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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget Finance October 29 20021 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. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Finance and Administrative Services Committee PROPOSED 2003 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET October 29, 2002 The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Committee Chair Sam Crawford in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington. Present: Absent: Dan McShane None Sharon Roy Also Present: L. Ward Nelson Barbara Brenner Seth Fleetwood DISCUSSION OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S 2003 RECOMMENDED BUDGET (PARKS, PUBLIC WORKS, SHERIFF AND JAIL, WHAT - COMM /COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS/ MEDIC ONE /ALL OTHER NON - DEPARTMENTAL, MISCELLANEOUS FOLLOW- UP)(AB2002 -370) PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT Roger DeSpain, Parks and Recreation Department Director, stated the Parks Department was able to absorb a ten percent reduction by increasing fees and charges. He tries to provide the best services for the citizens that the budget will allow. The budget for the year 2003 is one percent less than in 2002. The administration has done well in helping with difficult times. He submitted additional services requests (ASR's) for 2003, of which some were approved. Rob Bunnett, Recreation and Senior Services Manager, stated the senior centers are well attended by half of the population in Whatcom County. The senior centers are widely used in Whatcom County by numerous entities. Participants are satisfied with the services as shown in a recent survey. The volunteers are very dedicated and have contributed 38,000 hours, which is worth $265,000 of minimum wage work. There are many beneficial partnerships that provide even more services at the senior centers. The recreation program provides activities involving cultural arts and outdoor recreation. They have expanded services to focus on youth in the Teen Adventure Program (TAP). The cultural arts classes total 147 this year, which brings in Finance and Administrative Service Committee - 2003 Budget, 10/29/02, 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. revenue of $47,000 from 1,180 participants. Rental revenues from classes at the Roeder home offset some of the costs of operation. The outdoor program will provide 170 classes and activities. Class revenue helps to offset the costs of those programs. The projected revenue is $62,000, which is from 1,050 participants. The Teen Adventure Program started two and a half years ago. It works with local school districts and agencies. The projected revenue this year is $20,000, which is from 1,600 participants. There is funding for the next two years from a community grant. Lynne Givler, Parks Operations Manager, stated the Parks Department partners with agencies and organizations for parks and trails, including the Land Trust, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and City of Bellingham. Improvements to many park facilities have been made. The new covered picnic area at Hovander Homestead Park has been popular and generated more revenue. 2002 has been the final year for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transitional plan. They have upgraded several restrooms and parking pads at park facilities. The Parks Department operates and maintains 41 miles of trails, which attracts 126,000 users. The rental rates increased 10 percent in June for rental properties. Special events at park facilities this year totaled 22, with the biggest being the Highland Games. DeSpain stated the Hovander Homestead Park was used for a trial movie setting and is being evaluated for use for a civil war setting movie. The Lions Foundation has provided a grant for maintenance and upgrades at Bay Horizon Park. The outside worker program can be used as an in -kind match. A local youth rugby club is looking for a place to play, and possibly may use park property. McShane stated he is concerned about the lifeguard situation at Lake Samish. DeSpain stated that lifeguards will be there in 2003. Crawford questioned whether the parking lot at the Stimson property would be coordinated with the widening of Lake Louise Road. DeSpain stated it will be. Crawford asked if the parking lot would be included in the bid for the road widening. DeSpain stated it will not. It will be a very small parking lot that could be expanded as time goes on. Crawford asked if the Olson estate will have signed trails. DeSpain stated they are working on the management agreement right now. It looks like they will have trails. DNR has allowed access to a number of companies to build cellular phone towers. Finance and Administrative Service Committee - 2003 Budget, 10/29/02, 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 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 stated there needs to be a better parking lot there, and signs need to be put up. The public should have access. DeSpain stated structures there need to come down and hazardous material needs to be removed this winter. Signage and parking will happen in 2003. Signing is not that expensive, but is a good way to control the property. Cleanup will happen this winter and spring, then signs will be put up. He tried to get on the agenda for the Sudden Valley annual meeting on November 2nd, but he didn't make it. Instead, he will put information about the parcels in the community newsletter. They will work to make official trails for access that won't offend the Sudden Valley residents, and that will works for the Parks Department. They need to have docents to help establish the trails. Crawford asked if the trail to the Stimson property would be open through the back access to Sudden Valley. DeSpain stated those back accesses will be closed from the beginning. There are too many people using those back accesses right now. DNR is really concerned about a wetland issue, and they need to respect that. He will work with the Sudden Valley community about where the best access should be. Crawford stated the property was privately owned, there was no controlled access, and people used the many trails that are there. He asked if the County is telling people that they can't access the property the way they've been accustomed to now that the County is turning it into a park. DeSpain stated that is correct, for good reasons. There are areas that should not have trails. Over time, they can accommodate most of the residents' needs. When there are accesses from private backyards, then 30 or 40 access points develop. It doesn't make good sense for how the land is to be used. Docents will explain to the residents how and why the park is to be used. That's also why he wanted to meet with the Sudden Valley residents. Roy questioned the fees for service. She asked for general information on fee increases. DeSpain stated all the fees were increased by ten percent this last year. He will continue to look at raising fees where they can. If the fees get too high, some families will not use the facilities. Nelson questioned the donation program. DeSpain stated the Whatcom Park and Recreation Foundation is in place. Dollars are donated for very specific tasks. There are also donation boxes at several campgrounds. Nelson asked if they can capitalize on people who would raise money for trail maintenance costs as new trails are blazed. DeSpain agreed. There are specific trail donation programs. Finance and Administrative Service Committee - 2003 Budget, 10/29/02, 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 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 he is concerned about non - patrolled forest areas where four wheelers can come in during the course of a weekend and blaze a road, cut trees, build fences, and do other destructive things. DeSpain stated he agreed. The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce wants to take over a property and turn it into a neighborhood park. This is another example of an organization taking on park development and maintenance. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Jeff Monsen, Public Works Department Director, provided information on their line item budget and narratives (on file). The department organizational chart is the same as last year, except for the temporary deputy road engineer position that will serve until the county road engineer position is filled. The Engineering Division staff has been adjusted so there is an environmental special projects unit. In the River and Flood Division, there is one less staff person so they could hire a geographic information system (GIS) coordinator instead. He introduced his staff. The ending Road fund balance will decrease from $11 million in 2002 to less than $3 million in 2008. That decrease assumes 100 percent is collected on revenue and 100 percent is expended. A revised estimate for those six years is closer to reality. It assumes that 95 percent of the revenue is collected, and 95 of the expenditures actually occur, except in the road maintenance column, which historically has a 100 percent expenditure rate, and in the road construction column, which historically has a 75 percent expenditure and revenue rate. That is the more likely scenario over time. He provided revenue and expenditure trends in the solid waste fund. Because of interlocal agreements with the cities for solid waste management, the budget is recommended by the Solid Waste Executive Committee, which is made up of the County Executive and all the mayors in the county. Procedurally, that body and the County Council has to agree on the budget. The budget for the Flood Control Zone District fund begins to take into account program adjustments so they can afford what they propose to do. The water resource fund doesn't contain any information for 2004 and 2005. In 2003, they will make lots of decisions about what they will do in the future, and how they finance what they do. The joint board fund has a relationship with the water resource fund through 2003, but it is tied to the conclusion of the project and presumably ends at the end of next year. Mary Green is responsible for the Equipment Services Division. The majority of what she uses involves the equipment rental and revolving (ER &R) fund, which is an asset management internal service fund that allows a perpetual balance in Finance and Administrative Service Committee - 2003 Budget, 10/29/02, 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. revenue and expenditures. Every dollar in this fund also moves somewhere else in the County. That's why it is reported as a balance sheet. From the various funds that the Public Works Department manages, he tried to capture the transfers into other areas of the County for other programs. Brenner questioned declining revenue in the programs, and whether the County is recouping losses from the cities when the County does road work in urban growth areas. (Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.) Monsen said that the formulas are reasonable, but they've never had to exercise that formula. Brenner stated that the James Street and Bakerview project did not seem reasonable. Monsen said that location is unique in the county because one can only get into that unincorporated area of the county through the City of Bellingham. For that area, the County is transferring to the City of Bellingham the fuel tax revenue for unincorporated roadways for this area. In exchange, the City of Bellingham is responsible for 100 percent of any capital improvements in the James Street and Bakerview Road area. That agreement was reached after the intersection was signalized. Brenner stated the City is promising an urban level of service in the King Mountain development, but the County will suffer the impacts if the area isn't annexed. She asked whether or not the County should be providing an urban level of service. There would be no urban level of services if the City didn't agree to provide those services. There should be an agreement that the City must maintain an urban level of roads, with or without annexation. Monsen stated the County can't make a city annex an area. However, the County tries to encourage logical annexation so it can avoid a lot of these problems. It is not uncommon for the County to provide an urban level of service for transportation around the county. Brenner stated the County should appeal to the Hearings Board if a city is going to extend services to an area that is not annexed, and it is not for health and safety reasons. Monsen stated this topic should be pursued when Planning Department staff are present. Crawford asked how closely is the money audited that goes through the Public Works Department. The Public Works Department has close to half of the County's annual budget. Monsen stated it is the same as how all departments are managed. He invites the internal auditor to come out and see how things are done. There is another level of audit and oversight of the road funds because of the County's relationship with the Department of Transportation and the County Road Administration Board. He is comfortable that there is proper oversight of the operations of the Public Works Department. Finance and Administrative Service Committee - 2003 Budget, 10/29/02, 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. Crawford questioned the cash handling done at the ferry terminals. Monsen said that there is substantial oversight there. There is a lot of interest in cash handling in general in the County's operations. On the ferry, they have found operational issues and corrected them. In the most recent audit activity, the State auditors were impressed with the cash handling activity. Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated that the Public Works Department and every department follows the policies and procedures of the administration and is fully integrated into the Finance Division, including payroll and accounts payable. The Executive's Office works with the Public Works Department on contracts and programs. Monsen stated that the County Council sees a higher percentage of the financial management issues than other departments because of the magnitude of contracting work that requires Council approval. Crawford questioned what equipment replacement will be needed next year. Monsen handed out the equipment list for replacement purposes. They are built into the base budget as ongoing replacement. They are not additional service requests. Roy asked about the ferry tolls. Monsen stated they haven't changed anything regarding the ferry tolls yet. He is still collecting historical ferry use information since the rate increase last spring so he can determine how much new revenue would be generated. That revenue may go up a little. A portion of the fuel tax generated across the state is set aside for county- operated ferries, such as Whatcom County's ferry. Nelson questioned the drop in grant funding. Monsen stated grant funding is tied to specific projects. He would need to look closer at the six -year road program to determine the reason for the drop in grant funding and get back to the committee. SHERIFF AND JAIL Sheriff Dale Brandland, Sheriff, he can't factor in homicide investigations into the budget, beyond the fact that there will be two or three investigations each year. Significant events have happened this year. So far, they've seen a nine percent increase in the number of events that have happened. For the last two or three years, the number of events has been consistent. The budget reflects a one percent decrease. The impact of the death of Deputy Matt Herzog impacted the department a lot, and they lost a few deputies as a result of that death. Hiring new deputies is a long process. Finance and Administrative Service Committee - 2003 Budget, 10/29/02, 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 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. Roy asked if the nine percent increase in events is only for homicides. Brandland stated it is not. It is a nine percent increase in calls for service. Deane Sandell, Undersheriff, stated they are up 2,000 calls from the same time last year. Roy questioned the reason for the increase. Brandland stated he was not sure why there was an increase. Roy asked if the department was fully staffed. Brandland said they are down two people. They have had to replace ten people since the death of Deputy Herzog on September 13, 2001. Sandell stated they have hired about 40 people this year and last year. The hiring process is cumbersome. All the screening, polygraphs, and other testing is done in- house. McShane questioned whether there was a particular area of the county that was responsible for the increase in calls. Brandland stated he couldn't say for sure, but he would do a query. It seems that the increased calls are from across the county equally. McShane questioned if the Sheriff's Office was involved much in State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklists. Sandell stated they are. They looked at the issue of impact fees some time ago. He would like to see the issue explored more. Birch Bay has been a problem, and the Sheriff's Office has created more of a presence out there and cracked down on citations and other problems. There were 1,200 calls from there last year, half of which were in the summer months. Roy stated that the seasonal nature is changing a lot in Birch Bay, and there is a lot more growth out there. The area is in transition from a strict resort area to a more family- oriented area. Brenner questioned whether there could be a plan to fund more deputies in Birch Bay utilizing Birch Bay money. Brandland stated there have been attempts to do that, but there are funding mechanism problems. The Birch Bay community doesn't really have the organization there to tax their residents to provide such a service. Sandell stated he did not see specialized funding happening without the area incorporating. Nelson stated that the tax increase that Council approved two years ago helped with funding and allowed the Sheriff's Office to hire deputies. Brandland said they have been behind the curve for so long that it is hard to gauge where Finance and Administrative Service Committee - 2003 Budget, 10/29/02, Page 7 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. they are now, but they are gaining ground. He got eight new deputies when they needed twenty -five. Jail Brandland stated that 80 percent of the prisoners in the jail are felony prisoners. It is increasingly difficult to get people into the jail because it is too full, which makes it difficult to get the people into alternative programs. Corrections Chief Wendy Jones wrote a grant for $300,000 for each of three years for a mental health triage center. If the grant is approved, the people won't go to the jail at all. They will go to the triage center. Crawford asked if they could provide funds for this program by displacing funds spent in the jail. Wendy Jones, Chief of Corrections, stated that because 80 percent of the population is felony, a minimal amount of money is available because those folks aren't eligible for the triage center. They want to fund the triage center with a multitude of different funding sources with minimal or no impact to the general fund. The triage center will help with the mental offenders, and get them medications and into alternative programs so that they will not be repeat offenders. There is not any one thing that will alleviate the problem of jail overcrowding. The number of people they are booking is now starting to fall because the people in jail now aren't leaving. The average daily population is maximized. There is a huge increase in the number of felons who enter jail and don't leave. The District Court judges are very frustrated because they can't get some people in jail. Crawford stated that he is very supportive of the triage center. Nelson questioned whether they are close to getting the capital facilities planning done this year so they know where to go with this. Desler said it will be done in 2003. By this time next year, the Council will see options come forward regarding basic recommendations. As they discuss the budget next year, they will be ready to appropriate money for engineering and architectural work for whatever the County decides to do. Nelson stated police officers can't make arrests because there is no room in the jail. Brandland stated that is not uncommon. It's not uncommon for a police officer to stop someone on the street who has a warrant and not be able to arrest them because there is no room at the jail. People come in to voluntarily serve their sentence and they have to turn them away because there is no room. They also have to release people early. McShane stated an additional request was for five deputies for the jail, including one full -time personnel. The administration denied the request. (Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side 8.) Finance and Administrative Service Committee - 2003 Budget, 10/29/02, Page 8 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. Jones stated the staff knew it was a tight budget year. She felt the need to put in the request because the need is there, but she is realistic about the budget. Brandland stated that his purpose in submitting the additional services requests was just to let the Council know what the department needs. Roy questioned whether the Sheriff's Office is getting the technology that it needs. Brandland stated that the department is linked to many other entities and departments. It would not be responsible to create a system that doesn't address the rest of the law and justice system. He's been working with the administration on the management information system (MIS). ALL OTHER NON - DEPARTMENTAL Crawford questioned why the medical examiner position and service receives $266,000. Desler stated that the contract is with a medical doctor with a small staff. The contract had an escalator clause in it regarding growth and population and the consumer price index. The contract ends at the end of this year. There would probably be a modest extension to the existing contract, and then the County would refine the contract and send it out to bid again. Crawford requested a report of what the medical examiner and the staff actually do for all the money that they get. Desler stated there is a lot of work in murder and death investigations. He has talked with the Police Department and Sheriff's Office and others. There has been nothing but positive feedback regarding the Medical Examiner. Whatcom County has three different arrangements. There is a long -term lease on the State Street building, a lease on a County morgue. Crawford stated those costs are not included in this amount. Desler stated that is correct. The County also has a contract with the medical examiner. The person is not an employee of the County. The County Charter requires a medical examiner. The administration wants to make recommendations in the future on making adjustments to the system. Crawford stated he can't see how this contract can be so high monetarily if they look at professional services billing on an average. Desler stated that the administration has not had the time yet to evaluate this. The administration intends to devote more time to this after the budget process is complete. Desler stated that the administration needs to put out a request for professional services or qualifications process. Crawford stated that this has nothing to do with the quality of the work that has been performed. He has no complaints about the quality of the medical examiner's work. Finance and Administrative Service Committee - 2003 Budget, 10/29/02, Page 9 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. Desler stated not many non - departmental changes are proposed. Alcoa would make some contributions to County Government. They contributed $15,000 in general fund money in the past, and now they are assigning $21,000 in Alcoa money for that function. Brenner questioned why no money was allocated for the Sean Humphrey Hospice house. Desler stated the County Executive gave $5,000 to the Sean Humphrey House in 2001. Whatcom County does not place offers on the table for community groups to ask for money. Groups need to come forward themselves and ask for money. Roy stated there is a budget item in the amount of $7,500 for the Bellingham /Whatcom Chamber of Commerce Industry and Business Service Center. There is also a budget item in the amount of $50,000 for the Economic Development Council (EDC). The County Convention and Visitor's Bureau also receives funding. She asked if these funds are increases. Desler stated the administration submitted a memo earlier on how much it is spending on economic development efforts. The Chamber of Commerce requested $30,000 for the Business and Service Center. The Executive has asked that the County support the Economic Development Council (EDC) to maintain the goals of the EDC. Crawford stated that the EDC would lobby the Council about this at the final budget hearing. This increase is the only increase that the Executive recommends that is not funded from other sources. Roy stated she would like to have a discussion about the relationship between the EDC, Chamber, and all the economic development entities. Crawford stated the Port of Bellingham came up with a proposal where the EDC would be folded into the Port of Bellingham. The Port did that with the contingency that the County's rural economic development dollars would be funneled into the new entity. The County's reaction was that it is inappropriate for the Port to manage the County's rural economic dollars. The attorney general's opinion is that the County can now use those funds for facility maintenance and improvements. He advocated that the County remain in charge of those funds. That seemed to nix the proposal that the EDC would be folded into the Port, although the discussion is still happening. The EDC is desperate for some funding, or else it will fold. The EDC is approaching the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, the Port, and other entities to ask for significant levels of funding. Desler stated there was a thought in the local economic development community that the rural sales tax money can be used for a lot of things, but it can only be used for capital facilities. It can't be used for operations. The Executive wants to collaborate with the City, Port, and EDC to sustain an economic development effort in the county. The County is also trying to support the Chamber of Commerce. The private money from the community is not as lucrative as it could be to support these efforts. Finance and Administrative Service Committee - 2003 Budget, 10/29/02, Page 10 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. Crawford stated this is a discussion the full Council should have. Keep in mind that the Council does not approve the budget until November 12. The EDC wants to present its case at that time. (Clerks Note: Councilmember McShane left the meeting 11:00 a.m.) Desler stated the County and City of Bellingham are communicating regarding ambulance services and emergency communications. There is a modest increase in the cost of emergency communications. There is a reduction in the cost of ambulance services. The estimated amount budgeted for animal control is $285,000, and could be slightly less or slightly more, depending on the fee revenue generated by the contract. Crawford asked if the councilmembers can get an accounting of projects that the legislative specialist has worked on. The County needs to show the citizens that the $14,000 the County is spending for the lobbyist is bringing transportation dollars into the County. Jim Miller, Council of Governments, stated he would provide that information. Crawford stated the post transportation summit is a new thing. He asked if Alcoa dollars are paying for it. Desler stated they are. Brenner questioned what the LEARN acronym stands for. Desler stated that it is the Law Enforcement Administrative Radio Network. It is the operation that covers the cost of the Sheriff's Office communication system. Desler stated there is a Law and Justice Council support item in the amount of $38,000. The money is matched by the City of Bellingham. The contract for it comes from the County. The other contract has to do with data collection and evaluation of what they are doing with law and justice system efforts. The administration wants to discuss with the Council the work program of that person for the coming year. Brenner questioned the money that comes in for the County Employee Recognition Picnic. She thought that the money for that came from the Executive's pocket. Desler stated that sometimes the Executive pays it for personally. Sometimes the Executive raises donations from local businesses. If the money comes into the County for it, there has to be an expenditure item to match it. There has always been information about the contributors, which include Intalco, Alcoa, and Haggen. The administration is only requesting expenditure authority to spend money that is collected from the community. The expenditures are offset by revenue that is collected privately. Finance and Administrative Service Committee - 2003 Budget, 10/29/02, Page 11 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. Brenner questioned what the sister county effort is. Desler stated the County did not use any of these funds in 2002. Whatcom County is developing a sister county relationship with a county in South Korea. It has trade implications in the community. The administration anticipates developing a sister county relationship with a county in China, near Peking. If they need to spend money that they can spend legally to promote that effort, then the administration will do that. Brenner asked for an explanation of the Civil Service Commission. Desler stated the County has a commission that provides a layer of administration for the hiring and disciplining of the Sheriff's Office staff that operates under the Civil Service rules. That is required by the County Code. Roy questioned the Whatcom Volunteer Center. Desler stated the County contracts with the Whatcom Volunteer Center, which helps the County attract, place, and oversee volunteers that work in County government. Crawford stated the Whatcom Volunteer Center provides a report on an annual basis. The contract is a bargain for the County. Crawford asked for an explanation of non - departmental agency requests numbers 49 and 51. Desler stated the administrative cost allocation referenced in number 51 is associated to the non - departmental section. It goes into the administrative services fund. Item 49 is to budget the money for wage increases that the administration anticipates for miscellaneous non - departmental salaries and wages as a part of union contracts for 2003. It is a correction to reflect an increase of $1.3 million. Crawford stated it is a wage increase that they anticipate but have not included in the budgets for each department. Desler stated that when the County Council approves it, that $1.3 million would transfer to the appropriate departments based on union agreements. Brenner suggested that there be signs during the employee recognition picnic in addition to the listings on the program, that show the local businesses that contribute donations. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 11:22 a.m. Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Finance and Administrative Service Committee - 2003 Budget, 10/29/02, Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 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, WASHINGTON Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk Sam Crawford, Committee Chair Finance and Administrative Service Committee - 2003 Budget, 10/29/02, Page 13