HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Sep 27 2022Whatcom County
Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
10:35 AM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY NOON (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE
REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR
CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Tyler Byrd
Carol Frazey
Kathy Kershner
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final September 27, 2022
Services Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Tyler Byrd called the meeting to order at 10:35 a.m. in a
hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Tyler Byrd, Carol Frazey, and Kathy Kershner
Absent: None
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, and Kaylee Galloway
Announcements
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2022-4485 Ordinance amending the Whatcom County Budget, request no. 13, in the amount of
$2,081,283
Frazey moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION.
Tyler Schroeder; Director of Administrative Services; answered a question
about the request to "decrease appropriation in the Public Defender to help
fund Assigned Counsel increases" and whether assigned Counsel increases
will be in the upcoming budget.
Mike Hilley, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Manager, and Schroeder
briefed the Councilmembers on the request to "re -appropriate funding for
[the] new medic unit" and answered whether this amount is a carry-over
from last year's budget.
Schroeder and Rob Ney, Administrative Services Department Facilities,
gave an update on the building envelope and answered why it seems that this
item has been done already.
Frazey's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
2. AB2022-487 Ordinance amending the project based budget for the Courthouse Building Envelope
Fund, request no. 4
Rob Ney, Administrative Services Department Facilities, briefed the
Whatcom County page !
Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final September 27, 2022
Services Committee
Councilmembers.
Frazey moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Council "Consent Agenda" Items
Councilmembers discussed how to proceed if they want to discuss an item.
Kershner stated that Council staff requested that they discuss Consent
Agenda item number one (AB2022-463) separately.
Cathy Halka, Council Legislative Analyst, answered whether they should
just discuss this separately or whether it needs to actually be voted on
separately. She stated there is a change being requested to the contract so if
they pull it out they would be able to vote on it.
Kershner requested to pull Consent Agenda item number one
(AB2022-463) from the Consent Agenda.
Kershner moved to recommend approval of Consent Agenda items two
through sixteen.
Councilmembers discussed some of the items as follows:
Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, answered a question
about several items that are funded with Economic Development Investment
(EDI) money and whether the Council has already approved those items as
part of the EDT approval process.
Consent Agenda Item number fourteen (AB2022-523)
Frazey asked about the third Whereas statement of the Resolution that
reads:
WHEREAS, the LTAC further recommends a contingency in the
amount of $150,000 to be used in the event eligible applicants seek
funding for tourism programs later in the year;
She spoke about a concern that it seems you have to know someone to know
that the money is available, and whether they are getting word of the grant
Whatcom County Page 2
Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final September 27, 2022
Services Committee
out there enough since there were only 15 applications for the grant.
Councilmembers discussed having the County representative on the
committee take a message that the Council would like them to re-evaluate
how they are getting word out about grants, and they discussed getting to the
bottom of why some of the people who were funded in 2022 did not request
funding for 2023.
Schroeder spoke about upcoming policy discussions at the Lodging Tax
Advisory Committee (LTAC) about how lodging tax funds would be used in
connection with Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) funds. The committee
could report back to the Council after that discussion and also look at how
to get the word out better.
Consent Agenda items number seven (AB2022-512) and eight
(AB2022-513)
Schroeder and Jori Burnett, City of Ferndale Administrator, answered
whether this round of EDI funds is grant heavy more than loans and whether
we are in good shape giving out more grants relative to loans than we
normally world; what the emergency water intertit- dries about Ferndale's
(or other areas around there) potential for developing if a water agreement
is put together and funded, whether it is just for emergency use only, and
whether it is a back-up for the well systems.
Consent Agenda Item number sixteen (AB2022-530)
Cathy Halka, Council Legislative Analyst, answered questions about why
this amount is coming now and that there was no mention during the
discussion about doing a financial review that it would require a contract
amendment.
Councilmembers voted on the Consent Agenda except for AB2022-463
(see motion and votes below).
1. A132022-46 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Michael Bobbink for hearing examiner services
This item was considered separately. See motion and vote below after the Consent Agenda.
2. AB2022-502 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal amendment
between Whatcom County and the City of Ferndale to extend the term of the Jail Use
Agreement until December 31, 2023
Kershner moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
Whatcom County Page 3
Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final September 27, 2022
Services Committee
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
3. AABB2022-503 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal amendment
between Whatcom County and the City of Blaine to extend the term of the Jail Use
Agreement until December 31, 2023
Kershner moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
4. A B2022-504 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal amendment
between Whatcom County and the City of Lynden to extend the term of the Jail Use
Agreement until December 31, 2023
Kershner moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
5. AB2022-506 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a grant agreement
between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Ecology for the
2021-2023 Biennial Stormwater Capacity Grant in the amount of $50,000
Kershner moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
6. A 02022-500 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the Port of Bellingham for construction costs
Whatcom County page 4
Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final September 27, 2022
Services Committee
associated with the Bellingham Shipping Terminal Clean Power/Telecom project in
the amount of $1,125,000
Kershner moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
7. AB2022-5512 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the City of Ferndale for the construction of an
emergency water intertie in the amount of a $525,000 grant and a $325,000 loan
Kershner moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay
: 0
Absent: 0
8. AB2022-513 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an Interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the City of Ferndale for the construction of a Booster
Station on Church Road in the amount of $250,000
Kershner moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
9. AB2020-514 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whactom County and the City of Ferndale for the construction of a
Metalworks Skatepark in the amount of $200,000
Kershner moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Whatcom County Page 5
Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final September 27, 2022
Services Committee
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
10. AB2022-515 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the City of Lynden for repair and construction of the
City's Community Center in the amount of $300,000
Kershner moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
11. AB20222-516 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the City of Lynden for the Grover Street Pavement
improvement project in the amount of $500,000
Kershner moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
12. AB2022-517 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the City of Lynden for the construction of a trail
connector project in the amount of $500,000
Kershner moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
13. A B2022-518 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the City of Lynden for the construction of the South
Park Street water and street improvement project in the amount of a $387,500 grant
and a $562,500 loan
Wkatcom County Page 6
Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final September 27, 2022
Services Committee
Kershner moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
14. A82022-523. Resolution approving the 2023 Lodging Tax allocations as recommended by the
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Kershner moved that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
15. A132022-525_ Request approval for the County Executive to authorize purchase of 10 Stryker
Power Load systems from vendor Stryker, in an amount not to exceed $265,594
Kershner moved that the Bid Award be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
16. A132022-5 30 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment
between Whatcom County and BERK Consulting, Inc. for the COVID-19 Pandemic
Response Review project in the amount of $2,288
Kershner moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Council "Consent Agenda" Item Considered Separately
Wkatcom County Page 7
Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final September 27, 2022
Services Committee
1. B2022-463 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Michael Bobbink for hearing examiner services
Frazey moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT.
Cathy Halka, Council Legislative Analyst, briefed the Councilmembers and
answered how the term "rare" is defined and whether the Hearing Examiner
currently feels he cannot use a Pro Temp.
Councilmembers and staff discussed whether it should be a two-year
contract, whether there are other models in other counties or whether it is
in our code that we hire a Hearing Examiner this way.
Kershner moved to amend the contract to remove the word "rare."
Councilmembers discussed the motion and getting more information about
whether we feel like we have been successful with cases using the Pro
Temp.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Frazey, Kershner, and Byrd
Nay: 0
Kershner moved to consider extending the contract for two years and
include the six percent increase for the second year as agreed upon at our
last Council meeting.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 2 - Kershner and Frazey
Nay: 1 - Byrd
Kershner requested that Council staff (between now and six months from
now, or even next year) research other jurisdictions and make sure that we
are accomplishing this task in the most efficient and practical way.
Halka stated she would be happy to send them information and get any
additional information that they need.
Frazey's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT WITH PROPOSED AMENDMENT(S)
carried by the following vote:
"atcom County Page 8
Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final September 27, 2022
Services Committee
Aye: 2 - Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 1 - Byrd
Absent: 0
Motion approved to remove the word "rare."
Motion approved to consider extending the contract for two years and include the six percent increase for the second
year as agreed upon at our last Council meeting.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adiournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 11:16 a.m.
ATTFST-,.aa'�;
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Tyler Byrd -via email 10/31/2022
Dana Brgw# avi , until Clerk
Tyler Byrd, Committee Chair
s
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
Wlmtcom County page 9