HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 9 20101
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
November 9, 2010
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
Present: Carl Weimer, Kathy Kershner and Ken Mann.
Absent: None.
Also Present: L. Ward Nelson, Sam Crawford, Bill Knutzen and Barbara Brenner.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. PRESENTATION BY THE NORTHWEST AGRICULTURE BUSINESS CENTER
REGARDING RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (AB2010 -382)
David Bauermeister, Northwest Agriculture Business Center Executive director,
described the purpose, structure, and funding of the Business Center. (11:03:15 AM)
Jeff Voltz, Northwest Agricultural Business Center Project Manager, submitted and
read from a presentation (on file).
Discussion included frequency of the agriculture census; funding to the Business
Center; grass -fed cattle; local cattle operations; setting standards to define a cattle raising
brand; supplementing local cattle operations with alfalfa from the Columbia Basin; barriers
to owning livestock operations; the conflict among government agencies that have
jurisdiction over land and livestock operations; sustaining processing and distribution
systems and facilities, and; the Business Center total service area.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. RESOLUTION TO SET HEARING AND NOTICE OF HEARING OF THE SALE OF
COUNTY TAX TITLE PROPERTY BY NEGOTIATION TO WHATCOM COUNTY
FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT — REQUEST #TR2010 -01 (AB2010 -388)
John Thompson, Public Works Department, submitted a map (on file) and gave a
staff report and described the properties.
Weimer moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Discussion included purchasing recurrently - flooded and high hazard properties.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Kershner, Mann and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/9/2010, Page 1
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2. RESOLUTION TO SET HEARING AND NOTICE OF HEARING OF THE SALE OF
COUNTY TAX TITLE PROPERTY BY NEGOTIATION TO WHATCOM COUNTY
FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT — REQUEST #TR2010 -02 (AB2010 -389)
Weimer moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Kershner, Mann and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, submitted handouts (on file) regarding
technical corrections to the proposed 2011 -2012 Whatcom County Budget
(AB2010 -376A) He read through the corrections.
Discussion included the money spent on the new Treasurer and Assessor system; the
Mt. Baker Scenic Byway Welcome Center; how the Sustainable Connections Discover
Whatcom Fresh Food & Farms projects is funded from tourism dollars, and if it's the same
map as that published by Farm Friends; whether the farms listed on the map pay to be on
the map; why the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee did not approve certain requests, given
the $1.2 million fund balance; appropriate uses of the lodging tax; farms that aren't listed
on the Sustainable Connections local farm map, and; the procedure for approving technical
corrections.
(12 :02 :46 PM)
Desler stated the administration heard concerns related to the proposed levy shift.
After review, the administration wants to adjusts the flood fund balance from $4 million to
$3 million each year, and increase the general fund by $1 million each year. There will be
no tax change. Adjust the real estate excise tax (REET) 2 to use them for the flood and
stormwater efforts. There are at least two substitute ordinances affecting the road fund
levy and flood fund levy. To do this properly, have an interlocal agreement between the
County and Flood Control Zone District.
(12 :05 :49 PM)
Desler stated that they need to review tonight's public hearing item seven (AB2010-
355A) to make sure all the programs funded by REET 2 are contained in this six -year capital
improvement program. REET 2 requires that projects be listed in the six -year capital
improvement program. After the public hearing, hold this item to November 23 or
December 7, or adopt it and then amend it later.
These levy shift changes will still result in the same fund balances contained at the
end of 2012 in the existing proposed budget.
Discussion included appropriation of REET 2 funds and the purposes of the flood
program.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/9/2010, Page 2
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:17 p.m.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council &o.w hatcom .wa.us
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Ken Mann, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/9/2010, Page 3