Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee

Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers

Agenda — 52 items

1. 1 Call To Order
2. 2 Roll Call
3. 3 Announcements
4. 4 Executive Session
5. 1. Discussion of pending litigation with Civil Deputy Prosecutor, Jesse Corkern, regarding Elaine Marie Barness et al., vs. Whatcom County et al., U.S. District Court Western District of Washington, Cause No. 2:26−cv−02987−TL. Defense and indemnification of Bill Elfo, Wendy Jones, Sally Andrews, and Heidi Zosel named as defendants. [Discussion of this item may take place in executive session (closed to the public) pursuant to RCW42.30.110 (1) (i)] AB2026-671 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED
6. 6 Public Comment
7. 6 MOTION 1 Motion approved 7-0 to enter into executive session.
8. 7 “Consent Agenda” Items for Final Action
9. 7 MOTION 2 Motion approved 7-0 to approve defense and indemnification of Bill Elfo, Whatcom County Sheriff (retired), Wendy Jones, Chief of Corrections (retired), and Sally Andrews, former Nursing Supervisor, Whatcom County Jail, named as defendants in Elaine Marie Barness; James Bates, Personal Representative of the Estate of Robert M. Barness, Jr., v. Whatcom County et al., United States District Court for Western District of Washington in Seattle, Cause No. 2:26-cv-02987. Based on the following findings: A. Bill Elfo, Wendy Jones, and Sally Andrews were acting in a matter in which the county had an interest; B. Bill Elfo, Wendy Jones, and Sally Andrews, were acting in the discharge of a duty imposed or authorized by law; C. Bill Elfo, Wendy Jones, and Sally Andrews acted in good faith.
10. 1. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Commerce for the State Fiscal Year 2027 Victim/Witness Assistance Grant, to provide victim advocacy, in the amount of $53,570 AB2026-627 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
11. 2. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the Administrative Office of the Courts to support Mental Health Court, in the amount of $171,125 AB2026-628 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
12. 3. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs for state funding for the Sheriff’s Office to verify the address and residency of all registered sex offenders and kidnapping offenders, in the amount of $128,219.88 AB2026-629 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
13. 4. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Military Department to update the Hazard Mitigation Plan, in the amount of $106,566 AB2026-639 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
14. 5. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Administrative Office of the Courts to support Post-Conviction Alternatives to Incarceration, in the amount of $7,000 AB2026-642 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
15. 6. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a joint funding agreement between Whatcom County and the United States Department of Interior Geological Survey for the operation and maintenance of water quantity and water quality stream gages, in the amount of $143,910 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2026-643 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
16. 7. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and San Juan Cruises to provide temporary passenger-only ferry service to and from Lummi Island during the annual dry dock and other emergencies, in the amount of $96,322.35, for a total amended contract amount of $215,131.95 AB2026-653 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
17. 8. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Administrative Office of the Courts to support the Interpreter Reimbursement Program, in the amount of $114,739 AB2026-654 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
18. 9. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Commerce to extend the term of the 2026 Domestic Violence Victim/Witness Grant contract and add additional funds, in the amount of $50,000 for a total amended amount of $74,218 AB2026-657 WITHDRAWN
19. 10. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal joint funding agreement between Whatcom County and United States Geological Survey for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the County’s 11 stream gages within the Nooksack River early warning system, Jones Creek, and the Sumas River, in the amount of $159,915 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2026-658 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
20. 11. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement between Whatcom County and the Administrative Office of the Courts for reimbursement of costs related to the Protection Order Reimbursement and Training Program, in the amount of $38,000 AB2026-659 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
21. 12. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement between Whatcom County and the Administrative Office of the Courts for reimbursement of costs related to Language Access and Interpreter Reimbursement Program, in the amount of $41,709 AB2026-660 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
22. 13. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Health to increase funding for the 2025-2027 Consolidated Contract Grant, which supports the delivery and funding of various public health services, in the amount of $346,561 for a total amended agreement amount of $15,202,742 AB2026-666 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
23. 14. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Shannon and Wilson, Inc. for assistance with the Critical Areas Ordinance update under the Growth Management Act, in the amount of $84,515 AB2026-667 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
24. 15. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a five-year interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department to receive funding for providing an online food worker card program to Whatcom County food workers, in an estimated amount of $78,365 annually for a total estimated agreement amount of $391,825 AB2026-670 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
25. 16. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families to extend the agreement for one year and provide increased funding for the Nurse Family Partnership Program, in the amount of $398,095 for a total amended agreement amount of $796,191 AB2026-672 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
26. 17. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration for use of space in their Bellingham office and for reimbursement of overtime, in the amount of $44,754 AB2026-673 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
27. 18. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a two-year contract between Whatcom County and GPS Group Peer Support to support vulnerable parents during pregnancy through early parenting, in the amount of $850,000 AB2026-675 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
28. 26 Special Presentation
29. 1. Report from the Assessor’s Office AB2026-633 REPORTED
30. 2. Quarterly Report from the Finance Division AB2026-665 REPORTED
31. 3. Presentation of the County Executive’s recommended 2027-2028 Biennium Budget AB2026-640 PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED
32. 30 Committee Discussion
33. 1. Discussion of an ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 13, in the amount of $701,921 AB2026-664 DISCUSSED
34. 2. Introduction of Medical Program Director and Medical Program Director Delegate AB2026-668 DISCUSSED
35. 33 Committee Discussion and Final Action
36. 1. Request for Council review and motion approving the Whatcom County Economic Development Investment Board’s recommendation for 2027 funding for infrastructure and housing projects AB2026-626 APPROVED BY THE COUNCILMEMBERS Pass
37. 2. Resolution amending Resolution 2025-044 approving a salary schedule and policies for unrepresented Whatcom County employees effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 AB2026-662 APPROVED Pass
38. 36 Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
39. 1. Ordinance closing the 23-Hour Crisis Relief Center Fund AB2026-617 RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION Pass
40. 2. Ordinance amending the project budget for the New Public Health, Safety and Justice Facility Fund, request no. 12 AB2026-618 RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION Pass
41. 3. Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 12, in the amount of $2,094,013 AB2026-619 RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION Pass
42. 39 (ORDINANCE ENACTMENT NUMBERS REFLECT WHAT WAS ADOPTED IN THE EVENING MEETING)
43. 40 Council Appointments
44. 1. Appointment to a vacancy on the Planning Commission, District 3 or 4, Applicant(s): Ramon Llanos AB2026-584 APPOINTED Pass
45. 42 Council Confirmation of Executive Appointments
46. 1. Request confirmation of the County Executive's appointment of Julie Eastlund to the Whatcom County Marine Resource Committee AB2026-634 CONFIRMED Pass
47. 2. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Audrey Taylor to the Whatcom County Marine Resource Committee AB2026-638 CONFIRMED Pass
48. 3. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s joint reappointment of Dunham Gooding to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District with the City of Bellingham AB2026-645 CONFIRMED Pass
49. 4. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s joint appointment of Ben Besley to the Public Facilities District with the City of Bellingham AB2026-646 CONFIRMED Pass
50. 47 Items Added by Revision
51. 48 Other Business
52. 49 Adjournment

Watch Whatcom County

This is one agenda. Whatcom County publishes another every few weeks, and the thing you care about is rarely on the one you happened to find. Name it and we will email you when it appears.

Watch this

Free for 14 days, no card — and nothing charges itself: at day 14 the emails simply stop unless you choose to subscribe ($19 a month). One email when something matches, and nothing else. Unsubscribe from any of them. Searching stays free — it is public record.