HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole PM June 27 2017WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee of the Whole
June 27, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 2:35 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
1. DISCUSSION OF A LETTER RECEIVED FROM THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM
REGARDING THE PROPOSED NEW WHATCOM COUNTY JAIL (AB2017 -1858)
Scott Korthuis, Lynden Mayor, spoke on behalf of the small city mayors and stated
they support the proposed jail facility financial use agreement (JFFUA). Put the jail funding
request to the voters.
Mike Lilliquist, Bellingham City Council President, referenced the letter from the City
Council beginning on packet page 275 and stated the City Council has many concerns and
would like the focus to be on how to reduce incarceration and recidivism. He read through
and addressed the concerns described in the letter. Commit to funding jail alternatives
recommended by the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force and the VERA
Institute consultants.
Councilmembers and Lilliquist spoke about:
• The Incarceration Prevention & Reduction Task Force Phase 3 report is not
due until after the November election.
• Creating an interlocal agreement among the County and small cities to
commit to funding the IPRTF and VERA Institute recommendations and other
jail reduction efforts.
• Crediting the County for past commitments to prioritize behavioral health and
other medical issues, such as the mental health tax.
• The specificity of the JFFUA as a requirement for the bond market.
• Whether the County is doing enough work on jail diversion programs.
• Whether the best location is at the LaBounty Road location or downtown.
Browne submitted and spoke about a substitute ordinance submitting the proposition
to the County voters (on file).
Special Committee of the Whole (PM), 6/27/2017, Page 1
1 Councilmembers continued to discuss the following items:
2 . Options for funding behavioral health and jail alternative programs
3 . All the factors that impact jail population and over which the County has no
4 control
5 • The features they need in a new jail
6 . Jail operating costs
7 . The appropriate jail site
8
9 Lilliquist spoke about the substitute ordinance submitting the proposition to the
10 County voters from Councilmember Browne.
11
12 The following staff answered questions:
13 • Jack Louws, County Executive
14 . Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office
15
16 Councilmembers continued to discuss the timing for adopting the JFFUA and the
17 ordinance approving the ballot proposition, Councilmember Browne's draft response to the
18 City Council's letter, and the possibility of scheduling a special joint meeting of the
19 Bellingham City Council and County Council.
20
21 John Mutchler' Ferndale Mayor, spoke about the City of Ferndale's challenges wlth
22 the County jail and his support of the JFFUA and a proposed new jail.
23
24 Councilmembers continued to discuss prevention efforts, committing to behavioral
25 health funding in a separate agreement outside of the JFFUA, and the County's annual
26 contribution.
27
28 Joy Gilfilen spoke about options if the voters don't approve the ballot proposition and
29 taking people out of the criminal justice system. Implement alternatives and then evaluate
30 results before building a new jail.
31
32 Browne moved to introduce the substitute ordinance at the evening meeting.
33
34 The motion was seconded.
35
36 The motion carried by the following vote:
37 Ayes: Brenner, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, and Weimer (5)
38 Nays: Mann and Donovan (2)
39
40 Forrest Longman, Council Legislative Analyst, spoke about what to expect from the
41 VERA Institute consultants on July 11. They will not suggest an appropriate jail capacity.
42 They will provide initial analysis on jail use and provide some early review of basic policy
43 options that may have an impact on the jail.
44
45
46 OTHER BUSINESS
47
48 There was no other business.
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:02 p.m.
TqZ %e U?Cita p fieoy.cd these minutes on September 26, 2017.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
Special Committee of the Whole (PM), 6/27/2017, Page 3