HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 13 19962
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
November 13, 1996
The meeting was called to order at 11:30 a.m. by Committee Chair Robert Imhof in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue.
Also Present:
Tom Brown
Absent:
Marlene Dawson
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BUDGET REVIEW FOR THE PROPOSED 1997 BUDGET: SHERIFF /JAIL;
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JUVENILE PROBATION /COURT; AND HEALTH/COMBINED
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TREATMENT/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (AB96 -367)
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Also Present:
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Dave Wareing, Executive's Office
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Brad Bennett, ADS Finance
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Dale Brandland, Sheriffs Office
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Gary Wood, Juvenile
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Chuck Benjamin, Health Department
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John Hooper, Combined Treatment
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Marcia Gunning, Combined Treatment
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Regina Delahunt, Health Department
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26 Sheriff/Jail. Wareing noted the Sheriffs Office has a very heavy workload. The jail is
27 over capacity, and there is insufficient personnel. The Sheriffs budget of $929,305 is primarily
28 focused toward personnel. The Administration addressed the following: the $9,000 for
29 communications with cellular phones for those calls not requiring a visit by the Sheriffs Office,
30 and the deputy crime prevention analysis volunteer position. One of the items not recommended
31 was the provision of a vehicle for the above position because the Sheriffs Office can provide a
32 vehicle. The ER &R (Equipment Rental and Revolving) cost for the arson van was also
33 recommended. Planning and Development's fire marshall deals with the first response to fires to
34 determine whether they are code violations or as a result of an accident or a criminal act. If it is
35 determined a fire is a criminal act, then the Sheriffs Office is contacted.
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37 Jail: Adjustments included: Visiting Nurse decreased to $27,500; a program officer
38 provided for $37,834; more overtime provided; one live -scan fingerprint machine provided for
39 $50,000, which will provide potential state -wide hookup, as well as potential FBI hookup; and
40 work release beds for $15 8,775, which may need refiguring pending decisions regarding work
41 release vs. incarcerated prisoners.
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43 Dale Brandland, Sheriffs Office, answered questions from Council members. Topics
Finance Minutes, 11/13/96, Page 1
1 discussed included: the need to examine the criminal justice system for the future to focus on
2 community needs; the personnel level from the Nooksack Tribe is almost the same as last year's;
3 the vehicle for the crime prevention position; the use of volunteers in Brandland's department;
4 added and present personnel; the necessity of more supervisors; no proactivity in his department;
5 the civil unit staffing level is the same as 30 years ago; more personnel needed; various personnel;
6 additional 15 beds and funding - -6 beds as minimum security; 34 beds for work release (full time
7 incarceration is limited because of the contract); funding of the deputy in the Baker area (through
8 Puget Power and Forest Service); funding of the Newhalem deputy (Seattle City Light); and other
9 expenditures in SherifFs budget. Wareing spoke to the Sheriff/Jail budgets regarding getting a
10 handle on them. Brown noted the criminal justice system as a whole is a Catch -22. Also
11 discussed: search and rescue funding and cost recovery; and jail charges for other
12 counties /municipalities.
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14 Juvenile/Probation. Wareing stated there was an additional service request from Juvenile
15 Court Administration. There was revenue generated by state funding. Also requested was travel
16 and training appropriations. He noted Administration will make an adjustment and report on
17 Friday. There were increased personnel expenses, especially in the detention facility. Also
18 discussed were the increased cost of providing medication not provided by parents; and on -going
19 costs personnel (Juvenile Additional Extra Help).
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21 Gary Wood, Juvenile Court Probation, addressed personnel issues; Wareing spoke to the
22 Juvenile Department and the encouraging outlook.
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`4 Health Department. Wareing noted Benjamin just recently came into the Department.
25 Two positions were eliminated in Combined Treatment and Developmental Disabilities (absorbed
26 through attrition). Also, there was a vehicle fleet reduction.
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28 Chuck Benjamin, Director, stated that Developmental Disabilities and Combined
29 Treatment's consolidation is coming into place. Only one location is needed. A relocation
30 committee is being formed to examine this issue. A consolidation meeting is set up for next
31 month to move forward with consolidation. Clients will be better served through this
32 consolidation. Topics discussed included: the future of the Health Department, and the
33 consolidation of the executive committee. Focus on the Health Department includes:
34 improvement of revenue; consolidation; relocation; North Sound Regional Service Network
35 ( NSRSN) goal met; strategic planning, especially regarding consolidation; the structure of the
36 Health Department, revamping the budget; consolidation of various accounts; finding an
37 appropriate billing system; and software.
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39 Benjamin answered questions from Council members. Topics discussed included: funding
40 by Whatcom County of the NSRSN and related issues; the impact of the City of Bellingham's
41 proposal to cut $40,000 from the Substance Abuse Program (Alcohol Protective Custody
42 Program)- -John Hooper, Combined Treatment Services, responded; and Wareing's conversation
43 with Bellingham Police Department Chief Don Pierce regarding the proposed cut. Imhof stated
Finance Minutes, 11/13/96, Page 2
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he will draft a letter regarding this issue and encouraged Council members to sign. Marcia
Gunning, Combined Treatment Services, spoke to mental health facilities for area young children
and youth long -term mental care.
Benjamin added a 0.5 FTE Nurse Practitioner position was given up, as well as an
environmental health position. Regina Delahunt, Health Department, commented briefly
regarding the environmental health position.
Wareing noted Marcia Gunning; Carl Allen, Developmental Disabilities; and John Hooper
have done an excellent job in their respective fields and have been very cooperative with
Mr. Benjamin.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 1 p.m.
Bennett, Recording
ATTEST:
Dana Brown- avis, ouncil Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Finance Minutes, 11/13/96, Page 3