HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council December 1 1994WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Council Meeting
December 1, 1994
The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. by Chair Robert Imhof in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue.
Also Present: Absent:
Alvin Starkenburg
Marlene Dawson
Barbara Brenner
Ward Nelson
Larry Harris
Ken Henderson
1. ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR COUNTY AND
STATE PURPOSES IN WHATCOM COUNTY FOR 1995. (AB94-54 1)
Starkenburg moved to adopt ordinance.
Starkenburg moved to amend line 11 page 2 of the ordinance to read "be limited to a 4-63
pere pia:: r° "..::. increase"
Motion to amend carried 6 -1 with Harris opposed.
The main motion was adopted 6 -1 with Harris opposed.
2. ORDINANCE RELATING TO TAXATION, IMPOSING A SALES AND
USE TAX UPON AND TO BE COLLECTED FROM THOSE PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE STATE SALES AND USE TAX IS COLLECTED,
FIXING THE RATE OF TAX, PROVIDING FOR THE ADMINISTRATION
AND COLLECTION THEREOF, CONSENTING TO THE INSPECTION OF
RECORDS AND OTHER MATTERS ON FILE RELATING THERETO
(AB94 -539)
This item was held to January 10, 1995.
3. ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 1995 UNIFIED FEE SCHEDULE (AB94 -540)
Brenner moved adoption of the ordinance.
There was discussion on the motion.
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 1
Brenner moved to amend the SEPA: DNS or DS Appeal fee from $360 to $200.
Motion to amend carried 4 -3 with Imhof, Nelson, and Dawson opposed.
Henderson made the following motions and stated that they are "corrections" that Ed Henken
sent over and asked to be included.
Henderson moved that under Planning and Development Services that the fee for "Address
Assignment" be deleted and that under that under Transportation Services "Address
Assignment" in the amount of $35 be added.
Motion carried unanimously.
Henderson moved the following fees be increased for 1995 to these amounts:
Revocable encroachment permit commercial driveway
$35
Revocable encroachment permit commercial utility
$25
Revocable encroachment permit gas power $50
Revocable encroachment permit residential driveway
$25
Revocable encroachment permit residential utility $25
Revocable encroachment permit storm drain - per ft.
$0.20
Revocable encroachment permit storm drain - 50' or less $30
Copies - 81 /z x 11 maps
$0.25
Motion carried unanimously.
Henderson moved the following fees be added to the Transportation Services Area:
Copy - blue line aerial $4.00
Copy- 1 " = 1 mile county road map $10.00
Copy - wetland maps $4.00
Copy - development standards $5.00
Copy - microfilm electrostatic $2.00
Motion carried unanimously.
The following changes were requested by Bill Florea of Planning & Development Services and
are mostly clerical changes to reflect fees that are already there, but were not
corrected /inserted earlier:
Henderson moved to re -title the fee called Subdivision: Lot Consolidation & Relief to the new
title of Zoning: Lot Consolidation Relief and to change the code citation to WCC
Special Council Minutes, 12/l/94, Page 2
20.84.250(2).
Motion carried unanimously.
Henderson moved to correct and revise the fee for Planned Unit Development - Residential to
read $700 plus $65 per lot.
Motion carried unanimously.
Henderson moved to revise the fee Subdivision: Long Plat - Final Plat to be $700 plus $110
per lot.
Motion carried unanimously.
Henderson moved to strike the fee Zoning: Comprehensive Plan in it's entirety.
Motion carried unanimously.
Henderson moved to re -title the fee called Text Amendments at $750 per application to read
Zoning: Text Amendments at $750 per application.
Motion carried unanimously.
Henderson moved to re -title the fee called Agriculture Zone Subdivision Review at $250 per
application to read Zoning: Agricultural Land Division in the amount of $250 per application
with a citation of WCC 20.40.251
Motion carried unanimously.
Henderson moved to re -title the fee called Rezone Commercial Industrial to read Zoning:
Rezone to Commercial /Industrial.
Motion carried unanimously.
Henderson moved to re -title the fee called Rezone Residential Agricultural Forestry at $1,500
per application to read Zoning: Rezone All Other Zones in the amount of $1,500 per
application with a citation of WCC 20.90.200.
Motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved to amend the fee schedule on page 17 of the packet for Permit, Recycling
to decrease the fee from $1980 to $1000.
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 3
The motion carried unanimously.
After discussion, it was decided that Starkenburg will provide staff with a list of fees to studied
for possible revision by the Health Department.
The main motion to adopt the Unified Fee Schedule carried unanimously.
4. RESOLUTION ADOPTING A SALARY SCHEDULE FOR THE
UNREPRESENTED WHATCOM COUNTY EMPLOYEES FOR THE YEAR
1995 (AB94 -542)
Starkenburg moved to amend Exhibit A, the Exempt Salary Matrix, to reduce by 3 % to
current 1994 amounts, all salary levels at range 20 and above.
The motion failed 2 -5 with Brenner and Dawson in favor.
Starkenburg moved to amend Sections 2 and 4 of the Exempt Salary Resolution to reduce by
3 % to the current 1994 salary levels, the salaries of elected and other appointed officials,
except for Court Commissioners, as follows:
Executive
$6,534
Prosecutor
6,469
Sheriff
4,916
Auditor
4,270
Treasurer
4,270
Assessor
4,270
Council Member
980
Court Reporter
3,464
Health Officer
6,718
The motion failed 1 -6 with Brenner in favor.
The main motion carried 6 -1 with Brenner opposed.
5. RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 1995 SIX -YEAR PHYSICAL PLANT AND
FACILITIES CAPITAL PROGRAM RELATING TO BUILDINGS AND
FACILITIES FOR WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON (AB94 -543)
Nelson moved to approved the resolution.
Motion carried unanimously.
6. ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 1995 BUDGET FOR WHATCOM COUNTY
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 4
(AB94 -538)
Starkenburg moved adoption of the ordinance.
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Remove the 3 % property tax increase, and reduce
expected revenues in the Current Expense Fund by $362,476 and in the Road Fund by
262, 832.
The motion carried 6 -1 with Harris opposed.
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Reduce the estimated property tax income in the
Road Fund by $261,669 to reflect tax computations as provided by the County Assessor.
The motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Remove the proposed Criminal Justice Sales Tax and
reduce the projected Current Expense Fund income by $706,108.
The motion carried 6 -1 with Harris opposed.
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Include a new Section III Fund Changes, with an
item (A) to read as follows:
(A) The River Improvement Fund shall be closed as of January 1, 1995 and the
undesignated unreserved fund equity of approximately $560,000 transferred to the
Current Expense Fund.
Starkenburg moved to further amend as follows: Increase Current Expense anticipated income
by the same amount.
The motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Reduce appropriations to the County Jail by
$157,721 which is to include a reduction of the 5 new positions from the proposed budget.
The motion carried 6 -1 with Harris opposed.
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Reduce the appropriation to the Public Defender
Department by $39,339 which is to include a reduction of 1 new position from the proposed
budget..
The motion carried 5 -2 with Harris and Brenner opposed.
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 5
VERBATIM PORTION
Starkenburg: Okay, Prosecuting Attorney. I would have liked to redo, let's see. Um, in
regard to this item,um we had this motion prepared, uh, but in light of waiting on our decision
until January 10 poses somewhat of a problem in regard to this department. And that would
be that there is, this proposal would be to cut 1.5 and yet if there was some solutions to the
efforts that are taking place by January 10. It would be unfortunate for that one position to
have to go through the process of being laid off and so on. So I think it's going to be
appropriate to reword this one and I'm actually explaining it, that we allow one FTE there for
one month for the amount of $3,000. And so I would like to reduce that dollar amount of
$44,530 that we see by $3,000 if that's an appropriate procedure, and I'll make that motion to
that affect.
Imhof: We could find out, ask if there's a vacant position in there now just not to be filled.
Starkenburg: That would be another alternative.
Imhof: Is there someone from the Prosecutor's Office here?
Kathy Walker: I'm sorry, I was writing myself a note. I didn't hear the question.
Imhof: We were wondering, is there a vacant position in the Prosecutor's Office that would
not be filled instead of having to put the money in there. You're full up?
Walker: Well, yes. The appellate attorney has been with us the entire year and that's the
position that was funded through Current Expense this year, was taken out. So she would be
the one, that position is the one that would be cut.
Imhof: Okay, you can cut whatever your lowest priority is. We didn't say which one to cut.
Walker: Yes, we'd lose an attorney.
Imhof: Okay. All the positions are filled at this time.
Walker: That's correct.
Henderson: If the reference to the number of positions at the latter part of the motion is
struck, reduction of $44,530, could be made up at some time later. But the point is, do. we
want to send the message about those positions or not? So, to say we're going to carry them
over, if you're going to fund them, I think, you have to fund 1/12 of the right position. So
you'll have to state specifically what you want.
Woods: I have a potential suggestion. It might make our record keeping a little clearer, I'm
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 6
not sure. The idea would be, if the motion is here to reduce the 1.5 positions for $44,530
were to pass a second motion then could be made to appropriate $3,000 and fund the appellate
attorney position for one month or something of that nature, as opposed to trying to massage
one motion.
Imhof: Or why don't we just fund both of those positions for one month to see what comes
out. Just 1/12 of that amount.
Brenner: Okay you guys changed the rules here and I'm confused. I don't' agree with having
the appellate attorney position but I would like to see money put back in the sexual assault
coordinator. And I don't know how that fits in now. Do I vote against this stuff first and then
bring that up? I don't know how to work this into a motion.
Woods: At this point, you really don't have a motion on the floor I don't believe.
Starkenburg: Okay, I'm ready. I move to reduce the appropriations to the County
Prosecutor's Office by $44,530 which is to include a reduction of 1.5 new positions from the
proposed budget. And I would request that you give consideration to a second motion which
will be coming.
Imhof: Okay. The motion is as heard.
Brenner: I'd like to amend the motion to reflect a reduction of one position with an
appropriation reduction of $29,530 specifically to fund the sexual assault coordinator.
Imhof: Okay the motion is to include a reduction of just one position and the appropriate
money to follow.
Brenner: Well, but I want it specifically targeted for the sexual assault coordinator.
Imhof: Okay that is the motion. And that's an amendment to it. All in favor of that motion
signify by saying aye. (5) Opposed no. (2). Now what were the numbers you...?
Brenner: It would be a reduction of $29,530 and
Woods: If I can help, at this point your motion is now to reduce one position in the amount
$29,530.
Brenner: Right.
Imhof: Okay, that is the motion to reduce one position for a total of $29,530. Comments?
All those if favor or the motion signify by saying aye. (3) Opposed no (4). Okay where were
the ayes? Can I see hands. Brenner, Dawson, and Henderson. That vote fails three to four.
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 7
Okay Alvin did you have another one on that?
Starkenburg: I move that we appropriate $4,000 to the County Prosecutor's Office.
Woods: Excuse me, if I could clarify for you, I was my understanding that the motion just
failed therefore the 1.5 positions and the $44,000 is still in.
Imhof: Oh, okay.
Starkenburg: We haven't voted on that yet.
Woods: You did just vote on that.
Starkenburg: Oh, okay, I'm sorry.
Woods: Did I miss that? I need to be clear.
Imhof: We voted on it as amended. There was an amendment offered by Council Member
Starkenburg and an amendment to that amendment by Brenner which passed. The motion was
then one position at $32,000 and some change and my understanding is that motion failed.
Imhof: Okay the motion before us is the original...
Nelson: No he's saying we don't have a motion, so I would move to reconsider.
Harris: So at this point the 1.5 positions are in.
Imhof: Okay, the motion from Nelson is to reduce the appropriation to the County
Prosecutor's Office by $44,530 which is to include a reduction of 1.5 new positions from the
proposed budget. Further comments.
Brenner: I thought I already amended that.
Imhof: And it failed.
Brenner: No it passed.
Imhof: No, your amendment passed but the motion as amended failed.
Nelson: So then the amendment fails.
Imhof: The motion as amended failed. 3 -4.
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 8
Harris: Her motion covered half of the positions and the next motion covered the remaining
positions and both of them passed so its, in effect..
Imhof: No it failed 3 -4.
Nelson: Larry's right because we voted to pass the whole motion which is this one with
Barbara's amendment which did pass 4 -3.
Imhof: Nope.
Starkenburg: Mr. Chairman, can I add confusion? My understanding was, I read the motion
as it stands, and then it was amended and
Woods: And that amendment passed. And then so the original motion to amend now was for
one position at $32,000 and that motion failed. So the numbers have not been amend, they
remain at this point as they were stated in the budget.
Brenner: So we're cutting one and a half positions.
Imhof: No, we've done nothing. Ward made a motion to reconsider and that is to reduce the
appropriation to the County Prosecutor's Office by $44,530 which is to include a reduction of
1.5 new positions for the proposed budget. Right Bob?
Woods: If that motion is to be made then I believe it can be voted on on its own.
Dawson: No reconsideration.
Imhof: Okay and you moved that motion?
Nelson: No I moved to reconsider to bring back the former motion of the whole with
Barbara's amendment.
Woods: I believe you can move to reconsider a vote that has been taken. I'm not sure what
the procedure is.
Gibson: We tie ourselves in knots over procedure. Effectively, if you all agree, or if enough
of you agree (which in this case would be 4) , if you want to take another look at it you can
take another look at it.
Imhof: Okay.
Henderson: Is the number 4 or 5 Dan?
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 9
Gibson: 4
Imhof: Ward, make a motion.
Nelson: Okay I move to fund the appropriations for the County Prosecutor's Office by
$44,530 and then to, which then that
Woods: Excuse me, you moved to fund the position?
Nelson: No, not to fund the positions. And then what we would do is add that with the
$4,500 to fund the 2 positions or the 1.5 positions I guess that's part of it was the sexual
assault coordinator as well as the appellate attorney for one month.
Woods: Can I take a stab at restating that?
Imhof: Please, or I will.
Woods: You're moving to reduce the appropriations by $44,530 and to reduce 1.5 new
positions and at the same time to appropriate $4,500 and authorization for those 2 positions to
continue for the month of January.
Nelson: Correct, if that's the correct amount.
Woods: You have to pick a number.
Imhof: That's real close.
Harris: The question I have is a procedural question. We voted already on both of those
issues, the question is does this need now to have a reconsider motion to bring them back up?
Nelson: No it's a new motion.
Imhof: We've never voted on the $4,530. We voted on $29,930 and that was voted down.
Harris: Well, the $44,530 was approved in two consecutive votes.
Imhof: No it wasn't.
Harris: It was.
Nelson: I'm sufficiently lost now.
Imhof: The $44,000 reduction was moved. Barbara amended it to $29,000. The amendment
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 10
passed. Okay, then we went back to the original motion. That motion failed 3 -4 so there was
no, so we're back to square one. Okay, now, Ward's motion is the original motion brought
up and amended to reflect putting $44,000 into the appropriations to keep those 2 people on
for one month.
Gibson: This is what we were addressing a few minutes ago. It makes the most sense simply
to treat it as a new motion. You can vote to reconsider but you're doing exactly the same
thing, taking two steps when only one step is required.
Harris: Except that a vote to reconsider requires 4 votes to...
Gibson: Four votes, it requires a majority. So if you achieve a majority on the vote to
reconsider presumably, you'll approve your new motion. If you don't get a majority on one
of them you're not going to get a majority on either.
Henderson: I have a question. The motion that we voted on is not the motion that we are now
considering. The reason is that it was amended when it actually came to us, it was not the
same motion. So I think in this case, on procedure, I would disagree with Larry that we have
to reconsider. I think this is in fact not the same motion we voted on.
Harris: I agree.
Imhof: The motion is to reduce the appropriations the County Prosecutor's Office by $44,530
which is to include a reduction of 1.5 new positions from the proposed budget and add $4.500
to fund that 1.5 positions for one month. Further comments. All those in favor of the motion
signify by saying aye (5) Opposed no (2).Okay that's 5 -2 Barbara Brenner and Larry Harris
opposed.
END OF VERBATIM PORTION
Starkenburg moved to reduce appropriations to the Planning Division of Planning and
Development Services by $87,267 which is to include a reduction of 2 positions.
Brenner moved to amend by reducing one position with an appropriation reduction of $41,830.
Motion failed 3 -4 with Brenner, Harris, and Henderson in favor.
Harris moved to amend as follows: The decision to cut two positions in the Planning
Division, the Planning Department be deferred and that the following directives be inserted
into a new Section IV Policy Directives:
The Administration is to prepare by March 31, 1995 a report and plan that details
recommended staffing levels for the Planning Division of the Planning & Development
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 11
Services Department for the balance of 1995 and for 1996.
Imhof moved to amend the decision to cutting only one position being deferred. He restated
the motion as follows: To reduce appropriations to Planning & Development Service by the
correct amount which is to include the reduction of one position, ($41,830) with the policy
directive.
Starkenburg asked that the motion be further amended to appropriate funds only through
March 1 or until we hear what staffmg level is needed.
Imhof suggested March 31 instead of March 1. Harris agreed.
Imhof restated the motion as follows: To reduce appropriations to Planning Division, Planning
and Development Services by $75,907 which is to include the reduction of 1.75 positions and
with the policy directive the Administration is to prepare by March 1, 1995 a report and plan
that details recommended staffing levels for the Planning Division of Planning & Development
Services Department for the balance of 95 and 96.
The motion to amend carried with Dawson and Nelson opposed.
Brenner to amend as follows: To appropriate $2,800 from the Current Expense Fund in the
Planning Division for Water Why's program.
The motion carried 4 -3 with Starkenburg, Imhof, and Nelson opposed.
Brenner moved that the following policy directive be added to Section IV Policy Directives:
The Administration is to prepare an ordinance to delete the Planning & Development
Services Department, create a Planning Department, and transfer the Land Use and
Inspection Services operations to the Transportation Services Department. This change
is to be effective by March 31, 1995.
The motion failed 1 -6 with Brenner in favor.
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Reduce the appropriation for the Hearing Examiner
- Professional Services by $9,000.
The motion carried 6 -1 with Harris opposed.
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Appropriate $10,000 within the Council Office for
the Charter Review Commission.
The motion carried unanimously.
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 12
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Appropriate $156,107 for funding of the Nooksack
Water Users Steering committee and related purposes, in accounts to be specified by the
County Executive.
The motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Appropriate $5,000 to the Council Office -
Miscellaneous as seed funding for an eventual county -wide staff incentive program.
The motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved to appropriate $40,000 to the Council Office - Professional Services to
fund consultant needs relative to development of legislation.
Brenner moved to amend the amendment to $30,000.
The motion failed 1 -6 with Brenner in favor.
Starkenburg's motion carried 5 -2 with Harris and Henderson opposed.
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Appropriate $31,291 for funding of the Lake
Whatcom Management Plan to cover the Management Committee recommendations regarding
Public Involvement and Spill Response actions only, in accounts to be specified by the County
Executive.
The motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Transfer $31,291 from the Flood Control Zone
District to the Current Expense Fund for funding of the Lake Whatcom Management Plan, and
reduce the Flood Control Zone District Fund balance by the same amount..
The motion failed 3 -4 with Imhof, Henderson, and Starkenburg in favor.
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Continue the current Safety Officer position by
transferring it to the County Prosecutors Office at a level of 0.5 FTE and to appropriate
$30,000 to fund the position.
Brenner moved to amend the amendment as follows: Reflect a 1.0 FTE and an appropriation
level of $60,000.
The motion failed 3 -4.
Starkenburg's motion carried 6 -1 with Brenner opposed.
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 13
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Transfer $30,000 from the Self Insurance Fund to
the Current Expense fund to cover the 0.5 FTE Safety Officer position, and reduce the Self -
Insurance Fund balance by the same amount.
The motion carried 7 -0.
Imhof moved a technical correction of change which is a reduction of $4,072 in the transfer of
the Self Insurance Fund to the Current Expense Fund.
The motion carried unanimously.
Based on updated information received from the Administration that indicated substantially
lower medical insurance premium costs, Starkenburg moved to reduce the appropriations for
Medical Insurance in the Current Expense Fund by $338,760; in the Health Fund by $62,150;
and in the Parks Fund by 24,800, and these reductions are to be apportioned to departments as
appropriate.
The motion carried unanimously
Starkenburg further moved that in those other Funds where similar cost reductions will occur,
but the amounts are unavailable to the Council this time, that the Administration shall identify
those amounts as soon as practical and the appropriation authority shall be reduced by those
amounts.
The motion carried unanimously
Starkenburg moved to reduce the transfer from Current Expense to the Health Fund by
$37,290 in light of reduced medical insurance costs, and reduce the Health Fund anticipated
income by the same amount.
The motion carried unanimously
Starkenburg moved to reduce the transfer from Current Expense to the Parks Fund by $24,800
in light of reduced medical insurance costs, and reduce Parks Fund anticipated income by the
same amount.
The motion carried unanimously
Based on updated information received from the Administration, Starkenburg moved to reduce
the appropriation for the Ambulance Contract by $70,000.
The motion carried unanimously
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 14
Starkenburg moved the Executives technical correction to remove the projected income from
the Guide Meridian grant of $35,250 from the Planning Division of Planning & Development
Services.
The motion carried unanimously
Starkenburg moved the Executive's technical correction of reducing appropriations by $32,250
resulting from the elimination of the Guide Meridian Grant, and transferring $3,000 from line
item 2564.6110 To 2500.6110 within the Planning Division of the Planning and Development
Services Department.
The motion carried unanimously
Starkenburg moved the Executive's technical correction to increase appropriations in the
Election Reserve Fund by $13,897 regarding the voter management system and reduce the
Fund balance by the same amount.
The motion carried unanimously.
Imhof moved to move money between two line items in the Combined Treatment budget that
were put in the wrong lines, they are from professional services to contractual services in
amount of $68,775. There is no budget impact. He further moved to add revenue omitted
erroneously for the Bellingham contract under Septic Survey of $65,507 for the Health
Department.
The motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved the Executive's technical correction to reduce appropriations by $140,000
in the Equipment Rental & Revolving Fund.
The motion carried unanimously
Starkenburg moved to remove the planned replacement of the basket truck and bridge truck
from the replacement schedule and reduce the appropriation by $235,000 in the Equipment
Rental & Revolving Fund.
The motion carried unanimously
Starkenburg moved to reduce the appropriation to the Maintenance & Operations Division of
the Transportation Services Department by $100,000 which is to include a reduction of four
positions from the proposed budget that may be phased out over the course of the year at the
discretion of the Department.
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 15
Imhof moved to amend the motion as follows: reduce the appropriation to the 9d r
of the Transportation Services Department by $100,000
which is to include a reduction of four positions from the proposed budget that may be phased
out over the course of the year at the discretion of the Department.
The motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg's main motion carried 5 -2.
Brenner moved to amend as follows: Appropriate $60,000 in the Road Fund /Transportation
Services to continue the 1.0 FTE Special Projects Coordinator position.
The motion failed 2 -5 with Dawson and Brenner in favor.
Starkenburg moved to amend as follows: Reduce the appropriation to the Solid Waste
Division by $156,555 by removing 2.5 positions and all salaries & benefits expenses.
Upon successful passage of an already introduced ordinance to transfer responsibility for Solid
Waste operations from the Planning & Development Services Department to the Transportation
Services Department, the Administration will prepare by March 1, 1995 a report and plan on
operations and staffing for future Solid Waste operations.
Brenner moved to amend the amendment to reflect the reduction of 1.5 positions and a reduced
appropriation of $100,000.
Motion failed 2 -5.
Starkenburg's motion carried 6 -1 with Harris opposed.
Brenner moved to amend as follows: Appropriate an additional $8,000 to the Weed Board for
Professional Services.
Henderson moved to amend the amendment to reduce the appropriation to $4,000.
Motion carried.
Brenner's amended motion failed 3 -4, with Brenner, Harris and Henderson in favor.
Brenner moved to appropriate an additional $14,000 to the Treasurer's Department for
additional property tax mailings.
Brenner withdrew her motion.
Brenner moved to amend as follows: Appropriate an additional $20,000 in the Park
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 16
Department for the Best Self program, and to increase the Current Expense transfer to the Park
Fund by $20,000
The motion failed 2 -5 with Henderson and Brenner in favor.
Brenner move to amend as follows: Reduce the appropriations in the Health Department by
$82,000 and to reduce the Current Expense transfer to the Health Fund by $49,200 as a result
of reduced appropriations; and further move to add an item under Section II that states:
Appropriation reductions in the Health Department are not to be taken from the WIC program.
The motion failed 1 -6 with Brenner in favor.
Brenner moved to amend as follows: Reduce 0.5 FTE from the Health Department and reduce
appropriations by $25,000 and further reduce the transfer from the Current Expense Fund to
the Health fun in the amount of $15,000 as a result of the reduced appropriations.
The motion failed 1 -6 with Brenner in favor.
Brenner moved that the following policy directive be added to Section IV Policy Directives:
The Administration is to prepare an ordinance to eliminate the Juvenile Court
Administration /Probation Department by transferring court administration duties and
personnel to the Superior Court administration operation; lock -up personnel and duties
to the Jail; and probation activities to the District Court Probation Department This
change is to be effective by March 31, 1995.
Brenner changed her motion to read as follows: The following policy directive be added to
Section IV Policy Directives:
The Administration is to prepare an analysis to investigate elimination of the Juvenile
Court Administration /Probation Department by transferring court administration duties
and personnel to the Superior Court administration operation; lock -up personnel and
duties to the Jail; and probation activities to the District Court Probation Department
This analysis is to be due by March 31, 1995, or at least an update.
Imhof restated the motion differently as follows: The Administration, in conjunction with the
Council Office is to prepare and analysis and study of the elimination of the Juvenile Court
Administration /Probation Department and submit such a report to the Council by June 30,
1994.
The motion carried unanimously.
I move that the following policy directive be added to Section IV Policy Directives:
Special Council Minutes, 12/l/94, Page 17
The Administration in conjunction with the Council Office is to analyze deletion of the
Administrative Services Department and transfer all those operational responsibilities
directly into the Executive Office with quarterly updates.
The motion failed 1 -5 with Henderson out of the room.
I move that the following policy directive be added to Section IV.
The Administration is to prepare an ordinance to combine the Developmental
Disabilities and Combined Treatment Services Departments into a single department.
This change is to be effective by March 31, 1995. A new department name is to be
developed. The direction to be given to the Administration is to include a coordinator
for Developmental Disabilities.
The motion was withdrawn.
Starkenburg moved that upon successful passage of an already introduced ordinance to revise
the Health Code to have an Administrative Director instead of requiring the Health Officer to
act as the Administrator, the Administration will prepare a report examining the following:
Reducing the Health Officer to half -time in lieu of reduced responsibilities.
Appropriate compensation levels for an Administrative Director.
Transition of existing staffing positions to cover new positions.
The motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved that no grants, contracts, or grant /contract amendments shall be brought
forward to the Council for consideration in 1995 that propose to add additional authorized
positions above the levels specified in the 1995 budget.
The motion was withdrawn.
Brenner moved to direct the Parks Department and the Criminal Justice people to get together
with the Commission on Youth and Children and discuss the possibility of working out some
kind of program with Best Self for next summer and come back to us with some kind of a
recommendation.
Starkenburg moved to amend to designate Parks as the lead agency.
The motion carried unanimously.
Bremer's motion carried unanimously.
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 18
Starkenburg moved to amend the budget ordinance page 1, line 37 to read as follows:
The amounts set forth below, a€dtl€thdnd::: ct:::a:::sla t?x:<:t:::b::< :: are
:::......:::::::::::P.::.......::::::x.:.
adopted as the Whatcom County Budget for the year 1995.
The motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved to amend the budget ordinance on page 3, line 35 to read as follows:
(A) This department /fund level appropriation is based upon the backup detail budget,
as attached, and as contained in the volumes titled Executive's Recommended 1994
Whatcom County Budget (Exhibit A). Authorized Personnel positions cannot be
increased during the year except by approval of the County Council. Positions
approved at less that a full -time equivalent may be increased subject to the availability
of funds and the consent of the County Executive, but shall not be considered a
permanent change in authorized levels. The monies allocated to Salaries and Wages,
Personnel Benefits and Capital Outlay can be transferred only with the prior approval
of the County Executive. " °r Iartd:??:.::::z::'€rl:n
tY PP.....P ......... ........ .
The motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved to add a new item to Section II Provisions Restricting Expenditures to
read as follows:
o €a rte:;rad end..::...::.[ :............... fed.: lor:..:.....:f.:x......::cr..:h
:::: PP .:::::...........::::::::::: :::::.::.:::::::..y:::.::::.::: .::::.::: ::.::::::.:.::::.P.:::.:::::.:: -:.:::::.: :::::::.:::::.......:::::. .:::::::::..............
The motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved to add the following items (B), (C), and (D) to Section III:
(B) Ordinances for closure of non - mandated funds shall be prepared and submitted to
the Council for action, in order to effect closure of the following funds to the Current
Expense Fund as of July 1, 1995:
104 Combined Treatment Fund
105 Developmental Disability Fund
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 19
106 County Park Fund
109 Election Reserve Fund
111 Law Library Fund
112 N.W. Washington Fair Fund
136 Tort Defense Fund
144 Self Insurance Fund
328 Physical Plant Fund
505 Building Maintenance Fund
153 Public Health Fund
165 Whatcom County Drug Fund
175 Conservation Futures Fund
180 Lake Management District
131 Paths & Trails Reserve Fund
401 Solid Waste Fund
(C) In regards to the closing of Funds, in those cases where state or county law, or
contractual arrangement, requires that collected monies be spent for specific services,
such fund balances or portions thereof that fall within those requirements shall be
restricted for use for only the reasons allowed. In determining those restricted amounts,
those Funds which in current or prior years received transfers from the Current
Expense Fund shall be deemed as having spent dedicated or other restricted monies
first, and any remaining Fund Balance resulting from non - expended Current Expense
transfers shall revert to the unreserved Current Expense Fund balance.
(D) Concurrent with the ordinances to effect closure of the funds cited in subsection
(B), there shall also be developed an ordinance to create a Reserve Fund that can be
used to benefit all county operations. An appropriate portion of monies from those
Funds being closed shall be recommended to be appropriated to the Reserve Fund.
The motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved to add the following item (E) to Section III:
(E) Pursuant to RCW 36.33A.030, The Council hereby declares that the financial
administration of the Rental & Revolving Fund shall be transferred to the
Administrative Services Department by January 1, 1996.
The motion carried 6 -1 with Brenner opposed.
Imhof moved to direct the Council staff to revise the budget figures, paragraph numbering,
and to insert miscellaneous language additions as may be necessary resulting from the
amendment to the ordinance that were adopted.
Special Council Minutes, 12/1 /94, Page 20
The motion carried unanimously.
The main amended motion to adopt the ordinance carried unanimously.
7. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 11 (AB94 -567)
Starkenburg moved approval of the ordinance.
The motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Dana Brown - Davis, Recording Secretary
These minutes were approved by the Council on , 1994.
ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Ramona Reeves, Clerk of the Council Robert Imhof, Chair
Special Council Minutes, 12/1/94, Page 21