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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Council for August 7 1980WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Minutes of meeting August 7, 1980 The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. with all members present for roll with the exception of Hansey, who was on vacation. The minutes of the previous meetings (July 24 and 28) were approved as presented. PFARTTATCC Hearing was declared open on the ordinance amending a franchise dated the 22nd day of December, 1967, entitled "In the matter of a Franchise to install, operate and maintain audio- visual cable distribution lines along certain roads in Whatcom County, Washington ", for Nation Wide Cablevision. Lloyd Halla.day testified to franchises in general, requesting that the grant- ee's records be available to the public. Len Baker mentioned that the ap- licant had already been hanging cable lines before the franchise had been granted. John Louws answered that complaint, stating that Nation elide had been stopped from further work until the franchise were granted. Hearing was closed. Public Works recommended '.'do pass" on the ordinance. Donellan moved its passage, and his motion carried unanimously. Hearing was opened on the.ordinance regarding the matter of placing a stop sign on Sehome Avenue at intersection with Yew Street Road. No test- imony was given, and the hearing was closed. Johnson moved to enact the ord- inance with a. "do pass" recommendation from Public Safety. His motion passed unanimously. Hearing was held on the ordinance amending ordinance no. 80 -26 regarding a change in the weight restrictions on the Saxon Road Bridge #127A and the Gooseberry Point Ferry Landing. No testimony was given. Hearing was closed. Public Works recommended "do pass as amended." Donn.ellan moved its adoption, and moved to amend to include the old Lummi Island Ferry Dock in the title and text, changing the weight restriction on the dock from 10 to 4 tons. Jim Kresge from Engineering answered questions on the old ferry dock and .!hy the reduction was necessary. The amendment passed. The amended ordin- ance passed by unanimous vote. A . a Minutes of Council meeting August 7, 1980 page two EXECUTIVE ITEMS The Executive asked for authorization for budget transfer in the Motor Pool budget in the amount of $20,000 from Repairs & Maintenance to Tort Claims Insurance and Machinery & Equipment. Roehl moved to authorize, with Finance recommendation of "do pass ". Motion carried. The order of the agenda was changed by the Chairperson, moving Open Session before Final Consideration. OPEN SESSION Lloyd Halladay addressed the Council, suggesting ways to cut expend- itures. FINAL CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS Roehl moved to adopt an ordinance authorizing a revision in the 1980 Current Expense Fund, County Park Fund, and the Building Maintenance Fund, and a revision in the 1980 Current Expense Revenues. Finance Committee had reviewed the ordinance, and recommended approval of a substitute ordinance Roehl moved to amend the original by accepting the second. McIntyre and Johnson were against laying off personnel. They both .favored not filling vacant positions, however. Muenscher felt that cutbacks should not be made prior to the ballot lifting the levy lid from 105% was held. Roehl $ Van Zanten felt that money should'be saved now, so that there would be a greater cash carry -over for 1981. Donnellan agreed with Muenscher on waiting for the levy lid to be-voted upon. The amendment lost on a 2 -4 vote. Roehl moved to send the original ordinance back to Finance. Motion carried. Finance Committee held the ordinance amending Ordinance No. 79 -25 re- lating to the establishment of.Public Official Bonds in amounts and forms for all Elected County Officials and designated Employees, pursuant to Home Rule Charter Section 9.50. Donnellan moved for passage of an ordinance establishing policy and regulations governing the administration of County -owned parking areas. Public works recommended "do pass." The ordinance was enacted by unani- mous vote. Roehl moved passage of an ordinance amending Ordinance No.. 79 -9 re- lating to simplified procedures for approval of transfers and /or revisions within a departmental budget and for approval of budget revisions for ex- Minutes of;Council meeting August 7, 1980 page three penditure of flow- through funds. Finance recommended "do pass ", and Roehl's motion passed by unanimous vote. OTHER BUSINESS Communications were received. as follows: a) from residents of the Strand Road area regarding refuse left by people in the area - forwarded to the Executive to direct the Parks and Road departments investigate the complaint and suggest possible solutions to the problem b) from Alice Cordon concerning budget cuts to Current Expense in the Auditor's Department - received c) from Cornelius Noordeloos concerning budget cuts to Current Ex- pense - received INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS Roehl moved to add five items to this section of the Agenda. Motion passed, and the items were added to the section following the printed items. Roehl introduced the ordinance authorizing a supplemental budget for the Motor Pool Fund Budget of 1980. It was sent to Finance. Johnson introduced the following Ordinances and referred them to Pub- lic Safety: Ordinance regarding the matter of removing stop signs from: 1) Blaine Road, 2) South Church. Road,.and 3) Sunrise Road; Ordinance re- stricting the speed limit on Enterprise Road; and, Ordinance regarding the matter of placing a stop sign on Morrison Avenue, Johnson introduced the resolution regarding a change of road name from Douglas Avenue to Hoff Road. It will have public hearing, but no committee consideration. Roehl introduced and moved the passage of a resolution in the matter of minimizing expenditures for the remainder of the 1980 budget year. His motion carried. Roehl introduced three ordinances regarding R.I.D. 4, and referred them to Finance as follows: Ordinance of the Council of Whatcom County, Washing- ton creating a Road Improvement District No. 4 Fund and providing for the issuance of bonds of Road Improvement Distri.Ct No. 4 in the principal sum of $76,031.43 and the sale thereof; an Ordinance of the Council of Whatcom County, Washington, providing for the creation and maintenance of a road improvement guaranty fund, authorizing tax levies to maintain such fund; and providing for payment into and drawing of warrants against such fund; and, an Ordinance authorizing the adoption of a budget for the County Road 1 Minutes of Council meeting August 7,, 1980 page four District No. 4 Fund for 1980. Roehl introduced and moved passage of a Resolution of the Council of Whatcom County, Washington, retaining bond counsel for certain services in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale, printing and delivery of certain road improvement district bonds of the County. His motion car- ried. Roehl introduced and moved passage of a resolution in the matter of accepting a petition to form a county road improvement district for improve- ment of Coronado, Columbus and Lewis Avenues in the amended Plat. of Geneva and South Geneva on Lake Whatcom to County standards. His motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS Johnson reported for Public Safety concerning a liquor license trans- fer to Birch Bay Marina & Grocery, which has a recommendation for denial from the Sheriff due the owner being a felon. Roehl did not feel that that alone was reason enough for denial without further investigation. He moved to have the Executive grant an extension on the application, and have consideration of the request at the next meeting, in order to allow further Council investigation. Motion passed. Johnson also reported on the request for reduced truck traffic: on the James Street Road. As the street is under half. City and half County jurisdiction, a joint meeting- between the city and county Public Safety committees is to be arranged by the Sheriff in order to discuss this mat- ter and to come to a decision. Meeting adjourned at 10:OS.