January 2003
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at November 12, 2002 meeting
187. Authorize the executive to enter into a $65,000 grant amendment with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife for salmon recovery projects in WRIA1? It will extend the contract that expired June 30, 2002 and change the funding amount of $l30,000 to a “bid at a set (fixed) price” from a “charge that will be determined according to the time it takes and materials that are used.” Approved 7-0
188. Authorize the executive to enter into a $l33,094 agreement with Siemens Building Technologies? Siemens (determined to be the sole source vendor) will improve and upgrade the Whatcom County Courthouse heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Approved 7-0
189. Authorize the executive to enter into a $l39,958 agreement with Siemens Building Technologies? Siemens (determined to be the sole source provider) will improve and upgrade the Public Safety Building heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Approved 7-0
190. Authorize the executive to purchase five police pursuit vehicles from Sound Ford of Renton for $116,313? The vehicles will replace 1996 and 1997 Ford Crown Victoria vehicles with 105,000-122,000 mileages. Approved 7-0
191. Authorize the executive to spend $13,250 to purchase Sudden Valley lots at a tax foreclosure auction? The county’s share will be the same as the city of Bellingham and Sudden Valley Community Association. Water District 10 will pay $12,500. A total of $52,250 will be spent for 61 lots. Approved 7-0
192. Set a hearing date for the sale of property to the Washington State Department of Transportation? The DOT wants the parcel so it can realign the Mt. Baker Highway for a new bridge over Boulder Creek. The county will retain a 50-foot right-of-way for the current Maple Falls to Glacier trail and the bridge will have a pedestrian walkway. (Resolution 2002-44) Approved 7-0
193. Set public hearing date on the proposed creation of a Point Roberts special recreation service area? The council amended the resolution requiring the Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce to provide additional information concerning their request by January 28, 2003. (Resolution 2002-45) Amended and approved 7-0
194. Authorize a 2003 property tax levy for the conservation futures fund? The levy (no change from previous years) is 6.25 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation. The funds can only be used to acquire land or interest in land for conservation purposes. (Ordinance 2002-62) Adopted 7-0
195. Authorize a 2003 property tax levy for county roads? There will be no increase in the 2002 amount of $l2,773,784 and the amount the council diverts for traffic enforcement in unincorporated areas $706,530 (about 5.5 percent) will be the same. (Ordinance 2002-63) Adopted 7-0
196. Set the 2003 property tax levy at the same amount as 2002? Increases in revenue results only from new construction and property improvements or increase in assessments. Diking and drainage district income is to be credited to maintenance in those districts. This is the seventh year in Whatcom County with no increase in levy rates. (Ordinance 2002-64) Adopted 7-0
197. Adopt the 2003 unified fee schedule? This is a schedule of fees charged by Whatcom County for the cost of providing products and services (i.e. vaccines, photocopies, County Council packets, filing fees, etc.). Although some construction fees doubled, they still only cover 72 percent of development review costs. (Ordinance 2002-65) Adopted 7-0
198. Review and amend the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan? This amendment updates the chapters on the six-year capital improvement program, capital facilities and transportation chapters and brings them in compliance with the Growth Management Act. Projected cost for 2003-2008 programs is $74,389,000 with $l2,56l,000 of this amount funded by the state and federal government. (Ordinance 2002-66) Adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed. Brenner said she opposed the ordinance because it included over $6 million for a new county building that she believes is unnecessary and will ultimately cost much more.
199. Adopt the final 2003 budget? Total appropriations are $l2l, 488,964, of which $57,774,375 is for the general fund. There are some restrictions on specific expenditures. Amendments by the council limited the economic development council to $l5,000, provided an extra $500 for waste pickup by parks and recreation, and eliminated $38,000 for law and justice council staffing. (Ordinance 2002-67) Amended and adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed. See the February Whatcom Watch for Barbara Brenner article on her budget amendments.
Action Taken at November 26, 2002 meeting
200. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $l45,482 to Western Roofing of Bellingham to re-roof the Whatcom County jail? Their bid was the lowest of six. Approved 7-0
201. Order the cancellation of uncashed checks on the inmate trust account? These unredeemed checks are for a total of $5,325 and are more than one year old. (Resolution 2002-46) Approved 7-0
202. Order the cancellation of uncashed checks issued by administrative services? These unredeemed checks are for a total of $l6,689 and are more than one year old. The money will be returned to the original funding sources. (Resolution 2002-47) Approved 7-0
203. Amend Resolution 2002-29 (September, page 13, vote 122) approving salary schedules and policies for unrepresented employees in the sheriff’s department? They will be eligible for pay raises retroactive for all of the year 2002. (Resolution 2002-48) Approved 7-0
204. Adopt a salary schedule and policies for unrepresented Whatcom County employees for the year 2003? This provides for a salary increase of approximately 2 percent for non-union employees, elected officials and district court judges. (Resolution 2002-49) Approved 7-0
205. Authorize the sale of a portion of county-owned property to the state Department of Transportation? The DOT wants the parcel so it can realign the Mt. Baker Highway for a new bridge over Boulder Creek. The state will pay $500 for the land in order to make the bridge high enough to allow Boulder Creek to flow underneath. (Resolution 2002-50) Approved 7-0
206. Extend the current countywide flood control fee through December 31, 2003? There will be no change in rates or administrative procedures. The funds are used to address county flooding and flood damage reduction. (Resolution 2002-51) Approved 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed. Brenner said the flood fee is actually a tax because it is directly based on assessed value of individual properties whereas fees are directly based on benefit received by individual properties. She said those who benefit most should pay their fair share instead of basing it on assessed value.
207. Extend the flood control fee for the Acme/VanZandt subzone (Resolution 2002-52), Sumas/Nooksack/Everson subzone (Resolution 2002-53), Lynden/Everson subzone (Resolution 2002-54) at the same rate through December 31, 2003? Approved 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed all three. Brenner said she opposed all three for the same reason as stated in #206.
208. Set a public hearing date for the sale of county property at public auction? Bids for less than taxes, interest penalty title search and foreclosure costs will not be accepted. Three lots in sudden Valley are to be auctioned: Request 02-02 (Resolution 2002-55); Request 02-03 (Resolution 2002-56); and Request 04-02 (Resolution 2002-57). Approved 5-2, Barbara Brenner and Laurie Caskey-Schrieber opposed.
209. Approve an emergency amendment to the comprehensive plan map for the Lake Whatcom Watershed? The new map reflects the new zoning amendments for the watershed. (Resolution 2002-58) Approved 6-1, Sam Crawford opposed.
210. Amending Whatcom County Code 20.40 on an interim basis? The purpose is to establish additional criteria for siting commercial mushroom composting for a conditional use within the agriculture-zoning district. The current criteria are inadequate for controlling odor level and health impacts. (Ordinance 2002-68) Amended and adopted 7-0
211. Extend the sunset dates of the Drayton Harbor and Portage Bay Shellfish Protection Districts from 12/31/ 02 to 12/31/04? The ordinance would amend Whatcom County Code 16.20, Shellfish Protection District, to allow more time for the additional improvements in water quality. (Ordinance 2002-69) Adopted 7-0
212. Acting as the Whatcom County Board of Health, revise Whatcom County Code 24.07? The changes include assuring the assessment of civil penalties is consistent with state law; assuring due process exists; providing for immediate action in emergency situations by the director; and making several administrative changes. (Ordinance 2002-70) Adopted 6-1, Sam Crawford opposed.
213. Acting as the Whatcom County Board of Health, revise Whatcom County Code 20.92 concerning the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner? The revisions would give the hearing examiner the authority to make a final determination on appeals from administrative decisions issued for violations of county code Title 24 health regulations. (Ordinance 2002-71) Adopted 7-0
214. Approve 2002 budget request #11 in the amount of $737,995? The request is for $461,404 in wage settlements for sheriff’s deputies and for $193,835 in wage settlements for unrepresented employees; $43,500 for the auditor’s office to cover additional election costs; $34,261 to the sheriff’s office for overtime on federally mandated security costs at the Bellingham airport; and $4,995 to the sheriff’s office for radar equipment and collision-investigation equipment. (Ordinance 2002-72) Approved 7-0
215. Authorize approximately $383,000 in interest earned from six county funds to be added to the general fund because of declining revenues? Interest on all other Whatcom County funds already goes to the general fund. Excluded is the interest from the Whatcom County drug fund which is required by federal law to be only used for that purpose. (Ordinance 2002-73) Adopted 7-0
