HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance March 21 2017WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
March 21, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 11:20 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Rud Browne, Ken Mann, and Satpal Sidhu
Absent: None
Also Present: Todd Donovan, Barry Buchanan and Barbara Brenner
COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT
Jack Louws, County Executive, reported on collective bargaining negotiations.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
1. PRESENTATION BY SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC)
PRESIDENT C] SEITZ OF THE SBDC RESULTS FOR 2016 (AB2017 -017)
C.J. Seitz and Eric Grimstead, Small Business Development Center (SBDC),
submitted and read from a presentation (on file). They answered questions on the
challenges going forward for the SBDC and business community; including connecting
students with businesses that have projects; finding qualified workers, particularly in the
construction sector; too -rapid growth; the local skills gap and workforce development,
including healthcare, manufacturing, welding, and technology; collaborating with local
secondary education institutions to train more experienced workers; and the agriculture
sector.
2. REPORT FROM ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES IT DEPARTMENT (AB2017 -068)
Perry Rice, Administrative Services Department, submitted and read from a
presentation (on file). He answered questions on information security, including peripherals
and personal devices, and a technology upgrade to the Council chambers.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2014 -075 (ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
COURTHOUSE BUILDING ENVELOPE FUND AND BUDGET) TO INCLUDE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF $2,427,809 TO COVER THE COST OF SCHEDULED
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS (AB2017 -095)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/21/2017, Page 1
1 Forrest Longman, Council Legislative Analyst, gave a staff report on Economic
2 Development Investment (EDI) fund expenses and competitive versus County sections of
3 the funds.
4
5 The following staff answered questions:
6 • Jack Louws, County Executive
7 • Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office
8 0 Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department
9
10 Councilmembers discussed whether the County administration needs the EDI funds
11 at this time, reviewing how the County spends its portion of the EDI funds, an upcoming
12 EDI Board meeting, raising money for long -term capital needs, and focusing the EDI funds
13 on economic development projects.
14
15 Browne moved to eliminate the EDI funding for this request and request the
16 administration to solve the funding as soon as possible.
17
18 The motion to recommend an amendment carried by the following vote:
19 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
20 Nays: None (0)
21
22 Sidhu moved to recommend approval as amended to the full Council.
23
24 The motion carried by the following vote:
25 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
26 Nays: None (0)
27
28 2. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2017 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, THIRD
29 REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,104,121 (AB2017 -096)
30
31 Sidhu moved to recommend adoption of the ordinance to the full Council.
32
33 Jack Louws, County Executive, and Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, gave a staff
34 report and answered questions on allocating additional general fund money and the cost of
35 the administrative assistant position.
36
37 The motion carried by the following vote:
38 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
39 Nays: None (0)
40
41 3. ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING INTERFUND LOANS TO FINANCE CASH FLOW
42 FOR STORMWATER CAPITAL PROJECT BUDGETS (AB2017 -098)
43
44 Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
45
46 The motion carried by the following vote:
47 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
48 Nays: None (0)
49
50 4. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
51 CONTRACT BETWEEN THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE
52 DISTRICT AND THE NATURE CONSERVANCY TO SUPPORT DEMING LEVEE
53 SETBACK CONSTRUCTION AND THE LOWER NOOKSACK RIVER GEOMORPHIC
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/21/2017, Page 2
1 ASSESSMENT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000 (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE
2 WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF
3 SUPERVISORS) (AB2017 -104)
4
5 Mann moved to recommend approval to the Flood Control Zone District Board of
6 Supervisors.
7
8 Paula Cooper, Public Works Department, answered questions about the size of the
9 land and state licensing of a geologist.
10
11 The motion carried by the following vote:
12 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
13 Nays: None (0)
14
15 5. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
16 GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL
17 ZONE DISTRICT AND THE WASHINGTON STATE MILITARY DEPARTMENT FOR
18 STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING FOR VOLUNTARY ACQUISITION OF FIVE
19 FLOOD -PRONE PROPERTIES IN MARIETTA AND THE REMOVAL OF ALL
20 ASSOCIATED STRUCTURES, IN THE AMOUNT OF $342,737 (COUNCIL ACTING
21 AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF
22 SUPERVISORS) (AB2017 -105)
23
24 Mann moved to recommend approval to the Flood Control Zone District Board of
25 Supervisors.
26
27 The motion carried by the following vote:
28 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
29 Nays: None (0)
30
31
32 COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
33
34 1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO APPROVE THE
35 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND
36 WASHINGTON STATE NURSES ASSOCIATION FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1,
37 2017, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2018 (AB2017 -106)
38
39 Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
40
41 The motion carried by the following vote:
42 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
43 Nays: None (0)
44
45 2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
46 INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND NORTH
47 SOUND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR
48 OPIOID AND INTRAVENOUS OUTREACH SERVICES IN WHATCOM COUNTY
49 (AB2017 -100)
50
51 Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
52
53
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/21/2017, Page 3
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The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:20 p.m.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
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.COUNTY, WASHINGTON
I / R d Browne, Cittee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 3/21/2017, Page 4