HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council Nov 2 2020Whatcom County
Council (Special)
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste 9105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Minutes - Final
VIRTUAL MEETING - VIEW ONLINE
Monday, November 2, 2020
2:15 PM
Virtual Meeting
COUNCILMEMBERS
Rud Browne
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Carol Frazey
Kathy Kershner
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council (Special) Minutes - Final November 2, 2020
Call To Order
Roll Call
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 2:19 p.m. in a
virtual meeting.
Present: 6 - Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey and
Ben Elenbaas
Absent: 1 - Kathy Kershner
Discussion and Possible Action
1. AB2020-468 Discussion of utilizing Cares Act funding to assist Whatcom County Water Districts
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, updated the Councilmembers on the
following:
• The County's security preparedness for Election Day
• Preparation for a second wave of COVID-19 and limited vaccine
availability
• The impending end of CARES Act dollars and no security that there
will be further funding
• A discussion with the owners of the Byron Avenue isolation and
quarantine facility, potential ways it might be used, and when the
lease with them expires
• Looking for innovative solutions for severe weather shelters
Byrd updated the Councilmembers on the agenda item.
The L-11-Mving people discussed with Councilmembers and answered
questions:
• Satpal Sidhu, County Executive
• Karen Frakes, Prosecuting Attorney's Office
• Christopher Quinn, Prosecuting Attorney's Office
• Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department
Councilmembers and the speakers discussed whether the water associations
could be included if either the Public Utility District (PUD) or Port of
Bellingham was able to administer the program, whether it would help the
County Administration if another organization agreed to administer the
work, waiting for new stimulus money as opposed to doing this now,
whether the County would sign a sub -agency agreement if applications
could be received in time, whether it would be a problem if the program
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Council (Special) Minutes - Final November 2, 2020
helped some water users but not others, whether implementation of the
program could be done by the Council, the deadline for submitting qualified
CARES Act expenses to the State, how this would relates to the Business
Assistance Grant which used CARES Act funds, creating a good application
verification process, and taking time to create a program that would go into
the future and that would also include water associations.
Byrd moved that the Council approve an appropriation of $400,00 of
CARES Act funding for this program and that they reimburse the
subrecipients if they are able to get their requests in by the 20th of
November. The motion was seconded by Elenbaas.
Councilmembers and Sidhu discussed the motion and having a two -level
review of the subrecipients, including the water associations, whether it
might qualify as an emergency Ordinance, and the review process.
The motion failed by the following vote:
Aye: 2 - Byrd and Elenbaas
Nay: 3 - Browne, Buchanan, and Frazey
Abstain: 1 - Donovan
Absent: 1 - Kershner
Buchanan moved to move forward with putting together a program that is
more inclusive for all the utility users including the water associations and
have it ready to go for when we do get additional stimulus dollars. The
motion was seconded by Frazey.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 6 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, and Browne
Nay: 0
Absent: 1 - Kershner
Councilmembers and Sidhu briefly discussed the next steps.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
There were no agenda items added by revision.
Councilmembers and Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, discussed
upcoming meetings.
Browne spoke about staff resources needed to help with implementing a
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Council (Special) Minutes - Final November 2, 2020
Adiournment
potential program.
The meeting adjourned at 3:28 p.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on November 24, 2020.
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Ba y uchanan, *'CoouncillChair
Whatcom County Page 3 Printed on 1112512020