HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Oct 26 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, October 26, 2021
2:25 PM
Virtual Meeting
VIRTUAL MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 4:45 P.M. (TO PARTICIPATE, SEE
INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil OR CALL
360.778.5010)
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 October 26, 2021
Call To Order
Roll Call
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 3 p.m. in a
virtual meeting.
Present: 7 - Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas,
Carol Frazey, and Kathy Kershner
Absent: None
Announcements
Special Presentation
1. AB2021-608 LEAD and GRACE Annual Community Impact Report
The following people presented:
• Vanessa Martin, Prosecuting Attorney's Office
• Malora Christensen, GRACE & LEAD Program Manager
• Eric Richey, Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney
• Tommy McAuliffe, LEAD Program Supervisor
They answered whether the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD)
program is still grant -funded, whether there are only four case managers
doing the work for each program, and supporting more case managers in the
County.
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, thanked the speakers for their work and
stated a lot is happening behind the scenes.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
Committee Discussion
1. AB2020-219 Discussion and update on strategies and other items related to COVID-19 (Council
and Health Board)
The following people presented about COVID-19 trends and testing:
• Erika Lautenbach, Health Department Director
• Greg Thompson, Co -Health Officer
This agenda item was REPORTED.
2. AB2021-395 Discussion and periodic update of the Shoreline Management Program
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final October 26, 2021
The following people briefed Councilmembers on the "Staff Memo for
10-26-21" (on file) and answered questions about proposed changes:
• Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department
• Ryan Ericson, former Planning and Development Services
Department
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
3. AB2021-209 Resolution regarding permanent affordability of childcare in Whatcom County
Buchanan referred to the "CFWB Task Force Letter for 10.26.2021" (on
file).
Judy Ziels, Health Department, briefed the Councilmembers.
Browne shared a spreadsheet (sent to Councilmembers via email during the
meeting) in which he tried to quantify the cost of the proposed programs,
and Councilmembers and staff discussed the information, whether programs
that require an ongoing source of funding should be started, using the tool
to work out what they want to allocate the non -recurring funding to then
trying to find permanent funding for the other programs, and whether the
Child and Family Well -Being Task Force is working on a parallel worksheet
on financial impacts.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
4. A 132021-610 Discussion with County Executive on options for aid to Point Roberts
The following people briefed Councilmembers and referred to a memo (on
file) and possible actions steps:
• Satpal Sidhu, County Executive
• Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office
The speakers discussed the options with Councilmembers and answered
how the situation is different in Point Roberts than in other border
communities, what the people in Point Roberts say would be most
beneficial to them, and what applications they would use for grant
applications if they went with option three (Grants to impacted businesses
ineligible for state grants).
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
5. AB2021-492 Presentation and discussion regarding Whatcom County's proposed American
Rescue Plan Act funding priorities
Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, briefed the Councilmembers.
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final October 26, 2021
This agenda item was REPORTED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2021-611 Discussion and possible motion to recommend rescinding a previous action of the
Council that established a no shooting zone in Drayton Harbor
This item was not discussed.
This agenda item was NOT ACTED UPON.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adiournment
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 9, 2021.
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Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Whatcom County Page 3