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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Council for April 15 19820 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL April 15, 1982 Minutes The Whatcom County Council meeting of Thursday, April 15, 1982 was called to order by Chairman Roehl at 7:30 p.m. with Van Zanten, Hawley and Hansey present. Cole, Muenscher, and Johnson entered the meeting as business commenced. The minutes of the April 1, 1982 County Council meeting were approved with the addition of "Motor Pool Budget" titling the overlimit transfer under Executive Items. The minutes of the 4/8/82 Committee of the Whole meeting were approved with the correction of "She -peliaes State Environmental P -Peteetien Policy Act" wherever said title appears. OPEN SESSION Harriet Spanel, 901 Liberty, Bellingham, spoke in support of a freeze on nuclear weapons proliferation. She exhibited petitions with 6,500 signatures collected by Whatcom County Nuclear Arms Freeze Committee. Barbara Rofkar, 520 17th Street, Bellingham, requested that the Council endorse the nuclear arms freeze. Dr. George Rofkar, 520 17th Street, representing Physicians for Social Responsibility, spoke in support of.a nuclear arms freeze. George Sheehy, 11402 State, spoke in opposition to the endorsement by the Council of a resolution in regard to_a nuclear arms freeze. Dr. Willard Ellender spoke in support of the nuclear arms freeze. Hansey moved to add the resolution in the matter of suspending the production, testing, and deployment of nuclear weapons to the Agenda as the first item under Introductions. Motion carried. EXECUTIVE ITEMS The Nor -Bell Nursing Home Employees' Contract was before the Council for consideration. Van Zanten presented the Finance Committee's recommendation to authorize the Executive to sign the contract. She so moved. Changes in the contract include longevity and two 32% wage increases during 1982. Motion carried. .9 Whatcom County ancil April 15, 1982 Minutes - page two The Executive recommended the following appointments to the Mental Health Board: 1) Charles Robinson, 2310 Douglas Street 2) C. William Coleman, 1700 Euclid Johnson moved to approve both recommendations. Motion carried. The Executive presented the Cherry Point Heavy Impact Industrial Area Sewer /Water Feasibility Study. Louws will notify Council of a meeting with Ray Weden to discuss items in the Study. PUBLIC HEARINGS Hearing was opened and closed on the ordinance establishing a 1982 budget for the Whatcom County Public Defender Department. The ordinance was moved to Final Consideration after Item No. 3 on the Agenda. Hearing was opened and closed on the ordinance establishing the Referendum 37 Construction Fund and adopting a 1982 budget. Van Zanten presented the Finance Committee's recommendation of "do pass." She so moved. Motion carried unanimously. Hearing was opened and closed to consider declaring a portion of property in the Emerald Lake area surplus. Van Zanten moved that the Council declare the property surplus and authorize the County Executive to proceed with its disposal. Kehrer commented that the property was acquired through tax foreclosure. It was put up for sale by the Treasurer but no one purchased it, so ownership reverted to the County. Motion to declare the property surplus carried. FINAL CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES The ordinance to establish a Whatcom County Public Defender District and to establish the Office of Public Defender was before the Council for consideration. Van Zanten moved for final passage. She further moved acceptance of the Substitute Ordinance (Draft 2) as it came from the Committee of the Whole meeting. Motion to accept the substitute draft carried. Motion for final passage of Draft 2 of the ordinance to establish a Whatcom County Public Defender District was before the Council. Cole moved the following amendments to the ordinance: 1) page 2, line 172 (with Subsection C): after the words "not connected with" and before the word "any ", add the following: "the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Office of Public Defender, or with ..." Whatcom County Council April 15, 198 Minutes - page chree 2) page 2, line 22: "C- B and E" to read: "C and D..." 3) page 3, line 10: "BiFeeter" "Public Defender" 4) page 3, line 13: add to the end of the sentence "or rejections." All of the above motions to amend the ordinance carried. Van Zanten moved to amend: 1) page 2, line 25: Add: "It shall serve as the Selection Commit- tee to fulfill the functions of Section 10 of this Ordinance." 2) page 3, line 3: Delete the last sentence "In the event... Section 10 of this Ordinance." 3) page 3, line 8: Delete "There is hereby established" to read "The Selection Committee will..." All above motions to amend carried. The motion for final passage of amended Draft 2 of the ordinance passed by a vote of 6 -1 (Hawley). Van Zanten moved for final passage the resolution amending Resolution 81 -56 pursuant to the establishment of the Public Defender Department. She presented the Finance Committee's recom- mendation of "do pass." This resolution sets salaries for non- union employees of the Public Defender Department. Roehl questioned the fact that all positions begin at entry step level. Van Zanten stated that Louws feels high quality staff will be available and that the Council may authorize the Executive to change the step level for a specific employee. After further discussion, motion for final passage carried. Van Zanten moved for final passage the ordinance authorizing a revised budget for the 1982 Assigned Counsel Department within the Current Expense Fund. Van Zanten presented the Finance Committee's recommendation of "do pass." Motion carried by a vote of 6 -1 (Hawley). Van Zanten moved for final passage the ordinance establishing a 1982 Budget for the Public Defender Department. She presented the Finance Committee's recommendation of "do pass ". Motion carried by a vote of 6 -1 (Hawley). Hansey moved for final passage the resolution approving the annexation of property to the City of Bellingham. He presented the Planning & Development Committee's recommendation of "do pass." He commented that the Boundary Review Board has recommended approval. Motion carried. OTHER Consideration of the Preliminary Plat of "Raspberry Ridge Whatcom County ancil April 15, 1982 Minutes - page four Golf Community" was before the Council. Muenscher left the room. The Planning and Development Committee's consensus was to send the matter to the Council with no recommendation. Tull, attorney for William Robins, developer, requested that a Public Hearing be held. He stated that the issues in dispute between the Hearing Examiner and Building and Codes had not been addressed at a Public Hearing. Hansey moved that the Council hold their own Public Hearing in order to determine whether to accept or deny the Hearing Examiner's recommendation. The Public Hearing will be duly adver- tised and the record re- opened. Johnson added to the motion that the Hearing be held at Ten Mile Grange or some other location in the vicinity. Motion carried. The Council reviewed the rate change on equipment owned by the Equipment Rental and Revolving Fund. Van Zanten moved that the Council receive the information for individual review. Motion carried. The nominations for the Board of Equalization were before the Council. Hawley nominated Sue Guthrie and Russ Motschenbacher, both having requested re- appointment. Nominations will remain open until the May 6, 1982 County Council meeting. INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES Cole and Muenscher introduced and moved for final passage the resolution in the matter of suspending the production, testing, and deployment of nuclear weapons. Muenscher described information received by the Council regarding nuclear weapons and the consequences of their use. This resoltuion or similar resolutions are being supported nation -wide. A roll call vote was called for and the resolution passed by unanimous vote. It was requestdd that the resolution indicate unanimous adoption. Van Zanten introduced and moved for final passage the resolu- tion amending Resolution No. 81 -56 pursuant to the establishment of the Fire Marshal position in Building and Codes Administration. She presented the Finance Committee's recommendation of "do pass." Muenscher commented that all six applicants had been rejected, but that Langford subsequently re- applied and was accepted. He Whatcom County 'ouncil April 15, 1982 Minutes - page five felt it necessary to clarify this point in order to protect the County's credibility. Motion for final passage carried. Hansey introduced and moved for referral to the Planning and Development Committee the resolution approving amendments to Whatcom County Water District No. 10's Comprehensive Plan for sewer system. Motion carried. Hansey introduced and moved for referral to the Planning and Development Committee the resolution approving amendments to Whatcom County Water District No. 10's Comprehensive Plan for water supply system. Motion carried. Hansey introduced and moved for referral to the Finance Committee the ordinance authorizing the abolition of deposits of past due taxes and interest thereon into the Public Health Pooling Fund. Motion carried. Van Zanten introduced and moved for referral to the Finance Committee the following (numbered as on the Agenda): 5) Ordinance authorizing a revised Whatcom County Jail Budget within the Current Expense Fund 6) Ordinance authorizing a revised budget for Non - Departmental within the Current Expense Fund (Animal Control Services) 7) Ordinance authorizing a revised budget for Non - Departmental within the Current Expense Fund (Economic Futures Task Force) 8) Ordinance approving a revised budget for the Parks and Recreation Fund 9) Ordinance authorizing a revised budget for -the Federal Shared Revenue Fund to provide for the Nor -Bell Wastewater Facility Plan Motion carried. Hawley introduced and moved for final passage the Joint Resolution of Endorsement for Development of the Downtown Belling- ham Regional Shopping Center. Various motions for amendment proposed by Johnson, Hawley, and Muenscher failed. Motion for final passage carried, with Cole abstaining. COMIIiITTEE REPORTS Van Zanten reported that the Finance Committee had reviewed the State Auditor's Examination. The State Auditor will not be 'opening a file on the County this year. Muenscher moved that Council send a memorandum to the Executive commending his efforts on the Audit.. Motion carried. f t Whatcom County L dncil April 15, 1982 Minutes - page six Hansey reported on the Tuesday night meeting of the Belling- ham Downtown Development Association Advisory Committee, which will continue to meet for the duration of the re- development process. Cole reported that the proposed Emergency Telephone (911) will be discussed at the May 12 Public Services meeting. Muenscher suggested that the Council should consider the new .� tax as a revenue source. Hansey commented that the Council Office has received a packet of information and recommend- ed that Council members review the information. The Finance Committee will be reviewing the packet in detail at their next meeting. Next regularly scheduled Council meeting is Thursday, May 6, 1982 at 7:30 p.m. Meeting adjourned 9 :45 p.m.