HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works October 13 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
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Safety Committee
October 13, 2009
Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:32 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Barbara Brenner, L. Ward Nelson and Laurie Caskey- Schreiber.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Carl Weimer.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE WHATCOM COUNTY 2010 ANNUAL
CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM (AB2009 -393)
Brenner stated she won't support this resolution at this time. There are partnerships
that need to be worked out, first.
Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, stated this is the first year of the recently -
passed six -year program. The Haxton Way pedestrian project will be out to bid quickly, and
will go to construction in a few months. It is a heavily -grant funded project. The Haxton
Way project from Kwina Road to Slater Road has a $500,000 rural arterial preservation
(RAP) grant. That project has gone down in priority because they got grant money for the
offsite work. No work will be done on the Haxton Way project in 2010.
Brenner stated she will show good faith and support a public hearing for the plan in
hopes they can work something out with the partnership.
Weimer stated it requires a unanimous vote to amend the annual road program. He
asked why they would approve this before they have budget discussions. Rutan stated the
six -year transportation plan is a budgetary plan, and included all the projections. This
annual plan includes the design details of each project.
Weimer stated the Council was thinking about the budget when it approved the six -
year program. The administration talked about changing budget authority from the road
fund into the general fund. The Council hasn't had that discussion yet. Rutan stated the
six -year plan accounted for the levy shift. Once the annual program is passed, the
administration will bring forward a budget amendment, during which they can have another
discussion about the budget.
Nelson stated they can get around the requirement for a unanimous vote by not
approving the funding amount in the budget amendment. This is only a plan. They aren't
approving a budget and the funding right now.
Frank Abart, Public Works Department, stated approving the annual plan gives them
authorization to spend money. The budget approval actually approves the money. It's a
difference between what is authorized and what is budgeted. The six -year plan included all
the budget revenues and expenditures, and included the levy shift for two years.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 10/13/2009, 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
51
52
53
Weimer stated they haven't adopted the levy shift yet. It shifts the tax burden from
rural residents to city residents. The road tax is only taxed on people who live outside the
city limits. If they shift it to the general fund, it's spread out amongst everyone.
Caskey- Schreiber stated they shifted funds around before, and it didn't work. She is
totally against that.
Brenner asked what they are approving through this. Rutan stated they are
approving the project, but not the associated budget.
Weimer stated they've authorized the project, just not appropriated any money for
the project.
Caskey- Schreiber moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Nelson and Caskey- Schreiber (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE ASSESSMENT ROLL OF PROPERTY WITHIN
THE BOUNDARIES OF WHATCOM COUNTY ROAD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
NO. 2 (MARINELAND LIGHTING DISTRICT) AND SETTING THE DATE FOR
PUBLIC HEARING (AB2009 -360A)
Caskey - Schreiber moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Nelson and Caskey- Schreiber (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
Nelson stated he would like to schedule an update on the South Fork Regional
Park Plan (AB2009 -343) in two weeks.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 1:48 p.m.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council4o.w hatcom .wa.us
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works and Safety Committee, 10/13/2009, Page 2