HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole September 23 20081 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Special Committee Of The Whole
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4 September 23, 2008
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7 Council Chair Carl Weimer called the meeting to order at 11:12 a.m. in the Council
8 Conference Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
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10 Present: Absent:
11 Barbara Brenner L. Ward Nelson
12 Bob Kelly Sam Crawford
13 Seth Fleetwood
14 Laurie Caskey- Schreiber
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17 SPECIAL PRESENTATION
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19 1. COUNTYWIDE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY TASKFORCE PRESENTATION
20 (AB2008 -098A)
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22 John Harmon, Housing Authority and County Housing Affordability Taskforce (CHAT)
23 member, submitted and read from a presentation (on file). Eight percent of the median
24 income is around $50,000 for a family of four, $45,000 for a family of three, and $35,000
25 for a single person household. Most people the Housing Authority assist have much less
26 than that.
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28 The Housing Authority and others are doing something about housing, but the efforts
29 are inadequate to the need. It's not as simple as giving more money to the housing
30 authority, whose resources are limited. They must harness more resources from the public
31 and private sector.
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33 CHAT consensus was decided by a majority vote. It usually costs more to produce
34 housing in an urban setting. Costs are less in outlying areas. Therefore, people tend to
35 build in outlying areas. However, they must consider indirect costs of that, such as
36 additional transportation costs. They must balance these considerations.
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38 They need local funding for affordable housing. Typical funding sources are not
39 enough. They need to keep the debt low enough for low- income households. They
40 recommend a local source of funding to match other typical funds. The local funds can be
41 leveraged at a ration of 10 -1 or 20 -1. It's becoming more and more expensive to develop
42 housing.
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44 Caskey- Schreiber asked if King County has a tax levy. Harmon stated there isn't a
45 countywide levy.
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47 Weimer asked how to move this forward into the next two -year budget. He asked if
48 they will adopt this plan at some point. Harmon stated it's a long -term plan. The CHAT
49 group may continue to come up with immediate, near -term policy recommendations. The
50 scope is vast. One thing is to ask the County and City to support continued CHAT meetings
51 with staff. People may support a levy at a lower funding level, according to a focus study.
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Special Committee of the Whole, 9/23/2008, Page 1
1 Fleetwood stated the CHAT will meet to refine the list of items and options to present
2 to the councils for the first round of implementation. He will ask County staff about what
3 the CHAT can expect in terms of staff resources needed to implement some of these things,
4 and whether the Council can consider budget items to support those things. He hopes to
5 put together a list of first -round implementation items for consideration later this year or in
6 2009.
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8 Brenner stated this report is countywide, and involves the cities, too. The County
9 should do some of the specific things the County can do, such as with accessory dwelling
10 units. For instance, they can reduce housing size requirements. Allow people to be more
11 creative as long as they obey electrical, plumbing, and other types of rules. Someone may
12 be able to have a complete home of 400 square feet that would be adequate for two or
13 more people. Pass some of those specific provisions immediately, and people will see the
14 County's effort.
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16 Fleetwood stated there is an effort to get this moving soon.
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18 Weimer asked how many people on the committee voted in favor of the report.
19 Harmon stated they voted on each item individually. They came to consensus on the six
20 major items he mentioned. There are many other subcategories in the report. It's very
21 detailed for each area. Some of the items needed could be no -cost items. There are model
22 ordinances from other areas where they could start.
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24 Brenner asked if things were approved by majority or consensus. Harmon stated
25 most things were approved by a majority. They tried for consensus, but if there was
26 disagreement, the group voted. Everything presented today was approved by consensus.
27 Everyone agreed on these things. Everyone agreed to have a housing authority action plan
28 to carry the plan through.
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30 Fleetwood stated there was consensus on public funding for gap financing. The vote
31 was unanimous. Also, incentive -based zoning was also unanimous for voluntary
32 inclusionary zoning. They reached agreement on many things.
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35 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
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37 1. DISCUSSION OF 2009/2010 INVENTORY OF SERVICES (AB2008 -227C)
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39 Brenner stated she's concerned about comparing Council Office duties with those of
40 other departments. The Council Office isn't just a department. It's a branch of
41 government. There aren't too many things in the Council Office that aren't requirements.
42 It's not like they have more leeway than some of the other departments that are part of the
43 administration as a whole. Acknowledge the braches of governments, not just the
44 departments.
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46 Weimer stated this is just a tool for the Council to use.
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48 Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated they could separate the Council Office in
49 the document. It's just a format issue. The administration provided this material at the
50 Council's request. In the past, the administration provided a summary of this information
51 with the proposed budget materials. It would be more useful to look at this material when
52 they review department budgets in October and November.
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Special Committee of the Whole; 9/23/2008, Page 2
1 Weimer asked if requested departmental budget cuts are not reflected in these
2 materials. Desler stated that's correct.
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4 Weimer stated he would like to know the percentage of administrative overhead.
5 Desler stated departments that use large amounts of federal grants have that information.
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7 Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department, stated they do different
8 allocation levels. They do allocation of administrative services, which distributes the various
9 aspects of the Administrative Services Department on a basis relevant to that aspect. In
10 addition, they have an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circular 87 cost plan, which
11 takes the allocation one step further and allocates departmental overhead to a particular
12 activity. That's what they're seeing in the Health Department, Superior Court, and
13 Prosecutor's Office to use for federal funding sources. To get any overhead, they have to do
14 an 87 overhead plan.
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16 Kelly asked the best way to ask his questions. Desler stated Councilmember Kelly
17 can ask questions of him or department heads, schedule time in the Finance Committee,
18 and create a list of questions for each department during the departmental hearings.
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20 (Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.)
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23 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
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25 1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2008 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, TENTH
26 REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,938,983 (AB2008 -325)
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28 Weimer moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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30 Brenner asked the total so far for the Pole Road and Hannegan Road intersection.
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32 Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the total so far is $4.3 million. A plan
33 was to use $1.5 million from the public utilities improvement fund, which comes from the
34 rural sales tax, to pay for the project. Then, in 2009, take another $1.5 million for that
35 project. That's what they've done. This 80 percent of the $1.8 million net change to the
36 fund balances.
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38 Brenner stated go after the State for 50 percent of the cost of this project, which is
39 half a State road. Some people said it's not worth it. It is worth it now that the project cost
40 has gone up so much.
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42 Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, stated the total estimated cost now is about
43 $4.5 million. They have to put it out to bid. They have possession and use of all but two
44 properties. They are seeing some good bids coming in for public projects around the area
45 right now.
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47 (Clerk's Note: There was no vote. Councilmembers Fleetwood and Kelly left the
48 meeting, and there was no quorum at 12 :10 p.m.)
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50 Weimer asked the fund balance in the public utilities improvement fund and the
51 purpose of that fund. Desler stated they collect .9% sales tax for exclusive use of
52 implementing public facilities and economic development. Forty percent of that money is
53 used for County public facilities. That's where the money for this project will come from.
Special Committee of the Whole, 9/23/2008, Page 3
1 Another forty percent goes to low- interest loans for development purposes. The last twenty
2 percent goes to grants. The loan and grant funds are used up until the fund is replenished,
3 at a rate of about $230,000 per month. The public utilities improvement fund has about
4 $4.5 million. That fund collects about $1 million per year.
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6 Brenner stated the intersection at Pole Road and Hannegan Road is the most
7 dangerous in Whatcom County. That's why the State has a big obligation to contribute.
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9 Weimer asked if there will be any delay with dry dock or ferry service because they
10 need to replace the sheaves.
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13 COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
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15 4. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID 08 -81 TO LOW
16 BIDDER WOODS LOGGING SUPPLY FOR THE SUPPLY OF SHEAVES FOR THE
17 LUMMI FERRY TERMINALS IN THE AMOUNT OF $176,220.24 (AB2008 -332)
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19 Caskey- Schreiber asked if these were sized for a larger ferry.
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21 Frank Abart, Public Works Department Director, stated this project is different from
22 the dolphin project. Those dolphins being installed would accommodate a larger ferry.
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24 Brenner asked if the sheaves would have to be different if the ferry dock location
25 were to move. Abart stated they probably would go to something more modern if they had
26 to relocate the ferry dock. This replacement is a safety issue. These will be worn out long
27 before they relocate the ferry dock.
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29 Brenner asked if this item was budgeted. It was not budgeted. They keep getting
30 these crisis things happening. She asked why they don't plan ahead for things like that.
31 Abart stated these structural cracks showed up during an inspection.
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33 Brenner asked how often they have inspections. Inspection should happen before
34 budget time, so the money can be incorporated into the budget.
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36 Chris Brueske, Public Works Department, stated there are different inspections. A
37 fractured critical inspection occurs annually. An underwater inspection occurs every three
38 or four years. This would have shown up in the annual inspection. Since they've noticed
39 these cracks, they are now inspecting and monitoring those pillow bearings every two
40 weeks until they're fixed.
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42 Brenner asked that the inspection be scheduled before budget time so they can put
43 these things in the budget. Abart stated there are things they don't inspect, but must begin
44 to inspect more, including the span. They are going to start looking at this a lot closer,
45 including at areas for which they aren't required to inspect. They will do their best to
46 schedule these items in the budget. They build in anticipated maintenance.
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48 Brueske stated that within the last year or so, they got a written operations and
49 maintenance (O &M) manual for the docks. The manual has specific maintenance and
50 inspection frequencies for every component on those docks. Therefore, crews are doing
51 monthly maintenance, which is another level of inspection. Things are now turning up
52 because they're looking more closely at things. They are in a learning curve now because of
53 the more frequent inspections.
Special Committee of the Whole, 9/23/2008, Page 4
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Brenner stated dock maintenance should be paid from the road fund. The sheaves
have to do with ferry movement. Brueske stated it only deals with moving the transfer
span up and down.
S. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
RENEWAL INSURANCE POLICY FOR THE WHATCOM CHIEF FOR THE PERIOD
OF 9/30/08 TO 9/30/09 IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,545 (AB2008 -338)
Weimer asked if the County should be self- insuring this item.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the County has a $10,000 deductible
and a number of claims. They are self- insuring that portion of the risk. This is a traditional
insurance policy that covers a number of things. If there are major problems, there would
be a huge liability. The value of the insurance is appropriate to the underlying risk.
Also, the actual cost is $34,545, not $35,545. It's a typo.
7. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DEMOLITION OF A STRUCTURE LOCATED
AT 401 GRAND AVENUE (AB2008 -337)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated they will complete the process this year.
Weimer asked the plans for the site. Desler stated the plan is some additional
parking and site work to protect pedestrians.
The Committee did not discuss the following items:
1. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR
SERVICES BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND BLACK ROCK CABLE, INC. FOR
FIBER OPTIC CONNECTIVITY TO THE ]AIL WORK CENTER IN. THE AMOUNT
OF $28,800 (AB2008 -329)
2. RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INCREASE TO CONTRACT J UMBRR 200804021
WITH TOPSIDE ROOFING AND CONSTRUCTION PERTAINING TO THE
REPLACEMENT OF THE ROOFS ON THE ROEDER HOME ;�4ND� HORN
RESIDENCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,314.18 (AB20`08= 330)'" 4
3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE. TO APOR,OVE PURCHASE OF
COMPUTER EQUIPMENT THROUGH WASHINGTON. STATE _,;CO NTRACT FROM
IBM IN THE AMOUNT OF $52,230.98 (AB2008- 331);',�:•:;;
5. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT
AMENDMENT FOR EXTENSION OF SERVICES WITH REISNER DISTRIBUTOR,
INC. IN THE AMENDED AMOUNT OF $1,684,980.50 FOR PURCHASE AND
DELIVERY OF FUEL FOR COUNTY EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES (AB2008 -334)
6. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT
BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND SASCO DATA SYSTEMS FOR OUTSIDE
PLANT CABLE INFRASTRUCTURE RELOCATION FROM THE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT BUILDING TO THE FACILITIES BUILDING AND THE
COURTHOUSE IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,880 (AB2008 -335)
Special Committee of the Whole, 9/23/2008, Page 5
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9. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE EXECUTIVE, ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE FCZD
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, TO ENTER INTO A JOINT FUNDING AGREEMENT
WITH USGS FOR ANNUAL OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE
COUNTY'S STREAM GAGE NETWORK IN THE AMOUNT OF $70,290 (AB2008-
333) (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FCZD BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS)
10. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE EXECUTIVE, ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE FCZD
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, TO ENTER INTO A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE
WASHINGTON STATE DEPT OF ECOLOGY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF NEW RIPARIAN RESTORATION PROJECTS FOR THE FCZD
AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT PROJECTS IN THE AMOUNT OF
$666,667 (AB2008 -336) (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY
FCZD BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at approximately 12:18 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
The Councl`%�pprgygd these minutes on November 12 , 2008.
ATTEST:
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Dana 13r0Vyn -D%v4! erk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Carl Weimer, Council Chair
Special Committee of the Whole, 9/23/2008, Page 6