HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council May 21 2002 BUDGET1
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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
Special County Council
May 21, 2002
The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by Council Chair L. Ward
Nelson in the Whatcom County Civic Center Annex, Second Floor Meeting Room,
322 N. Commercial, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Barbara Brenner None
Laurie Caskey- Schreiber
Sam Crawford
Seth Fleetwood
Dan McShane
Sharon Roy
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING BUDGET AND STRATEGIC PLANNING
ISSUES (AB2002 -169)
Deane Sandell, Undersheriff, presented information on the Sheriff's Office.
Topics discussed were number of Sheriff's Officers; duties of the Patrol Division,
Search and Rescue, K -9 Units, boat patrol, resident deputy posts, and specialty
officers; time spent on homicide investigations, searches for missing persons, and
other crimes. Prioritize crimes against people, and its becoming more difficult to
work on crimes against property. They also work on the drug task force, the DEA,
border patrol, and municipal police agencies. Support for the Sheriff's Office comes
from the records division, civil division, and administration /front office. There is
one crime prevention unit that is the only proactive thing they do in the office. The
personnel in the office train heavily in defensive tactics, first aid, driving, weapons,
and other topics.
2001 was a difficult year. Eight new deputies were a good thing, but created
a lot of work. Forced to take a life in a domestic violence altercation, the events of
September 11, and the loss of a sheriffs deputy on September 12.
They are down six deputies. Hope to end the year fully staffed. They have
submitted a two - percent budget cut for the rest of the year, mostly from delaying
hiring those six officers. Exploring a grant opportunity to put deputies in schools.
They plan to upgrade the radio system. Staff is available to talk about Jail
operations and the Emergency Management Division.
Bruce Van Glubt, District Court, presented information on District Court.
Topics discussed were the number of infractions, criminal citations, civil cases, and
small claims cases. District Court responds to the work of other departments. They
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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.
focus on customer service. Cases come from State Patrol, Fish and Wildlife, Sheriff,
and WWU. They have been working on updating their website, phone system, and
court check -in system to provide better customer service. The new civil court clerk
has also helped improve customer service. He also discussed District Court
Probation, and the types of cases they work with, the domestic violence unit,
support staff reorganization, and case loads.
Councilmembers and staff discussed how and why cases are routed to
Superior Court or District Court, who raised the dollar amount threshold, mandatory
arbitration, the two - percent budget cut, and increased fees, airport security from
the Sheriff's Office, the creative selective hiring freeze,
Crawford stated he is not comfortable with an overall two - percent reduction
for each department, and would rather do targeted reductions.
(Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.)
Desler stated the two - percent reduction was a quick and dirty attempt to
reduce this year's expenses.
Brenner stated her priorities are to not raise taxes and have as few middle
managers as possible. She would like to see the breakdown of each program in
each department. She would like someone to give her information on essential
services and nonessential services.
Desler stated they can expect to see a three to four percent reduction in the
budget for 2003. They are further refining the strategic plan. He discussed
examples of criteria to consider while setting priorities.
Roy suggested that certain tasks and duties funded from the general fund be
shifted out to other funds.
Fleetwood stated he would like to know from each department head what
aspect of the department is not working well.
Brenner stated she wanted to consolidate mental health and substance
abuse service programs.
Nelson stated he would like to explore consolidating or coordinating juvenile
and district court probation services.
Brenner stated she wanted to better consolidate building permit services.
Roy suggested they look at contracting law enforcement to local cities, where
there are huge urban growth areas next to large cities, rather than send deputies
all over the county. It may reduce the amount spent on overtime.
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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.
(Clerk's Note: The Council took a five - minute break at 10:05 a.m. End of
tape one, side B.)
Councilmembers participated in an exercise to prioritize the top services and
goals and a number of low- priority services and goals. Some of the low priority
items included performance measurement, activities in Cooperative Extension,
public service in the Executive's Office, zoning administration, drug cases, and a
number of programs in non - departmental. High priority items include exploring
increased revenue options, consolidating services, the Health Department, Juvenile,
Parks Department, Planning and Development Services, Jail, and Superior Court.
The councilmembers participated in an exercise to each hypothetically spend
$58 million for County programs and services.
Nelson stated the results of the exercises could be presented to the Finance
and Administrative Committee meeting in two weeks.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
These minutes were approved by Council on July 16 , 2002.
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
L. Ward Nelson, Council Chair
Special Whatcom County Council - BUDGET, 5/21/2002, Page 3