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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance February 12 1990WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE February 12, 1990 The meeting was called to order at 3 p.m. by Committee Chairman Dan Warner in the Council Conference Room. Also present: Absent: Mary Vanderpol None. Marge Laidlaw BID AWARD RECOMMENDATION FOR INSTALLATION OF SANITARY SEWER FORCE MAIN AT COUNTY CENTRAL GARAGE TO LOW BIDDER, VOSSBECK CONSTRUCTION, INC., $39,781.43 INCLUDING STATE SALES TAX (AB90 -45) Executive Shirley Van Zanten said Engineering Consultant Ray Weden has been in charge of the sewer construction project; Vossbeck is the low bidder. Warner asked why it was necessary for the County to have an Engineering firm do work rather than have the work done in house. Weden said the County Engineer does not do sewer system designs; however, his firm does. Van Zanten said if the County is involved in a project it normally would not take on, it will hire an Engineer in order to keep the work load for in -house staff at a manageable level. Discussion continued. LAIDLAW MOVED THAT THE ITEM BE RECOMMENDED FOR AP- PROVAL. Motion carried. 2. RESOLUTION SETTING A DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING TO DECLARE A CERTAIN PARCEL OF PROPERTY OWNED BY THE COUNTY, LOCATED ADJACENT TO CEDARVILLE LANDFILL, SURPLUS PURSUANT TO RCW 36.34.020 (AB90 -51) The property is located next to Cedarville landfill and Cowden gravel company would like to purchase it, explained Solid Waste Division Manager Bob Jurica. The land never has had garbage dumped on it, he said. LAIDLAW MOVED THAT THE RESOLUTION SETTING THE HEARING DATE BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL. Motion carried. 3. RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE NORTH SOUND REGIONAL SUPPORT NETWORK AND FUNDING FOR SAME (AB90 -52) Van Zanten said this resolution would express support for Legislation at the state level, through which money would be appropriated for the Northern State Multi- Service Center (remodeling and other projects). There was some discussion. Finance, 2/12/90, page 2 LAIDLAW MOVED THAT THE RESOLUTION BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL. Motion carried. 4. ORDINANCE LEVYING SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL TAX (AB90 -34) This ordinance, Van Zanten said, would levy the tax at 10 percent on the already - established disposal district. She explained what the tax would be used for. The closure of Cedarville landfill would be funded separately, using revenues already on hand, she said. There was discussion among Warner, Laidlaw and Van Zanten about various community concerns and the taxing level. Laidlaw noted that there was no starting date included in the ordinance; Van Zanten said it would depend on the outcome of the state Utilities and Transportation Commission review of the collection district ordinance, and the Superior Court review of same. LAIDLAW MOVED TO FORWARD THE ORDINANCE WITH A RECOM- MENDATION FOR APPROVAL PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE LAWSUIT. Van Zanten asked that the Council not deny the ordinance flat out, said it was possible to delay action if the Council wanted to. Warner said it would be irresponsible to adopt this with unanswered questions. Motion carried. 5. ORDINANCE REVISING THE 1990 CURRENT EXPENSE FUND, COUNTY COUNCIL APPROPRIATION THEREIN FOR LEGAL SERVICES (AB90 -45) This ordinance would provide money for the Council to hire Riddell, Williams, Bullitt and Walkinshaw to defend the medical waste initiative ordinance. There was discussion among Laidlaw, Warner and Van Zanten about the billing procedures. The total amount authorized would be $5,000. Warner said Council staff should submit bills to him, he will review them, and then they will be submitted to the Auditor for payment. LAIDLAW MOVED THAT THE ORDINANCE BE RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WARNER WILL REVIEW THE BILLS AS THEY ARRIVE. Motion carried. 6. DISCUSSION OF COVERAGE FOR ANIMAL CONTROL UNDER THE NEW CONTRACT WITH THE BELLINGHAM /WHATCOM COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY (AB90 -59) Warner explained that it has become apparent that the level of animal control services selected and budgeted for by the Council are not adequate. He recommended that more money be provided to the budget for these services. There was agreement and /or comment from Undersheriff Doug Gill, Humane Society Director Mary Henry, Finance, 2/12/90, Page 3 Sheriff Larry Mount, Humane Society spokesman Tim Lucy, and Van Zanten. There was some discussion of the formation of a county -wide dog control zone, with new animal control regulations. Warner noted that the ordinance would provide for 50 hours a week in service. WARNER MOVED THAT THE ORDINANCE BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO COUNCIL WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR ADOPTION. There was some discussion. Budget Director Tom Sutberry commented. Motion carried. 6A. RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE AUDITOR TO ADVERTISE THAT BIDS FOR THE COUNTY'S OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED, READ ALOUD AND CONSIDERED Auditor Shirley Forslof said she will use the same bid form that was used last year. Sutberry said the Council could give policy direction that a daily newspaper should be used. There was discussion. LAIDLAW MOVED THAT THE RESOLUTION BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL. Motion carried. 7. OTHER BUSINESS Council Phone Lines: Information Services Director George Reid was present to enter into a discussion about the Council's request for an additional city line and a county line. Van Zanten said phone services are on their way to being centralized, and the request did not fall in line with this process. Sutberry said he and Reid are working on .the project, and trying to keep down the number of county lines that are available. Van Zanten noted that county lines are expensive. There was more discussion. The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m. ATTEST: L� ac" Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Qa )0 - G., Daniel M. Warner, Member Name Mary Henry Tim Lucy Ray Weden Shirley Forslof Larry Mount Barb Cory George Reid Bob Imhof Lee Murphy Doug Gill FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE Voluntary Sign -Up Sheet February 12, 1990 Organization %Address Humane Society Humane Society Weden Engineering Auditor Sheriff Treasurer Information Services Council Member KGMI Radio Undersheriff