HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council February 20 20191 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Special County Council Meeting
3
4 February 20, 2019
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6 CALL TO ORDER
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8 Council Vice -Chair Todd Donovan called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in the
9 Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
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11
12 ROLL CALL
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14 Present: Barbara Brenner, Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey, and
15 Satpal Sidhu.
16 Absent: Tyler Byrd and Rud Browne.
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18
19 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION
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21 1. DISCUSSION REGARDING OPERATION OF THE EMERGENCY SHELTER IN
22 THE GARDEN LEVEL CONFERENCE ROOM (AB2019-142)
23
24 The following staff answered questions:
25 • Jack Louws, County Executive
26 0 Bill Elfo, County Sheriff
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28 Louws reported on the City's authorization to open the warming shelter at the
29 Civic Center Garden Room, operations of the warming center since it opened, capacity
30 and attendance, current weather outlook, the status of local and state emergency
31 declarations, interlocal agreements for emergency operations, and cost and staffing
32 impacts so far.
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34 Councilmembers and staff discussed the opportunity to hire a staff to continue
35 operations, security at the facility, working with the City of Bellingham and with the City
36 and County departments of emergency management, the possibility of allowing non-
37 County staff to take possession of the building during off -hours to run a shelter, and
38 how long they can operate under the current emergency model.
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40 Mike Parker, Opportunity Council Homeless Service Center Director, spoke about
41 his role, strengths and challenges, the services provided by the Homeless Service
42 Center, following best practices, and operations procedures.
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44 Jim Peterson, HomesNOW, spoke about the continued need for the shelter
45 service and answered questions.
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47 Councilmembers discussed making sure they announce the closing date at least
48 a few days before closure and systemic problems in the country that cause
49 homelessness.
50
51 Kelli Linville, Bellingham Mayor, answered questions and spoke about whether
52 the City can reopen its shelter at Maritime Heritage Center; the City's current efforts to
53 house the homeless; the City Council's upcoming meeting on Monday to reconsider the
Special County Council Meeting, 2/20/2019, Page 1
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emergency provisions that allow the County's shelter; developing viable alternatives on
a non -emergency basis; the upcoming closure of the women's shelter at Fountain
Church; defining clear reasons for opening and closing the shelter; and the City's
support of the County shelter.
Buchanan moved to keep the warming center open until the morning of March
1 at 7:30 a.m.
The motion was seconded.
Councilmembers and Mayor Linville discussed City and County collaboration on
developing a plan for future cold weather events.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Buchanan, Donovan, Frazey, and Sidhu (5)
Nays: None(0)
Absent: Byrd and Browne (2)
The following people spoke:
• Amy Glasser
• (inaudible) Woods, submitted handouts
• (No name given)
• (inaudible) Mansfield
• Carl Cummings
• Autumn (No last name given)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
,Thldt,u'4,Council approved these minutes on March 12, 2019.
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Dana, BroWn`=Davis, Council Clerk Todd Donovan, Council Vice -Chair
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
Special County Council Meeting, 2/20/2019, Page 2