Minutes - Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee

Whatcom County

Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee

COUNTY COURTHOUSE

311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105

Bellingham, WA 98225-4038

(360) 778-5010

Committee Minutes - Final

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

9:50 AM

Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers

HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 11:40 A.M.(PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON, SEE

REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR

CALL 360.778.5010); AGENDA REVISION 6.22.2026

COUNCILMEMBERS

Elizabeth Boyle

Barry Buchanan

Ben Elenbaas

Kaylee Galloway

Jessica Rienstra

Jon Scanlon

Mark Stremler

CLERK OF THE COUNCIL

Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC

Call To Order

Roll Call

Committee Chair Jon Scanlon called the meeting to order at 9:50 a.m. in a

hybrid meeting.

7 -

Present:

Elizabeth Boyle, Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jessica

Rienstra, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler

Announcements

Council "Consent Agenda" Items

Rienstra moved to recommend approval of Consent Agenda items one

through 13. The motion was seconded by Boyle.

Councilmembers asked questions on several consent items.

Consent Agenda item #2 (AB2026-449)

Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, answered if the amount not used

for the loan will just stay in the economic development investment (EDI)

fund, and stated anything that becomes unencumbered through these types

of amendments would go back to that fund in order to retain a strategic

reserve.

Consent Agenda item #10 (AB2026-482)

Scanlon stated due to state cuts, we are having a decline in our funding for

the Alternate Response Team (ART) program.

Consent Agenda item #12 (AB2026-484)

Melissa Keeley, Administrative Services Department Human Resources,

answered if anything came out of the new agreement that would help with

costs for ferry operations or operational flexibility. She stated Public

Works management had an interest in gaining some operational efficiency

through this contract and she thinks a compromise was made. Management

did not get everything they were hoping for, but it is a step in the right

direction. She described the changes in the agreement.

Consent Agenda item #9 (AB2026-481)

Hannah Fisk, Health and Community Services, answered if this is a new

contract and stated it is an existing service, but it went out for a request for

proposal (RFP) after the typical four-year cycle, so it is a new contract with

a new vendor (Pioneer Human Services). The level of service will stay

consistent. She stated the funding is from the criminal justice treatment

account and comes straight to us from the Health Care Authority.

Councilmembers voted on the Consent items (see votes on individual items

below).

AB2026-345

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement

between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Transportation

for a radio tower lease, in the amount of $0

Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded that the Interlocal be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-449

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a interlocal agreement

amendment between Whatcom County and the Port of Bellingham to lower the loan

principal amount to $844,961.62, which reflects the actual amount dispersed and

results in a total contract amount of $2,899,813

Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded that the Interlocal be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-462

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement

between Whatcom County and the Washington State Criminal Justice Training

Commission for a wellness grant, in the amount of $41,200

Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded that the Interlocal be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-464

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement

amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of

Transportation for the renewal of youth zero fare policy, in the amount of $260,250

for a total of $363,000

Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded that the Interlocal be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-466

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement

between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Transportation

to move forward with the design phase of the Everson Goshen Road and East Smith

Road Intersection Improvements project, in the amount of $300,000

Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded that the Interlocal be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-471

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a cooperative agreement

between Whatcom County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the

Bylsma Levee on the Nooksack River, in the amount of $133,160 (Council acting as

the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)

Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded that the Contract (FCZDBS) be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-474

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a cooperative agreement

between Whatcom County and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to repair

the Ritter Road levee along the left bank of the Nooksack River, in the amount of

$116,100 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District

Board of Supervisors)

Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded that the Contract (FCZDBS) be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-477

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment

between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to provide basic needs items to

families with children ages 0-5 who qualify, in the amount of $40,131 for a total

amended contract amount of $151,192

Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded that the Contract be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-481

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between

Whatcom County and Pioneer Human Services to deliver substance use disorder

assessments and provide post-assessment treatment coordination as a component of

re-entry for individuals released from jail, in the amount of $101,896

Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded that the Contract be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-482

10.

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement

amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Health Care Authority

to decrease funding, due to state budget reductions, for the Alternative Response

Team (ART) program grant, in the amount of $176,000, for a total amended

agreement amount of $4,385,000

Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded that the Interlocal be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-483

11.

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between

Whatcom County and Washington Initiative for Supported Employment (WISE) to

provide training and consultation to the County and local agencies related to

improving employment outcomes and the inclusion of people with developmental

disabilities in their communities, in the amount of $59,500

Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded that the Contract be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-484

12.

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a Collective Bargaining

Agreement between Whatcom County and the union representing Lummi Island ferry

operations workers in the Public Works Department covering 2026 to 2028

Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded that the Contract be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-485

13.

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement

between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Social and Health

Services (DSHS) for funding for employment and community inclusion services for

adults with developmental disabilities, child development services for children ages

birth to three years, and community information and training, in the amount of

$6,194,426

Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded that the Interlocal be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

Special Presentation

AB2026-444

Presentation from the Port of Bellingham on economic development activities in

Whatcom County

Tyler Schroeder, Port of Bellingham Economic Development, read from a

presentation (on file) on economic development work in the last year and

the upcoming 2027-2031 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

(CEDS) project. He highlighted work they have done related to

strengthening Whatcom County’s economic base through business

development, and work on infrastructure, and workforce development. He

spoke about the upcoming CEDS and its priorities and goals. He answered

questions about the future of the Technology Development Center and the

old tissue warehouse on the waterfront, and the barriers to attracting and

growing our industrial job base.

Scanlon spoke about thinking about how the CEDS might be able to help the

Council as they implement the Comprehensive Plan and set priorities, and

how the Council can support the CEDS through the budget.

This agenda item was PRESENTED.

AB2026-469

Report from the Superior Court Clerk’s Office

Raylene King, Superior Court Clerk, read from a presentation (on file) on

the function, structure, and responsibilities of the Clerk's Office and how

the office is separate from the judicial branch, the increase of case filings

and caseloads since 2018 and how the numbers compare to other counties,

other roles of the clerk, and the office’s challenges and accomplishments.

Ryan Swinburnson, Deputy Director for the Conflict Office, presented on

what the office is. He stated they are essentially a second Public Defender’s

Office and take the cases the Public Defender’s Office cannot take for

conflict reasons. The County has saved money by not having to hire outside

attorneys for that work. He spoke about the impending state-mandated

reduced caseload standards and that there is going to be a need for probably

10-12 additional public defense attorneys (as well as many other additional

staff) over the course of the next nine years, and that the Conflict Office

will need to grow to accommodate that.

Scanlon stated the Council is going to discuss the County's legislative

agenda later today and the unfunded state mandates will probably be a part of

that discussion. He asked about the rule that if a case conflict presents itself

in the office that it applies to the whole office (necessitating them going to

an outside attorney) and if that is state law.

Swinburnson stated the rules come from the Rules of Professional

Conduct. He answered if there is any state advocacy on the issue and stated

it is not really a state issue but more the way this county has chosen to

handle those cases.

Elenbaas thanked them for their office for not being a source of public

complaints or negative feedback, and stated he has only heard positive

feedback.

This agenda item was REPORTED.

AB2026-487

AB2026-495

Presentation by the Finance Division and Executive’s Office on the 2027-2028

biennium budget process

Scanlon stated this item was withdrawn and will be scheduled for a future

meeting.

This agenda item was WITHDRAWN.

Update from Director Melissa Keeley on the Human Resources division

Melissa Keeley, Administrative Services Department Human Resources,

read from a presentation (on file) about Human Resources’ efforts to

stabilize after changes in staffing and the addition of new technology over

the last 18 months, data they use in gaging workload factors (including

growth in the number of FTEs), County employee turnover data, collective

bargaining work, progress in meeting recommendations from the Matrix

consultants regarding complaint policies and procedures, updates on

pending items from the Matrix report, and expanded staff and leadership

training and professional development provided to County employees.

Scanlon thanked Keeley for the updates on the Matrix recommendations.

Keeley discussed with councilmembers how the leadership training is

helping leaders to develop people skills, and that new County employees are

given dedicated time to review new employee orientation materials and

training.

This agenda item was PRESENTED.

Committee Discussion

AB2026-459

Discussion of the procurement process for hearing examiner services

Cathy Halka, Clerk of the Council, stated we have a contract for hearing

examiner services, and we are in a year in which we need to do a request for

proposal (RFP) so we are looking for Council to identify a couple

councilmembers to participate on a selection committee. We are starting a

little earlier this year, so we have some more information for the budget,

and would also like to get Council's feedback on the scope.

Elenbaas and Boyle stated they would like to participate in the selection

process.

Galloway moved to nominate Councilmember Elenbaas and

Councilmember Boyle to serve on the hiring committee for the Hearing

Examiner services.

The motion was seconded by Rienstra.

The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, and

Boyle

Nay: 0

This agenda item was DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED.

Motion approved to nominate Councilmember Elenbaas and Councilmember Boyle to serve on the hiring committee

for the Hearing Examiner services.

AB2026-479

Discussion of a draft resolution requiring additional public notice of proposed

Whatcom County Council action to increase taxes

Stremler briefed the councilmembers and spoke about hearing from the

public that they have not felt informed about upcoming Council decisions

about new taxes, and that Snohomish County has done something similar

recently. He stated this is just a draft for discussion but he hopes they could

take action on a resolution before the August break.

Councilmembers discussed the intention that providing notice, as described

in the resolution, would not happen until a related agenda item is actually on

a Council’s agenda, and if it would be better to route people to the site

where information is already posted publicly so people can get more

engaged and involved with the resources we have.

Jenna Gernand, Council Office Staff, stated the idea would be to direct

people to our Council page and just have a very clear overview of any

potential tax increase.

Councilmembers and Gernand discussed how broad they should be in the

types of agenda items that would be noticed (such as also including

discussion items or anything that has a public hearing) and whether that

decision would be up to staff or councilmembers, that the Council Office

could potentially coordinate with other departments if they would like to

request that they also post something on their social media accounts,

learning what other communities are doing and building on this resolution

to increase community engagement on other bodies of work beyond tax

increases, if they might also want to provide a sort of “Tax 101” on that

Council page to help people understand things like property taxes, and that

more specific information about a proposed tax increase could be posted

once an item is on an agenda.

This agenda item was DISCUSSED.

Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council

AB2026-442

Ordinance amending the project budget for the 2015 Girard Street Building

Improvement Fund, request no. 1

Scanlon moved and Boyle seconded that the Ordinance be

RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION. The motion carried by the following

vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-450

Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 9, in the amount

of $7,941,775

Galloway moved and Boyle seconded that the Ordinance be

RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION.

Randy Rydel, Administrative Services Department Finance Director,

answered if the items for purchase listed under the Jail Fund in the summary

listing are replacement items or new, and stated it is part of a grant with the

National Forest Service. They are requesting that the County buy this

equipment and they are going to reimburse us, then the County will use it in

furtherance of the work they do for the Forest Service.

Scanlon spoke about other items on the listing and that some of them are

also covered by grants. He stated the one item of note that has a drawdown

of the General Fund is the request for the Public Defender to fund outside

conflict attorneys and experts.

Galloway's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR

ADOPTION carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay: