HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance May 9 2006WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
May 9, 2006
Committee Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
L. Ward Nelson None
Carl Weimer
Also Present:
Laurie Caskey- Schreiber
Seth Fleetwood
Barbara Brenner
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. PRESENTATION BY THE WHATCOM COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
REGARDING STRATEGIC PLANNING AND ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS
(AB2006 -219)
Bill Elfo, Sheriff, stated, all core decisions of deployment of resources is based on the
mission statement. Central to everything are the values of the Sheriff's Office, which guide
the efficient use of resources. One way they make efficient use of existing resources is to
predict future needs through forecasting, examine trends that affect service delivery, review
major issues affecting transitory populations due to the 2010 Olympics, and review the
predictions of the number of people released by State Department of Corrections due to its
changed sentencing schemes.
Look at how the Sheriff's Office is doing now, where resources are deployed, and
what the resources are accomplishing. They also look at where they should be, how
decisions are made, the level of services the public expects, the level of service essential for
public safety, and how to get there.
They want to respond rapidly to actual emergencies. They also want to be proactive
to prevent crime. It is expensive to respond to crime after it happens. Instead, focus on
preventing crime. Focus on habitual and repeat criminals. About 15 percent of the people
the Sheriff's Office comes in contact with are responsible for about 80 percent of the crime.
Also, they look at neighborhood solutions to prevent the roots of crime from taking hold in
the first place.
Jail space is most critical to preventing crime. The jail has been on booking
restrictions for at least ten years. There is no accountability for misdemeanor offenders.
Misdemeanants don't show up for court and ignore court requirements because the Sheriff's
Office can't put them in jail. Early release of repeat offenders is dangerous. It's a matter of
managing the jail population.
Staffing is another issue. The challenge is how to provide rapid service given the
number of deputies and geographic area. The single complaint he hears most is about
traffic, including speeding cars and drunk drivers.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/9/2006, Page 1
1 A major factor affecting crime is growth and new development. There have been
2 huge housing projects in the urban growth areas (UGA's), including Birch Bay. There are
3 many areas around the rural county that now have a large demand for services. People
4 moving in from out of the area expect urban levels of service. There are increased
5 workloads in Sudden Valley.
6
7 At the border, there is more scrutiny of cars coming into the United States. There is
8 an average 160 fugitives per year that they pick up. There are 11 fugitives picked up at the
9 border right now. Some are federal offenses, but the County is still responsible for many
10 other offenses at the border.
11
12 The Sheriff's Office is getting a handle on the problem with methamphetamine labs.
13 The number of labs is way down from a year ago. However, the new phenomenon is meth
14 being imported from super labs in Mexico. In 2004, 60 percent of the people arrested for
15 theft or burglary were also connected to methamphetamine, which drives property crimes.
16
17 Many people moving into the community are from other parts of the country who
18 want a better quality of life. Also, other people move here because it's hard to get into the
19 jail.
20
21 Child abuse and neglect is a high workload for the agency. There are new reporting
22 requirements the Sheriff's Office must follow.
23
24 There are unfunded mandates from the legislature. The Sheriff's Office must divert
25 existing resources to support them, such as the sex offender registration and monitoring
26 program, which has become more stringent.
27
28 There is an increase in calls for service from and expectations of new residents.
29
30 The agency has grown. During the last 11 years, 21 deputies have been added.
31 That's less than two deputies per year for the past 11 years. Recently, they reorganized the
32 agency. There are some agency changes and title changes. They created a professional
33 standards bureau to handle audits, inspections, and internal investigations. It should begin
34 operating by this summer. In the bureau of law enforcement, they've made a better use of
35 the command structure. They have assigned two lieutenants to operational assignments.
36 They want more of the administrative details on the lieutenants to allow sergeants to do
37 more field operations to solve and prevent crimes.
38
39 In the last 11 years, there were two new deputies hired from Nooksack Casino
40 impact funds, which have been absorbed into the general patrol. Some new staff was hired
41 for new programs. They staff full time many specialty units, including K9, traffic, drugs,
42 and other programs. There are five resident deputies in remote locations. They are
43 considering phasing out the Baker Lake resident program to make it purely a Forest Service
44 operation. Since they expanded quarters for the Drug Task Force, Bellingham added an
45 officer and Ferndale joined with one officer. The boating safety coordinator patrols the lakes
46 during the summer months, and is also in charge of crime scene equipment and maintaining
47 the command vehicle. One deputy is assigned full time deputy to training. The Sheriff's
48 Office has implemented a new firearms program. All corrections deputies are now transport
49 qualified. There are more than two times as many people as a few years ago who have to
50 be qualified for hand guns. The crime prevention deputy organizes block watches,
51 addresses specific problems in specific neighborhoods, and coordinates with community
52 groups.
53
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/9/2006, Page 2
There are a number of part-time collateral assignments, including training for things
such as driving safety, defensive tactics, field training, and other training. Much of it is
mandated. It has allowed deputies to gain expertise in these areas and perform these
functions on a part-time basis.
The number of deputies available for patrol is 34 for area patrol, outside the
specialty areas. They work the County 24 hours per day, seven days per week (24/7).
They average 30 to 31 deputies for the last four years. Two years ago, he implemented
new shift schedules to make better use of the staff they have. He developed overlapping
shifts during peak areas of need. 'that's been very effective, however, it leaves them lightly
staffed at other times when they need to muster a response to an emergency.
Factors that affect the deputies time and availability are administrative matters,
including training, sick time, vacation, and other reasons. The deputies work 2,088 hours
per year. They are off 386 of those hours for a variety of reasons.
To creating efficiencies, deputies begin and end their shift in areas where they serve
instead of reporting to the courthouse. That equals 60 to 90 more minutes available on the
street. They couldn't do that without partnerships with the fire districts. They formed
partnerships with the State Department of Fish and Game to enforce no shooting areas.
They have deputized Forest Service staff to assist in remote areas. The Nooksack Tribal
Police is a partner, with approval from a Sheriff deputy, to respond to things such as drunk
driving. They normally don't have jurisdiction outside their area of responsibility, but the
Sheriff's Office has extended that area with very close supervision. The reserve program
has completed two classes in the last two years. When reserves are on duty, two people
are in the car. When responding to an incident in Maple Falls, for example, deputies don't
have to leave the Birch Bay area. He hopes to continue and expand the reserve program.
Regarding crime analysis, information -led policing is the process to look at all crimes
as they occur to triage them and link them together. It is one of the largest efficiencies in
the Sheriff Office, due to the person they hired. Information is reliable and timely, which
allows them to focus on emerging trends and career criminals.
The neighborhood deputy program, provides a resident deputy in the East
County /Foothills area. It allows the deputy to work a flexible 40 -hour week to address
trends and crime patterns. The deputy knows everyone in the neighborhood and solves
problems. Deputy Langley has done a tremendous job in the Nooksack area. They have
seen a sustained drop in crime of 50 percent. There is still a long way to go, but it is one of
their most successful programs. They need to respond to emergencies 24/7, but they also
need someone who knows the community. As UGA's expand, there is a need to apply this
concept to other areas of the county. They need someone to take ownership of the
communities and get to know the people. He will request this for the Birch Bay and the
Sudden Valley /Lake Whatcom /Glenhaven areas.
Geographic patrol is a 24/7 operation to respond to 911 calls. They are challenged
by the size of area and number of people in the county.
There are generally four patrol areas. He indicated the areas on a map. A number
of factors affect the area boundaries, including population, crime patterns, and geographic
boundaries. They need to increase to seven patrol areas. Add another three deputies per
shift to cover these areas and provide a higher level of service to the communities. He has
some ideas on how they would reconfigure the boundaries.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/9/2006, Page 3
All of this has a cost. The initial plan is two deputies for neighborhood policing for
Birch Bay and the Sudden Valley /Lake Whatcom area. They need at least two traffic
deputies to extend traffic enforcement to the evening hours.
They need 18 additional patrol deputies to staff the seven areas. He will also ask for
an additional criminal intelligence deputy to get hardcore felons off the street and in prison.
As the Banditos are released from prison, the Sheriff's Office needs to keep an eye on them.
He is beginning to see other gangs in the community. The Sheriff's Office must be proactive
to make sure gangs don't get here.
Regarding the Law and Justice Committee Report from 2004, they have met all the
goals with the Council's support. A key component is the interim jail scheduled to open in
October, new technologies, and the reserve program and neighborhood stations.
Brenner asked if the Nooksack Tribe pays for deputies. Elfo stated it does not.
There used to be gambling revenues for two deputies to do patrol. However, the deputies
are not assigned specifically to the casino or the Tribal property.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the funds to pay for the Tribe's own
deputies never materialized.
Brenner asked how Newhalem is paid for. Elfo stated it is paid by Seattle City Light.
The area is staffed 40 hours per week. They tried to improve night response. He allows a
deputy to live in Skagit County to provide after -hours response quicker. The Baker Lake
deputy is paid in part by the U.S. Forest Service.
Brenner asked if there is an arrangement with the courts so the deputies'
testimonies are heard first. Elfo stated it is up to the judge. Generally, the schedule is not
arranged that way.
Nelson stated this is an excellent presentation. He would like more details about
specific staffing levels at specific locations, the level of coverage, and how the geographic
areas are patrolled. He asked if the four geographic areas are the same for crime
prevention and patrol. Elfo stated the crime prevention deputy covers the entire county.
The 31 patrol deputies are balanced to staff the four geographic areas 24 hours per day,
seven days per week. He can provide more information on when those overlaps occur and
how many people they have during the overlap hours.
Nelson asked if patrol and crime prevention work together. Elfo stated they do.
Nelson stated the mission statement was broad in scope and well - defined. He'd like
to see the definition of the time spent by deputies on the mission statement. He would like
a breakout of time spent on the mission by patrol and crime prevention. Training is
important, but not the primary mission. Elfo stated he can provide information on hours on
patrol, vacation, training and other hours, in terms of lost time. He can provide information
on the numbers they are working.
Nelson stated he liked the idea of a local deputy as the community grows. There will
be more sensitivity to an area's concerns and culture. Elfo stated he wants the folks in the
community to know the deputy. A good measure of success is when the community
becomes incensed when the deputy is rotated out of the community.
Nelson asked how to evaluate the effectiveness of the deputy in the community and
the expectations of the community for the deputy's accomplishments. It seems to have its
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/9/2006, Page 4
own mission, goals, criteria, and objectives. He asked if there is a mechanism in place. Elfo
stated there is a mechanism in place. He will show goals and accomplishments.
Nelson stated he advocated for a reserve program for years. The current program
has federal funding. He asked the funding, cost, and time spent by reserve units. Their
effectiveness measured is shown by the $300,000 value of the reserve deputies' time.
However, he would like to have a way to offset that value by knowing what is put into the
program. He asked for a correlation between the four boundary areas and the number of
traffic citations and arrests. He mentioned there are some impacts from transportation.
Elfo stated its driven by a number of factors. In a large part, they are complaint driven.
There isn't one area in the county where the Sheriff's Office doesn't get hammered by
complaints about speeding, which is his number one complaint in the unincorporated areas.
Nelson stated his concern is that they can continue to expand the number of
deputies. He brought this forward in response to a comment made by a Sheriff's Office
representative at a local neighborhood meeting that there are only three deputies on patrol.
Elfo stated there are, at times, only three deputies on patrol. That's the frustration. They
can't predict everything that will happen. They make the best use of the deputies based on
historical data. Deputies take cars home so he can call them in if needed.
Nelson stated that in ten years, the County went from total number of deployed
deputies from 74 to over 100. Elfo stated there is a total of 79 deputies, including the
command staff. That is the total law enforcement staffing level.
Nelson asked for information on full staffing levels from ten years ago to now. He
would also like per capita comparisons with other counties. Elfo stated he can provide that
information. Consider that other counties don't have to deal with Border Patrol.
Nelson stated he would also like to compare the number of Border Patrol agents from
ten years ago to now, and whether that helps or hinders the Sheriff's Office. Elfo stated it
actually makes more work for the Sheriff's Office because the Border Patrol finds things and
turns them over to the Sheriff's Office.
Caskey- Schreiber stated she would like more information on traffic citations. She
asked if the revenue goes into the Sheriff's Office. Elfo stated a large part of traffic citation
revenue goes to the State. The rest goes to the County so there is no correlation between
the tickets and the Sheriff's Office revenue.
Caskey- Schreiber stated she applauds Sheriff Elfo's work. She's heard a lot of good
things from the community and other deputies. She is concerned about going to eight
districts with more staff. The reality is that the County can't provide a city level of services
to rural areas. People in unincorporated areas must be educated to not expect urban levels
of services. Any added resources to the Sheriff's Office requires additional resources to
other law enforcement agencies. Elfo stated seven new positions isn't anywhere near a
municipal level of services. The City of Bellingham may have 14 officers working at any
given time. Eighteen is the number needed to staff seven positions 24/7. The Sheriff's
Office wants to prevent crime first of all. They've developed strategies that have been
successful. People must know that crime isn't welcome, and the need for additional
components of the criminal justice system is reduced. As soon as they deployed the
uniform meth lab deputies, the offenders just left.
Weimer asked if a lot of the problems are created by growth in the outlying parts of
the county. He asked if the County can charge impact fees. Elfo stated he's not aware of it.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/9/2006, Page 5
1 The problem with impact fees is that they can't pay for ongoing costs such as salaries and
2 personnel costs to keep the operation going.
3
4 Brenner asked about the 13 fugitives who are in the jail. Elfo stated they are from
5 other areas in the country. The County is obligated to hold them without charging for the
6 service. According to the law, the County can charge Sumas for holding its prisoners, but
7 the County can't charge Kansas, for example, for the same service.
8
9 Brenner asked if the County will get more funding for border issues. Elfo stated
10 Representative Larsen introduced a bill to extend to the northern border the same program
11 that exists on the southern border. The program reimburses local communities for the cost
12 of housing and prosecuting people arrested by federal agents. Prosecution is done in State
13 court. Last time, the bill died in committee.
14
15 Brenner asked about the idea that, if the federal government doesn't pay for it, the
16 County drives the prisoners to Seattle and drops them off at the federal building. Elfo
17 stated they do that. They are driven to the Seattle once per day.
18
19 Nelson asked if there is a thought about jail capacity in terms of pandemic planning
20 exercises. Elfo stated they are planning for any pandemic through the Emergency Services
21 Division. Corrections Chief Wendy Jones attended pandemic planning exercises. The jail
22 physician is involved.
23
24
25 COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEM
26
27 1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID #06 -33,
28 ON -CALL CONTRACTOR /EQUIPMENT LIST, AND TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS
29 TO PROVIDE LABOR AND RENTAL OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT TO THE
30 COUNTY ON AN ON -CALL BASIS, ENSURING PREVAILING WAGES WILL BE
31 PAID IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW, BY ACCEPTING ALL 25
32 RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDS SUBMITTED, PERMITTING
33 SELECTION OF THE APPROPRIATE VENDOR AS DICTATED BY THE SPECIAL
34 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PARTICULAR ]OB, WITH PREFERENCE TO LOW
35 BIDDERS (IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MORE THAN $35,000 COULD BE SPENT
36 WITH A SINGLE VENDOR) (AB2006 -206)
37
38 Nelson stated he must recuse himself. He has relatives on the list.
39
40 Weimer moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
41
42 Motion carried 2 -0 -I with Nelson abstaining,
43
44 2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID #06 -34,
45 ON -CALL RENTAL EQUIPMENT LIST, AND TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS TO
46 PROVIDE RENTAL OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT TO THE COUNTY ON AN
47 ON -CALL BASIS, BY ACCEPTING ALL 10 RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE
48 BIDS SUBMITTED, PERMITTING SELECTION OF THE APPROPRIATE VENDOR
49 BASED ON EQUIPMENT AVAILABILITY AND SUITABILITY, WITH
50 PREFERENCE TO LOW BIDDERS (IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MORE THAN $35,000
51 COULD BE SPENT WITH A SINGLE VENDOR) (AB2006 -207)
52
53 Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
54
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/9/2006, Page 6
Motion carried unanimously.
3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID #06 -37
AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH LOW BIDDER AMERICAN
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC., FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF
TIMBER PILES AS PART OF PUBLIC WORKS RIVER & FLOOD DIVISION'S
EVERSON OVERFLOW BANK STABILIZATION PROJECT, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$117,600 (AB2006 -208)
Weimer moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Caskey- Schreiber stated there is a letter from the Whatcom Land Trust. She asked if
they are involved in negotiations.
Bruce Roll, Public Works Department, stated it's completely unrelated to this
contract.
(Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.)
Brenner stated she would really like to talk about that letter now. She's very
concerned. At the water resources work session, the councilmembers were told that
negotiations were happening with the Whatcom Land Trust. That letter makes it clear that
the Whatcom Land Trust has not been involved. She would like to discuss it.
Motion carried unanimously.
4. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID #06 -40
AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE MOST QUALIFIED AND BEST
OVERALL RESPONSIVE BIDDER, THE LYNDEN TRIBUNE, FOR THE DESIGN,
PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF VOTERS PAMPHLETS FOR THE UPCOMING
ELECTIONS, IN AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $50,000, SUBJECT TO THE
NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSEHOLDS AND THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES
AND ISSUES APPEARING ON THE BALLOT (AB2006 -209)
Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Debbie Adelstein, Auditor's Office, stated there is grant funding this year to cover the
expense of the primary and general elections. The Auditor's Office will include the cost in
next year's budget request since it is mandated by the Charter Review process.
Crawford asked if the grant is from Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and goes away
after this year. Adelstein stated the grant is from HAVA and goes away at the end of the
year.
Motion carried unanimously.
S. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID #06 -61 TO
LOW BIDDER, KENWORTH NORTHWEST, FOR THE PURCHASE OF A
REPLACEMENT LOWBOY DIESEL TRUCK, IN THE AMOUNT OF $119,431.76
(AB2006 -210)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Nelson asked if this is a replacement of one the County currently has.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/9/2006, Page 7
1
2 Eric Schlehuber, Public Works Department, stated it is a replacement of an existing
3 1975 Kenworth.
4
5 Nelson asked if both are six - wheels. Schlehuber stated they are.
6
7 Weimer asked if it is used all the time, so the County purchases it instead of renting.
8 Schlehuber stated it is.
9
10 Motion carried unanimously.
11
12 6. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
13 CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND SOLE SOURCE VENDOR, THE
14 BELLINGHAM HERALD, TO PRINT WHATCOM COUNTY PUBLICATIONS OF
15 EVERY KIND AND NATURE THAT THE COUNTY, AS A MUNICIPAL BODY, MAY
16 BE REQUIRED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON TO HAVE
17 PUBLISHED, IN THE AMOUNT OF $11.66 FOR A SINGLE COLUMN, PER
18 COLUMN ONE -INCH FIRST INSERTION, AND $10.78 PER COLUMN INCH FOR
19 THE SECOND AND ALL SUBSEQUENT INSERTIONS (AB2006 -211)
20
21 Weimer moved to recommend approval to the full Council. He asked if a daily
22 paper is required by State.
23
24 Nelson stated it is.
25
26 Weimer asked how these rates compare to regular rates sold to anyone else or rates
27 for nonprofits.
28
29 Nelson stated the County has to put this out for bid to attract another paper to
30 become daily. There has been no interest. He believes the rates are competitive.
31
32 Motion carried unanimously.
33
34 7. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
35 CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND HERRERA ENVIRONMENTAL
36 CONSULTANTS, INC. FOR WATER QUALITY MONITORING SUPPORT
37 INCLUDING WATERSHED FRIENDLY GARDENING EDUCATION, WRIA 1,
38 MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING AND GENEVA BASIN COMPREHENSIVE
39 MONITORING, IN THE AMOUNT OF $149,021 (AB2006 -212)
40
41 Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
42
43 Weimer asked if this went out to a request for proposals (RFP) process.
44
45 Bruce Roll, Public Works Department, stated it did. There was a formal RFP and
46 selection process. More monies will be available through the grants he referenced to fund
47 some of this.
48
49 Weimer asked how many applied.
50
51 Sue Blake, Public Works Department, stated eight firms put in RFP's for the
52 proposals. Of those, they interviewed four. There were three components to the RFP, Lake
53 Whatcom tributary monitoring, lake friendly gardening, and on -call. Another firm will come
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/9/2006, Page 8
forward for the Lake Whatcom tributary monitoring. Two of the four were selected for this
scope of work.
Brenner asked if it's possible if they could have done better if they had separated out
the scope. The watershed - friendly gardening education component could be done by an
entirely different type of business. Blake stated she is very happy with the skills and
qualifications of this team. Most of the teams they interviewed included local consultants to
keep the cost down without sacrificing the quality of the consultants. She is very happy
with the skills identified. Part of the challenge was to bring in expertise in a way they could
afford.
Caskey- Schreiber stated a Huxley student talked to her about this contract. Huxley
students previously did monitoring for the County. When it was changed, they lost their
jobs. They feel they did a really good, competent service. They had a State certified lab.
She asked what happened with the water monitoring program in water resource inventory
area (WRIA) 1. Blake stated that was funded from part of a grant she received a number of
years ago. The Council approved it. The County had an interlocal agreement with the
Northwest Indian College to collect the data. This contract is to look at that data. At the
time, Councilmember Brenner had a concern with having the Northwest Indian College
analyze the data. This contract is to take that data they collected, and doing that next
analysis to come up with recommendations on how to continue that program. The 20
additional sites in the basin will go away at the end of this grant unless the community
figures out how to keep them going. There has never been students involved in that
exercise, to her knowledge.
Roll stated they would have reviewed any proposal from Huxley, through the public
process.
Caskey- Schreiber asked if the Huxley College put in a bid to do the analysis. Blake
stated it did not.
Roll stated there have been a number of monitoring gaps. Additional monitoring
proposals for tributaries will come forward soon. That has been a big gap in the existing
monitoring data. That is being done in partnership with the City, Water District 10, and
hopefully Sudden Valley. It is additional work to be done by a contractor selected at the
same time this process was going on.
Blake stated that shift was coordinated with the Institute for Watershed Studies.
They were not able to meet some of the faster turn - around times the County needed, so
they were okay with moving this into another arena.
Caskey- Schreiber asked if the Northwest Indian College operates a State - certified
lab. Blake stated it does, only for bacteria. All of the testing being done there is being sent
out to another laboratory for the work.
Roll stated there are hundreds of analytes for which someone can obtain State
certification. Of any of the labs in Whatcom County, only one or two are capable of doing
the entire suite. Even Western is only certified for a certain number of analytes. The
designation of certified doesn't necessarily mean that a laboratory is certified to do every
analysis they may want to have done.
Blake stated that's why the only thing they are running for the County is fecal
coliforms. Avocet is running many other tests for the County. This proposal will cover the
data that has been collected.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/9/2006, Page 9
1
2 Caskey- Schreiber stated avoid duplication of services wherever possible. She likes
3 that the County is partnering with the City of Bellingham and Sudden Valley. Continue with
4 that practice.
5
6 Nelson stated the garden friendly portion is actual monitoring. He asked if the
7 others are data analysis. Blake stated it is. The lake friendly garden work is actual
8 monitoring.
9
10 Roll stated that is a requirement of the grant.
11
12 Nelson asked if there are criteria for establishing the baseline, and how monitoring
13 will reflect the baseline. Blake asked if the question is how they understand preexisting
14 conditions and then how they know the lake friendly gardening component has had an
15 effect. That will be one of the challenges. They will look at data already collected and at
16 places where lake friendly gardening practices are occurring to come up with a strategy.
17 They are working with Herrera to develop this pre- and post - analysis. They have discussed
18 how to do that already. There isn't one perfect fit because of various constraints. She will
19 keep the Council informed as they get to that point. It won't be easy.
20
21 Nelson stated his concern is that they will get information reflective of the baseline in
22 one year. Blake stated they will have to look at what they already have as well.
23
24 Roll stated this project three -piece is to look at that Geneva drainage in a
25 comprehensive manner and determine the monitoring strategy that would then apply
26 throughout the places in the basin. It will include water quality monitoring in the area to
27 see how the retrofits work. At the same time, they will bring in the other items in the suite
28 of actions the Council and Joint Lake Whatcom Management Committee has done. He
29 wants to provide a strategy that gives guidance on how all the management strategies are
30 functioning to deal with the reduction of pollutants entering the lake. It's one thing to have
31 a sample. It's another thing to be able to describe clearly the net outcome of having
32 phosphorus -free fertilizer in the watershed. There will be a number of different monitoring,
33 but not just for water quality data. Monitoring could include pounds of material removed by
34 street sweepers in the area or an analysis of cars driving in the area. He hopes to create a
35 consistent package to look at the entire suite and how each component works collectively.
36
37 Weimer stated he supports this. Part of the problem is that, for the past several
38 years, data collection has been piecemeal. The Northwest Indian College has done a great
39 job of collecting information on fecal coliforms. The funding is about to go away, and
40 they've kept it going. There is a good baseline of fecal coliform. The bigger task is to use
41 the information from Herrera on how all this fits together, and come up with ongoing
42 funding.
43
44 Roll stated he hopes they begin to refine the County's role and how they will monitor
45 effectiveness and progress as they implement these activities. Be very thoughtful of how
46 they collect information. The spottiness if data often leads to a misinterpretation of a
47 management action. Here, they are attempting to define the actions they want in place and
48 monitor how well they are doing. With Lake Whatcom, much data is collected in different
49 ways to either support or not support management strategies. This will be resource -
50 intensive.
51
52 Motion carried unanimously.
53
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/9/2006, Page 10
S. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND NAMI OF WHATCOM COUNTY
FOR ADMINISTRATION, COORDINATION AND SUPPORT OF WHATCOM
COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY SITES THAT OFFER
THE TEEN SCREEN PROGRAM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,648 (AB2006 -213)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Notion carried unanimously.
Nelson stated one concern was well addressed. It is the stigma of mental health
issues that they must prevent from occurring. This type of evaluation is done in a way to
allow people to get information, and then decide if they want to additional education. That
is very good.
9. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL
PROVIDING 2060 OPERATIONS FUNDING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL
HOMELESS HOUSING RENTAL ASSISTANCE VOUCHER PROGRAM SERVING
WOMEN AND CHILDREN, IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,000 (AB2006 -214)
Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Notion carried unanimously.
10. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT
AMENDMENT #1 BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND ART ANDERSON
ASSOCIATES TO PERFORM ADDITIONAL WORK RELATED TO THE
ENGINEERING DESIGN AND PERMITTING OF THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE
LUMMI ISLAND FERRY SYSTEM TERMINAL FACILITIES, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$279,889, FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $672,889 (AB2006 -215)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Notion carried unanimously.
11. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AMENDMENT #1 BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY
AND THE LUMMI INDIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL REVISING THE COUNTY'S
SHARE IN FUNDING TO COMPLETE THE SLATER ROAD FLOOD - PROOFING
PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,777,000, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT TO BE
FUNDED OF $3,777,000 (AB2006 -216)
Weimer moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Nelson stated the change was to the administrative cost. He asked if the Tribe will
assume any of the administrative cost.
Bruce Roll, Public Works Department, stated the Tribe received a very large grant in
excess of $4.5 million for a number of things. It includes their administrative costs for
dealing with their portion of the project, which is independent of the $3 million in Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds that the Tribe is bringing to the County.
That $3 million is coming directly to the County for the project itself. The County may use a
portion of that to administer construction. It will also enhance existing off - channel habitat.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/9/2006, Page 11
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Weimer asked why the original estimate was so far off. Roll stated it wasn't. There
are a number of factors that contributed to the difference. A lot of the work in the first
phase was to make the cost - benefit ratio a ratio required to get FEMA to agree to contribute
money. That was the first phase. There was a strong interest, and it was tied to feasibility.
They didn't spend $1 million in the first phase. The County talked with the Lummi Tribe to
decide if this project is viable and will have a cost - benefit ratio that FEMA would approve of.
During that cost - benefit phase, they refined the cost estimate based on a number of factors.
The first estimate wasn't intended to reflect the final cost because they didn't have enough
clarity on permitting, FEMA, the size, and some of the constraints. The estimate at this
point is fairly accurate.
Weimer stated the original $4 million was a guess estimate, and went up to $6.75
million. Roll stated it did because of constraints of the system, what had to be done for
permitting, issues related to the amount of water that needed to pass, and other issues.
That was a very rough estimate. This interlocal is being amended because they now have
clarity on what they need to pull off the project.
Weimer stated the history sounds like the Council agreed to this because it would
cost $1 million, and now it costs $4 million. He asked if the councilmembers saw that
coming.
Brenner stated they did not.
Motion carried unanimously,
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:19 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
47 - "
48 Dan6``Vrow_%_7 i '_QR cil Ct6rk am Crawford, ComrAttee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/9/2006, Page 12