HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Nov 24 2020Whatcom County
Council Public Works & Health Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
VIRTUAL MEETING - VIEW ONLINE; ENDS NO LATER THAN 1:40 P.M.
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
1PM
Virtual Meeting
COUNCILMEMBERS
Todd Donovan
Carol Frazey
Kathy Kershner
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final November 24, 2020
Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Carol Frazey called the meeting to order at 1 p.m. in a
virtual meeting.
Present: 3 - Carol Frazey, Todd Donovan and Kathy Kershner
Absent: None
Also Present: Rud Browne, Tyler Byrd, and Ben Elenbaas
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2020-431 Resolution affirming racism as a Public Health Crisis
Elenbaas and Browne briefed the Councilmembers about their work on the
Resolution with the Public Health Advisory Board.
Kershner moved that the Resolution be recommended for approval.
Kershner moved to amend the sixth Whereas statement of the resolution as
follows:
"WHEREAS, in response to the4;'death of George Floyd and
the unnecessary death of countless others..."
Councilmembers discussed the motion.
Kershner withdrew her motion to amend.
Erika Lautenbach, Health Department Director, answered a question about
annual training as referenced in Section 4 of the Resolution under the
"NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED" statement and whether there has
been an analysis done to determine the cost and time it will take on an
annual basis and whether annual training would be required for boards that
do not meet very often. They discussed whether training could be added to
orientation as opposed to being an annual training.
Kershner moved to amend Section 4, Item A as follows:
A. Implementing awl training on the following topics for all
elected officials, County staff and members of boards, commissions
and committees: implicit bias, trauma informed practices, and
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Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final November 24, 2020
Committee
review of health disparities to occur at orientation.
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, and Councilmembers discussed the motion,
letting the commission look at it and come back with ideas, and requesting
that Human Resources come up with a workable program for training.
Frazey suggested a friendly amendment that the training be biannual.
Kershner did not accept the friendly amendment.
Kershner amended her motion and moved to just remove the word
"annual" as follows:
A. Implementing a*n+tal-training on the following topics for all
elected officials, County staff and members of boards, commissions
and committees: implicit bias, trauma informed practices, and
review of health disparities.
She stated they can come up with language tonight.
Donovan stated that the expectation will be that when a commission forms,
they will work with Human Resources and the Executive.
The amended motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Kershner, Donovan, and Frazey
Nay: 0
Kershner and the Councilmembers discussed the use of the word "amplify"
and the intent of the language in Section 4, Item E with the following
people:
• Erika Lautenbach, Health Department Director
• Steve Bennett, Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB)
Donovan suggested that it read: "Supporting community efforts to amplify
bring attention to issues of racism and bias..."
Sidhu suggested that it read: "Supporting community efforts to afflpli€y
alleviate issues of racism and bias..."
Kershner moved to amend Section 4, Item E as follows:
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Council Public Works & health Committee Minutes - Final November 24, 2020
Committee
E. Supporting community efforts to amplify alleviate issues of
racism and bias and engaging actively and authentically with
communities of color wherever they live.
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Kershner, Donovan, and Frazey
Nay: 0
Donovan asked about the first line of the resolution ("WHEREAS, even
before the foundation of America's colonies, racism has existed in
America.") and why that language was changed from the originally proposed
Resolution.
Elenbaas and Bennett spoke about the language and the intent:
Donovan moved to amend the third WHEREAS statement as follows:
"WHEREAS, the Black experience in America beginning with
slavery, Jim Crow laws, Grandfather Clause and the lone -delayed
recognition of the 14th amendment and other violations of the 14th
Amendment, redlining..."
Councilmembers discussed the motion.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3- Kershner, Donovan, and Frazey
Nay: 0
Browne asked about Section 4, Item D and what it means:
D. Prioritize diversity of race within the county commissions.
Councilmembers discussed what they think that item means and they and
Sidhu, discussed how the language might be amended.
Kershner moved to amend Section 4, Item D as follows:
"D. P+ie+44e Promote diversity of race within -the county boards and
commissions."
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Kershner, Donovan, and Frazey
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Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final November 24, 2020
Committee
Nay: 0
Elenbaas continued to discuss that item and the intent of the language.
Byrd stated he would like to consider adding a sub -bullet to Item D that says
that the Council will look at the holistic makeup of all of our committees
annually to ensure that they are accurately representing our community and
demographic. He also spoke about identifying other community sources of
advertising for boards and commissions to recruit individuals of different
demographics.
Councilmembers discussed Byrd's suggestions.
Kershner's motion that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL WITH PROPOSED AMENDMENTS carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Frazey, Donovan and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adjournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 1:43 p.m.
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Carol Frazey-via email 12/1/2020
Dana }gown-D, vis,uCpuricil Clerk
Carol Frazey, Committee Chair
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Kristi Fellbiin�ger, Minutes Transcription
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