February 2006
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at December 6, 2005 Meeting
Shall the council:
243. Authorize the executive to enter into a three-year $152,436 contract with Everett E. Beyer and Associates of Seattle for labor negotiations? Robert R. Braun, Jr. (doing business as Braun Consulting Group) has been a professional labor negotiator for the county since November 2001 and the human resources manager recommends his continued assistance in negotiating eight collective bargaining agreements and grievance arbitration. The contract runs from 1/1/06 through 12/21/08. (AB 2005-455) Approved 5-2, Barbara Brenner (see footnote in bottom far right column) and Laurie Caskey-Schreiber opposed.
244. Authorize the executive to sign a $30,346 contract with the Whatcom Conservation District for a small farm education program? The program will educate livestock farmers on bacteria related to livestock production within shellfish protect districts. The initial focus will be in the Drayton Harbor watershed and education material will be distributed in the Portage Bay district. (AB 2005-456) Approved 7-0
245. Enter into a $68,970 contract with Michael Bobbink for the position of Whatcom County Hearing Examiner? The contract is for the same amount as 2005 and it runs from 1/1/06 through 12/31/06. (AB 2005-476) Approved 7-0
246. Adopt the 2006 annual road construction program? Expenditures (see the 10/22 meeting, vote number 237, authorizing the tax levy) are estimated at $15,634,000 for 42 projects: road construction and improvements projects, bridge replacements, turn lanes, intersection and parking improvements, shoulder widening, etc. AB 2005-447 (Resolution 2005-71) Approved 7-0
247. Sell surplus property by auction? The minimum bid is the appraised value ($79,000) plus eight other costs. Request 03-05, a 9.34-acre property known as Finsrud Rock Quarry is located near the Mt. Baker Highway in Deming and includes a perpetual 30-foot easement for access to the highway. AB 2005-390C (Resolution 2005-72) Approved 7-0
248. Extend the flood control levy for the Lynden/Everson subzone AB 2005-450 (Resolution 2005-73); Acme/Van Zandt subzone AB 2005-449 (Resolution 2005-74); Sumas/Nooksack/Everson subzone AB 2005-448 (Resolution 2005-75); at the 2005 rate through December 31, 2006? Approved 7-0
249. Order the cancellation of uncashed county checks issued before July 1, 2004? The total amount for the 150 uncashed checks is $17,198. The unclaimed property will be held for one year and then be transferred to the state of Washington as abandoned property. The funds will be available indefinitely to the payee. AB 2005-468 (Resolution 2005-76) Approved 7-0
250. Adopt a 10-year homeless housing plan? A bill was passed by the 2005 state legislature with the goal of preventing and ending home-lessness. It requires the counties to have a goal of reducing homelessness by 50 percent by July 1, 2015. The council established a homeless housing fund at the 7/27/05 meeting, vote number 152. This plan develops strategies to fund projects towards the 2015 goal. AB 2005-470 (Resolution 2005-77) Amended and approved 7-0
251. Establish a public records policy? Each county entity (official, branch, agency, board, department, division, office or commission) maintains an index of records available for public inspection. The council is declaring the development and maintenanace of a single index of all county records an undue burden as allowed by state law. AB 2005-473 (Resolution 2005-78) Approved 7-0
252. Limit the use of limb-propelled flotation devices on the South Fork of the Nooksack River from June 1 through October 31? Chinook salmon spawning between Elfro Creek and the Acme bridge are severely disturbed by the recreational activity. This flotation device closure does not prohibit other types of activities on the river. AB 2005-173A (Ordinance 2005-89) Adopted 7-0
253. Establish a relationship between ferry management and user fees? Ferry rates will be set to recover 55 percent of operating costs. If fees are above 55 percent, revenues will apply to future expenses; if below 55 percent, a rate increase will be necessary. AB 2005-443 (Ordinance 2005-90) Adopted 7-0
254. Adopt the 2006 unified fee schedule? This is a schedule of fees charged by the county to provide services such as filing and licensing, animal control and some computer services. New fees will be imposed for applications and agreements for development in both the Growth Management Act and critical areas. AB 2005-444 (Ordinance 2005-91) Adopted 7-0
255. Approve 2005 budget request #13 in the amount of $209,631? The request includes: $87,761 for the sheriffs department to fund overtime, extra patrols and a radio system; $20,000 to the council for attorney fees to defend against a petition filed with the Growth Management Hearings Board by the Ostrom Company; $63,346 for juvenile detention; $28,547 for production of the Leisure Guide, material and supplies for the Sunset Equestrian Center and Lake Whatcom Trail and seeds for the Fragrance Garden and $9,977 for senior center strength training instructors. AB 2005-445 (Ordinance 2005-92) Adopted 7-0
256. Approve 2006 budget request #1 in the amount of $11,982,434? The request includes: $87,523 for additional staff positions in the sheriffs office; $924,236 for additional staff for Planning and Development Services; $350,000 to replace the sheriffs compound in Pt. Roberts; $528,325 for various court and probation services; $9,016,362 to the Whatcom County jail fund for staff, training and equipment and $1,075,988 to administrative services for Courthouse staff and law enforcement information systems management costs. AB 2005-446 (Ordinance 2005-93) Adopted 7-0
257. Establish a ferry system fund? The fund will track all ferry-related financial transactions including operating and capital expenses and revenues generated by fees. AB 2005-442 (Ordinance 2005-94) Adopted 7-0
