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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCriminal Justice December 3 2019Whatcom County Council Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360)778-5010 Committee Minutes - Final ESTIMATED TIME - MEETING MAY BEGIN EARLIER/LATER THAN 3:30 P.M. Tuesday, December 3, 2019 3:30 PM Council Chambers COUNCILMEMBERS Barry Buchanan Tyler Byrd Carol Frazey CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C. Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final December 3, 2019 Safety Committee Call To Order Roll Call Committee Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington. Present: 3 - Barry Buchanan, Carol Frazey and Tyler Byrd Absent: None Also present: Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Todd Donovan, and Satpal Sidhu Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council AB2019-530 Resolution establishing a Stakeholder Advisory Committee for the Public Health, Safety, and Justice Facility Needs Assessment Buchanan gave an update on the resolution. The following people answered questions: Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office Jill Nixon, Council Office Cathy Halka, Council Office Staff and Councilmembers discussed how often the committee can meet and how that should be worded in the resolution, whether the language of the resolution will be codified, the representation on the committee and making sure the different positions represent varied opinions about a jail, and the function of the advisory committee. Frazey moved that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Buchanan, Frazey and Byrd Nay: 0 Absent: 0 2. AB2019-633 Discussion regarding potential loss of childcare spaces in Whatcom County The Committee members attempted to contact Heather Powell, Boys and Girls Club Whatcom County, but the call was unsuccessful. Michael Waters, Kid's World Executive Director gave a report about the current state of childcare centers and answered questions about what has happened to bring them to the point of closing, whether being revenue neutral means bringing the number of low income children that the program serves down to 25 percent, and whether it Whatcom Comity Page I Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final December 3, 2019 Safety Committee would be feasable to charge families on a sliding scale so that the true costs are covered. Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, stated that the way of going forward for now is stating that the County would like to be part of the solution to help Boys and Girls Club to bridge this situation for one year. He asked Waters what rates the childcare center gets from the Washington State Department of Youth and Families for low income children in the program, whether that covers the needed daily operating costs, and how much would be needed per child to cover the gap. Frazey moved to recommend to the full Council to request that the administration pursue options to work with the City of Bellingham to maintain licensed childcare slots currently operating in Whatcom County and that the effort includes a budget supplemental proposal. The discussion continued with Waters and Schroeder.They answered questions about and Councilmembers discussed long term solutions versus short term solutions; family, County, and national ramifications of the lack of childcare; what the federal government is doing to solve the problem; what the gap might be next year; whether the Boys and Girls Club can take on these added locations: and whether Kid's World has the ability to charge families on a tiered system. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 2 - Buchanan and Frazey Nay: 0 Abstain: 1 - Byrd Don Goldberg, Port of Bellingham, stated that housing, day care and drugs are the three things currently working against the economy. He answered questions about requirements for subsidies and sliding scales. Frazey moved to forward a motion to the full Council. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 2 - Buchanan and Frazey Nay: 0 Absent: 0 Abstain: 1 - Byrd Other Business There was no other business. Wkalcon: County Page 2 Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final Safety Committee Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 4:48 p.m. �,e 01%IiFitIB0 ATTEST: � fj ,s e 1 6 9 i y i .z o < Dana-Byown 4vtg, otincil Clerk. Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription Whateonr County Page 3 December 3, 2019 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WA l B rry uchanan, Committee Chair