HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Jul 12 2022I
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
2:50 PM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 4:45 P.M.; MAY BEGIN EARLY
(PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Carol Frazey
Kaylee Galloway
Kathy Kershner
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final July 12, 2022
Call To Order
Council 'Mice Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 3 p.m. in
a hybrid meeting.
Present: 7 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, Carol Frazey,
Kaylee Galloway, and Kathy Kershner
Absent: None
Announcements
Special Presentation
1. AB2022-398 Presentation regarding the proposed 2023-2028 EMS Levy Plan
Mike Hilley, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Manager, presented and
answered how passing a levy at $.199 now would put the 5th medic unit in
Lynden at risk if it was already planned for and promised at the last levy,
whether the Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) money
mentioned in the slides will continue, whether the $.295 rate maintains the
scope of work or whether there is a bigger ambition for it doing more, and
whether we are going to be generating more money with the levy going
forward at $.295 with the GEMT than we were generating from 2016 to
now at $.295.
Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, answered whether they are saying
property taxes will not go up fifty percent if this levy rate passes at $.295 in
2023, what it means that collection of the property tax will not increase
from what the current rate is this year, what is in the plan that requires that
increased amount, what the reserve is right now of the EMS fund balance
and how they got that, whether the EMS fund balance is 70% of the current
year's operating expenses and whether it includes the GEMT, and whether
we are maintaining a reserve for money that we expect to come in anyway
whether or not the levy passes.
Councilmembers and Schroeder discussed that this is a huge ask
considering what Whatcom County taxpayers are looking forward to in the
next several years; whether they are shooting for the moon instead of asking
for what they need; asking for something realistic and having it pass rather
than shooting for the moon and having it not pass; whether the rate will go
down over the six years; whether it is accurate that we had a rate of $.295 in
2016 and we brought in so much money and now we are going to keep that
rate and bring in more money than we did with the initial rate but we are
going to provide more services; and incorporating Frazey's diversity, equity,
wkatcom County Page I
Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final July 12, 2022
and inclusion language into the levy plan.
Cathy Halka, Council Legislative Analyst, clarified that Frazey's proposed
language changes are represented in turquoise on document page five (pdf
page six) and document page 47 (pdf page 48) of the document on file titled
"Substitute Levy Plan (Franey) for July 12" as follows:
On document page five (pdf page six):
In order to achieve marked imp ernents in diversityequity, and
inclusion,the EMS Lev y in _Qommittee identified the followi
recommendations:
- 'rrack data set tat y� q Mq a p lat:ly j W rcs� tq�L, rgs IL_ _t:g_
targets
in ove outreach and recruitment efforts
If Disctlnd k1clifli'v or,)porainities for standardized
piLictices
- Createa culture of inclusion in the worMllace and in thl tr
I lmppQyim ( Liyer -EM,L ,qvy_Cornmjttee and establish a
subcommittee on diveruity and inclusion
More information and recommendations on these efforts is included
On document page 47 (pdf page 48):
3. Standardized hiring practices
more mclttsivc and
- - --------- -- -----
With Drivate
amlndancc, con-qw1n,.iCS,, "Irc-, dcjxt rtnwnts, imd-other 'EMS
,ID(I W60HS \vhi-c cornn-t()elcl-n("nl(s ofte,
. . .. . ...... - ---- ---- -.--
"'I hirin', proccss ("Xr-A, Ino%'N'tind I-deld`y ---
cr(.fla, inn
m thc
f - dcniifV bar -11crs in hirin,�Ianld to,kddrcss
...... . ..... . .........
i,ecs"11,111Y f(V 01)[)OICUMit'CS 60F inlpf'OVCITICIIC
-h-a
Whalcom County Page 2
Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final July 12, 2022
Councilmembers discussed the language.
Bill Hewitt, Fire Chief for Bellingham Fire Department and Whatcom
County Fire District Eight, spoke about the proposed language and answered
why the language was there and then taken out at some point.
Councilmembers and Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, discussed
when a motion can be made on this and whether they need to choose which
levy plan should be part of the ordinance. The turquoise language is an
amendment to the plan which was previously approved.
Hilly and Schroeder answered how much it costs us to train a paramedic,
whether we ask for a commitment to the program from the trainees,
incorporating language into all the agreements that if we are spending
$160,000 to train somebody to be a paramedic that we would expect them
to provide services for a minimum of five years for the County before they
leave, whether total Advanced Life Support (ALS) expenses are projected to
go up from $13,382,308 in 2021 to $24,640,353 for 2022 as referenced
on page 46 of the levy plan, what the labor cost increases are, and why
current labor costs were left out of the projections.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2022-365 Ordinance providing for submission to the qualified voters of Whatcom County a
proposition renewing the levy of a regular property tax at a rate of $.199 or less per
$1000 assessed valuation (amended from original request of $.295) to continue to
provide emergency medical services
Galloway introduced her proposed amendments to the Ordinance and spoke
about whether adopting those amendments would automatically codify the
"Substitute Levy Plan (Frazey) for July 12."
Galloway moved to approve the amended substitute version of the
2023-2028 levy plan as presented by Councilmember Frazey. The motion
was seconded by Donovan.
Galloway clarified that this motion would be trying to approve the updated
diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) substitute language that is shown in
the "Substitute Levy Plan (Frazey) for July 12." The proposed language is
highlighted in blue with the updated amendments to the levy plan that differ
from the version that we had approved at the previous meeting (see
proposed language in AB2022-398 above).
wtatcon: County Page 3
Council Committee of the whole Committee Minutes - Final
July 12, 2022
Galloway clarified the motion and stated it is to update the substitute
language of the diversity, equity, and inclusion section in the levy plan. This
would not be approving the whole levy plan, this would be approving just the
updated DEI language.
Councilmembers discussed the motion and Mike Hilley, Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) Manager, answered questions about the language.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and
Kershner
Nay: 0
Galloway moved to amend the Ordinance to include the rate of $.295 or
less per $1000 of assessed valuation and it would include the four or five
mentions of the levy rate. The motion was seconded by Donovan.
Councilmembers discussed the motion, whether people will vote no on it
because they will see tax increase at a time the economy is struggling, and
an opportunity the Council had in April to bring another amount forward.
Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, answered what the difference would be
for the typical household between the $.199 and $.295 rates.
Councilmembers discussed whether they talked about this potential rate in
April, and whether they should have had more time to have a robust
discussion about what we would get for those different rates.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 4 - Donovan, Frazey, Galloway, and Buchanan
Nay: 3 - Byrd, Elenbaas, and Kershner
Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, stated they would most likely have
to re -introduce the Ordinance since it is amended.
Galloway briefed the Councilmembers on her other proposed amendments
and read them into record (see document [on file] titled ,Galloway
amendment proposals for 7.12" ). They were as follows and integrated into
the Ordinance as in the document on file:
WHEREAS the _,I\l spcsponds tq xcsaci �°�n�of`_l�Lnpie
the diverse
comniunit es of Whatcorn Count —.and
WhaPcoae county Page 4
Council Committee of the whole Committee Minutes - Final July 12, 2022
WHEREAS-ji-ve til in_Rro �.ms and services to improve divers
e uiry,, gnd inclusion its iIle wok lacg including tra:Li amend
dedicated e qqn l tQ_ improve ar1c1 tra Lcprog s orq re ruiitment..
and retention hirin ractic�s ar�ci a wor lsrce ult re — of inclusion
will enhance EMS service _deliveyr and better assist those in need
and
WI-IEREA,S _ssu crtin he FAlS cv�, s,a pr°rrna _7�andin_gw.
mechanism for cotrrr vvidc EPOS is ka to adyand hat. . .
punt ddiver°site oily„ and tac lusion rr�aiorities�, and
?Ih t°rwt�e;rariss blq_by aw,_p r°. pnpig1 casts and train n) shouLd 'ILL
include essential di ° a -, eq.,Lpity mind inclusion c.qm nerL[ of`
recruitment hi, °rin retention, and training of personnel.
Elenbaas suggested they change the word "will" to "may" in the second
proposed amendment so that it would read:
WHEEl�_EA5 vesti . and s�pL e,_to irn ve_c iy K°pity
ity,:aqcl inclusion in Lf ce rk lace i cludintraining and
dedicated Dersonnel to improve and track ro ress on recruitment
and retention, hir•ing��a��cf es, and awork�p�ace cLIILg °� a� rnl lusigt
Mt4jrmi enhance vi� IDS service delivgr-y-�jrad _�etter assist thole in -
Galloway stated she could accept that as a friendly amendment.
Galloway moved to amend the Ordinance to include the diversity, equity
and inclusion language as outlined in the document "Galloway amendment
proposals for 7.12" with the friendly amendment of "may enhance EMS
service delivery" in the second of those Whereas clauses.
The motion was seconded by Frazey.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, Kershner, Buchanan, and
Byrd
Nay, 0
Galloway moved to recommend to introduce the Ordinance as amended
providing for submission to the qualified voters of Whatcom County a
proposition renewing the levy of a regular property tax each year for six
Wkatcont County Page 5
Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final July 12, 2022
years, collection beginning in 2023, at a rate of $.295 or less per $1000 of
assessed valuation to continue to provide emergency medical services, in
the general election to be held November 3, 2022.
The motion was seconded by Buchanan.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 4 - Frazey, Galloway, Buchanan, and Donovan
Nay: 3 - Elenbaas, Kershner, and Byrd
J III
Recommended for Introduction as Amended.
1. A I32022-378 Discussion of an ordinance granting Cascade Natural Gas Corporation a franchise for
the transportation of natural gas in Whatcom County
Andrew Hester, Public Works Department, answered whether the related
Ordinance (AB2022-380) is scheduled for introduction tonight and briefed
the Councilmembers. There were two versions of the Ordinance floating
around, one of which was emailed to Councilmembers after the Ordinance
was posted online. But the one posted online is the one that they would be
presenting for the public hearing.
Galloway pointed out the difference between the two versions. In Section
12 66Coordination of Construction Activities," of the draft version, the
language was stronger than in this version.
1 I>
2. AB2022 25 I Discussion of proposed resolution establishing priorities for Whatcom County's 2025
Comprehensive Plan update
Galloway briefed the Councilmembers and stated the 66Substitute
Resolution" (on file) includes updates reflecting feedback from
constituents and organization representatives received during a six -week
comment period.
Councilmembers discussed the goal for the re -format being to make clear
that not every item in the Resolution will be mandated but it is rather that
they have established a set of goals and a vision for the Comprehensive Plan
and they are providing examples and opportunities for our county as they
work towards the implementation of those values, whether the word "must"
should be softened in the statement "coordination and collaboration roust
Wkatcont County Page 6
Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final July 12, 2022
occur" in the "Be it finally resolved" section, scheduling the item for a
longer discussion to give opportunity for people to weigh in and to make
amendments, whether the input received so far has been
Bellingham -centric, what the process should be going forward considering
all the discussion today, working with the Clerk of the Council to schedule
some time (such as a special meeting or larger chunk of time in the next
Committee of the Whole meeting) to have a collaborative or interactive
work session, maybe having a public hearing on the Resolution, and
continuing to move this forward and to gather and incorporate feedback or
specific wording into the document.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adjournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 4:47 p.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on July 26, 2022.
AT ®�T: Rj
® a ° NT r>
CQ
Dana Brow 1691§, Council: Clerk
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCjM COUNTY, WA
Todd D- d6van, Council Chair
Wkatcom County page 7