HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Nov 22 20221 ,1
Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
2:35 PM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 4:30 P.M. (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON AT
311 GRAND AVENUE SUITE 101, 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 November 22, 2022
Services Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee member Kathy Kershner called the meeting to order at 2:37
p.m. in a hybrid meeting.
Clerk's note: Byrd was present but not able to call the meeting to order. He
acted as chair for the meeting after the reading of the first item.
Present: 3 - Tyler Byrd, Carol Frazey, and Kathy Kershner
Absent: None
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, and Kaylee Galloway
Announcements
Special Presentation
1. AB2.022-666 Report from the Auditor's Office
Diana Bradrick, County Auditor, reported and answered why there has been
a decrease in the number of recorded documents and licensing in the
Auditor's Office in the last ten years, and why the Auditor's Office has not
been able to fill a vacant position.
Byrd started to read the first item under the next section of the agenda
(Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council) but Kershner
requested they hear from staff regarding AB2022-648 (from the Consent
Agenda) first to accommodate staff (see this report below).
Before going to that item, Elenbaas asked whether the Auditor's request is
that the County offer prospective employees more money or put them in a
different category
Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, stated she could pass that question
on to the Auditor since the Auditor had left the meeting.
This agenda item was REPORTED.
Council "Consent Agenda" Item Presentation
3. AB2022-.648 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Washington State Military Department for State Individual
Assistance Grant Funds for November 2021 Flood housing assistance, in the amount
of $2,050,000
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final November 22, 2022
Services Committee
Kershner moved to discuss this item but a motion was not needed.
John Gargett, Division of Emergency Management, updated the
Councilmembers (Councilmembers voted on this item later with the
Consent Agenda).
ACTION SUMMARY: This item was presented here then voted on below in the Consent Agenda.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2022-601 Ordinance amending the project based budget for the Courthouse Improvement
Fund, request no. 2
Kershner 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
2. AB2022-604 Ordinance amending the Whatcom County Budget, request no. 15, in the amount of
$153,395
Kershner 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
3. AB2022-609 Ordinance amending the project based budget for the Courthouse Building Envelope
Fund, request no. 5
Kershner moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION.
Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, spoke about the
several items on the agenda regarding the Courthouse Improvement Fund
and stated that the rest of the items that will be discussed and recommended
to Council today are corresponding to Additional Service Requests (ASRs)
in the 2023-2024 budget. He also answered whether they are for different
projects for the Courthouse Improvement and whether they will be approved
prior to approving the budget.
Kershner's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
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Services Committee
ADOPTION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
4. AB2022-612 Ordinance amending the project budget for the Courthouse Improvement Fund,
request no. 3
Kershner 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
5. AB2022 6613 Ordinance amending the project budget for the Criminal Justice Integrated Case
Management Systems Fund, request no. I
Kershner 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
6. AB20.22-614 Ordinance amending the project budget for the Finance System Software Fund,
request no. I
Kershner 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
7. AB2022-61.5 Ordinance amending the project budget for the Silver Lake Park Improvement Fund,
request no. 4
Kershner moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and .Kershner
Nay: 0
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Absent: 0
8. A132022 616 Ordinance establishing the Bellingham Senior Center HVAC Replacement Fund and
establishing a project based budget for the Bellingham Senior Center HVAC
Replacement project
Kershner moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION.
Bennett Knox, Parks and Recreation Department Director, answered
whether the County is putting in appropriate filtration systems into this
HVAC system since it will be functioning in a senior center with an older
population that can be more susceptible to airborne viruses, and whether
there are any other anticipated improvements that we should be thinking
about for this building that will allow for a longer -term occupancy and
ensure a return on our investment.
Kershner's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
9. AB2022-617 Ordinance establishing the Plantation Rifle Range Lead Reclamation & Capital
Improvements Fund and establishing a project based budget for the Plantation Rifle
Range Lead Reclamation & Capital Improvements project
Kershner 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
10. AB2022 637 Ordinance closing COVID-19 Emergency Response (CARES Act) Fund 134
Kershner moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION,
Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, briefed the
Councilmembers and answered whether we have an anticipated number that
we are going to need to be raising or finding to service a debt on a new
correctional facility, and what a typical annual payment would be on a $150
million bond.
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Services Committee
Kershner's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
11. A132022-638 Ordinance establishing a Capital Facilities Reserve Fund
Kershner moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION.
Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, answered whether
they have made any decisions on how this fund is going to be funded.
Kershner's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
12. A132022-644 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Cando Recycling and Disposal to provide curbside collection
services in Point Roberts, in the estimated amount of $475,000
Kershner moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION.
Jennifer Hayden, Health Department, briefed the Councilmembers and
answered whether new ownership has taken place in the company, whether
resident concerns about this contract have been addressed and whether the
County has been communicating with the community, and whether this is a
competitive contract.
Kershner's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 2 - Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 1 - Byrd
Absent: 0
13. AB2022-646 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to administer rental assistance to people
with co-occurring disorders, in the amount of $49,600
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Frazey moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION.
Jackie Mitchell, Health Department, briefed the Councilmembers and
answered how many people we serve with this contract, whether there was a
Request for Proposal (RFP) process, and whether there were any other
applicants.
Frazey's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 2 - Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 1 - Byrd
Absent: 0
14. A132022-66 n Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to operate the Access ID Program, in the
amount of $45,000
Frazey moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION.
The following people answered questions:
• Amanda Burnett, Health Department
• Kathleen Roy, Health Department
• Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services
They answered how much of this comes from General Funds and how much
comes from the Behavioral Health Fund and whether there is a difficulty
with transferring it all over to the Behavioral Health Fund and out of the
General Fund, whether it is a possibility to save $18,000 in the General
Fund by putting that back in and instead taking it out of the Behavioral
Health Fund, who has been served under this contract, whether they have any
data from the Legal Advocates who were running the program before on
how many people were served, and whether they were keeping track of
whether those people were Behavioral Health dollar -eligible or not.
Schroeder stated the contract was originally just a General Fund contract.
There are reporting requirements in the contract so the Opportunity Council
will be providing a quarterly report on the individuals served, identification
cards issued, and referral sources. It could be an item that the Health
Department thinks about including in the reporting requirements for the
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next year to be able to then report back if and when we extend this contract
to think about whether or not we could transfer the fund to the Behavioral
Health Fund.
Burnett answered whether a Request for Proposal (RFP) went out for the
contract and where it was advertised.
Kershner stated she hopes they are continuing to see the need to develop
new providers across the board with the services we have in our community.
Frazey's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 2 - Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 1 - Byrd
Absent: 0
15. AB2022-6 70 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to provide Leasing Specialist and
intensive case management services, in the amount of $454,470
Kershner moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION.
Barbara Johnson-Vinna, Health Department Housing Program Specialist,
answered whether this is for the senior building that is being put up on
Forest Street, whether it is a total of 122 (80 plus 42) people that are being
served, whether there is treatment available for those with substance use
disorders and mental illness and what case management looks like for them,
whether any of the clients served in this program are residing at 22 North or
a similar model, whether we have any data on the success rate of folks
graduating from the program and becoming more independent, and what
they measure for outcomes of the program.
Kershner's motion that the Contract be Recommended for Authorization
FAILED by the following vote:
Aye:
1 - Frazey
Nay:
1 - Byrd
Absent:
0
Abstain:
1 - Kershner
Council "Consent Agenda"
Items
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final November 22, 2022
Services Committee
Kershner moved to approve Consent Agenda items one through ten.
Councilmembers discussed some of the items first.
Consent Agenda Item number two (AB2022-647)
Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, answered whether
there is not an increase in rate but just an agreement update that we may be
using the Snohomish County Jail as a correctional facility, and whether we
pass the cost on to the cities when we have to go to Snohomish County.
Consent Agenda Item number four (AB2022-655)
Kershner gave credit to and thanked Jim Karcher and James Lee in the
Public Works Department for securing nearly $9 million in funding to
replace the bridge.
Jim Karcher, Public Works Department, stated they are excited to get
started.
Consent Agenda Item number nine (AB2022-672)
Sue Sullivan, Health Department, answered whether this is a pass through to
the City of Bellingham to take care of hazardous waste from Foundational
Public Health Services Funds, whether the City is doing the work, whether
this is only for public property and only for abandoned encampments,
whether this is code for sweeps, whether this program is affiliated with the
Purple Bag Program that the City has been working on implementing,
whether coordination with the Homeless Outreach Team is built into the
contract, and whether this service is available to people in Bellingham that
are on private property and have a homeless encampment on that private
property.
Consent Agenda Item number six (AB2022-658)
The following people answered questions:
® Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services
® Christ Thomsen, Parks and Recreation Department
They answered how much this is utilized, how much we have contracted with
them in the past for these services, and whether there is any appetite to
bump the funding up a little bit.
Councilmembers voted on the Consent Agenda items (see votes on
individual items below).
1. A 2022-645 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
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Whatcom County and Lydia Place to provide transitional housing services, in the
amount of $55,752
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
2. AB2022-647 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal amendment
between Whatcom County and the City of Everson 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
3. A132022,648 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Washington State Military Department for State Individual
Assistance Grant Funds for November 2021 Flood housing assistance, in the amount
of $2,050,000
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
4. A132022-655_ Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a local agency agreement
between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Transporation, for
the North Lake Samish Drive Bridge No. 107 Replacement Project, CRP No.
913006, in the amount of $$,997,310.00
Kershner moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
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Services Committee
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
5. A1132022-656_ Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Associated Earth Sciences, Inc to prepare a study plan and
install monitoring equipment for the quantification of the timing and magnitude of
groundwater pumping on streamflow depletion at three study locations, in the amount
of $99,192 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District
Board of Supervisors)
Kershner moved that the Contract (FCZDBS) be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
6. AB2022-658. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement between
Whatcom County and the South Fork Valley Community Association for operation of
the Van Zandt Community Hall located at Josh VanderYacht Memorial Park, in the
amount of $1,000
Kershner moved that the Agreement be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
7. A B2022-664 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and Whatcom Conservation District for
Domestic -Municipal Water Use Efficiency Project, in the amount of $33,400
(Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of
Supervisors)
Kershner moved that the Contract (FCZDBS) be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Frazey, and Kershner
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final November 22, 2022
Services Committee
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
8. AB2022-671_ Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of
Children, Youth and Families to provide funding for the Nurse Family Partnership
Program in the amount of $414,362.59 for a total amended agreement amount of
$806,056.18
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. A132022-672, Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and City of Bellingham for the removal of solid and
hazardous waste related to homeless encampments and illegal dump sites, in the
amount of $150,000
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
10. AB2022-674 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a lease agreement
between Whatcom County and John von Krusenstiern for warehouse space to store
countywide records for a period of five years, in the amount of $31,554.48 per year,
for a total amount of $157,772.40
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
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Services Committee
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adjournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, gave an update on the
discussion about the budget for this evening. All the technical corrections
and Council changes that have been discussed have been included in the
document, and at the end of 2024 there will be an ending fund balance of
$ 17,250,000 for the General Fund which is exceeding the minimum
reserve. The updated document has been uploaded to the file and is online
for consideration tonight. Also, the General Fund levy Ordinance with the
one percent (1%) increase for consideration tonight does not include the
child and family tax. There is an item scheduled for introduction tonight for
that levy if the vote for it were to pass by the time the election is certified.
He outlined the process that will need to take place if the ballot measure is
successful. The Council would need to consider to rescind the motion to
adopt the General Fund levy Ordinance on December 6th if it is passed
tonight and then adopt the one with the child and family levy lift.
The meeting adjourned at 4:09 p.m.
ATTEST
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Dana --Brow - �i,,,14, , 01 Clerk
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Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Tyler Byrd -via email 11/29/2022
Tyler Byrd, Committee Chair
Wleatcom County page 12