kershner.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. PORT OF BELLINGHAM ASSOCIATE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION REPORT
(AB2013 -318)
Dodd Snodgrass, Port of Bellingham, and John Michener, Port of Bellingham,
submitted and read from a presentation (on file).
Brenner asked and there was discussion of:
• Jurisdictions that have either problematic or beneficial regulations for
businesses.
• Products made in Whatcom county cities versus unincorporated Whatcom
county.
• Whether the Port economic development is a conflict of interest with other
jurisdictions that want economic development.
(2:11:18 PM)
Mann asked and there was discussion of labor recruitment and the shortage of local
skilled workers.
Kremen asked and there was discussion of whether there is a shortage of the highly
skilled and technical employees and of skilled employee retention.
Mann asked and there was discussion of working with the local higher education
institutions to make sure they have programs to train the needed workers.
Brenner stated and there was discussion of promoting certain skills and professions
that aren't normally considered desirable.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/8/2013, Page 1
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COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, ELEVENTH
REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,300 (AB2013 -314) (2 :23:24 PM)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of determining the total cost if the program
is successful and becomes ongoing.
Joe Fuller, Health Department, answered questions.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCES 2009 -045, 2006 -350, AND 87 -19,
WHICH ESTABLISHED PETTY CASH REVOLVING FUNDS FOR PUBLIC WORKS
ENGINEERING, ROAD DESIGN/ CONSTRUCTION, AND ER &R (AB2013 -315)
(2 :25 :27 PM)
Weimer moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT PROGRAM — EDI BOARD
RECOMMENDATIONS (AB2013 -319) (2 :25 :59 PM)
Crawford moved to recommend approval of both projects to the full Council. He
asked and there was discussion of whether there has been much discussion about the
Bakerview overpass becoming overloaded when Costco is developed in that area.
Brent Baldwin, City of Bellingham Public Works Department, answered questions
regarding the Bakerview bridge, working with the State Department of Transportation and
others to identify this and other projects, and the expected results of this work.
Kremen stated and there was discussion of this project needing to be done much
sooner, before Costco and other businesses go into this area. He asked and there was
discussion of why this is being proposed, where the money is coming from to alleviate all
the anticipated traffic problems, and if the overpass will have to be expanded.
Crawford stated this Costco situation seems to be the same as the situation with the
surrounding infrastructure when the Wal -Mart superstore in Mt. Vernon moved to a different
location. The City, not Wal -Mart, made the necessary road improvements.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of whether this project could qualify for the
State legislature budget for stormwater retrofit programs through the Puget Sound
Partnership.
Mann stated the Port project is a great project.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/8/2013, Page 2
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The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
4. RESOLUTION IN THE MATTER OF THE ELECTION TO RECEIVE NATIONAL
FOREST RELATED SAFETY -NET PAYMENTS UNDER PL 112 -141 (AB2013 -320)
(2:47:40 PM)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND SANITARY SERVICE
CO. FOR THE CEDARVILLE AND BIRCH BAY TRANSFER STATIONS, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $6,000 OVER A FIVE -YEAR PERIOD, PLUS LEASEHOLD TAX OF
12.84% (AB2013 -321) (2 :48:22 PM)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Mann stated councilmembers send their condolences to the Public Works Department
staff person who was recently in a car accident.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND KULSHAN ENVIRONMENTAL
SERVICES FOR CONSULTING SERVICES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A
STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT PROCESS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE
SYSTEM -WIDE IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR THE NOOKSACK RIVER
LEVEE SYSTEM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $44,460 (AB2013 -322) (2:49 :38 PM)
Weimer moved to recommend approval to the Flood Control Zone District Board of
Supervisors.
Crawford stated he will support the request, but they talked recently about the
expense of facilitating meetings.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/8/2013, Page 3
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3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND WASHINGTON
STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY FOR SOLID WASTE COMPLIANCE
MANAGEMENT AND LITTERING AND ILLEGAL DUMPING ENFORCEMENT
SERVICES, IN THE AMOUNT OF $154,740 (AB2013 -323) (2:50:49 PM)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council. He asked and there
was discussion of whether Sanitary Service Company (SSC) does enforcement and if this is
an annual contract.
Chris Brueske, Public Works Department, answered questions.
Jack Louws, County Executive, answered questions.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
Jack Louws, County Executive, stated there is a request in the Introduction Items
before the full Council tonight. He asked the Council to introduce the item. They will
discuss it further at the surface water work session in a week, and the Council will make its
decision at the next regular Council meeting.
Brenner stated the Planning Unit has a very big responsibility. The Council must help
make it happen. It won't happen as it is happening now. They must improve the quality of
the meetings.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m.
ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
, Council Clerk Ken Mann, Committee Chair
- Minutes Transcription
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/8/2013, Page 4