March 2007
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at January 9, 2007 Meeting
Shall the council meeting as the Board of Health:
1. Support the findings and recommendations of a state committee on public health financing? In 2005, the state Legislature created a committee to study public health financing and make recommendations for funding strategies. The committee found that public health is underfunded by $300 million a year. The committee recommended that the state Legislature establish a stable funding source. AB 2007-30 (Resolution 2007-01) Approved 7-0
Action Taken on January 16, 2007 Meeting
Shall the council:
2. Authorize the executive to award sole bid of $130,596 to Zumar Industries of Tacoma for the annual supply of traffic control signs? The contract runs from 1/1/07 through 12/31/07 and may be renewed for three one-year periods. (AB 2007-34) Approved 7-0
3. Authorize the executive to award contracts for $620,000 to purchase road maintenance products? The contracts include: $400,000 to Alpine Products of Auburn for road striping paint and beads; $80,000 to UAP (United Agri Products) Northwest of Burlington for herbicides; $50,000 to Coral Sales of Milwaukee, Oregon, for guardrails and installation materials; $50,000 to Goodyear/Les Schwab of Bellingham for car and truck tires and $40,000 to nine vendors for rubberized asphalt. (AB 2007-37) Approved 7-0
4. Authorize the executive to award two contracts totaling $109,849 to Norstan Communications of Irvine, CA, for equipment and software upgrades? The contracts are: $54,857 to purchase and install upgraded PABX system software; $54,992 to purchase and install an upgraded voice mail system. (AB 2007-39/40) Approved 7-0
5. Authorize the executive to enter into a $61,842 contract with Puget Sound Energy to purchase green energy for county operations? This purchase will reduce the Puget Sound Energy CO2 output by 3,172 tons, or 32 percent of total emissions, while supporting renewable solar and wind-based energy technology. The contract runs from 1/1/07 through 12/31/07. (AB 2007-41) Approved 5-2, Sam Crawford and Ward Nelson opposed.
6. Authorize the executive to continue a contract with Hoagland Pharmacy of Bellingham for jail pharmaceuticals? The estimated cost for the jail and the jail work center is $198,778; the contract runs from 1/1/07 to 12/31/07 and may be renewed for four additional one-year periods. (AB 2007-42) Approved 7-0
7. Authorize the executive to enter into three contracts totaling $105,320 for services at the jail and work center? The contracts are: $46,000 to Dr. Stuart Andrews for physician services; $25,000 to Dr. Rich Ullsmith for dental services and $34,320 to the Whatcom Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic for psychiatric services. The three contracts run from 1/1/07 through 12/31/07. (AB 2007-43/44/45) Approved 7-0
8. Authorize the executive to enter into 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 2007 and $120,000 in 2008. (AB 2007-47) Approved 7-0
9. Adopt the Whatcom County Hearing Examiners recommendations on the proposed development known as the 1010 Telegraph Road plat? The hearing examiner recommended approval of the planned unit development and the preliminary long subdivision with conditions. The proposal (within the city of Bellinghams Urban Growth Area) consists of 15 single-family residential lots on a 2.99-acre parcel. It includes 50 percent open space with a wetland and associated buffers and a trail easement. (AB 2006-471) Approved 7-0
10. Approve a Nielson Brothers open space application? Transfer 20 acres from designated forestry to 16 acres of open space/timber in the 7600 block of Kendall Road. The application was initially approved at the 11/21/06 meeting, vote number 238. The Planning Commission recommended denial of the application so a public hearing was required. AB 2006-435A (Resolution 2007-02) Approved 7-0
11. Accept the Whatcom County Treasurers list of 666 property tax refunds totaling $364,964? Refunds for senior, tribal and charitable exemptions, errors, reclassifications, adjustments, etc. were $364,614 and flood control refunds were $340. AB 2007-60 (Resolution 2007-03) Approved 7-0
12. Approve a proposed name change from Whatcom County Fire District #13 to Whatcom County Fire District #21? The board of fire commissioners for district 13 adopted the name change. State law requires approval by the County Council. AB 2007-31 (Resolution 2007-04) Approved 7-0
13. Amend ferry rates and the 2007 unified-fee-schedule? (Public hearing held) Fees for the Lummi Island ferry are increased; seniors, disabled persons and lower income residents of Lummi Island are now eligible for a discount. AB 2006-260 (Ordinance 2007-01) Adopted 6-1, Sam Crawford opposed.
14. Approve a change in Guiness Communications control? (Public hearing held) Guiness Communications, a Vancouver, B.C., cable company provides cable service to Point Roberts. The control of Guiness Communications has shifted from Delta Cable Communications to Persona Communications Corp. AB 2006-466 (Ordinance 2007-02) Adopted 7-0
15. Re-establish the Drayton Harbor and Portage Bay shellfish 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 meeting. The sunset date is changed from 12/31/06 to 12/31/08 so these groups can continue identifying and addressing pollution sources affecting marine environments. AB 2006-468 (Ordinance 2007-03) Adopted 7-0
16. Amend the county purchasing system? Currently, the executive can approve small works roster contracts (construction, remodeling, repair) up to $100,000 without council approval. This amendment will allow the executive to approve small works roster contacts up to $200,000 without council approval. AB 2006-467 (Ordinance 2007-04) Substitute approved 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed.1
17. Extend the 2006 unified-fee-schedule for 60 days or until adoption of the 2007 unified-fee-schedule? The delay will allow additional time for review and discussion. The extension expires on 3/18/07. AB 2006-440B (Ordinance 2007-05) Adopted 7-0
Action Taken at January 30, 2007 Meeting
Shall the council:
18. Amend the comprehensive plan map for 24.9 acres on Breckenridge Road? (Public hearing held) Concrete NorWest of Burlington submitted a rezone application to allow expansion of its Breckenridge Road gravel mine, located east of Nooksack. Residents raised concerns about the expansion at the hearing; they brought up health, noise, truck traffic and the safety of children at a nearby elementary school. The testimony helped persuade the council to oppose the amendment. (AB 2006-422) Failed 2-3-1, Seth Fleetwood, Laurie Caskey-Schreiber and Carl Weimer opposed, Barbara Brenner abstained, Ward Nelson excused.
19. Appoint the public works director as the damage claims agent for the flood control zone district? AB 2007-85 (Resolution 2007-05) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson excused.
20. Cancel uncollectible personal property taxes totalling $13,936? The treasurer has been unable to collect the tax on 16 mobile homes ($12,791) and the equipment and machinery of three businesses ($1,145). AB 2007-86 (Resolution 2007-06) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson excused.
21. Support Western Washington Universitys request for state funding to be used for planning and feasibility studies at New Whatcom? The university is looking into locating Huxley College of the Environment, the Small Business Development Center and others at the former Georgia-Pacific site. AB 2007-91 (Resolution 2007-07) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson excused.
22. Grant a 25 year non-exclusive franchise to Telecomm Associates to construct, operate and maintain a cable system on Lummi Island? (Public hearing held) The county will receive no less than 4 percent and no more than 5 percent of all gross subscriber revenues from the instillation and operation of the cable (television and radio signals) service. AB 2006-439 (Ordinance 2007-06) Approved 5-1, Barbara Brenner opposed,2 Ward Nelson excused.
23. Amend the 2007 budget (request #1) in the amount of $182,659? The requests include: $57,746 to emergency management to prevent, deter, respond to and recover from incidents of terrorism; $43,000 to correct errors that left the dispute resolution center contract out of the District Court budget; $41,273 to the sheriffs office to prevent, deter, respond to and recover from incidents of terrorism; $30,000 to District Court for front desk restructuring and $10,640 to the hearing examiner for a cost of living increase. AB 2007-61 (Ordinance 2007-07) Adopted 6-0, Ward Nelson excused.
24. Approve the 2007 project-based budget (request #1) in the amount of $1,200,000? This is the initial request for Lincoln Road from Shintaffer Road to Blaine Road; the total cost of the project is currently estimated at $9,500,000. Request #1 is for plans, specifications, engineer estimate ($650,000), right-of-way purchases ($100,000), environmental permitting ($250,000) and 20 percent contingency ($200,000). The executive has the authority to enter into contracts for this project; the council will receive quarterly reports. AB 2007-62 (Ordinance 2007-08) Adopted 6-0, Ward Nelson excused.
2 From Barbara Brenner: I opposed the franchise because I believe that all franchises coming before the council for initial approval or renewal should contain language preventing defacto monopolies.
