HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Oct 13 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 - ENDS NO LATER THAN I I A.M.
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
9:10 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 October 13, 2020
Services Committee
Call To Order
Committee Chair Tyler Byrd called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. in a
virtual meeting.
Roll Call
Present: 3 - Rud Browne, Tyler Byrd and Kathy Kershner
Absent: None
Also present: Barry Buchanan, Carol Frazey, Ben Elenbaas, and Todd Donovan
Special Presentation
AB2020-344 Presentation from Mike Hilley regarding the Whatcom County EMS System
Clerk's note: The meeting needed to be called to order again because one
of the recordings had not yet started.
Mike Hilley, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Manager, continued a
presentation (on file) that he began on September 29, 2020 and shared a
document on the screen. He answered what the acronym "GEMT" stands for
(Ground Emergency Medical Transport Reimbursement), and whether the
plan is to build the EMS fund balance beyond a year's worth of operating
expenses to build another station at some point.
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, spoke about 2020 initiatives relating to
behavioral health and how EMS will be a good organization to work with on
efforts of behavioral health response.
Hilley continued to answer questions about the voter approval rate needed
for the levy and gave an overview of what he does.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
2. AB2020-437 Budget update from Deputy Executive Tyler Schroeder
Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, gave a presentation (on file).
He and the following staff spoke:
• Steve Oliver, County Treasurer
• Satpal Sidhu, County Executive
• Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department
Staff answered questions about how the projected budget lapse and shortfall
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final October 13, 2020
Services Committee
are calculated, how new requests and transfers to jail for operations fit into
the projected expenditures, where the biggest risk is to the budget moving
forward, getting updated figures for property and sales tax revenue before
passing the budget, what the burn rate is and how much is going toward
COVID-19 related expenses each month, whether that includes positions
that were created because of the crisis, and how those expenses would
affect the budget without CARES Act dollars.
Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, answered questions about adding
an agenda item to hear from specific departments about their budgets.
Staff and Councilmembers discussed what level of fund balance should be
maintained in the General Fund, how it relates to the County's ability to
borrow, what percent of reserves the County is currently maintaining,
policy for fund balance requirements, what percentage the ending fund
balance is projected for 2022, the actual lowest point of the year when it
comes to fund balance, and how much lower that is than at the beginning of
the year.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
3. AB2020-327 Report on Criminal Justice Case Management Systems Project
Perry Rice, Administrative Services Department, gave a presentation (on
file).
He and the following staff discussed the item with Councilmembers:
• Starck Follis, Public Defender's Office
They answered why the County would use separate systems as opposed to
one integrated system, whether there is an existing requirement that some
of the systems be kept separate, how the systems would work together, and
whether the portal allows multiple vendors to communicate and share
information using the same protocol.
This agenda item was REPORTED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
AB2020-394 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an Interagency
Agreement between Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District and Puget Sound
Partnership for coordination of the Whatcom County Local Integrating Organization
(LIO), in the amount of $125,000.00 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood
Control District Board of Supervisors)
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final October 13, 2020
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Browne moved that the contract be recommended for authorization.
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, stated he did not have a staff
report.
Browne's motion that the Contract (FCZDBS) be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
2. AB2020-424 Request permission for the County Executive and the County Council to enter into a
Joint Funding Agreement between the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District
(FCZD) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS); (Council acting as the
FCZD Board of Supervisors)
Browne moved that the contract be recommended for authorization.
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, stated he did not have a staff
report. He answered a question about the cost share and why Whatcom
County is paying more than the usual share.
Browne's motion that the Contract (FCZDBS) be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
3. AB2020-409 Ordinance increasing community oversight and transparency to establish fair contract
negotiations
Byrd stated this item is withdrawn from the Committee agenda but will be
on the Council agenda.
This agenda item was WITHDRAWN.
Council "Consent AI?enda" Items
1. AB2020-423 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and Western Washington University to employ eligible
students participating in the Federal Off -Campus Work Study Program, at an
estimated amount between $500 to $2,000 per per student, per quarter
Browne moved that the interlocal be recommended for authorization by
consent.
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final October 13, 2020
Services Committee
Kathleen Roy, Health Department, briefed the Councilmembers and
answered questions about the total amount and how many students that
would allow for.
Browne'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
2. AB2020-420 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Maul Foster & Alongi, Inc. to update the Comprehensive
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Plan, in the amount of $113,000
Browne moved that the Contract be recommended for authorization by
consent.
Jeff Hegedus, Health Department, stated he did not have a staff report. He
answered whether there was only one bidder for the contract, how much the
County paid for the development of the plan in 2016, how long it takes to
develop the solid waste management plan, whether the scope has changed
since the last time, when the plan will be completed, whether there would be
a cost savings for travel expenses due to virtual meetings, whether a
decision has to be made on this today, whether they could put it out for
other bid responders, whether there is a cut-off for when the work has to be
done, and who in the Finance Department does the Request for Proposals
(RFP).
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. AB2020-425 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and Snohomish Health District to provide prevention
services for tobacco and vapor devices to Whatcom County residents, in the amount
of $12,500
Kershner moved that the Interlocal be recommended for authorization by
consent.
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final October 13, 2020
Services Committee
Alyssa Pavitt, Health Department, stated she did not have a staff report.
Kershner'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
4. AB2020-427 Resolution in the matter of the sale of surplus personal property and setting a date for
public hearing, pursuant to WCC 1.10
Kershner moved that the Resolution be recommended for authorization by
consent.
Councilmembers discussed specific items on the list.
Kershner's motion that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Items Added by Revision
There were no agenda items added by revision.
Other Business
Adjournment
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 11:07 a.m.
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final
Services Committee
October 13, 2020
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Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
Whutcom County page 6
Byrd -via email 10/15/2020