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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance July 24 1990�r FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE Tuesday, July 24, 1990 The meeting was called to order at 3 p.m. by Committee Chairman Dan Warner. Present Absent Mary Vanderpol Marge Laidlaw 1. BID AWARD RECOMMENDATION TO RENOVATE AND IMPROVE THE CONTROL ROOM BUILDING OF THE PLANTATION RIFLE RANGE TO THE LOWEST BIDDER, THOMCO CONSTRUCTION, IN THE AMOUNT OF $24,878 INCLUDING SALES TAX (AB90 -256) Van Zanten explained this issue. County Purchasing Director Dickinson said this was put out to bid a second time and it seemed to save money by doing this. There is some revenue from the range for use by police agencies. There was some indication that the committee would have preferred to go with the local bidder but they were required to go with the low bidder. VANDERPOL MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 2. REQUEST FOR PERMISSION TO ENTER INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE YAKIMA HEALTH DISTRICT FOR THE SUPPLY OF VACCINES (AB90 -257) LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 3. RECOMMENDATION TO RESCIND, THEN RE -AWARD BID FOR A ONE - TON CREW -CAB SERVICE BODY TRUCK TO THE ORIGINAL LOW BIDDER, UTILITY EQUIPMENT CO., FOR A TOTAL OF $22,898.75 INCLUDING SALES TAX (AB90 -258) VANDERPOL MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO THE COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 4. ORDINANCE REVISING THE COMBINED TREATMENT SERVICES APPROPRIATION TO CONTINUE NORTH SOUND REGIONAL SUPPORT NETWORK PLANNING STAFF ASSISTANCE (AB90 -243) Van Zanten explained this item. VANDERPOL MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Finance Minutes, 7/24/90, Page 2 Motion carried unanimously. 5. ORDINANCE REVISING 89 -110, EXTENDING THE SUNSET DATE FOR ESTABLISHED FUND (AB90 -244) Van Zanten explained the origination of this fund and said this needs to be extended to complete the original intent which was to front money for a State grant. LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 7. ORDINANCE REVISING THE CURRENT EXPENSE FUND, NON DEPARTMENTAL APPROPRIATION THEREIN FOR MISCELLANEOUS PURPOSES (AB90 -246) Van Zanten explained this item. $21,000 will be added to cover costs of moving Developmental Disabilities out of the Heal building and the portion of the support for the North Sound Regional Support Network staff positions that is not covered by state grant monies. VANDERPOL MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 6. ORDINANCE REVISING THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FUND APPROPRIATION FOR REMODEL AND OVERTIME (AB90 -245) VANDERPOL MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO THE COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 8. ORDINANCE REVISING THE COUNTY SUPPLY FUND APPROPRIATION FOR ITEMS FOR RESALE (AB90 -247) Chris Mohnkern of the Purchasing Department explained this increase is needed because the use is up far more than anticipated. LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 9. ORDINANCE REVISING THE NORTHWEST WASHINGTON FAIR FUND APPROPRIATION FOR LAND PURCHASE AND VARIOUS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS (AB90 -248) Finance Minutes, 7/24/90, Page 3 Van Zanten explained this item. The Northwest Washington Fair Association has purchased more land and will be improving the existing facilities. LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 10. ORDINANCE TO REVISE THE CURRENT EXPENSE FUND, BUILDINGS AND CODE BUDGET THEREIN (AB90 -249) Van Zanten explained this item. This revision will help the department keep up with the increased workload. John Tyler said they are also trying to institute a permanent tracking system; this will be computerized and will replace the current system which is by hand. It is considered this will speed up the permit process as the progress will be tracked electronically. Tyler said this is the only way to keep up with progress; most counties have gone to this system as well as the City of Bellingham. Art Castle, Building Industry Association, distributed comparisons to the Committee members showing the differences in permit applications from last year to this year. He recommends this expenditure because this department does fund itself. The backlog experienced last year is not as bad this year because of some positive changes and this will help a great deal to further increase efficiency. Castle said there is a very good attitude in the County Building and Code department which is not the case with the same department in the City where there is a larger staff and a lighter workload. Tyler said his department had added a person to handle complaints and a land -use technician to do platting as well as a plans examiner on a fee for service basis as needed. Laidlaw asked if the new people were doing enforcement and Tyler said there was only one doing enforcement. She said she would like to see more enforcement people. If the pace is maintained the land -use technician will be made permanent in the 1991 budget, stated Tyler. He said he feels the increases will be supported by the greater activity. VANDERPOL MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 11. ORDINANCE REVISING THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES FUND APPROPRIATION FOR ADDITIONAL STATE GRANT MONIES AND MOVING EXPENSES (AB90 -250) Van Zanten explained there is additional money from State grants that needs to be added to the fund. Finance Minutes, 7/24/90, Page 4 LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 12. ORDINANCE REVISING THE CURRENT EXPENSE FUND, PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S APPROPRIATION RESPONDING TO INCREASED WORK LOAD AND ACCEPTING TWO STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY CENTENNIAL CLEAN WATER FUND GRANTS (AB90 -252) Van Zanten explained this item. Laidlaw asked if for $70,000 Planning would be getting four new people; Taylor said yes. Taylor said he felt there may be a need for more people eventually. Experienced planners are very hard to find and he hopes his department will be able to get the senior planning designer but has some doubts. LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 13. ORDINANCE REVISING THE CURRENT EXPENSE FUND, JUVENILE ADMINISTRATION APPROPRIATION FOR ADDITIONAL STATE GRANT FUNDING AUTHORITY (AB90 -253) Van Zanten explained this item. Wood discussed the breakdown of the request. LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 14. ORDINANCE REVISING THE 1990 ROAD FUND BUDGET (AB90- 254) Van Zanten explained this item saying there is a great backlog of revocable encroachment permits that needs to be addressed. Henken said he hates to hire temporary people; if the work load falls off, however, they could be let go. VANDERPOL MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 15. ORDINANCE REVISING THE CURRENT EXPENSE FUND, COUNCIL OFFICE BUDGET APPROPRIATION THEREIN (AB90 -242) WARNER MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Motion carried 2 -0 with Vanderpol out of the room. Finance Minutes, 7/24/90, Page 5 16. RESOLUTION CANCELLING UNCOLLECTIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES MORE THAN FOUR YEARS DELINQUENT (AB90 -261) Van Zanten and Michaelyn Dixon, Chief Deputy Treasurer explained this item. LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL. Motion carried 2 -0. 17. DISCUSSION ABOUT ADDING A COMPENSATION ANALYST TO THE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT (AB90 -267) Van Zanten and Larry Mans, Personnel Director, explained this item. Personnel is bringing on a new employee every day and a half with 140 vacancies for 1990. Mans said he is getting many reclassification requests and union grievances regarding reclassifications. Tabling the Salik study has created a real desire among the employees to be reclassified, said Mans. He further stated there is a shrinking labor pool of qualified workers and the County will be hearing a lot of requests for increased compensation in the 1990s. Employees believe when work increases or when new skills are required, they should be paid more. Market conditions have changed in Whatcom County. The Personnel Department is assuming a greater benefit and payroll responsibility and the existing staff is being pressed with their present duties so further staffing is required, said Mans. Vanderpol said he agreed with Mans about the potential problem on salaries and stated it will not go away. Mans said the new person will deal with exempt and non - exempt employees. Van Zanten said managing the benefit package, negotiating the contracts and other new job duties have added to the load. The new person will deal with the problem on an ongoing basis and may protect the County's credibility which was eroded by the shelving of the Salik study. Laidlaw said she supported the idea but could not support a supplemental. Mans said 60 percent of the costs of Whatcom County are in human resources. There was some discussion about why the Salik Study failed. VANDERPOL MOVED THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET AND THE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE COMPENSATION ANALYST BE FORTHCOMING TO THE COUNCIL. Motion carried 2 -1 with Laidlaw opposed. 18. OTHER BUSINESS Van Zanten explained the status report on the 1990 County Budget. The budget was increased overall by $3,128,718 from all funds. Shirley Forslof said she would have liked to have been informed her department would have to move its storage out of the annex rather than being informed late in the process. It was Finance Minutes, 7/24/90, Page 6 explained Cooperative Extension needed to take up some of the basement because the Council needed some of their space. Forslof agreed it may be better in the long run but would have appreciated earlier consultation. Van Zanten said she felt it was an oversight and said she thought Public Works had informed Forslof. Forslof said her department would be coming to the Council for the another person because of the increased growth. Meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m. ATTEST: B rbar3 Maher, Co cil Clerk WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON ( �?- I A, �4- zt " I -V� � Daniel M. Warner, Member