HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance May 16 20171
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
May 16, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 10:30 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, Carl Weimer, Barry Buchanan and Barbara
Brenner
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
2. QUARTERLY REPORT FROM WHATCOM COUNTY FINANCE MANAGER BRAD
BENNETT (AB2017 -068)
Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department, submitted the 2017 First Quarter
Financial Report (on file). He reported on projected revenue and ending fund balance; tax
revenues; and expenditures.
He answered questions and councilmembers discussed:
• The impact of resolution of a settlement of a tax dispute with BP Refinery in
2016.
• A tax shift due to the Hirst decision.
• Sales tax collected from online sales versus brick - and - mortar businesses.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT
Jack Louws, County Executive, reported that the County Public Works Department
received a Certificate of Good Practice.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2014 -075 (ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
COURTHOUSE BUILDING ENVELOPE FUND AND A PROJECT BASED BUDGET
FOR THE COURTHOUSE BUILDING ENVELOPE PROJECT) FOR A SECOND
TIME, TO INCLUDE FUNDING PROVIDED THROUGH THE EDI FUND IN THE
AMOUNT OF $752,621, FOR A TOTAL AMENDED PROJECT BUDGET OF
$2,677,809 (AB2017 -153)
Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/16/2017, Page 1
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Jack Louws, County Executive, answered questions and councilmembers discussed
the status of Economic Development Investment (EDI) funding, developing an EDI policy,
whether or not to use EDI funds for this purpose; other similar projects funded by the EDI
fund; 70 percent of the fund that goes to competitive bids versus 30 percent of the fund
that goes to capital projects; problems with contractors and professional oversight of the
projects; Council direction in March on using EDI funds for this project; and doing better to
keep up on capital maintenance.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne and Sidhu (2)
Nays: Mann (1)
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
1. ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE WHATCOM - BELLINGHAM COMMISSION
AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (AB2017 -158)
Susan Marks, Commission Against Domestic Violence, referenced and read from the
presentation in the Council packet. She described the toolkit for faith communities they've
developed, coordinating courts and jurisdictions for offenders with multiple charges, and an
upcoming strategic planning meeting.
She answered questions and councilmembers discussed the high risk program grant
source, plans in case the grant isn't renewed, response of the faith communities to domestic
violence information, funding and services to the smaller municipalities in the county,
identifying victims through other community agencies and services, their authority for
monitoring offenders, and domestic violence treatment to stop the cycle of domestic abuse.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
3. UPDATE ON NEW JAIL PLANNING FROM WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE
JACK LOUWS (AB2017 -107)
Jack Louws, County Executive, referenced the additional information submitted
earlier regarding the draft interlocal jail facility financing and use agreement (JFUA) (on
file). He reported on the work of the Jail Stakeholder Work Group, which recommends the
draft agreement, subject to the Council's agreement on the size of the facility. He described
the JFUA comparison chart. Going forward, put the final draft agreement on the Council
agenda for May 30. Once approved, it would go to the Cities for their approval, and then a
resolution would come forward to put authorization on the November general election ballot.
Per the new draft agreement, booking surcharges would go solely to the County.
He answered questions and councilmembers discussed how the Council should make
a decision on jail size; the reduced number of planned beds compared to the proposal in
2015; committing to the citizens that the increased sales tax will be used exclusively for a
jail; whether they should use the full two percent sales tax increase for the jail; the
County's ability to borrow against other funds; possible jail location; incorporating jail
alternatives; whether the Lummi Nation will use the new jail; and calculating and justifying
the appropriate size for the new jail.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/16/2017, Page 2
1 Bill Elfo, County Sheriff, described using the jail for short -term stays, the cost of
2 staffing two facilities if they keep the minimum security facility, and implanting jail
3 alternatives.
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5 Councilmembers and staff continued to discuss factors that influence the size of the
6 jail that is built; the size of jail for which the voters will approve funding; holding federal
7 offenders; and whether the County will keep the Division Street facility for a new Triage
8 Center.
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11 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
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13 2. RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 2017 FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT AND
14 SUBZONE BUDGETS, SECOND REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $17,850
15 (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE
16 DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2017 -154)
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18 Mann moved to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors.
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20 The motion carried by the following vote:
21 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
22 Nays: None (0)
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24 3. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2017 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, FIFTH
25 REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $251,050 (AB2017 -155)
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27 Sidhu moved to recommend adoption to the full Council.
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29 The motion carried by the following vote:
30 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
31 Nays: None (0)
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33 4. RESOLUTION IN THE MATTER OF THE SALE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY AND
34 SETTING OF A DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING THEREON PURSUANT TO
35 WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 1.10 (AB2017 -162)
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37 Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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39 The motion carried by the following vote:
40 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
41 Nays: None (0)
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43 S. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF RENEWABLE WIND ENERGY
44 FROM PUGET SOUND ENERGY FOR A TERM OF TEN YEARS, BEGINNING IN
45 2019 (AB2017 -163)
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47 Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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49 Lynn Murphy, Puget Sound Energy, thanked the councilmembers for their support of
50 the program.
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Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/16/2017, Page 3
1 The motion carried by the following vote:
2 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
3 Nays: None (0)
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6 COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
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8 1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
9 INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE PORT OF
10 BELLINGHAM FOR THE PROVISION OF REAL ESTATE SERVICES RELATED TO
11 THE COUNTY OWNED BUILDING LOCATED AT 3720 WILLIAMSON WAY
12 (AB2017 -164)
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14 Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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16 The motion carried by the following vote:
17 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
18 Nays: None (0)
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20 2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
21 CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND LAKE WHATCOM WATER AND
22 SEWER DISTRICT FOR THE WHATCOM COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DIVISION
23 OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
24 SERVICES, IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000 PER YEAR FOR THREE YEARS
25 (AB2017 -165)
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27 Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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29 The motion carried by the following vote:
30 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
31 Nays: None (0)
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33 3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
34 CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE WHATCOM DISPUTE
35 RESOLUTION CENTER TO PROVIDE FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF FAMILY
36 LAW MEDIATORS, THE CONDUCT OF MANDATORY PARENTING SEMINARS
37 (INCLUDING LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION AS NEEDED) AND THE
38 SCHEDULING OF AND CONDUCT OF MEDIATION SESSIONS, IN THE AMOUNT
39 OF $50,000 PER YEAR FOR TWO YEARS (AB2017 -166)
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41 Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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43 The motion carried by the following vote:
44 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
45 Nays: None (0)
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48 OTHER BUSINESS
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50 There was no other business.
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Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/16/2017, Page 4
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:42 p.m.
ATTEST;
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WHA OM C NTY COUNCIL
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RuJI Browne, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/16/2017, Page 5