HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance March 31 2015WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
March 31, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 11:01 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, and Satpal Sidhu
Absent: None
Also Present: Carl Weimer, Ken Mann, and Barbara Brenner
EXECUTIVE REPORTS
This item was not discussed.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1, DISCUSSION REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN WHATCOM COUNTY
AND THE IMPACT ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE (AB2015 -123)
Ann Deacon, Health Department, submitted and read from a handout (on file) and
gave a staff report. She described the continuum of care and the sequential intercept model
for intervention.
Joe Valentine, North Sound Mental Health Administration Executive Director,
continued the presentation. The regional support network is happy to continue to work with
Whatcom County to address the needs for future crisis and diversion services. He described
their current and future plans for a crisis services. Soon, the State will provide behavioral
health organizations with a payment for every Medicaid person in the region. His agency
will use those dollars to fund all necessary mental health and chemical dependency
treatment services. Next year, they will fund detox beds. Diversion only works when
connected to community treatment options. Make sure any crisis facility is connected to
effective, ongoing treatment.
The Committee discussed what the County can do extra in the jail development
process in terms of chemical and substance abuse and dependency and for mental health,
how to separate mental health and chemical dependency services, the differences between
detox services and crisis services, whether there is a plan for a triage center location,
capital facilities and operating costs, adding the cost to the jail bond, and whether the
hospital is involved in this discussion.
Jack Louws, County Executive, answered questions.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/31/2015, Page 1
1 Chris Phillips, Peace Health St. Joseph Medical Center, stated Peace Health does not
2 have funds to donate, but could be creative in supporting a triage center, such as possibly
3 donating a facility.
4
5 The Committee discussed whether the cities must invest in the new system.
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7 Bob Frisk, Sheriff's Office volunteer chaplain, stated deputies only pick up people
8 who have committed a crime. That's how people with mental health issues end up in jail. A
9 lot of crimes are linked to mental health issues.
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11 Joy Gilfilin, Restorative Community Coalition, stated trauma is the number one cause
12 of mental health, substance abuse, and crime. The first thing to do in the new jail project is
13 include a triage facility and restorative justice. There has been no needs assessment.
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15 Ray Baribeau stated the current facilities are not adequate, although the staff are
16 doing the best they can. The County needs facilities for medical and mental health issues.
17 People don't get into jail without committing a crime. The Corrections deputuies interact
18 with the mentally ill with compassion. These deputies are excellent, but there needs to be a
19 place for people who committed crimes. Jail is a time -out for adults.
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21 Richard Maneval stated the safety of neighborhoods is the most important issue.
22 They need a new facility. Don't forget crime victims.
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24 Bill Elfo, Whatcom County Sheriff and Behavioral Health Revenue Advisory
25 Committee, stated many people are in the jail that have committed crimes and have mental
26 illness. The staff do all they can. He submitted a handout (on file). He supports the triage
27 center.
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29 The committee discussed the status of the Division Street facility.
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32 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
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34 1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2015 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, THIRD
35 REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $304,500 (AB2015 -098)
36
37 Buchannan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
38
39 The motion carried by the following vote:
40 Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
41 Nays: None (0)
42
43 2. RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2015 WHATCOM COUNTY ECONOMIC
44 DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (CEDS) AND AMENDED APPENDIX (AB2015 -103)
45
46 Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
47
48 Browne submitted a handout (on file) showing the number of companies that have a
49 business connection to Canada. He stated he brings to the attention of the Council and
50 Executive a report produced by the Port of Bellingham that gives an indication as to the
51 number of Canadian companies who had an impact on the regional economy. Of the 135
52 companies that were visited by the Port of Bellingham as part of their associate
53 development organization responsibilities, 32 of those companies, representing about 2,200
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/31/2015, Page 2
jobs, were companies that had a connection to Canada. In other words, they appear to
have originally started in Canada, and then opened up an office here. He would like that
reflected in the record, because one of the things that is understated in this document is the
role of the Canadian companies from the lower mainland and their impact on creating, in
particular, manufacturing jobs in this community. The other comment is that he likes, on
page 156, the statement at the end of section E, which says that consideration should be
given to establishing a Whatcom County trade mission in British Columbia (B.C.) to provide
business investment in the county. He's said many times that if this was a business he was
running, that is the first thing he would do. He would open up a sales office in the lower
mainland. He wants the Council to be aware of that.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
3. RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 2015 -067, APPROVING A
SALARY SCHEDULE AND POLICIES FOR UNREPRESENTED WHATCOM
COUNTY EMPLOYEES, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015 THROUGH DECEMBER 31,
2016 (AB2015 -104)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Dave Grant, District Court Judge, gave a staff report and described the reason for
the increase.
The committee discussed the reason for the raise and actual cost increase.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL - (COUNCIL
ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE WASHINGTON
STATE MILITARY DEPARTMENT FOR STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
VOLUNTARY ACQUISITION OF FLOOD -PRONE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN
MARIETTA AND THE REMOVAL OF ALL ASSOCIATED STRUCTURES, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $379,750 (AB2015 -107)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/31/2015, Page 3
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND HELION SOFTWARE, INC.,
FOR THE ACQUISITION, IMPLEMENTATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF A
REPLACEMENT DOCUMENT RECORDING AND IMAGING SYSTEM FOR THE
AUDITOR'S OFFICE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $78,500 (AB2015 -105)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND FOSTER PEPPER
PLLC TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE LAKE WHATCOM TMDL
(TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD), IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,622, FOR A TOTAL
AMENDED CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $39,122 (AB2015 -106)
Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND GEOTEST
SERVICES, INC., FOR A CHANGE IN SCOPE TO ADD CONSTRUCTION FIELD
INSPECTION SERVICES TO THE MATERIAL TESTING AND GEOTECHNICAL
SERVICES CONTRACT (AB2015 -108)
Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
4. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID
#15 -06 TO THE LOWEST BIDDER, WRS, AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR
2015 HOT MIX ASPHALT PRELEVEL AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $1,304,681.14 (AB2015 -109)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/31/2015, Page 4
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5.
REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID
2
#15 -08 TO THE LOWEST BIDDER, MCASPHALT INDUSTRIES, AND TO ENTER
3
INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ASPHALTIC EMULSIONS FOR THE
4
COUNTY'S CHIP SEALING PROGRAM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,120,000
5
(AB2015 -110)
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7
Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
8
9
Brenner asked how much chip seal the County has used and where in the last two
10
years.
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12
Jeff Gollen, Public Works Department, gave a staff report and described the history
13
of chip sealing in the County.
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15
The motion carried by the following vote:
16
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
17
Nays: None (0)
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6.
REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID
20
#15 -14 FOR THE PURCHASE OF TWO 1 -TON CAB AND CHASSIS TRUCKS
21
WITH 2 -3 YARD DUMP BODY TO THE LOWEST BIDDER, LEGACY FORD, IN
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THE AMOUNT OF $80,941.75 (AB2015 -111)
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24
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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26
The motion carried by the following vote:
27
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
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Nays: None (0)
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7.
REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID
31
#15 -15 FOR THE SUPPLY OF TWELVE 1/2 -TON EXTENDED CAB FOUR -WHEEL
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DRIVE PICKUPS TO THE LOWEST BIDDER, BLADE CHEVROLET, IN THE
33
AMOUNT OF $353,479.98 (AB2015 -112)
34
35
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
36
37
The Committee discussed why the old trucks have fewer miles than the newer ones.
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39
The following people answered questions:
40
• Eric Schlehuber, Public Works Department
41
• Jack Louws, County Executive
42
43
The motion carried by the following vote:
44
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
45
Nays: None (0)
46
47
8.
REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO APPROVE THE
48
PURCHASE OF AN ADDITIONAL VACTOR TRUCK, USING THE WASHINGTON
49
STATE CONTRACT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $467,217.69 (AB2015 -113)
50
51
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
52
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/31/2015, Page 5
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The committee discussed whether they need a new truck because they're creating
more catchbasins.
Jeff Gollen, Public Works Department, answered questions and stated they're for the
new national pollution discharge elimination system (NPDES) requirements.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
9. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO APPROVE THE
PURCHASE OF LIGHT BARS AND ACCESSORIES, USING THE OREGON STATE
BID PROCUREMENT LIST FROM VENDOR MCLOUGHLIN & EARDLEY
CORPORATION, IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $100,000 (AB2015 -114)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The Committee discussed what the accessories are, how long light bars last, and
whether the lights are light emitting diode (LED).
Eric Schlehuber, Public Works Department, answered questions.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:20 p.m.
Dana Brow H/- ,Davis,'" unci(.Clerk
' `1
by
ti
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Rud Browne, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/31/2015, Page 6