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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Council for October 7 1982WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Minutes October 7, 1982 The Whatcom County Council meeting was called to order on Thursday, October 7, 1982 at 7:35 p.m., by Chairman Roehl with all members present. The minutes o,� the September 16.Council meeting were approved as presented. EXECUTIVE ITEMS Executive Louws requested confirmation of the appointment of Mr. Bill Trimm to the position-.of Whatcom County Planning Director. Van Zanten so moved to confirm the appointment. Johnson spoke against the motion. He stated he would vote "no" to the confirmation. Hansey stated concerns he.had with.the direction the Planning Department has- taken . He stated however he would vote in favor of the confirmation. Motion to confirm the appointment passed. Trimm gave general comments of how the direction of the department would go. Bid Award Van Zanten stated the Finance Committee recommended approval of the bid and she so moved to award the bid to Henefin & Associates, Inc. in the amount of $22.,860.00, ine'luding all taxes,, for repairs to Reese. Hill, Road,_ Motion passed. Executive Louws stated the administration was still in the process of reviewing. the contracts in regards to the Nor Bell Waste- water Facility. Executive Louws presented the 1983 Whatcom County Preliminary Budget to Council along with a cover memorandum. He stated he has eliminated 10 positions in Current Expense Departments.. There is also a three percent (3%) or lower increase built -in for expenditures. The preliminary budget also includes the $.005 State sales tax revenues. HEARINGS Hearing was declared open on the ordinance imposing a sales and use tax pursuant.to R.C.W. 82.14.030(2). The following testimony was received: Clara Wieland - Questioned why monies.were taken 4041 Tarte Road out of the road fund. Also, why are the elected offices cut? Whatcom County Council Minutes October 7, 1982 page two Van Zanten stated laws allow the County to use the road funds. The funds were used to provide two more deputies for the Sheriff's Department. She stated it is the consensus of the Council that if the ordinance imposing the sales tax passes some money will be put back into the road fund. She also stated the out of the.ten cuts proposed in the budget only one is in an elected office. Cal Roper - Opposed to the sales-:tax 5520 Marshall Hill Road No further testimony was given and the hearing was closed. Hearing was declared open on the ordinance imposing an excise tax on each sale of real property in the unincorporated areas of Whatcom County. The following testimony was received: Cal Leenstra - Opposed to the tax. He stated Whatcom County Board opposition to the present excise of Realtors tax as well. This tax is not applied to any other form of wealth. The tax was already increased earlier.this year. Roehl stated the option for th s_ ncrease came from ::the..State in lieu of development fees. He stated this money will provide capital improvements. Hawley spoke in opposition to the tax. No further testimony was given and the hearing was closed. Van Zanten moved.to' refer the ordinance imposing a sales and use tax as well as the ordinance imposing an excise tax to the final consideration section of the agenda.as items two and three. Motion passed. Hearing was declared open on the Ordinance establishing the Victim /Witness Assistance Fund Budget for 1982. No testi- mony was given and the hearing was closed. Van Zanten moved .the ordinance for final passage. She stated the Finance Com- mittee -_ recommended "do pass " -`of the ordinance. The fees, to be collected are $25.00 for misdemeanor offenses and $50.00 for non - misdemeanor offenses. There is currently $1,500 to $1,600 coming in per month. Twenty percent (20 %) of the fees will stay in the County. Whatcom County Council Minutes October 7, 1982 page three Roehl questioned the Miscellaneous line item amount. Van Zanten stated the Prosecuting Attorney's office was not sure exactly where the funds would go. There will be some costs for transportation expenses to come out of this „cate - gory. ..She also stated this is an independent fund,:::i.n' -which fuftds:: :will accumulate and will not revert back to the gen eral fund. Roehl also questioned the line item for machinery and equipment. Van Zanten stated the monies will` go= towards -:-the. lease of a word processor., Roehl questioned whether or not'.., the existing processor,in the department could handle this additional duty. Vane Zanten stated there will be a more intensive need in the future as the program develops, of which the current machine will not ` be able to handle. . .Hansey moved to-refer the ordinance back to the Finance Committee for further review: Motion passed. Hearing was declared open on the Ordinance regarding the establishment of speed limits within school zones. No testimony was received and the. hearing was closed. Johnson stated the Law and Justice.Committee recommended "do pass” of the ,ordinance. Johnson so moved for final passage. Motion passed unanimously. Hearing was declared open on the Ordinance amending Ordinance 80 -260 regarding a change in the weight restric- tions on the Cedarlund Road Bridge No. 44. No testimony was received and the hearing was closed.' Johnson reported the Law and Justice Committee recommended "do pass" of the ordinance. Johnson so moved for final passage. Motion passed unanimously. f' Hearing was declared open on the Ordinance in the matter of establishing.weight. limits on West Hemmi Road Bridge over Ten Mile Creek. No'testimony was received and the hearing was closed. Johnson reported the Law and Justice Committee recommended "do pass" of the ordinance. Johnson so moved for final passage. Motion passed unanimously. Whatcom County Council Minutes October 7, 1982 page four Hearing was declared open in the matter of declaring County owned vehicles surplus.. No testimony was received and the hear- ing was closed. Johnson reported the Law and Justice Committee recommended the vehicles be declared surplus. Johnson so moved.. Motion passed... Hearing was-,,declared open in the matter of declaring County owned property in the Maple Falls area surplus. No testimony was received and the hearing was closed.. Van Zanten moved to. declare the property. surplus and to authorize the Executive to take the appropriate.measures . to.sell said property. Motion passed.. Hearing was declared open in the matter of declaring County owned property in the Marine Drive area surplus. The following testimony was received: Bill Lockwood -His property is located on the 1238 Marine Drive West side of the subject parcel. He stated there is a problem with the drain being covered by fill., which in turn floods his property. He stated the trees on the property provide a windbreaker from north easters. Roehl stated the drain-has been cleaned put. The - drain, will. need to be- maintained by the purchaser of the property. Lloyd Ludtke -He is interested in the property Ludtke Trucking for filling purposes. He stated the drainage problem has been taken care of and will be maintained in the future if he is the owner of the property. The trees would not be disturbed. No further testimony was given and the hearing was closed. Van Zanten moved to declare the property surplus aad authorize. the County Executive to'' proceed -:with .putting it up for,sa a „but; that condi tions be put upon that sale that said property has a drainage plan provided for proper drainage and appropriate sloping on the property without endangering surrounding'property and that such plan receive County approval before sale is finalized. Hawley moved to amend the motion to include "and maintain the existing buffering ". Motion to amend carried. Whatcom County Council Minutes October ?; 1982 page five . Hawley'stated he would like the matter reviewed further by Committee. Hawley: moved to table the matter until-: the next Council meeting, October 21, 1982. Motion failed.': Motion to declare the_.Droperty surplus passed on a 5 -1 vote (Hawley 1,_with- Hanseyabstain - - Hansey excusedimself from the meeting- -- OPEN SESSION - �\ Greg Newell .`'=Would like the Nor -Bell Sewer : Deer Creek project stopped and for the County to invest the $300,000 �:.. to upgrade the existing system. Roy Giles - Opposed to-the Nor = Whatcom County Council Minutes October ?, 1982 page six FINAL CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES Hansey moved for final passage.the.Resolution of intent in the matter of the vacation.and abandonment of "a portion of County Road No. 20; Lampman Road, located"in Section 35,- Township 39 North, Range 1.East of W.M. Motion passed., A public hearing will be set. Van Zanten moved for final passage the ordinance imposing a. sales and use tax pursuant, to R.C.W. 82.14..030(2). Van Zanten stated concerns. with the,serv'ices of the Law and Justice. Depart- " ment. If the level of service is.to be maintained then these. additional revenues are needed. Hawley stated other areas can.be cut. This tax is not needed. Roehl stated 60%g of the budget is law enforcement. He also stated Mental Health has been cut at..the federal and state.levels. Passage of this ordinance will allow some monies to go back into Mental . Health Cole also-spoke to Mental Health. It is cheaper to. provide preventive Mental Health care than to arrest; prosecute and jail, a• person Johnson stated he would vote no on the tax increase. Hansey stated he:would not support the tax increase." The preliminary budget should be dealt with, excluding the tax measure being built in. Motion to adopt the ordinance passed on .a 4 -3 vote .(Hansey; Johnson, Hawley). ..Van Zanten moved for final,.passage the ordinance imposing An excise tax on each sale of real property in the unincorporated areas of Whatcom County." Motion passed on -.a 6 -1 vote (Hawley) . OTHER BUSINESS f Nominations were opened to the Joint City /County Health District Board. Johnson nominated Nelda Sigurdson of Ferndale. .Johnson moved to close the nominations. Muenscher stated he would like more time in considering a nomination. Motion to close the nominations failed. The nominations will remain open for two weeks. Whatcom County Council Minutes October 79 1982 page seven Nominations were.opene.d -to the Planning Commission, posi- tion in District 3. Hawley nominated Robert Rehpohl, Ferndale.. Roehl nominated Steven J. Mura, attorney. Hawley also nominated David Simpson. The nominations will remain open for two weeks. The request for preliminary plat approval of Northwest obile Park will bLe hel &.in";the Planning and Development Committee.' The Hearing Examiner's recommendations of request for Pre - liminary Plat approval of Catalina Enterprises, Inc., was recevied and referred to the Planning and Development Committee. V/ The Hearing Examiner's recommendations of request for pre liminary plat approval.of Blankers Replat of Lot 4 of Monthy Short Plat, was received and referred to the Planning and Develop - ment Committee. INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES Hansey moved to add to the agenda as item 12 the resolution in the matter of a financial commitment to the 1983.Bellingham/ Whatcom County District Department of Public Health. Motion passed. f. Van Zanten introduced and moved for final passage the reso- lution in the matter of setting a hearing for declaring 20,000 cubic yards.:-of: screenings owned by Whatcom County as surplus pursuant to R.C.W. 36.34.020.. The Finance Committee recommended "do pass" of the resolution. Motion passed. A public hearing will be set. Johnson introduced and.moved for final passage the resolution in the matter of dissolution of the Northwest Air Pollution Authority. Motion passed. i Johnson introduced and moved for final passage the resolution, in the matter of the merger of the Whatcom County Air Pollution Control Authority in order to form a multi- County Air Pollution C ntrol Authority. Motion passed. Johnson introduced the Ordinance establishing certain acts of trespass as misdemeanors and establishing penalties therefor. The ordinance was referred to the Law and Justice Committee. A Public hearing will also be set. Hansey introduced the Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Sections 20.83.060 and 20.83.070 pertaining to the regulation Whatcom County Council Minutes October 73 1982 ig ht page e of non - conforming uses and parcels. The ordinance was referred to the Planning and Development Committee. The following ordinances .were introduced by Van Zanten and referred to the Finance Committee: ., 1) Ordinance authorizing a revised budget for the Current Expense.Fund, Assigned Counsel Budget, of 1982 2) Ordinance'authorizing a revised budget.for the Central Services Fund of 1982 ✓/ 3) Ordinance authorizing a revised budget for the Current Expense Fund, Juvenile Court /Detention /Probation Budget, of 1982 4) Ordinance authorizing:a. revised budget for the Federal.. Shared Revenue Fund, Central Services Budget, of 1982 v 5) Ordinance adopting a supplemental budget for the Referendum 37 Construction Fund of 1982 Hansey introduced the Ordinance amending the Birch Bay Comprehensive Plan Map from Parks to Suburban and amending the Interim Zoning Map from Recreation Open.Space to Suburban four families per acre in regard to a 3.69 acre site located within the former'Blaine Air Force Base. The ordinance was referred to /the Planning and Development Committee. Hansey introduced and moved for final passage the Resolution -..'..F.. in the matter of a financial commitment to the 1983 Bellingham / Whatcom County District Department of Public Health... He stated the amount to be committed is $516,451.00. Motion passed. No further business came before the Council and adjournment was made at 10:25 p.m.