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Home My WebLink AboutFinance Jan 23 2024Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Committee Minutes - Final Tuesday, January 23, 2024 11:30 AM Hybrid Meeting HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 12:30 P.M. (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010) COUNCILMEMBERS Tyler Byrd Todd Donovan Kaylee Galloway CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C. Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final January 23, 2024 Services Committee Call To Order Roll Call Committee Chair Todd Donovan called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m. in a hybrid meeting. Present: 3 - Tyler Byrd, Kaylee Galloway, and Todd Donovan Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler Announcements Council "Consent Agenda" Items Go/dowo—y moved_ torecommendapprovalofConsent Agenda items one through twelve. Councilmembers asked questions on the following Consent Agenda Items: Consent Agenda #9 (AB2024-080) Jon Scanlon stated Undersheriff Steve Harris has agreed to come to the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee in February to give an update on Operation Stonegarden. He wants to make sure that when we partner with Federal law enforcement agencies we are staying in line with Washington State law, and particularly the Keep Washington Working Act. He would also like to learn about the overall funding for the program. Consent Agenda #11 (AB2024-082) Karen Thomas, Treasurer's Office, answered what the ALUMET CORP items (on the Treasurer's list in the resolution) are in terms of the tax refunds, and stated it was the refund for Intalco who appealed to the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals. Consent Agenda #10 (AB2024-081) Erika Lautenbach, Health and Community Services Director, answered whether the name of the office "People Services" is a new name for "Human Services" and stated she thinks it is a new group within the State Department of Health. Councilmembers voted on the Consent items (see votes on individual items below). AB2024-052 Request for authorization for the County Executive to enter into an amended contract agreement between Whatcom County and L&L Counseling and Consultation for Whatcom County page y Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final January 23, 2024 Services Committee services related to evaluations and treatment services for youth referred to or sentenced under the Special Sex Offender Disposition Alternative in the amount of $35,000 for a total contract amount of $70,000 Galloway moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 2. AB2024r054 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interagency agreement between Whatcom County and the State of Washington Department of Ecology for Whatcom Marine Resources Committee (MRC) operations and projects, in the amount of $135,500.00 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) Galloway moved that the Contract (FCZDBS) be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 3. AB2024 05_5 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Exact Scientific Services to provide water quality analytical testing services, in the amount of $90,000.00 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) Galloway moved that the Contract (FCZDBS) be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 4. A132024 067 Resolution canceling uncollectible personal property taxes Galloway moved that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 5. A B2024-0'76 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and the State of Washington Department of Ecology to receive W/tatcom County Page 2 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final January 23, 2024 Services Committee funding for adjudication technical assistance, in the amount of $300,000 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) Galloway moved that the Contract (FCZDBS) be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 6. AB20 4-07 7 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and United States Geological Survey for funding and technical analysis to assess topographic changes in the Nooksack River channel and support the Floodplain Integrated Planning (FLIP) work, in the amount of $94,050 (Council acting as Whatcom County Flood ControlZoneDistrict Board of -- Supervisors) Galloway moved that the Contract (FCZDBS) be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 7. AB2024-07-8 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Whatcom Conservation District for education and outreach assistance, in the amount of $72,666.31 Galloway moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 8. A[32024 079 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Whatcom Conservaton District for outreach, education and technical assistance, in the amount of $107,341.56 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) Galloway moved that the Contract (FCZDBS) be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 Wkntcom County page 3 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final January 23, 2024 Services Committee 9. A1. 2024 -080 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Military Department to increase the awarded amount for the Operation Stonegarden program by $96,525.00, for a total of $197,025.00 Galloway moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 10. AB2024-081 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Health to fund various public health programs in the amount of $282,183 for a total amended agreement amount of $14,424,841 Galloway moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 11. AB2024.082 Resolution accepting the Treasurer's list of petitions for property tax refunds consistent with RCW 84.69.020 Galloway moved that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 12. A 13202 -08' Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Stephen Jackson Law, PLLC to provide legal representation for Rules of Appeal of Decisions in Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (RALJ) appeal cases in the amount of $18,000.00 for a total amended contract amount of $38,000.00 Galloway moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 Whatcom County Page 4 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final Services Committee Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council January 23, 2024 1. B2024-027, Ordinance establishing a project budget for the Cedar Hills Culvert Replacement Project Fund; SWP #SWLW23-05 Galloway moved that the SUBSTITUTE Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. Kraig Olason, Public Works Department, updated Councilmembers and stated this is a repair project as a result of the 2021 storm. It is a FEMA project, so it will primarily be paid for by FEMA at about 90 percent. The request today is for preliminary design work. Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, stated this is a substitute version. Galloway's motion that the SUBSTITUTE Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 2. AB2024-028 Ordinance amending the project budget for the Public Safety Radio System Fund, request no. 4 Byrd moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. Byrd stated the public safety radio system has been an issue for a long time so it is good to see that we are continuing to work on that and fix some of the problems. Donovan stated he concurs and this is grant funding helping out with that. Byrd's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION carried by the following vote: Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 3. AB2024-034. Ordinance amending the 2024 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 3, in the amount of 1,693,840 Councilmembers and staff discussed the following requests: Review of Countywide Fire and EMS systems 04503) Stremler asked who does a study like this and the following people answered: Whatcom County Page 5 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final January 23, 2024 Services Committee • Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services • Satpal Sidhu, County Executive • Cathy Halka, Council Legislative Analyst They discussed the question, and that this request is just allocating the budget and they are not spending the money yet. If funding is approved the County would issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) and then it would be brought back to Council. Halka stated she got a preliminary estimate from a firm that does this type of work. Request to fund Workforce Development - CDC Covid Recovery from grant proceeds. (#4507) Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services, answered what happens to employees hired with grant money when the grant money comes to an end. Requests to fund 2024 Fleet Electrification S14dy(445151 and to fund Fleet Electrification transfer - companion to #4515 #4517) Stremler stated he has concerns about electrification and asked what the goal of the study is. Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, stated one of the things in the 2021 Climate Action Plan is to look at electrification of the County's fleet. We opted to go for a study to look at the feasibility and what makes sense given current technology. He described what the study would look like. Byrd asked what percentage of the fleet they are looking at replacing and Stoyka stated they do not have a set amount. They would look at what makes sense for fleet usage. Byrd spoke about problems with electric vehicles in cold weather and maybe keeping some of the fleet non -electric. Galloway stated this is consistent with a resolution approved in 2022 by the Council (Res 2022-033). This effort can help the county leverage funds to ease the transition. Stremler stated he urges everyone involved in this to be cautious about making blanket statements like "complete fleet electrification," and hopes that each type of fleet vehicle can be addressed individually. Galloway moved that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. The motion carried by the following vote: Whatcom County Page 6 Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final January 23, 2024 Services Committee Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan Nay: 0 Items Added by Revision There were no agenda items added by revision. Other Business There was no other business. Adiournment The meeting adjourned at 12 p.m. ,.7 .,9t,c3a �eatt ATTEST'. IV - "y ° 4oN'' 41 °off WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WA Al Todd Donovan -via email 1/26/2024 Dana:Brown-Nv�t�S,�ourcil Clerk ®°� Todd Donovan, Committee Chair tbi no Kristi Falhinger1 ;nuteU Transrritntinn N?eatcom County page 7