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Home My WebLink AboutFinance October 9 1990WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE October 9, 1990 The meeting was called to order at 3 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 1000 N. Forest, by Committee Chairman Dan Warner. Also Present: Absent: Mary Vanderpol None. Marge Laidlaw 1. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF BID FOR PURCHASE OF SOFTWARE, INSTALLATION, CONSULTATION AND TRAINING FOR A COMPUT- ERIZED TRACKING SYSTEM FOR BUILDINGS AND CODE ADMINIS- TRATION, FOR $34,900.00, PLUS TAX (AB90 -340) 8 -20 Executive Shirley Van Zanten asked Deputy Public Works Director John Tyler to explain the bid award process and the bids received. He did so, responding to questions from Committee members. The original estimate for software was $40,000. LAIDLAW MOVED APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION. Motion carried unanimously. 2. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF BID FOR PURCHASE OF HARD- WARE FROM STATE BID LIST TO SUPPORT A COMPUTERIZED PERMIT TRACKING SYSTEM FOR BUILDINGS AND CODE ADMINIS- TRATION, FOR $13,373.29 INCL. TAX (AB90 -341) 21 -22 I ��7 AUrC91"I Dr »:nnr[�7�llr:i . = : i1�dnN�l:�� i)��Ti�1►1�7 -11 Ti7.� Motion carried unanimously. There was minor discussion. 3. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES SERVICES FOR A SPECIALIZED WASTE REDUCTION AND RECY- CLING EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $32,250 (AB90- 342) 23 -30 Solid Waste Manager Bob Jurica was present to discuss the item. Van Zanten said items 3 -5 are related. This is state money allocated for education of the public. Jurica said this contract involves a 25 percent match by the County, and the second contract requires a 15 percent match. Van Zanten said she is becoming increasingly reluctant to recommend Finance Minutes, 10/9/90, Page 1 such expenditures until the solid waste program funding is more secure. Warner asked when the deadline for action on these contracts will be; will the grant appropriation lapse if the County doesn't immediately okay the contracts? Van Zanten said she is not certain. Jurica commented. If the service level ordinance is not passed, the Executive said she is not certain how willing the State Department of Ecology will react in terms of continuing to offer funding. Warner commented. Warner said the County will know tonight whether the service level ordinance passes; Van Zanten said she just wanted to make her reluctance clear to the Committee. Responding to Laidlaw's concerns about the order of items on the agenda, Warner said the Chairman could be asked to switch some agenda items so the contracts could be addressed by Council after other solid waste matters are resolved by the Council. Vanderpol commented. Extensive discussion took place. Warner asked questions about the scope and range of the educational program. He said ultimately the Solid Waste Division will be responsible for policing the affidavits signed by people who say they are disposing of garbage in an environmentally sound way and do not need to participate in County programs. Vanderpol noted the public will need to know what "environmentally sound way" means. Jurica responded. Warner commented; Vanderpol asked some questions. He noted the County's total contribution is $32,000. VANDERPOL MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR SPECIALIZED WASTE REDUCTION. Motion carried unanimously. 4. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SOUND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GROUP FOR COMMERCIAL WASTE AUDIT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,500 (AB90 -343) 31 -38 5. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SOUND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GROUP FOR REUSABLE MATERIAL EXCHANGE FACILITY PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,500 (AB90 -344) 39 -50 Warner noted items four and five would be taken together. Vanderpol asked Jurica to explain what reusable material exchange means. Jurica said this concerns second -hand goods. Before the County tries to locate a special facility, the County would like to try and broaden the capabilities of an existing place, he said. After extensive discussion among Committee members and Jurica: WARNER MOVED TO RECOMMEND AUTHORIZATION OF COMMERCIAL WASTE AUDIT AND THE REUSABLE MATERIAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM. Vanderpol, Laidlaw, Warner commented. Finance Minutes, 10/9/90, Page 2 Motion carried unanimously. Some discussion took place. 6. ORDINANCE INCREASING THE SALARY FOR BOARD OF EQUAL- IZATION MEMBERS (AB90 -308) 88 -99 Warner said he did not understand why this was not included in the 1991 budget. He also did not understand why the Board members have been paid $55 rather than $50. Van Zanten said an ordinance to amend the Code would be appropriate. She cautioned against passing any ordinance that speaks to retroactivity because it would be illegal. Warner said the ordinance could be amended to delete the word "retroactive" from the ordinance and merely amend the Code to reflect reality. The Committee agreed that a budget increase to $75 should be considered for 1991. LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE. WARNER MOVED TO DELETE THE WORD "RETROACTIVE" FROM THE ORDINANCE. Motion to amend carried unanimously. Motion to recommend approval of ordinance carried unanimously. Warner asked the Clerk to place the matter of possible raises for the Board of Equalization on Finance Committee budget agendas. 7. ORDINANCE ADOPTING A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET FOR THE SUMAS RIVER FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT NO. 2 FUND (AB90- 330) 100 -101 Engineer Ed Henken was present to discuss this matter. LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL. Motion carried unanimously. 8. ORDINANCE REVISING THE CURRENT EXPENSE FUND, HEARING EXAMINER'S APPROPRIATION FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES (AB90 -331) 102 -104 Warner said the memorandum from Hearing Examiner Ed Good explains the shortfall and need for a supplemental budget. He discussed the matter further. Laidlaw asked some questions about the origins of the supplement. Warner responded. Laidlaw said she did not know how she felt about voting for the supplement. Warner discussed recent difficulties in the Hearing Examiner's Office. Vanderpol commented. Finance Minutes, 10/9/90, Page 3 LAIDLAW MOVED TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS THE $244 SHORTFALL ONLY. Some discussion took place. Vanderpol asked how similar problems in the future in that office will be dealt with. Vanderpol said he feels he's lost confidence in Good. Laidlaw felt the Finance and Personnel committee should schedule a meeting to discuss this in executive session, and it was agreed this would be done at the next Finance Committee meeting. The Clerk was asked to seek a progress report about Ed Good's performance from the Council Chairman. Forslof commented. Motion to amend carried. Motion to recommend adoption of the amended ordinance carried unanimously. 9. ORDINANCE REVISING THE 1990 TORT CLAIMS FUND (AB90- 332105 -106 The appropriation authorized by the Council for litigation used up the appropriation for other cases, as well. Van Zanten discussed a specific settlement that had depleted the funds. She said in recent years, the tort fund has been limited, with other funds held in reserve and used in the ending fund balance for investment purposes. LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL. Motion carried unanimously. 10. RESOLUTION ACCEPTING HILL - BURTON UNCOMPENSATED AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OBLIGATIONS OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR ITS EXPANDED FACILITY (AB90 -334) 127 -128 LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL. Motion carried unanimously. 11. OTHER BUSINESS Mount Baker Theater Board: Vanderpol reported on a recent meeting of the Theater Board. A grant is available to the Board, but it does not have the matching funds it needs. He talked about various contributions recently made to the Board. The Board wondered if the County could make a $40,000 contribution to help them get the grant. They would like to get two lighted signs and rebuild the marquis for $250,000. Vanderpol said a possible source would be the Visitor and Convention fund, the hotel /motel tax revenues. He spoke in favor of the contribution and asked if it would be feasible. Van Zanten said it is entirely possible, and discussed the matter further. Laidlaw Finance Minutes, 10/9/90, Page 4 commented that revenues in that fund must be high at this point; Van Zanten agreed. Vanderpol said the Board would like the money immediately. Van Zanten said Vanderpol could suggest this to the Council, and if the Council agreed it would be appropriate the Administration could be asked to draft a supplemental ordinance for this purpose. Warner suggested that such a motion be made. Vanderpol said the Board expects confirmation of the funding to arrive this week; the Board would need the money within the month. Van Zanten said the Council could say it endorsed the amount contingent upon receiving the grant. Vanderpol said he would make a motion tonight, for $50,0000. The meeting adjourned. ATTEST: 2 Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON " aall- Daniel M. Warner, Council Member Finance Minutes, 10/9/90, Page 5