HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil May 21 2024COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Minutes - Final
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
6PM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN
INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.usljoinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL
360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Kaylee Galloway
Jon Scanlon
Mark Stremler
CLERIC OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Minutes - Final May 21, 2024
1-3, 5-8 (with #6 being a substitute), and 10-12. Councilmembers voted on
those items (see votes on individual items below).
1. A B2024-315 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
amendment between Whatcom County and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service for overtime patrols, in the amount of $21,900
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Interlocal be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
2. AB2024- 3166. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and Northwest Clean Air Agency for reimbursement of
materials and distribution of DIY air cleaner kits, in an amount up to $3,000
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Interlocal be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
3. AB2024-31 7 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Imagine Institute to assist new home -based childcare providers
through the start-up process in order to expand availability of childcare in Whatcom
County, in the amount of $478,910
Donovan reported for the Fin an-ce and Adis in is tun tiv a .Services Lomrnittee
and moved that the Contract be AUTHORJZED BY CONSENT. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
4. AW024-318 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Health
to provide funding for the delivery of various public health programs in the amount of
$416,456 for a total amended agreement amount of $14,310,097
This item was considered separately below.
5. AB2024:. 319 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
amendment between Whatcom County and the City of Lynden to further advance
their Mouw Ditch project to address drainage and flooding issues in the Bertrand
Whatcom County page 3 Printed on 61512024
Council Minutes - Final May 21, 2024
Creek subbasin, in the amount of $32,000 for a total amended agreement amount of
$96,000 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board
of Supervisors)
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Contract (FCZDBS) be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
6. A132024w322 Request approval for the County Executive to award Bid #24-46 for the purchase of
30 rifles, associated equipment, and accessories from Proforce Law Enforcement,
located in Prescott, Arizona, in an amount not to exceed $60,576.42
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the SUBSTITUTE Bid Award be AUTHORIZED BY
CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
7. AB202d.323 Request approval for the County Executive to award Bid #24-47 for the purchase of
a 360-degree laser scanning system, associated equipment, and accessories from
Leica Geosystems, Inc., located in Alpharetta, Georgia, in an amount not to exceed
$154,128.53
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Bid Award be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The
motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
gaml
8. AB2024-324 Request approval for the County Executive to authorize the purchase of vehicle upfit
equipment, using the Washington State Contract #02020, in an amount not to exceed
$125,000 in 2024. The state contract is awarded to JR Setina Manufacturing Co.,
located in Olympia
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Bid Award be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The
motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
9. AB.2024--327. Resolution amending Resolution 2023-048 for Unrepresented County employees
Whatcont County Page 4 Printed on 61512024
Council Minutes - Final May 21, 2024
This item was considered separately below.
10.202430 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment
between Whatcom County and North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative
Services Organization to provide funds to support substance use disorder
assessments in jail, re-entry services and recovery and mental health courts, in the
amount of $101,896 for a total amended contract amount of $625,684.10
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Contract be AU 1110111. ED BY COI'TSElll T. T 1'[c motiVrl
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
11. AB2024-3 34 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
amendment to increase the compensation for Boundary Review Board services in the
amount of $5,000 for a total amended amount of $20,000
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Interlocal be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
12. AB2024"-339 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a lease amendment
between Whatcom County and Lengoset, LLC to extend the term of the lease
through December 31, 2024 for the purposes of a temporary morgue location in the
amount of $250 per autopsy
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Contract be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
A °9 iiiT.S IiTT �G 1�� A 1' E1TiiC f f'QINQ"IF V 1QE u QE-0 A -0 iV-Vi�'a
V `V1�iJYJl�l L
4. AB2024--318 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Health
to provide funding for the delivery of various public health programs in the amount of
$416,456 for a total amended agreement amount of $14,310,097
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
Whatcom County page 5 Printed on 61512024
Council Minutes - Final May 21, 2024
and moved that the Interlocal be AUTHORIZED.
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, answered who the contractor is
for the Youth Cannabis & Commercial Tobacco Prevention and stated it is
Health and Community Services.
Elenbaas asked whether it is still a fact that kids over 13 years of age can
seek medical treatment without their parents' approval and stated he does
not think that law has changed yet. He spoke about his concern regarding
that and stated he is frustrated that he has to vote yes or no on the agenda
item whether he agrees with all of it or none of it. He stated the four
funding items in the interlocal amendment do not seem to all be the same.
Erika Lautenbach, Health and Community Services Director, stated all their
funding from the State Department of Health goes into a consolidated
contract. The $95,000 for school -based health centers is pass -through
money from the State to the school district.
Scanlon spoke about a recent Health Department presentation at a League
of Women Voters meeting regarding some of the needs and gaps in East
Whatcom County and an email to Council from the interim and outgoing
superintendents of the school district. He stated this is something the
school district wants and the school board will be voting on it soon. It is a
documented need in the community.
Aly Robinson, Health and Community Services, answered whether the
health center would be solely for students or whether it would be for the
community at large, and stated the program will be focused on students for
the first few years but they hope it can then be made open to see the general
public.
Schott-Bresler and Lautenbach answered questions about the COVID-19
LHJ Gap Funding and stated it was a timeline extension and not an addition
of budget authority. The answered what it has to do with COVID-19 and
Lautenbach stated this is funding that they have been receiving since 2020,
and the Federal Government has granted extensions so they can stabilize
staffing. This funds staff positions and services in continuation of their
Covid work. She answered what Covid work means and stated it means
communicable disease prevention.
Councilmembers discussed the questions being asked, school -based health
centers, and the motion.
Donovan's motion that the Interlocal be AUTHORIZED carried by the
Wkatcom County page 6 Printed on 61512024
Council Minutes - Final May 21, 2024
following vote:
Aye: J C - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Galloway, and Scanlon
Nay: 2 - Elenbaas, and Stremler
9. �'iB2024 321 Resolution amending Resolution 2023-048 for Unrepresented County employees
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Resolution be APPROVED.
Councilmembers discussed the resolution with the following people:
• Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council
• Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office
• Satpal Sidhu, County Executive
• George Roche, Prosecuting Attorney's Office
Elenbaas stated this item was not on the Consent Agenda and it failed, and
now it is on the Consent Agenda. He is working on an ordinance for the
Medical Examiner's Office but it is not done yet.
Galloway asked whether they can move forward with this resolution tonight
and still consider Elenbaas' ordinance when it is presented, and Elenbaas
stated he believes that is true but he would prefer that they go the other way
around.
Councilmembers and the people listed above discussed how the item got
back on the agenda and how that fits in to parliamentary procedure.
.Donovan withdrew his motion and moved to table this item (AB2024-327)
with the intent that we see if there is support for reintroducing the previous
item (AB2024-268). The motion was seconded by Scanlon.
Councilmembers voted on the motion to table (see below).
Clerk's note: The continuation of the discussion was regarding
AB2024-268, so the minutes are recorded under that item below.
Donovan's motion that the Resolution be TABLED carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 6 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 1 - Galloway
Whatcom County page 7 Printed on 61512024
Council Minutes - Final May 21, 2024
AB2024-268 Request authorization to amend Resolution 2023-048 for Unrepresented County
employees
Clerk's note: Two separate votes were taken on AB2024-268 so the file is
listed twice to reflect the action for each motion.
Buchanan moved to rescind the action taken (motion) on AB2024-268 on
May 7, 2024.
The motion was seconded by Donovan.
George Roche, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, answered parliamentary
procedure questions.
Elenbaas discussed the motion and stated he is not saying he does not want
to bring the Medical Examiner in as an employee, he just wants the
definition of what that looks like to be in place before he votes for the
funding to do so.
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, stated this is not a vote to bring
the funding. That was done through the budget process through an Additional
Service Request (ASR) that was already approved. She described what was
laid out in the ASR and stated this resolution is a technical point that allows
them to provide an offer of employment to the Medical Examiner.
Buchanan's motion that the previous MOTION on this Resolution (from May
7, 2024) be RESCINDED carried by the following vote:
Aye: 5 - Buchanan, Donovan, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 2 - Byrd, and Elenbaas
ACTION SUMMARY: Motion approved 5-2, with Byrd and Elenbaas opposed, to rescind the action taken
(motion) on AB2024-268 on May 7, 2024.
AB2024-268 Request authorization to amend Resolution 2023-048 for Unrepresented County
employees
Clerk's note: See discussion and other action on this item above in
2024-327 and AB2024-268.
Galloway moved and Scanlon seconded that the Resolution be APPROVED.
Councilmembers discussed the motion.
911atcom County Page 8 Printed on 61512024
Council Minutes - Final May 21, 2024
Galloway's motion that the Resolution be APPROVED carried by the
following vote:
Aye: 5 - Buchanan, Donovan, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 2 - Byrd, and Elenbaas
Enactment No: RES 2024-024
(From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee)
1. AB2024-3303 Ordinance amending the project budget for the Lake Whatcom Park Trail
Development Fund, request no. 3
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Ordinance be ADOPTED. The motion carried by the
following vote:
Aye: 5 - Buchanan, Donovan, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 2 - Byrd, and Elenbaas
Enactment No: ORD 2024-032
2. AB2024v302 Ordinance amending the 2024 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 7, in the amount
of 1,605,662
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and droved that the SUBSTITUTE Ordinance be ADOPTED.
Scanlon answered whether this was the language that he brought forward and
stated it is slightly different but achieves the same outcome, He stated that
what they ended up doing, as opposed to having a separate resolution as
discussed in the Finance and Administrative Services Committee today, is
to include language in this ordinance (last `Be it Further Ordained"
paragraph) that states their intent that American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
funding will be used to cover the fare box revenue.
George Roche, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, answered whether the
chaniae is substantive enouizh that the ordinance needs to be re -introduced
and stated he does not believe that it is a substantive change to what was
originally proposed.
Donovan stated he thinks this is what they were trying to do all along so he
supports it.
Elizabeth Kosa, Public Works Department Director, stated that when she
Miatcom County Page 9 Printed on 61512024
Council Minutes - Final May 21, 2024
discussed the intent with the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, it was
determined that it was not a substantive change from what the whole intent
was from the very beginning. That is why they did not propose something
new.
Donovan's motion that the SUBSTITUTE Ordinance be ADOPTED carried
by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
Enactment No: ORD 2024-033
1. A132024-328 Appointment to a vacancy on the Wildlife Advisory Committee, Applicant: Emily
Wirtz
Donovan moved and Byrd seconded that the Council Appointment be
APPOINTED.
Scanlon spoke about the application and letters of recommendation and
stated he supports the appointment.
Donovan's motion that the Council Appointment be APPOINTED carried by
the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
AB2024-268 was not added by revision but was considered during the Consent Agenda (after AB2024-327) above.
Byrd moved to introduce items one through five. The motion was seconded
by Galloway (see votes on individual items below).
1. AB2024-314 Ordinance establishing Whatcom County Code Chapter 2.180 Naming
County -Owned Public Buildings, Properties, Parks, and Facilities
Byrd moved and Galloway seconded that the Ordinance be INTRODUCED.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
2. l B2024-3_3> Ordinance closing the Vactor Truck Storage Building Fund 379
Wkatcom County Page 10 Printed on 61512024
Council Minutes - Final May 21, 2024
Byrd moved and Galloway seconded that the Ordinance be INTRODUCED.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
Enactment No: ORD 2024-034
3. /a13024-3.35 Ordinance closing the South Fork Park Improvement Fund 363
Byrd moved and Galloway seconded that the Ordinance be INTRODUCED.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
Enactment No: ORD 2024-035
4. AF32024 7 Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 3.08.060, Bids and Proposals
Required
Byrd moved and Galloway seconded that the Ordinance be INTRODUCED.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
Enactment No: ORD 2024-036
5. AB20 4--L5, Appointment to a vacancy on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, citizen
representative with nofi_nancial ties to the other sectors, Applicant(s): Jerry Burns
Byrd moved and Galloway seconded that the Council Appointment Requiring
Introduction be INTRODUCED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
CnnncilmemiiPrc onvo C..nmmitteP rPnnrts
Elenbaas reported for the Planning and Development Committee and
moved that the Council support re-examining changing the use of the Heavy
Impact Industrial (HII) zone in the UGA to include other zoning
designations as possible. The motion was seconded by Donovan.
Whatcom County page I printed on 61512024
Council Minutes - Final May 21, 2024
Councilmembers discussed a fear that they are going to lose net HII
property, the fact that the Growth Management Act mandates that they are
going provide a plethora of different zonings and land use designations to
enhance our economic viability as an area, and that the process they will be
doing is evaluating where the most appropriate place is and enabling them to
make some adjustments.
Donovan stated the discussion of the motion was to identify additional areas
where they could have HII zoning. That is Council's intent.
Scanlon stated the Port of Bellingham has done a study of HII zones across
the county and there is a request to add the LII to that as well. Having both
of those areas in there will help them to find other potential sites if they are
doing a swap, and that would be his intent.
Elenbaas stated there is HII land that is designated, but whether it is feasible
or not is a whole other story. Voting yes now is to vote to just start the
process to evaluate if they can find a better spot for it.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, Stremler, Buchanan, and
Byrd
Nay: 0
Councilmembers continued committee reports and gave Councilmember
updates.
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, answered whether they got
feedback on the item submitted by Executive Sidhu and Councilmember
Galloway to Washington State Association of Counties to attempt to assure
that the State works with the managed care organizations on adequate
Medicaid reimbursement rates and stated the request did not prevail.
From Planning and Development Committee:
Motion approved 7-0 that the Council support re-examining changing the use of the HII zone in the UGA to include
other zoning designations as possible.
v1; `,Ili,
The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on June 4, 2024.
Whateom County Page 12 Printed on 61512024
Council Minutes - Final May 21, 2024
ATTES;
s
Dada BroNy"'n',%i 06}pncil 06rk
caw a
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Council Chair
Wbatcom County Page 13 Printed on 61512024