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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPacket Special Council Jul 28 2020CLERK O F TH E CO U N CI L Dana Brown C.M.C. tG� M COG -Davis, SP ya COUNTY COURTHOUSE 3 311 Grand Avenue, Raite#105 Bellingham, WA 982254038 (360) 778-5010 10 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL COMBINED AG E N DA PACKET FO R J U LY 28, 2020 INCLUDES INFORMATION FOR THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS: SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING (10:30 A.M.) CO U N Cl LM BN BERS Rud Browne Barry Buchanan Tyler Byrd Todd Donovan Ben Elenbaas Carol Frazey Kathy Kershner Whatcom County Council (Special) COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Meeting Agenda Tuesday, July 28, 2020 10:30 AM Virtual Meeting VIRTUAL MEETING - VIEW ONLINE COUNCILMEMBERS Rud Browne Barry Buchanan Tyler Byrd Todd Donovan Ben Elenbaas Carol Frazey Kathy Kershner CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C. Council (Special) Meeting Agenda July 28, 2020 Call To Order Roll Call Committee Discussion AB2020-234 Discussion regarding goals, guidelines, and approach to updating current and future budgets Other Business Adiournment Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 211412025 File ID: AB2020-234 File Created: 05/27/2020 Department: Whatcom County Agenda Bill Master Report File Number: AB2020-234 Version: 1 Entered by: File Type: Discussion COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360)778-5010 Status: Discussed Assigned to: Council Committee of the Whole Final Action: 08/05/2020 Agenda Date: 08/05/2020 Enactment #: Primary Contact Email: DBrown@co.whatcom.wa.us TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM: Discussion regarding goals, guidelines, and approach to updating current and future budgets SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: Discussion regarding goals, guidelines, and approach to updating current and future budgets HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE Date: Acting Body: 06/02/2020 Council 06/16/2020 Council Committee of the Whole 06/23/2020 Council Special Committee of the Whole 07/07/2020 Council Committee of the Whole 07/21/2020 Council Committee of the Whole 07/28/2020 Council (Special) 08/05/2020 Council Committee of the Whole Action: DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED DISCUSSED DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED DISCUSSED DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED DISCUSSED Sent To: Attachments: Proposed Resolution, Approved Resolution 2020-026, Budget Goals and Priorities - Byrd, Frazey's Additions to Byrd's Priorities, Draft Minutes - 6.23 Budget Discussion Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 2/14/2025 Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2020-234) Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 2/14/2025 PROPOSED BY: BUCHANAN, DONOVAN INTRODUCTION DATE: JULY 7, 2020 I:4*1•1tell11[•LIZ[0 SUPPORTING THE EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET GOALS FOR 2021-22 WHEREAS, Section 2.20 of the Whatcom County Charter gives the County Council the power to levy taxes, appropriate revenue, and adopt budgets for the County; and WHEREAS, Section 3.22 of the Whatcom County Charter gives the Executive the power and duty to prepare and present budgets to the County Council; and WHEREAS, Section 6.20 of the Whatcom County Charter requires all agencies of County government to submit to the County Executive information necessary to prepare the budget at least one hundred thirty-five (135) days prior to the end of the budget cycle; and WHEREAS, Section 6.10 of the Whatcom County Charter requires the County Executive to present a complete budget and budget message to the County Council at least seventy-five (75) days prior to the end of each budget cycle; and WHEREAS, Section 6.10 of the Whatcom County Charter requires that the County Council shall adopt appropriation, tax and revenue ordinances for the next budget cycle at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of the budget cycle; and WHEREAS, the Executive intends to present Budget recommendations to County Council in October 2020; and WHEREAS, given these deadlines enshrined in the County Charter, Council has somewhat limited time to amend budgets after October 2020; and WHEREAS, on May 15, 2020, the Executive provided Council his 2021-2022 Administrative Budget Priorities, listing the Executive's overarching goals for the 2021-22 budget cycle, and asked Council for its feedback; and WHEREAS, the budget process may be more efficient if the Council informs the Executive about Council's agreement with the Executive's overarching goals for the 2021-22 budget cycle prior to releasing budget instructions to agencies of County government, and prior to the Executive making final budget decisions in September of 2020; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council supports the Executive's following overarching goals for the 2021-22 budget cycle: • Take prudent steps to safeguard the long-term financial stability of County finances. • Maintain a reasonable level of service to provide the best possible services to our constituents by maintaining County workforce teams. • Maintain County assets and seek opportunities to improve operational efficiencies of overall County operations. • Continue to support our Public Health system as we respond to the COVID 19 pandemic. • Continue to support the Regional Economic Partnership (ADO office) Economic Development programs. • Develop reasonable Capital Project Budgets for the long-term needs of Whatcom County. • Continue Countywide initiatives to improve Housing Affordability, Wetlands Mitigation strategy, and Climate Change Mitigation. • Facilitate WIRA 1 policy and planning for all stakeholders. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council has additional goals and priorities that it will also sent to the Executive. ATTEST: APPROVED this day of 12020. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council Barry Buchanan, Council Chair APPROVED AS TO FORM: Civil Deputy Prosecutor Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 ' Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Agenda Bill Master Report File Number: AB2020-294 File ID: AB2020-294 Version: 1 Status: Approved as Amended File Created: 07/07/2020 Entered by: DBrown@co.whatcom.wa.us Department: Council Office File Type: Resolution Assigned to: Council Final Action: 07/07/2020 Agenda Date: 07/07/2020 Enactment #: RES 2020-026 Primary Contact Email: DBrown@co.whatcom.wa.us TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM: Resolution supporting the Executive's Budget Goals for 2021-2022 SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: Resolution supporting the Executive's Budget Goals for 2021-2022 HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE Date: Acting Body: Action: 07/07/2020 Council APPROVED AS AMENDED Aye: 4 Browne, Buchanan, Donovan, and Frazey Nay: 2 Byrd, and Elenbaas Absent: 1 Kershner Attachments: Resolution as amended 7.7.2020 Sent To: Whatcom County Page t Printed on 71812020 PROPOSED BY: BUCHANAN, DONOVAN INTRODUCTION DATE: JULY 7, 2020 RESOLUTION NO. 2020-026 SUPPORTING THE EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET GOALS FOR 2021-22 WHEREAS, Section 2.20 of the Whatcom County Charter gives the County Council the power to levy taxes, appropriate revenue, and adopt budgets for the County; and WHEREAS, Section 3.22 of the Whatcom County Charter gives the Executive the power and duty to prepare and present budgets to the County Council; and WHEREAS, Section 6.20 of the Whatcom County Charter requires all agencies of County government to submit to the County Executive information necessary to prepare the budget at least one hundred thirty-five (135) days prior to the end of the budget cycle; and WHEREAS, Section 6.10 of the Whatcom County Charter requires the County Executive to present a complete budget and budget message to the County Council at least seventy-five (75) days prior to the end of each budget cycle; and WHEREAS, Section 6.10 of the Whatcom County Charter requires that the County Council shall adopt appropriation, tax and revenue ordinances for the next budget cycle at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of the budget cycle; and WHEREAS, the Executive intends to present Budget recommendations to County Council in October 2020; and WHEREAS, given these deadlines enshrined in the County Charter, Council has somewhat limited time to amend budgets after October 2020; and WHEREAS, on May 15, 2020, the Executive provided Council his 2021-2022 Administrative Budget Priorities, listing the Executive's overarching goals for the 2021-22 budget cycle, and asked Council for its feedback; and WHEREAS, the budget process may be more efficient if the Council informs the Executive about Council's agreement with the Executive's overarching goals for the 2021-22 budget cycle prior to releasing budget instructions to agencies of County government, and prior to the Executive making final budget decisions in September of 2020; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council supports the Executive's following overarching goals for the 2021-22 budget cycle: • Take prudent steps to safeguard the long-term financial stability of County finances. • Maintain a reasonable level of service to provide the best possible services to our constituents by maintaining County workforce teams. • Maintain County assets and seek opportunities to improve operational efficiencies of overall County operations. • Continue to support our Public Health system as we respond to the COVID 19 pandemic. • Continue to support the Regional Economic Partnership (ADO office) Economic Development programs. • Develop reasonable Capital Project Budgets for the long-term needs of Whatcom County. • Continue Countywide initiatives to improve Housing Affordability, Wetlands Mitigation strategy, and Climate Change Mitigation. • Facilitate WRIA 1 policy and planning for all stakeholders. • Prepare an addendum for General Fund, and other funds reliant on General Fund transfers, that includes a prioritized targeted list of cost reduction proposals totaling 20% of the unrestricted revenue. • Prioritized available funding for the benefit of children and families. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council has additional goals and priorities that will also send to the Executive. APPRQVE)D'ftsij7,th day of July NO ;rye m� 6 ATTESt:' b w °Y ... .w ..%i✓ '`M .., .. _vim_ Dana Ir Ki4- avi��r I�gf tVhe Council ®® � 5kA APPROVED AS TO FORM: Approved via Email / KF / LB Civil Deputy Prosecutor WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL TCOM 0 TY, WASHINGTON Baoyc—han n, Council Chair rocess The Process Objectives Take a more proactive role in establishing the budget. Establish a framework which allows the Council to work more effectively together. Provide clear guidance to County Executive and Department's. Streamline's process, saving staff time and while allowing initiates to get started sooner. Council Suggestions: Reduce redundancies within County Examples of Budget Goals 1. Establish two budgets reflecting a 10% and 20% decrease from 2019 revenue. 2. Achieve county -wide unemployment rate of 5% or less by end of 2022. 3. Achieve a balanced and affordable housing market, with MSI between 5-7 months and vacancy rate between 5-7% by end of 2023. What are Guiding Principles 1. Guidelines that allow for consistent decision making. 2. Principles that will help us to achieve goals. 3. Typically no more than 10. 4. Can be used to support all decision making from budget to project selection. Examples of Guiding Principles 1. Prioritize projects or initiatives working with Whatcom County businesses. 2. Prioritize deferred maintenance projects. 3. Prioritize projects which leverage third party grant funding. 4. Invest in digital infrastructure. 5. Retain expertise within staffing. 6. Ensure transparency in decisions, information, and data. 7. Prioritize environmentally sustainable solutions. Council Suggestions: - Work within our authority. - Prioritize cost sharing, collaboration with other jurisdictions. - Look better output for community at a better cost. - Children and families first. - Combining requests for bids to leverage bulk purchasing power for goods and services. - Reduce redundancies within County - Continuity of county services and staff Possible Actions a Invite local economist to give presentation on impacts and opportunities in Whatcom County. Budget Process Invite local business owner(s) to give presentation on impacts to their ext business(es) and areas of concern or opportunity. Childcare, Team Whatcom, Port, Chamber of Commerce. Steps Establish scoring system to prioritize projects based on available funds. Council members identify and suggest possible budget cuts, reallocations, and new opportunities to support community and economic growth. Review potential projects to identify what should be included in 2021-22 budget. Reach out and invite tribes to participate in conversation Host collaborative multi -council strategy and vision work session. Hold a public hearing for the community to participate and provide feedback. Request departments heads to complete questionnaire, providing information to understand demand and potential changes. Date 6/16 : Carol 6/16 Councilmember Frazey's Additions to Budget Discussion 6116120 *Additions in red. Budget Goals 1. Establish two budgets reflecting a 10% and 20% decrease from 2019 revenue. 2. Achieve county -wide unemployment rate of 5% or less by end of 2022. 3. Achieve a balanced and affordable housing market, with MSI between 5-7 months and vacancy rate between 5-7% by end of 2023. 4. Invest in upstream prevention and interventions in lieu of costly remediation strategies 5. Increase the number of students ready to enter kindergarten by 50% by end of 2022 (increase from current rate of 47% for Whatcom County to 70%). What are Guiding Principles 1. Guidelines that allow for consistent decision making. 2. Principles that will help us to achieve goals. 3. Typically no more than 10. 4. Can be used to support all decision making from budget to project selection. Guiding Principles **1. Prioritize the health and well-being of children and families, with explicit emphasis on those most vulnerable. Invest in preventions and intervention services for children and families. 1. Prioritize projects or initiatives working with Whatcom County businesses. (Do this within the scope of what business will look like as we emerge from COVID-19) 2. Prioritize deferred maintenance projects. Prioritize within this list relative to critical vs. what can be delayed. 3. Prioritize projects which leverage third party grant funding. 1 4. Invest in digital infrastructure. (This should be a TOP priority. We NEED fast, reliable internet throughout the ENTIRE County.) 5. Retain expertise within staffing. 6. Ensure transparency in decisions, information, and data. 7. Prioritize environmentally sustainable solutions. 8. Look at issues upstream that result in increased costs to the community. Use this challenging time to reprioritize funding. Council Suggestions -Work within our authority. - Prioritize cost sharing, collaboration with other jurisdictions. - Look better output for community at a better cost. - Children and families first. (Move this to FIRST) - Combining requests for bids to leverage bulk purchasing power for goods and services. - Reduce redundancies within County — Continuity of county services and staff — More Government, Non -Profit, Business, Volunteer Combinations (Consider collaborative resources to support businesses, childcare, other nonprofits. — Sustainable Connections Food Recovery Program, Whatcom Community Land Trust, Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition) Next Steps -Possible Actions -Possible Actions Date Invite local economist to give presentation on impacts and opportunities in Whatcom County. - Invite local business owner(s) to give presentation on impacts to their business(es) and areas of concern or opportunity. Childcare, Team Whatcom, Port, Chamber of Commerce. 6/16 : Carol z -Invite large nonprofit service agencies to present the impact of COVID-19 on their operations and their plans to reinvent themselves moving forward. Consider how to centralize support services for nonprofits. - Establish scoring system to prioritize projects based on available funds. -Council members identify and suggest possible budget cuts, reallocations, and new opportunities to support community and economic growth. -Review potential projects to identify what should be included in 2021-22 budget. -Reach out and invite tribes to participate in conversation -Host collaborative multi -council strategy and vision work session. -Hold a public hearing for the community to participate and provide feedback. -Request departments heads to complete questionnaire, providing information to understand demand and potential changes. 3 Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Draft Minutes June 23, 2020 DRAFT MINUTES - JUNE 23 SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 1. AB2020-234 Discussion regarding goals, guidelines, and approach to updating current and future budgets Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, stated that one response came in from councilmembers on this item. Buchanan spoke about a grant from the MacArthur Foundation and a conference he attended concerning the reduction of incarceration with regard to mental health and racial disparity. An idea for using the grant money is enhancing the Ground -Level Response and Coordinated Engagement (GRACE) and the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) programs. He stated he would like to see that as a budget priority. Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, answered a concern about giving specific and tangible information that the Administration can use to develop the budget and communicate to the department heads. The budget priority meeting has been re -scheduled for July 8, 2020 so they can incorporate councilmember goals into the document. Councilmembers discussed whether the LEAD and GRACE programs have the ability to function in an advisory role to the Council and whether they should put together a committee that could function as an advisory role to the Council concerning race relations in Whatcom County. They discussed the following possible budget priorities: • Reducing redundancies in Whatcom County government by putting the Parks Department under the Public Works Department • Focusing on values that the Council has influence over • Investing in upstream prevention and interventions in lieu of costly remediation strategies • Funding the homeless outreach team • Consolidating County building work space by allowing family friendly work -from -home policies if employees choose and if they are able to complete their job responsibilities • Keeping the current COVID-19 jail booking procedures Byrd led a discussion about budget priorities and goals using the document, Frazey's Additions to Byrd's Priorities (on file). Whatcom County page I Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Draft Minutes June 23, 2020 DRAFT MINUTES - JUNE 23 SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Councilmembers discussed establishing two budgets reflecting a 10 percent and 20 percent decrease from 2019 revenue, whether they should request that the Administration produce two different budgets, waiting first to hear what the Executive's Office proposes, requesting that the Administration just prepare a budget with a 20 percent decrease from the 2019 revenue, whether the Council should direct the Executive's Office on a specific percentage and what that should be. Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, answered questions about whether they are going to get new revenue forecasts or sales tax projections, what percentage of the budget the Administration is thinking of cutting, and what percentage of the County's revenue comes from sales tax. He stated the Administration will put together a 2021-2022 budget based on an amended 2020 budget which will be based on projections on sales and property tax revenues. They will present a balanced budget based on projections with a game plan for accomplishing reductions if the revenues don't turn out to be as forecasted. Councilmembers continued to discuss the item. Brad Bennett, Administrative Services Department, spoke about the percentage of the decrease and stated that sales and property tax reduction was less than they thought but they will need to look at why. Money that is discretionary is limited but they will come up with some realistic and conservative revenue estimates and then try and manage a budget within that. Then they will identify where they would have to cut, but reductions across the board do not always work. Byrd suggested a motion to establish a single budget reflecting a 20 percent decrease from 2019 revenue. Councilmembers discussed establishing a budget without a fixed amount of decrease but with a contingency if there is a 20 percent decrease in revenue, requesting the Executive to prepare a budget with a supplemental reflecting what would be done differently or what would have to change in the budget if revenues drop by 20 percent, not creating more work for the departments by asking them to work on a scenario that may not come into fruition, and leaving it up to the Executive's Office and Finance to propose a budget. Schroeder stated in the past the Administration has prepared negative additional service requests which would show where in the organization you can accomplish reductions. A valuable conversation in the next couple Whatcom County page 2 Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Draft Minutes June 23, 2020 DRAFT MINUTES - JUNE 23 SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE months with Council will be prioritizing where in the organization those program reductions would have to happen. Browne moved to request the Executive to prepare a budget with a supplemental reflecting what would be done if revenue decreases by 20 percent. The motion was seconded by Byrd. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 6 - Buchanan, Byrd, Elenbaas, Frazey, Kershner, and Browne Nay: 1 - Donovan Councilmembers discussed the following goal as presented on the screen by Byrd: Achieve a balanced and affordable housing market, with Monthly Sales Inventory (MSI) between five and seven months and vacancy rate between five to seven percent by end of 2023. Browne suggested alternative language for the goal: Focus on identifying and removing barriers to affordable housing. Byrd stated they could change the year from 2023 to 2025. Byrd moved to approve the goal: Achieve a balanced and affordable housing market, with MSI between five and seven months and vacancy rate between five to seven percent by the end of 2025. The motion was seconded by Frazey. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 6 - Byrd, Elenbaas, Frazey, Kershner, Browne, and Buchanan Nay: 0 Absent: 1 - Donovan out of the meeting Councilmembers discussed the remaining proposed goals: Kershner moved to approve the goal: Increase the number of students ready to enter kindergarten by 50 percent by the end of 2022 (increase from current rate of 47 percent for Whatcom County to 70 percent). The motion was seconded by Byrd. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 6 - Elenbaas, Frazey, Kershner, Buchanan, Byrd, and Browne NnX- 1 - Donovnn Whatcom County page 3 Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Draft Minutes June 23, 2020 DRAFT MINUTES - JUNE 23 SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Browne moved to approve the goal: Invest in upstream prevention and interventions in lieu of costly remediation strategies including incarceration and racial disparity. The motion was seconded by Kershner. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 7 - Elenbaas, Frazey, Kershner, Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, and Donovan Nay: 0 Kershner moved to approve the goal: Achieve county -wide unemployment rate of five percent or less by end of 2022. Byrd suggested a friendly amendment to make the year 2025. Kershner accepted the friendly amendment and the motion was seconded by Byrd. Councilmembers discussed the motion. Donovan suggested a friendly amendment to change the rate of unemployment to two percent. The friendly amendment was not accepted. Councilmembers continued to discuss the goal. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 6 - Frazey, Kershner, Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, and Elenbaas Nay: 1 - Donovan Whatcom County page 4