HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 20 20121
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
November 20, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Ken Mann called the meeting to order at 11:03 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
(11: 03:45 AM)
Present: Ken Mann, Sam Crawford and Carl Weimer.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Kathy Kershner, Barbara Brenner, Bill Knutzen, and Pete Kremen.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE CITIES OF
BELLINGHAM, BLAINE, EVERSON, FERNDALE, LYNDEN, NOOKSACK AND
SUMAS CONCERNING COST SHARING FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
UPDATE AND URBAN GROWTH AREA REVIEW, IN THE AMOUNT OF $140,000
(AB2012 -353)
Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Mark Personious, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff
report and answered questions.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of:
• Finding a population projection number.
• Adopting the middle projection from the Office of Financial Management
(OFM).
• The venue for adopting the OFM population projection.
Mann asked and there was discussion of the County Council finally deciding on the
final allocations for the County and the Cities.
Brenner stated and there was discussion of the Council voting on unbundling the
items in this agreement. She agrees on working on population distribution and employment
distribution. Accept the OFM projection.
Weimer stated he agrees with Councilmember Crawford, but it may not work to
bypass the process.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of why the County and Cities need a
consultant for this work. He agrees to use the OFM projection for population.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/20/2012, Page 1
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Jack Louws, County Executive, stated this interlocal agreement is just for sharing
costs of the consultant. The contract for the consultant will come forward separately.
Kremen stated OFM's number is based solely on accuracy, with no political agenda.
The Council must accept the OFM medium projection and take that issue off the table.
Knutzen stated don't leave the population projection in the scope of work. Remove it
completely, or the County will set itself up for a fight.
Crawford moved to amend the motion to amend section 1, first bullet point,
"County -wide population projections and allocations to urban growth areas reflecting the
intent of the County Council to adopt the Washington State Office of Financial Management
(OFM) medium population projection;"
Mann asked and there was discussion of whether this opens the County up to
liability.
Crawford withdrew his motion.
Kershner stated she agrees with Councilmember Kremen. She asked and there was
discussion of why the cost is $140,000, and if there is a less expensive way to come up with
the number.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. REQUEST APPROVAL OF THE WHATCOM COUNTY LODGING TAX
COMMITTEE'S APPROVED REQUESTS FOR FUNDING THROUGH
HOTEL /MOTEL TAX FUNDS FOR 2013 (AB2012 -361) (11:35:18 AM)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Jack Louws, County Executive, answered questions.
Mann asked and there was discussion of:
• The membership of the Lodging Tax Committee.
• Whether the programs receiving grants are capable of implementing their
programs.
• Enlarging the committee.
Brenner stated she would like to know if other people have applied.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of what happens if Semiahmoo doesn't
reopen and whether they've considered the City's annexation of hotels in the area of the
airport.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of the amounts requested and the amounts
approved.
Kremen stated the Lodging Tax Committee is discerning. The committee members
look into the requests with some skepticism.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/20/2012, Page 2
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The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE 2013 -2014 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE
"COUNTYWIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FUND" AND
CONSIDERATION OF SEPARATE APPROVAL OF THAT FUND'S BUDGET
OUTSIDE OF THE EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSED 2012 -2013 WHATCOM COUNTY
BUDGET (AB2012 -332A) (11:46:52 AM)
Crawford referenced and read from his email to the Council dated November 19,
2012. He asked for and there was discussion of:
• The administration's response to his email about higher employee costs.
• What the service would look like if the amount approved was only $700,000.
• Whether the County could propose a $700,000 draw down instead of $1.1
million, and let Medic 6 go on January 1, 2013 instead of January 1, 2014.
• Why the County Council Chair isn't on the Emergency Medical Service (EMS)
Advisory Board.
• The immediate implications of delaying this funding to get answers from the
City.
The following people answered questions:
• Jack Louws, County Executive
• Dewey Desler, Special Projects Manager
Brenner stated an option is to fund it for one year only, not two years.
Mann stated and there was discussion of having a community -wide conversation
about the level of service for the program in general.
Crawford stated and there was discussion of the lack of appearance of efficiency due
to lower call volumes from the shift to basic life support (BLS).
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of an oversight board that will be formed
next year.
Mann asked and there was discussion of the contract that obligates the County to
pay these cost increases.
(12 :17 :17 PM)
Crawford moved to recommend to the full Council that the Council remove the EMS
budget portion from the executive's 2013 -2014 budget and request the administration work
on responding to the following issues:
1. Have the City of Bellingham describe how a $400,000 annual reduction in
the City's cost would impact service delivery,
2. Ask the City of Bellingham to fast -track reductions in cost in 2013 by
eliminating Medic 6 as of January 1, 2013,
3. Allow the County Council to meet with its attorney on December 4 to
discuss its obligation to continue the interlocal for 2013, and
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/20/2012, Page 3
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4. Ask the County fire districts how they would address and ramp up for
Countywide (Exclusive of Bellingham) ambulance provision on January 1,
2013, if necessary.
Brenner suggested and there was a discussion of a friendly amendment to item
four to only ask the districts how quickly they can ramp up for 2013.
Crawford did not accept the friendly amendment.
Mann asked and there was discussion of whether the motion would interrupt service
on January 1, 2013.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann and Crawford (2)
Nays: Weimer (1)
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ACCEPT SUN
LIFE STOP -LOSS POLICY FOR INSURANCE PROTECTION FOR THE SELF -
INSURED MEDICAL PROGRAM FOR 2013 (AB2012 -362) (12 :26:17 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)
2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
LEASE AGREEMENT WITH FIRE DISTRICT #18 FOR A 30 -YEAR TERM FOR
THE FIRE HALL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3250 SOUTH BAY DRIVE (AB2012-
363) (12 :27 :24 PM)
Weimer moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of whether the County owns the property
and whether the County had liability for work done on the property.
Jack Louws, County Executive, answered questions.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
LEASE AGREEMENT WITH DANIEL DONOGHUE TO LEASE THE NESSET FARM
CARETAKER HOUSE AT 6176 SAXON ROAD, ACME (AB2012 -364) (12 :28 :14
PM)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/20/2012, Page 4
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The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
4. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID
#12 -76 TO THE LOW BIDDER, CLK CONSTRUCTION LLC FOR ELECTRICAL
MODIFICATIONS TO THE COURTHOUSE DATA CENTER, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$176,833.16 (AB2012 -365) (12 :28 :32 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)
5. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO APPROVE THE
PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT COMPUTERS USING A CITY OF EVERETT BID
THROUGH VENDOR, DATEC, IN THE AMOUNT OF $101,241.01 (AB2012 -366)
(12 :28 :56 PM)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council. He asked and there
was discussion of whether this is a federal grant.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of what is happening to the units being
replaced.
Jeff Parks, Sheriff's Office, answered questions.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
6. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO APPROVE
LOCAL AGENCY STANDARD SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NO. 2 FOR ON -CALL
SUPPORT FOR THE WHATCOM COUNTY BRIDGE PROGRAM (WWC NO.
201102005) IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,200, FOR A TOTAL AMENDED
CONTRACT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,700 (AB2012 -367) (12 :30 :28 PM)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council. He asked and there
was discussion of who is buying and renting the bridge equipment and what work is being
done.
Chris Brueske, Public Works Department, answered questions.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
7. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND CDW GOVERNMENT LLC IN
THE AMOUNT OF $72,280 FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO ASSIST WITH
COUNTYWIDE EMAIL SYSTEM UPGRADE AND POST - IMPLEMENTATION
SUPPORT (AB2012 -357) (12 :32 :18 PM)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/20/2012, Page 5
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to
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)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:32 p.m.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council &o.w hatcom .wa.us
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/20/2012, Page 6