HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2026-028Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
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Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2026-355
File ID: AB2026-355 Version: 1 Status: Adopted
File Created: 05/01/2026 Entered by: MMiterko@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Finance Division File Type: Ordinance
Assigned to: Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Final Action: 05/26/2026
Agenda Date: 05/26/2026 Enactment #: ORD 2026-028
Related Files:
Primary Contact Email: atanj(,co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Ordinance amending the project budget for the New Public Health, Safety and Justice Facility, request
no. 11
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Requests appropriation of $2,200,000 to fund expenditures needed to progress the project to the
design phase, including land use and permitting costs, for a total project budget of $23,358,524.
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
Action:
Sent To:
05/12/2026 Council INTRODUCED Council Finance and
Administrative Services
Committee
Aye: 7 Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
05/26/2026 Council Finance and Administrative RECOMMENDED FOR
Services Committee ADOPTION
Aye: 7 Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
05/26/2026 Council ADOPTED
Aye: 7 Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 5/27/2026
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2026-355)
Attachments: Staff Memo, Proposed Ordinance, Notice of Action Proposed on 5.12.2026
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 5/27/2026
PROPOSED BY: Executive
INTRODUCTION DATE: May 12, 2026
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-028
AMENDING THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR THE
NEW PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND JUSTICE FACILITY, REQUEST NO. 11
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2013-003 established the project budget for a new public health,
safety and justice facility construction project; and
WHEREAS, voters approved the referendum necessary to fund a new facility proposed in
Ordinance 2023-039; and
WHEREAS, funds expended to date were used for site acquisition, permitting,
community collaboration, wetland mitigation, validation phase, and related consulting contracts;
and
WHEREAS, additional expenditure authority is needed to purchase land identified at the
Hannegan site that has been evaluated as a cost-effective alternative to the LaBounty site; and
WHEREAS, additional expenditure authority is needed to progress the project to the
design phase which will include contract amendments with the design -build and owner's
representative teams; and
WHEREAS, additional expenditure authority is needed for land use and permitting costs;
and
WHEREAS, fund balance is available to pay for additional project expenses through
proceeds from the criminal justice sales tax and small cities interlocal agreement revenues.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that Ordinance
2013-003 is hereby amended by adding $2,200,000 of expenditure authority to the current
amended project expenditure budget of $21,158,524, for a total amended project expenditure
budget of $23,358,524, as described in Exhibit A.
ADOPTED this 26th day of
iHJiyjia
ATTEST;,"Idl
y
Cathy�Hbflkk Co nci Clerk
OF
APPROVED` 0 •ROF�I�: ®�
Approved'''by email/8NVa'LdronfA Tan_
Civil Deputy'Pro ,ecutor ,,;4e'
May 2026.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Kaylee Galloway, Chair of the Council
Approved ( ) Denied
$Ig4 A
0. &J&.
Satpal Sidhu, Clounty Executive
Date: C. ®31
EXHIBIT A
NEW HEALTH, SAFETY AND JUSTICE FACILITY FUND 3502
Current
Account Description
Amended
Amendment #11
Total Amended
Expenditures
Project Budget
to Ord. 2013-003
Project Budget
6190 Direct Billing Rate
$900,000
$0
$900,000
6630 Professional Services
$9,305,789
$1,000,000
$10,305,789
7210 Intergov Professional Services
$10,000
$0
$10,000
7320 Land
$7,493,491
$2,670,000
$10,163,491
7350 Buildings and Structures
$0
$30,000
$30,000
7380 Other Improvements
$1,500,000
-$1,500,000
$0
8597 Operating Transfer Out
$1,949,244
$0
$1,949,244
$21,158,524
$2,200,000
$23,358,524
Revenues
4313 Special purpose tax
$7,596,000
$0
$7,596,000
4337 City of Bellingham tax revenue
$2,574,000
$0
$2,574,000
4337 City of Blaine tax revenue
$169,000
$0
$169,000
4337 City of Everson tax revenue
$84,000
$0
$84,000
4337 City of Ferndale tax revenue
$438,000
$0
$438,000
4337 City of Lynden tax revenue
$443,000
$0
$443,000
4337 City of Nooksack tax revenue
$42,000
$0
$42,000
4337 City of Sumas tax revenue
$49,000
$0
$49,000
8397 Operating Transfer In -Gen Fund
$2,093,491
$0
$2,093,491
8397 Op Trf In - Gen Fund (Not Budgeted)
$3,000,000
$0
$3,000,000
8397 Operating Transfer In -Jail Fund
$2,700,000
$0
$2,700,000
8397 Operating Transfer In - REET 1
$2,300,000
$0
$2,300,000
$21,488,491
$0
$21,488,491
Supplemental Budget Request
Administrative Services Facilities Management
Fund 3502 Cost Center 35021000 Originator: Chris Erb
Year 2 2026 Add'I FTE ❑ Priority
Name of Request: Justice Project Amendment - Design/Land/Permitting
X
Department Head Signature (Required on Hard Copy Submission) Date
Costs:
r Object
Object Description
Amount Requested
6630
Professional services
$1,000,000
7320
Land
$2,670,000
7350
Buildings and structures
$30,000
7380
Other improvements
($1,500,000)
Request Total
$2,200,000
la. Description of request:
This request is for additional budget authority of $2,200,000 to allow the Justice Facility project to
complete the Hannegan property acquisition, and provide enough funding to bridge/seed the Design
Phase of the project, through the end of the Validation Phase, anticipated to conclude in July of 2026. The
County has previously approved budget authority to support early planning, due diligence, site evaluation,
consultant services, and design -builder validation work. As the Design phase is approaching, additional
authority is now required to support this work without interruption and to carry the project team through
scope contract completion.
The current budget adjustments in the following areas: Land Acquisition, Professional Services, and
Building and Structures
Land Acquisition, Professional Service Adjustments and redirecting previous budget authority for the
Hannegan site acquisition
This request reflects the County's shift to the Hannegan site for the Justice Facility and realigns budget
authority to match the current project approach.
The primary new cost is the $4.07 million purchase of the Hannegan parcel. In addition, this request
includes professional services already incurred or needed to support the Hannegan site approach. This
includes consultant support tied to permitting strategy, appraisal, and related technical services.
The new costs are largely offset by budget authority and site -specific costs previously anticipated under
the former LaBounty site approach and are no longer required as originally contemplated. This includes
$1.47 million previous budgeted for land purchase related to a mitigation property, $1.5 million previously
budgeted for wetland mitigation construction activities, and approximately $200,000 in reduced
professional services associated with wetland consultant work. In addition, Facilities estimates
approximately $1.5 million in avoided costs related to reduced topographic work, permitting, and schedule -
related efficiencies under the Hannegan site approach. The Design -Builder also developed a rough order
of magnitude estimate of approximately $2.5 million for LaBounty-specific wetland mitigation, utility
relocations, and soil condition impacts that would have been required under the former site approach.
Collectively these changes help offset the cost of the Hannegan land purchase and other current
Thursday, April30, 2026 Rpt: Rpt Suppl Regular
Supplemental Budget Request
Administrative Services Facilities Management
8upp; 0 # 5454' _I Fund 3502 Cost Center 35021000 Originator. Chris Erb
Validation needs and represent approximately $5.67 million in avoided or redirect costs under the former
site approach.
If the Council contemplates future sale of the LaBounty site, there is an opportunity to credit the sale
toward this project budget, eventually offsetting this proposed supplemental request.
Other Professional Services Adjustments
This request also includes $1,000,000 additional authority in Professional Services to bridge/seed the
Design phase of the project.
Buildings & Structures Adjustments
Lastly, this supplemental request provides $30,000 in budget authority for anticipated City of Bellingham
land use and permitting costs related to the Justice Facility project. Planned 2026 activities include
development agreement coordination, conceptual test fits, a City pre -application meeting, neighborhood
meeting, land use application submittal, traffic study review, and the anticipated 180-day City review
period. The requested amount is a planning -level allowance for City fees and review costs and does not
include broader design or construction costs.
1b. Primary customers:
All Departments and residents that have a vested interest in the Justice Project.
2. Problem to be solved:
This request is intended to facilitate the project's relocation to a preferred site, expediting overall delivery
timeline and reducing overall project costs as described above.
Having appropriate budget authority to continue work without disruption will allow the project to maintain
schedule without cost impacts. This additional budget authority is intended to bridge Validation Phase
work to the Design Phase contract execution, where the Validation phase is anticipated to conclude end of
July 2026.
3a. Options /Advantages:
Facilities continues to view Hannegan as favorable when compared to the La Bounty site. With the
elimination of wetland mitigation required on the LaBounty site, that permitting and design can commence
much sooner and permitting does not have to wait until the Department of Ecology and Army Corps
conclude wetland permitting on the site.
3b. Cost savings:
Cost savings include $1.47 million previous budgeted for land purchase related to a mitigation property,
$1.5 million previously budgeted for wetland mitigation construction activities, and approximately $200,000
in reduced professional services associated with wetland consultant work. In addition, Facilities estimates
approximately $1.5 million in avoided costs related to reduced topographic work, permitting, and schedule -
related efficiencies under the Hannegan site approach. The Design -Builder also developed a rough order
of magnitude estimate of approximately $2.5 million for LaBounty-specific wetland mitigation, utility
relocations, and soil condition impacts that would have been required under the former site approach.
Collectively these changes help offset the cost of the Hannegan land purchase and other current
Validation needs and represent approximately $5.67 million in avoided or redirect costs under the former
site approach.
4a. Outcomes:
The Executive has set the ambitious goal that the Justice Facility be operational in late 2028.
4b. Measures:
When the facility is delivered and occupied in late 2028-29.
Successful completion of the project, on time and on budget.
Thursday, April 30, 2026 Rpt Rpt Suppl Regular
Supplemental Budget Request
Administrative Services Facilities Management
Suppy +a # o-454 Fund 3502 Cost Center 35021000 Originator: Chris Erb
5a. Other Departments/Agencies:
This project is not near any other County departments. This new site location will provide a closer
commute for downtown facilities.
5b. Name the person in charge of implementation and what they are responsible for:
Rob Ney
6. Funding Source:
New County Public Safety Sales Tax and Partner Contributions (Cities), Agreement 2
Thursday, April 30, 2026 Rpt: Rpt Suppl Regular