HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole November 15 20181 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Special Committee of the Whole
3
4 November 15, 2018
5
6 CALL TO ORDER
7
8 Council Chair Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 12:37 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, Todd
14 Donovan, and Satpal Sidhu.
15 Absent: Tyler Byrd.
16
17 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
18
19 1. BUDGET WORK SESSION — CONTINUED DISCUSSION AND
20 FORMULATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE PROPOSED 2019-
21 2020 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET (AB2018-305)
22
23 The following staff answered questions throughout the meeting:
24 • Jack Louws, Executive
25 • Tyler Schroeder, Deputy Executive
26 • Jeff Parks, Sheriff's Office
27
28 Louws submitted a handout of the Council's 2019/2020 budget requests so far (on
29 file). He reported on the specific funds other than the General fund from which some of the
30 requests can be funded, potential cuts in other areas from the general fund, and the
31 potential for raising property tax.
32
33 Schroeder continued the report on potential cuts in other areas from the general
34 fund.
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36 Staff and councilmembers discussed the proposed changes from the Executive,
37 salaries for councilmembers and the Executive, transparently tracking the costs of jail
38 repairs, additional full-time equivalent (Fi"E) deputies in the Sheriff's Office, maintaining
39 capital funds through a .5 or 1 percent tax increase, and the possibility of creating a ten-
40 year capital projects plan that is updated every year or two.
41
42 Brenner moved to incorporate the Parks Department into the Public Works
43 Department, eliminate Parks Department upper management, and retain front line staff.
44
45 The motion was seconded.
46
47 Councilmembers and staff discussed the timing of and process for eliminating an
48 entire department and creating a Parks division within the Public Works Department.
49
50 The motion failed by the following vote:
51 Ayes: Brenner (1)
52 Nays: Ballew, Browne, Buchanan, Donovan, and Sidhu (5)
53 Absent: Byrd (1)
Special Committee of the Whole (Budget), 11/15/2018, Page 1
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Brenner moved to not create another solid waste fund staff person in the Health
Department, do not purchase a solid waste companion vehicle for staff since it won't be
necessary, and do create a yearly solid waste exemption fine on people who are not
following the exemption process.
The motion was seconded.
Councilmembers and staff discussed a solid waste exemption process and
enforcement and fines for noncompliance.
The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner (1)
Nays: Ballew, Browne, Buchanan, Donovan, and Sidhu (5)
Absent: Byrd (1)
Brenner moved to not reinstate the Assessor Drafter/GIS Technician position unless
and until the county is confident the budget can afford it. The motion was not seconded.
Staff and councilmembers discussed the cost of the new Vactor truck and equipment
storage building; the addition of the community wildfire risk reduction line item; and the
Treasurer's Request for software maintenance costs and postage.
Brenner moved to approve software maintenance contracts increases for the
Treasurer in the amount of $9,140 in 2020 and $12,300 in 2020.
The motion was seconded.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Ballew, Brenner, Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (6)
Nays: None(0)
Absent: Byrd (1)
Councilmembers and staff discussed tracking solid waste exemptions, the impact of
wage increases and the Sheriff's deputy position, and measuring improvements.
Buchanan moved to recommend the changes as discussed as submitted with the one
approved amendment from today's meeting. Browne seconded the motion, and then
withdrew his second to the motion.
Browne moved to approve the additional Sheriff's deputy in 2020 only in the
amount of $193,100.
The motion was seconded.
Councilmembers and staff discussed the Sheriff's Office ability to add a deputy to the
east County area to improve Sheriff's coverage.
Browne withdrew his motion until they get more information from the Sheriff's
Office.
Browne moved to recommend the changes as discussed as submitted with the one
approved amendment from today's meeting.
Special Committee of the Whole (Budget), 11/15/2018, Page 2
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The motion was seconded.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Ballew, Brenner, Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (6)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Byrd (1)
Donovan moved to approve a .5 percent increase in the property tax.
The motion was seconded.
Councilmembers discussed whether they should fund operations with a tax increase.
The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Donovan and Buchanan (2)
Nays: Ballew, Browne, Brenner and Sidhu (4)
Absent: Byrd (1)
Browne moved to request the administration to create a supplemental to the
proposed budget to be distributed before next week's public hearing as a substitute
ordinance.
The motion was seconded.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Ballew, Brenner, Browne, Donovan, Buchanan and Sidhu (6)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Byrd (1)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:25 p.m.
Cot%ncil �ppioyed these minutes on December 4, 2018.
ATTEST���WHATC C NTY COUNCIL
WHATC i NTY, WASHINGTON
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Dana�,f3,rown`=Davis, Co.ung7l' Clerk Rud drowne, Council Chair
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
Special Committee of the Whole (Budget), 11/15/2018, Page 3