HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works May 31 20161
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee
May 31, 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
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING ELECTRONIC HOME MONITORING (AB2016 -178)
Dave McEachran, Prosecutor, described sentencing requirements and the current
home detention program for District Court and Superior Court. They may be able to expand
the home monitoring program to pre -trial felon releases, but it would increase the County's
liability if they foresee releasing someone who is dangerous. The cost benefit must exceed
liability. Expansion of the program would have to be at the direction of the County Council.
Bill Elfo, Sheriff, described how the current home detention program is used. The
judges determine the conditions under which people are released. The City of Bellingham is
using enhanced home monitoring technology. He will continue to work with the
Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force to consider a program that protects
public safety and County liability. He is concerned that the equipment won't work in rural
areas.
Mann stated he would like to answer the question when people ask him why the
County doesn't have a program similar to the City of Bellingham's program. McEachran
stated he is concerned about a jury determining the County is guilty of gross negligence by
letting someone out on electronic home monitoring. The City's cases aren't as serious as
the County's cases.
Elfo stated there are some statutory exclusions against home monitoring. The
County also requires that offenders meet certain criteria and pay a portion of or all the cost.
The total daily cost is $39.
McEachran and Elfo answered questions about subsidizing the cost of electronic
home monitoring for people who can't afford to pay, letting someone out of jail with bail
versus electronic home monitoring, creating a legal "special relationship" with people who
are supervised with home monitoring, the County's ability to foresee problems with those on
home monitoring, and how many people are excluded from the jail alternative because they
can't afford to be on electronic home monitoring.
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 5/31/2016, Page 1
I Lt. Caleb Erickson, Sheriff's Office, stated they waive fees when possible. Deputies
2 try to find the available alternatives tailored to each offender with the goal of correcting
3 their behavior.
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5 Wendy Jones, Chief of Corrections, stated the City of Bellingham can rapidly put
6 people on a home monitoring bracelet. The County's home detention program doesn't allow
7 earned good time. About 25 people per day are on the home detention program. The
8 program depends on how much staff is available.
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10 The councilmembers discussed whether deputies would have to do home checks if
11 the monitoring bracelet has GPS, the difference in liability between home monitoring and
12 work crew, possibly using a risk assessment tool to alleviate liability, and advocating for the
13 State to change the rules.
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Jill Bernstein stated she urges this committee to wait until the Task Force completes
its work and makes recommendations. Cases are handled differently based on many
factors. The issue is more about risk management and less about liability. Whatcom
County has a lot to be proud of with its current jail alternatives. The Task Force will
recommend ways to make it even better.
2. RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A JAIL STAKEHOLDER WORKGROUP (AB2016-
179)
Buchanan gave a staff report on the possibility of a stakeholder group modeled after
the emergency management services (EMS) financing working group. He would like to
know if this is something that the Council and the administration would like to move forward
on.
Bill Elfo, Sheriff, stated he wasn't made aware of the proposal until recently. He
urges they include a corrections staff person on the workgroup. He would like more time to
consider the possibility of a work group.
The committee discussed including someone from Bellingham municipal court,
judges, corrections officers, and someone who has been in jail or has a relative who has
been in jail; how the committee would be staffed and facilitated; not confusing the need to
replace the jail facility with a review of the criminal justice system; making sure the
Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force and this new workgroup connect and
communicate to avoid duplicating work; identifying specific key tasks to work on, including
costs, funding, operation, and construction, and; making this workgroup a technical
workgroup, not a policy workgroup.
Ray Baribeau stated he supports including corrections deputies. Also include
someone each from the nursing team, the mental health profession, and the volunteers who
work in the jail. Think about the people who regularly provide services to the jail when
identifying stakeholders.
47 Carol Perry stated she doesn't know what will be accomplished that hasn't already
48 been studied by creating another committee. The County Council didn't advocate for the
49 sales and use tax on the ballot last November, which is why it failed.
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51 Caleb Erickson stated he agrees with focusing on key topics for this group. The
52 facility design will be the key factor in future operating costs. The work group must include
53 representatives who work in the facility.
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 5/31/2016, Page 2
2 Darren Smith stated include in the work group people who work in the jail. They will
3 have the most knowledge about operations and how to save money.
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5 The councilmembers discussed having fewer politicians and more staff in the group;
6 having a community discussion to make sure they make the right decision; including all
7 stakeholders so another sales and use tax request on the ballot would pass, and; including
8 in the resolution specific deliverables, including a fair and equitable funding system.
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OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 5/31/2016, Page 3