HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole November 6 20181
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee of the Whole
November 6, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan, and
Satpal Sidhu.
Absent: Tyler Byrd and Tim Ballew.
1. 2017 -2018 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET COUNCIL REVIEW AND
RECOMMENDATIONS (AB2018 -305)
The following staff answered questions throughout the meeting:
• Tyler Schroeder, Deputy Executive
• Jack Louws, Executive
• Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department
• Marianne Caldwell, Administrative Services Department
County Council
Dana Brown Davis -Clerk of the Council reported on the Office budget and additional
service requests (ASRs).
Donovan submitted an ASR for the Climate Impact Advisory Committee to update
the Climate Action Plan update.
Councilmembers and staff discussed the ASR for the Climate Action Plan update; an
ASR from the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) for offender
treatment; an ASR from the Sean Humphrey House; and additional funding requests from
Superior Court for pretrial services; and the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) /Transfer
of Development Rights (TDR) Advisory Committee for staffing.
District Court /Probation
Bruce Van Glubt, District Court Administrator, referenced his budget memo and
reported on ASRs for District Court and District Court Probation. He answered questions.
Staff and councilmembers discussed the purchase of office equipment, data and
software, fines and fees for the indigent, electronic monitoring equipment, and behavioral
health court services.
Special Committee of the Whole - Budget, 11/6/2018, Page 1
1 Establish General Fund Ending Fund Balance Goal
2
3 Councilmembers and staff discussed options for preserving the current ending fund
4 balance goal of 15 percent of expenses, which is approximately $14 million; the County's
5 long -term funding strategy and vision; using banked capacity to fund capital projects and
6 for bonding purposes, if necessary; and the agenda for discussion for the rest of the day.
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8 Donovan moved to put agenda item one below agenda item two.
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10 The motion was seconded.
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12 The motion carried by the following vote:
13 Ayes: Brenner, Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (5)
14 Nays: None (0)
15 Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
16
17 Budget Work Session
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19 Councilmembers and staff discussed the fund balance and the Executive's Office
20 budget.
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22 Donovan moved to discuss the non - departmental budget.
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24 The motion was seconded.
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26 The motion carried by the following vote:
27 Ayes: Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (4)
28 Nays: None (0)
29 Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
30 Abstains: Brenner (1)
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32 Brenner moved to approve the Sean Humphrey House request in the amount of
33 $49,000 for 2019 and $15,600 for 2020 and DVSAS request for offender treatment for
34 $41,000 per year.
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36 The motion was seconded.
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38 Councilmembers discussed the funding requests.
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40 The motion carried by the following vote:
41 Ayes: Brenner, Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (5)
42 Nays: None (0)
43 Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
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45 Donovan moved to discuss the budget for the Facilities Division of the Administrative
46 Services Department. The motion was not seconded.
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48 Staff and councilmembers discussed the morgue relocation project and renovation of
49 the Northwest Annex and other historic buildings; the approved and unapproved ASRs
50 submitted by the departments; whether to make specific cuts to staff or programs or to cut
51 a percentage and let the department decide where to cut; and the benefit of a Climate
52 Action Plan.
53
Special Committee of the Whole - Budget, 11/6/2018, Page 2
1 Donovan moved to eliminate the Facilities Maintenance technician apprentice ASR.
2 The motion was not seconded.
3
4 Browne moved to work on the additions to the budget first.
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6 The motion was seconded.
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8 The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
9 Ayes: Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (4)
10 Nays: Brenner (1)
11 Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
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13 Sidhu moved the Climate Action Plan in the amount of $75,000 for 2019 only.
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15 The motion was seconded.
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17 Brenner moved to hold the motion until after the presentation. The motion was not
18 seconded.
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20 Sidhu withdrew his motion.
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22 Councilmembers and staff discussed the PDR /TDR committee request for funding and
23 Agricultural Advisory Committee staffing levels.
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25 Brenner moved to approve the PDR Committee request with the stipulation that the
26 money comes from the Conservation Futures Fund in the amount of $86,000 per year for
27 each year.
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29 The motion was seconded.
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31 Sidhu moved to amend to fund in half the amount requested each year for the PDR
32 Committee, in the amount of $43,000.
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34 The motion to amend was seconded.
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36 The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
37 Ayes: Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (4)
38 Nays: Brenner (1)
39 Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
40
41 The motion to approve the funding request as amended carried by the following
42 vote:
43 Ayes: Brenner, Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (5)
44 Nays: None (0)
45 Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
46
47 Sidhu moved to fund the Superior Court pretrial services request in the amount of
48 $150,000 for 2019 and $300,000 for 2020.
49
50 The motion was seconded.
51
52 Councilmembers and staff discussed how soon the program staff would be hired and
53 how soon the program would be operational.
Special Committee of the Whole - Budget, 11/6/2018, Page 3
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (5)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
Brenner moved to fund the mid - county senior services program request in the
amount of $20,000 in the year 2020 only.
The motion was seconded.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (5)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
(Clerk's Note: The Committee took a break from 12:00 to 1:04 p.m.)
Deborra Garrett, Superior Court Judge, reported on a previous budget allocation in
2018 for risk assessment validation in the amount of $50,000 and requested that the funds
be diverted to pretrial risk assessment and services startup costs in 2019. She answered
questions on the Superior Court pretrial services unit.
Councilmembers and staff discussed a one -time budget correction to raise the ending
fund balance in the amount of $50,000.
Sidhu moved to increase the 2019 funding for Superior Court for pretrial services
from $150,000 to $175,000.
The motion was seconded.
Brenner moved to amend the motion to increase to $200,000 for 2019.
The motion to amend was seconded.
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Browne, Donovan, and Buchanan (4)
Nays: Sidhu (1)
Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
The motion as amended carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (5)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
Brenner moved to add funding for the Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program
in the amount of $50,000 for 2019 only.
The motion was seconded.
Councilmembers and staff discussed other potential funding sources and increasing
risks of wildfire.
Special Committee of the Whole - Budget, 11/6/2018, Page 4
1 The motion carried by the following vote:
2 Ayes: Brenner, Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (5)
3 Nays: None (0)
4 Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
5
6 Councilmembers and staff discussed expanding the homeless identification program
7 to all people, not just youth, and video - recording the Council's committee meetings.
8
9 Sidhu moved to add funding for outdoor storage lockers. In the amount of $20,000
10 for 2019.
11
12 The motion was seconded.
13
14 The motion carried by the following vote:
15 Ayes: Brenner, Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (5)
16 Nays: None (0)
17 Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
18
19 Staff and councilmembers discussed funding to provide identification to homeless
20 people.
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22 Browne moved to increase funding for identification to the homeless in the
23 additional amount of $14,000, for a total of $50,000 each year, from the Behavioral Health
24 fund.
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26 The motion was seconded.
27
28 The motion carried by the following vote:
29 Ayes: Brenner, Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (5)
30 Nays: None (0)
31 Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
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33 Councilmembers and staff discussed the Sheriff's priorities for additional deputies
34 and other ASRs.
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36 Brenner moved to approve funding one resident deputy in the amount of $125,000
37 for 2019 and $68,000 in 2020, hopefully with a focus in the east county.
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39 The motion was seconded.
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41 Councilmembers discussed the location of the current neighborhood deputies.
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43 The motion carried by the following vote:
44 Ayes: Brenner, Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (5)
45 Nays: None (0)
46 Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
47
48 Sidhu moved to approve software maintenance contracts increases for the
49 Treasurer in the amount of $9,140 in 2020.
50
51 The motion was seconded.
52
53 Staff and councilmembers discussed funding the ASR from bank fees instead.
Special Committee of the Whole - Budget, 11/6/2018, Page 5
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Sidhu withdrew the motion.
Steve Oliver, County Treasurer, answered questions.
Brenner moved to approve funding software maintenance contracts increases and
postage for the Treasurer.
The motion was seconded.
The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Donovan, and Buchanan (3)
Nays: Sidhu and Browne (2)
Absent: Ballew and Byrd (2)
Councilmembers and staff discussed the request for a social worker in the jail being
funded from the behavioral health fund and grants; jail transport to Yakima and tracking
expenses specifically related to the jail; possible alternative funding sources for the budget
additions; and the Executive's recommendations.
Browne moved to schedule another meeting to discuss further changes and adjourn.
The motion was not seconded.
Councilmembers and staff continued to discuss budget policies and reserve amounts
and the County's debt policy as required by State statutes.
The Committee concurred to schedule a meeting at 3:30 p.m. on November 7, 2018
if possible.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:05 p.m.
The Council approved these minutes on
ATTEST` v" v V
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Dana own` Day..is, . o,uncil.Clerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
November 20, 2018.
WHATC COU COUNCIL
WHAT O COU TY, WASHINGTON
Rud B owne, Council Chair
Special Committee of the Whole - Budget, 11/6/2018, Page 6