HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole AM November 22 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
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee of the Whole
November 22, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Ken Mann, Satpal Sidhu, Carl Weimer, Todd
Donovan, Rud Browne and Barry Buchanan.
Absent: None.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. DISCUSSION AND FORMULATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 2017 -2018 WHATCOM COUNTY
BUDGET (AB2016 -198C)
Forrest Longman, Council Office, referenced the Council budget actions beginning on
Council packet page 25 and gave a staff report. There are changes to the descriptions of
action on adjustments 06 and 07.
Weimer moved to approve Adjustment 8 to expand the Nurse - Family Partnership in
the amount of $108,419 in 2017 and $112,752 in 2018 as shown on Council packet page
29.
The motion was seconded.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (6)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Sidhu (out of the room) (1)
Longman reported on the correct revenue amounts for the one percent increase in
the general fund.
Brenner moved to correct the numbers for Adjustment 10 to a total of $285,313 for
2017 and $581,092 for 2018.
The motion was seconded.
Browne stated it's unclear what this revenue will go toward and if it will be necessary
if the emergency medical services (EMS) levy passes.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Sidhu, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (5)
Nays: Brenner and Browne (2)
Brenner stated she's opposed to a property tax increase because it's regressive.
Special Committee of the Whole (AM), 11/22/2016, Page 1
1 Mann moved to amend Adjustment 12 on Council packet page 33 to correct the
2 budget impact to $27,000 each year for 2017 and 2018. It is technically a revenue
3 decrease due to the sliding scale, not a revenue increase.
4
5 The motion was seconded.
6
7 The following staff answered questions:
8 • Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department
9 • Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office
10 • Bill Elfo, Sheriff
11
12 Councilmembers discussed the revenue decrease, waiving the policy to require the
13 Sheriff to meet revenue targets, using the extra million dollars of jail operations money to
14 cover the lower revenue projections, a possible need for additional equipment in the future,
15 and being able to rent the equipment on a sliding scale.
16
17 The motion carried by the following vote:
18 Ayes: Brenner, Mann, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (7)
19 Nays: None (0)
20
21 Longman reported on the Council budget action to fund the Dispute Resolution
22 Center. They will amend the contract with the Dispute Resolution Center through Superior
23 Court.
24
25 Buchanan moved to approve Adjustment 14 as shown on Council packet page 34
26 to provide funding for Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center in the amount of $25,000 each
27 year for 2017 and 2018.
28
29 The motion was seconded.
30
31 Councilmembers discussed the necessity of having annual reports at the end of each
32 fiscal year from organizations who receive County money. The reports should show how the
33 money is used and how it's been helpful. Councilmembers will work with Council Legislative
34 Analyst Forrest Longman to define which agencies should provide a brief annual report to
35 Council and the information that reports should include.
36
37 Louws described the billing and reporting policy.
38
39 The motion carried by the following vote:
40 Ayes: Brenner, Mann, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (7)
41 Nays: None (0)
42
43 Weimer moved to approve Adjustment 17 as shown on Council packet page 35 to
44 fund a legal review of the County Council's authority and options for limiting fossil fuel
45 exports in the amount of $150,000 for 2017.
46
47 The motion was seconded.
48
49 Brenner moved to amend the description of action, "unrefined ssil fue crude oil
50 and coal," and stated don't include natural gas.
51
52 The motion to amend was seconded.
53
Special Committee of the Whole (AM), 11/22/2016, Page 2
1 Councilmembers discussed whether part of the legal review would be to define and
2 explain the term "unrefined fossil fuel" and if the Council's definition of unrefined fossil fuels
3 is adequate and correct.
4
5 The motion to amend failed by the following vote:
6 Ayes: Brenner (1)
7 Nays: Mann, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (6)
8
9 Browne moved to amend the description of action, "...the County can work to
10 prevent transportation impacts, and /or increase the safety of new unrefined fossil fuel
11 expeFts fF transshipments facilities in the Cherry Point UGA."
12
13 The motion to amend was seconded.
14
15 Councilmembers discussed not limiting the review to transportation, not narrowing
16 the scope of the legal review, and Planning Commission review.
17
18 The motion to amend failed by the following vote:
19 Ayes: Browne (1)
20 Nays: Mann, Sidhu, Brenner, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (6)
21
22 Brenner moved to amend the description of action, "...the County can work to limit
23 and /or increase the safety of unrefined fossil fuel exports other than North America from the
24 Cherry Point UGA." The motion was not seconded.
25
26 Councilmembers discussed how they chose the budget estimate amount.
27
28 The motion carried by the following vote:
29 Ayes: Mann, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (6)
30 Nays: Brenner (1)
31
32 Councilmembers discussed parliamentary procedure and the requirement for votes to
33 be seconded.
34
35 Mann withdrew his proposal for Adjustment 21.
36
37 Brenner moved to approve Adjustment 22 as shown on Council packet page 38 to
38 fund a Planning Unit instream flow study in the amount of $500,000 for the year 2017.
39
40 The motion was seconded.
41
42 The following staff answered questions:
43 • Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office
44 • Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department
45
46 Councilmembers discussed whether the Planning Unit is the appropriate body to
47 conduct the study, whether a study would make things better for their ability to approve
48 exempt wells, the status of the groundwater model currently being undertaken, the Council
49 not taking on administrative tasks, who sets the instream flow rule, which instream flow
50 rules are in place, finding funds to finish the groundwater model, and the need to do
51 additional studies beyond the groundwater model.
52
Special Committee of the Whole (AM), 11/22/2016, Page 3
Linda Twitchell, Planning Unit, stated the Planning Unit will suggest that the
remaining Planning Unit budget will go to the groundwater model. They don't want to study
instream flow, which may have negative impacts. Continue to involve the Planning Unit.
The groundwater study is limited and is a good study.
The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner (1)
Nays: Weimer, Mann, Browne, Sidhu, Buchanan and Donovan (6)
Browne moved to approve Adjustment 23 as submitted by Council Policy Analyst
Forrest Longman (on file) to fund development of a viable exempt well mitigation option in
the amount of $250,000 for the year 2017.
The motion was seconded.
Councilmembers discussed budgeting for upcoming obligations when they arise
rather than setting aside money now, not using this money to pay for an appeal of the State
Supreme Court decision to the federal level, and whether the County can make a blanket
determination that the first 350 gallons drawn per day from an exempt well does not impact
instream flow, whether there is a qualified hydrologist in the county who can come up with
mitigation plans for people, and whether or not they should set aside money now.
Jack Louws, County Executive, stated be cautious about setting aside money in the
budget for decisions that won't come forward for a while, and don't create a budget that
spends more than it takes in.
Browne withdrew his motion.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:01 a.m.
T,he Coun [W'-�pproved these minutes on February 7, 2017.
~� 'r� Al e
coo
Dare Brdw , . ciuncil- 'Clerk
t
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
C
Bar uchanan, Council Chair
Special Committee of the Whole (AM), 11/22/2016, Page 4