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Home My WebLink AboutCommittee of the Whole March 28 1985WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Minutes -- March 28, 1985 The Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole meeting was called to order at 7 :20 p.m. by Chairman Roehl, with all members in attendance except Johnson. Also in attendance were Shirley Van Zanten, County Executive; Tom Sutberry, Budget Director; Randy Watts, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, and interested citizens who sat in on the last portion of the meeting. DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET TIMETABLE AND PRIORITIES Chairman Roehl turned the meeting over to Becker, Chairperson of the Finance Committee, for this portion of the meeting. Becker briefed the Committee on three major areas of con- cern: 1) revenues; 2) proposed trends /proposed solutions, and 3) how the Finance Committee can assist the Council in the budget process. Tom Sutberry distributed three handouts to the Council - members (see attached) and spoke on the findings as reported in the handouts. BECKER MOVED TO REQUEST THE EXECUTIVE TO RECOMMEND SOME TARGET GOALS IN THE FORM OF AN ORDINANCE, AND THAT THE ORDINANCE INCLUDE OTHER MATTERS ON COUNTY BUDGETING, SAID TARGET GOALS TO BE FOR SAVINGS ACCOUNTS TO BE SET BY THE COUNTY.TO SAVE SOME MONEY. Following discussion on the intent of the motion, Becker restated the motion as follows: THE MOTION IS THAT COUNCIL ASK THE EXECUTIVE, IN CONSUL- TATION WITH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, TO PREPARE FOR THE COUNCIL SOME GENERAL BUDGET IMPROVEMENT GOALS, INCLUDING PROCESS ITEMS AND INCLUDING ACTUAL PERCENTAGE OR DOLLAR FIGURE TARGETS.FOR THE VARLOUS SAVINGS ACCOUNTS THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO NEED TO ESTABLISH. The motion carried. Becker stated that she will draw up a resolution that sets forth a work plan for the Finance Committee and outlines what could be done. DISCUSSION ON COURTHOUSE SPACE NEEDS Executive Van Zanten reported on the summary of the ques- tionnaires that had been collected regarding courthouse space needs (see attached memo from Tom Sutberry dated March 27, 1985). She also reported that Council had previously indicated an interest Committee of the Whole Minutes March -2.8, 1985 Page 2 in touring certain departments and courthouse facilities, and that a tour could be set up if Council wished. Chairman Roehl asked that a tour be scheduled for the second week of April during the late afternoon. OTHER BUSINESS Executive Van Zanten also reported that the request for proposals (RFP) is going out on the new telephone system and will be due in April, with a decision being made in May or June. The meeting was recessed at 8 :40 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8 :47 p.m. RESOLUTION - INTEGRATED ROADSIDE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT Chairman Roehl announced that the present draft of the resolution before the Council is Draft 3. MUENSCHER MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Delete lines 18 -32 on page 2 and the last paragraph on page 3. Replace it with the language in Paul Rushing's memo to Shirley Van Zanten dated March 28, 1985 (.see attached). Muenscher spoke to the motion. Becker spoke against the motion., Hansey spoke in support of the motion. BECKER MOVED TO AMEND MUENSCHER'S AMENDMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING: The last paragraph will read as follows: "Be it further resolved that in 1985 -1987 all roadside vegetation within the First District fake- Weeex�- Waeeed- area-- �► }- �a�ad -aeaj ATe�� -�s�k- Read - area;- 8e�ae��- 8�eek- Read- e�ea;- F��ea�s- Fbea�d -a�ea- ba #e- Sam }e a;- and- area s- eavered -by -- '8wee3Lm- W�Llr-1 - M&4 :ato ala- agpeemeete shall be accomplished only through..." Becker spoke to the motion. Muenscher spoke against using the entire First District and spoke in support of the extension to three years (1985 - 1987). Committee of the Whole Minutes March 28, 1985 Page 3 Chairman Roehl restated the intent of Muenscher's main motion. Hawley spoke in support of Becker's amendment. Becker withdrew her amendment. Cole spoke against Muenscher's motion to amend. ROEHL MOVED TO AMEND MUENSCHER'S MOTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Paragraph 1 should read as follows: "Be it further resolved that the Executive, in consultation with interested citizens shall prepare a long -range integrated vegetation management plan." Roehl's motion to amend carried. Muenscher's motion, as amended, failed. HAWLEY MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 3, line 16, to read as follows: "1985, 1986 and 1987," Muenscher spoke in support of extending the time period to three years and spoke against the potential fiscal impact. Roehl spoke in support of the motion. Becker spoke in support of the motion. HANSEY MOVED TO AMEND HAWLEY'S MOTION BY ADDING THE FOLLOWING WORDS ON LINE 17, PAGE 3, AFTER THE WORD "the ": "sensitive aeoaraphical areas described in Section E of this Resolution in the First Council District" Hawley spoke against the Hansey amendment. Cole spoke against the Hansey amendment. The Hansey motion to amend failed. The Hawley motion to amend carried. COLE MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 3, line 18, delete the words "mechanical and manual" and insert in their place the word "non- chemical" Cole spoke to the motion. The motion carried. Committee of the Whole Minutes March 28, 1985 Page 4 COLE MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 3, line 19 - strike the period and add the following to the end of the sentence: "by an independent party, said study to be delivered to the Council and Executive." Cole spoke to the motion. Roehl spoke against the amendment. The motion to amend failed. ROEHL MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 2, line 13, after the word "agreements" add the following: "In addition, signs shall be conspicuously posted in the area(s) to be sprayed at least seven (7) days prior to actual spraying, said signs to include information regarding the anticipated date of spraying, the herbicide(s) to be used, and the roads to be sprayed." Roehl spoke to the motion. Cole spoke in support of the amendment. The motion to amend carried. ROEHL MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 2, line 21, delete the following words "or should be used as a last resort" Page 2, line 21, change the words "spraying should" to "spraying shall" The motionto amend carried. COLE MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 2, line 19 add the following after the word "prepare" it annually update and adhere to" Cole spoke to the motion. The motion carried. COLE MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 2, line 20 after the first word "plan. ", add a new sentence to read as follows: "An integrated roadside vegetation management plan is one that advances the commitment to implement a variety of vegetation control measures, such as biological, mechanical, manual and chemical. It seeks to minimize chemical solutions when possible based upon the level of vegetation infestation, its economic impacts, and an Committee of the Whole Minutes March.. 28, 1985 Page 5 accurate assessment of the economic, ecologic and sociologic consequences of each type of control." Cole spoke to the motion. Becker spoke in support of deleting the words "and socio- logic" from Cole's motion. Cole did not object, acid the deletion was made. Cole's motion to amend the resolution carried. ROEHL MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 3, line 10, Section "C" Delete the last sentence which reads "These areas will be herbicided where safe and practical." and insert in its place the sentence "These areas may be herbicided only where other means are impractical and uneconomical." Page 3, line 8, Section "C" -- Delete the word "mechanically" and insert in its place the words -by non - chemical means" Roehl spoke to the motion. The motion carried. ROEHL MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 3, line 11, Section "D" -- Change to read as follows: "Backslopes will be treated by non - chemical means and maintained wh- e- se�ee }ve- heis�e�e %e- reta4a -gpa sees - t9-p e e - e es eerso as to retain grasses and other vegetation to prevent erosion, using herbicides for such maintenance only when other means are imnract'ical and /or uneco- nnmi rta l 11 The motion carried. BECKER MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 3, line 5, Section "B" -- Strike the entire section and re- letter the remaining sections accordingly. Becker spoke to the motion. Hawley spoke against the amendment. The motion carried. Committee of the Whole Minutes March-28, 1985 Page .6 BECKER MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 3, line 16, add a new section "E" to read as follows: "E. On -going testing sites should be established to evaluate various integrated vegetation management techniques." Becker spoke to the motion. The motion carried. BECKER MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 2, line 18, add a new section "F" to read as follows: "The non - chemical portion of the roadside vegetation management program shall be contracted out to the extent of at least 1/3 of the funds available for roadside vegetation management." Becker spoke to the motion. Cole spoke in support of the motion. Following further discussion, Becker withdrew her motion. BECKER MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 2, line 18, add a new section "F" to read as follows: "The plan shall provide for the offering of the non - chemical control portion of the roadside vegetation management plan to private contractors in specific test areas." Becker spoke to the motion. Cole spoke in support of the motion. The motion carried. COLE MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 2, line 20, after the word "shall" add the following: "carry out the policies of this resolution and" The motion failed. Barbara Ford distributed a memo to the Councilmembers (see copy attached). Chairman Roehl discussed the Administration's request for an amendment to the budget ordinance in order to replace Diane Joplin in the Maintenance and Operations Department. Committee. of the Whole, Minutes March 28, 1985 Page 7 COLE MOVED THAT AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE "T" OF THE 1985 BUDGET OF ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE AND THAT THE COUNCIL D ITS NEXT MEETING. THE COUNCIL DIRECT THE CHAIR TO DEVELOP PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO SUBSECTION ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD EXEMPT THE POSITION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THAT SUBSECTION, ECLARE ITS INTENT TO PASS THE ORDINANCE AT The motion carried. HANSEY MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Add a new "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED" section to read as follows: "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the roadside vegetation control restrictions imposed by Resolution -84 be extended to May 1, 1985, and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that prior to the implementation of this resolution, the County Council shall adopt a supplemental budget ordinance identifying the cost of implementing this resolution, the source of revenues thereof, and the resulting impact on any other County program." Hansey spoke to the motion. Becker spoke against the motion. The motion failed. HAWLEY MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FOLLOWING: Page 2, line 13, add to the sentencemade by Roehl regarding signs, the following: "roads to be sprayed. Immediately following the use of herbicides, the notices along the roadways shall be changed or altered with a sign stating that spraying has occurred, naming the chemical used." Hawley spoke to the motion. The motion carried. "-.ThO meeting was adjourned at 10 :45 p.m.. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON ATTEST: Carol Ebergson Clerk of the Council William P. Roehl Chairman