Whatcom County Council

Action Taken at November 12, 2014 Meeting

Shall the council:

203. Authorize the executive to accept a $74,018 state grant to fund the Marine Resources Committee? The grant will fund administrative and project needs of the committee, including community education and outreach, biological surveys, and water quality monitoring. The grant runs from 9/23/2014 to 9/30/2015. (AB2014-348) Approved 7-0

204. Declare the month of November “Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month” in Whatcom County? The resolution supports and recognizes people who suffer from pancreatic cancer statewide and nationally. AB2014-379 (Resolution 2014-060) Approved 7-0

205. Establish a program to enhance the monitoring and reporting to the public on the performance of Whatcom County government? In accordance with Whatcom County Charter Section 1.51, which invokes the use of performance measurements, this vote requests that the executive create a program focusing on identification, tracking, and reporting of “key performance indicators” for Whatcom County government. The council requests that the first performance report be issued in February 2016, with updates every three months. AB2014-380 (Resolution 2014-061) Approved 7-0

206. Amend the 2014 budget (request 17) in the amount of $77,912? The appropriation with a $30,000 reimbursement will be used to replace the kitchen floor of the Whatcom County main jail. Attempts to repair the old tile floor have been unsuccessful, resulting in safety and sanitary issues. Aramark LL, of Philadelphia, PA, was awarded the contract to replace the floor. AB2014-341 (Ordinance 2014-057) Adopted 7-0

Action Taken at November 25, 2014 Meeting

Shall the Council:

207. Adopt the 2015 flood control district tax levy? (Public hearing held. Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) There is no increase from last year; additional taxes will come from new construction, property improvements, and increase in the value of assessed property. AB2014-377 (Resolution 2014-062) Approved 7-0

208. Adopt the 2015 budget for the flood control district and subzones? (Public hearing held. Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors) The subzones are: Acme/Van Zandt, Lynden/Everson, Sumas/Nooksack/Everson, Birch Bay watershed, and Samish watershed. The proposed revenues for the flood control zone and subzones are $6,788,987, with expenditures of $11,647,273, resulting in a proposed loss of $4,858,256. AB2014-378 (Resolution 2014-063) Approved 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed. 1

209. Extend the sunset date for the Drayton Harbor, Portage Bay, and Birch Bay Shellfish Protection Districts? (Public hearing held) The Drayton Harbor District was created at the 7/18/95 council meeting, the Portage Bay District at the 3/24/98 council meeting, and the Birch Bay District at the 5/26/2009 meeting, vote number 136. The sunset date is changed from 12/31/2014 to 12/31/2018 so these groups can continue identifying and addressing pollution sources affecting marine environments. AB2014-351 (Ordinance 2014-058) Adopted 7-0

210. Authorize the levy of taxes for county and state purposes for 2015? (Public hearing held.) To fund essential county services, there will be no raise in taxes from 2014. AB2014-371 (Ordinance 2014-059) Adopted 7-0

211. Authorize the levy of 2015 property taxes for county road purposes? (Public hearing held.) It has been determined there will be no increase in the road fund tax levy for 2015. AB2014-360 (Ordinance 2014-060) Adopted 7-0

212. Limit the 2015 general fund property tax levy? (Public hearing held) The 2015 general fund property tax levy will not change from the 2014 level, except for new construction and improvements. AB2014-372 (Ordinance 2014-061) Adopted 7-0

213. Adopt the Conservation Futures Fund tax levy for 2015? (Public hearing held.) The levy will be the same as last year, 6.25 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation on real property. The funds can only be used to acquire land or development rights for conservation purposes, with a small percentage being used for maintenance. AB2014-373 (Ordinance 2014-062) Adopted 7-0

214. Adopt the 2015 Unified Fee Schedule? The schedule lists fees charged by the county to provide services such as building permits, parking, filing and licensing, animal control and charges for park equipment and facilities. The fees shall not exceed reimbursement costs to the providing department, and the executive may add or adjust fees with sufficient justification. AB2014-376 (Ordinance 2014-063) Amended and adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed.2

215. Adopt the six-year 2015-2020 capital improvement program? The program includes county parks, trails, activity centers, government buildings/sites, sheriff’s office facilities, emergency management, corrections facilities, stormwater facilities, and transportation improvements. The level of service will also be modified for parks and recreation facilities. AB2014-330 (Ordinance 2014-064) Adopted 7-0

216. Adopt the 2015-2016 budget? (Public hearing held) There is no increase in taxes over 2014 except for new construction. for the 2015-16 biennium. The vote will approve preliminary budget of $193,308,509 in appropriations for 2015 and $180,095,348 in appropriations for 2016. AB2014-205C (Ordinance 2014-065) Adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed.3

217. Increase the Dakota Creek bridge #500 project (amendment 1) fund/budget by $880,336? The bridge is south of Blaine at Peace Portal Drive and Hall Road. The estimated cost of the project was $3 million with an estimated $2,800,000 from federal sources and $200,000 in county funds. The new estimated total cost is $3,880,202. AB2014-352 (Ordinance 2014-066) Adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed. 4

218. Amend the 2014 budget (request 18) in the amount of $665,276? The entire amount is being appropriated for the Dakota Creek Bridge project. AB2014-353 (Ordinance 2014-067) Adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed. 5

219. Establish the Lake Whatcom Boulevard resurfacing fund and a project-based budget of $1,500,000? The project is located between Cable Street and Strawberry Point. The approximately 1.6 miles of road include pavement repair, upgrades to pavement markings, and signage improvement. The project is #4 on the 2015 annual construction program list and all of the funds are local. AB2014-354 (Ordinance 2014-068) Adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed.6

220. Establish the Hannegan Road/Nooksack River bridge #252 fund and a project-based budget of $240,000 for the bridge scour mitigation project? The project is located just south of Lynden and is #25 on the 2015 annual construction program list. All of the funds are federal except $20,000. AB2014-355 (Ordinance 2014-069) Adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed. 7

221. Establish the Slater Road/Nooksack River bridge fund and a project-based budget of $1,700,000 for bridge painting? The project is #23 on the 2015 annual construction program list. The bridge was constructed in 1957, the project includes sandblasting and repainting the bridge. All of the funding is federal. AB2014-356 (Ordinance 2014-070) Adopted 7-0 8

222. Establish the 2015 county roadway safety program fund and a $750,000 project-based budget? The program addresses road safety concerns through signage, rumble strips, and high-friction surface treatments. The project is #20 on the 2015 annual construction program list. Federal funding is $600,000 and the rest local. AB2014-357 (Ordinance 2014-071) Adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed.9

223. Establish the Hannegan Road structural overlay fund and a $2,000,000 project-based budget? The project is #15 on the 2015 annual construction program list. The 4.4 mile project from the Bellingham city limits to the Hemmi Road. includes rumble strips and new pavement marking. All of the funding is local. AB2014-358 (Ordinance 2014-072)Adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed.7

224. Establish the 2015 Courthouse improvement fund and a $260,000 project-based budget? The project includes replacing the Courthouse fire alarm system and the roof over the juvenile facilities. AB2014-359 (Ordinance 2014-073) Amended and adopted 7-0 8

225. Establish the 2015 Girard Street building improvement fund and a $511,000 project-based budget? The Whatcom County Health Department’s facilities require the following replacements: two heat pumps and one rooftop gas pack, 17 wall-mount heating units, single pane windows, and sections of the roof. Additional improvements include parking lot and sidewalk repairs and minor remodeling. AB2014-361 (Ordinance 2014-074) Adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed. 7

226. Establish the Courthouse building envelope project fund and a $250,000 project-based budget? The project addresses water damage from leaks to the building’s superstructure. AB2014-362 (Ordinance 2014-075) Adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed. 10

227. Establish the 2015 Central Plaza improvement fund and a $160,000 project-based budget? The project includes roof replacement, sidewalk and asphalt repairs and tree removal. AB2014-363 (Ordinance 2014-076) Adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed. 7

228. Establish the 2015 Silver Lake Park improvement fund and a $880,000 project-based budget? Besides ongoing renovations at the park’s day use areas, campsites, and road system the project will add road resurfacing/repair, campsite leveling, and upgrades to the electrical system. AB2014-364 (Ordinance 2014-077) Adopted 7-0 11

229. Establish the 2015 Lighthouse Marine Park improvement fund and a $250,000 project-based budget? The Point Roberts project involves replacing the aging and unsafe deck and playground equipment. The deck will be reduced by 44 percent based on limited use and costs. AB2014-365 (Ordinance 2014-078) Adopted 7-0 11

230. Establish the South Fork Park improvement fund and a $688,000 project-based budget? The project includes developing an access road, two parking areas, a trail network, restrooms, a picnic shelter and bridges. AB2014-366 (Ordinance 2014-079) Adopted 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed. 12

231. Establish the Academy Road stormwater improvements fund and a $1,109,000 project-based budget? The project is #1 on the flood district’s six-year resources improvement program. It will treat runoff from around 80 acres, and includes a pre-treatment unit, a media filtration system, a high flow bypass, and a lakefront vegetation buffer. AB2014-367 (Ordinance 2014-080) Adopted 7-0 13

232. Establish the Agate Heights Estate/Bay Lane stormwater improvements fund and a $610,000 project-based budget? The project is #3 on the flood district’s six-year resources improvement program. The project will treat runoff from around 90 acres, and uses bio-infiltration swales and channel stabilization to reduce ditch erosion and improve overall water quality. AB2014-368 (Ordinance 2014-081) Adopted 7-0 13

233. Establish the Beaver Creek stormwater improvements fund and a $565,000 project-based budget? The project is #4 on the flood district’s six-year resources improvement program. To reduce sediment the project will restore and repair eroded parts of Beaver Creek. AB2014-369 (Ordinance 2014-082) Adopted 7-0 13

234. Establish the Cedar Hills/Euclid stormwater improvements fund and a $630,000 project-based budget? The project is #2 on the flood district’s six-year resources improvement program. The project includes rain gardens, filter vaults, and treatment swales. AB2014-370 (Ordinance 2014-083) Adopted 7-0 13

235. Establish the criminal justice integrated case management systems fund and a $600,000 project-based budget? The Administrative Services – Information Technology Division recommended that the case management systems used by District Court probation, Juvenile Court, and the prosecutor’s office be replaced. AB2014-374 (Ordinance 2014-084) Adopted 7-0 14

236. Establish the integrated land records and permit management system fund and a $1,168,334 project-based budget? The Administrative Services – Information Technology Division recommends that the following projects need better coordination among county agencies that manage land-use and infrastructure: improve geographic information systems for land records; implementation of software for stormwater asset maintenance; planning for the replacement of the permit system; and the implementation of web geographic information systems. AB2014-375 (Ordinance 2014-085) Adopted 7-0 15