HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance October 25 20051
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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
October 25, 2005
Committee Chair L. Ward Nelson called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. in
the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present:
Sam Crawford
Sharon Roy
Also Present:
Dan McShane
Absent:
None
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2005 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET,
TENTH REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,170 (AB2005 -391)
Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Nelson read the proposed amendments. He asked if the full -time equivalent
(FTE) employee positions for the Planning Department were discussed at the
Executive level and from where the funding comes.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated it was discussed. They already
have expenditure authority for these positions. This action converts temporary
positions to ongoing positions.
Motion carried unanimously.
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEM
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT, BASED UPON PASSAGE OF SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
REQUEST #10, BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND NOOKSACK
SALMON ENHANCEMENT ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE WORK CREW
SUPERVISION FOR WATERSHED RESTORATION WORK AT MULTIPLE
SITES WITHIN WHATCOM COUNTY, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$40,000 (AB2005 -400)
Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Roy stated these folks do a good job.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/25/2005, Page 1
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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.
2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO THE
MASTER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM
COUNTY AND GENERAL TEAMSTERS' LOCAL UNION NO. 231 FOR THE
PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2005, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2007 (AB2005-
401)
Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
McShane stated he has a question about where a couple of positions were
placed on the matrix. Some positions were moved from one range to another
range. He asked the implications. It's about a specific group of individuals in the
Planning Department. Employees at ranges 15, 18, and 20 were moved to 140,
170, and 190. It appears those positions end up going slightly down in pay scale,
even though they get a raise across the board.
Wendy Wefer Clinton, Employee Relations Manager, stated they get a raise of
more than two percent.
McShane stated it's a raise of less than two percent.
Nelson stated they can discuss the percentages later.
McShane asked about the skill enhancement programs. The engineers have
already been completed. Wefer Clinton stated they have to lay out the exact
criteria of the skill enhancement program. The ranges have been laid out.
McShane asked if they will create steps for the fire inspectors, public service
inspectors, and plan examiner positions. Wefer Clinton stated the programs
already exist. They will refine them to add things that management needs in those
areas.
McShane asked if skill enhancement programs are subject to approval of the
Council. Wefer Clinton stated they are not.
McShane stated he has concerns and more questions.
Motion carried unanimously.
3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND HOME PORT
LEARNING CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR YOUTH UNDER
THE SUPERVISION OF THE WHATCOM COUNTY JUVENILE COURT, IN
AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $72,000 PER YEAR (AB2005 -402)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/25/2005, Page 2
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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.
Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Nelson asked if the amount is the same.
Dave Reynolds, Juvenile Court Administrator, stated this is an increase from
last year. The amount last year was $66,000.
Nelson asked if the rate per hour is the same. Reynolds stated it is. The
rate is cost per youth, which is different from the past, when it was a flat rate. The
change is to make sure they meet the budgetary needs and to be cost - effective.
Nelson stated this is a good program.
Motion carried unanimously.
4. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO
CONTRACT AMENDMENT #3 BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND HDR
ARCHITECTURE, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR
REIMBURSABLE EXPENDITURES INCURRED BY HDR DUE TO THE
EXTENDED TIME FRAME AND MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS TO THE
AUTHORITIES HAVING JURISDICTION FOR THIS PROJECT, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $20,465, FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $774,810
(AB2005 -403)
Nelson asked how many more extensions they will need.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated they will probably need another
to cover printing costs. This has to do with engineering and design on the
minimum security jail.
Mike Russell, Facilities Division Manager, stated the contractor HDR gave a
cost estimate and amount of reimbursables. In the process, they have had to
resubmit the project design many times to the City and State Health Department
for approval. The cost of redoing those plans for the City and State was not in the
original cost estimate. They've asked to increase the amount to cover that cost.
Nelson asked the total amended amounts. There have been other
amendments. Desler stated they will check on this.
Russell stated the amendment is primarily due to the permitting process.
They met with City and Public Works. They took their input for the plan. Then they
met with the City again before submitting the plans.
Desler stated dealing with the State Department of Health has also been time
consuming. The County is also building a triage center. The State Department of
Health laid out additional requirements and specifications which the County did not
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/25/2005, Page 3
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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.
predict. Also, they modified their own rules and regulations under which the
County would operate, in the middle of the process.
Roy asked the timeline. Desler stated the County has received bids, and is
pleased with them. He expects to bring them forward to the Council in two weeks.
They plan to start construction very soon. At this point, completion will be 280 to
300 days from the point they authorize the contractor to proceed.
Roy asked if construction starts the first of the year. Desler stated
construction starts before then.
Russell stated they will move into the facility in September or October 2006.
Crawford asked the kinds of things the City required that the County was not
aware of before. Russell stated the City required changes to the heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), sewer lines, and water lines. As the City
found an issue, they would close the package, send it back to the contractor, the
contractor would make changes and send it back to the City. After that happened
three times, they asked the City to make all its changes at once instead of having
to redo the prints every time.
Crawford asked if changes are due to the City not seeing certain things the
first time. Russell stated the reason was because different people got involved at
different times.
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimously.
S. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND ASPECT CONSULTING
TO CONDUCT A GROUNDWATER STUDY ON LUMMI ISLAND TO
ADDRESS WATER QUANTITY, SEAWATER INTRUSION AND OTHER
CONTAMINANTS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $119,899 (AB2005 -404)
Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council. She asked if this
assessment is a paper assessment where they look at maps and charts, or if it is
field assessment.
McShane stated this scope of work is well- crafted. Roland Middleton worked
on it. It's an appropriate approach. There will be some on- the - ground work. They
won't identify and solve all the water problems on Lummi Island. It will provide a
framework for them to demonstrate that development won't harm other peoples'
water. It is a framework to set up a reasonable threshold for making that
determination. It is a good compromise for meeting a private and public sector
dollars.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/25/2005, Page 4
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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.
Nelson stated the question is how the information is going to be conveyed.
Roy stated citizens on Lummi Island complained a long time ago that a study
would be more of a review of information they already have, a lot of which is not
accurate, according to them. If Councilmember McShane thinks this is good, she
respects his opinion.
Nelson asked if the global positioning system (GPS) information will provide
new information on elevations and such.
Roy stated there is controversy about the accuracy of the current
information. She hopes they don't build a study on inaccurate information.
Jeff Hegedus, Environmental Health Division Manager, stated a lot of data
exists. The scope of work includes a lot of work to fill data gaps. The project goal
is not another study, but to come up with a methodology to assess the impacts of a
development, regarding quality and quantity. That methodology will be either
interactive, prescriptive, or some combination of the two. This will be a way to
improve their ability to evaluate impacts.
Nelson asked the requirements outlined in the request for proposals (RFP).
Hegedus stated the requirement is to compile existing data and fill data gaps. They
will look at all well logs, do additional sampling and analysis, find the recharge
areas and aquifer, and find out if there are contaminants to be concerned about.
After that modeling is done and based on the certainty of the data, come up with a
prescriptive approach or interactive approach. The interactive is low certainty and
they need additional reports to grant a permit. With prescriptive, they have a
higher certainty that certain tasks will have certain results.
McShane stated this is a much better way to go. This will have prescriptive
approaches where it makes sense and interactive approaches where it makes
sense. Ultimately, there will be people who will be unhappy with the results.
Crawford stated they can have a combination of both approaches.
Motion carried unanimously.
6. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO
CONTRACT AMENDMENT #3 BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND
ELLIOTT BAY DESIGN GROUP TO PERFORM ADDITIONAL PHASE II
WORK INCLUDING ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISION OF A NEW PASSENGER
VEHICLE FERRY AND REVISE AND AUGMENT THE SCOPE OF WORK
AND CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR SCALE FERRY MODEL TESTING, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $28,480, FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $268,705
(AB2005 -405)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/25/2005, Page 5
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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.
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council. He would like
to see the model that results. He asked if it would be possible for the
councilmembers to see the testing. Include a concerned citizen or two from Lummi
Island to see this.
Jeff Monsen, Public Works Director, stated a field trip is possible. A reason
for modeling and testing is to verify the hull design in order to save $750,000 to $1
million from not having to dredge in the dock area. They have previously imagined
having to spend a million dollars on dredging work necessary at the dock. This may
eliminate that need.
They have two choices for a model. This version is a lower end model that
only does stability and hull form testing. For another $40,000, they can add
propulsion units to the model and drive it around.
Crawford asked if this propulsion system is different from the propeller. He
asked if this hull design has to do also with that propulsion system, or if it's a
different issue. Monsen stated they are related, but not directly. The hull design
fits well with a propulsion unit. The savings from this amendment is the company
using their own design to match the propulsion unit.
Crawford stated a problem with proprietary software is that the County pays
people to design things, after which they can profit from the County's paid work to
sell the design to someone else. He asked if Elliott Bay could patent this and
benefit from it. Monsen stated the patent issues are already patented. The work
from Elliott Bay is a public document. The only potential client for Elliott Bay on
this design is with Skagit County. He has already talked with Skagit County about
cost sharing.
Crawford stated that's good.
Monsen stated in this case, the construction of the model and the testing is
unique to this boat in this setting. No new science is being developed from which
the company can profit.
Motion carried unanimously.
7. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AMENDMENT #1 BETWEEN WHATCOM
COUNTY AND PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 OF WHATCOM
COUNTY FOR SERVICES RELATED TO THE WATER RESOURCE
INVENTORY AREA #1 (WRIA #1) WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
PROJECT, WHICH IS A NO -COST SCOPE OF WORK MODIFICATION
AND WILL UTILIZE EXISTING BUDGET CAPACITY FOR THIS WORK
(AB2005 -406)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/25/2005, Page 6
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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.
Nelson asked if Washington State University is doing work on Bertrand as
well, and, if so, whether they are working together.
Bruce Roll, Assistant Director, stated Washington State University is working
on it also. They are working together intimately. There will be no duplication of
work. The Public Utility District (PUD) is developing the framework for managing
water for Bertrand Creek. A key component is to move away from surface water to
groundwater during critical times of the year. The work from Washington State
University will use an existing model developed by Simon Frasier University for the
Sumas aquifer to help characterize the groundwater. As they want to put in wells
and switch to groundwater during certain parts of the year, they'll know how far
they will need to be away from the stream. It feeds into the PUD one, which
creates the framework for negotiating and coming up with instream flow
recommendations for the Bertrand Creek watershed.
Nelson asked if the models from this and the Ten Mile Creek work will apply
to other areas. Roll stated there is a lack of knowledge about groundwater. Go
into that endeavor cautiously to see how functional these models are. His goal is to
expand that, since the model includes the whole Sumas aquifer. Being able to use
that model is a great win for the community. Part of the interest in starting in
those areas is there is a good receivership group that is capable of receiving the
information and making recommendations.
Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimously.
8. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO
SUPPLEMENT #2 TO THE STANDARD CONSULTANT AGREEMENT
BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND KPFF CONSULTING ENGINEERS
FOR ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT SERVICES TO REPLACE
HIGH BRIDGE NO. 115 ON LAKE WHATCOM BOULEVARD, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $87,154.70, FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF
$444,073.30 (AB2005 -407)
Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimously.
9. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND WASHINGTON STATE
UNIVERSITY TO DEVELOP A MODEL COMPARING THE AFFECTS OF
GROUNDWATER USE ON SURFACE WATER QUANTITY IN THE
BERTRAND, TEN MILE AND FISHTRAP DRAINAGES OF WRIA #1, IN
THE AMOUNT OF $154,971 (AB2005 -408)
Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/25/2005, Page 7
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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.
10. RESOLUTION SETTING A HEARING TO DISPOSE OF TAX -TITLE
PROPERTY BY DEED TO THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM FOR LAND LYING
BENEATH CITY STREETS, REQ. #2005 -06 (AB2005 -409)
Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimously.
ADDENDUM
11. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT WITH SNOHOMISH COUNTY FOR JAIL BED SERVICES TO
HOUSE SOME OF WHATCOM COUNTY'S OFFENDERS, UP TO 30 BEDS
AT $56.00 PER DAY (NOT INCLUDING MEDICAL COSTS) BEGINNING
OCTOBER 27, 2005, AND CONTINUING UNTIL THE NEW MINIMUM
SECURITY JAIL FACILITY OPENS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$564,480 (AB2005 -417)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated there are serious problems with
jail overcrowding. The administration proposes this contract while the County is
involved in constructing this new jail. They propose tonight to bring forward a
supplemental budget request to fund this housing for the next two months, for
about $110,000. The administration will propose another supplemental to the 2006
budget to cover this cost for the first eight to ten months in 2006.
Crawford asked if the money for this comes from the general fund. Desler
stated the money comes from funding from the corrections and jail tax, which goes
into the general fund.
Crawford asked how this affects the plan to pay for the new jail. He asked
how much more money it would cost if the new jail were running today. This
means they are advancing those operating costs. Desler stated they had hoped to
be open in April or May of 2006, but there have been permitting delays, so there is
additional effective revenue from that delay. Also, they are working with jail
administration to determine the additional revenue that would occur as a result of
this additional jail capacity. The County sells beds as well to other jurisdictions.
Effectively, they're buying capacity.
Crawford asked if the sales tax revenue is up somewhat. Desler stated there
is a modest increase in sales tax revenue of about $150,000 to $175,000 this year.
Next year, it will be a little more. However, they are also working on complicated
projections in how to assign the revenue to pay for the new jail. The cost of the jail
may be lower than anticipated. However, they are still working on all the revenue
for ultimate financing of construction and operations. Also, the City /County Jail
Investment Act program is on the table, but not yet finalized. The proposal is for
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/25/2005, Page 8
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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.
the cities to also invest in the cost of the jail. In return, they would use part of the
revenue to cover their own cost of additional support requirements for the
operation of the jail.
Crawford moved to recommend contract approval to the full Council, based
on these letters and the explanation just given by Mr. Desler.
Desler stated this proposal for budget approval is for introduction tonight.
Nelson asked Sheriff Elfo if the inmates are all primarily felony inmates that
they're trying to accommodate.
Bill Elfo, County Sheriff, stated they are primarily pre -trial felons. They are
going to try and divert as many sentenced offenders that don't have concurrent
charges from another jurisdiction or case, because of the logistical problem of
sending them to an out of county jail. This will increase the number of beds for the
pre -trial population.
Nelson asked if there would be beds for federal prisoners. Elfo stated there
would be beds for extreme cases only. Federal prisoners go to the federal
detention center at Sea -Tac. The County is just not able to accept them at this
time.
Motion carried unanimously.
Crawford stated it's great for the administration to come up with these
solutions.
McShane stated it would be interesting to hear the rationale for this from the
Superior Court judges. They are clearly taking a policy position. Part of their job
as elected officials is to advocate for these sorts of things directly to the Council. It
would be nice to hear from them. Elfo stated some of the inmates the judges are
considering for early release are those that go on to commit new crimes, fail to
meet court dates, and are generally a bad risk to the community.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:41 a.m.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 10/25/2005, Page 9
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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.
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, 10/25/2005, Page 10