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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
October 9, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Ken Mann called the meeting to order at 11:08 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
(11: 08:15 AM)
Present: Ken Mann, Sam Crawford and Carl Weimer.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Kathy Kershner, Pete Kremen, Barbara Brenner and Bill Knutzen.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. PRESENTATION BY JOSH WEISS, WASHINGTON STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES, REGARDING PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES (PILT) AND SECURE
SCHOOLS FUNDING (AB2012 -314)
Josh Weiss, Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC), gave a report and
stated he also manages timber issues. He introduce Commissioner Paul Pearce from
Skamania County.
Paul Pearce, Skamania County Commissioner, submitted a handout (on file) and
stated Skamania County depends highly on federal timber dollars. He described and there
was discussion of the history and purpose of the payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) system.
PILT will always be based on acreage. It's now fully funded through 2014. PILT was
created when federal timber was operating fully. Reservation land does not fall into PILT
land. It's a conversation that his happening.
Knutzen stated the County doesn't get any revenue from reservation lands that are
trust lands.
Weiss stated Whatcom County is the third largest county in the state. Also, this is
different from the State PILT program for State lands.
Pearce continued the presentation on the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program,
which can affect the PILT payment. PILT payments are general fund dollars. SRS dollars
are road fund dollars. He described the history of the SRS payment program, which pays
25 cents from every dollar from national forest receipts, mostly through timber receipts. In
2000 a change in the payment was based on actual receipts averaged from the three
highest years between 1986 and 1996. The formula changed again in 2008. Half the
payment was based on revenue and half on acreage, with an economic indicator for the
mean average income. The payment for 2011 dropped about 50 percent. He described
how Whatcom County's payments are allocated. There is a proposal to start to have a
conversation with Congress about actual forest management for ecosystem health and for
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/9/2012, Page 1
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community health and economic viability for rural communities. They hope to get away
from a straight payment and get back to receipts, and also to deal with the dead and dying
forests.
Mann asked and there was discussion about who is on the local Resource Advisory
Committee (RAC) and how the Council gets to decide whether it likes the projects that the
RAC approves.
Crawford asked and there was discussion about a bill Whatcom County receives
annually from Commissioner Pearce regarding timber dues.
Weiss stated Mr. Pearce has been lobbying Washington D.C. for continuation of the
payments. The timber dues collected is to help the counties make sure they understand the
elections process and gets their payments.
Crawford asked if Skamania County wanted Whatcom County to send money.
Pearce stated there was a request to reimburse Skamania County, which paid the full bill on
the new spotted owl study. All the rest of the requests were paid through the WSAC. He
and the Executive are going to have a conversation about it.
Jack Louws, County Executive, stated two bills have come in this year that he's
unfamiliar with, so he will discuss it with Mr. Pearce. He has no problem paying the bills
through the Association.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of the formula used to determine the Secure
Rural Schools (SRS) payment.
Kershner asked and there was discussion of whether the SRS offset is dollar -for-
dollar and whether it's beneficial for counties to take the SRS payment, because the offset
to PILT isn't significant.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of legislation before Congress to address
the national forest harvest. He would like to see an opportunity to harvest that timber.
Pearce stated they should have a decision by the end of November.
Brenner stated and there was discussion of whether the timber counties are
becoming irrelevant and will be ignored, and whether any bills are making it through the
Congressional process.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of whether Councilmember Kremen feels
it's important to continue efforts to advocate on behalf of Whatcom County in Washington
D.C. There should be one voice from the National Association of Counties (NaCO).
Kremen stated to be adequately represented in Washington, D.C., the County's
presence is invaluable. He hopes there is funding in the budget for adequate representation
from the Executive and the Council. It's a priority. The money would be invested well and
produce large dividends. Without representation, the County runs a greater risk of losing
out.
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/9/2012, Page 2
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1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
TWO YEAR CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND QWEST
CORPORATION D /B /A CENTURYLINK QC FOR T1 TELECOMMUNICATION
TRUNK LINES FOR INBOUND AND OUTBOUND CALLS, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$86,880 (AB2012 -308) (11:44 :31 AM)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The following people answered questions:
• Perry Rice, Administrative Services Department
• Chris Wilson, Administrative Services Department
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of whether this goes out for a request for
proposals (RFP), or if they are tied to Centuryl-ink, and whether the lines T1 lines are
dedicated.
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 AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND NORSTAN
COMMUNICATIONS, INC., D /B /A BLACK BOX NETWORK SERVICES FOR TWO
YEAR CONTINUATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PLAN FOR
ERICSSON MX ONE TELEPHONE AND VOICE MAIL SYSTEMS, IN THE AMOUNT
OF $127,512, FOR A TOTAL AMENDED CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF
$395,646 (AB2012 -309) (11 :46 :47 AM)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The following people answered questions:
• Perry Rice, Administrative Services Department
• Chris Wilson, Administrative Services Department
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of whether there can be a new phone
system in the next 12 months, if the County will receive a reimbursement before the end of
this contract, and whether this money includes the money allocated last year for the
voicemail system.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of adjustments that are necessary to make
the phone system work better.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of how many individual extensions are in
the system.
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
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY TO PROVIDE A WASHINGTON CONSERVATION
CORPS CREW TO IMPLEMENT NEW WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECTS,
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/9/2012, Page 3
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MAINTAIN EXISTING RESTORATION PROJECTS, AND ASSIST WITH WATER
QUALITY MONITORING AND IMPROVEMENTS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,000
(AB2012 -310)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of whether they've always gone through
Ecology for the Conservation Corps.
John Thompson, Public Works Department, answered questions.
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 11:56 a.m.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council@�omhatcomma.us
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/9/2012, Page 4