HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Apr 11 2023Whatcom County
Council Committee of the Whole
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
3:05 PM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY4:30 P.M., MAY BEGIN EARLY
(PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT
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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 April 11, 2023
Call To Order
Roll Call
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m. in a
hybrid meeting.
Present: 7 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, Carol Frazey,
Kaylee Galloway, and Kathy Kershner
Announcements
Special Presentation
1. AB2023-234 Update from Tom McBride and Ben Bucholz regarding services provided by
McBride Public Affairs, LLC
The following people presented:
• Tom McBride, McBride Public Affairs, LLC
• Ben Bucholz, McBride Public Affairs, LLC
They gave an overview of the status of the legislative session and spoke
about legislative engagement, House and Senate budgets, eight major
projects that are funded in the operating and capital budget proposals, and a
couple in the Governor's proposal that made it into the House and Senate.
McBride stated they would love to come up and spend time with the
Council doing some interim planning.
They highlighted the following current bills that have been moving through
the legislative process this session:
Senate Bill 5536 (also known as the "Blake Bill") Concerning controlled
substances, counterfeit substances, and legend drug possession and
treatment
Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, and the speakers
answered whether the House version of this bill would preempt local
ordinances such as one passed by the City of Bellingham.
Senate Bill 5120 Establishing 23-hour crisis relief centers in Washington
state
McBride stated the 23-hour release center funds are in the capital budget.
House Bill 1267 Concerning rural public facilities sales and use tax
Schroeder answered how much longer we would get our Economic
Development Investment (EDI) money if the bill does not pass.
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final April 11, 2023
House Bill 1181 Improving the state's response to climate change by
updating; the state's planning framework
House Bill 1792 Modifying timelines and other initial procedural actions in
a water rights adjudication
House Bill 1628 Increasin the he supply of affordable housing by modifying
the state and local real estate excise tax
Frazey thanked the speakers and asked how often the Council could get
these updates during the session, whether Friday Morning Report emails
could be sent directly to Council, and whether they and the Council could
meet in the fall to discuss the Council's legislative priorities,
The speakers answered questions about the budget process and how the
House and Senate conference on versions of bills.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
2. A132023 2,29 Presentation from Northwest Youth Services concerning Positive Adolescent
Development Program shelter for minors, community engagement plan, and agency
update
Jason McGill, Northwest Youth Services, read from a presentation (on file)
about the Bloom Program and the role of Northwest Youth Services to
partner with young people on how to get them out of poverty by focusing on
their wellness and healing through supplying pathways of creativity to help
with wellness stability, building community connections for economic and
housing stability, and building "love warriors" by creating community
platforms that provide a framework for critical thinking. He showed them
the program house, gave program updates, and answered whether the
program incorporates or accommodates religious faith.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
Committee Discussion
1. A132023-214 Discussion on progress to develop the Justice Project Implementation Plan
Buchanan reed from a presentation (on file) about the work that is being
done on the implementation planning and answered questions. He answered
whether polling for preferences on locations and questions on different
facilities is done within the Planning Team group or in the general
population. He stated it is within the group.
Donovan asked whether they can accelerate the timing of when discussions
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final April 11, 2023
of what should go on the ballot will come to Council in order to give them
more time.
Galloway pointed out that where the "Potential Plan Projects for 1 st Poll"
(on file) says, "The proposal has advanced in the Senate capital budget (as of
March 23, 2023)" on page three under "Build a 23-hour Crisis Relief
Center," it should say, "the House capital budget." She spoke about whether
the section on housing should mention sober housing, and making sure
there is a clear strategy for continuing to grow our therapeutic courts.
Kershner stated it is possible they could have a Council work session if
they run out of time.
Frazey stated she does not want to come down to just having two meetings
left to discuss what is going to go on the ballot so she likes the idea of
having a work session, maybe in May.
Buchanan stated the next update will be on May 9th and there will also be a
funding workshop tomorrow (April 12, 2023).
This agenda item was PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. A132023-239 Request confirmation of the County Executive's appointment of Elizabeth Kosa as
Director of Public Works effective April 12, 2023 pursuant to Whatcom County
Code Section 2.75.020
Buchanan moved and Galloway seconded that the Request for Motion be
RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.
Elizabeth Kosa, Public Works Department Director, addressed the
Councilmembers and stated she is excited for the role.
Kershner stated the effective date is April 12 but Kosa stepped into the role
in March, and asked if there is any reason why the effective date is
tomorrow and not in March when she took the position.
Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, stated he assumes it
was to respect Council's decision -making in regards to confirmation of the
Executive appointment.
Kershner moved to amend the motion to backdate this to March 13, 2023.
The motion was seconded by Galloway but Buchanan accepted it as a
friendly amendment to his motion.
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final
April 11, 2023
Buchanan's motion that the Request for Motion be RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL with an effective date of March 13, 2023 carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adiournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 4:38 p.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on April 25, 2023.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
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