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Home My WebLink Aboutord2025-062Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Agenda Bill Master Report File Number: AB2025-796 File ID: AB2025-796 Version: 1 Status: Adopted File Created: 11/03/2025 Entered by: MMiterko@co.whatcom.wa.us Department: Finance Division File Type: Ordinance Assigned to: Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Final Action: 12/09/2025 Agenda Date: 12/09/2025 Enactment #: ORD 2025-062 Related Files: Primary Contact Email: atan@co.whatcom.wa.us TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM: Ordinance establishing the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Leasehold Improvements Project Fund and establishing an initial budget for the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Leasehold Improvements Project Fund SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: Establishing the Whatcom County Sheriffs Office Leasehold Improvements Project Fund to account for revenues and expenditures of necessary tenant improvements for the relocation of the Whatcom County Sheriffs Office to 4600 Ryzex Way. The Whatcom County Sheriffs Office Leasehold Improvements Project Fund seeks an initial budget of $1,500,000 as described in Exhibit A. Please see attached. HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To: 11/18/2025 Council INTRODUCED Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler Nay: 0 12/09/2025 Council Finance and Administrative RECOMMENDED FOR Services Committee ADOPTION Aye: 3 Byrd, Donovan, and Buchanan Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 1211012025 Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2025-796) Nay: 0 12/09/2025 Council ADOPTED Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler Nay: 0 Attachments: Proposed Ordinance, Notice of Action Proposed on 11.18.2025 Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 1211012025 PROPOSED BY: EXECUTIVE INTRODUCED: NOVEMBER 18, 2025 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-062 ESTABLISHING THE WHATCOM COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FUND AND ESTABLISHING AN INITIAL BUDGET FOR THE WHATCOM COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS FUND WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) currently operates from the basement of the County Jail; and WHEREAS, the current space has maintenance challenges, limits operational efficiency, and fails to meet modern law enforcement facility standards as the department has grown; and WHEREAS, a leased space has been identified as suitable at 4600 Ryzex Way Bellingham, Washington; and WHEREAS, the proposed lease agreement begins on November 1, 2025 and continues for 98 months; and WHEREAS, Whatcom County Administrative Services Facilities Division will need to perform leasehold improvements on the property ahead of occupancy of WCSO which will include but are not limited to security upgrades, locker room additions, information technology retrofitting, and layout modifications; and WHEREAS, funds are available in the Real Estate Excise Tax (REST) I fund; 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 Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Leasehold Improvements Fund. This fund shall be used to account for the revenues and expenditures of the improvements described above; and BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Leasehold Improvements Fund is approved with an initial project budget of $1,500,000 as described in Exhibit A. ADOPTED this 9th day of December, 2025 ATTEST: Z; � � 1A)° 00 � );m'✓ Cathy Halka, CLe <tF APPROVED AS TO; FORM Approved by Email B Waldron/A Tan Civil Deputy Prosecutor WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Kaylee G oway, Council Chair WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Satpal Sid , County Executive (A Approved ( ) Denied Date Signed: EXHIBIT A Supplemental Budget Request Administrative Services Facilities Management Supp't 1D 529o_J Fund Cost Center Originator. Rob Ney Year 1 2025 Add'I FTE ❑ Priority 1 Name of Request: Sheriff's Office Tenant Imp for Leased Space X Department Head Signature (Required on Hard Copy Submission) Date Costs: �O- —__ Object Description Amount Req uested''� _bject _ 6190 - Direct billing rate $50,000 7070 Minor remodeling $1,435,000 7190 Other miscellaneous $15,000 8397.C.32412401 Transfers in ($1,500,000) Request Total $0 la. Description of request: The County Council will consider approval of a lease to relocate to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office to 4600 Ryzex Way in Bellingham's Cordata neighborhood at the November 5, 2025 Council meeting. Contingent on council approval of that lease, this supplemental budget request would establish a project - based budget to fund the tenant improvements necessary to use this existing office building for the Sheriff's Office. Improvements include but are not limited to security fence construction, locker room additions, minor layout changes, IT upgrades, security upgrades, evidence room and enclosed office space additions. The proposed funds would be allocated toward the construction of the tenant improvement, direct billing for project management and permits fees. 1b. Primary customers: The Sheriffs Department and associated customers. 2. Problem to be solved. The Sheriffs Office is located in the basement of the Public Safety Building which houses the majority of the department staff along with several satellite locations. The basement was not designed for this use and the department has outgrown the square footage. An adequately sized office space and/or building would allow the department to consolidate staff and operate more efficiently. The current Public Safety Building requires significant investment to meet the upcoming Clean Building Performance Standards. A newer office space/ building would be designed to meet updated energy codes and would require less investment to remain compliant. A more modern office building requires less maintenance costs. 3a. Options / Advantages: Real estate searches for office space in Whatcom County have not yielded a comparable option in terms of size, layout and recent age. Constructing a new building would take time and would likely not provide cost savings due to land acquisition costs, design fees and constructions costs. Completing a tenant improvement in an existing building would have a shorter time frame for the urgent space need. The proposed office building is modern and has an advantageous existing layout that requires relatively small changes and investment. The space is of adequate size now and would allow for departmental growth in future years. The location is suitable to efficiently manage operations. 3b. Cost savings: Operational efficiency would increase with a consolidated Sherriff's Office. Newer buildings are more Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Rpr: Rpr Suppl Regular Supplemental Budget Request Administrative Services Facilities Management s ,op,1 /0 529-01 Fund Cost Center Originator: Rob Ney energy efficient and will have significant energy savings and reduced maintenance costs. 4a. Outcomes: The outcome would be a consolidated Sheriff's Office that is able to operate efficiently with staff consolidated. The proposed building size allows for the construction of all the operational spaces necessary to complete essential public services. 4b. Measures: Upon completion of tenant improvement and once the department has moved into the space, the staff will have the resources required to provide services to the public. The Sheriff's Department will have adequate space to operate efficiently and provide essential services such as emergency response, law enforcement, court services and corrections. 5a. Other Departments/Agencies: The tenant improvement will not have an impact on other departments or agencies. Information Technologies, who will be assist with the Tls to provide secure internet access and other technology improvements necessary to relocate the Sheriff's Office to this leased facility. 5b. Name the person in charge of implementation and what they are responsible for. Rob Ney, Facilities Director 6. Funding Source: REET 1. See companion supplemental 5292. Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Rpl: Rpl Suppl Regular