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Home My WebLink AboutSpecial Council Jul 30 2024Whatcom County Council (Special) COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Minutes - Final Tuesday, July 30, 2024 11:10 AM Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers HYBRID MEETING (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 Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC Council (Special) Minutes - Final July 30, 2024 Announcement of Delayed Start Time Council staff announced that the meeting would begin at 11:45 a.m. Call To Order Roll Call Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 11:45 a.m. in a hybrid meeting. Present: 6 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Kaylee Galloway, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler Absent: 1 - Ben Elenbaas Announcements Discussion and Action 1. AB2024469 Resolution requesting the Whatcom County Executive decommission all contracts with the Opportunity Council and Northwest Youth Services relating to the 22 North permanent supportive housing facility Buchanan stated they will allow for public comment and the following people spoke: • Christine Callanan • Steve Burger • Michele Cameron • Janet Johnson • Shannon Boustead • Parneet Kaur • Hannah Ordos • Amy Tucker • Dareisha Bartillso'n • Jason McGill • Sam (last name not stated) • Tim G • Natalie Chavez • Amy Kenna • Adam Bellingar • Lindsey Blake • Lily Van Mullem • Evette Wondel • Adele Delignette Whatcom County Page I Printed on 911112024 Council (Special) Minutes - Final July 30, 2024 • Theresa Meurs • Marc Hander • Courtney Taylor • Aisling Jennings • Erin Grimes • Name not stated • Todd Lagestee • Lacey McCarley • Name not stated • Markis Dee Hearing no one else, Buchanan closed the public comment period. Donovan stated they need to keep discussing this topic but this resolution is the wrong format for doing it. He moved to table this indefinitely and then actually continue the discussion about how they can improve 22 North's operations. The motion was seconded by Scanlon. The motion to table "failed" by the following vote (requires a supermajority - see notes in bold below regarding a change in the result of this vote): Aye: 4 - Buchanan, Donovan, Galloway, and Scanlon Nay: 2 - Byrd and Stremler Absent: 1 - Elenbaas Byrd stated he is disappointed in the vote and that they took it immediately. He stated the point of holding until today's meeting was so that they could change the resolution to make it something that they all agree on, that would help the community and those currently residing at 22 North, and that would be something that was collaborative. He asked why the Council has not seen the data they have requested and answers to their questions from the last several years. Byrd moved to hold the topic until the next meeting so that they can take part in a discussion jointly and have the time to receive and go over information prior to that meeting. The motion was seconded by Stremler. Cathy Halka, Clerk of the Council, stated the majority required to pass the tabling motion is of members of the assembly that are present and so the 4-2 table vote passes. George Roche, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, stated the motion to table that was voted on passed by supermajority so it has been tabled indefinitely. Whatcont County Page 2 Printed on 911112024 Council (Special) Minutes - Final July 30, 2024 Erika Lautenbach, Health and Community Services Director, stated :when Councilmembers make specific and direct criticisms of staff, they would like the opportunity to respond, Ann Beck, Health and Community Services, stated every time they present they ask the Council to tell them what they want to know. If they tell her what they want and give her time, she will get the Council the information. Byrd stated the criticism was targeted at the Opportunity Council and their staff. He stated his feeling is that they are hiding the information or preventing the Council from getting it. Galloway stated she did not support the resolution as it was written but acknowledges that there is a discussion to be had here. This is just not the format to have it. She spoke about the presentation given at the Health Board meeting earlier today and public testimonies they have heard. Scanlon stated he does want to discuss this item, he just does not think this resolution is the way to do that. He stated even Councilmember Elenbaas acknowledged that it was not implementable. He spoke about having work sessions for other topics and stated a discussion on this could be added to an upcoming special meeting agenda. He thanked everyone who shared their experience. He stated the Council recently told the Health Department director that their funding priority was transitional housing after treatment and this is an opportunity to make sure they are funding housing for treatment. He spoke about the funding and the budget, and getting more data on a regular basis and sharing that publicly: He stated he has a question about mixing population and whether that is the right thing to do in any Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) facility or specifically in this one. He stated they can get better results for the community and can and should discuss this more. Donovan stated he would encourage everyone to look at slide 20 of the slide show presented (and on file) at the Health Board / Public Health Advisory Board meeting earlier today regarding opportunities for improvement at 22 North. He asked how they as a Council can know how to speed some of those things up and move them along. Galloway asked if they could schedule a discussion about how they can better support permanent supportive housing and about policy, and Buchanan spoke about making sure they schedule it when they have the time for it. Whatcont County Page 3 Printed on 911112024 Council (Special) Minutes - Final July 30, 2024 Beck answered where the County's funding of 22 North is coming from and whether any of the sources are considered pass -through funding, and stated the County's portion is not pass -through but is local funds. They do not touch the other sources of funding at all. Those go directly to the Opportunity Council. Scanlon moved to request that the Chair work with the Executive to schedule an additional work session of at least two hours before October first. The motion was seconded by Galloway. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 6 - Byrd, Donovan, Galloway, Scanlon, Stremler, and Buchanan Nay: 0 Absent: 1 - Elenbaas ACTION SUMMARY: Donovan's motion that the Resolution be TABLED carried by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Buchanan, Donovan, Galloway, and Scanlon Nay: 2 - Byrd, and Stremler Absent: 1 - Elenbaas Motion approved 6-0 to request that the Chair work with the Executive to schedule an additional work session of at least two hours before October first. Introduction Items 1. AB2024-50 7 Ordinance amending the 2024 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 11, in the amount of $100,000 Buchanan stated at their last meeting they had a motion that asked staff to prepare this supplemental budget request and moved that the Ordinance be INTRODUCED. The motion was seconded by Scanlon. Councilmembers discussed the motion. Buchanan's motion that the Ordinance be INTRODUCED carried by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Galloway, and Scanlon Nay: 1 - Stremler Absent: 1 - Elenbaas Wkateoni County Page 4 Printed on 911112024 Council (Special) Minutes - Final July 30, 2024 Enactment No: ORD 2024-043 Items Added by Revision Other Business Adiournment There were no agenda items added by revision. There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m. The County,ggoneitlappxoved these minutes on September 10, 2024. a a+ z ATTE. ® „L I, WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL q d C TN.-fy a_ WHATCOM COUNTY, WA n ' Sr C)9 �- Cathy Halka, Council Clerk Bar uchanan, Council Chair Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription w1atcont County Page 5 Printed on 911112024