HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works April 5 20161
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
3A
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee
April 5, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, and Ken Mann
Absent: None
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan, Satpal Sidhu, and Carl Weimer
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. PRESENTATION OF EMS FUNDING WORK GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS
(AB2016 -139)
Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, referenced the staff memo on Council packet
page 79 and the presentation beginning on council packet page 81. He gave a staff report
and read from the presentation.
He answered questions about using a sales tax instead of property tax, how they are
currently covering the operating losses, and maintaining a reserve for a future fifth unit.
Jack Louws, County Executive, answered questions about supplementing operating
costs while operating at a deficit.
Bill Neubold, City of Bellingham Fire Chief, presented information on the types of
emergency response calls they receive and how dispatch handles its 9 -1 -1 calls to provide
the necessary resource, helping a certain group of people who call 9 -1 -1 numerous times,
the history of the Medic One system, and the benefits and improvements to the system if a
levy were passed.
Sidhu asked if the levy rate would replace the contributions from the general fund.
Schroeder stated it would.
Browne stated informing the public of improvements to the system if a levy were
passed could encourage voters to support the levy at the election. He asked if other cities
contribute to the costs. Schroeder stated they do, through the sales tax.
Mann asked if all the fire districts support the proposal, given past conflict between
the City of Bellingham and fire districts. Schroeder stated everyone who participated in the
Funding Work Group endorses the decision.
Neubold stated the collaboration among all agencies and board members, which
includes labor representatives, has been unprecedented and outstanding.
Mann stated that they all must support the plan in the end, and stick to it.
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 4/5/2016, Page 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
Weimer asked if the EMS system provides the same service whether someone lives
in the urban or rural area, and if they considered other counties that may provide a lesser
rural service. Neubold stated they will get the same skilled service. It takes a little longer
to get to the more remote rural areas.
Schroeder stated EMS systems are vastly different around the state. The community
wants the same type of service for the rural area as the urban area. He concluded the
presentation on the EMS levy timeline.
Donovan stated that they should lead with the discussion of the fifth unit when
promoting the levy to the voters. Otherwise they will just hear that they are going to pay
more money for more administrators, take money they already pay and put it somewhere
else, and put money in the reserves.
Sidhu stated include a line item for reserve buildup to clearly identify how they are
saving for the future. Also, St. Joseph Hospital should have a small emergency room in an
outlying area in Lynden or the north county area.
Schroeder described how the reserve would be created and grown. This is a more
stable funding structure than in the past. No other jurisdiction in the state funds EMS from
the general fund.
Browne stated he agrees with Councilmember Donovan's concerns. He asked if Fire
District 7 approves and how it would be funded. Schroeder stated District 7 would continue
to be a service provider and would get funding from the tax. They will continue to look for
efficiencies in the future. It will reduce the long -term costs, but it won't reduce the need for
a fifth unit.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CHAPTER 9,
RECREATION (AB2016 -047I)
Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted and
read from a presentation (on file) and answered questions about whether the County
qualifies for funding by including this chapter in the Comprehensive Plan and having only
the recreation chapter of the Comprehensive Plan, without the Comprehensive Parks,
Recreation, and Open Space ( CPROS) Plan.
Matt Aamot, Planning and Development Services Department, answered questions
about the Comprehensive Plan text regarding the recreational overlay.
Weimer asked if it's possible to get rid of this chapter and just use the CPROS plan.
Personius stated it is an option.
Aamot stated the Growth Management Act (GMA) requires some recreational
planning, and they would have to recreate the chapter if the State ever provides funding.
Mike McFarlane, Parks and Recreation Department Director, stated there have been
occasions when it's beneficial to have the chapter in the Comprehensive Plan.
Brenner asked about getting rid of the CPROS Plan. McFarlane stated the CPROS
Plan is much more detailed than the Comprehensive Plan. If adopted as part of the
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 4/5/2016, Page 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
County's Comprehensive Plan, the timing of the updates doesn't sync with the State's grant
cycle. They are different plans.
Personius stated the chapter is to plan for capital facilities in terms of park facilities.
The CPROS Plan plans for much more information that shouldn't be in a Planning
Department document.
Mann stated include in the chapter more discussion about recreational tourism.
Personius stated he will look into it.
Clayton Petree stated consider how the cities handle their comprehensive plans and
parks plans. The State provided funding to create this chapter. The County has accepted
State money and needs to maintain the chapter.
Aamot stated there are comments from the State Department of Commerce about
the chapter being optional.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
ATTEST:�.�'
Dana Brown- Davis; Cou.ntil.'Clerg
'� • A M . .
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 4/5/2016, Page 3