HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance May 30 20171
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
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
May 30, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 10:35 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
COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT
There was no report.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION WITH WHATCOM COUNTY SHERIFF BILL ELFO ON EXPANSION
OF THE ELECTRONIC HOME MONITORING PROGRAM AND INCREASED
ACCESS TO OTHER JAIL ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS (AB2017 -183)
Bill Elfo, County Sheriff, introduced the jail alternative program presentation and
described the difference between electronic home monitoring and home detention. He
answered questions about who decides when a person is put on jail alternatives when
sentenced to jail, jail work crew versus electronic home detention, and liability from pretrial
supervision.
Dan Gibson, Prosecutor's Office, described liability of pretrial and post -trial
supervision under State law according to the "take charge" relationship and risk assessment
to determine eligibility for jail alternatives.
Caleb Erickson, Sheriff's Office, submitted and read from a presentation (on file) and
submitted a handout (on file). He answered questions on sentencing people to treatment
programs, whether there is benefit to contracting with a private monitoring company,
potential barriers they haven't identified, and the number of people generally in each jail
alternative program.
Councilmembers discussed and staff answered questions on making investments in
early development and prevention, in- custody programs for jail inmates in the new jail,
felonies that may be eligible for jail alternatives, jail alternatives through the City of
Bellingham municipal court, revenue from fines and fees, and a driver's license recovery
program.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/30/2017, Page 1
1 2. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CREATION OF A CAPITAL FACILITY RESERVE
2 FUND (AB2017 -170)
3
4 Jack Louws, County Executive, referenced the staff memo on Council packet page
5 four and gave a staff report.
6
7 Councilmembers discussed and Louws answered questions on whether money would
8 be available for the planned crisis triage center; not using emergency medical services
9 (EMS) levy funds for capital expenditures not related to public safety; discontinuing use of
10 general fund money for EMS services, and using it for general capital improvements;
11 whether the voters intended for the supplanted general fund money to be spent strictly on
12 EMS services; and other potential uses for funds that used to be spent on EMS.
13
14 Mann moved to end discussion and move to the next agenda item, hold in
15 committee, and for councilmembers to refine its instructions to the administration on what
16 to do with the funds.
17
18 Councilmembers continued to discuss the best use of the funds.
19
20 The motion carried by the following vote:
21 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
22 Nays: None (0)
23
24 3. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING WHATCOM COUNTY
25 CODE 2.126, CREATING THE WHATCOM COUNTY BUSINESS AND COMMERCE
26 COMMITTEE (AB2017 -182)
27
28 Sidhu moved to recommend adoption to the full Council.
29
30 Jack Louws, County Executive, answered questions.
31
32 Councilmembers discussed an alternative proposal for the ordinance from
33 Councilmember Browne, the purpose of a Business and Commerce Advisory Committee, the
34 ability of the business community to communicate with the County Council, and whether the
35 membership should include government officials.
36
37 Sidhu withdrew his motion.
38
39 Browne moved to hold in committee.
40
41 The motion carried by the following vote:
42 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
43 Nays: None (0)
44
45
46 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
47
48 1. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING THE INTERLOCAL ]AIL
49 FACILITY FINANCING AND USE AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY
50 AND THE CITIES OF BELLINGHAM, BLAINE, EVERSON, FERNDALE, LYNDEN,
51 NOOKSACK, AND SUMAS (AB2017 -107A)
52
53 The following staff answered questions:
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/30/2017, Page 2
1 • Jack Louws, County Executive, gave a staff report
2 • Bill Elfo, County Sheriff
3 • Tyler Schroeder, Administrative Services Department
4 0 Forrest Longman, County Council Office
5
6 Councilmembers discussed how many jail locations there have been in the County's
7 history, the process for all the jurisdictions to approve the agreement, appropriate jail size,
8 the recommendations of the Jail Planning Task Force and a jail planner, whether or not they
9 should close the work center, getting data analysis on jail use and needs from the VERA
10 Institute consultants, the life of the agreement, the advisory board lasting for the duration
11 of the agreement, the agreement's termination clause, whether the Cities should dedicate
12 their 40% funding to efforts to reduce recidivism, transferring the use of the interim jail to a
13 triage facility, the likelihood of selling the Division Street property, the total number of beds
14 including the interim adult facility, and whether the City will allow the County to continue
15 the interim facility on Division Street.
16
17 Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council. He moved to amend the
18 agreement and the resolution to remove references to the location on LaBounty Road, "3.
19 ...and operate a new jail located an LaBounty Read in €effida;e, Whatcom County,
20 Washington, hereinafter...."
21
22 The motion carried by the following vote:
23 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
24 Nays: None (0)
25
26 Mann moved to amend the agreement and the resolution, "The size of the new jail
27 will be 440 400 beds, with a 3 15 percent increase (453 460) or decrease (42-7 340:)
28 allowance based on design considerations, with an additional...."
29
30 Sidhu suggested a friendly amendment to change the percentage to 10 percent,
31 and adjust the increase (440) and decrease (360) accordingly.
32
33 Mann accepted the friendly amendment.
34
35 The motion carried by the following vote:
36 Ayes: Mann and Sidhu (2)
37 Nays: Browne (1)
38
39 Sidhu moved to sunset the agreement on December 31, 2049, when there should
40 be a renegotiation.
41
42 The motion carried by the following vote:
43 Ayes: Mann and Sidhu (2)
44 Nays: Browne (1)
45
46 Mann moved to amend Recital 10 of the agreement to add a sentence at the end,
47 "If retained as an adult correctional facility, the number of beds at the new jail may be
48 reduced by the number of beds available at the interim correction facility."
49
50 The motion carried by the following vote:
51 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
52 Nays: None (0)
53
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/30/2017, Page 3
1
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
The motion to recommend approval with amendments carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING 2018 AND 2019 SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR
ELECTED OFFICIALS (AB2017 -171)
Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, submitted a substitute with corrections to the
salaries for the Prosecuting Attorney and Executive, which should be $172,402.
Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
INTERAGENCY GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD
CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT AND WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WHATCOM COUNTY
POLLUTION IDENTIFICATION AND CORRECTION PROGRAM, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $715,000 (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD
CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2017 -172)
Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
4. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL
ZONE DISTRICT AND WHATCOM COUNTY PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1
TO PROVIDE PARTIAL FUNDING FOR PHASE 4 OF A GROUNDWATER FLOW
MODEL OF THE LYNDEN- EVERSON- NOOKSACK -SUMAS AREA OF WHATCOM
COUNTY (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL
ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2017 -173)
Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Jack Louws, County Executive, answered questions.
Councilmembers discussed the Public Utility District (PUD)'s control of the study and
how they're in competition with other water purveyors around the county.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
S. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT
AND ASSOCIATED EARTH SCIENCES, INC. FOR PHASE 4 OF A
GROUNDWATER MODEL OF THE LYNDEN- EVERSON - NOOKSACK -SUMAS AREA
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/30/2017, Page 4
1
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
OF WHATCOM COUNTY (NUMERICAL MODEL ANALYSIS AND
DOCUMENTATION), IN THE AMOUNT OF $336,526 (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE
WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS) (AB2017 -174)
Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
6. REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID #17 -09
FOR MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT (WITHOUT
OPERATORS) TO ALL BIDDERS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100,000
PER VENDOR (AB2017 -175)
Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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 1:43 p.m.
V •�
ATTCS •' �\I\Tc
4/ • t' r
Q
Dank Brom'- 1901iWCauncilXlerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHAITCIPM COO Nry COUNCIL
WH TC M , WASHINGTON
Ru Browne, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 5/30/2017, Page 5