HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Aug 8 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, August 8, 2023
9:50 AM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 10:50 A.M. (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON,
SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil,
OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Todd Donovan
Carol Frazey
Kathy Kershner
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 8, 2023
Services Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Kathy Kershner called the meeting to order at 9:50 a.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey, and Kathy Kershner
Also Present: Tyler Byrd, Barry Buchanan, and Kaylee Galloway
Announcements
Council "Consent Agenda" Items
Frazey moved to approve Consent Agenda items one through fourteen.
Councilmembers voted on the Consent items (see votes on individual items
below).
1. A132J2 �-14'4 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and FCS Group to conduct a rate study and funding analysis for
the Birch Bay Watershed & Aquatic Resources Management (BBWARM) District,
in the a111Vlinl of $V1,'t-tV.VV (4ouncii aliH7 QS file wi3a`�coi►i Coiiiiiy Fioud Coiiti'oi
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. ?{ 2' -486 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to provide child development services to
eligible children, in an estimated amount not to exceed $87,570
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
3. A132023-487 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Whatcom Center for Early Learning to provide child
development services to eligible children, in an estimated amount not to exceed
$106,960
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 8, 2023
Services Committee
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. AB20 93,v 88 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Environmental Science Associates to complete a climate
vulnerability assessment, in the amount of $69,997
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
5. AB2023-494 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and Washington State Military Department for FY2022
Operation Stonegarden (OPSG), in the amount of $97,500.00
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. A9320231-41 5 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Tetra Tech, Inc. in support of the Point Roberts Drainage
Study, to perform surface water planning and design services related to the growing
need for solving stormwater problems in the Point Roberts area, in the amount of
$128,745
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. A13 023496 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interagency agreement
between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Commerce to
receive state funds for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan and development regulations
update, in the amount of $700,000
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 8, 2023
Services Committee
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
8. AB2023-49 ? Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement between
Whatcom County and Children's Home Society for reimbursement of services
provided by the Parents for Parents Program (P4P) for one year July 2023-June
2024 in an amount not to exceed $42,536.78
Frazey moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kersbner
Nay: 0
9. A+ B2023--44998 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
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Administrative Services Organization to acknowledge and fund Whatcom County's
participation in the North Sound Integrated Care Network in the amount of $523,788
for a total amended agreement amount of $972,979
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
10. A B2023-499 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative
Services Organization to fund the Recovery Navigator Program to enhance Law
Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) programming, in the amount of $512,455
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
11. &201.3-50:3 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an Interlocal Agreement
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 8, 2023
Services Committee
between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham for construction of a crosswalk
at Samish Way and Galbraith Lane, in the amount of $17,000 (amount revised to
$22,100)
Frazey moved that the SUBSTITUTE Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
12. l�B2023 - 12 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment
between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to administer the Housing and
Essential Needs program in the amount of $5,106,192 for a total amended contract
amount of $7,917,456
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
13. h B 023 51.7 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Siemens Industry Inc. to provide the energy management
software migration, in the amount of $216,791.81
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
14. AB2023-519 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a subrecipient agreement
between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham to provide pass -through grant
funding for the What -Comm Communications Center in the amount of $49,050
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
Special Presentation
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 8, 2023
Services Committee
1. AB2023 515 Report from the Assessor's Office
Rebecca Xczar, County Assessor, read from a presentation (on file) and
gave an overview of the functions of the Assessor's Office, budget -based
levies, and assessing property values. She spoke about a letter received
from the Department of Revenue (DOR) stating Whatcom County's
percentage ratio of sale prices to assessed value has been under 90 percent,
how the Assessor revalues the 5/6 of county properties that are not in the
current year's inspection area, legislative changes raising the income
threshold to qualify for property tax exemptions and the additional staff
time that will require, the results of appeals made my Petrogas, a large
number of appeals on assessed values this year made to the Board of
Equalization (BOE) and a change to the Assessor's Office process due to
the extreme volume, upcoming budget requests, how tax exemptions shift
the tax burden, and Assessor website updates.
She answered questions about the low real property ratio addressed by the
DOR and whether that means our assessments are higher than market value
or lower. She stated it means our assessed values are too low and will
essentially be going up next year. They have been at around 87 to 88 percent
of market value and the goal is to get over 90 percent this year. She
answered questions about whether a higher percentage means that taxes will
go up, how budget -based levies affect taxes, and how assessments affect the
revenue of levies.
She answered questions about the changing thresholds for exemption and
deferral programs for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and disabled
veterans. Kershner stated she would like Xczar to come back to give a
presentation on this tax exemption portion to understand better what the
process and system look like. Xczar answered whether the extra staff
workload will just be absorbed or whether there will be an FTE request
coming in a supplemental budget, and stated there will be an FTE request.
She answered questions about the Petrogas appeals including how much will
be going back into the General Fund. She stated all of the property owners
in Whatcom County will see some tax relief next year because of this since
everybody has been paying a little more while Petrogas has been paying less
for so long. She answered whose responsibility it is to pay taxes when
assessments are being disputed and how that works, what she anticipates the
appeals from 2019-2022 will yield, and whether she has an estimate of how
much more an average property owner would have been paying due to the
Petrogas appeal.
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 8, 2023
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She answered whether she is aware of any seniors or people with
disabilities who would currently qualify under the exemption previously
discussed and who are losing their homes due to property tax increases,
whether we have a program to refer those people to that would help them
file for a deferral or exemption, whether some properties within the Open
Space Farm and Agricultural Land program are being treated differently than
other properties in that program or whether the whole program is being
treated incorrectly, and whether corrections to inconsistency will result in a
larger tax shift to properties outside of that program.
Frazey stated she appreciates the updates to the website and their work on
Petrogas and stated we may need to talk to the BOE Clerk in the Council
Office and see what kind of help she needs in light of the big increase in
appeals.
Clerk's note: Kershner stated that item number eleven in the Consent
Agenda (AB2023-503) was a substitute contract that they recommended to
the full Council.
This agenda item was REPORTED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
A11,2023. 70.. Ordinance amending the 2023 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 11, in the
amount of $250,000
Frazey moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION.
Randy Rydel, Public Works Department, answered what they are doing with
this item and stated the next agenda item is setting up a project -based
budget for our new Lummi Island ferry replacement and modernization
project and this is seeding some money into that.
Frazey's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
2. A132023475 Ordinance establishing the Lummi Island Ferty Replacement and System
Modernization Fund and establishing a project based budget for the Lummi Island
ferry replacement and modernization project; CRP #919008
Donovan moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION
and stated this the most tangible thing he has seen showing that we are really
close to being able to build a new boat, and all the different funds coming
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August S, 2023
Services Committee
into this one fund is kind of exciting.
Councilmembers discussed the amount of money that is in the account.
Donovan's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
3. AB2023- 02, Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a new grant agreement
between Whatcom County and the State of Washington Department of Ecology to
provide for continued implementation of the Swift Creek Sediment Management
Action Plan Projects, in the amount of $4 million
Frazey moved that the Agreement be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION.
James Lee, Public Works Department, answered what this $4 million will
cover since it is a fraction of the overall ask and stated the big element will
be the construction of approximately a 13-acre wetland mitigation site next
Elizabeth Kosa, Public Works Department Director, stated they will
continue through the legislative session to try to find funds to fully fund
this project but will use the $4 million in the meantime to get things
moving. She answered whether we have plans for bringing some State and
Federal people up to do a site visit and a tour and to explain the urgency and
need for more funding and stated they have not made plans for it at this
point but that is a great idea and is something she will offer up.
Frazey's motion that the Agreement be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
4. AB2023 508. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a Local Agency
Agreement and execute the Federal Aid Project Prospectus between Whatcom
County and the Washington State Department of Transportation, for federal aid funds
for the construction phase of the E. Smith Road & Hannegan Intersection
Improvement project, in the amount of $3,952,642
Frazey moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION.
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 8, 2023
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Doug Ranney, Public Works Department, answered whether this is a new
construction project and briefed the Councilmembers. He answered
whether we were planning to do a round -a -bout in the intersection next year
but need to act quickly to secure the additional $1.5 million and whether we
have all the rights -of -way for the project. He stated their right-of-way
package is submitted to the State for review right now and they feel they are
in a good position to have that approved shortly.
Frazey's motion that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, F'razey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
5. A132023-514 Request approval for the County Executive to award Bid #23-34 for the purchase of
two (2) rescue boats from West Coast Marine Services, located in Bellingham, in an
amount not to exceed $104,702.20
Frazey moved that the Bid Award be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION.
Bill Elfo, Sheriff, answered whether they are working in conjunction with
Search and Rescue (SAR) on these rescue boats and whether it is a
necessary purchase. He stated these are to be used by Search and Rescue
and that they coordinated with them. It is mainly to deal with situations that
may arise in the East County like they experienced in November of 2021. It
is grant funded and they are working with SAR to strategically locate these
where they would be available for as quick a response as possible.
Doug Chadwick, Undersheriff, stated these were added in the 2023-2024
budget. They were going to purchase one in each year and then came back
and asked if they could order both at the same time. This will be a joint
effort between the marine unit and SAR and will provide additional rescue
boats in the event of flooding situations like they saw in the east part of
Whatcom County.
Byrd stated there was a serious lack of boats by people who had the skills
and training to be out there and for that reason, we had a lot of people, who
were not trained, taking their boats out there to try to help. He cannot think
of a better purchase in case this happens again in the future.
Galloway stated she is excited to see this go to a local business and asked
whether they might be willing to set up a tour for Councilmembers to see
the boats being made.
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 8, 2023
Services Committee
Kershner stated she is happy they are coordinating with Search and Rescue.
Frazey's motion that the Bid Award be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
6. A 2ii2_?w;,-1 6 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a grant contract
amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Health Care Authority
to expand the Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) program in the jail in the
amount of $174,945.00 for a total amended amount of $505,075.00
Donovan moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION.
Wendy Jones, Sheriffs Office, briefed the Councilmembers and answered
where people are able to access the same services (medication for opioid
use) in the community that they were being given in jail once they have been
released from jail. She stated 95 percent of their offenders are on Medicaid
or some version of that and when pei)pie Shivw up oil tie release roster,
Medicaid opens backup again. Also, every offender is told about and given a
resource list of clinics they can go to in the community and are released
with a prescription for three days' worth. However, the majority do not
continue the program when they are in the community. She answered where
the warm handoff is to the provider that is going to pick up their case in the
community and whether we have re-entry specialists that are working. She
stated one of the two specialists left the position so their provider is
looking for a replacement, and there is also an issue with the fact that
people are released 24/7 and sometimes someone cannot be there waiting
for them.
Kershner stated it sounds like it is an area where we need to focus some
efforts and hopefully, if we pass the jail initiative, we will have some funds
for that.
Erika Lautenbach, Health and Community Services Director, stated our
Ground -Level Response and Coordinated Engagement (GRACE) and Law
Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) teams are working closely with
jail staff to make sure that there is a warm handoff if it is during office
hours, and they are in the process of hiring a behavioral health aid which is a
transportation position that can be called upon for someone not enrolled in
GRACE or LEAD. She stated they know this is a really key system gap with
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 8, 2023
Services Committee
all of their partners.
Jones answered whether people are on their own if they are released outside
of working hours and whether that might be a place to start to see if they can
make some adjustments. She stated it is not uncommon after hours or on
weekends that one of the jail's transportation -qualified staff will give
someone a lift to where they need to go.
Perry Mowery, Health and Community Services, stated he recently initiated
linking the services of the re-entry team and Lifeline Connections who
provides the services within the jail.
Kershner stated maybe some of the surplus in the Behavioral Health Fund
can be used to help bolster some of these programs as well.
Galloway asked whether they could up the prescription from three days to a
longer period of time to give people more time to make arrangements and
connect to resources, and whether they could address the times people are
being released and learn what that looks like and why it is sometimes
outside of regular hours.
Jones spoke about the legal obligations for releasing people from jail and
that people can go right to a pharmacy when released and are also referred
to walk-in clinics.
Frazey asked what percentage of the people they are releasing actually go to
the walk-in clinic and Jones stated they do not know for sure because they
do not have a way of checking up on it.
Donovan's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
7. A 2023-52 } Request authorization for County Executive to enter into a contract between
Chuckanut Health Foundation and Whatcom County for administration services in
support of the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission in the amount of $235,592
Donovan moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION.
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Strategic Initiatives Special Programs Manager,
briefed the Councilmembers on the contract and answered questions about
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 8, 2023
Services Committee
how members of the appointment committee are appointed and the funds
that will support both the Commission and the appointment committee.
Donovan's motion that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
There were no agenda items added by revision.
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Strategic Initiatives Special Programs Manager,
stated the committee just approved, through the Consent Agenda, a contract
to provide services to children with developmental disabilities through the
Opportunity Council. The Health Department has a companion contract
prepared that is to serve additional needs such as access to physical therapy,
occupational therapy, and speech therapy for children without
developmental disabilities. This was originally going to be funded out of the
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during the budget process, and we neglected to budget for this. In order to
avoid a service disruption, we are asking that the Committee consider a
motion and recommendation to Council to use up to $160,000 in American
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund lapse from the Public Health bucket to fund
this additional contract. Council has already approved the contractual
authority, but we would like your approval to transfer the funds to use the
Public Health ARPA lapse to cover the costs instead of the General Fund.
Kershner moved that we use $100,000 in ARPA lapse from the Public
Health bucket to fund the services to children through the Single Entry
Access to Services (SEAS) program.
Schott-Bresler stated they are hoping for a motion to use up to $160,000.
Kershner amended her motion to used (up to) $160,000 from APRA lapse
from the Public Health bucket to fund services to children under the Single
Entry Access to Services (SEAS) program.
Councilmembers and Schott-Bresler discussed the motion and Galloway
stated if they could see the paperwork before a final decision tonight that
would be helpful.
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final August 8, 2023
Services Committee
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
MOTION SUMMARY:
Motion Approved to use up to $160,000 of unspent ARPA funds from the Public Health bucket to fund services to
children under the Single Entry Access to Services (SEAS) program
Adiournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:07 a.m.
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Kay Kershner-via email 9/11/2023
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Kathy Kershner, Committee Chair
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
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