HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance October 23 1998I WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Finance and Administrative Services Committee
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4 PROPOSED 1999 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET
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6 October 23, 1998
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8 The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. by Committee Chair Marlene Dawson in the
9 Council Committee, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington
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Also Present: Absent:
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Connie Hoag
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L. Ward Nelson
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Staff Present:
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Dave Wareing, Executive's Office
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Brad Bennett, ADS Finance
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Roger DeSpain, Parks Department Director
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Keith Willnauer, County Assessor
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Craig MacConnell, Cooperative Extension
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DISCUSSION OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S 1999 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
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(ASSESSOR, PARKS, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION)
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Wareing explained the various reports that the Committee would be going through (on
26 file).
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28 Wareing outlined the additional service requests by the County Assessor. Two of those
29 requests were approved as submitted by the administration. Those approved requests include an
30 increase in postage and an increase in the Timber Services contract. The remaining were not
31 approved or are in limbo. The administration provided a general fund budget that is balanced on
32 revenues and expenditures, but they didn't go beyond that. Unfortunately, there are some things
33 that they didn't fund, but felt that it would be better to work with the Council and make some
34 additional recommendations to the Council.
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36 Hoag questioned the black checkmark next to one of the requests. Wareing stated that
37 would add an additional full -time equivalent (FTE) employee to the County payroll.
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39 Hoag asked about the status of approved or not approved items. Wareing stated approved
40 items are for inclusion in the Executive's recommended budget. The funding is included.
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42 Willnauer stated that he was available for any questions.
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44 Dawson asked Willnauer to explain the Timber Services contract. Willnauer stated that
45 the Assessor's office employs the services of a Timber Appraiser to administrate the specific
Finance Committee — Budget, 10/23/98, Page 1
I timber classification programs. It is a very cost - effective mechanism. There aren't enough
2 appraisals to handle a full -time appraiser, so it is subcontracted out. This has been done for 20+
3 years. The person is annually sent out to appraise timber. There are also ratio and sales
4 evaluation services that are provided for by those valuations.
6 Dawson questioned whether a timber owner should notify the assessor when logged.
7 Willnauer stated no. Timber, if involved in timber exemption programs, which most is in
8 commercial production, as such, pay almost no property tax at all. A tax is collected when the
9 timber is harvested, as an excise tax. The county has a responsibility to carry properties on the
10 roll as identified timber properties. There is little value. The value is determined by a technique
11 that it defined by statute and relates to current use. The land is vacant, as if there were no trees,
12 and valued for its current use. That is specifically different than a market value assessment.
13 Something like open space, which is well valued. Timber is valued in the same genre as current
14 use, but it is directed by a formula that has been hammered out by the legislature. At certain
15 times, the Assessor is involved with private timber sales on public land. They are valued at full
16 fair market value and placed on the personal property rolls. They do have to appraise the
17 properties, which is when they utilize the service. This is only on privately held timber on public
18 lands. State law requires that they are appraised. When they are harvested, they pay an excise
19 tax and are issued a credit for the property tax that was paid. Timber appraisal is fairly scientific.
20 The firm they use contracts out to five counties in the North Puget Sound area. They have a very
21 good background in timber appraisal. He asked for an annual cost of living increase. The $200
22 increase is less than 2% and is very reasonable.
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24 Hoag questioned the imaging system implementation and whether it was brought forward
25 during the last request. Wareing stated that the initial project began in the Auditor's office.
26 They piloted it there. Three departments expected to have it. It has taken the Auditor's office
27 longer than expected to get the bugs worked out. They provided money to the Assessor so he
28 may implement it when they are ready. They are going to buy the equipment so they can buy
29 and expand to other departments. It is not approved in this request, but it is approved in another
30 area.
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32 Willnauer explained the out of class request. They have $0 currently budgeted. It is
33 becoming more of a utilized mechanism. They would like to have that available.
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35 Wareing stated that the administration considered two issues. One is that Willnauer's
36 concern was that out of class pay was becoming more pervasive in use. The administration
37 stated that there is more liberal use in some departments than is appropriate. Administration is
38 trying to cut back on the interpretation that out of class play is to be used when filling in for a
39 supervisor.
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41 Willnauer stated that he hasn't been using the out of class pay option. Wareing stated
42 that Willnauer is one of the department heads that is interpreting the procedure correctly and has
43 not been using it.
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45 (Clerk's Note: Nelson arrived.)
Finance Committee - Budget, 10/23/98, Page 2
2 Hoag questioned Brad Bennett about a question she had regarding timber sales. Bennett
3 responded that he provided information to her earlier. It only affects federal forest revenues. It
4 allows money to go for the use for public roads or schools. There is no general fund. It isn't a
5 significant amount of money, so it was lumped in with another revenue group. $1,342,000 is the
6 total federal timber sales for schools and roads for 1997. It shows up in the road fund under
7 entitlements.
9 PARKS
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11 Wareing noted that the Parks Department is an area that was closely scrutinized. It is a
12 non - critical service. Five positions were requested. None were approved. The items that were
13 approved included travel to conferences by Park staff, utility costs, increases in operating costs
14 such as postage and the telephone utility, and conferences and training for senior services.
15 Pending are additional seasonal staff and extra help for senior services. Wareing continued to go
16 down the list on the Additional Services request. They can wait another year for a new roof for
17 park headquarters and a group picnic shelter remodel.
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19 DeSpain stated that the projected Parks budget is $2.6 million. The Department
20 generates $600,000. Revenues increased from 1993 to 1997 by 5 %. They need to be careful not
21 to price people out of the market. A taxpayer receives outdoor and indoor recreational classes,
22 33 miles of multi - purpose trails, nine parks and facilities, 8 senior /community centers. He
23 described a day at the Bellingham senior center. This center integrated the developmentally
24 disabled into its regular program. Over 100 people show up for lunch. It is a location to receive
25 a flu shot. They also host political forums.
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27 Major events draw thousands into the County parks, such as the Highland Games, the
28 Balloon Lift, Whatcom County in Bloom, and the Ski to Sea race. They host major industrial
29 employee picnics. Companies outside of Whatcom County look for a place to locate their new
30 companies. Whatcom County is competitive in drawing such companies to the County. Those
31 folks want to provide a place that has high quality of life. Parks plays a major role in that.
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33 Parks has not recovered from past cuts. At one time, they had 46 FTE. Today there are
34 32.55 FTE. All positions that raise the FTE in the additional services were previous positions.
35 They are trying to catch up to past levels. The only new requests are the wetlands and the youth
36 program. At one time, the Parks Department was 16% of the current expense. They are now
37 4.3 %. They have been doing additional partnerships with other groups, for a total of 17
38 partnerships. A new program is the gift catalog.
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40 Dawson asked how they are going to promote the gift program. DeSpain stated that the
41 Whatcom Park and Recreation Foundation, which is not associated with the County, will help
42 promote the program. They are asking the other cities to come up with their own gift catalogue.
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44 Nelson stated it is an excellent idea. He suggested sending it to the major manufacturers
45 in the County.
Finance Committee — Budget, 10/23/98, Page 3
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2 Dawson suggested having the Bellingham Herald promote the gift catalogue.
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4 Nelson questioned the objectives. He wanted information on performance measures that
5 go back to 1995. He would like to see attendance at various events.
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7 Dawson commended DeSpain for all of his innovations. He is doing an outstanding job.
8 She questioned whether it is possible to have one FTE part time in a few different positions.
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10 DeSpain stated that he could. The Semiahmoo Park Manager would bring that park open
11 on a full time basis. It is currently part time. A full time Maintenance Worker I is a position
12 they lost some time ago. That position helps supplement the maintenance crew that works out of
13 the main office. They have been thankful for the inmate work crew program. It has been the
14 best dollar for the County. Regarding the full time position for Clerk II, there is a person that
15 works 10 months out of the year. This increase would make that position full time. They have
16 to shut down at noon to keep the park system open. They need to keep the office open at noon.
17 That is when a lot of people call. Silver Lake Park is opened year- around. People go camping
18 there and they need three people to staff it. The Tennant Lake Interpretive Position goes to full -
19 time due to a partnership with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to pay 1/2 the FTE cost.
20 The County is to pay the other half. The Foundation has asked businesses to donate to the
21 program. Donations are okay for awhile, but donations for Maintenance and Operations (M &O)
22 costs are hard to get.
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24 Dawson asked why the boardwalk is closed. DeSpain stated that the boardwalk is on the
25 Department of Fish and Wildlife property and it is hunting season. Also, it is the wet time of the
26 year.
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28 Hoag questioned whether there is a current interpretive center at Tennant Lake. DeSpain
29 stated that there is because of donations. Right now it is struggling. They would keep it open
30 year around.
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32 Hoag stated that she is impressed with the Semiahmoo Park. She was glad it is open with
33 volunteers. DeSpain stated that people have donated artifacts and the County needs to be good
34 stewards. They don't like having the two -story building being a day care center. The public
35 thinks the playground equipment is public.
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37 (Clerk's Note: End of tape 1, side A.)
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39 The daycare operates on the weekends. The Park can't use the building otherwise.
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41 Hoag questioned the portable toilet. DeSpain stated that the other building was also
42 leased out, and the restrooms were a part of that building. Also, it is easier to keep the portables
43 clean.
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45 Hoag questioned the structure of the Clerk II position. DeSpain stated that someone has
Finance Committee — Budget, 10/23/98, Page 4
I to rotate in order to cover the lunch area during the two months the person is not there. Winter is
2 just as busy for Parks as the other seasons.
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4 Nelson questioned the section of the budget regarding Other Miscellaneous Revenue.
5 DeSpain stated that it is the Plantation Rifle Range. They collect lots of leases with law
6 enforcement agencies that use the facility. They are funded on a two -year cycle.
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8 Bennett stated it could be a contribution.
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10 Dawson questioned whether the inmates go out in the rain. DeSpain stated that they get
11 full raingear. They have to pay insurance on the inmates, so they are very careful. Supplies are
12 kept in a trailer pulled behind the van.
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14 Nelson questioned the objectives and how the County is doing on contracting park lands
15 for the private sector. It is not listed as an objective. DeSpain stated that the parks contracts
16 with the Facilities Management to take care of the grounds. They check with the private sector
17 to see if they could do maintenance for the same amount of money. There is some land that they
18 thought they could allow be developed for a golf driving range. It would generate more revenue.
19 If the County cannot develop it, then they would allow a private parry to develop a park.
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Hoag questioned the amount of the fax machine request. DeSpain stated that they will
look at it again. If they can get one that is less expensive, they will.
Hoag asked about the extra help for senior services. DeSpain stated that they have had to
reduce coverage for the senior centers and want someone to help with meals and other services.
Managers have had to split their time between two sites. Seniors have stated that they want one
manager per site.
DeSpain stated that the ice arena wants $11,000. They would reduce the cost of
afternoon skating during the afternoon when the youth are out of school. It may be a way to get
the youth off the street and into programs. It might not be a bad idea on a trial basis.
Nelson questioned whether they would be able to do it in conjunction with advertising
with the schools.
(Clerk's Note: Nelson left the meeting.)
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
Wareing stated that administration looked at two things. They should have been noted as
pending. The Horticultural Pest and Disease Board was a placeholder. It warrants consideration
beyond administrative consideration. The Executive recommends that item be pending.
Watershed and salmon stewardship is also brought forward for consideration.
Hoag asked what a placeholder is. Wareing stated that it is brought to the Council's
Finance Committee — Budget, 10/23/98, Page 5
1 attention to be addressed at a later time. It is not mandated.
3 MacConnell stated that it wasn't clear where the money, if appropriated, would go. The
4 money could reside within the Council, non - departmental, or Cooperative Extension. Since
5 Cooperative Extension is assigned to provide a non - voting member, he included a placeholder.
6 He discussed the submitted packet.
8 For every dollar the County pays, $4 comes in from other sources and another $3 comes
9 in for volunteer time. Their mission is education. They are part of a partnership that began in
10 1916 to provide information to strengthen agriculture, enhance the ability of individuals and
11 groups to manage community resources, and aid and strengthen home and family. They use a lot
12 of volunteers, 625 in 1998. The County is ranked #4 in the State for farms and #6 for market
13 value /agricultural products sold. He estimated $10 million consumed in the County food value.
14 They export more. Whatcom County is ranked #1 for market value of agricultural products sold.
15 There are a variety of economic crops grown in Whatcom County. Agricultural is strong in the
16 county.
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18 Hoag questioned the why the statistics he gave are from the 1992 farm census. They are
19 done every five years. MacConnell stated that the 1997 census will be released in the spring of
20 1999. The federal government does it. MacConnell stated that he heard that Whatcom County
21 will be ranked even higher. They have lost farm numbers, but not production units.
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23 Hoag stated that they have lost acreage and farms.
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25 MacConnell discussed the plan of work that includes technology transfer, educational
26 workshops, integrated pest management based on a federal policy of the Food and Drug
27 Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of
28 Agriculture (USDA). This policy says that the way to protect the environment from agriculture is
29 through the adoption of integrated pest management. There is a new document emphasizing
30 non - chemical approaches that teaches integrated pest management (IPM).
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32 Hoag questioned what happens after funding ends. MacConnell stated they will look
33 toward new funding, but will not be able to duplicate the effort. Funders do not like doing the
34 same thing over again. They will take what Whatcom County has done and make it region -wide.
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36 Hoag asked about farmer cooperation and support from farmers. MacConnell stated that
37 they are working closely with a small number of early adapters to refine research techniques.
38 Those people will work with their peers. They have done a comprehensive evaluation of the
39 program. There is data that stated practices and attitudes are changing.
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41 Hoag questioned how many raspberry farmers are using IPM. MacConnell stated that
42 many are and the degree varies from farm to farm. They have to deliver a practical tool. The
43 adoption varies from practice to practice. The farmers get a decision - making matrix by crop
44 stage. He is hearing that the County is way ahead.
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Finance Committee — Budget, 10/23/98, Page 6
I Hoag questioned whether it reduces cost for farmers. MacConnell stated that it does.
3 MacConnell stated that the research project on the Cherry Bark Tortix is coming to a
4 close. They have a better understanding of the responding predator. Regarding the Pest and
5 Disease Board, the first meeting of the Board was yesterday. They identified a number of other
6 pests that are not yet here, but for which controls should be established. The group of apple-
7 growers developed a budget. It was reviewed. They support and endorse the budget proposal,
8 which was done similarly to a budget adopted by Skagit County.
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10 Dawson questioned whether the group would get involved with the gypsy moth.
11 MacConnell stated that the State is funding the monitoring. There is no gypsy moth in the
12 County now.
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14 MacConnell stated that there is a request for a part-time coordinator for 12 weeks, June
15 through September. They will emphasize education, additional trapping, and monitoring of the
16 four sites with apple maggots. The host tree has to be sprayed every 14 days. They are asking
17 for a $14,180 budget.
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19 MacConnell stated that Washington State University (WSU) keeps their faculty positions
20 open for a year or more. This position, however, has risen to the top. There is a job description
21 and a selection committee. The position will not be the same. It will focus on nutrient
22 management with an emphasis on dairy and will work in other parts of the region. It will look at
23 nutrients from feed, to cow, to field, to crop in a holistic way. This is where farming needs to go.
24 They need to understand the nutrient flow. They are looking for someone with water
25 conservation, soil science, and animal husbandry knowledge.
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27 MacConnell stated that the institute for watershed studies at Western Washington
28 University put out their final report on the Cam Creek watershed. Ammonia levels are going
29 down. Nitrate, suspended solids, and fecal coliform levels have remained static. Cow numbers
30 have increased. The institute stated they need to look at the export of nutrients. Compost is the
31 answer. Farmers can turn their excess manure into a valuable resource. Pilot farmers are
32 making compost.
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34 Dawson asked what they do to make compost. MacConnell stated that they make the
35 compost from the manure. It is processed into compost. People want to buy the compost. The
36 County has closed Portage Bay. There is data that the fecal coliform in manure is reduced
37 drastically when processed into compost. They can reduce the fecal coliform levels and can
38 make extra income for the farmers.
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40 MacConnell stated that food safety is all done with volunteers. They also have the best
41 4 -H program in the State. There is a family challenge program that brings the parents in for
42 activities with their kids. The program builds communications between schools and families.
43 Craig Fensky invented the program. The Master Gardener program has its first home school
44 participants.
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Finance Committee — Budget, 10/23/98, Page 7
I MacConnell stated that the Lake Whatcom Management Plan identifies Cooperative
2 Extension. Education is directed towards specific audiences. They identify the background
3 knowledge and attitudes of Lake Whatcom, educational needs, and design and implementation.
4 Another audience is the building community. They have been working with the Building
5 Industry Association (BIA) and Associated General Contractors (AGC).
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7 MacConnell stated that they are proposing a new position for Cooperative Extension
8 centered on two things, one is Lake Whatcom. They have been contracting and it is not working
9 out. The relationship with the audiences takes a personal commitment not found with
10 contractors. They need someone doing the education. The second item is to educate the public
11 on ESA and salmon. People will not understand the sacrifices that will be asked to be made. It
12 has great potential for polarizing the community in the future. He is proposing a volunteer
13 educator program. There are 10 agencies that have been brought in as partners. All of those
14 agencies have stated that they want to support the effort. They will train rural residents who live
15 in the neighborhoods of streams and ditches about the complexities of salmon.
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17 (Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side B)
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19 MacConnell continued to state that they will ask those people to go back into the
20 communities and educate others. There are tremendous resources available for the program.
21 This is a way to give factual information to the community and have people be informed so they
22 can participate in the public policy and community discussions. He proposed a new coordinated
23 volunteer program to focus on salmon.
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25 Dawson stated that $46,000 is too high for a teacher. MacConnell stated that it includes
26 operating and travel expenses. The salary is $35,000. He is open to a salary adjustment. This is
27 the time to do this.
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29 Hoag questioned the Horticultural Pest and Disease Board's request for funding. They
30 said when they were formed that they would fund themselves. MacConnell stated that they had
31 such an emergent problem, they said they would fund it themselves for 1998, which they did.
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33 Hoag questioned whether MacConnell knew the board members. MacConnell stated that
34 he knew the members. The representation is a mix. The work that needs to get done will need
35 some funding.
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37 Hoag stated that Skagit already has a pest problem. Whatcom County doesn't have a pest
38 problem. She was told it would be a volunteer position. MacConnell responded that Whatcom
39 County should work very hard to prevent a quarantine. It is much better to prevent a pest from
40 coming into the County.
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42 Dawson stated that Skagit County is very close.
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44 Hoag questioned the draft Water Resources Plan from the County administration.
45 $123,000 is dedicated to education and outreach for shellfish protection. The Conservation
Finance Committee — Budget, 10/23/98, Page 8
I District (CD) has a $60,000 grant and they would look at WSU for the balance. MacConnell
2 stated that there is no funding for the remaining balance.
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4 Hoag stated that WSU was going to develop an education outreach effort for dairy
5 producers. MacConnell stated that was initiated with the manure management work, but it was
6 not completed.
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8 Hoag questioned whether the program had been developed. MacConnell stated that he
9 was not the representative on that team, so he didn't have the information. He can't think of any
10 educational program directed towards shellfish closure. The manure management grants he had
11 closed in July of 1998. Dave Grusenmeyer worked on those programs. He is not aware of that
12 program. He would look into it.
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14 Hoag stated four items list a program with a timeline of February of 1998, May 1998, and
15 on going. MacConnell stated that the program was not initiated because there were no resources.
16 He told Hoag to ask the Response Strategy team.
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18 Hoag questioned objective five of the Portage Bay Closure Response Strategy, which
19 outlines five tasks. She wanted to know the status of the tasks and their funding. MacConnell
20 stated that the funding is $0.
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22 Dawson questioned the composting program. MacConnell stated that the farmers have
23 been doing the composting themselves.
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25 Wareing stated that the budget process is different this year because funding is limited.
26 The administration and the Council should work together to look at the strategy on how County
27 funding will be handled in the future. Increasing taxes is not a preference. However, providing
28 adequate level of services requires a different philosophy. The County can't continue on status
29 quo. The gap between revenue and expenditures will get too big too quickly.
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ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Marlene Dawson, Committee Chair
Finance Committee — Budget, 10/23/98, Page 9