February 2009
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at December 2, 2008 Meeting
Shall the council:
240. Encourage the state to secure funding for the public health system? (Council acting as the Whatcom County Health Board.) Whatcom County provides almost three times the amount of general health funds as was provided by the state. The health board urges the state to examine any and all adequate and stable options for state financing of public health. AB 2008-22B (Resolution 2008-83) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at December 9, 2008 Meeting
Shall the council:
241. Authorize the executive to award a $299,993 contract with Jones & Stokes Associates of Seattle for phase two of the comprehensive plan update? Phase one was approved at the 8/5/08 meeting, vote number 149. This requires review of development regulations of urban growth areas and permitted densities every seven years and must be completed by 2011. Phase two will develop new population projections for 2009-2031. The contract expires on 12/31/09. (AB 2008-411) Approved 6-1, Barbara Brenner1 opposed.
242. Enter into a $600,000 grant agreement with the Port of Bellingham for the Northwest TerrAquarium project? The port is the sponsoring the Northwest Discovery Project. The Economic Development Investment Board2 approved the grant in two $300,000 installments. The grant money will undertake a market study, develop a pre-costruction plan and site assessment and develop an economic and funding plan. The project is designed to serve as a catalyst for revitalizing the waterfront. (AB 2008-413) Approved 4-3, Sam Crawford, Ward Nelson and Barbara Brenner3 opposed.
243. Authorize the executive to accept a $1,723,750 state grant for the initial design and construction phase of the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center? This is a portion of the $5 to $7 million needed for phase one. The project will be a 12,000 square foot structure providing economic development, family support and health services that benefit low- and moderate-income persons in the Kendall area, a growing but isolated area of the county. (AB 2008-414) Approved 7-0
244. Authorize the executive to sign a 15-year contract with Seattle City Light for tax impact payments related to power plants and dams in Whatcom County? The payments are presently subject to 2.3 percent increase annually, unless the parties agree to a change. Whatcom County expects payments totaling $15,849,406 over the next 15 years. The county will station a deputy sheriff for general and emergency law enforcement at the power plant. (AB 2008-415) Approved 7-0
245. Authorize the executive to continue a contract with Hoagland Pharmacy of Bellingham for jail pharmaceuticals? The estimated cost for the jail and jail center is $500,000; the contract runs from 1/1/09 through 12/31/09. The pharmaceutical budget for 2009 is being increased $301,222 over 2008. The reason given by the sheriff for the increase is: since 2000, inmates on medication have increased 77 percent and the cost of medications has averaged 12 percent during that time period. (AB 2008-426) Approved 7-0
246. Authorize the executive to sign a two-year $240,000 amended contract with the city of Bellingham for operation of the Lakeway yard waste collection facility? The city of Bellingham operates the facility. Whatcom County will reimburse the city of Bellingham for 50 percent of the net operating costs, not to exceed $120,000 in 2009 and $120,000 in 2010. (AB 2008-429) Approved 7-0
247. Authorize the executive to sign a $19,440 contract with the federal government for the operation and maintenance of two stream-flow gauges on Bertrand Creek? The two gauges are used to monitor the quantity and quality of water coming from Canada and the information will be used to direct management actions in the creek’s watershed. The contract runs from 4/1/09 through 9/30/09. (AB 2008-430) Approved 7-0
248. Authorize the executive to sign a $135,240 contract with Norstan Communication dba Black Box Network Services of Irvine, California for telephone and voice mail systems? The contract for $67,620 per year runs from 1/1/09 through 12/31/10 and continues with equipment and software support for the county information service. (AB 2008-431) Approved 7-0
249. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $160,432 to Ebenal General of Bellingham, to install a modular building at the central shop? The modular building purchase ($187,443) was approved at the 12/4/07 meeting, vote number 278. The installation was advertised and seven bids were received. (AB 2088-441) Approved 7-0
250. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $389,423 to Diehl Ford of Bellingham, for the purchase of 14 Crown Victoria police pursuit vehicles? They replace 12 vehicles with 120,578 to 128,420 miles and two vehicles that were demolished. A request for bids was advertised and three bids were received. (AB 2008-442) Approved 7-0
251. Authorize the executive to sign a $450,000 contract to Pervo Paint Company of Los Angeles, Calif., for traffic line paint? Whatcom County has an agreement with Pierce County that allows the use of their bid with Pervo Paint Company. (AB 2008-445) Approved 7-0
252. Authorize the executive to sign a $112,436 contract to Sun Life Assurance Company of Wellesley Hill, Maine, for “stop loss” insurance? State law requires the county to protect its financial assets by supporting the self-insured medical plan with a deductible of $250,000. (AB 2008-446) Approved 7-0
253. Authorize the executive to sign a $211,175 contract for the purchase of Microsoft network and office software licenses? It is estimated that the county will save $37,000 annually by purchasing Microsoft licenses: $20,000 for MS Office and $17,000 by migrating from a Novell network to a Microsoft network. (AB 2008-447) Approved 7-0
254. Authorize the executive to sign a $768,199 contract (amendment #2) with the Visiting Nurses Home Care of Bellingham for nursing services at the jail and jail work center? The contract runs from 1/1/09 through 12/31/09 and may be renewed for two more years. Changes from the last contract include a pay raise from $33.22 to $33.88 per hour. (AB 2008-451) Approved 7-0
255. Amend the salary schedule and policies for unrepresented Whatcom County employees effective 1/1/09? This vote amends vote 220, approved at the 11/12/08 meeting. This amendment prevents employees with fewer years of service from passing over employees with more years of service in promotion or reclassification. AB 2008-361B (Resolution 2008-84) Approved 5-2, Laurie Caskey-Schreiber and Barbara Brenner4 opposed.
256. Authorize the executive to transfer unused money from the 2008 budget to Superior Court to cover a deficit? Superior Court has exceeded their budget in six of the last seven years. The 2008 budget for Superior Court and office of the County Clerk was $5,238,873. Superior Court will likely exceed its 2008 budget by $147,000 to $177,000. AB 2008-455 (Resolution 2008-85) Approved 7-0
257. Extend the sunset date for the Drayton Harbor and Portage Bay Shellfish Protection Districts? (Public hearing held) The Drayton Harbor District was created at the 7/18/95 council meeting and the Portage Bay District at the 3/24/98 council meeting. The sunset date is changed from 12/31/08 to 12/31/10 so these groups can continue identifying and addressing pollution sources affecting marine environments. AB 2008-401 (Ordinance 2008-55) Approved 7-0
258. Adopt the annual six-year capital improvement program? (Public hearing held) As required by the Growth Management Act, the six-year program (2009-2014) forecasting the needs of county owned and operated facilities has been updated to include level of service standards for juvenile detention and the Lummi Island ferry. AB 2008-349 (Ordinance 2008-56) Substitute adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner5 opposed.
259. Amend the 2009 unified-fee schedule? (Public hearing held) Environmental health fee increases were not included in the schedule approved at the 11/25/08 meeting, vote number 235. AB 2008-373A (Ordinance 2008-57) Adopted and amended 6-1, Barbara Brenner6 opposed.
260. Amend budget request #13 in amount of $679,145? Appropriate: $108,271 for the sheriff’s office, including $5,226 for traffic safety, $30,241 for off-duty overtime, $12,804 for the sex offender registration program, $50,000 for car security systems to secure weapons, $l0,000 for radio digital repeater and accessories for emergency communications; $85,874 to fund Fire District #7 paramedic training to add a fifth medic unit; $485,000 to fund equipment services including auto parts, diesel fuel and drydock costs for Lummi ferry, and groundwater monitoring at central shop. AB 2008-403 (Ordinance 2008-58) Approved 7-0
261. Amend the zoning ordinance to allow the operation of wildlife rehabilitation facilities in agricultural zoning districts? This amendment allows the operation of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facilities in agricultural zoning districts as a conditional use and defines the facilities’ operations. AB 2008-397 (Ordinance 2008-59) Adopted 7-0
262. Amend docketing procedures for amendments to the comprehensive plan and zoning map? It was determined that amendment procedures for the comprehensive plan and zoning map were confusing. These changes make the process easier for citizens to understand and staff to implement. AB 2008-399 (Ordinance 2008-60) Adopted 7-0
1From Barbara Brenner: I voted against awarding the contract to a Seattle consulting firm because we have an overabundance of qualified persons living here in Whatcom County who have offered to assist the county for free. This firm is simply playing with numbers rather than incorporating our unique circumstances.
2The advisory board was set up by the county; board members include small cities and other economic interests such as the agriculture community. The monies come from portions of the rural sales tax which can only be used for public facility projects.
3From Barbara Brenner: I voted against this $600,000 grant because our economy is in dire straits. We have no business funding this when the money could be used to finish essential public projects for people in need to which we have already committed monies. The money for this project is for a study only. The project may never materialize. The proponent said he has many wealthy parties ready to contribute. He has said that for two years. We have never seen one cent. If all these wealthy contributors really exist, they should have at least funded the study before even asking for public money. The recommendation to the County Council by the Economic Development Investment Board was 6-3, with four members absent. It is likely some or all of absent members would have voted against the recommendation.
4From Barbara Brenner: I voted against the amendment because I couldn’t trust or understand the language. Another council member said he didn’t understand the language either. We should never vote for salary and policy changes we don’t understand.
5From Barbara Brenner: I voted against the six-year program because a huge financial part of the capital improvement plan is the destruction of the Nor Bell nursing home building, a historic building at Smith and Northwest, to be replaced with a new $25-plus million facility. Engineers told me the Nor Bell building is in good physical shape except for some renovations made by the county. The county should be more careful with renovations and that is no reason to destroy a well-built building with so much history that cannot be replaced.
6From Barbara Brenner: I voted against the fee schedule because the proposed fee increases were not justified and will actually increase inefficiencies.
