HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 21 20171 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Finance and Administrative Services Committee
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4 November 21, 2017
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6 CALL TO ORDER
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8 Committee Chair Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 11:03 a.m. in the
9 Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
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12 ROLL CALL
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14 Present: Rud Browne, Ken Mann, and Satpal Sidhu
15 Absent: None
16 Also Present: Todd Donovan, Carl Weimer, Barry Buchanan and Barbara
17 Brenner
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20 COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT
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22 There was no report.
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25 SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
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27 1. QUARTERLY REPORT FROM WHATCOM COUNTY FINANCE MANAGER
28 BENNETT (AB2017 -068)
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30 Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department, submitted a handout (on file),
31 gave a staff report, and stated the report is consistent with the recent budget presentation.
32 Auto sales and construction activity are increased. Nothing else is changed from
33 projections. He answered questions on whether the increased activity will continue and on
34 projections for 2018.
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36 2. SEMI - ANNUAL REPORT FROM WHATCOM COUNTY FACILITIES (AB2017 -068)
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38 Rob Ney, Administrative Services Department, gave a staff report and described five
39 bigger projects they are working on and three supplemental budget requests. The five
40 projects are the courthouse envelope repairs, HVAC upgrades, Chambers audio -video
41 system upgrade, courthouse fire alarm replacement, and the jail facility repairs.
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43 The following staff answered questions:
44 • Mike Russell, Administrative Services Department
45 • Jack Louws, County Executive
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47 Staff answered questions on past problems with the original courthouse remodel,
48 whether the facility repair charrette is open to the public, repairing the smoke ventilation
49 system in the jail sooner rather than later, the process for fixing the public safety building,
50 the Council deciding how to fund all the necessary repairs, creating a new Council
51 committee for criminal justice and public safety, whether there is an option for using the old
52 Skagit County jail to house Whatcom County inmates during construction, and repairing the
53 jail work center.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/21/2017, Page 1
Buchanan stated he will put forward a Code amendment for Introduction tonight to
item 9 under Introduction Items to create a fifth Council committee for public safety and
criminal justice.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2012 -050 (ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
BIRCH BAY DRIVE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITY PROJECT FUND AND
ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BASED BUDGET FOR CRP NO. 907001) FOR THE
FOURTH TIME TO INCREASE THE PROJECT BASED BUDGET FOR THE BIRCH
BAY DRIVE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITY PROJECT BY $7,850,000, FOR A
TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET AMOUNT OF $11,450,000 (AB2017 -320)
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)
2. RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 2017 FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT AND
SUBZONES BUDGETS, FOURTH REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $83,765
(COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE
DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2017 -324)
Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors.
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, gave a staff report and answered questions
on funding for stream gaging.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
3. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2017 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET,
THIRTEENTH REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,330,977 (AB2017 -325)
Sidhu moved to recommend adoption of the substitute version to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
4. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2018 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, FIRST
REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,456,067 (AB2017 -326)
Mann moved to recommend adoption to the full Council. He moved to add
$100,000 designated to administration and costs associated with the Incarceration
Prevention and Reduction Task Force, funded half from the general fund and half from the
behavioral health tax fund.
Councilmembers discussed setting goals for the Task Force for 2018.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/21/2017, Page 2
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The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
The following staff answered questions:
• Jack Louws, County Executive
• Tyler Schroeder, Administrative Services Department
• Diana Bradrick, County Auditor's Office
• Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department
• Mike Russell, Administrative Services Department
Councilmembers and staff continued to discuss unlimited capital expenditures vs.
contracts for goods and services; the new ballot processing system; a hydrologist full -time
equivalent (FTE) position; the transfer of the general fund money due to the emergency
management system (EMS) levy funds; organizing the budget materials; not funding body
cameras for Sheriff deputies; reviewing the cost of collecting fees versus the fees collected;
using electronic versus human transcription services; replacing spinning media with solid
state equipment when possible; and using open architecture technology instead of
proprietary technology when upgrading facility control systems.
Councilmembers and staff discussed whether Councilmember Browne is allowed to
vote for the Horton Road project since he owns property at the other end of Horton Road.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
5. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT
AND WATERSHED SCIENCE & ENGINEERING TO PROVIDE FULL EQUATIONS
(FEQ) HYDRAULIC MODELING SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE TO RIVER AND
FLOOD STAFF IN REVISING AND RUNNING THE HYDRAULIC MODEL
DEVELOPED FOR THE LOWER NOOKSACK RIVER TO EVALUATE INTEGRATED
FLOOD HAZARD MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES, IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,000
(COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE
DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2017 -337)
Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors.
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 BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT
AND LANDC, ETC., LLC TO PROVIDE FULL EQUATIONS (FEQ) HYDRAULIC
MODELING SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE TO RIVER AND FLOOD STAFF IN
REVISING AND RUNNING THE HYDRAULIC MODEL DEVELOPED FOR THE
LOWER NOOKSACK RIVER TO EVALUATED INTEGRATED FLOOD HAZARD
MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES, IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,000 (COUNCIL
ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2017 -338)
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/21/2017, Page 3
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Mann moved to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
7. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
JOINT FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD
CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, TO PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION AND
PUBLICATION OF SURFACE WATER DATA AT EIGHT USGS STREAM GAGES IN
THE NOOKSACK RIVER BASIN FOR THE 2018 WATER YEAR (OCTOBER 1,
2017 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2018), IN THE AMOUNT OF $83,765
(COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE
DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2017 -339)
Mann moved to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Mann, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEMS
1. RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2018 RECOMMENDED CONVENTION CENTER
ALLOCATIONS FOR TOURISM - RELATED FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES AS
DEFINED THROUGH RCW 67.28.18.16 (AB2017 -340)
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)
2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR
CORPORATION FOR ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$60,576.20 (AB2017 -341)
Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Mike Russell, Administrative Services Department, answered questions on whether
the authorization is annual.
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 A
CONTACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND SHEARER
DESIGN, LLC TO PROVIDE FOR ON -CALL STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
SUPPORT TO THE WHATCOM COUNTY BRIDGE PROGRAM DURING 2018, IN
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/21/2017, Page 4
THE AMOUNT OF $45,000 FOR A TOTAL AMENDED CONTRACT AMOUNT OF
$85,000 (AB2017 -342)
Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
James Lee, Public Works Department, answered questions on whether the services
are billed.
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 A
CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND SARGENT
ENGINEERS, INC. TO PROVIDE FOR ON -CALL STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
SUPPORT TO THE WHATCOM COUNTY BRIDGE PROGRAM DURING 2018, IN
THE AMOUNT OF $45,000 FOR A TOTAL AMENDED CONTRACT AMOUNT OF
$85,000 (AB2017 -343)
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)
S. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND PIONEER HUMAN
SERVICES FOR THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRIAGE CENTER AT 2030
DIVISION STREET, IN THE AMOUNT OF $838 PER MONTH, FOR A TWO YEAR
TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $20,112 (AB2017 -344)
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)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING (SECOND
AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 2016 -049, 2017 WHATCOM COUNTY UNIFIED
FEE SCHEDULE (ORDINANCE SCHEDULED FOR INTRODUCTION THIS
EVENING) (AB2017 -346)
Matt Aamot, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report
and stated the question is how much a developer should pay for each dwelling unit through
a density bonus program. Two different advisory committees recommend a price of $4,000.
The City of Bellingham charges $5,000 per unit.
Ralph Black, Transfer of Development Rights(TDR) /Purchase of Development Rights
(PDR) Advisory Committee Chair, continued the staff report and answered questions on
whether the $4,000 fee is appropriate.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/21/2017, Page 5
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Councilmembers and staff continued to discuss detached accessory dwelling units,
binding site agreement language, cluster developments for noncontiguous parcels, and
exchanging low quality wetland buffers for high quality wetland buffers elsewhere.
Mann moved to recommend Introduction 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 aL 12:33 p.m.
ATTEST=:•'
Dana Br''own- Davit, Council Clerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHAT OM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHA KW- NTY, WASHINGTON
Rub Browne, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/21/2017, Page 6