HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council April 17 20071 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Special County Council
3
4 April 17, 2007
5
6 Council Vice -Chair Seth Fleetwood called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. in the
7 Whatcom County Civic Center Annex, Second Floor Meeting Room, 322 N. Commercial,
8 Bellingham, Washington.
9
10 Present: Absent:
11 Barbara Brenner Carl Weimer
12 Dan McShane
13 Sam Crawford
14 Laurie Caskey - Schreiber
15 L. Ward Nelson
16
17
18 1. DISCUSSION WITH COUNTY EXECUTIVE PETE KREMEN AND DEPUTY
19 ADMINISTRATOR DEWEY DESLER REGARDING WHATCOM COUNTY JAIL
20 SITING RECOMMENDATIONS
21
22 Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated he would provide the Council with an
23 update. They are working on larger capital facility issues that the Council has already
24 adopted. Now, focus on the new main jail. They have identified certain sites. He
25 submitted and read from a handout (on file) on the future main jail and public safety
26 complex. He will come to the Council to present information on resources for this project
27 and to request authority for entering into contracts for the site selection analysis work that
28 has to happen.
29
30 Brenner stated they should select the site as soon as possible. Desler stated they
31 have to respect the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process and other proper
32 procedures. He continued to read from the handout on the site selection process.
33
34 Nelson asked the top four heavy- weighted criteria. Desler stated there are 14
35 criteria in the capital facility chapter. They have to use all of the criteria.
36
37 Nelson asked if a site will be excluded from consideration if it doesn't meet one of
38 the 14 criteria. Desler stated it does not. Any criterion can be mitigated in some way.
39 There are transportation, zoning, utility, cost and other issues.
40
41 Caskey - Schreiber asked if they are talking about the Slater Road site. Desler stated
42 they must do appropriate analysis on any site before making a decision. The administration
43 would come back to the Council with a request for proposal (RFP) process.
44
45 Fleetwood asked if the Council will participate in selecting the criteria.
46
47 Crawford stated the utility issues should be restricted to water and sewer. Desler
48 stated the utility considerations would include energy and traffic.
49
50 Desler stated they are doing some financial planning on capital facility issues. That
51 will come forward to the Council for discussion later in the year. He would like to stay away
52 From obligating the general fund for bond repayment.
53
Special Whatcom County Council - Jail Siting, 4/17/2007, 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
Crawford asked if the Law Enforcement Officer and Fire Fighter (LEOFF) set -aside
was sufficient to pay that debt. Desler stated that it probably will cover most of the debt.
They will know more in four or five years.
Nelson stated the criteria must be clearly defined so they can decide which site
makes the best sense. The next step for the administration and Council is to review the
criteria. Desler stated the administration would bring forward the criteria for Council input.
Also, include the cities of Ferndale and Bellingham in selecting the criteria.
McShane stated those cities need to participate because there is no location that is
already appropriately zoned.
Desler stated this is a multi -year project that will be the most significant public
facility developed for many years to come.
ADJOURN
The eeting adjourned at 12;55 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ti11u111+l8,,Y*Pved � o,�nrd these minutes on May 22 , 2D07.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
C� �— X00. C) WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
V• Iry : r
• Z
• ATE
Dan'zl.,Bro0Z.- TWV9i0;6un ��•`�Clerk Carl Weimer, Council-Chair
Special Whatcom County Council - ]ail Siting, 4/17/2007, Page 2