HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance July 10 20011
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
July 10, 2001
The meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.m. by Committee Chair Robert
Imhof in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Also Present:
Sam Crawford
Marlene Dawson
Absent:
None
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL FOR PROCEEDING
WITH FURTHER ASSESSMENTS OF THE "Y" ROAD LANDFILL (AB2001-
208)
This item was withdrawn and will be rescheduled in two weeks.
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
1. RESOLUTION TO SET HEARING AND NOTICE OF HEARING ON
EXCHANGE OF COUNTY PROPERTY REQUEST NO. 03 -01 (AB2001-
219)
Imhof stated this is just to set the hearing and give the notice. He
questioned whether this is an exchange of rights -of -way.
Bruce Mills, Assistant Director of Engineering, stated that is correct. Mr.
Cowden owns property next to the Cedarville Landfill. Mr. Cowden wants a small
strip of the land to put in new buildings. There is still a good buffer between the
landfill and that area. In exchange, Mr. Cowden will give the County six acres at
the end of the Goshen Road, which the County could use for wetland mitigation. It
is an exchange of six acres for 2.3 acres that the County would give up. The area
the County is giving up was scalped of gravel more than a decade ago. The six
acres is forested and goes to the bank of the river. It is a wetland area.
Dawson moved to recommend approval.
Motion carried 2 -0 with Crawford absent.
2. RESOLUTION TO SET HEARING AND NOTICE OF HEARING ON
EXCHANGE OF COUNTY PROPERTY REQUEST NO. 04 -01 (AB2001-
220)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 7/10/2001, Page 1
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Bruce Mills, Assistant Director of Engineering, stated the County owns two -
thirds of an acre. In exchange, Mr. Choker is willing to donate additional right -of-
way along both Noon Road and Central Road. The current piece the County owns
has no value, and is 55 feet wide.
Dawson questioned the benefit of the exchange to the County. Mills stated
the County would acquire more right -of -way.
Dawson moved to recommend approval.
Motion carried 2 -0 with Crawford absent.
3. RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING COUNTY ROAD PROJECT NO. 900911
AND THE AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR THE ALDERSON ROAD
STRUCTURAL OVERLAY TO STREMLER GRAVEL, INC., AS THE LOWEST
RESPONSIVE BIDDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $499,361.50 (AB2001-
221)
Dawson moved to recommend approval.
Motion carried 2 -0 with Crawford absent.
4. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND WHATCOM COUNSELING AND
PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC - CO- OCCURRING DISORDERS SERVICES TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF THE MOST AT RISK MENTALLY ILL AND
CHEMICALLY ABUSING ADULTS IN WHATCOM COUNTY, IN THE
AMENDED AMOUNT OF $12,500 FOR A TOTAL AMENDED AMOUNT OF
$56,226 (AB2001 -222)
Imhof moved to recommend approval.
Motion carried 2 -0 with Crawford absent.
5. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND WASHINGTON INITIATIVE FOR
SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT (WISE) TO PROVIDE TRAINING,
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND MENTORING SERVICES TO LOCAL
CONTRACTED SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROVIDERS IN THE
AMOUNT OF $30,000 (AB2001 -223)
Dawson moved to recommend approval.
Motion carried 2 -0 with Crawford absent.
6. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 7/10/2001, Page 2
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CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
SERVICES NORTHWEST TO PROVIDE FOR THE FAMILY RESPITE AND
RELIEF PROGRAM, AND YOUTH CO- OCCURRING DISORDERS
PROGRAM IN THE AMENDED AMOUNT OF $10,424 FOR A TOTAL
AMENDED AMOUNT OF $38,634 (AB2001 -224)
Andy Byrne, Human Services Manager, stated the original contract was for
services including family respite and relief and the youth co- occurring disorders.
They've added a third service for child physiatrist. In this community, child
psychiatrists are few and far between. Family primary care physicians end up
providing that service to Medicaid families, but the physicians feel out of their
league. They have not had any additional support. This amendment allows for the
Catholic Community Services to retain a child psychiatrist who will provide
consultation to those family physicians.
Dawson moved to recommend approval.
Motion carried 2 -0 with Crawford absent.
7. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND SUN COMMUNITY SERVICES TO
PROVIDE SHORT -TERM TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SERVICES TO
WHATCOM COUNTY CONSUMERS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE
AMENDED AMOUNT OF $14,600 FOR A TOTAL AMENDED AMOUNT OF
$81,702 (AB2001 -225)
Dawson moved to recommend approval.
Motion carried 2 -0 with Crawford absent.
8. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND MART
KASK, INC. TO COMPLETE THE BIRCH BAY COMMUNITY PLANNING
AND UPDATE THE BIRCH BAY - BLAINE COMMUNITY PLAN TO COMPLY
WITH THE WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IN THE
CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $66,000 WITH THE COUNTY PROVIDING
$8,780 (AB2001 -226)
Imhof stated the rest of this cost has come from community donations.
Dawson moved to recommend approval.
Imhof asked the timeframe for receiving the plan.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated they are working on it now. The
County expects to see the plan later this fall.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 7/10/2001, Page 3
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2 Motion carried 2 -0 with Crawford absent.
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4 (Clerk's Note: Crawford arrived at 12:10 a.m.)
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7 OTHER BUSINESS
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9 Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the administration is working
10 with the Northwest Regional Council (NWRC) to contract with them to handle the
it administrative elements of the Water Conservancy Board, so there is a separation
12 between the various government entities and the parties. It will provide a
13 perception of fairness. The administration will come forward for Council approval.
14 Island County will also ask the NWRC to support their water conservancy board.
15 With that, the administration will request a one -time appropriation to get the Water
16 Conservancy Board going, including training and insurance. They expect the Board
17 to pay for itself with a fee structure it adopts when working on transfer issues.
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19 Another issue has to do with use of Conservation Futures funds. The
20 administration explored whether they could use the funds for the use of lot
21 consolidation in Sudden Valley. The County can use those funds for that purpose.
22 It seems an appropriate thing to do. Sudden Valley anticipates coming forward to
23 the County on an annual basis to request the County's assistance to purchase tax
24 sale Sudden Valley lots. The Council should anticipate further requests from that
25 group to approve further lot consolidation efforts. The administration will submit a
26 request to assist that effort financially using the Conservation Futures fund rather
27 than the General fund. There is now about $1.5 million in the fund.
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29 Dawson requested information on how Conservation Futures fund dollars
30 have been spent since the fund was established.
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32 Nelson asked if neighboring property owners could purchase those lots. If
33 that can occur, he questioned whether those funds could be put back into the
34 Conservation Futures fund. Desler stated it's worth a discussion with the Sudden
35 Valley Community Association. The administration sought a change in an
36 agreement that would require the County's Planning Department to review any
37 transfers that might be going on by the Sudden Valley Community Association.
38 When they acquire this property, they want to make sure they acquire something
39 that will be of long -term value to the community. There will be a legal tracking of
40 this process on the property.
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42 Hoag asked for an estimate of what they anticipate those Conservation
43 Futures revenues to be over the next few years. Those funds can also preserve
44 development rights in agricultural lands. They haven't been used that way. The
45 Conservation District expressed a concern about allowing subdivisions in the
46 agricultural zones that should not have occurred. There are hundreds of small lots
47 that have not yet been developed. If the lots do become developed, it will become
48 a problem with the loss of agricultural land. Use Conservation Futures funds to
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 7/10/2001, Page 4
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purchase those lots. If they use Conservation Futures funds for Sudden Valley,
don't jeopardize using Conservation Futures funds for that agricultural land.
Desler stated that if the County continues to partner with the City of
Bellingham, Sudden Valley Community Association, and Water District, the County
would not be the primary purchaser of the property. If the Council approves this
request, the annual request will be from approximately $20,000 to $40,000.
Imhof stated there is some concern with the agricultural overlay from people
who have to administer the overlay. The Council needs to look at it. Also, the
County is spending $62,500 on a Hearing Examiner. Staff is concerned that the
County is not getting the time that is being put forward, and that money could
possibly be used another way. The person the County hired has done a relatively
good job, but he has other things going on. It might come up as an issue during
the budget process.
Hoag asked about the problems with the agricultural overlay. Imhof stated
staff is concerned that there are two tiers of zoning, it is hard to interpret, and is
difficult for staff to administer. He will look at it more between now and the end of
summer. He may make some recommendations.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:17 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, 7/10/2001, Page 5