HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Nov 6 2024Whatcom County
Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
9:10 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
Tyler Byrd
Todd Donovan
Kaylee Galloway
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC
Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final November 6, 2024
Services Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee member Kaylee Galloway called the meeting to order at 4:11
a.m. in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Tyler Byrd, Kaylee Galloway, and Todd Donovan
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler
Announcements
Council "Consent Agenda" Items
Byrd moved to recommend approval of Consent Agenda items one through
16.
The following people briefed the Councilmembers and answered questions:
• Aly Pennucci, Executive's Office
• Elizabeth Kosa, Public Works Department Director
• Brett Piepel, Public Works Department
• Ann Beck, Health and Community Services
• Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department Finance
Stremler stated he has questions on item number four.
Consent Agenda item 44 (AB2024-715)
Kosa answered whether the City of Bellingham gives the County access to
the brine 24 hours a day, and stated Bellingham has been responsive and she
does not anticipate that there will be any delay in being able to pick up the
material. Piepel answered questions about how much the County has been
buying and whether it has another source for the brine, and stated they do
not have another source for that, but they have alternative methods they
could use.
Consent Agenda item # 16 (AB2024-740)
Beck answered whether there are training opportunities for those who
would like to volunteer for the severe winter shelter, and spoke about those.
She also gave an update on the YWCA contract and stated it is still at
Finance for their review.
Bennett updated on the contract approval process and why a few contracts
seem to be stuck. He stated contracts are backed up because they are down a
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Services Committee
couple people and are trying to deal with the budget, but they can get on
contracts first that are communicated as being a high priority.
Councilmembers voted on the Consent items (see votes on individual items
below).
1. AB2024-682 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Bellingham and Whatcom County Housing Authorities to
develop a licensed child care facility in the Samish Commons affordable housing
complex, in the amount of $1,093,637
Byrd moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
2. AB2024-709 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District to provide
emergency management services to Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District in the
amount of $50,000
Byrd moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
3. AB2024-711 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment
between Whatcom County and Elizabeth Boyle Consulting to provide meeting
facilitation services in the amount of $23,000, for a total amended contract amount of
$46,000
Byrd moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
4. AB2024-715 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
beween Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham for the purchase of brine at a
cost of $.63 per gallon
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Byrd moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
5. AB2024-716 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment
between Whatcom County and Sanitary Service Company, Inc. to collect waste
along Birch Bay Drive in the amount of $15,000, for a total contract amount of
$43,000
Byrd moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
6. AB2024-717 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Elliot Bay Design Group, LLC, to provide engineering services
for the annual dry dock of the MV Whatcom Chief ferry along with other on -call
services as needed for the Lummi Island Ferry System, in the amount of $75,000
Byrd moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
7. AB2024-720 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a three year subscription
agreement with West Publishing for legal research databases in the amount of
$151,672.68
Byrd moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
8. AB2024-721 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham for the What -Comm
Communications Center in support of reimbursement for E911 capital equipment
expenses in the amount of $43,747
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Byrd moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
9. AB2024-726 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and Fire Protection District 5 (Point Roberts) for Basic
Life Support Services in Whatcom County, in the amount of $21,869.16
Byrd moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
10. AB2024-727 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Commerce to
examine the potential for an Office of Healthy Housing in the amount of $190,000
Byrd moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
11. AB2024-734 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the US Department of Justice Drug Enforcement
Agency (DEA) for Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)
investigation # PA-WAW-0376, in the amount of $5,000
Byrd moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
12. AB2024-735 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the US Department of Justice Drug Enforcement
Agency (DEA) for Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)
investigation # PA-WAW-0385, in the amount of $5,000
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Byrd moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
13. AB2024-736 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the US Department of Justice Drug Enforcement
Agency (DEA) for Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)
investigation PA-WAW-0386, in the amount of $5,000
Byrd moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
14. AB2024-737 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the US Department of Justice Drug Enforcement
Agency (DEA) for Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)
investigation # PA-WAW-0387, in the amount of $5,000
Byrd moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
15. AB2024-738 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission for High
Visibility Emphasis (HVE) patrols, in the amount of $28,000
Byrd moved that the Interlocal be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
16. AB2024-740 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Lutheran Community Services Northwest to lease a facility
intended for use as the 2024-2025 winter shelter, in the amount of $66,625
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Services Committee
Byrd moved that the Contract be RECOMMENDED FOR
AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Galloway, and Donovan
Nay: 0
Special Presentation
1. AB2024-702 Report from the Facilities Division of the Administrative Services Department
Rob Ney, Administrative Services Department Facilities, read from a
presentation (on file) about the Williamson Way facility water intrusion
repair, progress on the Way Station, the Northwest Annex redevelopment
project, and contracting for a project manager for the Justice Project.
He answered questions about the cost estimates for the NW Annex project,
and whether they will be breaking the Justice Project into smaller projects
to allow for more competitive bidding and to include local contractors as
much as possible. He answered how the Justice Project cost got from $150
million to $174 million before even going out to bid and whether they
would need to start thinking about building the facility with fewer beds to
stay in that cost range if bids come in higher than expected, and he answered
when construction would start and finish. He stated construction should
finish late in 2028 and spoke about how they are determining these costs by
using some of the square footage data from 2016 as a baseline. Right now,
they are projecting a $173 million construction cost estimate if they use
the same square footage as they used before. If they wanted to, they could
make it bigger and it would probably cost more, but they also have the
ability to scale it.
Donovan stated what they put before the voters was a very different facility
than what was in the data for 2016, so if they are going to build what they
actually told the voters they are going to build, it will be even more than the
current estimate. He asked how they fulfill the promise that the tax is going
to be bringing in all these monies for services, and at what point do they get
to a cost where they cannot build the facility and have the services that the
voters were told about.
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, stated he is on track with the
policy questions that are going to come if the budget and cost escalation get
too high. They do have a number of tools embedded in the interlocals with
the cities to absorb some cost increases, and she spoke about those.
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Donovan stated they need to be talking now about the potential need for
trade-offs if the cost escalation goes too high.
Ney answered whether the $37 million for the Sheriffs Office is on top of
the $173,939,000, and stated it is an outside cost. He answered whether it
is possible to waive some of the permitting costs and stated they have been
in constant communication with Ferndale.
Schott-Bresler answered whether Economic Development Investment (EDI)
money could be used for infrastructure costs and, since EDI cannot be used
for the jail, whether the Sheriffs Office would be considered a jail for that
purpose.
Galloway stated she is nervous that they may not get everything that was on
their wish list and would like to have a conversation about that to make sure
the County is building within their means.
Ney stated this is just a guestimate because they do not have information
right now to tell the Council how much the jail is going to cost. They do not
have any designs, so the only concrete thing they have is what they knew
from before. Additionally, they also know they are not building that same
facility, so they are making cost assessments based on a program they know
they are not going to build. With that in mind, he would not hang his hat on
that dollar amount because it will change since the design will change. That
is why the next six months of this programming are critical as they
determine what size the core facility should be.
Galloway stated this shows the need for Council discussion on what would
be living within the County's means for this project.
Clerk's note: Donovan had to leave the meeting at 9:58 a.m. He stated for
the next item, he hopes people will think about the number of positions the
Port of Bellingham and the small cities will have on the EDI board and the
clause about the Charter.
This agenda item was REPORTED.
Committee Discussion
1. AB2024-757 Discussion regarding the Economic Development Investment (EDI) Board
recommendations in response to the 'County Council's request to update the EDI
policies consistent with changes to RCW 82.14.370
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, stated she would like for
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Councilmember Donovan to be here since he originated much of this policy
discussion. They have the draft code on the agenda for introduction this
evening and they could discuss it then.
Galloway stated she has questions about membership, and particularly
around that of the Port of Bellingham and the Associate Development
Organization (ADO) given they are the same, whether the membership of
the Port and the PUD would be staff or a commissioner, whether the
Council representative would be the Council chair, and a potential change
on page one of the exhibit in section 2.130.020 (a) from citizens to
residents.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2024-654 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Ferndale School District to purchase and install an
ADA-compliant playground, in the amount of $700,000
Eric Chambers, Health and Community Services, briefed the
Councilmembers and stated this is a revised (substitute) contract, with the
revision made to the source of funding.
Galloway moved that the SUBSTITUTE Contract be RECOMMENDED
FOR AUTHORIZATION. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 2 - Byrd, and Galloway
Nay: 0
Temp Absent: 1 - Donovan
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adiournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 10:05 a.m.
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Council Finance and Administrative Committee Minutes - Final
Services Committee
ATTI;sT�.\�
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Cnit.
athy Halk,•Cdrk
November 6, 2024
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Todd Donovan -via email 11/18/2024
Todd Donovan, Committee Chair
Meeting Minutes prepared by Kristi Felbinger
Whatcom County page 9