HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works January 26 20101
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Safety Committee
January 26, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:36 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Ken Mann and Carl Weimer
Absent: None
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE CHAIR (AB2010 -021)
Mann nominated Barbara Brenner.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner and Mann (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Weimer (out of the room) (1)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS (AB2010 -079)
Brenner stated she's received lots of calls from people in the east county who aren't
receiving good or any high -speed internet service. It's a utility. Also, Comcast used to
provide the County free space on Channel 26. The City keeps raising its price to broadcast
County content. Comcast keeps withdrawing its amenities. She would like to know if the
County can renegotiate its franchise with Comcast.
Rebecca Craven, Council Policy Analyst, stated the Comcast franchise agreement
expires in March or April 2011. They should begin negotiating now.
Discussion included whether the County has franchise agreements with cell phone
companies; franchises that have changed hands, and; sending a letter to the administration
to request that someone from the Public Works Department give a presentation on
franchises.
OTHER BUSINESS
Weimer stated this committee may want to address criminal justice this year. Start
having discussions with the criminal justice departments to explain what they do.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 1/26/2010, Page 1
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Brenner moved to conceptually have discussions and presentations from the
criminal justice departments in 2010.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
Brenner stated she would like the administration's new advisory committee on
Superior Court funding to give a presentation. Another subject to discuss this year is jail
planning. She moved to have an update on jail planning.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
Brenner stated she wants to see a good breakdown of public works expenditures by
department, including equipment, and start talking about other ideas. She's tired of
auctioning off equipment that's still useable. Contract out some of the services that have to
do with big, heavy equipment instead of replacing equipment. She would like to look at
how a bid is written before it's let out.
The committee concurred.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 1:50 p.m.
j
3 Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
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3 official, signed copy:
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3 360- 676 -6690 or council4o.w hatcom .wa.us
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40 Dana Brown- Davis, Council Clerk
Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works and Safety Committee, 1/26/2010, Page 2