HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 26 20021
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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 26, 2002
The meeting was called to order at 12:02 p.m. by Committee Chair Sam
Crawford in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Dan McShane None
Sharon Roy
Also Present:
Laurie Caskey- Schreiber
Barbara Brenner
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2002 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, 11T"
REQUEST (AB2002 -395)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated there is a substitute ordinance.
He read the list of the requests.
Crawford stated the big item is the wage settlement for Sheriff's Office
employees. He asked if the money was in the 2002 budget. Desler stated not all
of it. This request provides for the pay out of the pay award over a multi -year
period. There is an arbitrator agreement not to sign, but the County is obligated to
pay it.
Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimously.
2. ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 99 -053 AUTHORIZING EXCESS
CASH IN CERTAIN FUNDS TO BENEFIT THE SAME (AB2002 -393)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated he has talked to the Council
about assigning revenues from cash balances of all funds into the general fund.
That's what they used to balance the budget in 2003. The County has over 60
funds. This takes the last four funds that still have an exclusion clause for the
interest to accrue into their own fund, and assign the interest to the general fund.
It is a legal and appropriate thing to do. The only fund that would remain as a
separate fund is the Whatcom County Drug Fund, which has federal requirements
on the interest. It's the third largest source of revenue for the County.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/26/2002, 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.
Crawford asked how much the interest is on the drug task force money.
Desler stated it is about 3.4 percent per year. He'll have to look up the numbers.
It is approximately $20,000 per year.
Roy asked how the various department heads feel about this. Desler stated
they have been very supportive.
Roy asked if these funds that collect interest are used. Desler stated the
funds are used.
McShane moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimously.
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEM
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO APPROVE THE
AWARD OF BID #02 -92, FOR THE UPGRADE OF THE HVAC SYSTEM IN
SUPERIOR COURTROOM #1 TO THE SOLE BIDDER, EBENAL GENERAL,
INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $81,356.60 (AB2002 -405)
McShane moved to recommend approval.
Crawford abstained. He stated that his company is engaged with this
contractor on another matter.
Motion carried 2 -0 -1 with Crawford abstaining.
2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO APPROVE THE
AWARD OF BID #02 -102 TO RE -ROOF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
BUILDING, TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER, WESTERN
ROOFING, IN THE AMOUNT OF $145,481.57 (AB2002 -406)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the roof now is twenty years old.
The roof leaks now. The repair work can only be done during a cold part of the
year, due to the nature of the materials. He's concerned about what they will find.
Mike Russell, Facilities Division Manager, stated the roof now is a pitch tar
roof, which is carcinogenic. The work is being done at night while they shut down
the air system of the courthouse. They tent the handlers. The new roof will be a
membrane roof. This cost does not include replacing wet styrofoam insulation.
There will be a change order to this request, based on how much insulation needs
to be replaced. The current insulation is high- density poly insulation. They have to
be careful that the new poly insulation is totally dry.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/26/2002, 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.
Crawford asked if they are eliminating the possibility of adding more floors to
the jail. Russell stated the codes have changed, and they might not be able to do it
according to codes. Structurally, they can still go up.
Desler stated the administration is looking into the possibility of adding more
floors.
McShane asked the reason for the huge variation in the bids. Russell stated
that when he went out for bid, he asked for the replacement cost for roof and a
square footage cost to replace the wet insulation, so everyone is bidding on the
same thing. In the bid, they also asked for a small structural engineering study.
When they strip the roof, they must have a structural engineer come in and say the
structure is okay. Some people came to look at the project, and some people
didn't. Many people just throw money at a government project. Sometimes there
is a single bidder.
Roy asked if bidders have to demonstrate their knowledge. Russell stated
they demonstrate that they have experience with like jobs. They are not required
to go to the site on small jobs. The County gets more bidders that way.
McShane moved to recommend approval.
Motion carried unanimously.
3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO APPROVE THE
AWARD OF BID #02 -103 TO REPLACE THE ROOF OF THE CIVIC
CENTER BUILDING TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER, PACIFIC
TECH CONSTRUCTION, IN THE AMOUNT OF $37,894.48 (AB2002 -407)
Caskey- Schreiber asked if they could show preference to a local company if
there is a slight difference in the bids.
Mike Russell stated they could not. The award has to go to the low bid
according to the State law.
McShane moved to recommend approval.
Motion carried unanimously.
4. RESOLUTION ORDERING THE CANCELLATION OF OUTSTANDING
WARRANTS ON INMATE TRUST ACCOUNT (AB2002 -408)
McShane moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimously.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/26/2002, 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.
S. RESOLUTION ORDERING THE CANCELLATION OF WARRANTS MORE
THAN A YEAR OLD (AB2002 -409)
Roy moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimously.
6. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE WASHINGTON STATE NURSES ASSOCIATION
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT (AB2002 -410)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated this is the first of a number of
agreements that will come forward soon. The provisions in this agreement meet
the parameters laid out by the County Council.
McShane moved to recommend approval.
Motion carried unanimously.
7. RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION 2002 -029, APPROVING A
SALARY SCHEDULE AND POLICIES FOR UNREPRESENTED WHATCOM
COUNTY EMPLOYEES FOR THE YEAR 2002 (AB2002 -411)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated this is a housekeeping resolution
to apply some of the rulings to the Sheriff's Office management staff that came out
of the arbitrator's award for the deputy sheriffs. For many years, they've tried to
keep the managers, who are part of the unrepresented resolution, consistent with
the kinds of provisions in the arbitrator's award. This resolution calculates the
recognition and retention premium. This resolution brings the Sheriff's
management staff in line with that method of calculation.
Crawford asked if there would be similar requests for retroactive funding.
Desler stated the total request is for $4,000.
McShane moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimously.
8. RESOLUTION APPROVING A SALARY SCHEDULE AND POLICIES FOR
UNREPRESENTED WHATCOM COUNTY EMPLOYEES FOR THE YEAR
2003 (AB2002 -412)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated this brings the wage rates up by
two percent. It provides an additional one percent step, which is the second phase
of the step increase. It provides for the retirement health savings account. The
Administration has discussed this with the County Council previously. It brings sick
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/26/2002, 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.
leave into conformance with State law. It sets the County's contribution cap of
$500 per employee for the health plan.
Brenner asked if the County would also change the health policy. She asked
if the County could go to a more modest plan. Desler stated the administration is
looking at approaches in the future that may allow for those kinds of things.
Brenner stated the County Council voted in the past to increase the amount
the County would pay on orthodontia work. She asked if they would look at a more
modest plan for dental work, also. Desler stated they need to determine the best
value for the employee, while maintaining a reasonable cost to the County. The
dental plan has stabilized.
McShane moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Motion carried unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated there is a presentation on
emergency medical services (EMS) and a proposed levy next Tuesday from 1:00
p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the County Council Chambers.
Crawford asked if the Executive would make a recommendation on whether
the Council should support the concept of a levy. Desler stated the Executive
supports a levy. If an election were to take place, it would be a mail -in ballot paid
for by the Medic One budget. The administration is still reviewing the levy rate.
The range is from $ .39 to $ .42. The presentation will discuss what the different
rate amounts will buy.
Crawford requested that there be a presentation showing the math, where
the rates are explained based on current tax assessed valuation, so the current
amount the City and County are paying is 21.4 cents per $1,000 of property
valuation. At the previous EMS meeting, he had trouble explaining that to
everyone. Desler stated that today, the levy rate would be about $ .22. The cost
of existing Medic One service is $ .26. The levy would allow them to build a
reserve.
(Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.)
Desler continued to state that this is an informational only meeting. The
administration will introduce an ordinance at the County Council meeting on
December 10.
Desler stated the administration is working on a 120 -day extension to the
medical examiner and morgue agreement.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/26/2002, 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.
The administration is also looking at a lease for the Health Department space
at the health center.
In January or February, they will begin monthly progress reports on master
facilities planning.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:53 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, 11/26/2002, Page 6