HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Jul 27 2021Whatcom County
Council Committee of the Whole
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
3:45 PM
Virtual Meeting
VIRTUAL MEETING - ENDS BY 4:45 P.M.; MAY BEGIN EARLY
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 July 27, 2021
Call To Order
Roll Call
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 3:31 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
Announcements
Special Presentation
1. AB2021-402 Report on activities in progress pursuant to Homeless Strategies Workgroup
recommendations
Anne Deacon, Health Department, updated the Councilmembers and
answered questions about what percent of homeless in the county are just
passing through and whose last residence was not in Whatcom County, what
non -profits they are working with to provide overflow winter shelter, how
many families are using motel stays, how many families are still homeless
right now that would be looking for the service, the decline in housing
availability, how much they have started forecasting the implications of the
eviction moratorium expiring, whether there are other options beyond the
Opportunity Council that people needing assistance can go to, what reasons
they are hearing for the increase in families being homeless, why a loss of
income would be causing the loss of housing, and whether the County will
still be able to use the Depot Market Square as an emergency winter shelter.
Ann Beck, Health Department, also answered questions about the eviction
moratorium.
This agenda item was REPORTED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2021-438 Resolution approving the Whatcom County Water District No. 7 Water System Plan
Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, briefed the Councilmembers.
Byrd moved and Frazey seconded that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED
FOR APPROVAL. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 6 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Frazey, Elenbaas, and Kershner
Nay: 0
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final July 27, 2021
Absent: 0
Temp Absent: 1 - Browne
2. AB2021 -1 b5 Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 9.32, Unlawful Discharge of Firearms,
to establish a no shooting zone in the Drayton Harbor area of Whatcom County
Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, briefed the Councilmembers and
Councilmembers discussed how they would like to proceed with the item, a
recent letter from the Lummi Indian Business Council (on file) and a
request for more government -to -government collaboration, and the version
of the ordinance that should be considered.
Byrd moved to recommend introduction of the ordinance with the
1000-foot rule. The motion was seconded by Browne.
Councilmembers discussed the motion.
Byrd withdrew his motion. He stated that the Lummi Indian Business
Council's letter requested a government to government meeting.
Councilmembers and Brown -Davis discussed a timeline for the
aforementioned meeting, who should attend the meeting, a request to
Council staff to contact the governments in the next two weeks, and the
Council getting an update about scheduling the meeting on August 10.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
Committee Discussion
1. AB2021-3339 Discussion to establish a process for filling district court judicial vacancy
Cathy Halka, Council Legislative Analyst, updated the Councilmembers.
Councilmembers discussed and Halka answered questions about why one
applicant was going to be reevaluated, whether the interviews will be in a
noticed and open public meeting, how the interview process will work,
whether the reconsideration of the applicant being reevaluated will be back
to them in time for interviews, whether there will be time limits for
interviewees to answer questions, the process for voting on candidates, and
whether they could get the candidate reevaluation by Monday, August 2nd.
Councilmembers and Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, discussed
how to set up a voting system.
Browne moved that they set up a ranked choice voting system of the top
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final July 27, 2021
three candidates. The motion was seconded by Donovan.
Browne withdrew his motion and moved to do a first round of votes, take
the top vote getters, do a second round of voting, and if after the second
round of voting they do not have a clear winner then do a ranked choice
vote. The motion was seconded by Donovan.
Councilmembers discussed the motion and voting options.
Browne restated his motion to start with a process of voting for your one
favorite candidate, and if we get in a deadlock after two rounds, do ranked
choice voting.
Donovan shared his screen and Councilmembers tried a sample voting tool
online.
Karen Frakes, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, answered whether the voting
tool online would be ok to use and Councilmembers discussed the use of
this type of voting.
Browne clarified his motion to go through the process of voting for one
person until they get deadlocked and if they are deadlocked, they would go
to ranked choice voting.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 6 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Frazey, Kershner, and Browne
Nay: 1 - Elenbaas
Councilmembers discussed the interview questions.
Browne moved to accept the interview questions. The motion was seconded
by Byrd.
Councilmembers discussed the motion.
Frazey moved to send the interview questions to each candidate. The
motion was seconded by Donovan but a motion was already on the floor.
Browne amended his motion to include Frazey's suggestion.
Councilmembers continued to discuss the motion.
The motion carried by the following vote:
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final July 27, 2021
Aye: 5 - Donovan, Frazey, Kershner, Browne, and Buchanan
Nay: 1 - Elenbaas
Abstain: 1 - Byrd
This agenda item was DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED.
2. AB2021.-439 Brief discussion of Comprehensive Plan amendments scheduled for concurrent review
and adoption on July 27, 2021
Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, briefed the Councilmembers.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adiournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
Councilmembers requested that the Health Department's letter
(AB2021-457) be moved in the agenda tonight to be after Sheriff Elfo's
presentation.
The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on August 10, 2021.
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
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