HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole PM July 11 2017WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee of the Whole
July 11, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.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.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION — COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1, PRESENTATION FROM VERA INSTITUTE ON PRELIMINARY DATA ANALYSIS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS (AB2017 -203)
The following VERA Institute for Justice consultants presented and read from a
presentation (on file):
• Liz Swavola, Senior Program Associate
• Kristi Riley, Program Associate
• Stephen Roberts, Senior Research Associate
The consultants answered questions:
• How the Council, compared to the courts and prosecutor, can influence
changes to the population
• The number of admissions by race
• How many holds in other jurisdictions are residents of Whatcom County
• Excluding information on holds from other jurisdiction, because those policies
are decided by other jurisdictions
• Risk assessment criteria
• Reviewing data on people who are waiting to serve their sentence, but can't
due to overcrowding
• Lack of pretrial services
• Enhanced jail facilities, such as programming areas and mental health beds
• The impact of the consultant reports on the ballot measure to increase sales
tax to fund a new jail
• Whether or not they are proposing a "mega- jail"
• Pre -trial versus post- sentencing data
• Collecting better data
• The future of incarceration technology
Jeff Parks, Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, referenced an email to Council dated
today and stated the Sheriff's staff is working with the consultants on certain topics to refine
the information presented by the consultants in their memo.
Special Committee of the Whole (PM), 7/11/2017, Page 1
1 2. PRESENTATION OF INITIAL PHASE III REPORT OF THE INCARCERATION
2 PREVENTION AND REDUCTION TASK FORCE (AB2017 -202)
3
4 Jack Hovenier, Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force Co- Chair, spoke
5 about the mission of the Task Force and how well it's functioned in the two years since it
6 was formed. He reported on the Triage Facility Subcommittee of the full Task Force.
7
8 Jill Bernstein, Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force Co- Chair, continued
9 the presentation. She spoke about the benefits of having the VERA consultants to do data
10 analysis and map the system, collecting better data, and how the County Council can impact
11 jail population through policy changes. She reported on the work of the Legal and Justice
12 Systems and the Behavioral Health Subcommittees. She answered questions about
13 alternatives to bail.
14
15 Anne Deacon, Health Department, answered questions about funding for operation of
16 the triage facility.
17
18 Councilmembers thanked the Task Force members for their excellent work.
19
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21 DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL — COUNCIL CHAMBERS
22
23 1. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION ON A DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF
24 AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM
25 REGARDING COMMITMENT TO INCARCERATION REDUCTION AND
26 PREVENTION(AB2017 -194A)
27
28 Tyler Schroeder, County Executive's Office, referenced and gave a staff report on a
29 substitute memorandum of agreement (MOA). The Bellingham City Council approved the
30 MOA unanimously.
31
32 Browne moved to recommend approval of the substitute to the full Council. The
33 motion was seconded.
34
35 The motion carried by the following vote:
36 Ayes: Brenner, Mann, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (7)
37 Nays: None (0)
38
39
40 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION -- COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM
41
42 1. UPDATE FROM LEGAL COUNSEL ON PENDING AND POTENTIAL ]AIL -
43 RELATED LITIGATION (AB2017 -018)
44
45 Buchanan stated that discussion of this agenda item may take place in executive
46 session pursuant to RCW42.30.110 (1)(i). Executive session will conclude no later than
47 7:00 p.m. If the meeting extends beyond the stated conclusion time, he will step out of the
48 meeting to make a public announcement.
49
50 Browne moved to go into executive session until no later than 7:00 p.m. to discuss
51 the agenda items pursuant to RCW citations as announced by the Council Chair. The
52 motion was seconded.
53
Special Committee of the Whole (PM), 7/11/2017, Page 2
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The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Sidhu, Brenner, Browne, Buchanan, Mann, Donovan and Weimer (7)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.
t r it r,9�ved these minutes on September 26, 2017.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
Special Committee of the Whole (PM), 7/11/2017, Page 3