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Home My WebLink AboutSpecial Council Nov 5 2020Whatcom County Council (Special) COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Minutes - Final VIRTUAL MEETING - VIEW ONLINE BUDGET WORK SESSION Thursday, November 5, 2020 9:30 AM Council Chambers 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 5, 2020 Call To Order Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in a virtual meeting. Roll Call Present: 7 - Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey, Ben Elenbaas and Kathy Kershner Absent: None Discussion 1. AB2020-484 Discussion of the County Executive's recommended 2021-2022 Biennium Budget The following departments briefed the Councilmembers on their respective budgets and answered questions: WSU Extension Michael Wallace, WSU Extension Interim Chair Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office Approximate Video Timestamp: 00:02:16 Sheriff and Jail Bill Elfo, Sheriff Doug Chadwick, Undersheriff Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department Wendy Jones, Sheriffs Office Approximate Video Timestamp: 00:08:36 Superior Court Dave Reynolds, Superior Court Approximate Video Timestamp: 00:16:56 Juvenile Court Dave Reynolds, Superior Court Approximate Video Timestamp: 01:27:41 Public Works Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department Director Approximate Video Timestamp: 01:42:35 Prosecuting Attorney Eric J. Richey, Prosecuting Attorney Wkatcom County Page I Printed on 1112512020 Council (Special) Minutes - Final November 5, 2020 Vanessa Martin, Prosecuting Attorney's Office Approximate Video Timestamp: 01:50:56 The meeting went into recess and reconvened at 1 p.m. Parks and Recreation Mike McFarlane, Parks and Recreation Department Director Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office Approximate Video Timestamp: 02:08:17 Health Kathleen Roy, Health Department Erika Lautenbach, Health Department Director Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department Approximate Video Timestamp: 02:09:19 Administrative Services Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office Karen Goens, Human Resources Brad Bennett, Finance Manager Perry Rice, Information Technology Rob Ney, Facilities Projects and Operations Manager Approximate Video Timestamp: 02:25:40 Executive Satpal Sidhu, County Executive Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office Approximate Video Timestamp: 02:44:53 Non -Departmental Satpal Sidhu, County Executive Approximate Video Timestamp: 04:03:37 Law Library Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office Approximate Video Timestamp: 04:19:00 Miscellaneous Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office Approximate Video Timestamp: 04:20:58 Discussion and Formulation of Budget Recommendations Whateom County Page 2 Printed on 1112512020 Council (Special) Minutes - Final November 5, 2020 Councilmembers decided to discuss AB2020-521 and moved to that item. They came back to AB2020-484 after that discussion. This agenda item was DISCUSSED. Discussion and Possible Action 1. AB2020-521 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between G6 Hospitality Properties, LLC and Whatcom County to extend the lease term through February 28, 2021 with the option to extend an additional three months through May 30, 2021 at an increased of $10,000 in the monthly base rent Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, briefed the Councilmembers. Buchanan moved that the contract be authorized. The motion was seconded by Donovan. The following people also spoke and answered questions: Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department • Satpal Sidhu, County Executive Councilmembers discussed and the speakers answered questions about the lease, how many rooms are available and how many the contract designates for housing solutions and other purposes, The cost of operating expenses and lease per month, how many rooms had to be remodeled because of contamination, whether beds are still in a storage unit, what upgrades the County made to the rooms, what would be the earliest someone could be in place to manage the facility, whether they are using the proposed 15 rooms for a winter shelter or a temporary housing solution, who might stay there, whether the County has a warming shelter at this time, how many rooms could have been rented out and how it was determined to only utilize 15 rooms, whether it would be more cost effective to use hotel vouchers at a different hotel for these families, who owns G6 Hospitality Properties, LLC, who pays for the utilities, whether there were other facilities that negotiated with the County, whether the lease extension can be billed to CARES Act money and how a potential future stimulus package might play into it, whether the State's requirement to have an isolation and quarantine facility is still in place, whether the County could get out of this contract, who negotiated the contract, and whether they should look at other options. Byrd stated he would like to table the motion to authorize and to request the Executive's Office to try to get more rooms and bring back an updated agreement and a management plan to the Council on Tuesday. Whatcom County Page 3 Printed on 1112512020 Council (Special) Minutes - Final November 5, 2020 Councilmembers discussed the suggestion and other options that should be considered. Byrd moved to table the motion to authorize and to request that Executive's Office negotiate for full usage of the facility. The motion was seconded by Kershner. Councilmembers and staff discussed the motion. The motion to table carried by the following vote: Aye: 6 - Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Elenbaas, Frazey, and Kershner Nay: 1 - Donovan Byrd answered a question about his request of the Executive's Office. This agenda item was DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED. 1. AB2020-484 Discussion of the County Executive's recommended 2021-2022 Biennium Budget Councilmembers returned to this discussion. Kershner requested to receive more information about why the decisions were made to not accept Additional Service Requests (ASRs) and the following people spoke: • Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office • Doug Chadwick, Undersheriff Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, and Schroeder discussed with Councilmembers the budget approval process and how to proceed from here, and the budget for the Conservation District Firewise program. Items Added by Revision Other Business Adjournment There were no agenda items added by revision. There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m. The County Council approved these minutes on November 24, 2020. Whatcom County Page 4 Printed on 1112512020 Council (Special) Minutes - Final November 5, 2020 ATTEST: 1 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WA �" yu Dana Arown- 'mo90 veil' Clerk arry uchanan, Council Chair Kristi Felbiri'&il! Wl� hes Transcri tion Whntcom County Pine 5 Printed on 1112512020