September 2002
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at July l6, 2002 meeting
119. Authorize the executive to sign a $118,056 contract for operation of the Northwest Regional Drug Task Force by the Whatcom County Sheriffs Office? Funding is from the state Department of Commerce, Trade and Economic Development from July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003. Council wants more information on programs and their effectiveness before approving. Failed 3-3, Barbara Brenner, Laurie Caskey-Schreiber, and Sharon Roy opposed. Seth Fleetwood absent.
120. Authorize the executive to enter into a $50,000 contract with RE Sources to provide classroom education programs? Presentations to school age children (grades 1, 3, 6 and 9) will include topics concerning waste prevention, recycling and proper management of hazardous household waste. The state Department of Ecology will fund 75 percent and Whatcom County the rest. Approved 6-0, Seth Fleetwood absent.
121. Authorize the executive to enter into a $27,152 contract with Inter-Flueve, Inc. of Seattle, for work on the Beaver Creek bank stabilization project in Sudden Valley? Phase 1 ($107,251) was located on the middle fork of the Nooksack River, phase 2 includes final design, permitting and on-sit construction inspections for a total amount of $134,403. Contract began January 31,2002 and ends December 31, 2002. Property owner required to pay actual construction costs. Approved with conditions 6-0, Seth Fleetwood absent.
122. Adopt a salary schedule and policies for unrepresented Whatcom County employees for the year 2002? Includes salary schedule, rules for compensation and employment, scheduling, leaves and benefits for non-union employees, elected officials and district court judges. (Resolution 2002-29). Amended and approved 5-1, Barbara Brenner opposed, Seth Fleetwood absent.
123. Authorize the sale of surplus county property at public auction? The list includes cars, trucks, and miscellaneous small tools and equipment no longer of usable value to the county. Berglund and Jones hold such auctions the first Saturday of each month, advertising locally the Sunday before. (Resolution 2002-30) Approved 6-0, Seth Fleetwood absent.
124. Update the Whatcom County Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program for 2003 to 2008? It is a planning tool for funded public works projects and designed to prioritize right-of-way purchases and construction and repair of roads and bridges. This rates the projects in the order they will be worked on. The council added the need for mitigation for shoulder and trail widening plans if adding more impervious areas. (Resolution 2002-3l) Approved 6-0, Seth Fleetwood absent.
125. Amend the 2002 schedule of animal control fees? The fees are raised to match charges in the cities of the county for the same services. The increase will be deducted from the contract amount. The promised formation of a oversight commission to oversee the operations of the SSP-Preferred Animal Care, will be reported upon at the July 30 council meeting. (Ordinance 2002-39) Adopted 6-0, Seth Fleetwood absent.
126. Amend the ordinance that authorizes levy of taxes for county and state? The amendment clarifies collection and remittance of real estate excise taxes by the county treasurer. (Ordinance 2002-40) Adopted 6-0, Seth Fleetwood absent.
127. Establish a joint Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District to collect state sales tax rebates of approximately $700,000 a year, and use them for a regional center in Bellingham? The promotion of cultural facilities, including additional parking, will benefit county residents as well. The seven-member board will be nominated by the mayor of Bellingham and the County Executive and approved by the city (August, page 15, votes 115) and County Councils. (Ordinance 2002-41) Amended and adopted 6-0, Seth Fleetwood absent.
128. Increase the petty cash fund for the Lummi Island ferry to $800? Ordinance 88-15 established the fund at $400. The increase will improve the current volume of operations. (Ordinance 2002-042) Adopted 6-0, Seth Fleetwood absent.
129. Rescind Ordinance 82-107, establishing a solid waste petty cash fund? All county-owned solid waste disposal sites have been closed. (Ordinance 2002-43) Adopted 6-0, Seth Fleetwood absent.
130. Increase the petty cash fund for public works administration to $200? Ordinance 88-49 established the fund at $100. The increase will improve transactions including the sale of ferry passes. (Ordinance 2002-44) Adopted 6-0, Seth Fleetwood absent.
Action Taken at July 30, 2002 meeting
131. Authorize the executive to award a combined bid of $116,532 to Barkers Wood Chipping of Bellingham and Northwest Chipping and Grinding of Bellingham for 90 large pieces of woody debris? This project is on the Nooksack River. The county share will be 85 percent and the property owner will pay 15 percent. The salmon enhancement project will help prevent erosion. Approved 6-0, Crawford absent.
132. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $109,378 to Foss Shipyard of Seattle for annual maintenance of the Whatcom Chief? The boat ferries automobiles and passengers between Gooseberry Point and Lummi Island. Approved 6-0, Crawford absent.
133. Authorize the executive to enter into a $49,000 grant agreement with the state Department of Ecology to educate the public on the importance of preventing the spread of introduced aquatic weeds in streams, rivers, wetlands and lakes? The county share of the two-year agreement will be $12,250, or 25 percent The Whatcom County Noxious Weed Control Board will hold public workshops that will target various agencies and organizations, schools, hunting and fishing clubs, nurseries, stream restoration groups, etc. Approved 6-0, Crawford absent.
134. Authorize the executive to sign an $118,056 contract with the state Department of Trade and Economic Development? The money provides for the one-year (7/1/2002 to 6/30/2003) operation of the Northwest Regional Drug Task Force. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. Approved 5-1, Barbara Brenner opposed, Sam Crawford absent.
135. Award the bid of $422,739 to Wilder Construction of Bellingham for structural reinforcement and resurfacing of Slater Road from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad to Interstate 5? The work will strengthen the roadbed with new rock, and new curbs, gutters, shoulders, guard rails, catch basins, drain and sewer pipes, pavement markers, etc. (Resolution 2002-32) Approved 6-0, Crawford absent.
136. Amend Ordinance 94-36 to increase the excise tax on cell phones from 25 cents to 50 cents, the same fee charged regular phones? The primary use of the tax is the financing of the emergency service communications systems. Actual administration and collection costs will be repaid to the phone companies. (Ordinance 2002-45) Adopted 6-0, Sam Crawford absent.
137. Amend county code to require monthly instead of quarterly payments of the excise tax on phone access lines? Companies will be reimbursed for actual administration and collection costs. (Ordinance 2002-46) Adopted 6-0, Sam Crawford absent.
138. Amend legal descriptions of Baker 1 and Custer 1 Precincts? Change due to typographical error in Ordinance 2002-29. See the July issue, vote 94, page 9. (Ordinance 2002-47) Adopted 6-0, Sam Crawford absent.
139. Extend moratorium for 180 days on acceptance of new applications for subdivisions of land into lots smaller than five acres within the Lake Samish watershed? There are 1,000 new building lots that could be created within the Lake Samish watershed under current zoning. This extension provides time to develop a comprehensive plan amendment. (Ordinance 2002-48) Adopted 6-0, Sam Crawford absent.
140. Approve 2002 budget request #8, cutting two percent from each county department and requesting additional appropriations? $1,032,162 was returned to the general fund. Appropriations approved included: $268,958 to remove contaminated soil and old tank at 401 Grand Avenue; $22,000, for water and natural resource planning; $56,714 for first floor courthouse window replacement; $348,927 to fund master facilities planning architectural services; $68,264 for renovating second floor of the courthouse for use by the public defender; and $981,000 to fund additional 2002 water resources/joint board projects. (Ordinance 2002-49). Amended and adopted 5-1, Barbara Brenner opposed, Sam Crawford absent.
141. Amend the county code to allow the city of Bellingham and small cities to appoint members on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee? The County Council position will be retained. The change was made in order to improve attendance at the committee meetings. (Ordinance 2002-50) Adopted 6-0, Sam Crawford absent.
142. Amend county code to bring consistency in regard to the filing, recording and reporting of tort and damage claims with the clerk of the County Council instead of County Executive? (Ordinance 2002-51) Adopted 6-0, Sam Crawford absent.
