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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole August 10 19991 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Committee Of The Whole August 10, 1999 The meeting was called to order at 5:45 p.m. by Council Chair Marlene Dawson in the Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington. Also Present: Kathy Sutter Connie Hoag Barbara Brenner Robert Imhof (late) L. Ward Nelson (late) Absent: Tom Brown DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL Hoag moved to go into executive session to discuss the resolution regarding the salary schedule and the two items regarding pending litigation. Motion carried 4 -0 with Imhof, Nelson, and Brown absent. 1. RESOLUTION APPROVING A SALARY SCHEDULE AND POLICIES FOR UNREPRESENTED WHATCOM COUNTY EMPLOYEES FOR THE YEAR 1999 (AB98 -418A) ADDENDUM: DISCUSSION WITH SENIOR DEPUTY PROSECUTOR KAREN FRAKES REGARDING PENDING LITIGATION ADDENDUM: DISCUSSION WITH SENIOR DEPUTY PROSECUTOR DAN GIBSON REGARDING PENDING LITIGATION 2. RESOLUTION APPROVING WHATCOM COUNTY'S STRATEGIC PLAN 2000 (AB99 -310) Dave Wareing, Deputy Administrator, distributed the Strategic Planning document they worked on earlier in the year. Brenner stated they were clear that the offices will figure out how to be open during lunch. It needed to be stated stronger in the document. Wareing stated that was in the budget document. In the budget instructions, the departments have been told they will be open during the lunch hour. Committee of the Whole, 8/10/99, Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 Nelson asked what ability the Council had to direct the various departments. Wareing stated the Council could direct County policy to the administration, and the administration would direct the offices. Brenner stated she was concerned about raising taxes to fund items that aren't essential. Wareing stated the Council needs to have the latitude to choose what the Council wants to do. Sutter stated it was a caution to the Council and everyone else that, if they are going to provide services that are not mandated and essential, then a funding source would have to be found. Brenner stated in earlier plans, the Council made a strong statement they would not raise taxes for non - essential services. Sutter stated making a distinction between essential and non - essential would cause the County to fall into a trap. Sometimes things that aren't essential or desirable will support other activities that are essential. Wareing stated it says the County will identify essential and other appropriate County government services. That would be the Council's decision to make. Brenner stated the section that concerned her was about looking at revenues, including the property tax, to raise. Wareing stated he would provide alternate language about keeping the offices open. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:00 p.m. Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription These minutes were approved by Council on November 9, 1999. ATTEST: Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Marlene Dawson, Council Chair Committee of the Whole, 8/10/99, Page 2