HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance January 25 20051
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
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
January 25, 2005
Committee Member Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 11:05 a.m.
in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
L. Ward Nelson None
Seth Fleetwood
Also Present:
None
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE CHAIR (AB2005 -022)
Crawford nominated Nelson.
Nomination carried unanimously.
(Clerk's Note: Councilmember Nelson assumed the duties of the chair.)
The committee concurred to replace Councilmember Fleetwood with
Councilmember Roy on the committee.
Fleetwood stated that he was inadvertently assigned to three committees
and Councilmember Roy was assigned to one committee.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2005 -2006 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET,
FIRST REQUEST (AB2005 -067)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, read the list of items in the request.
Nelson asked if the $292,294 is the total from the general fund. Desler
stated that is the net effect to the budget, but it is distributed over several funds.
In the coming weeks and months, they will apply anticipated fees received to the
total cost.
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 1/25/2005, 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
42
43
44
45
46
47
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Motion carried unanimously.
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEM
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND
WHATCOM VOLUNTEER CENTER TO PROVIDE VOLUNTEER SERVICES
TO MULTIPLE COUNTY OFFICES AND SERVICES LOCATIONS, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $35,000 (AB2005 -074)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Nelson asked how they derived a $2 million savings. That is a value of
$13.30 per hour.
Roy stated that is what they would have to pay if they had to hire that work
done.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated there are volunteers in many
specialized departments. This contract has been in place at this level for many
years.
Nelson stated he would like to see the estimates.
Motion carried unanimously.
2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND
WHATCOM COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE SERVICES OF A LEGISLATIVE SPECIALIST, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $15,055 (AB2005 -075)
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Roy asked if this guarantees that the specialist will bring in a certain amount
of money to the County.
Crawford stated the money is never guaranteed.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the administration is working
with the Council of Governments (COG) and other local governments to acquire the
services of a person as an advocate for the County, especially regarding
transportation programs. Occasionally, the person will track other appropriations
and grants. They've been doing this for a number of years, and it has met with
some success.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 1/25/2005, Page 2
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
42
43
44
45
46
47
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Fleetwood stated the specialist is to monitor transportation issues. He asked
if that is narrowly or broadly defined.
Crawford stated the COG adopts the unified work plan annually. It is a
coordinated plan for the regional transportation authority. The plan is the agenda
that the specialist would promote in Olympia. The County six -year plan factors into
the unified work plan. In Olympia, the biggest thing the specialist would work on is
state highway issues, because that is where the State has the most authority. The
net result of Mr. Parker's influence has been seen. Whatcom County really
benefited from the $.05 per gallon package because of all the groundwork Mr.
Parker and others did to get improvements to Highway 9, the Guide Meridian, and
the border. The County and City of Bellingham each fund 40 percent of this
position. The small cities fund the remaining 20 percent.
Roy asked if this is an area where the COG or the specialist will discuss the
ordinance amending the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 6
and 7 goals and policies related to the Custer Provisional Urban Growth
Area (AB2004- 3968).
Crawford stated it has been the primary topic of conversation the last two
meetings. The COG expressed a concern about removing the area from the urban
growth area (UGA). The Council will hear from Gordon Rogers about it tonight.
Roy stated she would like to see specific plans for that area and hear that the
State supports the Custer facility.
Crawford stated the COG will address that issue with the State in about a
month.
Motion carried unanimously.
3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY
AND WILSON ENGINEERING, L.L.C. TO PROVIDE PERMITTING,
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PHASE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR
A PROPOSED PUBLIC PARKING LOT AT THE FERRY TERMINAL ON
LUMMI ISLAND, IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,645 (AB2005 -076)
Jeff Monsen, Public Works Department, stated the Public Works Committee
will discuss this item at its meeting later in the afternoon. It may be best to pull
this item until after that discussion.
Colleen Berg, 2109 Tuttle Lane, Lummi Island Community Land Trust
Director, stated she has a proposal to put off hiring the engineering company
temporarily until the Council considers her option. She wants to be part of the
public process. The community wants a more reasonable option for disposing of
the house. Their proposal is for the land trust to purchase property adjacent to the
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 1/25/2005, Page 3
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
42
43
44
45
46
47
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Embrey property, and exchange that with the portion of the Embrey property that
has the house, old growth snag, and live cedar trees. She hasn't had a chance to
survey the community on the proposal yet. The property owner has agreed if the
County is in favor of this idea. A professional architect has designed a plan for the
Embrey property only, leaving the house, snag, and trees, and providing for the
needed parking spaces. If the land trust purchases the property with the house,
she would get community input on what will be done with that house.
Roy stated this seems to be terrific. She was willing to support disposing of
the house. The County can't afford to maintain the home. However, since the land
trust stepped up with this idea, she's excited about getting community funds
involved in protecting it. She asked if the Council can approve this item while still
discussing this option. Monsen stated the Public Works Committee will have more
in -depth discussion. He will schedule a hearing in two weeks. He can't give the
consultant specific direction until the decision on the house is made. That doesn't
mean a contract will need to be approved. However, defer this matter until after
the Public Works Committee meeting.
Fleetwood asked if signing this agreement with Wilson Engineering will
prevent this proposal from happening. Monsen stated it will not. He made a
commitment to the community to build a parking lot this year. If the Council wants
to defer developing a parking lot another year, there is no haste in hiring a
contractor. Consider approval of the contract at the Council meeting, knowing he
can't give the contractor direction until the decision on the house is made. He is on
a tight timeline to construct something, unless construction is deferred.
Berg stated it looks like they selected a landscape firm in Seattle. She asked
if that is set in stone, through Wilson Engineering.
Monsen stated the County doesn't have the ability to select a consultant's
subcontractors or employees. He did ask the consultant to use local, Lummi Island,
materials and resources. He can't dictate to the consultant who he hires.
Berg stated the Lummi Island community would like to have input on how it
looks.
Monsen stated this contract is to develop a preliminary design to show the
community. He's not opposed to deferring the item for two weeks. Rather than
holding it in committee, make the decision tonight with the benefit of the discussion
in the Public Works Committee.
Wanda Cucinotta, 2303 Tuttle Lane, Lummi Island, stated take parts of the
contract, not the contract as a whole. It's too early in the process to start site
design. Once the design is done, they can't go back and change the plan. Develop
the property to protect the environment and historical landmarks while integrating
community enhancement and transportation needs. First, get environmental,
habitat, geological, watershed, and historical assessments. Find out what the
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 1/25/2005, Page 4
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
42
43
44
45
46
47
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
biological functions of the site are. Then evaluate what natural vegetation and
landscaping will be required for parking, stormwater, and buffers. Only then can
they design a site. Allow time for community involvement and possible alterations
as a result of community input. Get the critical areas reviews going. Get a
biological functions and geotechnical report on site conditions. Use island
specialists to see that the job is done correctly. Accept the proposal of the Lummi
Island Community Land Trust to secure the house and adjacent property for
community enhancement. Use this opportunity for public potable water resource.
Require the engineering firm to investigate and use current best management
practices and low- impact development techniques as a model for future
development on Lummi Island.
Bob Fodor, 2343 N. Nugent Road, Lummi Island, stated parking is important,
but they can postpone it. The Land Trust proposal will result in the existing parking
space being developed as a park. The County has an opportunity to have several
hundred feet of contiguous waterfront. There should be an integrated design for it
all. If they wait a month, design will be clearer. That will allow the Land Trust
proposal to develop. Also, it will add more parking spaces, possibly up to 100
parking spaces.
Craig Smith, 2522 Taft Drive, Lummi Island, stated they worked for three
years to get a parking lot. The other ideas are great, but make sure they get the
parking lot this year. Make it a priority. There are parking problems daily.
Polly Hanson, 2781 West Shore Drive, Lummi Island, stated the first lot the
County bought is being discussed as a park. Have it be a bicycle park. Many
people come to Lummi Island to ride bicycles. Make it part of the contract. Since
the County is self- insured and liable, separate the big trucks and cars from the
bikes.
Monsen stated he will need these types of engineering services to help them
through this process. The timeline is to have this resource to go through the
review of alternatives. Part of that requires them to file a permit application for
construction that allows the permit process to refine the plan. The only alternative
is to defer construction for another year. To construct by the end of August, they
need a permit application in place by the first two weeks of March. He will go to bid
by the first of May. Someone must begin construction by the first of July. There
may be ways to incorporate the Land Trust proposal into the process and still
construct something this summer.
Crawford moved to forward to the Council with no recommendation.
Motion carried unanimously.
4. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO
GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE OFFICE
OF JUVENILE JUSTICE — DSHS TO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR TECHNICAL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 1/25/2005, Page 5
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
42
43
44
45
46
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
ASSISTANCE IN THE AREAS OF JUVENILE DETENTION
ALTERNATIVES, IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,000 (AB2005 -077)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the County received a grant to
support the detention center and to create best practices for alternatives to
detention.
Dave Reynolds, Juvenile Court Administrator, stated Whatcom County is one
of five counties to receive funding for juvenile detention alternatives. This is not
necessarily for alternatives to detention. The grant provides technical assistance to
determine whether a youth should be in detention or an alternative to detention.
Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council. She asked if this
would not necessarily increase the judge's suite of options for sentencing. They
already have those. She asked if fewer juveniles would be in detention. Reynolds
stated the grant may increase detention alternatives options, but it allows them to
make sure the kids in detention are the ones who really need to be there. He
doesn't want to get into a situation where they can't put kids in detention who need
to be there.
(Clerk's note: End of tape one, side A.)
Motion carried unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:52 a.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
L. Ward Nelson, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 1/25/2005, Page 6