Compiled by Barry MacHale
Action Taken at July 12, 2022 Meeting
Shall the council:
173. Authorize the executive to sign a contract with the Opportunity Council for the transfer of property at 1000 and 1010 N. Forest Street? State law allows the transfer of property for public benefit purposes. The Opportunity Council will be responsible for the construction of 56 one-bedroom apartments for moderate/low income seniors and a childcare facility for 65 children. The purchase price will be $15.00. (AB2022-369) Approved 4-3, Tyler Byrd, Ben Elenbaas, and Kathy Kershner opposed.
174. Authorize for the executive to award the low bid of $478,879 to Western Refinery Services of Ferndale for channel excavation of Swift Creek? The engineer’s estimate was $638,673. The project in 2022 and 2023 will improve streamflow by excavating material, which contains naturally-occurring asbestos, transferring it to the Oat Coles Road site near Everson, and capped with clean cover material. Seven bids were received; the high bid was $1,125162. (AB2022-374) Approved 7-0
175. Authorize the executive to sign a $484,460 contract (amendment #10) with North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization to provide funding to support behavioral health services to Medicaid-insured individuals in Whatcom County? The original contract was approved in March 2019. The purpose of the amendment is to extend the contract and add funding for a co-response model to provide law enforcement with field-based outreach services intended to connect individuals with behavioral health challenges to recovery resources. The total amended contract is $2,333,280; it expires 12/31/2022. (AB2022-386) Approved 7-0
176. Authorize the executive to sign a $340,648 contract (amendment #2) with Herrera Environmental Consultants of Seattle to perform engineering design services for the Truck Road stabilization project? The emergency contract for $140,854 was signed in November 2021 and the amendment #1 contract for $77,854 was signed on 3/22/2022. Emergency contracts do not need council approval. The road was damaged in a 2020 flood and erosion exacerbated by the November 2021 flood. The purpose of this amendment is to fund phase two of the project. The total amended contract is $559,089; it expires 12/31/2023. (AB2022-389) Approved 7-0
177. Authorize for the executive to award the low bid of $429,890 to Granite Construction Company of Everson for the 2022 hot-mix asphalt prelevel? The engineer’s estimate was $442,695. The prelevel is used at various locations for the maintenance and repair of county roads. The contract includes all labor, equipment, and materials required to install asphalt prelevel in an amount not to exceed $429,890. Two bids were received; the high bid was $497,445. (AB2022-391) Approved 7-0
178. Authorize for the executive to award the low bid of bid of $274,910 to Granite Construction Company of Everson for the Birch Bay Drive and Harborview Road pavement repair project? The engineer’s estimate was $260,375. Two bids were received; the high bid was $282,818. The item is listed as Item No. 46 on the 2022 annual construction program. (AB2022-392) Approved 7-0
179. Authorize the executive to sign a contract (amendment #1) with Opportunity Council to reduce an ARPA funded grant award to $200,000? The Opportunity Council has received a $773,000 state grant to develop a childcare facility (see vote #183) in Bellingham and has thereby agreed to reduce the original $1,000,000 federal grant by $800,000. (AB2022-393) Approved 7-0
180. Authorize the executive to accept a $819,759 state grant (amendment #5) for the delivery and funding of various public health services? Services include: Covid vaccination programs; infectious disease control; immunization programs; cannabis- and tobacco-use prevention programs; and zoonotic disease monitoring programs. The total amended contract is $6,779,654; it expires on 12/31/2024. (AB2022-395) Approved 4-3, Tyler Byrd, Ben Elenbaas, and Kathy Kershner opposed.
181. Authorize the executive to sign a $20,350 contract (amendment #7) with United General Public Hospital District 304 to support participation in youth leadership opportunities to reduce youth cannabis and tobacco consumption? The original contract ran from 2/15/2019 to 6/30/2019. The purpose of this amendment is to extend the length of the contract for six months and update the scope of work. The total amended contract is $172,634; it expires on 12/31/2022. (AB2022-397) Approved 7-0
182. Authorize the executive to award a $600,000 contract to the only bidder Reisner Distributor of Anacortes? The contract will provide magnetic card lock fuel cards at Pacific Pride fueling stations. Whatcom County vehicles can use Pacific Pride pump locations when they are unable to refuel at the central shop. The contract expires on 7/31/2023 and it allows for two one-year extensions expiring on 7/31/2025. (AB2022-399) Approved 7-0
183. Authorize the transfer of Whatcom County surplus property? (Public hearing held.) State law permits local legislative authorities to declare property to be surplus and sell or transfer it if it is found to be within the best interest of the county to do so. The county-owned properties at 1000 and 1010 Forest Street in Bellingham are declared surplus and transferred to the Opportunity Council for the purposes of developing 56 one-bedroom apartments for moderate/low income seniors and a childcare facility for 65 children. AB2022-283 (Resolution 2022-032) Approved 4-3, Tyler Byrd, Ben Elenbaas, and Kathy Kershner opposed.
Action Taken at July 26, 2022 Meeting
Shall the council:
184. Appoint Susan David to the commercial forest landowner position on the Forestry Advisory Committee? Ms. David is employed by Hampton Lumber & Family Forests with headquarters in Portland, Oregon; it has forestry operations in Whatcom County. She holds a bachelor’s degree in forest resource management from Green River College in Auburn, Washington. (AB2022-371) Approved 6-0, Tyler Byrd absent.
185. Appoint residents to write pro and con positions for a proposed ballot measure to renew levy funding of EMS? For details on the ballot measure, see vote #193. Appointed Pro: Rob Roy Graham. Appointed Con: Laurie Williams and Todd Lagestee. (AB2022-383) Approved 6-0, Tyler Byrd absent.
186. Appoint residents to write pro and con positions for a proposed ballot measure for a levy to fund childcare, early learning programs and increase support for vulnerable children? For details on the ballot measure, see vote #156 at the 6/7/2022 meeting. Appointed Pro: Guy Occhiogrosso, Emily O’Conner and Mike Hammes. Appointed Con: John Marshall and Laurie Williams. (AB2022-384) Approved 6-0, Tyler Byrd absent.
187. Authorize the executive to accept a $253,918 state grant for the Whatcom County juvenile court? The grant will provide reimbursement for expenditures related to Becca programs and services that support “children in need of services” cases, truancy and at-risk youth petitions. (AB2022-400) Approved 6-0, Tyler Byrd absent.
188. Authorize the executive to sign a $163,360 contract with the state of Washington to sponsor a Washington Conservation Corps crew? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) The term will run from October 2022 to September 2023. The five-member crew will assist water quality and habitat monitoring, install and maintain salmon recovery and stormwater projects, support noxious weed control programs, map and manage riparian and aquatic invasive species. (AB2022-401) Approved 6-0, Tyler Byrd absent.
189. Authorize the executive to accept a $138,319 grant from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs? The state of Washington money is funneled through the Criminal Justice Training Commission to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. All sex/kidnapping offenders are required to register their addresses with a statewide sex offender database. This grant will fund personnel costs associated with verifying the address and residency of all registered sex offenders and kidnapping offenders. The contract expires on 6/30/2023. There was a decrease of $1,369 from previous funding. (AB2022-404) Approved 6-0, Tyler Byrd absent.
190. Support a transition to zero-emissions transportation options for the Whatcom County vehicle fleet? This vote supports the transition to low- and zero-emission vehicle use through advocacy, internal fleet purchasing priorities, and partnering with area entities such as Bellingham Public Schools and the Whatcom Transit Authority to implement similar actions. AB2022-363 (Resolution 2022-033) Substitute approved 4-2, Ben Elenbaas and Kathy Kershner opposed, Tyler Byrd absent.
191. Amend the 2022 Flood Control Zone District and subzones budget (request #4) in the amount of $5,922,000? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) Appropriated: $1,400,000 for the Truck Road emergency bank stabilization project; $1,950,000 to fund floodplain property acquisitions; $270,000 to fund the Timon levee rehabilitation project; $115,000 to fund the Upper Hampton levee repair project; $1,200,000 to fund the Everson overflow pipeline bank stabilization project; and $987,000 to fund the Jones Creek debris flow protection project. AB2022-388 (Resolution 2022-034) Approved 6-0, Tyler Byrd absent.
192. Amend the 2022 budget (request #10) in the amount of $4,085,565? Appropriated: $257,181 to fund youth cannabis- and tobacco-use prevention programs; $85,563 to fund body-worn cameras and interview room cameras at the sheriff’s department; $2,500 to fund a recreational boating program at the sheriff’s department; $48,746 to fund E911 emergency services; $250,000 in grant proceeds to fund a refugee stabilization program for Ukrainian refugees; $2,000,000 to fund emergency flood repairs; $12,000 to fund Livescan fingerprint machine replacements for the jail; $7,000 to fund a transmission rebuild for the forest service work crew truck; $1,200,000 to fund jail bed capacity in Snohomish County; $93,269 to fund two full-time employees for the Whatcom Co-Responder crisis outreach program; $93,676 to fund medical van uplift; $30,900 to fund miscellaneous additional facilities’ expenditures. AB2022-387 (Ordinance 2022-054) Adopted 6-0, Tyler Byrd absent.
193. Submit to the voters of Whatcom County a proposition to continue providing emergency medical services in Whatcom County? This property tax levy will appear on the 11/3/2022 general election ballot with a renewing rate of $.295 or less per $1,000 of assessed valuation. If passed, the levy will be collected for six years. AB2022-382 (Ordinance 2022-055) Substitute adopted 5-1, Ben Elenbaas opposed, Tyler Byrd absent.
