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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Finance March 7 1988WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL SPECIAL FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING March 7, 1988 The meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m. by Committee Chair Warner with all Committee members present. Also present were Council members Jackson, Johnson, and Roehl; Tom Sutberry, Budget Director; Paul Rushing, Public Works; John Tyler, Buildings and Code; Foster Rose, Arnie Hanna, Don Gischer, Betty Kiner, Tip Johnson, and Louise Bjornson, City Council Members; Tim Douglas, City Mayor; Bill Hager, City Planning Department; Peter Lieurance, City Administrative Services; Cal Leenstra; Michael Brennan; Pam Cushing; Joel Douglas, and Jim Michel. DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE CONCERNED DOWNTOWN SUPPORTERS MIGHT LEND THE COUNTY.IN SITING THE PROPOSED NEW JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY IN THE CIVIC CENTER AREA Paul Rushing Public Works Director Explained that the cost of building a facility downtown would be approximately $800,000 more than that of a facility at the Cordata site, due to factors such as the height of the construction, the tight construction area, and the lack of fabrication and storage areas. Tim Douglas City Mayor Discussed the need for an overall plan for the civic center. Don Gischer City Council Discussed the need for government services to be centrally located in order to maintain the viability of the Central Business District; stated that centralized services were more economical and that the City Council was willing to help the County to resolve problems. Tim Douglas City Mayor Pointed out problems encountered by DSHS following their move from the downtown area. March 7, 1988 Page 2 Pam Cushing City Center Development Authority Centralization of government services will be downtown Bellingham's strong point following the impact of Bellis Fair; moving the juvenile detention facility out of downtown raises concerns about a possible trend; questioned whether juvenile detention facility is best use for Cordata property; urged Council to consider various sites in the downtown area for the facility. Warner pointed out that the County was being given the Cordata property only on the condition that it be used for county facilities. Joel Douglas 600 Lynden Road Urged Council to consider the 2 acres between York and Champion streets, which he owns, as a possible site for the facility; stated that the existing structures could be adapted in 120 days and that he could beat the cost of any other facility by 20 %. Tip Johnson Bellingham City Council Discussed advantages of the facility being located close to security services such as police and sheriff departments; questioned how effective the response to escapes would be at a perimeter facility. Cal Leenstra Urged Council to consider his property consisting of nearly 4 acres at the nearby Bellingham Medical Center. Mike Brennan Chamber of Commerce Stated that the decision on where to build the juvenile detention facility had to be made in the context of what was best for the juveniles; $800,000 would be a minor cost in comparison to what it might cost the County if the wrong site were selected. Dan Warner County Council Raised the issue of the overall environment in which children grow up as opposed to the environment in which they may spend a 10 -day incarceration period; i.e., is an empty, blighted downtown in their best interests in the long run? March 7, 1988 Page 3 Corky Johnson County Council Member Spoke in favor of downtown site for the juvenile detention facility; urged that the City assist in necessary street vacations; suggested that the City purchase other County -owned land for downtown parking; stated that the City would have to help the County out if the facility was to be kept downtown. Foster Rose Bellingham City Council Stated that the City Council Capital Facilities Committee would be willing to work with the County on various issues. Tim Douglas Bellingham Mayor Advocated consolidation of County property north of Courthouse; City will cooperate in vacation of Lottie St.; City could transfer permit and inspection responsibilities to the County. Will Roehl Whatcom County Council Member Stated that the issue of the expenses involved in different types of construction needed to be resolved. Tim Douglas Bellingham Mayor Suggested looking at the way new revenues from annexations to the City of Bellingham are shared with the County, as a means of financial assistance from the City; new revenues from annexation could be dedicated to existing service contracts. Marvin Vanderpol Whatcom County Council Member Asked how City officials felt about other downtown locations which were not in the civic center area; the response was that this was not as acceptable as a civic center location but better than a completely decentralized location. March 7, 1988 Page 4 Emily Jackson County Council Asked if City concerns would be allayed if they were assured that only the juvenile detention facility and no other county services would be moved to Cordata. Foster Rose stated that such an assurance would not alleviate city officials' concerns at this point in time. Pam Cushing City Center Development Authority Suggested that the County return the remainder of the acreage which was not needed for a juvenile detention facility to Cordata. County Council member Jackson pointed out that this would not be a wise move on the part of the County and that the County was not required to justify its use of the Cordata site to City officials. Dan Warner County Council Pointed out that the County also had to consider the possible need for expansion in years to come, and that expansion would be far more difficult in the civic center area. Arne Hanna City Council Advocated use of Ashe property site for a multi -level facility. Jim Michel Lynden Stated that he was against decentralization of government services; urged City and County to work together on a comprehensive plan for the civic center area. Cal Leenstra Pointed out that persons traveling to the Cordata site would have to pass through the extremely congested Bellis Fair area. Don Hansey County Council Pointed out that putting a new juvenile detention facility downtown would exacerbate the parking problem; also suggested that the Ashe property might be better utilized as a future site for a county administration building. March 7, 1988 Page 5 Tim Douglas City Mayor Stated that City Planning Director Bill Geyer's memo addressed the parking issue; asked County to consider the overhead costs involved in traveling back and forth to a facility located outside the central area. Paul Rushing County Public Works Director Pointed out that the Trillium Corporations' donation of the 6.9 acres was made only after the property had been turned down by the Port of Bellingham, and that the County had asked Trillium for the land. The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Daniel M. Warner, Chair Finance Committee ATTEST: Carol Ebergson Clerk of the C uncil