Whatcom County Council

Action Taken at December 12, 2013 Meeting

Shall the council:

224. Approve a $10,000 contract (amendment #2) with Van Ness, Feldman, GordonDerr law firm of Seattle to assist in representing Whatcom County in Growth Management Hearings Board cases? At the 12/4/2012 meeting, vote #222, the council approved a $50,000 contract with the law firm to assist the county in its legal defense of Ordinance 2012-032, approved at the 8/7/2012 meeting, vote #146. A $40,000 amendment was approved at the 6/18/2013 meeting, vote #94. This amendment brings the contract total to $100,000. The contract expires on 12/14/2014. (AB2012-422C) Approved 5-2, Carl Weimer and Ken Mann opposed.

225. Authorize the executive to sign an agreement (amendment #1) with the Port of Bellingham and city of Bellingham to hire a legislative consultant? The county will pay one third ($30,000) of the $90,000 contract with the consulting firm McBride Public Affairs of Olympia — represented by Tom McBride and Ben Bucholtz. The company will represent the interests of the city/county/port on state legislative issues, identify opportunities for staff and elected officials to testify before legislative committees and/or meet with members of the Legislature and will work with Washington Associations of Cities, Counties, and Ports in representing local interests. The consulting firm is also expected to monitor state government and strategically advise the local governments, prepare the legislative agenda for the upcoming season, research policy, and handle all other intergovernmental services. (AB2013-258B) Approved 5-2, Barbara Brenner1 and Bill Knutzen opposed.

226. Authorize the executive to sign a contract for $333,838 (annual premium) with Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada to protect the county’s financial assets in the self-insured medical plan? The county is required by law to protect its financial assets using reserves and excess insurance coverage to support the self-insured medical plan. This coverage is triggered if an individual’s medical costs are in excess of $250,000 in a plan year or if the plan’s aggregated costs exceed $12,091,836. The rates for 2014 increase 28 percent, with a single enrollee at $28.30 per month and a family at $65.34 per month. (AB 2013-405) Approved 7-0

227. Authorize the executive to sign an agreement with the city of Bellingham to provide joint usage of the Vactor Waste Transfer Facility? The facility, located at 2140 Division St., handles street wastes from roadway and storm drainage systems in compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations. The original ten-year agreement expired on 12/31/2011. It has been extended yearly. The city maintains the facility, the 2014 rate is $54.36 per ton. This agreement runs from 1/1/2014 to 12/31/2014 (AB-2013-409) Approved 7-0

228. Authorize the executive to sign a $28,075 contract (amendment #3) with Bennett Engineering of Bellingham for monitoring the Cedarville and Y Road landfills? This amendment brings the total contract to $132,410, it expires on 12/31/2014. (AB 2013-410) Approved 7-0

229. Authorize the executive to sign a $37,741 contract (amendment #1) with Whatcom Builders of Bellingham for unanticipated work on the construction of the Hovander Trail in Ferndale Park? The additional money pays for base rock and recycled asphalt surfacing to be installed in the spring, making the trail more durable and longer lasting. This amendment brings the total contract to $153,185. (AB2013-411) Approved 7-0

230. Authorize the executive to sign an $113,542 amended agreement with Washington State University for a joint sharing of costs for faculty positions? The county continues cost-sharing for forestry specialist and recycling and composting education.This amendment brings the total agreement to $1,138,542. (AB2013-412) Approved 7-0

231. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $263,689 to Bud Clary Auto Group of Moses Lake for 10 half ton pickup trucks? The 10 Dodge Ram 2014 extended cab 4-wheel drive trucks replace seven Ford trucks, two Chevrolet trucks, and one Dodge truck with mileage from 110,324 to 171,691 miles. The vehicle bid was advertised and five bids were received. (AB2013-413) Approved 5-2, Barbara Brenner2 and Ken Mann opposed.

232. Authorize the executive to award the only bid of $87,950 to Bud Clary Auto Group of Moses Lake for three quarter-ton pickup trucks? The three Toyota Tacoma 2014 extended cab 4-wheel drive trucks replace three Ford Ranger trucks with mileage from 101,194 to 137,374 miles. The vehicle bid was advertised and one bid was received. (AB2013-414) Approved 5-2, Barbara Brenner3 and Ken Mann opposed.

233. Authorize the executive to award the only bid of $400,000 to Reisner Distributor of Anacortes to provide a magnetic card lock fueling system for fleet vehicles? Both unleaded gasoline and ultra low sulfur #2 diesel are available at seven county pump locations. This system is used by county equipment when unable to fuel at the Central Shop fueling station.The contract runs from 1/1/14 through 12/31/14 and provides the option of two-bi-annual renewals for a total of five years. (AB 2013-415) Approved 7-0

234. Authorize the executive to sign a $1,151,666 contract with Northwest Regional Council of Bellingham to oversee the jail health program? A team of health professionals is responsible for coordinating delivery of health care at the Whatcom County jail and the work center. They will provide medical, psychiatric, and dental care to inmates. The contract begins on 12/16/2013 and ends on 12/31/2014. (AB2013-417) Approved 7-0

235. Authorize the executive to sign a $113,997 contract (amendment #3) with Lydia Place for case management and support services to individuals receiving subsidies through the Whatcom Homeless Service Center? In 2013, Lydia Place provided support for 85 households. This amendment brings the total contract to $396,992, which is extended for 12 months (1/1/2014 through 12/31/2014). (AB2013-418) Approved 7-0

236. Authorize the executive to sign a $937,201 contract with the Opportunity Council for administration of the Homeless Service Center? The Center was established in 2007 and serves as a centralized point of entry for homelessness prevention and rehousing services for Whatcom County residents. In the first three quarters of 2013, the Center has served 677 individuals in 436 households. The contract runs from 1/1/2014 through 12/31/2014. (AB2013-420) Approved 7-0

237. Authorize the executive to sign a $61,928 contract (amendment #3) with Northwest Youth Services for housing management services? The contract will serve homeless youth (up to age 25) with moderate to significant barriers to housing stability. The contract runs from 1/1/2014 to 12/31/2014. This amendment brings the total contract to $247,712. (AB2013-421) Approved 7-0

238. Authorize the executive to sign a $67,106 lease agreement with the Port of Bellingham to open an emergency operations center? There is not adequate space in the county to quickly assemble an efficient center. The port-owned facility was used by the federal government during the 2010 Winter Olympics and was eventually abandoned. Now the county, port, and city want to share a portion of that building in the port-owned building at the Bellingham airport to develop emergency management and responses. The county and city will pay the port $67,106 each for three years and they are responsible for maintenance and repair and retain a right to purchase the building. The 10-year contract expires on 12/31/2023. (AB2013-425) Approved 7-0

239. Authorize the executive to sign a $4,040,374 three-year agreement with Fire Protection District 7 for advanced life support ambulance services? The costs are: 2014 — $982,430; 2015 — $1,502,675 and 2016 – $1,555,269. This new Whatcom Medic One paramedic program agreement forms the EMS Oversight Board and the Technical Advisory Board which will ensure equitable representation from the county and community. Administration of EMS system will be done by the county and the boards. The county assumes responsibility to ensure a unified administration of advanced life support services on a county-wide basis. (AB2013-427) Approved 6-1, Ken Mann opposed.

240. Authorize the executive to sign a $15,371,865 three-year agreement with the city of Bellingham to provide advanced life support ambulance service? The costs are: 2014 – $5,602,998; 2015 – $4,792,189 and 2016 – $4,976,678. This new Whatcom Medic One paramedic program agreement forms the EMS Oversight Board and the Technical Advisory Board which will ensure equitable representation from county and community. Administration of EMS system will be done by the county and the boards. The agreement expires on 12/31/2016. (AB2013-428) Approved 6-1, Ken Mann opposed.

241. Authorize the executive to sign a $68,658 contract (amendment #2) with Bayside Pathology/Dr. Gary Goldfogel for medical examiner (coroner) services? This amendment allows additional time to work on a new five-year contract and ends on 2/28/2014. The original contract was for $1,831,652 and approved at the 12/4/2007 meeting, vote #267, it was amended at the 12/4/2012 meeting, vote #221. Dr. Goldfogel has been the county medical examiner since 1992. The original five-year contract was for $345,000 in 2008; $355,350 in 2009; $366,011 in 2010, $376,951 in 2011 and $388,301 in 2012 and the 2013 amendment was for $399,950. Dr. Goldfogel provides all staffing, supplies, and expenses, except for office space and the morgue. This amendment brings the total contract to $2,333,589.(AB 2007-471) Approved 7-0

242. Cancel $50,711 in uncollectible Whatcom County Health Department accounts incurred prior to 12/21/2002? The accounts were sent to North Washington Collections. The company determined the 439 accounts to be uncollectible. The two largest uncollectible amounts were $13,024 for the Olivine Corporation (Corky Smith) and $1,643 for Cynthia Redner. All the rest were below $225. AB2013-407 (Resolution 2013-053) Approved 7-0

243. Adjust a boundary line and sell county property to Dorothy Copp? She constructed portions of a deck and garage on park property in the Glacier area. She paid the county $12,487 (assessed market value) for a strip of land 30 feet wide and 166.5 feet long and all costs associated with a boundary line change. AB2013-403 (Resolution 2013-054) Approved 7-0

244. Close the Yew Street Road Project Budget Fund 335? The fund was created at the 7/21/2009 meeting, vote #187, for $3.9 million in improvements to Yew Street Road from Kingmill Street to Tacoma Avenue. Road construction on Yew Street Road is complete; the fund is no longer needed. AB2013-397 (Ordinance 2013-070) Approved 7-0

245. Close the Lincoln Road Project Budget Fund 336? The fund was created at the 5/11/2010 meeting, vote #96, for improvements to Lincoln Road from Shintaffer Road to Harborview Road in Blaine. The project is complete and funds are no longer needed. The remaining cash balance of $585,198 will be transferred into the road fund. AB2013-398 (Ordinance 2013-071) Approved 7-0

246. Amend the 2013 budget (request #15) in the amount of $2,968? Appropriate: $1,500 to the sheriff’s office for one deputy to attend the Force Science Certification Class; $1,468 to Victim Witness Fund to add six closure days in 2013. AB2013-399 (Ordinance 2013-072) Approved 7-0

247. Amend the 2014 budget (request #3) in the amount of $326,000? Appropriate: $326,000 to the Visiting Nurse Home Health Care contract to cover increased expenditures for nursing/medical administration costs at the jail and the work center. This adds $2.28 to the in-custody per diem rates. AB2013-402 (Ordinance 2013-073) Approved 7-0

248. Replace the Emergency Medical and Ambulance Advisory Board with an EMS Oversight Board and a Technical Advisory Board? The Emergency Medical and Ambulance Advisory Board was established in 1982 and reconstituted at the 2/14/2006 meeting, vote #45. This ordinance defines the composition and duties of the two new boards. AB2013-384 (Ordinance 2013-074) Adopted 6-1, Ken Mann opposed.