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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Aug 5 2020Whatcom County Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste 9105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360)778-5010 Committee Minutes - Final VIRTUAL MEETING - VIEW ONLINE Wednesday, August 5, 2020 9:30 AM Virtual Meeting COUNCILMEMBERS Rud Browne Tyler Byrd Kathy Kershner CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C. Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee Call To Order Roll Call Committee Chair Tyler Byrd called the meeting to order at 9:33 a.m. in a virtual meeting. Present: 3 - Rud Browne, Tyler Byrd and Kathy Kershner Absent: None Also present: Barry Buchanan, Carol Frazey, and Todd Donovan Announcement Committee Discussion 1. AB2020-329 Discussion regarding potential Washington State Department of Commerce CDBG CVl consortium grant to address COVID-19 impacts in Whatcom County (public hearing and approval for the County Executive to submit an application scheduled for this evening) The following people briefed the Councihnembers: Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office Satpal Sidhu, County Executive They answered questions about whether this is leftover CARES Act dollars that the State has not appropriated, when the application must be submitted, when the money must be spent, and whether there is a better chance for receiving the grant if the application includes specific uses for the funds. This agenda item was DISCUSSED. Special Presentation 1. AB2020-322 Report from the Health Department on the Behavioral Health Program Fund - School Services Joe Fuller, Health Department, gave a presentation (on file) and answered whether there is a plan for how these services will take place if schools go virtual next year. This agenda item was PRESENTED. Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council Whafcon, County page I Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee 1. AB2020-211 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Nooksack Valley School District to provide behavioral health services, in the amount of $120,000 Browne moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 2. AB2020-220 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Lynden School District to provide behavioral health services, in the amount of $111,000 Browne moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 3. AB2020-231 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Blaine School District to provide behavioral health services, in the amount of $131,400 Browne moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 4. AB2020-235 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Meridian School District to provide behavioral health services, in the amount of $108,000 Browne moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 Whatcom County page 2 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee 5. AB2020-236 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Ferndale School District to provide behavioral health services, in the amount of $120,000 Browne moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 6. AB2020-237 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Bellingham School District #501 to provide behavioral health services, in the amount of $138,000 Browne moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 7. AB2020-244 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Mount Baker School District to provide behavioral health services, in the amount of $108,000 Browne moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 8. AB2020-309 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District and Reichardt & Ebe Engineering, Inc., for engineering design services for the Ferndale Levee Improvement Project (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) Browne moved that the Contract be recommended for authorization. Paula Harris, Public Works Department gave a staff report. Browne's motion that the Contract (FCZDBS) be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote: "atenm Counts' Page 3 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 9. AB2020-297 Ordinance amending the 2020 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 15, in the amount of $716,503 Browne moved that the Ordinance be recommended for adoption. Kathleen Roy, Health Department, gave a staff report and answered questions about how many positions the grant funding is providing for, what the epidemiologist specialist will do for the County, and whether the two positions will be temporary and linked to the availability of grant funding. Browne's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 10. AB2020-301 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs for the Registered Sex Offender Address Verification Program, in the amount of $139,263.00 Browne moved that the Interlocal be recommended for authorization. Doug Chadwick, Undersheriff, answered what this actually does for the County and how many registered sex offenders live in Whatcom County. Browne's motion that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 11. AB2020-3 l3 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Health to provide funding for the delivery of various public health programs and services in the amount of $408,842 for a total amended contract amount of $4,928,000 Browne moved that the Interlocal be recommended for authorization. Whn[com County Page 4 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee Kathleen Roy, Health Department, gave a staff report and answered questions about how shellfish and marijuana are in the same grant amendment as COVID-related items, whether the County wants to accept this money to hire more staff to deal with the COVID-19 crisis rather than putting it into the particular service areas that the money is allocated to, whether the money listed for the syringe service program is included in the total contract amount, whether the funding would be used for the two positions listed in AB2020-297, and how often this contract comes to the Council for approval. Browne's motion that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 12. AB2020-315 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the Point Roberts Park & Recreation District Number 1 for use of Lighthouse Marine Park to establish a kayak program Browne moved that the Interlocal be recommended for authorization. Mike McFarlane, Parks and Recreation Department Director, gave a staff report and answered whether the Point Roberts Park and Recreation District pays rent for the use of the park, whether campers and park users pay to use the program, how many other parks and recreation districts there are in the unincorporated areas, whether the Lynden Parks and Recreation District is in the City, and whether these are taxing districts. Browne's motion that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 13. AB2020-317 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Commerce to provide resources to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance, in the amount of $494,112 Browne moved that the Interlocal be recommended for authorization. Whatcom County Page 5 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee Anne Deacon, Health Department, gave a staff report and answered where the State is getting this money, and whether this will repurpose any of the previous funds that have been allocated to this. Browne's motion that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 14. AB2020-318 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Fire Protection District #7 to cover the costs for students to attend the paramedic training program in the amount of $218,640 Kershner moved that the Interlocal be recommended for authorization. Mike Hilley, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Manager, gave a staff report and answered whether this is part of what was already budgeted for the EMS levy, when the EMS levy expires, whether the levy fund is still healthy, the cost to the County and to the students of the program and whether that should be shared, what students get paid for, the application process and who the program attracts, whether students are required to work in Whatcom County for a period of time after they graduate, and whether any of the mechanisms for pay and training are included in any of the labor agreements. Kershner's motion that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote: Aye: 2 - Browne and Kershner Nay: 1 - Byrd Absent: 0 15. AB2020-319 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and North Whatcom Fire Authority to cover the costs for students to attend the paramedic training program in the amount of $206,000 Browne moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 2 - Browne and Kershner Nay: 1 - Byrd Absent: 0 Whatcom County Page 6 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee 17. AB2020-321 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement amendment between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham to extend the current What -Comm Agreement through 12/31/23 Clerk's note: The committee skipped AB2020-320 and went back to it after this item. Browne moved that the Interlocal be recommended for authorization. The following people answered a question about how much flexibility there is for using Emergency Medical Services (EMS) dollars. Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office Satpal Sidhu, County Executive Browne's motion that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 16. AB2020-320 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an Interlocal Agreement between Whatcom County and Bellingham Fire Department to cover the costs for students to attend the paramedic training program including class administration costs and supplies in the amount of $642,503.07 Clerk's note: This item was discussed out of order after AB2020-321 Browne moved that the Interlocal be recommended for authorization. The following people spoke about the length of the training, how many people will go through it, and the cost per student. Satpal Sidhu, County Executive Mike Hilley, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Manager Browne's motion that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote: Aye: 2 - Browne and Kershner Nay: 1 - Byrd Absent: 0 Whatcom County Page 7 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee Council "Consent Agenda" Items 1. AB2020-191 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State University to continue the jointly shared costs for faculty positions and program support for WSU Extension in the amount of $239,047 for a total amended contract amount of $2,238,323.90 Browne moved that the Memorandum of Agreement be recommended for authorization by consent. Michael Wallace, Washington State University Extension, gave a staff report and answered questions about data points related to involvement in the 4-11 program, whether the contract will be backdated for seven months and why it was not approved in advance, what fund the dollars for this come from, whether the programs have still been running the last several months, and where the money comes from for the Master Composter Program. Browne's motion that the Memorandum of Agreement be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote: Aye: 2 - Browne and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 Abstain: 1 - Byrd 2. AB2020-295 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement between Whatcom County and Sun Community Services to lease the property known as Sun House, located at 515 E Chestnut Street in Bellingham Browne moved that the Contract be recommended for authorization by consent. Anne Deacon, Health Department, gave a staff report and answered whether Sun Community Services is paying the County for rent. Browne's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 3. AB2020-302 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and City of Bellingham for actions to support the Aquatic Whatcom County Page 8 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee Invasive Species Program, in the amount of $28,800 Kershner moved that the Agreement be recommended for authorization by consent. Doug Chadwick, Undersheriff, gave a staff report. Kershner's motion that the Agreement be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 4. AB2020-303 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and San Juan Cruises to provide temporary passenger ferry service to Lummi Island, in the amount of $83,328 Kershner moved that the Contract be recommended for authorization by consent. Councilmembers discussed whether the funding comes from road funds. Kershner's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 5. AB2020-305 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and the State of Washington Office of Crime Victims Advocacy to continue to fund the VGAL Program Coordinator to grow the VGAL program, in the amount of $74,998.00 Kershner moved that the Contract be recommended for authorization by consent. Dave Reynolds, Superior Court Administrator, gave a staff report and answered how many youths would be represented by a guardian ad litem, how many volunteers there are in the program, how many children the program touches all together, whether utilizing volunteers saves money and how much is saved. Kershner's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote: Whatcom County page 9 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 6. AB2020-306 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and U.S. Department of Justice for Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), in the amount of $2,500.00 Browne moved that the Interlocal be recommended for authorization by consent. Doug Chadwick, Undersheriff, gave a staff report. Brown's motion that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 7. AB2020-307 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to administer the Washington State Department of Commerce Housing and Essential Needs Program in the amount of $608,211 for a total amended contract amount of $2,037,324 Browne moved that the Contract be recommended for authorization by consent. Kathleen Roy, Health Department, answered whether this is a pass-thru to the Opportunity Council from the State, where the money is coming from, whether the criteria for what the funding can be used for is only housing assistance, how housing assistance is defined, and whether people move off of this program into more stable housing where they need less help. Browne's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote: Aye: 2 - Browne and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 Abstain: 1 - Byrd 8. AB2020-311 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Washington State Military Department to support the ongoing "atcom County page 10 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee COVID-19 response, in the amount of $25,397 Kershner moved that the Contract be recommended for authorization by consent. Doug Chadwick, Undersheriff, gave a staff report and answered whether this is money outside of the COVID-19 CARES Act and State money that was originally sent to counties to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. Kershner's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 9. AB2020-323 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to provide reimbursement for COVID-19 related operations and prevention expenditures, in the amount of $273,500 Browne moved that the Contract be recommended for authorization by consent. Anne Deacon, Health Department, and Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, answered whether this is CARES Act money that the County has already received and is in the process of allocating, whether every contract over $40,000 within those CARES Act buckets will come to the Council for approval, whether these dollars are a reimbursement to the Opportunity Council for expenses that have already been incurred or for future expenses, what is associated with the cost for private security and the types of facilities it is used for, whether invoices and receipts have already been received by the County from the requesting agencies, and whether contracts should be terminated before the October deadline for spending the CARES Act money. Browne's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 10. AB2020-324 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Northwest Youth Services to provide reimbursement for COVID-19 related operations and prevention expenditures, in the amount of WhatcomCmgv page 11 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee $53,791 Kershner moved that the Contract be recommended for authorization by consent. Anne Deacon, Health Department, answered how many organizations or agencies applied for this that did not meet the $40,000 threshold, whether hazard pay is a line item that can be reimbursed, and what some of the specific requests were for and how they were related to COVID-19. Councilmembers discussed and the following staff answered questions about why heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades is a COVID-related request and whether there are plans to upgrade the HVAC system at the Courthouse: Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office Anne Deacon, Health Department Kershner's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote: Aye: 2 - Browne and Kershner Nav: 0 Absent: 0 Abstain: 1 - Byrd 11. AB2020-325 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Catholic Community Services to provide reimbursement for COVID-19 related operations and prevention expenditures, in the amount of $51,510 Kershner moved that the Contract be recommended for authorization by consent. Anne Deacon, Health Department, and Perry Mowery, Health Department, answered a question about the differences in the dollar amounts listed for personal protection equipment (PPE) supplies for each agency and whether the County knows what all the expenses are at this time. Kershner's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Whalcom County Page 12 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee Absent: 0 12. AB2020-326 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and James P. Richmond, attorney, for legal services related to the Assessor's appeal in the amount of $80,000 Browne moved that the Contract be recommended for authorization by consent. Rebecca Xczar, Whatcom County Assessor, gave a staff report. She and George Roche, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, answered questions about what the appellant is saying their assessed value should be, what amount the appellant purchased the property for, what the County would get back in taxes if it won its case, whether the County would get money back for legal fees, whether an attorney through the County's Prosecuting Attorney's Office is working on this, why $80,000 is needed to continue this until next spring if it should have been ready to go in July, the normal process for appealing a property valuation, the reason for the appeal in this case, the amounts that have been contested, the amount of tax for the intangible assets, how far the two parties are from coming to an agreement, whether Whatcom County has a good chance of winning the case, and whether the company could move a different product. Councilmembers and staff continued to discuss the item. Browne's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 Other Business Adjournment There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 12:17 p.m. Whatcom County Page 13 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 5, 2020 Services Committee �t1111111►�, ATT�y ®• ... rr �.��.NT C O/j�� rr'' WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL J o GOON — WHATCOM COUNTY, WA Tyler Byrd -via email 8/19/2020 Dari orowA z • purici,,Clerk Tyler Byrd, Committee Chair i Kristi Felbinger, Minutes TransCption Whatcom County Page 74