HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole April 8 2003WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Committee Of The Whole
April 8, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 6:15 p.m. by Council Chair Dan McShane
in the Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Barbara Brenner L. Ward Nelson
Laurie Caskey-Schreiber
Sam Crawford
Seth Fleetwood
Sharon Roy
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE COUNCIL'S LETTER WRITING POLICY
(AB2003-157)
McShane stated there is an ongoing difficulty of sending out letters in a
timely matter. He explained what they have been doing in the past. He suggested
that they increase the level of public viewing, and publish the letter in the following
Council packet. Also publish a page of information that showed the list of
councilmembers who supported the letter.
Crawford suggested that they include in the publication an explanation of
why the timeliness required that the letter be sent out before the normal process.
The normal process should include being scheduled on the agenda.
-T-Wera
Caskey-Schreiber suggested that they include a checklist on the signature
Crawford described the background for the normal letter process.
McShane moved that all letters sent that don't go through the normal
process:
1. Are published in the following County Council packet,
2. Have an information page that lists which councilmembers support the letter,
and
3. Have a brief explanation of why there was an urgency to send out the letter
before it went through the normal process.
Committee of the Whole, 4/8/2003, Page 1
1 Crawford stated that this would only apply to letters sent by the Council as a
2 whole, not individual letters.
3
4 Motion carried unanimously.
5
6 McShane distributed a draft letter to the Washington State Board of Health
7 that he would like to send the next day. He asked councilmembers to look at it.
8
9 (Clerk's Note: Discussion continued below.)
10
11 1. DISCUSSION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION REGARDING A POSSIBLE
12 LAND ACQUISITION (AB2003-018)
13
14 McShane moved to go into executive session for approximately 30 minutes
15 to discuss this agenda item.
16
17 Motion carried unanimously.
18
19 2. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE COUNCIL'S LETTER WRITING POLICY
20 (AB2003-157)
21
22 (Clerk's Note: Discussion continued from above.)
23
24 McShane stated there is a draft letter for the Washington State Board of
25 Health. Councilmembers have reviewed it.
26
27 Brenner agreed with the letter.
28
29 McShane stated the intent is to try and get the legislature to come up with a
30 solution to the funding issue of local health departments.
31
32 Brenner stated she received the Governor's version and Senate's version of
33 the State's budget. The Governor's version is current funding for the next
34 biennium. She couldn't compare it with the Senate's version.
35
36 Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the Governor proposed a budget
37 that continued public health funding. However, to do it, it required a supermajority
38 of both the House and Senate because they had to breach the rules for the use of
39 the Health Services account. At the same time, the Health Services account is
40 under a lot of stress. The Governor proposed taking 60,000 people out of the Basic
41 Health Plan. That was disingenuous because there will be pressure not to cut
42 60,000 people in the state from the health insurance plan in order to finance health
43 departments.
44
45 The Senate proposal was to reduce eligibility for people on the Basic Health
46 Plan, but it divorced the issue from the funding for public health. The Ways and
47 Means Chair said they would provide $48 million for public health for the next two
48 years. It was a small reduction. A couple of programs would not be funded.
Committee of the Whole, 4/8/2003, Page 2
1
2 The House budget hasn't been constructed yet, but he's heard they are
3 proposing one year's funding, and then putting a tax levy before the public in
4 November. If that passes, it would create an extensive fund source. It would
5 reimburse the County for all the current funds it contributes to the Public Health
6 Fund now, which is about $2.2 million. Whatcom County is one of the biggest
7 contributors to Public Health Fund in the state.
8
9 Roy asked if they believe it will pass. Desler stated that is the debate. If the
10 vote goes down, there is no guarantee that there would be any funding left for
11 public health after one year. He doesn't think there will be a tax vote in November.
12 He doesn't think the Senate will accept it.
13
14 Brenner stated this is one tax she may support, if the revenue all goes to
15 local health departments. If there is going to be bureaucratic oversight at the State
16 level, she won't support it. Desler stated there would be bureaucratic oversight for
17 both the Senate and House versions.
18
19 McShane stated there already is bureaucratic oversight.
20
21 Desler stated the Senate version adds more extensive performance
22 indicators. In the House version, the money would flow into a public health
23 services account, and then be allocated back out to the counties.
24
25 Crawford proposed changes to the draft letter. Make statements in the
26 affirmative, rather than saying "we believe" or "we suggest." In the second
27 paragraph, amend the words "we believe it is important fe the State must
28 establish...."
29
30
31 Crawford proposed amending the last paragraph so it reads:
32 "We appreciate the support of the State Board of Health in
33 helping to find a solution to this problem. Whatcom County
34 faces several significant funding shortfalls. Adequately funding
35 public health after the loss of state funding poses a very
36 significant challenge that we cannot solve within our current
37 funding structure. A stable and secure statewide funding
38 solution is the first step in protecting the public's health against
39 new and emerging health threats. Even if Whatcom County
40 were to prioritize public health funding over other essential
41 services, our efforts to protect public health will be undermined
42 if other local health boards are unable to participate."
43
44 (Clerk's Note: There was no motion to approve the letter.)
45
46 Vote to approve the letter with Councilmember Crawford's suggested
47 changes carried unanimously.
48
Committee of the Whole, 4/8/2003, Page 3
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:00 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
These minutes were approved by Council on April 22 , 2003.
ATTEST:
Dana Brown -Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Dan McShane, Council Chair
Committee of the Whole, 4/8/2003, Page 4