HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget November 6 20011
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
PROPOSED 2002 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET
November 6, 2001
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Committee Chair Robert
Imhof in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Sam Crawford None
Marlene Dawson
Also Present:
L. Ward Nelson
DISCUSSION OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S 2002 RECOMMENDED
BUDGET (AB2001 -206)
Imhof moved to recommend the budget as presented.
Imhof moved to amend the budget. The Auditor's Office will charge the
County Council Office more for recording fees than was what brought forward
originally. He moved to put $949 into the Council budget for this item.
Motion carried unanimously.
Crawford moved to amend the budget to add $15,000 for conservation plans
done by the Conservation District. The maximum to be spent on the plans is
$15,000. The plans for which people have already applied would be fully funded.
The plans for which people apply after this date would be funded 50 percent, with
the remaining 50 percent to be funded by the applicant. Plans begun in 2003
would be funded 100 percent by the applicant.
Imhof stated he tried to talk to George Boggs but couldn't contact him.
Crawford stated this is an important part of the critical area ordinance. They
were trying to do it in a way that gave people the most incentive with the least
financially painful way. However, because a development permit application or
some new use activates these things, it makes sense to let people begin footing the
bill for it. Theoretically, the applicant would also benefit from the use. It is a
compromise to ramp the project down. Allow the people who have already applied
with the expectation of getting funding to get funding. The Conservation District
can let people know that the funding will be reduced.
Special County Council - 2002 Budget, 11/6/2001, Page 1
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Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the administration would
approve of the funding structure. It would be a one -time expenditure coming out
of the fund balance.
Motion carried unanimously.
Desler stated that when the administration presents the formal budget for a
hearing on November 13, the budget will include $40,000 in additional revenue
from the City of Bellingham to support the Law and Justice Council. There is also
additional revenue in the form of a grant to Veteran's Relief.
A large project they have not begun is the jail remodeling. It is a
complicated project that was approved for the 2001 budget. The Facilities
Management Division has not been able to get the difficult elements of the remodel
worked out. The money that is there would roll back into the general fund. The
administration can come back to the Council with a supplemental budget request
once the engineering is complete, or the Council can put the money into the 2002
budget. He preferred to do it as a supplemental budget request. Because of the
complications, the administration has not been able to initiate the remodel properly
this year.
Also, the deputy sheriff settlement is unclear. Even though the arbitrator has
made a decision, there may be an appeal by the guild on that settlement. The full
impact to the County is not yet clear.
Imhof stated that at this time, it is easier to handle the remodel and the
deputy sheriff labor negotiation as supplemental budget requests, as the financial
numbers become clearer. Desler stated the administration agrees. There are other
issues related to a couple of small grant- funded programs and have no policy
implications. They are just small technical adjustments.
Imhof asked for information on one page on the remodel, the sheriff's guild,
and the technical corrections.
Crawford suggested that next year the administration include on the
additional services request (ASR) form the information on the amount currently
budgeted for an item, in addition to the additional request.
Dawson questioned where the Sudden Valley foot bridge is located.
Jeff Monsen, Public Works Director, stated it was added to the road program
as an alternate project. If one of the projects that is fully financed does not
happen, then an alternate project can come forward.
Dawson asked if alternate projects become priority projects the next year.
Monsen stated it does if the Council approves it in the six -year road program.
Special County Council - 2002 Budget, 11/6/2001, Page 2
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Motion to recommend approval of the budget as amended carried
unanimously.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
These minutes were approved by Council on , 2001.
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Robert Imhof, Committee Chair
Special County Council - 2002 Budget, 11/6/2001, Page 3