HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole April 26 20111
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee Of The Whole
April 26, 2011
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. in the Council
Conference Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL (1:03:01 PM)
Present: Barbara Brenner, Ken Mann, Sam Crawford, Bill Knutzen, Carl Weimer
and Tony Larson.
Absent: Kathy Kershner.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF EMS PLANNING AND THE "CRITICAL
ELEMENTS LIST" - AB2011 -107
Crawford referenced and read the Bellingham recommendations from Dave Ralston
(on file).
Mann stated the Committee of the Whole previously approved the critical elements
as they were presented. He asked if the Bellingham City Council is making a different
proposal as an alternative to those critical elements.
Dave Ralston, South Whatcom Fire District Chief, stated that's correct. The City
chose to make recommendations based on what they presented. The Council received
those recommendations, and he is looking for direction today from the County Council to
move forward in a planning process.
The following people answered questions:
• Barry Buchanan, Bellingham City Council Member
Crawford asked and there was discussion of:
• The responder community's thoughts about the City's proposal.
• Timelines and benchmarks.
• A contingency plan if the City is not going to be a part of the countywide plan.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of:
• The City's participation with the EMS Planning Committee.
• The City's rejection of the original recommended critical elements and
alternate recommendation to form a new subcommittee instead.
• Creating an open training program.
Mann asked and there was discussion of why the City thinks a Council subcommittee
is necessary.
Special Committee of the Whole, 4/26/2011, Page 1
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Crawford stated he likes the City proposal, and would support it as long as there are
time frames for the subcommittee. Mr. Ralston has put forward a reasonable time frame.
Brenner stated she is concerned about the suggestion of a facilitator. The committee
members should facilitate themselves. Also, she wants the fire district representatives to
remain involved, the way they are involved now. She likes the idea of having a Council
subcommittee.
There was discussion of who would comprise the planning committee.
(1:30:37 PM)
Crawford stated he would like the County Council Committee of the Whole to give
general agreement today that the City can develop whatever it wants in terms of its
representation on this committee, while respecting the input from the Chiefs.
Knutzen stated they already have an EMS Planning Committee that works well. He
prefers the recommendation from the EMS Planning Committee over forming yet another
committee.
Weimer asked and there was discussion of whether there are two parallel planning
groups to deal with the two options for future service, one with the City and one without the
City.
Mann asked and there was discussion of the reason for the City's recommendation to
form a new committee.
Crawford stated he doesn't have a problem expanding involvement. Forming a
Council subcommittee will expedite the process. This recommendation isn't a departure,
but an expansion of what they're already doing. They are refining who will do what work.
Be straightforward about the City's reluctance. Discussion of their reluctance should be
open and honest. His goal is to ensure the transition of the governance of this system in
2012 will be seamless.
Brenner stated there are things, such as labor practice issues, that only the City of
Bellingham can answer.
Larson stated he's not concerned about how the group is structured. Anyone who is
appointed needs to participate in good faith. No one wants the system to break, but that's
the outcome if they fail to reach an agreement. He's ready to move on to the details.
They'll need to find out what the potential conflicts will be sooner rather than later.
Knutzen stated the County must get this system in place by the deadline. A closed
enrollment program will cripple the County's ability to train and hire staff. The longer this
process takes, the less time the staff will have to get going. Be prepared in case this
process doesn't work.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of the number of advanced life support
(ALS) units if the City were not involved.
Crawford moved to form the committee as proposed by the Bellingham City
Council, subject to timelines proposed in Chief Ralston's email dated April 25, 2011. The
County Executive should propose the two citizens on behalf of the County. The Mayor
Special Committee of the Whole, 4/26/2011, Page 2
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should appoint two citizens on behalf of the City, the County representation changes to
eight, based on the previous group. The City's number of appointees would remain flexible
depending on the City's wishes.
Brenner suggested a friendly amendment to eliminate the two citizen County
appointees.
Crawford accepted the friendly amendment.
Mann suggested a friendly amendment to eliminate the facilitator.
Crawford accepted the friendly amendment to have no facilitator at this time.
The Committee continued to discuss the motion creating a new committee.
He restated the motion to:
• Form the committee as proposed by the Bellingham City Council
• Subject the committees to timelines and benchmarks proposed in Chief
Ralston's email dated April 25, 2011
• Eliminate a facilitator position from the committee
• Eliminate the two County citizen appointees from the committee
• Recommend that the Bellingham Mayor appoint two citizens on behalf of the
City
• Change the County representation to eight, based on the current group
• Keep the City's number of appointees flexible depending on the City's wishes
• Appoint two members from the medical community as proposed
The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann and Crawford (3)
Nays: Knutzen, Weimer and Larson (3)
Absent: Kershner (1)
Brenner moved to form a Councilmember subcommittee as the City recommends
and an EMS Planning Group that includes:
• The existing eight representatives (two from each fire region) as County
members
• Six representatives chosen by the City of Bellingham
• Timeframes as they're stated in Dave Ralston's email dated April 25, 2011
The motion does not include the two medical community appointees, who the City
can appoint as part of their representatives.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann, Crawford, Weimer and Larson (5)
Nays: Knutzen (1)
Absent: Kershner (1)
Crawford volunteered to represent the County Council on the Council Sub -
Committee.
Mann nominated Councilmember Kershner.
Brenner volunteered to represent the County Council on the Council Sub - Committee.
Special Committee of the Whole, 4/26/2011, Page 3
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Crawford moved to appoint Councilmembers Brenner, Crawford, and Kershner to
the Council Sub - Committee
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann, Crawford, Knutzen, Weimer and Larson (6)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Kershner (1)
2. REVIEW OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS (IF ANY) ON
PROPOSED WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS
RELATED TO RURAL LAND USE PLANNING - AB2010 -072C
(Planning Commission proposed changes are limited to Comprehensive Plan text and
maps contained in the draft ordinance introduced by the County Council on April 12, 2011,
that differ from those in the October 8, 2009 Planning Commission recommendations. The
Council may vote to include any recommendations in a new draft ordinance.)
Gary Davis, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report on
the Planning Commission's recommendations from its meetings on April 25, 2011.
Crawford moved to forward the ordinance as introduced two weeks ago, without
these substantive changes, but with the scrivener's error corrections. His motion does not
include Planning Commission recommended changes to policies 2DD -9, 2FF -4, 2GG -5 , 7K-
3, or the Laurel map change.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of why policy 2DD -9 was removed.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of the zoning of the property on the Laurel
map owned by the Meridian School District.
The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford (1)
Nays: Brenner, Mann, Knutzen, Weimer and Larson (5)
Absent: Kershner (1)
Brenner moved to accept all the Planning Commission amendments except the
Laurel map.
Crawford stated include the Meridian School District property in the limited area of
more intense rural development (LAMIRD) when the zoning changes.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann, Crawford, Knutzen, Weimer and Larson (6)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Kershner (1)
OTHER ITEMS
There were no other items.
Special Committee of the Whole, 4/26/2011, Page 4
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:29 p.m.
The Council approved these minutes on June 7 , 2011.
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
Special Committee of the Whole, 4/26/2011, Page 5