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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Oct 27 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 12:15 P.M. AGENDA REVISED 10.26.2020 Tuesday, October 27, 2020 10:35 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 27, 2020 Services Committee Call To Order Roll Call Present: 3 - Rud Browne, Tyler Byrd and Kathy Kershner Absent: None Also present: Barry Buchanan, Carol Frazey, Ben Elenbaas, and Todd Donovan Council "Consent Agenda" Items (Item four considered first) 4. AB2020-443 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Bayside Pathology, Inc. for the provision of all medical examiner services consistent with the Whatcom County Code, Charter, and Washington State Law in the amount of $605,000 Browne moved that the contract be recommended for authorization by consent. Gary Goldfogel, Whatcom County Medical Examiner, briefed the Councilmembers on Whatcom County's model for a Medical Examiner. He answered questions about his recommendation for creating a replacement, his accreditation, and who would defend the Medical Examiner in the case of a law suit. Councilmembers discussed having continued discussion on the Medical Examiner's replacement in coming years. Browne's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION RV CONSENT carried by the fnhowingg vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 Committee Discussion I. AB2020-468 Discussion of utilizing Cares Act funding to assist Whatcom County Water Districts Byrd briefed the Councilmembers on the agenda item. The following people spoke and answered questions: • Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, spoke about the proposal and stated it is late in the game to go through the process. Whatcom County Page I Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final October 27, 2020 Services Committee Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, spoke about an existing utility assistance program through the Opportunity Council and stated that CARES Act dollars can be used for individuals but cannot be directly allocated to utilities. He answered where the County is with the CARES Act funding and expenditures and spoke about existing programs that might help. Councilmembers and Sidhu discussed using money toward this purpose instead of a COVID-19 social marketing campaign and whether this should also include water associations. They discussed the proposal and other possible solutions. Byrd stated he would like a motion to move forward and establish funding that can be used and Councilmembers discussed what budget threshold they would be comfortable with. Kershner moved to recommend that the Council request that the administration look into supporting water districts which are suffering under the COVID-19 crisis in an amount up to $400,000. Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, clarified that the motion is a recommendation to the full Council. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 2 - Kershner and Byrd Nay: 0 Abstain: 1 - Browne This agenda item was DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED. Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council 1. AB2020-430 Ordinance amending the project budget for the Birch Bay Drive and Pedestrian Facility Project Fund, Request No. 6, in the amount of $841,786 Browne moved that the Ordinance be recommended for adoption. Jim Karcher, Public Works Department, briefed the Councilmembers and answered where the additional $841,786 is coming from, whether it is a request for a buffer and may not need to be spent, whether it is for cost overruns or the next part of the project, and the amount of the total budget. Browne's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION carried by the following vote: whatcom County Page 2 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final October 27, 2020 Services Committee Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 2. AB2020-433 Ordinance amending the 2020 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 19, in the amount of $7,904,575 Browne moved that the Ordinance be recommended for adoption. The following people answered questions about the length of the grant cycle for the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, more detail about the $4.5 million to fund COVID-19 response, how the CARES Act funding is being bucketed to be spent, and whether a social marketing campaign is the best way to spend the money. • Vanessa Martin, Prosecuting Attorney's Office • Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office • Erika Lautenbach, Health Department Director Browne's motion that the Ordinance be recommended for adoption FAILED by the following vote: Aye: 1 - Browne Nay: 2 - Byrd and Kershner Absent: 0 3. AB2020-442 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Geneva Consulting Services for coordination of the Whatcom Lead integrating Organization, in the amount of $ 79,615.UU (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control District Board of Supervisors) Byrd moved that the Contract (FCZDBS) be recommended for authorization. Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, briefed the Councilmembers. Byrd'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 4. AB2020-444 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an Interlocal Agreement Whatcom County Page 3 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final October 27, 2020 Services Committee with the US Department of Interior Geological Survey Joint Funding Agreement for Stream Gaging (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) Browne moved that the Contract (FCZDBS) be recommended for authorization. Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, answered a question about the process for stream gaging, whether it can be tied to a current project, and whether gaging is done in a rotation. 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 Council "Consent Agenda" Items 1. AB2020-408 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and SeaMar Community Health Centers in the amount of $470,793 for a total amended contract amount of $759,571 Browne moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 2. AB2020-436 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the Blaine Birch Bay Park & Recreation District No. 2 for use of the gymnasium at Bay Horizon Park Kershner moved that the Interlocal be recommended for authorization by consent. Mike McFarlane, Parks and Recreation Department, briefed the Councilmembers and answered whether the County is turning the gymnasium over to the district to manage. Kershner's motion that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT carried by the following vote: Whatcom County Page 4 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final October 27, 2020 Services Committee Aye: 3 - Browne, Byrd and Kershner Nay: 0 Absent: 0 3. AB2020-441 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and City of Bellingham for partial funding of maintenance and operations of the Crisis Stabilization Center, in the amount of $65,000 Browne moved that the Interlocal be recommended for authorization by consent. Motion: Anne Deacon, Health Department, briefed the Councilmembers and answered whether the amount Bellingham is contributing is a portion of the ongoing maintenance and operations and what the portion is. 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 Byrd stated that they probably would not be able to get through the entire agenda and asked whether there were any agenda items Councilmembers would like to specifically address. Kershner moved to consider agenda items out of order and to move to AB2020-486. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 2 - Kershner and Byrd Nay: 1 - Browne Items Added by Revision (For Discussion) 1. AB2020-486 Discussion of proposed ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 8.10, Solid Waste and Residential Recycling Collection, regarding solid waste collection in Point Roberts, WA The following staff briefed and discussed with the Councilmembers and answered questions: Wkateom County Page 5 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final October 27, 2020 Services Committee • Karen Frakes, Prosecuting Attorney's Office • Jeff Hegedus, Health Department • Steve Oliver, County Treasurer They discussed whether we do this type of billing for any other garbage haulers in Whatcom County, whether the fees should be billed on the property tax bill, the mechanism for reducing the fee next year or giving a refund if too much has been charged during the COVID-19 crisis, whether non-payment of service gets added as a lien against a property, whether it is an issue of a private organization benefiting from public funds, waiting for the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) to meet before discussing this, and how many taxpayers have complained about the excise tax and the service during the COVID-19 crisis. Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, stated this discussion could be continued in the Public Works and Health Committee. Byrd moved that the related Ordinance be recommended for introduction tonight. The motion failed by the following vote: Aye: I - Byrd Nay: 2 - Browne and Kershner This agenda item was DISCUSSED. Council "Consent Agenda" Items (Forwarded without recommendation). Byrd stated the remaining items will be forwarded to Council tonight without Committee recommendation. 5. AB2020-451 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a subrecipient agreement between Whatcom County and the Port of Bellingham for costs associated with responding to the COVID-19 emergency in an amount not to exceed $238,172 This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION. 6. AB2020-452 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Northwest Workforce Council to provide reimbursement of wages and benefits for eligible temporary employees working in various COVID-related positions, for a total estimated contract amount of $112,000 This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION. Whatcom County Page 6 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final October 27, 2020 Services Committee AB2020-454 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Elliott Bay Design Group for the purposes of providing engineering services for the annual dry dock for the Whatcom Chief Ferry This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION. 8. AB2020-456 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Lynden School District to increase the allocation of CARES Act funding by $100,000 in an amount not to exceed $230,000 This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION. 9. AB2020-457 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Blaine School District to increase the allocation of CARES Act Funding by $100,000 in an amount not to exceed $230,000 This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION. 10. AB2020-458 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Ferndale School District to increase the allocation of CARES Act funding by $100,000 in amount not to exceed $230,000 This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION. II. AB2020-459 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Meridian School District to increase the allocation of CARES Act funding by $100,000 in an amount not to exceed $230,000 This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION. 12. AB2020-460 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and North Whatcom Fire and Rescue for the cost of two students to participate in the paramedic training program in an amount not to exceed $232,436.88 This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION. 13. AB2020-461 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Mount Baker School District to increase the allocation of CARES Act funding by $100,000 in an amount not to exceed $230,000 This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A Whatcom County page 7 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final October 27, 2020 Services Committee RECOMMENDATION. 14. AB2020-462 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Nooksack Valley School District to increase the CARES Act funding allocation by $100,000 in an amount not to exceed $230,000 This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION. 15. AB2020-467 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Michael Bobbink for hearing examiner services This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION. 16. AB2020-464 Request approval for the County Executive to award Bid #20-61 for the purchase of furnishings for the Lighthouse Mission Ministries Base Camp to Norix Group, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $329,645.45 This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION. 17. AB2020-473 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an Interlocal Agreement amendment between Whatcom County and City of Bellingham for a cost sharing related to the COVID-19 health crisis Other Business Adjournment This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION. There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 12:33 p.m. Whatcom County Page 8 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final October 27, 2020 Services Committee ,�g's@1ili�i9g,g��9 ATTEST; ,, qa o~� f WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WA 11 ! Tyler Byrd -via email 12/4/2020 C� F Dail, Brow Dayis Couhi ft C-lerk'. Tyler Byrd, Committee Chair m 0 Kristi Felbmger, Minutes Transcription Whateom County page 9