HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance October 24 1995WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
1996 Budget Hearing
October 24, 1995
The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m. by Committe Chair Alvin Starkenburg
in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue.
Also Present:
Marlene Dawson
Ward Nelson
Absent:
None
Others Present:
Ken Henderson, Council Member
Bob Woods, Council Budget and Program Analyst
BUDGET REVIEW OF THE 1996 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET FOR
THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS: PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, HEARING EXAMINER
Nate Brown, Planning and Development Services, gave a brief overview of the
administration services (handout provided, on file).
Those speaking were: Vickie Hardin- Woods, Planning; Sam Ryan, Building
Services Division; and Bill Florea, Land Use Division Manager. Each reviewed past and
projected objectives, as well as budget changes.
A question and answer period followed with each division manager. Topics
discussed included regulatory reform; percentage of time spent in various meetings;
engineering working with planning; availability of public educational brochures;
regulations; short plat process delays; effectiveness of enforcement officer; fees;
commercial permitting process; public knowledge of timeframes; Growth Management
Act (GMA) funding; Comprehensive Plan coming to the Council in early 1996; and
zoning changes coming in a package of information meeting state requirements in March
1996.
Starkenburg closed the Planning and Development presentation.
Nelson asked that all Council members memo their questions to the Planning
Department.
(Clerk's Note: A five minute recess was taken at 11:35 am.)
Tom Sutberry, Administrative Services, gave preliminary comments on the
Administrative Services Department. His department has been moving from
gatekeepers -- enforcing rules and regulations within the County - -to facilitators and service
providers. It is moving to decentralize many services and give department heads more
flexibility. One of the major changes in his department is the consolidation of many
small funds into one large internal services fund. His department was instrumental in
balancing the budget for 1996. Sutberry quoted statistics on reductions in expenses,
noting that a 10% reduction in budget reflects almost a quarter of a million dollars in
administrative services expenses. These cuts came by reducing a number of positions
within the department. Sutberry discussed the organization of the remaining four
managers for his department, as well as the METE (Managers Excellence Through
Evaluation) done by the state earlier in the year. He also mentioned the customer
feedback studies done earlier this year and Administrative Services' response to these
evaluations. Sutberry further highlighted his department's achievements through the
year, including the county newsletter, decentralizing purchasing, and the Strategic
Planning Committee.
Jerry Gran, Facilities Management Supervisor, reviewed accomplishments of 1995,
including the new security measures, upgraded electronic controls of air systems in the
public services building, development of policy outlines of Facilities Management,
implementation of use of two -way radios for custodial and maintenance staff, and
renovation of 316 Lottie and other buildings. Jerry Gran outlined the four goals of
Facilities Management for 1996.
Brad Bennett, Finance Manager, detailed the cuts made to the Finance
department, including restructuring the purchasing system, eliminating the purchasing
clerk position, and streamlining the purchase order request system. Staff will be cross -
trained in other areas so the cuts will not affect the public in general. He reviewed 1995
accomplishments and 1996 goals.
Larry Mans, Human Resource Manager, highlighted points in the document he
submitted earlier this week regarding his department's 1995 accomplishments.
George Reid, Information Services Manager, answered specific questions on the
memo from the Finance Committee Chair.
A question and answer period followed. Topics discussed included the courthouse
security officer; fees charged to departments for certain services provided by facilities
management; departmental training on financial systems; managerial and supervisory
training; sick leave sharing policy; reclassification process of employees; goals of the
Human Resources Department; the executive's involvement in the managerial duties of
the Administrative Services Department; and consolidation of administrative services
(print shop, mail room, and records management) with the City of Bellingham.
Starkenburg requested Sutberry create a document pertaining to the long -term
managerial goals of the County before he steps down. He also encouraged continuing
dialogue.
(Clerk's Note. A five minute break was taken at 12.45 p.m.)
Ed Good, Hearing Examiner, gave a short presentation on the Hearing
Examiner's Office. He discussed the budget cuts required by the Executive. He noted
his office is flexible and comfortable with the cuts.
A short question and answer period followed. Topics included procedure or
policy in preparation for a prehearing conference /hearing; number and types of cases
heard this year; timeliness of decisions; and report received of type of hearings held.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 1:02 p.m.
WSJ
_/ / , f, -0. A
%mi
Jill Nixon, Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
0 MW
arwmas