HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works September 12 20171 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee
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4 September 12, 2017
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6 CALL TO ORDER
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8 Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. in the
9 Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
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12 ROLL CALL
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14 Present: Barbara Brenner, Todd Donovan, and Ken Mann
15 Absent: None
16 Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Rud Browne, Satpal Sidhu, and Carl Weimer
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19 SPECIAL PRESENTATION
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21 1. WHATCOM COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS TO PRESENT QUARTERLY REPORT
22 (AB2017 -068)
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24 Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department Director, reported on the plan for the next
25 20 years that reflects changes in population and in service expectations as the population
26 grows in the future. For example, there is an increase in road use and demand for sharing
27 road rights -of -way. Today's systems must be functioning at an established level of service,
28 and then they must maintain that level. He described current projects to achieve those
29 goals, project -based budgeting and accounting for multi -year projects, and changes that will
30 come forward in the mid - biennial budgeting process. They have made improvements in
31 administering the Public Works projects.
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33 He answered questions on how to motivate the state to allow drainage ditch cleaning
34 and whether the County is saving money from the project -based budget process.
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37 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
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39 1. DISCUSSION REGARDING TIMING OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTEGRATION
40 WITH MEDICAL CARE FOR THE MEDICAID POPULATION IN THE
41 COUNTY /REGION AND PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION RELATED TO THE
42 PROS AND CONS OF BECOMING A MID - ADOPTER REGION (AB2017 -260)
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44 Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, and Anne Deacon, Health
45 Department, reported on the status of the upcoming change to how medical and behavioral
46 health services will be provided to Medicaid patients through managed care organizations
47 (MCOs) and the North Sound Behavioral Health Organization (BHO) region's options for
48 when it will integrate those services. Becoming a mid - adopter comes with a financial
49 incentive of $12 million for the five counties in the region. The regional BHO options are to:
50 1. Become a mid - adopter to integrate fully at the beginning of 2019, with a
51 financial incentive
52 2. Become a mid - adopter to transition throughout the year 2019, with a
53 financial incentive
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 9/12/2017, Page 1
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3. Transition by the current deadline in 2020, with no financial incentive
They answered questions on whether there is an impact on Medicare, the advantages
and disadvantages of each option, whether the BHO can become the managed care
organization, the length of the contracts between the Healthcare Authority (HCA) and MCOs,
and the stance of the other counties in the region.
The staff and Executive recommend option two to have the most influence on the
State and MCOs and to preserve the interests of the local community. The North Sound
BHO vote on which option to choose is next Thursday.
Councilmembers concurred with the administration on option two.
2. DISCUSSION OF A PROPOSED RESOLUTION APPROVING THE WHATCOM
COUNTY SIX -YEAR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE
YEARS 2018 THROUGH 2023 (RESOLUTION SCHEDULED FOR
INTRODUCTION THIS EVENING) (AB2017 -261)
Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, gave a staff report and answered questions on
work planned for Northwest Road, rural versus urban road standards, the priority rating
system, working with the City of Bellingham on the Lakeway corridor, a roundabout at
Smith and Northwest Roads, and the possibility of a signal at Axton and Northwest Roads.
Rutan described the approval process for the resolution and stated he will bring this
item forward for Introduction.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SPEED LIMIT ON A PORTION OF NORTH
SHORE ROAD (AB2017 -196A)
Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, submitted a handout (on file) and reported and
answered questions on whether lowering a speed limit changes behavior.
Brenner moved to amend to change the speed limit from 35 to 30 miles per hour.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner and Mann (2)
Nays: Donovan (1)
Councilmembers and staff discussed enforcement efforts.
2. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PREPARATION OF A REASSESSMENT ROLL FOR
PROPERTY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF WHATCOM COUNTY ROAD
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 7 (EMERALD LAKE LIGHTING DISTRICT)
(AB2017 -262)
Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, gave a staff report and answered questions
about why this comes to the County Council instead of the districts.
Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department Director, reported on the structure and
process for lighting districts.
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Brenner moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Donovan, and Mann (3)
Nays: None (0)
4. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PREPARATION OF A REASSESSMENT ROLL FOR
PROPERTY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF WHATCOM COUNTY ROAD
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 1 (BIRCH BAY LIGHTING DISTRICT) (AB2017-
263)
Brenner moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Donovan, and Mann (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:35 p.m.
ATTEST: • ,�`�" ,;
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Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 9/12/2017, Page 3