Whatcom County Council

Action Taken at July 10, 2012 Meeting

Shall the council:

117. Authorize the executive to sign a $95,000 contract with GeoTest Services of Bellingham for material testing, inspection, and geotechnical design services? Concrete, hot mix asphalt and other construction material will be tested and inspected on public works projects. The contract runs from 7/12/2012 through 12/31/2013. (AB2012-231) Approved 5-0, Kathy Kershner and Carl Weimer absent.

118. Authorize the executive to sign a $33,773 contract (amendment #1) with the Opportunity Council for the homeless housing programs? The original contract for $246,776 was approved at the 12/6/2011 meeting, vote #211. This amendment adds to the contract emergency and transitional housing, rental subsidies, and case management support and hygiene product distribution for individuals and families. This amendment brings the total contract of $280,549 (AB2012-232) Approved 5-0, Kathy Kershner and Carl Weimer absent.

119. Authorize the executive to sign a lease with Jim Snydar for the Hovander Park/Tennant Lake? Mr. Snydar will pay the county $3,255 to lease 105 acres; he has leased the property since 2006. He will cut the grass and remove the hay crop. He will be permitted to plant approximately 25 acres of corn. The lease runs from 4/1/2012 through 10/31/2012. (AB2012-234) Approved 5-0, Kathy Kershner and Carl Weimer absent.

120. Authorize the executive to accept two grants totaling $207,200 to interdict criminal gangs and drugs through multi-jurisdictional efforts of law enforcement and prosecution? A grant of $176,268 is from the federal government and a grant $30,932 is from the state of Washington. The funds help support positions in the Northwest Regional Drug Task Force, crime analysis, and vehicle leases. The grant runs from 7/1/2012 through 6/30/2013. (AB2012-236) Approved 5-0, Kathy Kershner and Carl Weimer absent.

121. Authorize the executive to spend $148,241 for the purchase of two mower heads from Washington Tractor of Lynden? The two 2012 Alamo Maverick long arm rotary boom mowers will be purchased using the Washington State Bid Procurement List. They replace a 1994 Alamo Mower with 7,017 hours and a 2003 Rotary Mower with 7,002 hours. (AB2012-238) Approved 5-0, Kathy Kershner and Carl Weimer absent.

122. Authorize the executive to award the lowest responsive bid of $74,789 to PlayCreation of Burien for playground equipment at Hovander Park? The equipment was advertised and two bids were received. Northwest Playground Equipment of Issaquah did not meet requirements specified in bid documents. (AB2012-240) Approved 4-1, Barbara Brenner1 opposed, Kathy Kershner and Carl Weimer absent.

123. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $111,859 to Tiger Construction of Everson for the Yew Street Road pedestrian actuated crosswalk signal? The installation of an overhead crosswalk signal, school zone flashing beacons, illumination, and sidewalk upgrades will be at the intersection of Kingsmill Street and Yew Street Road. This resolution also amends county road project #998001. The total cost of the project including engineering, testing, and contingency fee is $187,559. The county engineer’s estimate of the bid project was $97,216. The work was advertised and three bids were received. AB2012-237 (Resolution 2012-019) Approved 5-0, Kathy Kershner and Carl Weimer absent.

124. Order the cancellation of uncashed checks issued prior to 12/31/2009? The total for 594 inmate trust fund checks is $2,019. The checks were issued between 1/1/2009 and 12/28/2009. The money will be held for one year and then transferred to the state of Washington as abandoned property, where it will be available to the payee indefinitely. AB2012-242 (Resolution 2012-020) Approved 5-0, Kathy Kershner and Carl Weimer absent.

125. Amend three resolutions passed in 2008, 2010 and 2011 and adopt a salary schedule for unrepresentative Whatcom County employees? The three resolutions were passed at the 11/12/2008 meeting, vote #220, 12/7/2010 meeting, vote #233 and 12/6/2011 meeting, vote #221. Approved for eleven Public Works Department administrators are $3,000 per year raises. This money is meant to address mileage. In addition, the administrators can submit miles driven in personal vehicles for reimbursement. Formerly a flat monthly amount would compensate for after hours work, emergency response and mileage. The effective date of this resolution is 7/22/2012. AB2012-229 (Resolution 2012-021) Approved 4-1, Barbara Brenner2 opposed, Kathy Kershner and Carl Weimer absent.

Action Taken at July 24, 2012 Meeting

Shall the council:

126. Modify the affordable housing guidelines for the Economic Development Investment Board3 to allow loans for the construction of single and multi-family rental homes? Currently, connection fees and impact fees for the construction of owner-occupied single family affordable housing can be paid by EDI loans. (AB2012-228) Failed 3-3-1, Barbara Brenner,4 Sam Crawford and Ken Mann opposed, Bill Knutzen abstained. 

127. Authorize the executive to award the low bids of $348,772 to Foss Maritime Company of Seattle for annual dry-dock repairs and maintenance of the Lummi Island ferry? This year’s dry--dock may take up to three weeks, from September 5 to September 26. The work was advertised and two bids were received. (AB2012-250) Approved 7-0

128. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $37,165 to HBD (Harrison Dock Builders) Marine of Harrison, Idaho, for a replacement gangway at Samish Park? The county will install the gangway. See the next vote for additional information about the Samish Park project. The replacement gangway was advertised and three bids were received. (AB2012-251) Approved 5-2, Barbara Brenner5 and Bill Knutsen opposed.

129. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $130,266 to Northwest Docks of Anacortes to replace a floating docks and fishing platform at Samish Park? Environmental standards forbid chemically treated materials and require light penetration. The new docks will be accessible to the disabled and will be completed for use next summer. Bids for a floating dock were advertised and three bids were received, the difference between the low bid and next bid was $386. Operating costs will be recovered through the boat rental program. (AB2012-252) Approved 5-2, Barbara Brenner6 and Bill Knutzen opposed.

130. Authorize the executive to accept a $140,762 state grant to track registered sex and kidnapping offenders in Whatcom County? The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs grant provides staff funding for the address and residency verification program. The program requires fact-to-face verification at a registered sex offender’s place of residency once every three months for level III offenders, every six months for level II offenders and every twelve months for level I offenders. The grants runs from 7/1/2012 through 6/30/2013. (AB2012-254) Approved 7-0

131. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $865,752 to Whatcom Builders of Bellingham for Lake Whatcom Boulevard structural overlay? Lake Whatcom Boulevard will be paved with asphalt from Lake Louise Road to Strawberry Point, approximately 3.07 miles. This resolution also amends county road project #912001 from an estimated cost of $750,000 to a total cost of $960,752. The county ­engineer’s estimated paving cost was $858,640. The paving was advertised and two bids were received. AB2012-248 (Resolution 2012-022) Approved 7-0

132. Continue the interim moratorium on the acceptance of new applications for divisions of land for lots smaller than five acres within the Lake Whatcom watershed? (Public hearing held) The moratorium will be in place while rural areas zoning and development are being reviewed and goals for the preservation of the lake established. Lots of five acres or larger are exempt. The moratorium was first passed at the 2/8/2005 meeting, vote #46. Interim moratoriums must be renewed every six months. AB2012-040A (Ordinance 2012-029) Adopted 6-1, Sam Crawford opposed.

133. Amend 2012 budget (request #10) in the amount of $40,000? The money will be used to provide additional funding to replace a gangway, floating docks and fishing platform at Samish Park (see votes 128 and 129 for additional information). The amount in the 2011-2012 budget was $152,000, this amendment will increase the budget to $192,000. AB2012-246 (Ordinance 2012-030) Adopted 5-2, Barbara Brenner7 and Bill Knutzen opposed.

134. Amend integrated roadside vegetation management plan to update language and omit the requirement for the annual review by the County Council? The ordinance requiring the annual adoption of the plan to minimize the use of pesticides and/or prohibit the use of herbicides in certain areas of Whatcom County was adopted at the 7/7/1991 meeting. Only significant changes in the plan shall be approved by the County Council. AB2012-244 (Ordinance 2012-031) Adopted 4-2-1, Barbara Brenner8 and Bill Knutzen opposed, Ken Mann was out of room.