HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 9 19951
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
BUDGET HEARING
November 9, 1995
The meeting was called to order at 10:03 a.m. by Committee Chair Alvin
Starkenburg in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue.
Also Present:
Marlene Dawson
Ward Nelson
Absent:
None
COUNCIL; COURT COMMISSIONERS; LAW LIBRARY; 911; COG AND
ALL OTHER NON - DEPARTMENTAL (OUTSIDE CONTRACTS)
Dana Brown- Davis, Council Clerk, gave a brief presentation. She reported the
projected revenues for 1996 were $7,416 less than projected. Some major goals and
objectives for the coming year were reviewed.
22 A question and answer period followed. Topics discussed included: fundings;
23 staff positions; computer data base; Board of Equalization (BOE) membership; volunteer
position (Private Industry Council); regrouping Titles in the WCC (Whatcom County
25 Code) Book; and clerk /deputy clerk certification.
26
27 Dave McEachran, Prosecuting Attorney, spoke to the Law Library. He requested
28 a fee increase ($5,000). The library has been increasing in use. CD ROMS are now
29 being used. Also, the subscription costs are also increasing. McEachran introduced
30 Kalyn Gabriel, Law Librarian.
31
32 A question and answer period followed. Topics discussed included: copies of
33 cases; the facility's available space; on -line services; office hours; the use of the library by
34 attorneys and the public; and an increase in the filing fee, which would cover the $5,000
35 short fall.
36
37 Polly Keith, 911 Director, stated the budget request included 5.5 more staff,
38 anticipating an increase in the use of the service. She noted the change in the funding
39 formula is also impacting the budget.
40
41
42
43
44
Budget Minutes, 11/9/95, Page 1
1 A question and answer period followed. Topics discussed included: the
2 ambulance (Medic One) budget request; the increase in the number of calls for 911
3 service; statistics on the actual dispatches (hang ups not counted); and the total number
4 of employees.
5
6 Dale Brandland, Sheriff, commented on the fact that What -Comm is the link for
7 County government after 4:30 p.m.
8
9 Discussion resumed with a question regarding employees in training. Also
10 discussed was a commitment policy regarding employees.
11
12 Brandland noted the process has been long and hard. He referred to the City of
13 Bellingham's budget request.
14
15 Jim Miller, Executive Director, Council of Governments (COG), stated his budget
16 for 1996 is slightly larger than last year's (2.17 %). COG is primarily focused on
17 transportation planning. The role and capabilities of COG is expanding. It is also
18 offering support to The Fourth Comer and becoming involved in water issues.
19
20 There were no questions.
21
22 Pat Lundquist, representing the museum, presented their budget proposal. She
23 addressed the hotel -motel tax. Also speaking was John Stewart, incoming president for
24 the Society Board. He noted the majority of costs has been raised by private sources.
25
26 A question and answer period followed. Mark Lambert, Building Committee and
27 Society Board member, and John Obrance, Deputy Director, Whatcom Museum, spoke.
28 Topics discussed included: ownership of the museum building; school programs; tourists;
29 history of the County through the archives; funding through grants, etc., through the
30 education process; and rent to the City.
31
32 John Cooper, Convention and Visitors Bureau, made a clarification remark.
33
34 Charles Snyder, Superior Court Commissioner, addressed the Committee
35 regarding salary and representation matters. He spoke to equality, fairness and cost.
36
37 A question and answer period followed. A question on legislation was answered.
38 Also discussed was percentage increase regarding the prior Council's budget; and
39 background information of commissioners.
40
41 N.F. Jackson, Superior Court Administrator /Clerk, commented briefly on the
42 September adjustment to all judicial salaries.
43
44
Budget Minutes, 11/9/95, Page 2
1 Snyder added to his comments by stating that if the Council could not give them
2 parity, they give sufficient increase to make up for the two years' increases (1994 and
3 1995) given to the exempts the Commissioners did not receive, as well as give the
4 Commissioners the same amount given the exempts for 1996. He further requested a
5 written commitment for 1997 for the full 90 percent.
6
7 John Cooper, Convention and Visitors Bureau, noted his budget increased by 1 %.
8 The allocation comes from the County Council, City of Bellingham, City of Blaine,
9 Ferndale and other communities, private funding and the Port of Bellingham. There is a
10 high level of funding from the private sector, more so than in other counties. Visitors
11 and requests for information have increased.
12
13 Western Regional Conference of the Society of American Travel Writers, meeting
14 in Blaine at Semiahmoo, will generate many feature stories for the area. Cooper spoke
15 to the hotel -motel fund.
16
17 A question and answer period followed. Topics discussed included: hosting the
18 Travel Writers' convention and costs; and capital costs used from the hotel -motel tax.
19
20 Nate Brown, Planning and Development Services, briefly discussed four issues:
21 Nooksack Users Steering Committee funds; Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection District;
22 Lake Whatcom Management Plan; and Water Wise radio program.
23
7-4 Jan Hanson, Chair, Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection District Advisory
25 Committee, spoke to her committee's work. She noted the major players include:
26 Blaine, the County Council, the Port of Bellingham, Birch Bay Water and Sewer System
27 and all the major agriculture agencies. She called attention to the areas needing
28 assistance, which include upgrading the marinas; monitoring failures in onsite septic
29 systems; stormwater; and a County water quality monitoring plan.
30
31 A question and answer period followed. Topics discussed included: the marinas;
32 the involvement of the Health Department and Cooperative Extension; and the County
33 review of the objectives of the District.
34
35 Hanson noted her committee has no funding authority and is basically a "nag"
36 committee. She stated her committee should have more specific recommendations at the
37 Council meeting in December.
38
39 Brown spoke to funding. Bob Woods, Council Budget and Program Analyst,
40 stated that there is no appropriation for the unreleased funds from 1995 in the 1996
41 budget. The Nooksack Users Steering Committee funds have been appropriated and
42
43
44
Budget Minutes, 11/9/95, Page 3
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
probably spent or at least encumbered. Brown was asked the direction of action
regarding the Nooksack Users Steering Committee. Reference was made to the
Department of Ecology's (DOE) role (or lack thereof).
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
ATTEST:
18
19
20
21 ro -Davi—s.,-CounciI Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Alvin _ 1
Budget Minutes, 11/9/95, Page 4