HomeMy WebLinkAboutCriminal Justice Apr 26 2022Whatcom County
Council Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
2PM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 2:45 P.M. (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON OR
SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil
OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Carol Frazey
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final April 26, 2022
Safety Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 2 p.m. in a
hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, and Carol Frazey
Absent: None
Also Present: Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, and Kathy Kershner
Announcements
Committee Discussion
1. AB2022-159 Discussion and update on the progress and next steps for the Justice Project (Public
Health, Safety, and Justice Facility Needs Assessment)
Buchanan and Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, presented on the history,
recent developments, plans, and financial considerations.
Bill Elfo, Sheriff, spoke about immediate issues and measures they are
currently using or looking at to ease some of the pressure on the jail right
now.
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, stated he did not have anything to add to the
presentation but he answered questions.
The speakers answered how much pressure it would take off the jail if the
deal happens with the City of Billingham to take felons to Snohomish
County, what was the most number of people the County was able to take to
Yakima County and why that option ended, whether other jurisdictions
out -bid us for Yakima's spaces, when a new facility would open if it was
approved by the voters, what the projected cost was to build the proposed
facility when they went out to the voters in 2015, what a sales tax amount
would need to be now, whether they are also exploring other ways to fund
the jail other than a .2 percent sales tax, and what the projected timeline is
for the work of the Justice Project to be done.
This agenda item was PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2022-256 Resolution amending the membership of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee for the
Justice Project
Whatcom County Page 1
Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final
Safety Committee
Buchanan briefed the Councilmembers.
Cathy Halka, Council Legislative Analyst, spoke about the proposed
changes in the Resolution and whether the number of what constitutes a
quorum should also be changed in the Resolution.
Frazey moved and Byrd seconded that the Resolution be
RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL..
April 26, 2022
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, stated the city mayors wrote a letter to the
Council and it would be nice if the Council responded.
Frazey's motion that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 -
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adiournment
Buchanan, Byrd, and Frazey
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 3:02 p.m.
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Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
Barry Buchanan, Committee Chair
Whatcon: County Page 2