HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance January 23 20011
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
January 23, 2001
The meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.m. by Committee Member Robert
Imhof in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Also Present: Absent:
Sam Crawford None
Marlene Dawson
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE CHAIR (AB2001 -023)
Crawford nominated Imhof.
Dawson seconded the nomination.
Motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 20.04.092,
REFUND PROCEDURES (AB2001 -029)
Hoag questioned how much staff work would be involved 90 days after the
date of the application.
Sylvia Goodwin, Planning Division Manager, stated it depends on when it is
scheduled. If it is for Comprehensive Plan amendments, the application comes into
the department, the department sets up a file, does geographic information system
(GIS) maps, accumulates the background information on critical areas, and goes
through the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) process. Other than that,
the staff probably would not have done much on it. It depends on when it is
scheduled. This year, they scheduled 15 over a four to six month period. The ones
that are scheduled sooner will have staff reports written. It's possible that a staff
member will have written a staff report on it. Staff will not have sent out the public
notice to the property owners or put the sign up on the site. A lot of times,
attorneys will put in the application and then wait for the staff report. If the staff
report says it's a bad idea, then the applicant withdraws the application for a full
refund. That is what happens regularly. It used to be that if the staff report did
not recommend approving the application, the applicant would put it on hold until
there was new staff or a new Council. They don't do that anymore. There is now a
one -year process. When she started working for the County, there were about 50
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 1/23/2001, Page 1
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on hold waiting for a more favorable report. Those are the kinds that use a lot of
public money.
Hoag stated she wanted to know if 50 percent of an application fee would
represent the work the staff had put into the application, or if the County would
lose money by doing that. She questioned the costs of the various tasks. Goodwin
stated the background research and staff report would take up about half of the
cost. The rest of the cost would be attending the hearing, making the presentation,
notification, and doing the minutes and ordinance. Staff felt that 50 percent was
fair.
Crawford questioned how much the fee currently is. Goodwin stated a
Comprehensive Plan amendment costs $400. If it's associated with a rezone, the
cost is another $1,200.
Motion to recommend approval carried unanimously.
2. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2001 BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 1 (AB2001-
031)
Dawson moved to recommend approval.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated this came from the Health and
Human Services Department for a program to build childcare capacity for special
childcare needs. The amount is for $23,000. In addition, there is a request of
$2,705 from the County Council Office for videotaping services.
Dawson stated $30,000 is available under the contract, but the County is
asking for $23,000. She questioned whether they are going to make an additional
request for the additional $7,000 that is available from the Health and Human
Services grant.
Terry Hinz, Health and Human Services, stated this is it. There is a contract
for $30,000, but they can only spend $23,000. They weren't able to come up with
a plan to spend the other $7,000.
Hoag questioned why they would approve a contract for $30,000. Hinz
stated it is a boilerplate amount from the state for all the counties.
Desler stated that if the department finds that it can use the additional
$7,000 appropriately, then it would come back to ask for the expenditure authority.
Crawford requested clarification on what the money will be spent on. The
memorandum information says they will conduct routine home visits.
Carole Allen, Interim Community Health and Wellness Manager, stated the
work is to be done by a current Health Department public health nurse, working
with other providers in the community in childcare to increase the ability to provide
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 1/23/2001, Page 2
1 childcare slots to children with special healthcare needs. The work the nurse has
2 been doing still needs to be done. The department will hire someone part time to
3 fill her .3 position. When the scope of work is complete, the temporary person will
4 no longer be employed. They are still in the process of figuring out exactly what
5 steps will be taken in Whatcom County. They will look at what makes it difficult to
6 provide childcare for special needs children. The problem could be the need for
7 training, or connecting parents with childcare providers who can do that.
8
9 Crawford asked if the videotaping cost is an increase over last year. Desler
10 stated it is. Changes have occurred. Whatcom County has a franchise agreement
11 with AT &T for the use of a public educational and governmental access. From the
12 County's perspective, recent changes with AT &T have breached the franchise
13 agreement. They transferred the access to the City of Bellingham, which created a
14 video and public affairs office. The City of Bellingham sent notice to the County
15 that the city wants the County to pay for half the cost. The County refused, and
16 decided the agreement was breached as a result of AT &T's action. AT &T claimed
17 they did it with some consultation with the County. The County did not agree to
18 their actions. One of the two issues is now an arrangement where the City of
19 Bellingham wants to charge the County for the arrangement. The County said no,
20 and that AT &T has to bring the County back into compliance. The agreement
21 between the city and AT &T is for the City to accept the County's videotapes for $50
22 each, which the County has been paying to the City of Bellingham. There is nothing
23 in writing at this point. It is all informal. The city could stop that arrangement at
24 any time. The County's problem is not with the City of Bellingham. Because of
25 complex technology issues, the route to get into the AT &T system runs through the
26 City of Bellingham. The County started discussion with AT &T and said the County
27 wants changes to be in compliance with the franchise agreement. The proposal on
28 the table is still not acceptable. Before moving forward with more discussions with
29 AT &T, he would like to get the Council's blessing and approvals on direction. They
30 have been discussing the need to videotape Council sessions and get that out onto
31 the television networks. They've also thought that it would be useful to broadcast
32 Planning Commission meetings and other appropriate public events. That does
33 require sophisticated equipment the County does not own and the capacity to
34 videotape. Some additional meetings could be videotaped and broadcast without
35 added cost to the County. A more expensive route would be to tie into the City of
36 Bellingham, but they want to manage this system themselves. Or, the County
37 could try to do something that involves a limited use of equipment in the
38 courthouse and contract with a party for videotaping services. That is an outline of
39 the decisions that need to be made. They will start down the path of more limited
40 involvement by getting equipment and a contract with a videographer on a per
41 meeting /per hour basis.
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43 Imhof stated that's what the County Council has said it wants to do. They
44 need to make sure that the option chosen is expandable.
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46 Dawson stated the goal has been a positive, government- oriented
47 programming that would interest the community.
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Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 1/23/2001, Page 3
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Desler stated the administration is not recommending that the County get
involved in being a public access and education provider. AT &T indicated a
willingness to grant exclusive access to channel 22, but there is not enough
broadcasting to feed that channel. The cost of trying to make something
interesting takes production. This is not an active or high priority element unless
the Council says so.
Crawford asked what the extra money is for. Desler stated the extra money
is for the additional $50 per month. The County also has to Fed Ex tapes to the
Delta system in Point Roberts, which AT &T did before. There was a slight
adjustment in the cost for the videographer. AT &T said it will provide more
equipment beyond what AT &T thinks the County will need, but it isn't useful
equipment. AT &T would provide it at cost, but will charge it back to ratepayers,
which is allowed under federal law. The County is not excited about doing that.
The choice comes down to following federal law and put the cost on the cable bill or
getting the cost from the general fund.
Imhof stated they should begin to negotiate with a toned down version that
would still be expandable. They don't want to get into a deal with AT &T for bad
equipment that will cost to maintain. They need to look at the options and costs
associated with that.
Crawford asked if the administration is looking for direction today. There are
many options to talk about. He didn't see why they are looking at a future with
television. He suggested that the County could provide access on demand on the
internet. There are so many other options to do. Desler stated planning and
investment needs to be made.
Crawford stated cable subscribership is dropping. Don't put all their eggs in
one medium. Technology is changing so quickly that they have to be careful with
any capital investment. Look at a different way to access government information.
This is another discussion to have, but not at this time. He was in favor of this
requested increase.
Desler stated the administration is looking at internet and video screening in
four or five years. They would only seek to purchase equipment with that view in
mind. It would require digital equipment with the capacity to flow into the new
medium when there. They would still have to get it into the digital format.
Motion carried unanimously.
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEM
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT MODIFICATION TO THE EXISTING FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM FOR
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 1/23/2001, Page 4
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THE ALCOHOL PROTECTIVE CUSTODY PROGRAM AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE TREATMENT COSTS, IN THE MODIFIED AMOUNT OF $55,208
(AB2001 -035)
Dawson moved to recommend approval. She asked about the basis for the
increase.
Regina Delahunt, Interim Health and Human Services Director, stated she
didn't know the history of the negotiations. This agreement has been in place since
1998. The City of Bellingham pays a portion. Packet page 62 shows that city funds
paid $41,000 and the County paid $16,000 in 1998.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated they could find out that
information.
Crawford stated he assumed a cost division based on the use of the program.
Motion carried unanimously.
2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF QUALITY, LICENSED, CERTIFIED
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE
NEEDS, IN THE CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $30,000 (AB2001 -036)
Imhof stated this is the program that will spend $23,000, as discussed
earlier.
Dawson moved to recommend approval.
Imhof questioned whether they should amend the amount.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the contract is in place. The
only authority is the authority to spend $23,000.
Dawson asked if the department has been getting any money from them
before this.
Carole Allen, Interim Community Health and Wellness Manager, stated that is
part of the reason they are asking for $23,000. The contract didn't come to the
County until December. There is the ability to bill back for services since October.
The County did not do the work prior to receiving the contract in December, and
chose not to begin the work until January.
Motion carried unanimously.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 1/23/2001, Page 5
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3. RESOLUTION OF WHATCOM COUNTY, CITY OF BELLINGHAM,
WHATCOM COUNTY FIRE DISTRICTS, AND OTHER COUNTY
MUNICIPALITIES, SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF A STRATEGIC
PLAN FOR FUTURE DELIVERY OF PRE - HOSPITAL EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES IN WHATCOM COUNTY (AB2001 -037)
Dawson moved to recommend approval.
Crawford stated he would support the proposal and would be interested in
being on the Ambulance Advisory Board.
Motion carried unanimously.
4. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
JOINT FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS) FOR STREAM GAGE OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $41,325 (AB2001 -038)
Imhof asked if this is a continued contract.
Paula Cooper, Special Projects Manager, stated it is the ongoing annual
maintenance to take care of the gauges that are installed. Last year, the cost was
$33,990. There is one new gauge, the Cedarville gauge, this year. Now there are
six gauges.
Imhof moved to recommend approval.
Motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:33 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Robert Imhof, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 1/23/2001, Page 6