HomeMy WebLinkAboutCriminal Justice Jun 20 2023Whatcom County
Council Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
1:50 PM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 2:10 P.M., MAY BEGIN EARLY
(PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Carol Frazey
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final June 20, 2023
Safety Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, and Carol Frazey
Also Present: Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, and Kathy Kershner
Announcements
Special Presentation
1, AB2023-3391_ Presentation by Whatcom County Search and Rescue
The following people presented:
• Scott Huso, Sheriffs Office
Ben Wood
They spoke about the Search and Rescue (SAR) Council and what SAR does.
Search and Rescue currently leases a building on Smith Road but due to
plans for redevelopment of the Northwest Annex area, they have been given
until the end of May of 2024 to vacate and find another home. They have
had some meetings with the Executive's office, but would like to see what
type of support the County can provide the Search and Rescue groups.
The following people also discussed the topic with Councilmembers:
• Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services
• Bill Elfo, Sheriff
• Gwynne Gruizenga-Top, Search and Rescue Council Chair
• Satpal Sidhu, County Executive
They discussed whether the Northwest Annex area has to be destroyed and
rebuilt, what would be ideal for SAR if they are not at that location, an offer
from a builder to develop land in the Everson area, whether the Irongate
property is a possibility, the fact that SAR may not have to vacate in May
since the Council still needs to decide about the Northwest Annex building
itself, the perspective that Search and Rescue is an essential function of
government, the need for SAR to know whether they have a building or not
or whether they need to consider the offer of land in Everson that is on the
Whatcom County Page I
Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final
Safety Committee
June 20, 2023
table, what dollar amount would be needed for a new building and whether
that could fit into the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) levy as
emergency services, how the County could overcome hurdles of prevailing
wage and gifting of funds, who would own the building, how long it would
take to get a proposal together to address these needs, and whether a
building in Everson is workable for groups such as Bellingham Mountain
Rescue.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adiournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 2:34 p.m.
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Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Barry Buchanan -via email 6/30/2023
Barry Buchanan, Committee Chair
Whatcom County Page 2