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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Jan 24 2023Whatcom County Council Public Works & Health Committee COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Committee Minutes - Final Tuesday, January 24, 2023 2:30 PM Hybrid Meeting HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 3 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 Carol Frazey Kaylee Galloway Kathy Kershner CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C. Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final January 24, 2023 Committee Call To Order Roll Call Committee Chair Kathy Kershner called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. in a hybrid meeting. Present: 3 - Carol Frazey, Kaylee Galloway, and Kathy Kershner Absent: None Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, and Ben Elenbaas Announcements Special Presentation 1. A132022-706 Update from Whatcom County Medical Examiner Allison Hunt, M.D. Allison Hunt; Whatcom County Medial Examiner, prP3Pnterd. Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, answered what is currently budgeted for the Medical Examiner's Office and whether the total_ contract amount (see AB2022-731) is spread over several years. Hunt continued the presentation and answered whether she has statistics on deaths over the last year, why there was a steep rise (33 to 405) in reported natural death numbers from 2021 to 2022, whether she has had trouble finding staff, whether she has data about how much tissue donation is occurring now compared to before, whether all death cases get referred for tissue donation even if the person did not give consent to donate tissue, and whether it is her intention to hire staff from Whatcom County instead of from Skagit County. Schroeder answered whether there is a plan for rolling the Medical Examiner into the County's organization as opposed to it being contracted out, and whether they would still be able to roll it into the County if they approve the budget amendment. Hunt answered how long a fall stays linked to a person, and whether the coroners of the comparable counties she listed in her presentation are all part of government. Kershner stated she would appreciate seeing employees from Whatcom County hired under her office and working here. M ntcom County Page I Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final January 24, 2023 Committee Hunt answered whether accreditation is another capital request they might be seeing and whether the lack of proper facilities affects our ability to get accredited. Schroeder answered whether proper facilities would be up and running by 2025. The County needs to look into long-term facilities that meet those accreditations and it is on the County's list. He answered whether it would be worth tacking that on to our new correctional facility with our mental health and substance abuse services. Hunt answered whether she conducts satisfaction surveys and stated she does not. This agenda item was PRESENTED. Items Added by Revision Other Business Adiournment There were no agenda items added by revision. Galloway stated that in that the Finance Committee they heard from Public Works about the Ferry and recognized that perhaps there was some parallel effort needed to look into the current code that addresses ferry fares. She was hoping they could set aside some time in this committee at the next meeting to have a preliminary discussion of what some of those policy questions might be as they prepare for revising the code. Kershner stated she has been getting requests from constituents regarding the childcare implementation plan. She has reached out to the Health Department and believes they are going to have an update at next week's Health Board meeting. The meeting adjourned at 3:01 p.m. Whatcom County Page 2 Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final January 24, 2023 Committee �e,a���Vivd811119� ATTE$T` WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL m: WHATCOM COUNTY, WA Kathy Kershner-via email 1/30/2023 Dana Brgwn-0ftv1sC©uricil Clerk Kathy Kershner, Committee Chair �)/'CLA1 Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription Wtatcom County Page 3