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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance September 15 20091 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Finance and Administrative Services Committee September 15, 2009 Committee Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 11:06 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 and Carl Weimer. SPECIAL PRESENTATION 1. PRESENTATION BY WHATCOM COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM DIRECTOR JOAN AIROLDI REGARDING AN UPCOMING BALLOT ISSUE (AB2009 -364) Joan Airoldi, Whatcom County Library System, submitted handouts (on file). She described Proposition One to raise the levy on the November ballot. She is preparing two preliminary budgets, depending on whether or not the levy passes. Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, explained the process for setting the levy. Discussion included how the Library Board decided on an amount to raise the levy, and; whether the library can charge computer users at the libraries for computer access. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 1. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES EQUITY FUND (AB2009 -268) Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, submitted and read a handout (on file) on the Administrative Services Department Description and Cost Recovery. Discussion included whether there is State mandate or law governing the rates applied to each department; a separate health insurance to cover large, catastrophic health events; money set aside for Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter (LEOFF) I former employees, and; the difference between fund balance and cash balance. The following person spoke: Karen Goens, Administrative Services Department, answered questions. 2. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE WHAT -COMM INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION (AB2009 -345) Crawford asked if the majority of the Council would like to review the interlocal agreement. There are concerns about the lack of policy in certain fund areas. Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, described the history and background of the What -Comm agreements and What -Comm Board; What -Comm financial reserves, and; City authority to adjust the What -Comm budget at any point. Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 9/15/2009, Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 Discussion included the impact of county growth programs on the percentage of calls generated from the county and the city; considering in the future how the system is structured and can be restructured; paying the $36,000 increase; whether the Board has established by -laws for its operation; whether the administration can look at this interlocal agreement and make suggestions for adding clarity about these issues, and; revisiting the policy of the County funding the portion for the fire districts. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL 1. APPLICATION FOR THE 2009/2010 JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT APPLICATION TO PARTIALLY FUND A DRUG COURT COORDINATOR POSITION (AB2009 -340) Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council. Discussion included whether this position is new or existing. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3) Nays: None (0) 2. APPLICATION FOR THE BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $92,844 (AB2009 -341) Kelly 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 TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH BRICKLIN AND NEWMAN, LLP, FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION (AB2009 -365) Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated this is a time extension only. Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council to get the motion on the table, but is opposed because of conflicts of interest that the contractor has admitted. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Nelson and Kelly (2) Nays: Crawford (1) 4. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT WITH DENNIS CONNER FOR THE HOUSE AT 5305 NIELSEN AVENUE IN HOVANDER HOMESTEAD PARK, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1000 PER MONTH (AB2009 -348) Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council. Discussion included why this person has to start paying rent now. Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 9/15/2009, Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 Lynne Givler, Parks and Recreation Department, gave a staff report and stated the Parks Department no longer requires residency for the position, and the staff person decided to stay and pay rent. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3) Nays: None (0) 5. RESOLUTION TO ELECT EXPENDITURES OF NATIONAL FOREST RELATED SAFETY -NET PAYMENTS UNDER PL 110 -343 (AB2009 -349) Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, gave a staff report and described how these funds can be used. Discussion included non - government projects that could benefit from these funds. 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) 6. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR CREOSOTE LOG REMOVAL AT CHERRY POINT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,466 (AB2009 -350) Kelly 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. RESOLUTION REQUESTING INFORMATION FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR THE MID - BIENNIUM 2009 -2010 BUDGET REVIEW (AB2009 -366) Kelly moved to recommend approval to the full Council. Discussion included whether or not the councilmembers want to go forward with the resolution since the administration has provided the information requested; the forecast regarding real estate excise tax (REET) funds; funding that will expire when Whatcom County reaches a population or density threshold that disqualifies the County as a rural county; The motion failed by the following vote: Ayes: Kelly (1) Nays: Crawford and Nelson (2) Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 9/15/2009, Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS 1. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE ALLOCATION OF 2060 CAPITAL FUNDS TO BELLINGHAM WHATCOM COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITIES FOR 91 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH BWCHA FOR EXPENDITURE OF THE FUNDS (AB2009 -351) 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) 2. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND NORTHWEST RESOURCE ASSOCIATES TO CONDUCT AN OUTCOME EVALUATION OF THE WHATCOM COUNTY OFFENDER RE -ENTRY HOUSING PROGRAM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,800 (AB2009 -352) Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council. Discussion included the scope of this contract. The following person spoke: • Gayle DeHoeg, Health Department, answered questions. 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 CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOREST SERVICE, FOR PATROL OF THE MT. BAKER - SNOQUALMIE NATIONAL FOREST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $80,625 (AB2009- 353) 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) 4. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING USE OF THE VETERAN'S RELIEF FUND TO PAY FOR PART OF A NEW VAN TO BE USED TO TRANSPORT DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS TO THE SEATTLE VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CLINIC, IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000 (AB2009 -354) 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) Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 9/15/2009, Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 5. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID #09 -49 AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND LOW BIDDER, NOLAN'S ROOFING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COURTHOUSE ROOF, IN THE AMOUNT OF $119,838.25 (AB2009 -355) Kelly moved to recommend approval to the full Council. Discussion included the spread of the bids received. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Crawford, Nelson and Kelly (3) Nays: None (0) 6. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID #09 -59 AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND LOW BIDDER, HB HANSEN CONSTRUCTION FOR REPAVING OF THE PARKING LOT AT LIGHTHOUSE MARINE PARK IN THE AMOUNT OF $54,412.38 (AB2009- 356) Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council. Discussion included whether this parking lot needs to be repaved; potential liability if someone were hurt on this County property. The following person spoke: Lynne Givler, Parks and Recreation Department, answered questions. 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 12:28 p.m. Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription Please contact the Council Office to obtain an official, signed copy: 360- 676 -6690 or council@�omhatcomma.us Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 9/15/2009, Page 5