HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Apr 15 2025Whatcom County
Council Public Works & Health Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
11 AM
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers
HYBRID MEETING - MAY BEGIN EARLY -- (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE
REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil OR
CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Ben Elenbaas
Jon Scanlon
Mark Stremler
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC
Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final April 15, 2025
Committee
Call Tn Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Jon Scanlon called the meeting to order at 11:11 a.m. in a
hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Jon Scanlon, Mark Stremler, and Ben Elenbaas
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, and Kaylee Galloway
Announcements
Special Presentation
AB2025-258 Presentation by Community Services Division of Health and Community Services
sharing current work and upcoming initiatives
Ann Beck, Health and Community Services, read from a presentation (on
file) and answered questions about how they pay for the transitions fair,
where school districts, and those with developmental disabilities and their
caregivers can come learn about resources in Whatcom County. She stated
it is tied to millage funds which are part of property tax. She answered how
many nurses make up the Nurse Family Partnership Program and spoke
about two of the usual five nurses who job share.
Amanda Burnett, Health and Community Services, spoke about an additional
funding source for developmental disabilities. The Developmental
Disabilities Administration through the State has pass -through funding that
the Health Department uses to pay for County staff and overhead. Local
millage dollars only go to services.
Scanlon stated he has been hearing good things about the dental services in
rural areas and asked about shelter sites and if they are already looking for
those for next winter. Beck stated they will be putting out a request for
proposal (RFP) again to see if they can find a provider who is interested.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
2. AB2025-305 Update on current Healthy Children's Fund projects and future child care initiatives
Sarah Simpson, Health and Community Services, read from a presentation
(on file) on current Healthy Children's Fund projects, including a drop -in
child care program, and ones that are upcoming. She answered questions
about the childcare subsidy program and whether she expects Council to
make a decision before the request for proposal (RFP) goes out (as
discussed in the presentation), and stated it would be helpful, but they could
K%akom County Page I
Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final April 15, 2025
Committee
potentially include two different scenarios in the RFP and have applicants
apply based on those scenarios..
Scanlon stated he feels they should prepare and made a decision as though it
will not go through at the State.
Councilmembers and the speakers discussed including a document in these
presentations that shows the timing of the contracts and how long it took
them to get through the process, so Council can see that and what has been
completed.
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, stated she would like to talk
internally about how they would like to convey that information. Some
bottlenecks they have been experiencing have been resolved, so they are
eager to hear from Council when they hear concern from contractors.
Byrd stated the whole point of the reporting is so Council can be aware of
things before they blow up and come to them at a meeting or in emails so
they can be preemptive in dealing with issues.
Councilmembers and Schott-Bresler discussed the sharing of this
information with the Council.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adiournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 11:54 a.m.
Whatcom County Page 2
Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final April 15, 2025
Committee
ATTEST:
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Cathy Halka; oex5t(�S jr'
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHAI-COM COUNTY, WA
Jon Scanlon -via email 4/22/2025
Jon Scanlon, Committee Chair
Meeting Minutes prepared by Kristi Felbinger
Malcom County page 3