HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole October 23 20181 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Special Committee of the Whole
3
4 October 23, 2018
5
6 CALL TO ORDER
7
8 Council Chair Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 1:33 p.m. in the Council
9 Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
10
11 ROLL CALL
12
13 Present: Tim Ballew, Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Tyler
14 Byrd, Todd Donovan, and Satpal Sidhu.
15 Absent: None.
16
17 SPECIAL PRESENTATION
18
19 1. INTRODUCTION OF THE PROPOSED 2019 -2020 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET,
20 INCLUDING AN OVERVIEW BY COUNTY EXECUTIVE JACK LOUWS AND
21 DISCUSSION OF COUNCILMEMBER QUESTIONS REGARDING THE
22 FOLLOWING BUDGET SUBMISSIONS: EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE,
23 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, AND NON - DEPARTMENTAL (BUDGET
24 DOCUMENTS CAN BE AT WWW.WHATCOMCOUNTY.US/2895/2019-2020-
25 BIENNIAL - BUDGET) (AB2018 -305)
26
27 County Executive Jack Louws submitted and read through a presentation (on file)
28 and answered questions. Items not included in the budget at this time are the upcoming
29 Superior Court pretrial services unit request, which may total $500,000 per year; $44,000
30 of the cost of the domestic violence offender treatment program; and a request from the
31 Sean Humphrey House.
32
33 Louws and councilmembers discussed the true costs of employees as a percentage of
34 the budget, the budget lapse, printed copies of the budget, how the County is using funds
35 for emergency management services (EMS), planning for current spending levels in case the
36 economy experiences another recession, and capital improvement planning.
37
38 Deputy Executive Tyler Schroeder continued the presentation describing the budget
39 documents and answered questions.
40
41 Staff and Councilmembers discussed the budget review schedule.
42
43 Administrative Services Division - Human Resources
44
45 Karen Goens, Administrative Services Department, referenced and read through the
46 update for the Human Resources Division (on file). She answered questions on what is a
47 Section 125 plan and lower benefit costs.
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49 Administrative Services Division - Finance
50
51 Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department, referenced and read through the
52 update for the Finance Division (on file). He answered question on when the Council can
53 collaborate with other jurisdictions on common services, for a lower per unit cost.
Special Committee of the Whole, 10/23/2018, Page 1
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Administrative Services Division - Information Technology
Perry Rice, Administrative Services Department, referenced and read through the
update for the Information Technology Division (on file).
Administrative Services Division - Facilities Management
Rob Ney, Administrative Services Department, referenced and read through the
update for the Facilities Management Division (on file). He answered questions about the
requested apprentice technicians full -time equivalent (FTE) employee positions and their
average salaries, and money allocated for morgue relocation.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING PRELIMINARY DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND
ZONING AMENDMENTS - CHERRY POINT (AB2018 -076D)
Donovan moved to hold in committee until a later unspecified date when they
receive the requested information from the industry.
The motion was seconded.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Ballew, Brenner, Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, and Donovan (6)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Sidhu (out of the room) (1)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
November 7, 2018.
WHATC C U COUNCIL
WHAT OM C U TY WASHINGTON
Rud growne, Council Chair
Special Committee of the Whole, 10/23/2018, Page 2