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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Sep 24 2024Whatcom County Council Public Works & Health Committee COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360)778-5010 Committee Minutes - Final Tuesday, September 24, 2024 1:10 PM Council Chambers - Hybrid Meeting HYBRID MEETING (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010) - AGENDA REVISION 9.20.2024 COUNCILMEMBERS Kaylee Galloway Jon Scanlon Mark Stremler CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final September 24, 2024 Committee Call T o Order Roll Call Committee Chair Jon Scanlon called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. in a hybrid meeting. Present: 3 - Kaylee Galloway, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, and Ben Elenbaas Announcements Special Presentation Update from Whatcom County Health and Community Services Department on winter and severe weather shelter planning The following staff read from a presentation (on file) and answered questions: • Ann Beck, Health and Community Services • Chris D'Onofrio, Health and Community Services Beck updated the Councilmembers on the status of personnel and volunteers to act as temporary on -call shelter workers, communications, logistics, work with a realtor to find potential severe weather shelter sites, and partnerships with other agencies throughout the county who are providing additional beds. " "no111V answeleu wily the 1VL111er drop 111 %XIIECI iJ off th, tabu, as a usable site, and whether the Lighthouse Mission will have more beds in their updated facility. The mission has additional space where they could expand for severe weather, but they do not have enough staff to provide that supervision. The drop -in center was uncomfortable having a lot of new activity in the neighborhood as they are opening. Beck answered questions about whether the County has considered acquisition of space (and not just being a tenant), and stated that takes quite a while and would not be accomplished by this winter. She answered how the community can help, and stated they would like to hear from anyone who has a space they might want to use to offer shelter. She answered whether volunteer opportunities are posted yet, and stated they would let people know when they are. She spoke about conversations they are having with the City of Bellingham about how they might be able to offer support Whatcom County Page I Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final September 24, 2024 Committee and will be posting a request for proposal (RFP) for a winter shelter operator. She answered questions about the Ferndale Community Services' shelter operation, the start and end date they would like to see for a severe winter shelter, what things have to be in place at a facility in order to be used as a severe weather shelter, whether Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) is open to adding a bus service to a shelter location, how far in advance they decide to open the shelter, and how they are communicating the need for a facility with the entire county. She stated they are working with a realtor and rely on word of mouth, and noted that they would also pay rent for a space. Donovan spoke about services that WTA has been able to provide in the past. Galloway thanked them and their team for their work. This agenda item was PRESENTED. 2. AB2024 620 Update from the Whatcom County Health and Community Services Department on the operations plan for Fentanyl Executive Order This item was withdrawn. This agenda item was WITHDRAWN. 3. A. ,' 6")6, Presentation of the Child and Family Well -Being Task Force Report The following task force members reported on the work that the task force does, their feedback and recommendations for the Comprehensive Plan, and their focus on updating their governance structure: • Colton Kaltenfeldt, Task Force Co -Chair • Allison Bishop • Karla Anderson Bishop read from the report (on file) regarding their recommendations for Comprehensive Plan chapters seven (Economics), three (Housing), and ten (Environment). For Chapter seven, they are calling on the Council to include language that makes it a priority of the County to minimize regulatory hurdles that would hinder the growth of childcare spots, invest in resources to develop a stronger behavioral health support system, and develop policies that encourage the development of food access in rural parts of the county. For Chapter three, they are recommending that the County incentivize the integration of childcare centers into multi -family housing developments utilizing Federal tax credits. For Chapter ten, they Wkatcont County Page 2 Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final September 24, 2024 Committee are making recommendations concerning more comprehensive testing for childhood lead exposure. Anderson read from the report regarding developing updated governance structures in the task force. She spoke about new subcommittees they are establishing, the creation of bylaws and looking at how they can balance public transparency with task force efficiency, and exploring their establishing ordinance's mandate that they follow Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) requirements. Kaltenfeldt spoke about the question of OPMA requirements, a recent change by the Council in the definition of quorum as it relates to advisory bodies which bases a quorum on all possible spots as opposed to spots that are currently filled, and the importance of the Comprehensive Plan recommendations. Donovan spoke about getting a list of advisory groups that are subject to OPMA requirements and what the quorum rules are for other committees. The speakers and Allison Williams, Health and Community Services, answered questions about the positions on the task force that they are having trouble filling and other ideas to help them make quorum. Scanlon stated he would like to have more discussion (probably in Committee of the Whole) about OPMA requirements for advisory boards. Galloway spoke about the "Advisory Board Assessment Report" (on file) and requested that it also be included in that discussion. This agenda item was REPORTED. Items Added by Revision Other Business Adiournment There were no agenda items added by revision. Ann Beck, Health and Community Services, answered whether they have asked the Port of Bellingham if they have any facilities that could be used as a severe weather shelter, and stated she believes there was a conversation with them about a potential building but it did not work out. The meeting adjourned at 1:56 p.m. Whatcom County Page 3 Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final September 24, 2024 Committee AT A00. C WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL o COUNTY WHATCOM COUNTY, WA 7 5 -'A"T, fy1 Jon Scanlon -via email 10/2/2024 Cathy Halka' Council Clerk,,,:, Jon Scanlon, Committee Chair 6 /1 QeA Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription Whatcom County Page 4