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Home My WebLink Aboutord2025-046Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Agenda Bill Master Report File Number: AB2025-614 File ID: AB2025-614 Version: 1 Status: Adopted File Created: 08/27/2025 Entered by: ATan@co.whatcom.wa.us Department: Finance Division File Type: Ordinance Assigned to: Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Final Action: 09/23/2025 Agenda Date: 09/23/2025 Enactment #: ORD 2025-046 Related Files: Primary Contact Email: atantcDtco.whatcoin.wa.us TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM: Ordinance establishing a project -based budget for the Jail Reentry Improvements project SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: Establishing the Jail Reentry Improvmeents project to account for costs related to enhanced video surveillance, WIFI infrastructure, and improved inmate medical and security monitoring. The Jail Reentry Improvements project seeks an initial budget of $710,000 as described in Exhibit A. Please see attached. HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To: 09/09/2025 Council INTRODUCED Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler Nay: 0 09/23/2025 Council Finance and Administrative RECOMMENDED FOR Services Committee ADOPTION Aye: 3 Byrd, Donovan, and Buchanan Nay: 0 09/23/2025 Council ADOPTED Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler N ay: 0 Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 9/24/2025 Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2025-614) Attachments: Proposed Ordinance, Notice of Action Proposed on September 9 2025 Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 9/24/2025 PROPOSED BY: Executive INTRODUCTION DATE: September 9, 2025 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-046 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BASED BUDGET FOR THE JAIL REENTRY IMPROVMENTS PROJECT FUND WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Jail must improve infrastructure to accommodate modern reentry services and health care for its population; and, WHEREAS, identified needs include enhanced video surveillance, improvement of WIFI infrastructure, inmate medical monitoring, enhanced inmate tracking and security checks, and update of key control systems; and, WHEREAS, Whatcom County has been awarded $2.5 million dollars from the Washington State Health Care Authority to provide essential, pre-release services for individuals leaving incarceration; and, WHEREAS, the County has received $1.1 million in grant dollars to date; and, WHEREAS, $710,000 of grant dollars are available to accomplish these improvements; and, WHEREAS, Section 6.80 of the Whatcom County Home Rule Charter allows for project -based capital budget appropriation ordinances that lapse when the project has been completed or abandoned or when no expenditure or encumbrance has been made for three (3) years. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that a new fund is hereby established effective immediately, titled the Jail Reentry Improvements Project Fund. This fund shall be used to account for the revenues and expenditures of the improvements described above; BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that the Jail Reentry Improvements Project Fund is approved with an initial project budget of $710,000 as described in Exhibit A. ADOPTED this 23rd day of September ATTE0 � Ca y Halka, Clergy o e Courfcil 0t... , 2025. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Kaylee Ckfloway, Council Chair ° I WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE 08r°i�°�a> WHATCOM COUNTY WASHINGTON APPROVED -AS TO FORM: Approved by email/a' Waldron/A Tan Civil Deputy Prosecutor Satpal Sidhu, County Executive Approved ( ) Denied Date Signed: EXHIBIT Supplemental Budget Request &atlls: amending Administrative Services Facilities Management 'Upp'i!D # 5060 Fund Cost Center Originator. Rob Nev Expenditure Type: One -Time Year 1 2025 Add'I FTE Add'I Space Priority 1 Name of Request; Grant Accpt-lmprov to Jail Improv HC Auth Award Department Head Signature (Required on Hard Copy Submission) Date Costs Object Object Description 4334.0466 DSHS-HCA reentry j 6190 Direct billing rate I 6320 Office and operating supplies 6510 Tools and equipment 6520 S--fiharare 6610 - ------- --- - Contractual services 7400 Machinery and Equipment Request Total Ia. Description ofrequest: Amount Requested __ .. j [5?10 OOOi $50,000 $100,000 $100,000 S_20,000 $300.000 $140,000 The County is contracted with the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) to provide essential services for individuals while In or leaving a carceral facility. The Whatcom County Jail is being paid as a contractor to provide these services, and has received funding from the HCA. for technological needs in order to provide the services. Whatcom County is specifically authorized to install or contract for the following improvements 1) Video Surveillance for inmates on the first floor of the jail where high risk inmates are closely monitored for safety. 2) Installation of an improved WIFI system in order to create and improve data -exchange and provide pre-release services including health related social needs The improved WIFI system will provide the ability to support communication with community providers and Medicaid billing. 3) Inmate Medical Monitoring 4) inmate Tracking and Security Checks 5) Key Control Systems This funding has been approved by Council (AB2024-471) anda contract with HCA has been approved under Contract 202407027 in July of 2024. The total amount of the funding was S2,500,000. Staff is requesting $710,000 in budget authority for the tasks listed above. The intention is to create a fund that Facilities can use to accomplish the prescribed tasks and the Sheriff's Office can use as well. These improvements will require additional on -going expenses to the County: Additional annual integration costs for video surveillance Additional data storage costs for video surveillance Subscription fees for both the inmate tracking system and the inmate health monitoring system Additional end of life replacement costs when these systems need to be replaced 9b, Primary customers Jail Staff and Inmates that vdill benefit from these improvements. lFeduestlah,-1ulmst2� 202 Rlv:RprSulnWRegulm- Supplemental Budget Request stcrtjls: Pendir�a Administrative Services Facilities Management sur�07 0 9 5060 ( Fund Cost Center Originator: Rob Ney 2, Problem to be solved: The; HCA Reentry Waiver provides new funding intended to support correctional healthcare and reentry functions_ The Sheriffs Office and Facilities Management must have budget ar_rthonty in 2025 to utilize these funds and complete purchases tied to milestone requirements. Without this authority the County wli be unable to access the awarded funds or move forward -with the needed improvements. The jail is a concrete building which makes providing adequate vV1Fl difficult. This workwill allow,+ improvements to this infrastructure for the purpose of inmate medical care. 3a, Options / Advantages: This is a necessary effort for medical care and re-entry services of the Jail Facility. These improvements will enhance our medical care and re-entry services and abilities in the Jail Establishing a dedicated project budget is the best option because it allows the County use awjard funding 3b. Cost savings: This is a fully funded project under an agreement with the Washington State Health Care Authority 4a, Outcomes: The project v;%ill be completed by the end of 2025. 4b, Measures: It is desired to have most of these improvements installed before the end of 2025 When the new improvements are installed \,vithin budget. 5a, Other Departments/Agencies: It will only impact those adjacent during construction_ Noise during construction 5b. Dame the person in charge of implementation and what they are responsible for: Rob Ney, Caleb Erickson 6. Funding Source: Washington State Health Care Authority Reentry Waiver Award lVednesd(y, Augiat 271 2025 Rpr. Rpr Snpyl Regidar-