HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance September 12 20171
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
September 12, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 10:48 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, Barry Buchanan and Barbara Brenner
COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT
Jack Louws, County Executive, reported on the following items:
• The State's audit review of the County organization
• The 2018 biennial budget review
• Appointment of Rob Nye as the new Facilities Division Manager
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
I. PRESENTATION BY DESIGN2LAST OF FINDINGS INCLUDED IN THE
BUILDING ASSESSMENT STUDIES AND COST ESTIMATES PHASE 1 -B REPORT
FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE JAIL (AB2017 -047A)
Mike Russell, Administrative Services Department, introduced the consultants and
answered questions.
Lauri Strauss, Design2Last consultant, submitted and gave a presentation (on file).
Jack Louws, County Executive, answered questions.
The presenters and staff answered questions about cost and feature options of a
generator, whether fixing pipe leakage would also fix potential mold issues, when the code
changed for requirements of the smoke evacuation system, how much jail capacity would be
lost if they had to give up two cells per unit to make room for new systems, potential for
increased costs due to unexpected problems once they begin work, the option of contracting
with Skagit County for jail services, adding staff to the minimum security facility to make it
more useful, replacing the existing jail to gain more medical and programming space, and;
using LED lighting instead of conventional bulb lighting, or other load- reducing measures, to
put less load on the generator.
2. WHATCOM COUNTY FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO PRESENT QUARTERLY
REPORT (AB2017 -068)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 9/12/2017, Page 1
I Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department, submitted a handout of the
2 quarterly report (on file) and gave a presentation. At the end of June for the general fund,
3 they collected 49.39 percent of revenues and expended 44.5 percent of expenditures. He
4 projects an ending fund balance of $17.7 million, which is $2.2 million more than planned.
5 There is an increase in sales tax related to construction and other retail sales. Non -store
6 sales tax has increased 20 percent since 2012, but it's a small portion of the total revenue.
7 They are collecting more in property taxes, related to the BP Cherry Point valuation in
8 controversy. Building revenues are up ten percent. Interest earnings are slowly climbing.
9 They are on target with the general fund budget.
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11 Other funds are doing well and on target. The jail fund is at 51 percent of revenue,
12 due to municipalities not using the jail. Project budgets are up -to -date and accessible on
13 the website.
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15 Jack Louws, County Executive, reported on upcoming expenses in 2018, jail - related
16 construction and operation challenges, and upcoming costs for stormwater programs. He
17 answered questions.
18
19 Bennett answered questions on non -store sales tax collections, and whether the
20 County tracks the impact from Canadian shoppers on retail sales.
21
22
23 3. WHATCOM COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO PRESENT
24 SEMIANNUAL REPORT (AB2017 -068)
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26 Karen Goens, Administrative Services Department, submitted a handout (on file) and
27 gave a presentation on the County's workforce, recruitment efforts, and turnover and
28 separation trends. She answered questions about opportunities for telecommuting and
29 working from home and the number of full -time equivalent (FTE) positions for temporary
30 employees.
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33 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
34
35 1. ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE TRIAGE CENTER EXPANSION FUND AND
36 ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BASED BUDGET FOR THE TRIAGE CENTER
37 EXPANSION PROJECT (AB2017 -246)
38
39 Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
40
41 The following staff answered questions about the triage center's location and
42 potential design:
43 . Tyler Schroeder, Administrative Services Department
44 . Jack Louws, County Executive
45
46 The motion carried by the following vote:
47 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
48 Nays: None (0)
49
50 2. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, TENTH REQUEST,
51 IN THE AMOUNT OF $197,253 (AB2017 -247)
52
53 Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 9/12/2017, Page 2
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2 Councilmembers discussed the need for new criteria for the Economic Development
3 Investment (EDI) fund and the escalating cost of remodeling.
4
5 The motion carried by the following vote:
6 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
7 Nays: None (0)
8
9 (Clerk's Note: Discussion continued following the next agenda item.)
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11 3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
12 CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND CRAMER FISH SCIENCES TO
13 CONDUCT A LOWER MAINSTEM NOOKSACK RIVER SALMON HABITAT
14 ASSESSMENT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $225,238 (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE
15 WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF
16 SUPERVISORS) (AB2017 -258)
17
18 Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
19
20 The following Public Works Department staff answered questions about potential
21 problems with hatcheries and working with the tribes to protect salmon from non - tribal
22 fishing nets.
23 • John Thompson
24 • Paula Harris
25
26 The motion carried by the following vote:
27 Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
28 Nays: None (0)
29
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31 2. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, TENTH REQUEST,
32 IN THE AMOUNT OF $197,253 (AB2017 -247)
33
34 (Clerk's Note: Discussion continued from earlier.)
35
36 Tyler Schroeder, County Executive's Office, answered questions on costs of the
37 Council Chambers audio - visual system.
38
39
40 COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
41
42 1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
43 CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND BELLINGHAM WHATCOM
44 COUNTY TOURISM IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED WAYFINDING PROJECT
45 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE, IN THE
46 AMOUNT OF $50,000 (AB2017 -253)
47
48 Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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, 9/12/2017, Page 3
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2.
REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
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INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND YAKIMA
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COUNTY TO PROVIDE HOUSING, CARE, AND CUSTODY TO WHATCOM
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COUNTY FOR OFFENDER HOUSING WHEN SPACE AT THE DOWNTOWN JAIL
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IS RESTRICTED DUE TO SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE RENOVATION,
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MAINTENANCE OR REPAIRS THAT NECESSITATE CLOSING HOUSING UNITS,
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SUSTAINED HIGH OFFENDER POPULATION, AND /OR EMERGENCIES THAT
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RESULT IN THE NEED FOR OFFENDER HOUSING OFF -SITE (AB2017 -254)
9
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Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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Councilmembers discussed the number of exclusions for people who Yakima County
13
won't accept.
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The motion carried by the following vote:
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Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
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Nays: None (0)
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3.
REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
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FIVE -YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND JOHN
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VON KRUSENSTIERN FOR WAREHOUSE SPACE TO STORE COUNTYWIDE
22
RECORDS, IN THE ANNUAL AMOUNT OF $24,338.04 (AB2017 -255)
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Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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26
Councilmembers discussed the square footage.
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The motion carried by the following vote:
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Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
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Nays: None (0)
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4.
REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
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CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND NORTH SOUND
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BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR HOUSING
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CASE MANAGEMENT AND SHELTER OPERATIONS SERVICES TO HOMELESS
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INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000,
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FOR A TOTAL AMENDED CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $208,854 (AB2017 -256)
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Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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The motion carried by the following vote:
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Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
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Nays: None (0)
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45
S.
REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
46
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND NORTH SOUND BEHAVIORAL
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HEALTH ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ACCESS TO TREATMENT
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AND RECOVERY FOR OPIOID AND INTRAVENOUS DRUG USE DEPENDENCY,
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IN THE AMOUNT OF $111,727 (AB2017 -257)
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Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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53
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 9/12/2017, Page 4
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
6. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND WASHINGTON
STATE COUNTY ROAD ADMINISTRATION BOARD IN ORDER TO RECEIVE
ADDITIONAL RURAL ARTERIAL PROGRAM (RAP) GRANT FUNDING FOR THE
EAST SMITH ROAD PAVEMENT REHABILITATION PROJECT, IN THE AMOUNT
OF $294,300, FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMENDED AMOUNT OF $843,730
(AB2017 -259)
Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, answered a question about the location of the
project.
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 12:07 p.m.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHA ,C M C;00 TY, WASHINGTON
Ru Browne, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 9/12/2017, Page 5