HomeMy WebLinkAboutCriminal Justice Jun 10 2025Whatcom County
Council Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
11:45 AM
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers
HYBRID MEETING - MAY BEGIN EARLY - ADJOURNS BY 12:00 P.M.
(PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Jon Scanlon
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC
Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final June 10, 2025
Safety Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 11:45 a.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, and Jon Scanlon
Also Present: Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, and Mark Stremler
Announcements
Special Presentation
1. AB2025-009 Report from the Public Defender's Office
Stark Follis, Public Defender, updated councilmembers on the Public
Defender's Office and new caseload standards adopted by the Supreme
Court. He gave the history leading up to the new rules and described what
the Supreme Court adopted. The applicability for the standards starts on
January 1, 2026 but the court allowed for an annual minimum
reduction/progression towards full compliance by January 2036.
Clerk's note: Follis clarified later in an email that "the annual minimum
reduction/progression towards compliance in caseload required by the
Court is ten percent (10%) of the difference between the current standard
and the new standard going into effect on January 1, 2026."
He answered what makes it possible to meet the 10 percent standard by
2026 but not in 2027, and stated the primary problem with compliance with
standards is at the felony level. He answered whether there is anything the
Courts and Prosecuting Attorney's Office can do (policy- or
procedurally -wise) to be more efficient to help meet these standards
instead of adding more positions or spending more tax dollars, and stated
resolving cases more efficiently or quickly has virtually nothing to do the
caseload standards issue that they have because it is measured only by
assignment. The only thing that is going to prevent an increase of lawyers
with the implementation of the standards is a reduction of the crime rate or
an increase in the use of diversion or other alternatives that keep people out
of the criminal justice system. He answered how it affects the
mid -biennium review and the budget cuts requested of the departments, and
he spoke about a slight increase of passthrough funds through the Office of
Public Defense (OPD). They have been getting about $200,000 but this year
they will be getting about $442,000.
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Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final
Safety Committee
June 10, 2025
Aly Pennucci, Executive's Office, clarified that departments were not asked
to make cuts, but were asked to model reduction scenarios. The
Administration may need to reduce a little more in one department to
account for requirements in another.
Follis answered what the status is for office space and stated they fit but
have some substandard space, but more problematic than that is the fact that
they still have cubicles which are problematic for trying to have
confidential conversations. He answered a question about a report a few
years ago that we had a number of people in our county jail who were there
without representation and how that stands now, and stated though it could
change, it is a lot better. He answered what the future looks like as they have
to reduce caseloads over the next ten years, how the State can help, and
whether the 10 percent applies to all the people in his office. He stated it
applies to every single one of them.
This agenda item was REPORTED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adiournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 12:09 p.m.
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Barry Buchanan -via email 6/17/2025
Meeting Minutes prepared by Kristi Felbinger
Barry Buchanan, Committee Chair
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