HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Mar 23 2021Whatcom County
Council Committee of the Whole
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
VIRTUAL MEETING - MAY BEGIN EARLY; ENDS NO LATER THAN 5
P.M. (TO PARTICIPATE, SEE INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil OR CALL 360.778.5010)
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
3PM
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 Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final March 23, 2021
Call To Order
Roll Call
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. in a
virtual meeting.
Present: 7 - Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey, Ben
Elenbaas and Kathy Kershner
Absent: None
Committee Discussion
1. AB2020-219 Discussion and update on strategies and other items related to COVID-19 (Council
and Health Board)
Erika Lautenbach, Health Department Director, updated the
Councilmembers on the following:
• Declining COVID-19 case rates in the county and specifically in
those age 60 plus
• The move this week to Phase Three of the State's Roadmap to
Recovery and what it means
• The status of COVID-19 vaccinations in Whatcom County (as of last
week, 72% of eligible Whatcom County residents have received at
least one shot), the number of doses expected in the next few weeks
and the community vaccine clinic
• An upcoming COVID Impact Assessment
She answered questions about whether the allowance for an indoor
maximum of 50% capacity applies to houses of worship in Phase Three,
why the supply of vaccine doses will be lower for the next two weeks and
how summer camps for kids would be affected by the State guidance.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
2. AB2021-181 Discussion of letter from Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force to State
legislators on funding of Crisis Stabilization Center and establishing the Center as a
State pilot program for diversion
Anne Deacon, Health Department, briefed the Councilmembers and stated a
letter is not being sent yet but they would like the Council's support in case
a letter needs to be sent.
She answered whether they could include in the letter that the Crisis
Stabilization Center is a regional facility for other parts of the state and not
just for Whatcom County.
Wdateom County page
Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final March 23, 2021
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
3. AB2021-182 Discussion regarding impacts of the Blake decision
The following people briefed the Councilmembers:
Eric Richey, Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney
• Karen Frakes, Prosecuting Attorney's Office
They answered questions about impacts of the decision on the County
including whether having to pay back legal financial obligations (LFOs) will
include interest and how far back it will go, whether the State statute has
been eliminated or just eliminated as it has been applied, whether the
Prosecuting Attorney's Office is planning to come to the Council with a
local proposal in the interim before the State does a statute that considers
intent, whether the County will have to reimburse for LFOs before there is a
decision on whether it is the Sate or the County that will be financially
liable for them and how much time the County has to pay them, how much
the County might have to pay if it has to pay for LFOs, what percentage of
the jail population is from simple possession cases and whether local laws
should be adopted to help the situation.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adiournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 3:47 p.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on April 6, 2021.
Wltatcotn County page 2
Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final March 23, 2021
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Ba Bu' hanan, Council Chair
Whatcom County Page 3