HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 10 19942
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance & Personnel Committee
November 10, 1994
The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by Acting Committee Chair Ward
Nelson in the Committee Room of the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue.
Also Present:
Barbara Brenner
Other Council:
Marlene Dawson
Absent:
Alvin Starkenburg
PRESENTATION BY WHATCOM COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION
DEPARTMENT
18 Roger DeSpain, Director, introduced fellow staff members Rob Bunnett,
19 Recreation & Senior Services Administrator; Mary Lou Jones, Accountant and Office
20 Manager; and Larry Simkins, Parks Operations Supervisor. He also had a handout for
21 everyone (attached).
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23 Mr. DeSpain informed the Committee his department is responsible for 2,620
24 acres, 15 developed trails, cultural arts, outdoor recreation programs and generate
25 revenue. His department manages 17 different facilities that add to their revenue.
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are:
Rob Bunnett spoke about the objectives of the Senior Services Program, which
- Operate three full service Senior Centers (Bellingham, Blaine and Lynden);
- Operate five part-time drop in facilities (Everson, Ferndale, Pt. Roberts,
Sumas and Welcome Valley);
- Coordinate activities with Whatcom County on Aging to offer social
services programs in the Senior Centers (information and assistance,
nutrition and well adult health clinics);
- Use by community groups (grief support groups, food banks, etc.);
- Capital Improvement Projects.
Director DeSpain noted that his operation would not survive without volunteers.
The hours they put in totaled 62,372 hours in 1993, which adds up to much in funds.
Also helping is their inmate program, which contributed almost 8,000 hours in 1993
(approx. $42,000 at $5.25 per hour). One hundred forty -eight acres were acquired on
Chuckanut Mountain, as was Sunset Farms (donation by property owner), as was other
acres.
Finance Minutes, 11/10/94, Page 1
1 They have been receiving grants, which certainly has helped the budget. One
2 item on the agenda is looking for lasting materials for buildings; i.e., vinyl siding. Video
3 cameras and cellular phones are also a help.
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5 Larry Simkins addressed the Committee regarding an award the Parks
6 Department recently received. The key to their projects is teamwork.
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8 Mary Lou Jones answered several questions regarding the budget.
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11 Dan Raas, Law Library Trustee, spoke about funding for the Law Library, which
12 is the largest law library north of Everett. They are anticipating more monies from the
13 county lawyers, as the in- coming president of the American Bar Association is in favor of
14 attorneys being charged for use of the law library; the statutory funding is insufficient.
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16 Prosecuting Attorney Dave McEachran also spoke briefly.
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19 Mike Brennan with the Chamber of Commerce & Industry gave a report
20 regarding the activities from May 1993. Their budget for 1994 -95 is approximately
21 $420,000, half of which is for festival activities. Over 50 percent of the participants for
22 Ski to Sea are from out of the county. These people are returning the following year.
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25 Ann Suloway from Womencare Shelter had handouts for everyone. She explained
26 about the Shelter. Education is seen as access to services for victims, as well as
27 prevention. The budget for 1994 is going to be approximately $350,000; for next year,
28 approximately $330,000. They also have the use of a VISTA volunteer and will have
29 another for a year.
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
r
Ramona Reeves, Clerk of the Counc' ard-Nelson,Councilf Member
Finance Minutes, 11/10/94, Page 2