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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole October 27 20161 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Special Committee of the Whole October 27, 2016 CALL TO ORDER Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington. ROLL CALL Present: Barbara Brenner, Ken Mann, Satpal Sidhu, Rud Browne and Barry Buchanan Absent: Todd Donovan and Carl Weimer COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 1. 2017 -2018 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET COUNCIL REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS (AB2016 -198B) District Court / Probation Bruce Van Glubt, District Court Administrator, described District Court projects they've done the past few years, including updating policies, procedures, and training materials. To help defendants be successful, they now make court reminder phone calls and assist in resolving payment problems. Expenditures are in line. Infraction revenue is slightly down, and it may continue to decline. Estimating anticipated infraction revenue is difficult for many reasons. The probation office is implementing a new text message reminder program. He and councilmembers discussed how to account for program costs in one department that result in a savings in another department, the possibility of night or weekend court to avoid keeping people in jail over the weekend, the possibility of automated court reminder phone calls, electronic home monitoring (EHM), and the possibility of operating a pretrial supervision program from District Court. Public Defender's Office Jon Komorowski, Public Defender, stated the office is busy. Restore programs and services that were cut in the past due to the economy, including a behavioral health specialist and increased training travel. Increase mileage amounts to allow attorneys to attend competency evaluations at Western State Hospital and Yakima and travel to crime scenes. He answered councilmember questions on the handling of dependency cases. Prosecuting Attorney's Office /Law Library Dave McEachran, Prosecutor's Office, described the request to reduce staff by one full -time equivalent (FTE) employee position, increase the budget in the amount of $3,744 for administration of the High Intensity Drug Traffic Agency (HIDTA) grant, and to increase Special Committee of the Whole, 10/27/2016, Page 1 an eight- tenths of an attorney FTE to a full FTE. Over the next biennium, he is losing six people with more than 30 years' experience each. He described some of the cases they've handled recently. The number of case filings are up seven percent. The number of juvenile cases is still going down. Case filings are occurring more quickly. He described briefly the fast track, drug court, and drop down programs. He hasn't asked for a budget increase. They will be hiring a new law librarian soon. He and councilmembers discussed the reasons for the extreme reductions in juvenile court cases, the increase in felony cases, and succession planning. Superior Court and Juvenile Court Probation Dave Reynolds, Superior Court Administrator, stated they've submitted a combined Superior Court, Juvenile Court, and Clerk's budget. They have asked for a modest change to meet the needs of a changing population. There is a decrease in the number of youth coming through the juvenile system. They are asking for a second court - appointed special advocate (CASA) coordinator, but it will not take any additional resources. He described programs, including supervised visitation. He seeks an additional $4,000 for drug court and family court and $7,000 for a family treatment court. He and councilmembers discussed the transition from using guardians ad litem (GALs) to a full CASA program and expanding the use of volunteers throughout County operations when possible. Jail and Sheriff's Office Bill Elfo, Sheriff, submitted and read through a presentation (on file). He and councilmembers discussed why the County isn't sending its felons to other jails outside the county when the county jail becomes overcrowded, the need to upgrade the jail security system, the Spillman system, challenges due to proximity to the Canadian border, the need for a new jail, and whether jail operating costs can be reduced by three percent in a new jail. Jack Louws, County Executive, thanked the department heads for their presentations today and all the work they do for the County. County Council Office Dana Brown - Davis, Clerk of the Council, referenced a memo submitted to the Council (on file) and described the additional services request (ASR) for the new agenda system and Council Chambers remodel and the decreased revenue projections. She and councilmembers discussed a review of Council staff classifications. Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, reported on the bid proposal for the Council Chambers upgrade and remodel. Councilmembers and staff discussed whether the Chambers upgrade proposal can be scaled back to include just a new audio system and presentation screens and the benefits of a new agenda management system. Perry Rice, Administrative Services Department, answered councilmember questions on the benefits of an automated agenda management system. Special Committee of the Whole, 10/27/2016, Page 2 (Clerk's Note: The Committee took a lunch break from 12:10 to 1:15 p.m.) Cooperative Extension Drew Betz, WSU Cooperative Extension, submitted a handout (on file) on and described five programs. In addition, there is a small request for an increase in the master gardener and composting program. She and councilmembers discussed including students in the master gardener program. Health Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, described accomplishments from the 2015 -2016 budget cycle, including the new health information and assessment division to focus on data and performance management, achieving national accreditation, mental health court, expansion of the nurse family partnership program, expansion of the mental health and chemical dependency prevention services in schools, the solid waste program, expansion of the operation and maintenance program and onsite sewage program to Portage Bay, improved shellfish protection districts, participation in the Cascadia Rising event, and the opioid epidemic task force. In 2017 -2018, they have two ASRs that include a mental health court specialist and developmental disabilities program specialist, neither of which are funded from the general fund, and a new focus on workforce development of Health Department staff. Next year they will work with the State on foundational public health services and they will work with other counties on shared services. They will begin working on the new community health assessment, from which they will develop an updated community health improvement plan. She and councilmembers discussed a tire recycling program, Medicare services for seniors, better - connecting the Parks Department and Health Department to provide better senior services, head trauma as a factor in mental illness, school sports - related injuries, and expanding the nurse - family partnership. Public Works Department Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department Director, stated the budget has increased since 2015 due to capital program increases resulting from the Birch Bay shoreline protection and pedestrian project, the Deming levee improvement project, and a new bridge on Slater Road at Jordan Creek. There are no increases in operating budget, other than programs related to the water resources action plan, which are the national pollution discharge elimination system (NPDES), total maximum daily load (TMDL) permit program, and pollution identification and control (PIC) program. He described the increases to those programs. He submitted a handout (on file) on and described the six major funds in the department. They will continue to focus on capital improvements and the water action plan in the next biennium budget. The flood fund burden is not sustainable. They will continue to discuss a remedy. Jack Louws, County Executive, stated the Public Works budget is very well done. He thanked Dr. Hutchings and his staff for their work. Special Committee of the Whole, 10/27/2016, Page 3 Hutchings and councilmembers discussed building up a fund balance to save for capital construction projects over a number of years, whether the State could develop a high speed corridor between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., and developing shovel -ready projects in case federal funding becomes available. Parks and Recreation Department Mike McFarlane, Parks and Recreation Department Director, described the scope of County parks and services for which the department is responsible and recent achievements that include facility repairs on new roofs, restoration of the Nesset House and machine shed, construction on facilities for South Fork Park, a launch dock at Lighthouse Marine Park, restoring trails and installing emergency checkpoints, playgrounds, and many other projects and plans. He is focusing on maintaining what they have, adding value, and improving visitor experiences in 2017 and 2018. There is an overall six percent increase. He described an ASR for a park attendant and upcoming changes and rate increases. He and councilmembers discussed senior center programs, setting fees and other rates based on use, using interns, working with the Blaine /Birch Bay Parks and Recreation District, putting the Parks Department vehicle fleet under the Public Works Department, the possibility of increasing senior programs, whether the meals -on- wheels program is adequate, declaring unnecessary parks properties surplus, the ASR for the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center, the ASR for the Lake Whatcom park trail development going into a project -based budget for 2017 and 2018, reports on park use and availability, advertising the County parks, and whether County parks land qualifies for funding from the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Program (PSNERP). Planning and Development Services Department Sam Ryan, Planning and Development Services Director, stated revenue has increased slightly. Expenses have stayed flat. The only change coming up is the three percent technology fee beginning in June. They are working hard to improve the permit and code enforcement systems. She described the ASRs, which are limited. She and councilmembers discussed the amount budgeted for contracts, public /private partnerships, the status of a transfer of development rights (TDR) program, and code enforcement efforts. Auditor's Office Debbie Adelstein, Auditor, described the ASRs. They will keep going with normal operations. She and councilmembers discussed potential changes to the County Charter regarding the Auditor's Office, the types of recorded documents they are digitizing, securing ballot drop boxes, and trends in collected recording fees. Assessor's Office Keith Willnauer, Assessor, described efforts to do document recording, establishing performance metrics, the increasing demand for productivity, the new mobile data collection devices, and the ASRs. He and councilmembers discussed the timing of launching the new Assessor's geographic information system (GIS) website, the BP Cherry Point property tax Special Committee of the Whole, 10/27/2016, Page 4 appeal settlement, whether the County assesses railroads, and the process for open space applications. Treasurer's Office There were no questions for Treasurer Steve Oliver. Councilmembers and Executive November 1, 2016 and budgeting mone OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. ADJOURN Louws discussed the next budget meeting on y for economic development. The meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m. The COUIldl approved these min F AJTESTq 0 0 r? -Ana gown' ' �vis,,,d unc Clerk e Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription utes on December 6, 2016. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Bar y chanan, Council Chair Special Committee of the Whole, 10/27/2016, Page 5