HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2017-034WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2017 ---185
CLEARANCES
Initial
Date
Date Received in Council Office
Agenda Date
Assigned to:
Originator.•
Browne
5/30/2017
5/30/2017
Council
Division Head:
6/13/2017
Public Hearing
Dept. Head:
JJ �/
L 1
Prosecutors
/7
Purchasin /Budgel:
Executive:
TITLE OF DOCUMENT:
Res set hearing for public comment on sizing of proposed new WC Jail
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
Should Clerk schedule a hearing ? ( X ) Yes ( ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
Requested Date: 6/13/2017
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public
hearing, you must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate.
Be clear in explaining the intent of the action.)
Resolution setting a heaing date to gather public comment on the sizing of a proposed new Whatcom County Jail.
I
I
COMMITTEE ACTION.
COUNCIL ACTION.
5/30/2017: Amended and approved 5 -1, Weimer opposed
and Donovan out of the room, Res. 2017 -034
Related County Contract #:
Related File Numbers:
Ordinance or Resolution
Number:
Res. 2017 -034
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing
on the County's website at: www.co.whatcom.wa.us /council.
PROPOSED BY: BROWNE
INTRODUCTION DATE: MAY 30, 2017
RESOLUTION 2017- 034
SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO GATHER COMMENTS ON THE SIZING OF A
PROPOSED NEW WHATCOM COUNTY JAIL
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council wishes to hear from the public on sizing
of a proposed new Whatcom County jail; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County's administration, City of Bellingham's administration,
and Lynden Mayor Scott Korthuis, representing members of the Small Cities Caucus, have
estimated necessary bed capacity for a new jail to be somewhere between 463 -489 beds,
inclusive of behavioral health and medical facilities; and
WHEREAS, this proposed capacity is less than the 521 beds proposed in 2015 and
more than the current capacity of 362; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County's present jail capacity includes 212 beds in the main
jail and 150 at the work center; and
WHEREAS, the main jail is currently operating at capacity and booking restrictions
or limitations on jail use by the cities are in place; and
WHEREAS, determining a size for a new jail has four basic components:
• Base capacity — how many beds are needed for inmates at any given time.
• Behavioral health and medical capacity — the current proposal includes 22 beds
for behavioral health and 14 for medical capacity.
• Accepted best practices required for operation at 85% capacity, provision of
adequate empty beds to allow for the needed separation of inmate classifications,
handling of temporary surges in occupancy, and provision of temporary housing
for large arrest events.
• Decision of whether Division Street will remain as a low- security facility.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council will
hold a hearing on June 13, 2017, to gather comments from the public on the sizing
of `a p��qtla�eW.�Whatcom County jail.
h day of May, 2017.
0
Q • 4 CC�TY.. = WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
TCO N , WASHINGTON
Dina $r'vr�rt�..' Ba y uchanan,
Cl &k of the ., p1hci'I �. *' Co it Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Chief Civil Deputy Prosecutor