HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Oct 22 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, October 22, 2024
10:40 AM
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers
HYBRID MEETING - MAY BEGIN EARLY - ADJOURNS BY 11:50 AM
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COUNCILMEMBERS
Kaylee Galloway
Jon Scanlon
Mark Stremler
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC
Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final October 22, 2024
Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Jon Scanlon called the meeting to order at 10:45 a.m. in a
hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Kaylee Galloway, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan, and Ben Elenbaas
Announcements
Special Presentation
1. AB2024-550 Presentation by Whatcom County Health and Community Services Prevention
Program Staff
The following people read from a presentation (on file) about Behavioral
Health Prevention Services Highlights and Youth Cannabis & Commercial
Tobacco Prevention Program (YCCTPP) Highlights:
• Joe Fuller, Health and Community Services
• Alyssa Pavitt, Health and Community Services
Fuller answered questions about the source of their data and whether all the
schools participate. He stated all seven school districts have participated in
the Healthy Youth Survey for close to 20 years. Some of the data they use
is collected through the schools and some is community -based. There are
probably one hundred different metrics that they look at. He spoke about an
upcoming medication take -back event that is happening this month.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
2. AB2024-692 Presentation from Whatcom County Health and Community Services and The
Imagine Institute on funding landscape
The following people read from a presentation (on file) and answered
questions.
• Ann Beck, Health and Community Services
• Erika Lautenbach, Health and Community Services Director
Beck answered a question about the drop -in childcare project and stated it
would not be just one facility but several providers that are on board with
one central access point online.
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Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final October 22, 2024
Committee
Beck and Lautenbach summarized the amounts of Healthy Children's Fund
(HCF) money that are already contracted or awarded, in process, or in
planning (non -committed) and answered whether the $5 million childcare
subsidy is included in that. Beck stated it is part of the $10,332,942 that is
still in development. They answered whether there is a goal to keep a fund
balance in the fund or to spend as much of each year's revenue as they can,
and Beck stated they are hoping to spend out as much as they can while
keeping the fund balance that they need to maintain.
Lautenbach stated they are hoping to learn how Council would like them to
prioritize these funds, and whether they are they aligned with Council's
desires for moving the funds into the community. That will help them
determine how they can best spend down some of that fund balance. They
showed points five and six from Ordinance 2022-045 regarding the
Implementation Plan's allocations of the levy revenue in the first two years
and beyond, and stated they are on track with that.
Lautenbach stated they are starting the Implementation Plan for the next
two-year cycle and would like to know what the Council's priorities are and
to get policy direction.
Donovan stated he would like to look over the Implementation Plan, what
they were actually telling people when this was on the ballot, and what those
priorities were, but childcare comes to mind. He stated the discussion with
the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money was broadly that it would be
for capital and that the Proposition 5 money would be for operating.
Stremler asked about the $3 million rollover from 2023 to 2024 and
Lautenbach stated they spent very little in 2023 because it was an
implementation and planning year.
Galloway stated she would be interested in continuing to think about what
the role of capital is in the Healthy Children's Fund and stated this is a job
well done.
Scanlon spoke about how this topic and the first agenda item are tied
together.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
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Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final October 22, 2024
Committee
1. AB2024-656 Resolution approving the revised Samish Water District Comprehensive Sewer Plan
Doug Ranney, Public Works Department, briefed the Councilmembers and
stated Council had previously approved this plan, then it went to the
Department of Ecology who gave input. That was incorporated, and the
revised plan is now here for Council approval. He answered whether
approval by the Council is a State law since they know very little about
sewer plans, and stated that is correct.
Kirsten Smith, Council Office Staff, stated the language about who approves
the plan was changed to say that Whatcom County approves as opposed to
the County Council.
Ranney answered what community outreach looks like with these kinds of
processes, and stated he is not sure what level of outreach the district does.
Scanlon moved that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
2. AB2024-703 Letter of support for Washington State Parks' Recreation and Conservation Office
grant application
Scanlon briefed the Councilmembers and state this grant provides snow
removal so people can access winter recreational opportunities in the
county. When applying for a grant, you get a leg up when you get support
from local jurisdictions (Council).
Councilmembers discussed what access the snow removal and trail
grooming provide and whether it is for access to parking.
Cathy Halka, Clerk of the Council, read from a September 30, 2024 email
from Corey Tolar, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission,
which stated, "This grant would help fund snow removal and snowmobile
trail grooming at existing Sno-parks and trails on United States Forest
Service land around Mt Baker. The grant would help provide winter
recreational opportunities to residents and visitors alike while contributing
to the local economy."
Galloway moved that the Request for Motion be RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL.
Councilmembers voted on the item (see below) and then the discussion
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Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final October 22, 2024
Committee
continued.
Corey Tolar, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, briefed
the Councilmembers on the letter of support and stated it helps them with
getting approved for the grant.
Galloway's motion that the Request for Motion be RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adiournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 11:46 a.m.
ATTEST:
N- TY
Coj• �'
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Cathy Halka, Council Clerk
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Jon Scanlon -via email 11/7/2024
Jon Scanlon, Committee Chair
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