HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance June 21 20111
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
June 21, 2011
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Ken Mann called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL (11: 03:35 AM)
Present: Kathy Kershner, Ken Mann and Tony Larson.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Barbara Brenner, Bill Knutzen, Carl Weimer and Sam Crawford.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. PRESENTATION BY THE MT. BAKER SCHOOL DISTRICT REGARDING THE
POSSIBLE FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED RECONVEYANCE -
AB2011 -180A (11 :03 :39 AM)
Rick Gantman, Mt. Baker School District Superintendent, gave a report and stated he
asks the Council to consider that the district and school board has no comment on the value
of a park or working forests. This is an issue of ethics and the Constitutional fiduciary
responsibility that the managers of State trust lands have to the children of the district.
Most revenue is from resident tax dollars. The school district is small and has no large
sources of income like other districts in the county have. This revenue source is unique to
the Mt. Baker District. Look at the calculations carefully to come up with a number, which
he can't provide. His forest consultant calculation of the estimated revenue loss from the
reconveyed land is approximately $120,000 per year. The total aggregate amount the
district receives per year from timber revenue can be up to $1 million in heavy logging
years.
The following person answered questions:
• Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator
Larson asked and there was discussion of:
• Why it's so difficult to come up with a dollar figure the district receives from
the proposed reconveyance lands.
• The total amount of overall timber revenue the district collects each year.
• Whether the district collected property taxes when that land was privately
owned.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of the total acreage of proposed
reconveyance lands.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of potential new revenue that can be
dedicated to the school district.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 6/21/2011, Page 1
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Knutzen asked and there was discussion of:
• The number of teachers that have been laid off in the district.
• The difference between a cell tower maintenance road and a Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) logging road.
• Impacts to class sizes.
Weimer asked and there was discussion of whether the State legislature had made
any movement in changing the way schools are funded.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2011 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, SIXTH
REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $216,582 - AB2011 -207 (11:31:35 AM)
Kershner moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, gave a staff report.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Kershner, Mann and Larson (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE WHATCOM
COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT AND SUBZONES FOR DISTRICT
OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION - AB2011 -151 (11 :32:04 AM)
Kershner moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Larson asked and there was discussion of whether the advisory committee has
recommended changes.
Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department, gave a staff report and reviewed the
proposed changes, beginning on Council packet page 41.
The following people answered questions:
• Paula Cooper, Public Works Department
• Chris Hatch, Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee Member and
Acme /Van Zandt Flood Subzone Vice - Chair.
Kershner amended her motion and moved to recommend approval of the
substitute version beginning on Council packet page 41. She moved to amend the
substitute version to keep the existing language regarding designated staff in all applicable
sections, as recommended by legal counsel.
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Kershner, Mann and Larson (3)
Nays: None (0)
Mann moved to amend the substitute version, section 2.2.2, "The District or a
subzone shall pay the County...."
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 6/21/2011, Page 2
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The motion to amend failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann (1)
Nays: Kershner and Larson (2)
The motion to approve the substitute version as amended to the full Council carried
by the following vote:
Ayes: Kershner, Mann and Larson (3)
Nays: None (0)
Mann moved to recommend the substitute version as amended to the Flood Control
Zone District Board of Supervisors
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Kershner, Mann and Larson (3)
Nays: None (0)
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
1. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONSULTANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND WATERSHED
SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FOR PREPARATION OF A SEDIMENT TRANSPORT
ANALYSIS IN THE VICINITY OF THE MOSQUITO LAKE ROAD CANYON CREEK
BRIDGE NO. 334 IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,700 - AB2011 -216 (11:53 :44 AM)
Larson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of a potential analysis result that says they
should just keep doing what they're doing.
The following person answered questions:
• Jim Karcher, Public Works Department
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Kershner, Mann and Larson (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE ARC OF WHATCOM
COUNTY TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND FAMILY
SUPPORT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES, THEIR FAMILIES /CAREGIVERS, AND THE PUBLIC IN THE
AMOUNT OF $54,188 - AB2011 -217 (11 :55 :57 AM)
Kershner moved to recommend approval to the full Council. She asked and there
was discussion of whether the State requires this and whether this is a new contract.
The following person answered questions:
• Jessica Lee, Health Department
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Kershner, Mann and Larson (3)
Nays: None (0)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 6/21/2011, Page 3
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3. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND COMMODITY
CREDIT CORPORATION TO REMOVE FARMS NO LONGER INTERESTED IN PDR
PROGRAM TRANSACTIONS, AND DE- OBLIGATE THE ASSOCIATED $592,933
FOR USE AS MATCHING FUNDS FOR PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
EASEMENT ACQUISITIONS - AB2011 -218 (11:57:43 AM)
Kershner moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The following person answered questions:
• Samya Lutz, Planning and Development Services Department
Larson asked and there was discussion of:
• Why the farms pulled out of the program.
• When in the process does the money gets locked in.
• Whether applicants can lock up County money, and then bail out of the
program without charging the applicants a fee.
• Whether the County requires any earnest money to give the applicants
incentive for not backing out of the program.
• The cost paid for the development rights.
Mann asked the funding source.
Brenner asked for a future presentation on the pros and cons of adding the cost of
the appraisal at the front end.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Kershner, Mann and Larson (3)
Nays: None (0)
4. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
STANDARD SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM
COUNTY AND NEW WORLD SYSTEMS FOR THE AEGIS PUBLIC SAFETY
INTERFACE SOFTWARE IN THE AMOUNT OF $33,954 - AB2011 -219 (12:04:23
PM)
Kershner moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Mann asked and there was discussion of whether this is an old system or new system
that allows inter - operability.
The following people answered questions:
• Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department
• Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Kershner, Mann and Larson (3)
Nays: None (0)
5. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A LAND
LICENSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND KIM DENEND OF
MOON VALLEY NATURAL PRODUCTS, LLC TO ACCESS PARK LAND ON SOUTH
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 6/21/2011, Page 4
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BAY DRIVE TO USE AS A STAGING /HOLDING AREA FOR BEE BOXES IN THE
AMOUNT OF $100 - AB2011 -220 (12:07:44 PM)
Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Kershner, Mann and Larson (3)
Nays: None (0)
6. RESOLUTION AMENDING CRP NO. 909006 AND APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND
LOW BIDDER, P & P EXCAVATING, LLC FOR EMERALD LAKE WAY SLIDE
REPAIR IN THE AMOUNT OF $265,699.09 - AB2011 -221 (12 :08:17 PM)
Kershner moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Kershner, Mann and Larson (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE WHATCOM COUNTY
CHARTER TO CREATE A SALARY COMMISSION - AB2011 -224
Jack Hovenier, citizen, submitted and read from a handout (on file). There is a
conflict of interest now with elected officials setting the salaries of elected officials. Other
counties have such commissions.
(12:10:19 PM)
Salaries for all elected officials except the judges would be set by this commission.
He described the Snohomish County model.
The following person answered questions:
• Dana Brown - Davis, Clerk of the Council
Brenner asked and there was discussion of:
• How the commission would be out of the influence of the Council or Executive
and how members are chosen.
• Whether elected officials' salaries can be lowered during their terms of
service.
Kershner asked and there was discussion of the next step in the process of creating
such a commission.
OTHER ITEMS
Kershner stated that at the last meeting, the Council voted not to fund the request
for approval for the County Executive to award bid #11 -34 to the low bidder,
Faber Brothers Construction, for the construction of the Olsen Trailhead parking
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 6/21/2011, Page 5
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lot in the amount of $93,498.38 (AB2011 -203). That project is in the current budget.
The Council should look through projects in the budget that staff are currently working on to
see if there are any projects the Council is not willing to fund. Stop those projects now,
before the County spends any more resources on them. Also, she will ask to reconsider the
Olsen Trailhead parking lot. She moved to reconsider the committee recommendation for
the Olsen Trailhead parking lot.
The following people spoke and answered questions:
• Dana Brown- Davis, Clerk of the Council
• Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator
The motion to reconsider failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Kershner (1)
Nays: Mann and Larson (2)
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:27 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, 6/21/2011, Page 6