HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Mar 21 2023Whatcom 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, March 21, 2023
10:45 AM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 11:45 A.M. (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON AT
311 GRAND AVENUE SUITE 101, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT
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COUNCILMEMBERS
Todd Donovan
Carol Frazey
Kathy Kershner
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final March 21, 2023
Services Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Kathy Kershner called the meeting to order at 10:45 a.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey, and Kathy Kershner
Also Present: Tyler Byrd, Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, and Kaylee Galloway
Announcements
Council "Consent Agenda" Items
Frazey requested to pull Consent Agenda item number 4 from Consent.
Kershner stated she has questions about Consent Agenda item numbers 6
and 8.
Donovan stated he has a question about Consent Agenda item number 7.
Consent Agenda Item number 6 (AB2023-209)
Kershner asked that Buchanan give an explanation of some of the goals and
more information about what Pyramid Communications is doing for the
county as far as communicating to the community, and how that is going.
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, stated he thinks it is important for them to
get the facts to the public.
Buchanan answered whether there would be a "firewall" between getting the
facts out and anything that would. look like campaigning in an election year.
He stated everything they post or that gets sent out gets a review from legal.
Consent Agenda Item number 7 (AB2023-210)
Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, answered whether the
Council has seen this before and whether it is additional money. He stated
this is just re -appropriating the dollars through the Economic Development
Investment (EDI) fund to accomplish these important projects in the City of
Blaine.
Consent Agenda Item number 8 (AB2023-215)
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, and Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office,
briefed the Councilmembers on why an outside consultant is needed and
what the Administration's plan is in using them.
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Steve Oliver, County Treasurer, stated one of the primary things that we
want this firm to help us with is just to develop a holistic strategy around
the financing of all these projects. Another thing would be to schedule a
time with the Council to have a discussion about the process of borrowing
and issuing bonds.
Consent Agenda Item number 2 (AB2023-196)
The following people answered questions:
Elizabeth Kosa, Public Works Department Director
Sandy Korthuis, Public Works Department
They answered what the protocol is for determining that a vehicle is
abandoned and how we are ensuring that they are not being used for
dwelling.
Frazey moved to approve Consent Agenda items one through three and five
through eight. Councilmembers voted on the Consent items (see votes on
individual items below).
1. AB2023 171 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment
between Whatcom County and S. S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc. to make
refinements and modifications to the Whatcom County Groundwater Model, in the
amount of $210,640 for a total contract amount of $496,656 (Council acting as the
Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)
Frazey moved that the Contract (FCZDBS) be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
2. AB2023-196 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Heston Hauling LLC to provide towing, removal and disposal
services for abandoned vehicles that have been declared as junk on the county right of
way in the amount of $32,000
Frazey moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final March 21, 2023
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Nay: 0
3. AB2023-198 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment
between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Ecology to the
2021-2023 Biennial Stormwater Capacity Grant in the amount of $25,000.00 for a
total amended contract amount of $75,000.00
Frazey moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
4. AB2023-206 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment
between Whatcom County, the City of Bellingham and Port of Bellingham for
increased cost of joint consultation and government affairs services in the amount of
$48,000 per year
This item was considered separately below.
5. AAB2023-208. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the City of Blaine in support of the Wellfield Pump
Station Infrastructure Project in the amount of a $375,000 grant and a $125,000 loan
Frazey moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
6. AB2023-209 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment
between Whatcom County and Pyramid Communications for public communications
for the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force in the amount of
$138,850, for a total amended amount of $227,650.
Frazey moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
7. AB2023-210 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the City of Blaine for the G Street Sewer
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Services Committee
improvement project in the amount of a $1,875,000 grant and a $625,000 loan
Frazey moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
8. AB2023-215 Request authorization for County Executive to enter into a contract with PFM
Financial Advisors, LLC for financial advisor services in the amount of $39,000
Frazey moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Council "Consent Agenda" Items Considered Separately
4. AB2023-206 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment
between Whatcom County, the City of Bellingham and Port of Bellingham for
increased cost of joint consultation and government affairs services in the amount of
$48,000 per year
Frazey stated this has been a ten-year contract but the Council has not seen
it before because it has been under the cost threshold to come to Council
until now. Maybe we should review the costs and put out a Request for
Proposal (RFP) to see what is out there and what kind of services we can
get. One concern she has is that, according to the contract, the Council is
supposed to be getting an update every January and she does not think there
has ever been one. There are things the Council should be informed about
when the State Legislature starts their session.
Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, gave a background of
the contract and stated the consultant is planning to come and give a
presentation to Council on April I I to walk through the effort that they have
done over the last couple years. It has been an effective effort with the three
parties associated with it but they have talked a lot about capital and capital
budget and less about bills. If we do decide to do a little bit more of that
moving forward, maybe it would be time to take a look at the framework and
consider whether it should remain the three parties or just be separate with
the County.
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Frazey stated again she would like the County to put out another RFP just to
see what is out there.
Galloway stated she hopes they can schedule a follow-up conversation
around broader strategy and discuss the pros and cons of having a joint
contract versus having our own, and she would welcome a review of the
scope of work to make sure the original one is being followed through on
and to see if it needs to be changed or enhanced in any way.
Frazey stated the contract is dated and the Council is not getting the
services that were expected so it would be good to review it.
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, asked Schroeder if this amendment is
extending the contract for the next 10 years or just for one year and
Schroeder stated he believes it is one year but he does not see it in the
contract. Sidhu stated there is no harm in looking at it again, and he believes
that working with the City and Port helps the County lower our cost, but we
can look at working alone. Taking a year and going through this process of
evaluating with the Council would not be a bad idea.
They answered whether McBride and Associates works with the
administrative team and establishes their work around the goals the
Administration is setting, whether the Administration is reaching out to
Councilmembers to include them in this process of determining the
County's Legislative priorities, and whether that could be more formalized.
Sidhu described the process and stated they do include the Council by
sending them a letter.
Kershner asked that it be scheduled in one of the Council's committee
meetings so that they can have a discussion and it does not get lost in all
their emails.
Buchanan suggested that the Council be involved in determining the
priorities before it goes out to get agreement from the City.
Schroeder acknowledged the work of Councilmember Galloway in
formulating letters from the Council and then having Council conversation
and he stated the Executive's Office has more resources now to help
support this process.
Donovan spoke about doing this process earlier. If it comes to Council a
month before the Legislative session starts it may be too late to have any
impact on what the Legislature might be doing.
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Donovan moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 2 - Donovan, and Kershner
Nay: 1 - Frazey
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2023-149 Ordinance amending the project budget for the Academy Road Stormwater
Improvements Project Fund, request no. 3
Kraig Olason, Public Works Department, briefed the Councilmembers.
Donovan moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
2. AM2023-155 Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 2.128, Business and Commerce
Advisory Committee, to revise membership
Kershner moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION and stated the Business and Commerce Advisory Committee
requested the Council to add two new positions, one in construction and
one at large (reflected in the Proposed Ordinance on file).
Donovan moved to amend Section 2.128.040 Subsections C of Exhibit A so
that it would read:
C. The county council shall appoint one member representing
for -profit entities in each of the following industries:
1. Internet technology;
2. Manufacturing;
3. Food processing;
4. Recreation;
5. Retail;
6. Marine trades;
7. Commercial real estate;
8. Agriculture;
9. Energy industry. ao-1
10. Health care; and
11. C01)strcIC:tJ(r and
12. Three voting representatives, one each, from three of the
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Services Committee
four largestemployers in Whatcom County.
Donovan answered whether he has a definition for largest employers and
stated it is defined by Western Washington University's Center of
Economic and Business Research, and Councilmembers discussed the
motion, non -profits being added as voting members, and getting feedback
first from the Business and Commerce and Advisory Committee.
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Aye: 2 - Frazey and Donovan
Nay: 1 - Kershner
Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council stated a substitute Ordinance could
be prepared for tonight so Council could vote on that version. She asked
about where the added language should be added to the Exhibit.
Donovan agreed that the added language would be more appropriate as a new
Subsection D (which would change D to E and E to F... ).
Kershner asked whether the amendment was adding four members or three
members. Donovan stated it would be adding three members that could be
picked from the four largest employers.
Galloway asked about the impact of adding three of the top four employers
versus current membership since some seem to be represented and
Donovan stated the Western representative cannot vote and the health care
person can be from all sorts of industries and not necessarily from the
largest employer.
Brown -Davis asked whether they need to add into the Ordinance where they
are going to be choosing the top four employers from.
Jill Nixon, Council Office Staff, stated she pulled this information from a
report produced by Western Washington University Center of Economic
and Business Research entitled Whatcom County Top Employers.
Donovan moved to amend the Ordinance to add the following additional
language into the new Subsection D of the Ordinance:
D. The county council shall also appoint three voting representatives,__
one each, from three of the four larL)est emy loyers in Wliatcoln
ConntNI, based on the latest report of Whatcom County Top
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final March 21, 2023
Services Committee
Employers by Western Washington Universitv Center of Economic_
anal Business Research.
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Aye: 2 - Frazey, Donovan, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Clerk's note: See further discussion on this item under Other Business.
Kershner's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION WITH PROPOSED AMENDMENT(S) carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
This item was discussed further under Other Business.
3. AB2023-195. Ordinance amending the 2023 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 4, in the amount
of $7,015,999
Frazey moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION.
Chris D'Onofrio, Health and Community Services, answered what the
housing specialist position would be responsible for, and what percentage
of the work for housing programs is done by the Health Department and
how much is outsourced to the Opportunity Council and other
Non -Government Organizations (NGOs).
Frazey's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
4. AB2023-1 E6 Ordinance amending the project based budget for the Courthouse Improvement
Fund, request no. 4
Donovan moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
5. AB2023-189 Request for motion to approve the Criminal Justice Treatment Account (CJTA) Plan
2023-2025 Update
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Frazey moved that the Request for Motion be RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL.
Perry Mowery, Health and Community Services, answered how this fund
fits in with our Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force (IPRTF),
our Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC), our Law Enforcement
Assisted Diversion (LEAD) programs, and other programs we have set up
for this. He answered whether it is all integrated or whether this is a
completely separate program that we are using to fund separate services.
Frazey's motion that the Request for Motion be RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
6. A132023-195 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment
between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to support operations at the
permanent supportive housing facility 22 North in the amount of $25,000 for a total
amended contract amount of $268,950
Donovan moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION.
Chris D'Onofrio, Health and Community Services, answered whether this is
adding $25,000 and also a requirement for an onsite behavioral health
specialist, whether there are requirements for what that person will be
required to do or any outcome -based contract amendments, whether clients
are required to participate with a behavioral health specialist or whether it is
voluntary, what other services we are requiring at Opportunity Council
around supportive living, whether clients are allowed to stay there if they
refuse to participate in those services, whether the County's contribution to
22 North is only $268,950 if Council approves this $25,000 amendment,
whether the Opportunity Council is using other funds to manage and
maintain staff at the facility and offer services, and whether this extra
$25,000 is adding a 24/7 behavioral health person that is not currently
there.
Donovan's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 2 - Donovan, and Frazey
Nay: 0
Abstain: 1 - Kershner
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final March 21, 2023
Services Committee
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
There were no agenda items added by revision.
Frazey asked about making sure both contract information sheets and actual
contracts are being uploaded to the Legislative Information Center.
Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, answered a question
about the upcoming discussion on using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
money (AB2023-203 scheduled for Committee of the Whole) and whether it
would be a supplemental budget request that comes back to this committee.
Galloway spoke about the Business and Commerce Advisory Committee
(AB2023-155) and whether the amendments made today had been vetted with
that committee, whether the four largest employers have been engaged to
determine if they are interested in serving on the committee, and whether
this amendment triggers any requirements to re -introduce the Ordinance.
Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, stated the Ordinance would not
need to be re -introduced.
Donovan answered the other two questions and stated that the committee
was set up without asking any of the groups that the Council put on it and
they did not discuss setting up the committee with people who are on the
committee. His amendment is populating the committee the same way it
was populated originally when it was established.
Byrd stated the categories were not selected at the whim of the Council but
selected by the Port of Bellingham and through their research. It was
targeted at for -profit businesses because it was supposed to determine how
we bring more for -profit businesses to Whatcom County.
Galloway stated she is not ready to vote on the amendment tonight. They
might consider pushing this out another week to talk it through. One
alternative to consider would be adding one non -voting member
representing the county's k-12 system or finding other ways to go about
this.
Donovan stated he would be willing to support a motion to hold this over
until our next committee meeting, but Kershner stated they would need to
do that in Council tonight since the item was already voted on in committee.
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final March 21, 2023
Services Committee
Adiournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:58 a.m.
ATTEST'
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
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WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
* (1L�N1
Kathy Kershner-via email 3/24/2023
Dana,BroOo II4*,Poundil Clerk
Kathy Kershner, Committee Chair
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Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
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