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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance July 13 20041 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 July 13, 2004 Committee Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 11:05 a.m. in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington. Present: Absent: Sharon Roy None Dan McShane Also Present: Laurie Caskey- Schreiber Seth Fleetwood Barbara Brenner COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL 1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2004 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, 9T" REQUEST (AB2004 -262) Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated there are three elements to the request, which include funding for a temporary accountant position in Superior Court, Economic Development Council (EDC) website development, and the Blaine boardwalk project. Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council. She supports the approach to problem solving to collect the fines for Superior Court. The documents in the Council packet were good information and answered her questions. Desler stated that with this population, the County has to be assertive in collecting the monies it's owed. Roy asked if the Chamber of Commerce already has a website that promotes the county, and asked how many they need. Desler stated the EDC says the County needs a major presence on the internet. It takes some effort to plan and construct websites. This is a one -time expense. The Executive supports it. Roy asked if there is an overlap of services between the EDC, Chamber, and Convention and Visitor's Bureau (CVB). Desler stated they can't avoid an overlap. The Chamber will not contract with the County much longer. It wants to be more independent. Later this year, the County will evaluate its relationship with the EDC and the CVB. Caskey- Schreiber stated the EDC will link to the CVB website and is working to not duplicate information and work. The EDC applied for a grant for this work, Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 7/13/2004, 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. but was turned down. The amount requested is a fraction of what they hoped to get. She has a lot of confidence in the new director. He's working very hard for the dollars the County provides. He's being very frugal. Motion carried 2 -0 with McShane absent. 2. RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE COUNTY A PROPOSITION AUTHORIZING A LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX OF ONE TENTH OF ONE PERCENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDS FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH FINANCING, DESIGN, ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPPING, OPERATING, MAINTAINING, REMODELING, REPAIRING, RE- EQUIPPING, AND IMPROVEMENT OF JAIL FACILITIES (AB2004 -263) Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the tax would generate about $2.7 million per year beginning in 2005. The money will only be used for the cost associated with the building, operation, and maintenance of the jail. They will focus on the minimum - security jail to begin with, then a new main jail. There is enough to do both. They will get the site on Division Street up and running, and then construct a new main jail in the next six to eight years. This item would authorize an election in November. Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council. Caskey- Schreiber asked if the County has hired a project manager that will work with existing staff. Desler stated the County solicited applications for a design and construction coordinator, but hasn't been able to recruit anyone to meet its needs. The administration will continue to recruit someone who will work closely with staff and represent the County's needs and requirements. He needs expertise to coordinate design, bidding, and monitoring of this effort. He will have to readjust the job description for a project manager. The pay scale they proposed isn't adequate for the expertise they need, but they can't afford to do this on a contract. He'd rather develop the expertise in- house, anyway. The County will re- advertise the position in a week or two. Roy asked if the project manager's skills would lay with managing large construction projects, not in law enforcement. Desler stated that's correct. The project manager would focus on other projects as well, but those other projects would not be funded from this source. Crawford stated the County administration made a presentation about the sales tax increase to the local Republican Party, which voted to endorse this tax increase. The administration, sheriff, and prosecutor are doing a good job making this case to the public. Motion carried 2 -0 with McShane absent. Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 7/13/2004, 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. COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEM 1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO AWARD CONTRACT FOR DESIGN, PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION FOR THE WHATCOM COUNTY MINIMUM SECURITY JAIL, COMMUNITY CORRECTION CENTER, TRIAGE CENTER, ELECTION CENTER AND STORAGE FACILITY TO HDR, INC., AND AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE TO NEGOTIATE AND SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH HDR, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $925,800 (AB2004 -267) Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council. Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated this authorizes the Executive to sign the agreement with HDR. The proposed scope -of -work is in the Council packet. At times, it will be modified to focus on the jail first. They still have to reconfirm programming around the election warehouse. Motion carried 2 -0 with McShane absent. 2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND HDR ENGINEERING, INC. TO REVIEW POSSIBLE SITES FOR A REGIONAL JUSTICE CENTER IN THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM OR THE URBAN GROWTH AREA OF THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $24,426 (AB2004 -268) Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the Council wanted to look at possible sites before finalizing the master facilities plan. The administration worked with HDR and the City of Bellingham to do that. He asked the Council to meet next Tuesday to talk about it. This project may cost less than this amount. He wants to make sure the administration fully responds to the needs of the Council. Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council. She is concerned about this. The councilmembers all want the ability to look at other sites in Bellingham. She is concerned about how far this is going. She imagined they would find general locations before evaluating what the building will look like. The scope -of -work seems to go beyond what she imagined. It jumps too far ahead. Brenner stated the agreement is to identify sites. However, the documents in the packet is to review sites. The Council wanted to identify sites. She's disturbed to hear that the administration has already met with HDR and the City of Bellingham, which all want the site to be out of the city. They needed a neutral party present. She's concerned about a prejudiced report of the sites. She only wants to see what sites area available, not to hear which sites are better than others. Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 7/13/2004, 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. Caskey- Schreiber stated she recalls the conversation and remembers they talked specifically about being within the city limits of Bellingham, not the urban growth area (UGA). She asked if the administration could do that. Crawford stated the councilmembers were at an impasse regarding the future law and justice facility. The idea came up that councilmembers wanted to know about possible locations other than the current jail footprint. He doesn't recall the Council putting constraints on where it might be. Fleetwood stated he recalls a number of councilmembers stating they hoped to know the footprints that exist that are closer to the downtown core rather than further away. He believed they would be presented with some of those sites. Desler stated this provides a number of pieces of information about the sites. He urged the councilmembers to meet with the administration next Tuesday and see the information they've developed to -date. If the Council doesn't want any more information, then it should tell the administration at that point. Approve this item now. The administration will present basic, preliminary information about sites, the zoning ordinance, the essential public facilities comprehensive plan, and other relevant information. Once the Council sees and discusses the information, the administration can stop if the Council chooses. (Clerk's Note: Councilmember McShane arrived at 11:35 a.m.) Brenner stated that a committee member should amend the agenda bill on Council packet page 30 to say it will identify sites, not review sites. Roy moved to have HDR only identify sites, not review those sites. Amend Council packet pages 30, 31, and 32 to remove all references to reviewing sites. The committee concurred. Caskey- Schreiber suggested that the committee make an amendment that site identification is only for sites within the city limits. McShane asked why the Council would not want HDR to do any review at all. He would want to hear their expertise on these sites. Crawford stated the concern is about presentation. The presentation may not be objective. McShane stated that without review, he would be predisposed toward a site that might be harmful. Roy stated they would have to trust at some level. The concern is that the information will be slanted toward a certain decision. She will want that review at some point. Some councilmembers feel this item goes beyond the Council's original Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 7/13/2004, 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. request for just finding out if there are available sites. The review comes later. Caskey- Schreiber stated they could remove the distrust if the committee removes the allowance for identifying sites outside of the city limits. Brenner stated the review should come later, when the Council decides on identified sites that look interesting. It's a question of cost in addition to a question of trust. If there are ten sites identified, but the Council is only interested in five sites, then only five sites are reviewed. Caskey- Schreiber stated HDR should engage in a slight review to determine whether a site is even feasible and can handle the load geologically. McShane stated there are a lot of other things that might make a site not feasible. Desler stated it's disconcerting to hear there is a lack of trust in the administration. The administration has not tried to steer the Council in a particular direction. They're not talking about laying out the buildings, but the characteristics of sites based on transportation, wetlands, zoning, siting criteria, and many other issues. Review the information the administration generated so far, and provide direction to the administration to make the appropriate decision on their next steps. Brenner stated the councilmembers are not elected to trust the administration, but to balance the administration. She likes getting information when she wants it from the administration. She's very uncomfortable with anyone implying the councilmembers don't understand enough about the issue. They need to go slow with this issue. Caskey- Schreiber stated she agreed. It's not a matter of trust, but the administration's perspective versus a multitude of perspectives. It's better for the Council to exert its position now rather than later, after the administration spends money. Roy moved to remove reference to identifying sites within the urban growth areas. Fleetwood stated that limits their options. The Council is just looking at options. He asked if this is Councilmember Caskey - Schreiber's position to stay in Bellingham. Caskey- Schreiber stated it is not. There was consensus at the last meeting on this issue to look downtown first. That doesn't mean they won't consider the UGA, but explore downtown first. Roy stated that was her idea as well. That was the sense of the Council at its last meeting on this issue. There are two options at the opposite ends of the Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 7/13/2004, 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 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. spectrum. She supports looking at other parcels in Bellingham. If there aren't, they may have to move to the UGA's. Desler stated the administration would be happy to limit identifying sites to the city of Bellingham. He referenced the scope -of -work and asked what the Council does and does not want to see. (Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.) Brenner stated she wants to look first at the sites that are physically available, then decide which she's interested in, then have the review. Each councilmember will have to do that individually. That should save the County some money. McShane stated the scope already reflects specific areas within the city the contractor will work on. Motion failed 1 -2 with Roy in favor. Motion to approve carried unanimously. 3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND WESTCOAST COUNSELING & TREATMENT CENTER FOR OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES (AB2004 -269) Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council. Motion carried unanimously. 4. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND GENERAL TEAMSTERS LOCAL UNION NO. 231, SHERIFF'S SUPPORT STAFF BARGAINING UNIT, FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1, 2004 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2006 (AB2004 -270) McShane moved to recommend approval to the full Council. Motion carried unanimously. S. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE WHATCOM COUNTY SHERIFF TO LEASE THE APARTMENT LOCATED AT SILVER LAKE PARK AT 9006 SILVER LAKE ROAD, MAPLE FALLS, WA FOR A TOTAL OF $650 PER MONTH (AB2004 -271) Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council. Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 7/13/2004, Page 6 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 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 asked what this is for. Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the County owns a home through the Parks Department at Silver Lake Park. This is an accounting measure to show there is a cost to the Sheriff's Office and a benefit to the Parks Department. There is no change to the general fund. Crawford asked if the deputy has to report this benefit as income. It's a form of compensation. Marvette Gwinner, Accountant, stated the deputies don't report their housing as income. That is the same for Point Roberts and Baker Lake. Brad Bennett, Finance Division Manager, stated the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations say the housing compensation is not taxable when it's for the employer's convenience. Motion carried unanimously, OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m. Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription ATTEST: Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Sam Crawford, Committee Chair Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 7/13/2004, Page 7