HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole November 12 20081
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WHATCOM COUNTY COLINC[L
Special Committee Of The Whole
November 12, 2008
Council Chair Carl Weimer called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Barbara Brenner None
Bob Kelly
Sam Crawford
Seth Fleetwood
Laurie Caskey- Schreiber
L. Ward Nelson
1. COUNCIL WORK SESSION ON THE PROPOSED 2009 -2010 WHATCOM
COUNTY COUNCIL BUDGET (AB2008 -227E)
(Clerk's Note: Councilmember Nelson chaired the meeting.)
Nelson stated there is a packet from the administration that contains the list of items
discussed at the previous work session (on file, entitled Council Budget Considerations,
November 4, 2008). The Council will go through and vote on each item. Those approved
will be included in a final budget ordinance.
Fund Balance Decreases - Flood Fund Interest. Item 1
Weimer moved to approve this item to keep interest from the flood fund in the
flood fund.
Crawford asked about the timing of this proposal, given the financial picture of the
general fund.
Weimer this is a separate municipal corporation. The interest ought to stay in the
flood fund. The flood fund is also in dire straits. They need funding for an emergency. The
citizens probably believe the interest generated from this fund stays in this fund. The
reason for doing this now is to fund water programs.
Crawford stated the timing isn't right, given the budget situation.
Brenner stated the timing is appropriate because they are working on the budget
now. She supports the motion.
Nelson stated he will support the motion. He hopes that these funds will be made up
elsewhere.
Motion carried 6 -1 with Crawford opposed.
Fund Balance Decreases - Smart Trips, Item 2
Fleetwood moved to approve this item and described the program.
Special Committee of the Whole- 2009/2010 Budget, 11/12/2008, Page 1
1 Crawford stated he is against the motion. They will never know how successful this
2 program is, just how many people report. The program doesn't provide an incentive other
3 than the sense of community by logging their trips. It's a feel -good item that isn't
4 necessary during difficult budget times.
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6 Brenner stated she will support the item because the amount approved is much less
7 than the amount requested. She has the same concerns as Councilmember Crawford. She
8 would like to know how effective it is in the unincorporated areas.
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10 Motion carried 5 -2 with Nelson and Crawford opposed.
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12 Fund Balance Decreases - Critical Areas Enforcement Staff, Item 4
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14 Kelly withdrew this item from consideration.
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16 Fund Balance Decreases - Employee Recognition, Item 5
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18 Crawford withdrew this item from consideration.
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20 Fund Balance Decreases - Executive's Contingency Fund, Item 6
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22 Crawford withdrew this item from consideration.
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24 Fund Balance Decreases - CPAL Technical Assistance, Item 7
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26 Brenner moved to approve this item to approve funding the CPAL program. The
27 Conservation District has been asking for this for years. They keep budgeting for it, but it
28 hasn't happened. She hopes it happens this time. The administration suggested the
29 amount of $110,000, but she's not sure about that. The Council designated an amount
30 every year, but it hasn't happened.
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32 Nelson stated Planning Director Stalheim suggested alternatives to this amount. He
33 read those alternatives. He asked the reason for the cost of $110,000.
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35 David Stalheim, Planning and Development Services Department Director, stated
36 there is a contract now with the Conservation District. This amount is the same level of
37 funding. The department submitted this item for the budget, but the Executive did not
38 include it.
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40 Brenner stated they must stick with the Conservation District, which has a good
41 working relationship with the farmers. They are doing an excellent job. They can always
42 hire County staff, but a staff person may get assigned to other things. This is the job of the
43 Conservation District, and they do a good job.
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45 Weimer stated he supports the item. The Conservation District has been doing this
46 for a year, and more interest is coming in from small farms. The one missing item is a staff
47 person to direct people toward the Conservation District. This could also be funded out of
48 the flood fund. The purpose of the farm plan is to protect water quality.
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50 Nelson asked the reason the administration did not include funding for this program.
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52 Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the administration tried to follow Council
53 policy for a balanced budget. In the Planning Department, they were focused on legal
54 mandates related to the Growth Management Hearings Board requirements. They have
Special Committee of the Whole- 2009/2010 Budget, 11/12/2008, Page 2
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been funding the Planning Department with revenue from operations. In 2009 and 2010,
the County will subsidize that operation from other resources, in the amount of $2.2 million
per year. They could only afford so much. They were not aware they could use the flood
fund for this program. If the flood fund is a legal vehicle to fund the program, it would be
an alternative. They haven't checked that out.
Nelson asked if technical assistance for small farms is mandatory in the County
Code. Stalheim stated the critical areas ordinance requires ongoing agricultural practices to
conform to the ordinance. It allows farmers to get out of strict compliance with the critical
areas ordinance with an approved farm plan. This allows farmers to work with the
Conservation District to develop that farm plan. It's about proactive outreach, so the
County doesn't get into an enforcement situation. The farmer pays a small fee.
Nelson stated look into the fee for this service.
Crawford stated this is a shift toward some added costs on the part of the person. If
the Council doesn't fund this, 11r. Stalheim could come up with an additional services
request (ASR) to add an item to the Unified Fee Schedule that includes additional review by
critical areas staff of privately- conceived farm plans. The County staff can review that, but
the County must recover the cost.
Motion carried 5 -2 with Nelson and Crawford opposed.
Fund Balance Decreases - Video Tape Council Meetings, Item 8
Brenner moved to approve this item to include funding to videotape County Council
meetings. This is necessary for citizens to see what the Council is doing, without having to
go to Council meetings. They need to see exactly what is going on.
Motion carried 4 -3 with Nelson, Kelly, and Crawford opposed.
Fund Balance Decreases - Sean Humphrey House, Item 9
Brenner moved to approve this item in the amount of $12,000, not $10,000. It is
to do the same kind of ongoing funding that the County has provided in the past. It's very
important in a bad economy for people who require hospice care. The Sean Humphrey
House is the only hospice house of this kind north of King County. It's a very important
service for this County.
Crawford stated he agrees that this service is very important, but the 2060 Advisory
Committee recommended funding for this at this funding level, out of 2060 funds.
Therefore, withdraw this program from being funded from the general fund. It will be
funded with 2060 dollars.
Desler stated the Health Department is preparing a contract to come forward in
November or December to provide the Sean Humphrey House with $10,000 for services
they had requested.
Brenner stated she had asked for $12,000, which was the funding last year and the
year before.
Brenner stated she would hold her motion, but not withdraw it, until she looks into
this further.
Special Committee of the Whole- 2009/2010 Budget, 11/12/2008, Page 3
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Fund Balance Decreases - County Council Budget Analyst, Item 10
Brenner moved to transfer a position from the Administrative Services Department -
Finance Division to the County Council Office. They need someone to help with questions
councilmembers have about information that comes forward. The Council used to have that
position that was a dual position. It didn't work well as a dual position. There is a
difference between a policy analyst and a budget analyst. They need someone who is just a
numbers person.
Motion failed 3 -4 with Brenner, Kelly, and Weimer in favor.
Fund Balance Decreases - OSS Low Interest Low Program Treasurer's Office, Item 11
Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, stated the County recently submitted
an application to the State Department of Ecology for this loan program.
(Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.)
Brenner stated that if they are going to try to get people into compliance without an
incentive, they had better have OSS police to move people off their property. They can't do
it without something like this. She moved to designate one existing FTE to work on the
OSS loan program. Move an existing Health Department staff person to the Treasurer's
Office half time. This is budget neutral because they would use an existing position.
Steve Oliver, Treasurer, stated his office was asked to do some technical tasks for
the OSS loan program. He didn't think he would take on an entire OSS loan program. His
staff can be there to administer the technical aspects of making a loan. There will still be
some administration on the Health Department's side. Currently, he is losing an FTE, which
will diminish his ability to take on any kind of new workload. Wait until they actually get the
loan program funds and then develop a plan.
Delahunt stated that as soon as she hears whether or not the County will receive
funds to loan to people, she will come forward with a program.
Motion failed 1 -6 with Brenner in favor.
Fund Balance Decreases - Friendly Visitor Program, Item 12
Brenner stated this program saves medical costs for the elderly. They should
support this kind of program in hard times. She moved to approve this item.
Motion carried 5 -2 with Crawford and Nelson opposed.
Fund Balance Decreases - Superior Court Guardian Ad Litem Program, Item 13
Brenner stated continue some budget for this program until they feel comfortable
that there is an adequate volunteer program.
N.F. Jackson, Superior Court, described Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
program. It takes a long time to recruit and train volunteers. It can't happen instantly.
The program will phase in beginning in 2010. They will eventually get to 100 percent of the
children being represented by trained CASA volunteers. The future of guardians ad litem
has never been planned to terminate. There are different options for continuing the
Special Committee of the Whole- 2009/2010 Budget, 11/12/2008, Page 4
1 guardians ad litem. Continue with an hourly rate for the guardians ad litem until the CASA
2 program is fully functioning. There is no more money to fund guardians ad litem in 2008.
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4 Brenner withdrew this item From consideration. They need to find funding for
5 guardians ad litem for the rest of 2008, so kids aren't left without an advocate. She will
6 work with the administration to get something done quickly, possibly through an
7 emergency.
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9 Fund Balance Decreases - Small Business Development Center, Item 3
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11 Tom Dorr, Small Business Development Center, described the program to assist
12 second stage companies and businesses. During this economic downturn, they need to
13 keep jobs in the community. Do that by focusing on these second stage companies.
14 Economic developments aren't doing that in this community at this time.
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16 Fleetwood stated this comes from rural sales tax, which is the Economic
17 Development Investment (EDI) fund. A question is whether this needs to be in the budget,
18 or go through the EDI Board. That's not guaranteed.
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20 Desler stated they've mostly used EDI funding for public facilities so far. Once they
21 start down this path, many others will want part of the action, too. This is a nonprofit
22 organization, and not a government entity, it probably won't meet the sole source
23 requirements. The County would have to submit a request for proposals on the program.
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25 Dorr stated they can run the program through the Foundation associated with
26 Western Washington University.
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28 Fleetwood moved to approve this item.
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30 Brenner suggested a friendly amendment to include this in the County budget
31 for 2009, and send this program to the EDI Board in 2010. She's not comfortable bypassing
32 the EDI Board.
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34 (Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side 8.)
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36 Fleetwood accepted the friendly amendment.
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38 Motion carried 5 -2 with Crawford and Nelson opposed.
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40 Fund Balance Decreases - Drug Task Force Clerical Support Position, Item 14
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42 Fleetwood moved to approve this item to fund a position for the Drug Task Force
43 for clerical support. The Task Force could potentially lose $124,000.
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45 Bill Elfo, Sheriff, stated the Drug Task Force (DTF) has grown. He described the
46 duties of this clerical staff. It is a condition of a grant that they have this position at least
47 half time. The amount proposed is for a full time staff person. A half time employee would
48 satisfy the grant, but citizens won't get return phone calls when they call with tips.
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50 Brenner moved to amend to approve .5 FTE for this position.
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52 Motion to amend carried 5 -2 with Fleetwood and Kelly opposed.
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54 Motion to approve as amended carried 6 -1 with Crawford opposed.
Special Committee of the Whole- 2009/2010 Budget, 11/12/2008, Page 5
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2 Fund Balance Decreases - Whatcom Alliance for Healthcare Access, Item 15
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4 Nelson moved to approve this item to fund this program.
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6 Motion carried 6 -1 with Crawford opposed.
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8 Fund Balance Decreases - Animal Control, Item 16
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10 Caskey- Schreiber moved to approve this item in the amount of $49,094 for 2009
11 and $20,965 for 2010. If allowed to increase fees, the Humane Society would generate an
12 additional $12,000, which would reduce the amount to $37,094 in 2009 and $8,965 in
13 2010.
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15 Weimer stated approve the lower numbers, and assume they will get the fee
16 increases.
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18 Caskey- Schreiber stated this amount is what the Humane Society says it needs to do
19 the job. If they don't get this funding, they will pull out. This service has many variables.
20 They've taken in more horses and other animals than ever due to the economic crisis.
21 They've handled many animal hoarding cases this year. They have provided the best
22 service possible. The taxpayers are getting a good value for their money. The job is
23 getting done. If they want this service, they have to pay for it.
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25 Weimer stated he would like to hear from the Humane Society about the reasons for
26 their costs.
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28 Brenner stated she asked for more information on all the costs.
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30 Desler stated the fee increase depends on the District Court agreeing to it, because it
31 would be additional workload for that department. He can't guarantee the District Court will
32 do that.
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34 Nelson moved to amend to approve $49,900 in 2009 and release those funds only
35 after discussion with the animal control provider.
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37 Motion to amend carried 6 -1 with Crawford opposed.
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39 Weimer suggested a friendly amendment to approve the higher amounts now,
40 with a contingency that they aren't spent until the Council receives an explanation from the
41 Humane Society on what services they provide.and why it seems to be high per capita.
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43 Caskey- Schreiber accepted the friendly amendment.
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45 Desler stated that to fund the Humane Society at that level, the County's additional
46 cost will be $66,580 in 2009 and $77,350 in 2010 because of other additional costs that the
47 County pays directly.
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49 Caskey- Schreiber amended and restated her motion to approve this item in the
50 amount of $49,094 for 2009 and $20,965 for 2010. If allowed to increase fees, the
51 Humane Society would generate an additional $12,000, which would reduce the amount to
52 $37,094 in 2009 and $8,965 in 2010.
53
Special Committee of the Whole- 2009/2010 Budget, 11/12/2008, Page 6
1 Nelson moved to amend to approve the higher number increase for only 2009,
2 and leave the original budgeted amount for 2010, with a contingency that the additional
3 funds aren't spent until the Council receives an explanation from the Humane Society on its
4 budget and operations.
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6 Caskey- Schreiber accepted the motion to amend as a friendly amendment.
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8 Motion carried 6 -1 with Crawford opposed.
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10 Fund Balance Decreases - Food Bank, Item 20
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12 Brenner moved to approve this item to fund this program.
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14 Motion carried 5 -2 with Crawford and Nelson opposed.
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16 Nelson stated they can continue going through these items on Tuesday, November
17 18 at 9 a.m.
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19 Betty Scott, resident, stated she represents hundreds of families regarding the
20 mental health issue. Due to grants from the County Health Department, they offer free
21 classes to more than 500 families in Whatcom County who are dealing with the mental
22 health system and its gaps in services. The guardian ad litem services have run out of
23 money because the children's needs and family's needs aren't being heard.
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25 (Clerk's Note: End of tape two, side A.)
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27 Scott continued to state there are more suicides in Whatcom County. Those
28 fatalities affect the children in those families. Those children have little, if any, available
29 resources. The Council should increase the budget for early intervention for children and
30 other gaps in services. There were signatures from many people who wanted the one -tenth
31 of one percent sales tax to be used to fill gaps in behavioral healthcare services, to serve
32 families, and for early intervention. Use those funds to increase services. Don't use it to
33 pay for existing staff and programs because there is a budget shortage.
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36 OTHER BUSINESS
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38 There was no other business.
39
40 ADJOURN
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42 The- eetin adjourned at 3:02 p.m.
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45 Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
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478 �`�t o�p�if4yed these minutes on July 7 , 2009.
4
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49 AFl� WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
50 � O COUNTY WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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54 Da� Brdv'wuio,�(ibuncClerk L. Ward Nelson, Acti g Council Chair
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Special Committee of the Whole- 2009/2010 Budget, 11/12/2008, Page 7
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