HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2025-028strikeWhatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2025-264
File ID: AB2025-264 Version: 1 Status: Adopted
File Created: 03/17/2025 Entered by: , THelms@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: County Executive's File Type: Ordinance
Office
Assigned to: Council Committee of the Whole Final Action: 05/27/2025
Agenda Date: 05/27/2025 Enactment #: ORD 2025-028
Related Files:
Primary Contact Email: Apennucc@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Ordinance to amend Whatcom County Code Section 3.08.100, Council approval required, to increase
the threshold for contracts that require council approval
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
See attached
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To:
03/25/2025
Council
REFERRED TO Council Committee of the Whole
COMMITTEE
Aye:
6 Buchanan, Byrd, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay:
0
-emp Absent:
1 Donovan
05/13/2025
Council Committee of the Whole
DISCUSSED AND
MOTION(S) APPROVED
05/13/2025
Council
SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED Council Committee of the Whole
Aye:
4 Buchanan, Donovan, Galloway, and Scanlon
Nay:
3 Byrd, Elenbaas, and Stremler
05/27/2025
Council Committee of the Whole
RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION
Aye:
4 Buchanan, Donovan, Galloway, and Scanlon
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 5/28/2025
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2025-264)
Nay: 3 Byrd, Elenbaas, and Stremler
05/27/2025 Council ADOPTED
Aye: 4 Buchanan, Donovan, Galloway, and Scanlon
Nay: 3 Byrd, Elenbaas, and Stremler
Attachments: Proposed Ordinance, Substitute Ordinance - $100,000, Substitute Ordinance - $150,000,
Substitute Ordinance - $75,000, 2024 Contracts, Notice of Action Proposed on 5.13.2025
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 512812025
PROPOSED BY: Deputy Executive, A. Pennucci
INTRODUCTION DATE: Mar-g1 , May 13, 2025
ORDINANCE NO. _
AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE SECTION 3.08.100, COUNCIL
APPROVAL REQUIRED, TO INCREASE THE THRESHOLD FOR CONTRACTS
THAT REQUIRE COUNCIL APPROVAL
WHEREAS, it has been over seven years since the last significant update
to Whatcom County Code (WCC) 3.08; and
WHEREAS, since the last update to WCC 3.08, the County has faced
challenges in operating efficiently due to several factors, including increases in
the volume and complexity of contracts that has increased the number of
contracts requiring council approval by 40%; and
WHEREAS, contracts that require Council approval delays contract
execution and subsequent service delivery by as much as three to eight weeks;
and
WHEREAS, the number of items and time associated with processing
administrative decisions at Council reduces time for policy makers to focus on
broader policy discussions and staff time to oversee and report on contract
outcomes; and
WHEREAS, increasing the threshold for contracts that require Council
approval to $4-0875,000 would allow for -,approximate °contracts to be
executed more efficiently while retaining approval authority by the Council on
more than 96% of the awarded funds; and
WHEREAS, the Executive is implementing enhancements to the online
contract database search options to make information more accessible to the
public and to the Council and will report quarterly to the Council on all executed
contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Executive will continue to work on a more complete update to
WCC 3.08 and will recommend additional changes to the purchasing code to the County
Council in the next six to 12 months, which will allow the Council to review and consider
if the changes to the thresholds for contracts that require Council approval in this
Ordinance should be adjusted;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that WCC
Section 3.08.100 is hereby amended as presented in Exhibit A
ADOPTED this day of
ATTEST:
Cathy Halka, Clerk of the Council
/_1N%7 0001T1MI.MMEfi7Mel 1_4MA
, 2025.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Kaylee Galloway, Council Chair
WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Civil Deputy Prosecutor Satpal Sidhu, County Executive
( ) Approved ( ) Denied
Date Signed:
EXHIBIT `A'
(AMEND WCC SECTION 3.08.1.00)
3.08.100 Council approval required.
County council approval is required for the following:
A. Contracts or bid awards exceeding $40109075,000 all interlocal agreements and all real property leases,
except when:
1. Exercising an option contained in a contract or lease previously approved by the council.
2. Contract is for the design, construction, right-of-way acquisition, professional services, or other capital
costs approved by the county council in a capital budget appropriation ordinance.
3. Contract or bid award is for supplies or for equipment approved in a capital budget appropriation
ordinance.
4. Contract is for technical support and software maintenance from the developer of proprietary software
which is currently being used by Whatcom County.
5. Contract is for manufacturer's technical support and hardware maintenance of electronic systems.
6. Pursuant to and within the scope of a declaration of emergency made by the county executive under
WCC 3.08.060(B). The county executive, pursuant to a declaration of emergency, shall submit the
contract to the county council for informational purposes at the council's next regular or special
meeting.
B.All informational materials distributed to more than 20 percent of county residences for the purpose of
informing or educating the public on a specific capital project, levy or tax.
C. The Director of Administrative Services shall provide to the County Council no less than quarterly a written
report listing of all contracts signed by the County Executive including information on the contractor, term of
a_gree_ment, amount of award, and source of funding.