HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance October 27 20091
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
October 27, 2009
Committee Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Sam Crawford, L. Ward Nelson, and Bob Kelly.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Barbara Brenner, Carl Weimer, Seth Fleetwood, and Laurie Caskey-
Schreiber.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. PRESENTATION REGARDING THE 2010 CENSUS (AB2009 -395)
Laverne Lamoureux, Census Burearu, submitted information (on file). The Census is
using the short form this year, with only ten questions. They are getting the word out to
the public about the Census.
Discussion included counting everyone or just United States citizens; the accuracy of
the Census; seasonal residents, and; hiring local census takers.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE 2010 SOLID WASTE BUDGET
(AB2009 -408)
Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department, gave a staff report. The projected ending
fund balance for 2009 is a little over one million dollars. That remains stable through 2012,
which was the goal. He read through Council packet pages 14 through 16.
Discussion included anticipated revenue for the 2009 and 2010 budget due to
reduced construction activity; using students as unpaid interns to replace the Conservation
Resource Analyst position; stimulus money related to the Opportunity Council's
weatherization program; how tipping fees are taxed by the cities and distributed; the effects
of recycling; renegotiating the contract for a forklift; the Disposal of Toxics facility program;
the master composter program versus other programs; what types of education and
outreach would continue to be funded, and; taxing the transfer stations.
Hutchings stated he's asking the committee to approve the Executive Committee's
recommendation, with the understanding they will have more conversations with the City
Council about clean green.
Nelson moved this recommendation to the Public Works Department.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3)
Nays: None (0)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/27/2009, Page 1
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COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE MID - BIENNIUM 2009 -2010 BUDGET REVIEW
(AB2009 -366A)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, submitted a handout (on file) and stated
discussion will occur after introduction of the material submitted earlier.
Crawford stated there are two issues. The first is whether the administration is
pushing one option for 2010 budget stabilization more than the other. The second issue is
closing the gap in Superior Court funding.
The following people spoke:
• Katie Esp, Whatcom County Bar Association Chair, stated the court activities
are mandated. She described the court activities.
• Mary Dickinson, Attorney, stated they are constitutionally required to
adequately fund the Superior Court. She thanked the County administration
for working cooperatively to resolve issues.
• N.F. Jackson, Superior Court Clerk, answered questions.
Discussion included Superior Court's tendency to overspend their budget each year;
reducing expenditures and finding additional revenue for Superior Court; complying with the
requirement for a speedy trial; electronically filing legal paperwork; making a decision on
the options in Attachment B of the handout in two weeks; using the real estate excise tax
(REET) funds; how much a general fund tax increase would be; the potential loss of Rural
Arterial Program (RAP) funds; other ways they can shift funds around that wouldn't affect
rural and urban residents differently; clarification of the items in attachment A; the levy
rate; hiring freezes, layoffs, and attrition; proposing budget cuts in the context of the
Executive's recommendation in the handout; $4.5 million less in the general fund than
anticipated a year ago, and; including an option that uses reserve funds and lowers the
reserve percentage.
Nelson moved to request that the administration formulate an additional option
similar to Option B, only using the conservation futures fund.
Crawford asked if they should look at a tax increase as a fifth option, even though he
won't vote for it. It may not be worth bringing up, because they don't even want to go
there.
Caskey- Schreiber stated she is opposed to the motion because she doesn't want to
hack away at the farmland conservation funds, which is against their unanimous resolution
to establish an agricultural base of 100,000 acres.
Brenner stated they can still retain 100,000 acres if they include the small acreage
that's being farmed.
Desler stated the County collects and spends about $1 million from the conservation
futures fund. The fund balance is about $3.3 million. The direct transfer won't work
because it's only about $1 million. They will need more.
Crawford stated the motion is simply to add this as an option on Attachment B.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/27/2009, Page 2
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The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2009 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, ELEVENTH
REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $287,325 (AB2009 -394)
Crawford moved to recommend approval.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY ECONOMIC
REVITALIZATION BOARD ON BEHALF OF THE NORTHWEST ECONOMIC
COUNCIL (AB2009 -399)
Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Nancy Jordan, Northwest Economic Council, stated they are moving forward on the
initiative.
Discussion included going after state grant funding.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3)
Nays: None (0)
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
1. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO
AMENDMENT #6 BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE WASHINGTON
STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY FOR PHASE IV WORK OF THE WRIA 1
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, IN THE AMENDED AMOUNT OF
$74,999 (AB2009 -400)
Kelly moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Brenner asked for a presentation on the status and results of the water resource
inventory area (WRIA).
Nelson asked how many phases there are.
The following person answered questions:
• Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department
Discussion included the total number of phases in the project and flexible
implementation as new studies become available.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/27/2009, Page 3
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The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND LAND DEVELOPMENT
ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING, INC. FOR DESIGN ASSISTANCE OF
STORMWATER PROJECTS IN THE SILVER BEACH CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN,
IN THE AMOUNT OF $122,430 (AB2009 -401)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3)
Nays: None (0)
3. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND
LINSLEY, KRAEGER ASSOCIATES, LTD FOR CALIBRATION OF THE LOWER
NOOKSACK RIVER HYDRAULIC MODEL TO THE JANUARY 2009 FLOOD EVENT
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COUNTY STAFF AS NEEDED, IN THE
AMOUNT $25,000 (AB2009 -402)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the Flood Control Zone District Board
of Supervisors.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3)
Nays: None (0)
4. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND WILSON ENGINEERING, LLC
FOR EVALUATION, INSPECTION AND PRE - DESIGN REPORT FOR THE SILVER
BEACH CREEK WATERSHED STORMWATER FACILITY RETROFITS, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $49,767 (AB2009 -403)
Kelly moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The following person answered questions:
• Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department
Discussion included facility estimates.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3)
Nays: None (0)
5. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE ANNUAL PURCHASE OF 2009, 2010 SUPPLY
OF SNOW AND ICE CONTROL PRODUCTS USING WASHINGTON STATE
CONTRACT, IN AN AMOUNT THAT COULD EXCEED $35,000 (AB2009 -404)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/27/2009, Page 4
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Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3)
Nays: None (0)
6. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID 09 -47 TO
LOW BIDDER, ANDGAR CORPORATION, FOR THE INSTALLATION OF
ADDITIONAL COOLING EQUIPMENT IN THE COURTHOUSE COMPUTER ROOM.
IN THE AMOUNT OF $82,677 (AB2009 -405)
Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3)
Nays: None (0)
7. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY TO PROVIDE THE
COUNTY WITH $50,000 TOWARD PHASE II STORMWATER PROGRAMS
(THIS PASS - THROUGH GRANT DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY MATCH FROM
THE COUNTY) (AB2009 -418)
Kelly moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Chip Anderson, Public Works Department, gave a staff report.
Discussion included whether this goes to the Council or Flood Control Zone District
Board of Supervisors.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council@-.o.whatcorn.wa.us
53 Dana Brown- Davis, Council Clerk
Sam Crawford, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/27/2009, Page 5