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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee Of The Whole
November 2, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL (9:31:33 AM)
Present: Barbara Brenner, Sam Crawford, Kathy Kershner, Bill Knutzen, Ken
Mann, L. Ward Nelson and Carl Weimer
Absent: None
1. DISCUSSION OF FERRY FARES AND PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING
WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 10.34, FERRY RATES, AND THE CORRESPONDING
2011 WHATCOM COUNTY UNIFIED FEE SCHEDULE (AB2010 -354A)
Frank Abart, Public Works Department, stated he sent answers to questions that
councilmembers had. Those answers are on the Public Works Department website. One
question was how to operate without raising rates. It's possible they could operate eight
hours per day, with a four hour block in the morning and a four hour block in the afternoon.
Discussion included the difficult administration of needs -based fares; whether this
fare schedule is permanent or interim until bigger issues are resolved, such as the
negotiations with the Lummi Nation regarding Gooseberry Point; approving only a $2
across - the -board increase if this will be an interim fare schedule; parking fees; a decrease
in personal vehicle use when fares are raised; reducing operating hours; creating a peak
time surcharge, and; whether it's an option to add concessions to the ferry to raise money.
Crawford moved to amend to eliminate fare items 6 and 15.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Knutzen, Kershner and Nelson (4)
Nays: Weimer (1)
Absent: Mann and Brenner (both out of the room) (2)
Kershner moved to amend to increase line 1 from $5 to $6, line 9 from $5 to $6
dollars, and decrease line 14 from $287 to $237.
Mann suggested a friendly amendment to reduce line item 2 to $90.
Kershner did not accept the friendly amendment.
Fred Kinney, 4164 Legoe Bay Road, Lummi Island, stated a $2 surcharge could be a
three -month or six -month interim to stop any increase in the deficit. There is an issue
about the motor vehicle fuel tax attributed to the ferry not being put into the fund. That
would reduce the deficit.
Special Committee of the Whole - Ferry Fares, 11/2/2010, Page 1
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Abart stated there is a ferry deficit fund. That money is designated specifically for
that. It's separate, and used per the ordinance. Mr. Kinney is referring to something
different, which has had legal review. He and Mr. Kinney respectfully disagree on this issue.
Kinney stated the State identifies that money be attributable to the ferry for the
deficit reimbursement fund.
Mark Sexton, 1235 Jameson Street, Lummi Island, stated the ferry is operated
differently from a business. Look at how to maximize revenues, and match the service to
those revenues. The system now works backwards and tries to match revenues that may
not be available. He is concerned about income loss. A surcharge would be helpful.
Stuart Rich, 3811 Constitution Road, Lummi Island, stated adopt a sunset clause for
this interim rate increase. Review the entire issue. Consider creating an advisory
committee made up of Lummi Island community members.
Jim Dickinson, Lummi Island, stated these fare rates will not produce the revenue
they expect. People will leave the island. They don't have the money to pay the increased
revenues. He agrees with Mr. Sexton. The system needs to be ripped apart, evaluated,
and put back together. They have a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Lummi
Island has the highest rate per minute and per mile in the State of Washington. Look at
different ways of operation or an inter - county service. Don't adopt any changes for a
month. The islanders are beginning to organize a ferry advisory board.
The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Kershner and Nelson (3)
Nays: Crawford, Knutzen and Weimer (3)
Absent: Brenner (out of the room) (1)
Kershner moved to replace this fare structure with option 6, which is the $2
surcharge and ten percent discount, without the needs -based fares.
Knutzen suggested a friendly amendment to replace this fare structure with
option 6, including the needs -based fares.
Kershner stated she would accept that only if her original motion does not pass.
She does not accept the friendly amendment at this time.
Brenner suggested a friendly amendment to remove the dock portion of the
costs and put it back on the road fund.
Kershner did not accept the friendly amendment.
Brenner moved to amend the motion to remove the dock portion of the costs and
put them back into the road fund.
The motion to amend the motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner and Weimer (2)
Nays: Mann, Crawford, Knutzen, Kershner and Nelson (5)
The motion to amend failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Kershner and Nelson (3)
Special Committee of the Whole - Ferry Fares, 11/2/2010, Page 2
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Nays: Brenner, Mann, Knutzen and Weimer (4)
Kershner moved to approve option 6 as is.
Brenner moved to amend the motion to remove the dock portion of the costs and
put them back into the road fund.
The motion to amend the motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner and Weimer (2)
Nays: Mann, Crawford, Knutzen, Kershner and Nelson (5)
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford, Knutzen, Kershner and Nelson (5)
Nays: Brenner and Weimer (2)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:33 a.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
Sam Crawford, Council Chair
Special Committee of the Whole - Ferry Fares, 11/2/2010, Page 3