HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Apr 9 2024Whatcom 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 9, 2024
2:05 PM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 4:30 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
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Kaylee Galloway
Jon Scanlon
Mark Stremler
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final April 9, 2024
Call To Order
Roll Call
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 2:20 p.m. in a
hybrid meeting.
Present: 7 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway,
Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler
Announcements
Special Presentation
1. ABi2024-249 Presentation on Whatcom Racial Equity Commission (WREC) Appointment Process
Shu-Ling Zhao, Chuckanut Health Foundation, read from a presentation (on
file) about the process for appointing new members to the Whatcom Racial
Equity Commission (WRFC) and Council's confirmation of those
appointments at tonight's Council meeting.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
Committee Discussion
1. AB2024-241_ Discussion of an ordinance amending WCC 10.34 Ferry Rates
Elizabeth Kosa, Public Works Department Director, read from notes (on
file as "Ferry Council notes 4.9.2024") about the changes to the code
language, including ones that were added (noted in blue) since the last time
Council considered an ordinance on this section (AB2023-258) and it was
vetoed for process.
She and C-ouncilmembers discussed the proposed change to 10.34.0201
about employee trips which says that County employees (other than Public
Works and the Sheriff Department) would now pay regular ticket price into
the fare box. Questions included whether trips for official County
employee business would be reimbursed through the individual department
budgets, and what the difference would be from what the fiscal impact was
before and what it would be with this change. Kosa stated the annual fare
box revenue gain with this change would be $3,360. They discussed that it
would essentially be one County account covering another County account
(in this case, the General Fund covering the Road Fund), whether that would
be creating an administrative burden, whether any other alternatives have
been considered, how much the free trips are utilized, and the fact that there
are two types of employee trips happening. One is for County business and
the other is an employee benefit, allowing families of an employee to ride
for free, which was negotiated in lieu of having a wage increase. If both
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final April 9, 2024
types are counted (as in the Ferry Advisory Committee's proposal), the
total Annual Fare Box Revenue Gain would be $83,562.
Councilmembers and Kosa discussed changing the proposed language for
introduction tonight to say that Whatcom County employees (not just
limiting it to Public Works and Sherriff) on official County business shall
be exempt from fares and these exempt fares will be tracked. They
discussed tracking the number of trips and which departments are using
them, applying the $10 per trip in the Adjusted Total Operating Expense
calculation for free trips associated with employee benefits but not on
exempt trips for official County business, and how the trips are logged.
Kosa stated it is a manual process.
Kosa presented a cost analysis and comparison of the Whatcom County
Ferry Advisory Committee (WCFAC) and Whatcom County proposed
changes to Whatcom County Code 10.34 Ferry Rates (on file as "WCC
10.34 Fiscal Note 4.9.2024"). She answered questions and stated they are
only proposing the Public Works version of the ordinance for introduction
tonight (represented in the lower box on the fiscal note, shaded in blue)
with an update to the employee trips part of it as discussed. She and
Councilmembers discussed how this proposed code would slow the rate of
loss down (though it would not fix the overall issue), the next steps for this
ordinance and the budget supplemental for using American Rescue Plan Act
(ARPA) funds, looking at long term solutions, and whether they should hear
from the WCFAC before adopting this ordinance.
Pam Gould, Whatcom County Ferry Advisory Committee Chair, gave the
advisory committee's perspective on the proposed code revisions by Public
Works. She stated they were disappointed that there were nearly no
recommendations from the advisory committee that were incorporated and
there were new concepts added that the advisory committee has not yet
been able to weigh in on. They would like to meet with the Public Works
Department and with the Public Works and Health Committee so they can
have dialogue. They would also like to see a broader plan for financial
support for the ferry system going forward so it is not all borne by the ferry
riders and Lummi Island residents.
Councilmembers, Council staff, and Kosa discussed the timing for
introducing and adopting the ordinance and budget supplemental and that the
ordinance has to be passed by the first meeting in May for the fares to be
effective June 1.
Donovan moved to recommend that they get the amended version up for
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final April 9, 2024
introduction tonight. The motion was seconded by Buchanan.
Kosa confirmed with Councilmembers what amendments they would like to
see for tonight regarding employee trips.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and
Stremler
Nay: 0
This agenda item was DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED.
Motion approved 7-0 to recommend introduction of the amended version tonight.
Executive Appointment
L AB2024-236 Request confirmation of the County Executive's appointment of Kayla Schott-Bresler
as Deputy Executive effective April 10, 2024
The following people spoke about the appointment and Schott-Bresler's
experience:
• Tyler Schroeder, Director of Administrative Services
• Satpal Sidhu, County Executive
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, spoke about her responsibility in
this role.
Buchanan moved that they recommend approval of the confirmation of the
County Executive's appointment of Schott-Bresler (as Deputy Executive).
The motion was seconded by Galloway.
Councilmembers congratulated Schott-Bresler.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, Stremler, and
Buchanan
Nay: 0
This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITH
RECOMMENDED MOTION(S).
Motion approved 7-0 to recommend approval of the Executive's appointment of Schott-Bresler as Deputy Executive
Committee Discussion and recommendation to Council
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final April 9, 2024
1. AB2024-090 Resolution identifying Whatcom County approaches to the fentanyl emergency
Buchanan and Elenbaas updated the Councilmembers and agreed that the
version they are considering is "Revised Resolution for 4.9.2024."
Nick Lewis, Lummi Indian Business Council, thanked the Councilmembers
and stated they are the first county that has taken this stance in this manner
and now it has become a template for other places. Buchanan thanked him
and his Council for their work.
Elenbaas thanked Buchanan and Lewis.
Donovan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Resolution be
RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.
Councilmembers discussed the motion and Galloway stated she had some
suggested amendments.
Galloway moved to amend the resolution to add a whereas statement that
reads:
Whereas, involuntary displacement of people experiencing
homelessness is estimated to worsen overdose and hospitalizations,
decrease initiations of medications for opioid use disorder, and
contribute to deaths among people experiencing homelessness.
Elenbaas asked whether that idea is already in the resolution.
The motion was seconded by Scanlon.
Councilmembers discussed where in the document the new clause should
go and decided it should be after the whereas statement on page one that
starts with, "WHEREAS, the use of fentanyl continues spreading..."
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 6 - Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, Buchanan, and Byrd
Nay: 1 - Stremler
Galloway moved to amend to add an additional whereas clause that reads:
Whereas, the housing crisis in Whatcom Counjy and high barrier
eli ig'bility requirements for supportive housing programs limit
access and availability for safe, secure, and affordable housing which
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final April 9, 2024
is essential for stability, recovery, sobriety, and preventing drug use
and overdose
The motion was seconded by Scanlon.
Elenbaas stated he has concerns with the proposed language and thinks it
might be contradictory to striking a balance between harm reduction and
holding people accountable.
Buchanan Stated during the Behavioral Health Advisory C.mmmitteP meeting
yesterday it was announced that there is going to be an effort to look at our
supported housing model to see if it is following all the best practices
across the nation and is effective. They will be hiring a consultant. He would
like to know the results of that work before he would commit to anything
around this.
Lewis stated when you look at the definition of permanent supportive
housing, the State definition is actually very general and vague. When we
talk about high barriers or eligibility, those are often put on by ourselves. It
is more an internal process to lower or raise those barriers, depending on
circumstances, as we see fit.
Councilmembers and Lewis discussed the proposed language about high
barrier eligibility requirements.
Galloway amended her motion and moved to amend the resolution to add a
whereas statement that reads:
Whereas the housing crisis in Whatcom County limits access and
availability to safe, secure, supportive, and affordable housing; which
is essential for stability, recovery, sobrietypreventing drug use
and overdose
The amended motion was seconded by Scanlon.
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Aye: i - Eienbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, Stremier, Buchanan, Byrd, and
Donovan
Nay: 0
Councilmembers discussed the motion to recommend approval of the
resolution as amended.
Donovan's motion that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final
April 9, 2024
APPROVAL WITH PROPOSED AMENDMENT(S) carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
Motion approved 6-1 (with Stremler opposed) to amend to add a whereas statement after the 7th statement on page
one of the Resolution that reads:
Whereas, involuntary displacement of people experiencing homelessness is estimated to worsen overdose and
hospitalizations, decrease initiations of medications for opioid use disorder, and contribute to deaths among people
experiencing homelessness.
Motion approved to amend the resolution to add a whereas statement after the one above that reads:
Whereas, the housing crisis in Whatcom County limits access and availability to safe, secure, supportive, and
affordable housing which is essential for stability, recovery, sobriety, and preventing drug use and overdose.
2. AB2024--253 Resolution in support of expanding access to affordable and reliable internet for all
residents of Whatcom County
This agenda item was NOT ACTED UPON.
This item was not discussed.
3. AB2024-2254 Resolution repealing Resolution 2023-054 (a resolution establishing an independent
review of countywide fire and emergency medical services structures)
Stremler briefed the Councilmembers and moved that they recommend
approval of the resolution. The motion was seconded by Elenbaas.
Councilmembers discussed the motion, the concerns that have been raised
about the resolution, whether the process is collaborative, the process for
the Request for Proposal, and what the Council would do with the results of
the study.
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, stated we all work for the benefit of the
people and not for individual organizations. He asked whether there is
contention from the people who are vested in the system or from the public
who is paying for it. He asked that the fire districts come forward and be
part of the study and stated it is our responsibility to revisit something to
see if we can do it better.
The MOTION TO RECOMMEND FAILED by the following vote:
Aye: 2 - Elenbaas, and Stremler
Nay: 5 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Galloway, and Scanlon
4. AB2024-252 Resolution supporting modernization of the Economic Development Investment (EDI)
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final April 9, 2024
This agenda item was NOT ACTED UPON.
This item was not 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 4:33 p.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on April 23, 2024.
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Dana Bro-vy pia Ji i oupcil Clerk
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Bddchanan. Council Chair
Whatcom County page 7