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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Council for July 19 1979WHATCOM COU14TY COU14CIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING JULY 19, 1979 I-7hatcom County Council Meeting was called to order by Chairperson Van - Zanten at 7:40 P.M. All members were present. Minutes were approved as presented. Shirley VanZanten was excused from attending the next meeting. HEARINGS & FINAL CONSIDERATIO't1 OF ORDINANCES There was a public hearing on the formation of the Blaine Park and Recreation District. The Council received a resolution and petition on 6/21/79 for a park in Blaine with a Certificate of Sufficiency from the Auditor attesting to at least 15`1, registered voter approval from that district. Judy Dunster from Maine spoke on behalf of the proposed district She pointed out that there are few recreational facilities in the Blaine area. This proposal which would exclude the Pt. Roberts area (because they have their own recreational district) would allow the residents of the Blaine School District to levy a tax for the construction of the recreational facility. The proposed name is the Northwest Park and Recreational District. Roger Despain, the director of Whatcom County Parks & Recreation also spoke concerning the proposed district. He agreed on the need for additional recreational facilities in that area, but pointed out prob- lems--of record keeping costing the County money even though the park itself will not, and also of the clangers of fragmentation. Jane Woods and Sherry Mathers also spoke out as residents in the city of Blaine in favor of the proposed Recreational District. A motion by Thompson to include this issue on the IJo.veniber ballot as submitted by the Committee passed by a 6 to 1 (Muenscher) vote. The folloiwng ordinances for supplemental budgets recommended with "do pass" from Safety and Finance committees, were approved by unanimous vote: Assigned Counsel Department $120,000.00 Emergency Services 537.15 Sherriff Dept. and Courthouse Jail 35,463.29 Superior Court 4,337.27 An ordinance for a supplemental budget for the Election Reserve Fund, recommended with "do pass" by the Finance Committee for $25,150.63 was passed by unanimous vote. The ordinance amending the Zoning Text & Map of Whatcom County Zoning Ordinance to reflect rural residential - Island & Forestry zoning for Lummi: Island with Planning Committee recommendation of "do pass" was enacted by unanimous vote. The ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance to implement the 1979 Point Roberts Supplement to County Comprehensive Plan with Planning Committee recommendation of "do pass" was passed unanimously. EXECUTIVE ITEMS BUDGET REVISIONS & FLOW THRU FUNDS There were four recommended revisions and flow thru funds: $55,404 in the Alcoholism budget $29,661 in that same budget (line -item transfers) $14,592.72 in the Assessor's budget $5970 in the Emergency Service Dept (combination of transfers and flow thru funds) minutes of Council meeting July 19, 1979 page 2 It was moved to authorize all four as presented. The motion passed unanimously. The next executive item was the appointment of a Personnel Director. The County received 93 applications which were narrowed down to 11, then to 5, who were interviewed by the Executive, Bob Muenscher, Will Roehl, Wendy Grunhurd(acting Personnel Director), and Gene Moses, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. These five narrowed the field, to 3, and from these 3, the Executive chose Harold Raymond, an employee of the Bellingham Police Department. His salary will be $18,000 per year. By a vote of 5 -1 (Johnson) with one abstention (Thompson), Harold Raymond was confirmed by the Council. OTHER BUSINESS There was a presentation by the Whatcom County Emergency Medical Services Council in regard to the proposed method of funding. They are asking for a tax to be levied in Whatcom County of $.025 per $1,000 assessed value on the property of Whatcom County residents. This would amount to about $560,000 per year at current assess- ments. The WCEMSC currently has a budget of $450,000 which is used for the needs of the entire county. The reasoning behind this proposal is the need to stabilize and reduce user fees, and primarily, for insuring that the Emergency Medical Service Council has ample funds for operation on a regular basis. They are asking that this proposed tax be put to the voters on the September ballot in order that it take effect in the 1980 budget. It was moved to refer this proposal to the Finance Committee and to Public Safety, and also that the proposal be sent to the Prosecuting Attorney's office for them to begin drafting the language for the proposal, with the assumption that it will be returned to the Council for consideration on the August 2 meeting. A budget revision for the Sheriff's Department of $41,156.71 was unanimously approved as recommended by Finance. A budget revision for the Election Reserve Fund of $15,468 + $1200 as recommended by Finance Committee passed unanimously. The nominations for the appointment to the Planning Commission were declared still open by the Chair. Muenscher submitted the name of Alvin VanDalen in addition to Beverly Sullivan and Phyllis Graham previously nominated. VanDalen and Sullivan were present and questioned by Council. By a 4 to 3 vote, Alvin VanDalen was appointed to serve until December 31, 1981. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS It was moved and approved to add four items to the agenda in this section. Ordinance regulating the hiring of Commissioned Sheriff Depart- ment personnel for police- related outside work was introduced by C. J. Johnson. He moved to refer to Public Safety, which passed unanimously. The ordinance regarding licensing of private guards, security, investigative and detective businesses and repealing conflicting ordinances was introduced by Johnson and referred to Public Safety. Motion passed unanimously. minutes of Council meeting July 19, 1979 page 3 The ordinance regarding the establishment of Surety Bonds. in an amount and form for all Elected County Officials and desig- nated employees was introduced by Hansey and was unanimously referred to Finance. An ordinace establishing Purchasing Procedures as provided for in the Charter was introduced by Hansey. The motion to refer this to Finance Committee passed unanimously. The ordinance describing the duties and functions of the County Medical Examiner and delegating to the Sheriff responsibility for the property of the deceased was introduced by Roehl and referred to Public Safety. Motion passed unanimously. The ordinance related to es.tablishing..,procedures for Initiatives, Referendums, and Recall was introduced by Roehl. It was not.sent to a committee, but will be discussed in full Council. The ordinance for a supplemental budget for the 1979 District Court was introduced by Hansey. It was, by unanimous vote, referred to the Finance Committee. The ordinance amending the Whatcom County Interim Zoning Ordin- ance to clarify and update certain sections was introduced by Muenscher and sent by unanimous vote to Planning. The resolution approving the Goal Statements of the Planning Commission as related to the Comprehensive Plan was moved by Muenscher and recommended for passage by the Planning Committee. Thompson moved to postpone this to the next meeting to allow for further study. Muenscher pointed out that the Goal Statements had had a public hearing by the Planning Commission and study by the Planning Committee. Motion to postpone was defeated. By a 4 (VanZanten, McIntyre, Muenscher, & Roehl) to 3 (Hansey, Johnson, and Thompson) vote, the resolution received final approval. The resolution approving a Comprehensive Plan for water supply and distribution system as adopted for and by Whatcom County Dist. No. 16 was introduced by Muenscher. It was recommended to be sent to the Planning Committee, and also directed that the Executive get comments and recommendations from the Public Works and Planning Departments. The resolution in the matter of increasing the County Parks' Small Change Fund by $75.00 from $455.00 to $530.00 was introduced by Hansey,who recommended immediate passage. By unanimous vote, the Council approved this resolution. The ordinance regarding Garbage Disposal Fees in Whatcom County was introduced by Thompson and referred to the next Council meeting. No committee review will take place. The resolution regarding adopting right of way acquisition procedures for Whatcom County was introduced by Thompson and referred to Public Works. The motion passed unanimously. The ordinance providing for executive authorization of reim- bursable work to meet criteria set out by the County Road Adminis- traiton Board was introduced by Hansey and referred to Finance Comm- ittee. The motion passed unanimously. OPEN SESSION In the open session, Harold Raymond, Bob Anderson, and Fred Larson made comments on various aspects of the evening's agenda. minutes of Council meeting July 19, 1979 page 4 COMMITTEE REPORTS The Public Safety Committee will now meet the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 P.M. in the Conference room on the second floor of the Courthouse. The Executive passed on to the Council the resignation of William Mize from the Health Board. He has served for ten years. Public notice of this vacancy will be given so -that those interested can submit applications prior to Council appointment. Hansey announced the Finance Committee hoped to have an ordin- ance for a tax on gambling to introduce at the August 2 meeting. Meeting was adjourned at 10:30 P.M. tb:njf