HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 5 20031
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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
November 5, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 11:00 a.m. by Committee Chair Sam
Crawford in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present:
Sharon Roy
Also Present:
Dan McShane
Laurie Caskey- Schreiber
Barbara Brenner
Absent:
L. Ward Nelson
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE AND THE PORT OF BELLINGHAM TO PROVIDE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND SCREENING SERVICES TO THE BELLINGHAM
AIRPORT FOR OUTGOING COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS, IN THE AMOUNT
OF $267,450.84 (AB2003 -344)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated this item was handled by
administration. There's no need for Council action.
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEM
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY HEALTH
DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH
SERVICES TO SUPPORT SERVICES FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY
PROGRAMS TO PEOPLE REFERRED BY THE DEPT. OF DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES, IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,008,636 (AB2003 -356)
Terry Hinz, Assistant Director, stated this is the funding agreement from the
State for this biennium.
Crawford stated funding waivers between different treatment options that
needs funding. They have never been a position to provide as much service to the
developmental disability folks as is needed. These are folks they want to assist.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/5/2003, 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.
Roy stated services have dropped off. There are people with development
disabilities who are not in any kind of supported employment. Also, the
Developmental Disabilities Board is trying to focus on early intervention. They have
board members who are parents with children in the younger age range.
Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimous /y.
2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO APPROVE A
CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY HEALTH
DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH
SERVICES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR OUTPATIENT
SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN, CHILDREN,
ADULT DRUG COURT AND PREVENTION, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$381,373, FOR A TOTAL AMENDED CONTRACT FOR A TOTAL
AMENDED CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $2,824,829 (AB2003 -357)
Crawford stated he did not mean to infer that all substance abuse treatment
is fully funded. Some specific programs have no waiting list. The part of substance
abuse treatment they are lacking is the prevention part.
Crawford moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimous /y.
Roy asked about funding for prevention.
Andy Byrne, Human Services Manager, stated the total dollars going to
prevention are in two categories totaling $193,000. They also have another grant
for $30,000 for prevention. All that funding goes to administering one person's
full -time status and a lot of prevention activities.
Crawford asked if it includes tobacco. Byrne stated it does not.
Crawford asked what happened with a $37,000 expense they talked about
last year. Byrne stated that when the amount was $33,000 and they didn't like
that amount, he looked for other dollars within the entire budget to build it up. In
2004, contractual services for prevention are close to $100,000, which is still low.
Crawford asked the funding source for the $173,000, and asked what they're
doing with it. Byrne stated it's added to other grants totaling $193,000 to operate
the substance abuse prevention program, including administrative dollars and
operating expenses. The contractual service is close to $100,000. An example of
prevention is the Star Task Force and a contract with the Cooperative Extension's
Strengthening Families Program.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/5/2003, 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 asked if they go into the schools. Byrne stated they go into Meridian
School District and partner with the Bellingham School District.
Jackie Mitchell, Substance Abuse Program Specialist, stated schools can
apply for funding like anyone else can. This year, they were supposed to do a
certain amount of those best practice activities. They had to select several best
practice activities and feature them in the services they provide.
Byrne described a number of activities the Health Department is involved in.
3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO APPROVE A
CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY HEALTH
DEPARTMENT AND THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICES IN WHATCOM COUNTY, SUPPORTING BIOTERRORISM
PREVENTION AND DRINKING WATER PROGRAMS, IN THE AMOUNT
OF $138,950 FOR A TOTAL AMENDED CONTRACT AMOUNT OF
$1,676,913 (AB2003 -358)
Terry Hinz, Assistant Director, stated this is an amendment to the
consolidated contract, to add funding for this program for the next fiscal year.
There is a small amount for a drinking water program.
Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council. She asked the
portion of the emergency response budget this is for. Hinz stated it is for the
portion of work they are doing in the Health Department. He works with the
Division of Emergency Management, but this funding is specifically for public health
planning. A draft plan was submitted to the State Department of Health. This
funding will develop a plan for using the strategic national stockpile of drugs and
supplies they would use in an emergency. The rest is funding from the State
Department of Health that includes immunization, the Women /Infant /Children
program, and all the other programs.
Roy asked the connection between these programs and bio- terrorism.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated they all share the same funding
source.
Hinz stated that's why they call it a consolidated contract.
Roy stated $9,800 is for shellfish. She asked what that is for exactly. Hinz
stated they do some shellfish sampling periodically.
Motion carried unanimously.
4. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/5/2003, 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.
COUNTY AND HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATORS, INC.
FOR ADMINISTRATION AND CLAIMS PROCESSING FOR THE SELF -
INSURED EMPLOYEE MEDICAL BENEFIT PROGRAM, IN THE AMOUNT
OF $15.80 PER MEMBER PER MONTH (AB2003 -359)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated this affects many County
employees and their families. This recommendation has to do with the way they
manage claims through the self- insured health insurance program. The County has
used Regence for a number of years. A new provider is being recommended, which
would save the county $30,000 to $35,000 per year.
Crawford asked the old rate. Desler stated the old rate is $18.24.
Caskey- Schreiber asked for a plan comparison.
Karen Goens, Human Resources Division Manager, stated it's the same plan
with the same access. The company is a subsidiary of Regence, at a tremendously
lower cost.
Caskey- Schreiber asked for an example of a higher cost plan that is
referenced. She asked what would push someone into that category. Goens stated
the County previously had a co -pay plan. When someone exceeded the cap set by
the County, they had to pay that amount out -of- pocket to stay on the old plan.
The co -pay plan had a $10 co -pay versus a $20 co -pay on the new cap plan. There
were a couple of modest modifications to bring the plan cost down within the
contribution cap that is set as the Council's policy.
Desler stated the co -pay plan was about $56 per person per month more
than the $500 limit they established for 2003.
Goens stated that certain bargaining groups were given the option to stay
with the old plan at a cost of $56 per month, whether or not they received services.
Brenner asked about other changes besides the lower fee.
Crawford asked how they evaluate the service level. Goens stated she went
through a request for proposal (RFP) process and asked for service standards.
These folks meet the standards the County felt are acceptable. Regence is a large
entity. Whatcom County is the last remaining contract for Regence that is for
administrative services only. Their corporate headquarters kept moving toward
Portland, and their administrative costs kept getting higher. The County hasn't
been getting especially great service from Regence. The County will get better
service with the new organization.
Desler stated this new organization is the subsidiary of Regence that is
supposed to specialize in handling administrative claims only.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/5/2003, 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.
Goens stated the benefits will stay the same. It should be a seamless switch
for the employees.
Roy asked if there are still employees who have a choice between the plans.
Goens stated they have a choice every year during open enrollment. Once
someone moves to the new cap plan, that person can't move back. There are
about 60 employees still on the old plan.
Roy moved to recommend approval.
Caskey- Schreiber asked if this plan could cover massage, which is a valid
medical treatment for certain people. Goens stated it is a cost issue. She can find
out the price to include it.
McShane stated another approach is to reduce insurance costs by giving
employees options for their own medical and health well- being, such as health club
memberships. It reduces the number of claims filed. Goens stated she would look
at low -cost wellness techniques next year.
Motion carried unanimously.
S. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROVIDING WHATCOM COUNTY WITH A
GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO IMPLEMENT THE
MULTI - JURISDICTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE DATA INTEGRATION
PROJECT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $993,500 (AB2003 -360)
Crawford asked what they are specifically getting.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated this came out of the Law and
Justice Plan. The criminal justice system departments maintain different
information and file systems. Each department has to duplicate files and
information. It's very inefficient. Congress specifically added it as an
appropriation. The County has to tell the Department of Justice what they want to
do with the money.
There are two things the County is going to get from this project. The first is
the ability to have a single information system that everyone feeds into and
everyone draws out of. There won't be any duplication. Right now, it just includes
Whatcom County's justice agencies first, then they will expand to include City of
Bellingham courts and police, and then expand again to other cities and federal
entities.
Caskey- Schreiber asked if the weekend dispatch, provided by the City of
Bellingham, will have that information to relay to the sheriff deputies. Desler
stated it will.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/5/2003, 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.
(Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.)
Desler stated the second objective is making sure they have good
information about what is happening and the associated costs and timelines. Get
the system to put out information the County Council can use to make decisions
and set priorities. Fundamentally, it means that if this investment works, they
won't have to add more and more people to work in a broken and ineffective
system.
Crawford stated the contract is awarded to develop a bunch of software.
Then item 12 of the contract gives the County the right to sell the software to all
affected agencies. He asked if that's happening. Desler stated they have no plans
to sell the software.
Roy asked if they project a decrease in personnel as a result. Desler stated
he's asked that question to the managers in the justice system. When people say
they need more, the administration needs to ask what it will achieve from the
investment.
Roy asked if Whatcom County will work with the other cities and agencies.
Desler stated the Management Information System (MIS) Committee is working
closely with the County. Part of the money would pay for their programmer to
reset their systems. The County will hire a programmer and project coordinator.
The County will also have a sole source contract with Compu -Tech. There will be
another contract with the software developers for the long arm system. All those
contracts will come before the Council. This request accepts the money and
creates the obligation. A 2003 budget supplemental request will ask to get going
with this now. In the 2004 and 2005 budgets, money has been identified to
implement this program. The administration anticipates going back to Congress for
more money to do this.
Roy asked if it pays for hardware. Desler stated they may purchase servers.
Roy asked if there is software they can buy that does this. Desler stated
they have to take what has been created in the past in the departments, and create
a legacy system that ties them all together. They are going to use current
applications, but this project for the County is cutting edge in many ways.
Information systems is something they need to do. They have the support from
the federal government to finance it.
Roy asked about the administrative piece to be used by the decision - makers.
They still run into people who think they're not asking the right questions. Desler
stated the question is whether they are getting good information about what's
going on in the justice system. They tried to hire an evaluation coordinator.
Because that person was asking questions that were too sensitive, he was forced
out. They then hired another person that people in the justice system wanted
hired, but soon that person also asked questions that were too sensitive. Everyone
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/5/2003, 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.
is frustrated in trying to get people to share information on what's really going on.
He wants to get decision support information in the data integration project. That
means they will have to call into question the independent managers' decisions.
Often, they are reluctant to be accountable to other people.
Roy stated she's not sure how changing software will change that problem.
The departments are still going to take their data the way they want to take it.
Desler stated the Council and administration has to continue to ask the questions.
Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimously,
OTHER BUSINESS
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, submitted technical corrections and the
Council's work session amendments to the proposed 2004 budget. There will be a
separate letter issued later today from the Executive regarding the water resources
education issue.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:04 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
/X—E&i71
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Sam Crawford, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/5/2003, Page 7