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, March 24, 2026

9:25 AM

Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers

HYBRID MEETING - MAY BEGIN LATE - ADJOURNS BY 10:35 A.M.

(PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT

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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 9:27 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

Galloway moved to recommend approval of Consent Agenda items one

through eleven. The motion was seconded by Boyle.

Stremler stated he had questions on item numbers, 5, 6, 8, and 10.

Elenbaas stated he had questions on item number 2.

Consent Agenda item number 2 (AB2026-220) - Part 1

Jennifer Hayden, Health and Community Services, answered why this

money is coming from Puget Sound Partnership, and stated they applied for

a grant with them in order to get where they need to be with the County’s

program for inspecting businesses within the permit area for use of best

management practices.

Elenbaas asked what kind of stipulations the Puget Sound Partnership gets

to put on the program then, and Hayden stated she does not believe they

have any.

Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, stated all the terms and

conditions are listed in the “Proposed Interlocal Agreement.”

Champ Thomaskutty, Health and Community Services Director, confirmed

that they are Federal pass-through dollars, and stated the Puget Sound

Partnership has already approved what they were proposing through the

grant process.

Elenbaas stated they are stipulating a bunch of things (after looking at the

interlocal) about the program and he will come back to it.

Clerk’s note: Councilmembers came back to this item after the other

questions. See below.

Consent Agenda item number 5 (AB2026-226), Consent Agenda item

number 6 (AB2026-227), and Consent Agenda item number 8

(AB2026-229)

Sarah Simpson, Health and Community Services, answered whether there

are any childcare slots coming out of these three items. She read from a

presentation (on file) and walked them through the contracts which are all

renewals of contracts they already had in place and serve many families but

do not create slots. She answered if there is any progress with expansion of

daycare in East County, and stated she believes five of the seven capital

contracts they just closed on in the last request for proposal (RFP) cycle

were outside the city of Bellingham. She said they are continuing to work

on plans for how to expand out into those county spaces.

Consent Agenda item number 10 (AB2026-236)

Chris D’Onofrio, Health and Community Services, spoke about the contract

and stated this is a lease extension for the facility where they had their

severe winter shelter this winter but they are extending the lease with

slightly different terms. They will have a smaller monthly rate and then a

day-use fee if they do activate over the summer. They do not yet, however,

have a firm plan for how and when they would operate a summer shelter.

Ann Beck, Health and Community Services, stated this is not a commitment

to operate a shelter at this point, because that would be a much larger

commitment from the community. This is just for them to have a place to

store their operations from the winter, as well as an option to use the space

as needed in coordination with the City of Bellingham and Department of

Emergency Management.

D’Onofrio answered if the City of Bellingham does not have any facilities

for potential heat and smoke, and stated he is not aware of any concrete

plans they have for healthy air operations over the coming summer.

Consent Agenda item number 2 (AB2026-220) - Part 2

Elenbaas stated he wants to make sure the stipulations from Puget Sound

Partnership are ones the council can live with. One of the things that

concerned him was that they say that public comment is not required, and he

wants to made sure they let people know what is coming and give them time

to engage with the development of the program.

Scanlon stated this might be something to bring to the Business and

Commerce Advisory Committee.

Elenbaas requested that they consider this item separately.

Councilmembers voted on the Consent items (numbers 1 and 3-11) and

then considered item number 2 separately (see votes on individual items

below).

AB2026-214

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

between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Transportation to

increase the grant in the amount of $34,250

Galloway 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:

AB2026-220

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

between Whatcom County and Puget Sound Partnership to provide grant funding for

the development of a source control business inpection program that complies with

the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), in the amount of

$100,817

THIS ITEM WAS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY BELOW.

AB2026-222

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

between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham for the County to provide

administrative oversight to the City concerning Domestic Violence Perpetrator

Opportunity for Treatment Services (DVPOTS) for a total amount of $150,000

Galloway 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:

AB2026-225

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

between Whatcom County and the Washington State Military Department to relocate

an All Hazards Alert Broadcast siren in the amount of $45,000 for a total amended

contract amount of $45,000

Galloway 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:

AB2026-226

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

between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to purchase and distribute basic

needs items to low-income families with children ages 0-5 in the amount of $17,250

for a total amended contract amount of $111,061

Galloway 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:

AB2026-227

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

between Whatcom County and Whatcom Center for Early Learning to expand mental

health support services to low-income children in the amount of $289,854 for a total

amended contract amount of $688,563

Galloway 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:

AB2026-228

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

between Whatcom County and Bellingham Food Bank to support operations for

procuring/purchasing, warehousing and distributing food and other essentials to low

and very low income families in the amount of $500,000 for a total amended contract

amount of $1,945,000

Galloway 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:

AB2026-229

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

between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to expand services to eligible

families through a Case Manager Position in the Single Entry Access to Services

Program in the amount of $46,000 for a total amended contract amount of $86,000

Galloway 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:

AB2026-230

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

between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Transportation

to execute a Federal Aid Project Prospectus for the design phase of the Birch

Bay-Lynden Road and Kickerville Road Intersection Improvements project in the

amount of $260,000

Galloway 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:

AB2026-236

10.

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

between Whatcom County and Lutheran Community Services Northwest to lease a

facility intended for use as a severe weather shelter in the amount of $32,000 for a

total amended contract amount of $98,455

Galloway 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:

AB2026-241

11.

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

between Whatcom County and Skagit County to Skagit County’s servers, in the

amount of $5,000

Galloway 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:

Council "Consent Agenda" Items Considered Separately

AB2026-220

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

between Whatcom County and Puget Sound Partnership to provide grant funding for

the development of a source control business inpection program that complies with

the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), in the amount of

$100,817

Galloway moved and Rienstra seconded that the Interlocal be

RECOMMENDED FOR AUTHORIZATION. The motion carried by the

following vote:

5 - Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, Rienstra, and Scanlon

2 - Elenbaas, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

Committee Discussion

AB2026-213

Ordinance authorizing a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for criminal

justice purposes as authorized by RCW 82.14.345 and adding a new Chapter 3.27

Sales and Use Tax for Criminal Justice Purposes to the Whatcom County Code

Scanlon stated this is just up for discussion because there is a public

hearing tonight. He briefed the councilmembers on the documents attached

to the file.

This file is the proposed ordinance from the executive. There is also an

alternate ordinance for introduction, if they so choose, on the Council’s

agenda as AB2026-255 (under Items Added by Revision) and attached here

for reference. That version has added language that gives direction on the

use of these funds for the first (2027-2028) biennium. There is also a draft

resolution attached which says the same thing as the alternate but is just

using a different mechanism to do so, and it does not require a public

hearing. If they were to introduce the alternate ordinance, they would have a

second public hearing at a later date. The idea behind the resolution is that

they would most likely adopt the executive's proposal and then add the

resolution, giving direction on where they would like to see the funds go.

Clerk’s note: Exhibit A was initially inadvertently not included with the

alternate ordinance but the document on file was later updated to include it.

It is the same Exhibit A as in the executive’s proposal.

Elenbaas stated he sees what they are spending the money on in the alternate

ordinance and likes what has been proposed, but asked if it gets to the spirit

of the law which was absolutely to increase the number of law enforcement

per capita.

Scanlon stated his thought was to put the direction for use in the first

biennium in the whereas clauses as opposed to locking that in for time in

the code. He stated the executive’s proposal is broader. If the sales tax is

adopted, there is not direction in that proposal (other than what is noted in

State law).

Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, stated the intent with the

executive's proposal was to leave it broad to allow for future Council

discretion and decision making as part of each budget process. They did

write a memo alongside the executive’s proposal that spoke to some of the

same priorities for this next biennium as are in Scanlon’s alternate version.

Scanlon answered why he sees the need to direct the funds since it appears

to limit the councils' ability in the future. He stated the language only sets a

priority for the first biennium use of these funds, and it is to tell the people

what we are doing. This does not even add a whole lot; it is about

maintaining the level of service that we currently have.

Stremler stated he has heard from constituents that this is a public safety tax

but he has only seen that it is a criminal justice use tax. He would rather

have the voters decide if the County is going to take $7 million dollars out

of their pockets, instead of the Council deciding.

Galloway spoke in support of the sales and use tax and of the executive's

ordinance with a sister resolution.

Councilmembers and Schott-Bresler discussed the options before them,

that there is a Special Council meeting on March 31st to discuss the

resolution if that is the route that Council wants to go, that proposed uses of

the fund from the executive’s office would come out of the General Fund,

that in the absence of new revenue the County should expect to absorb more

than $7 million of cuts in the 2027-2028 budget process across the

departments, whether there are any new cost estimates for the priorities

listed in the executive’s memo that the Council should be aware of, and that

even with this they may still need to find other cuts or forego something to

be able to pay for those things.

This agenda item was DISCUSSED.

Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council

AB2026-114

Ordinance establishing the project budget for the Strawberry Point/Lake Whatcom

Boulevard stormwater improvements, request no. 1

Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, answered if this was tied into the

financial reporting requirement and stated their recommendation is that

Director Rydel distributes the fourth quarter financial report prior to the

rest of the committee meeting.

Randy Rydel, Administrative Services Department Finance Director, handed

councilmembers copies of the 2025 fourth quarter financial report and

stated it will be posted online later today.

Loni Patterson, Public Works Department, stated she was available for

questions on this agenda item but there were none.

Galloway 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:

AB2026-134

Ordinance amending the project budget for the Courthouse Building Envelope Fund,

request no. 7

Galloway moved and Buchanan 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:

AB2026-143

Ordinance establishing the Ferndale Senior Activity Center Improvements Fund and

establishing an initial budget for the Ferndale Senior Activity Center Improvements

Fund

Galloway moved and Rienstra 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:

AB2026-181

Ordinance amending the project budget for the Eagleridge Stormwater Improvements

Project Fund, request no. 1

Galloway moved and Buchanan 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:

AB2026-183

Ordinance amending the project based budget for the Swift Creek Capital Projects

Fund, request no. 3

Galloway moved and Boyle seconded that the SUBSTITUTE Ordinance be

RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION.

Cathy Halka, Clerk of the Council, clarified that the motion was for the

substitute.

Jed Holmes, Executive's Office, answered if they had any appropriation

requests this year in the state legislature for Swift Creek and what the

funding gap is for that project. He stated typically, these types of projects

are not revisited in the mid-biennium so there were no requests, but they did

discuss the ongoing need with the legislature. The county has received

approximately half of the $10-12 million (every biennium) commitment

from the State for the last two bienniums so they are behind schedule on

that project. It will certainly be part of the county’s ask going into the next

(long) session.

Galloway's motion that the SUBSTITUTE Ordinance be RECOMMENDED

FOR ADOPTION carried by the following vote:

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

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-200

Ordinance closing the Bellingham Senior Center HVAC Replacement Fund

Galloway 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:

AB2026-204

Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 5, in the amount

of $741,113

Galloway moved and Boyle seconded that the Ordinance be

RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION.

Scanlon stated this is an item they discussed previously and has a memo

from the executive stating that it would have complied with the Charter

prior to receiving the report and still does after the Council receiving the

fourth quarter financial report.

Galloway's motion that the Ordinance be RECOMMENDED FOR

ADOPTION carried by the following vote:

5 - Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, Rienstra, and Scanlon

2 - Elenbaas, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-206

Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 6, in the amount

of $3,920,278

Galloway moved and Boyle seconded that the Ordinance be

RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION.

Scanlon stated this is the item where they separated out some of the items

that they previously held off on (due to Charter requirements), and those are

back in here, as well as some other newer items that have come in, and they

align with some of the ordinances councilmembers just voted on.

The following people gave brief highlights of the fourth quarter financial

report and answered questions:

Randy Rydel, Administrative Services Department Finance Director

Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office

They stated they hope to formally brief the councilmembers on the report at

the second meeting in April, concurrent with an update on the budget

process.

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:

AB2026-238

Resolution updating the appendix of the 2022 Comprehensive Economic

Development Strategy (CEDS) project list

Galloway moved and Boyle seconded that the Resolution be

RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

The following people discussed the resolution with councilmembers and

answered questions:

Tyler Schroeder, Port of Bellingham Economic Development

Jake Logan, Executive's Office

Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office

Doug Ranney, Public Works Department

They discussed the revised change log (on file), that the Point Roberts boat

launch would be located within the Point Roberts Marina, that the first four

pages are Whatcom County projects and the rest are other municipalities,

that items in purple text represent additions and changes are gold on the

change log, that they added clarification to the plantation range to recognize

HVAC and added the Behavioral Care Center to the new jail build in the

revised log, that some changes (including the two aforementioned and

outfitting for the Planning and Development Services building) did not get

incorporated into the proposed resolution and can be added to a substitute

version for tonight’s meeting, that the Birch Bay-Lynden / California Creek

fish passage culvert replacement is on the Six-Year Capital Improvement

Program though it is not specifically named on this list and that it is

difficult to have 100 percent consistency between all the lists, and how

much they work with the cities to update the list for projects that have been

completed.

Scanlon asked if the committee would still like to give a recommendation

to Council since they will likely see changes made before the evening

meeting.

Galloway withdrew her motion to recommend the resolution for approval

and it was forwarded to Council without a recommendation.

This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A

RECOMMENDATION.

Items Added by Revision

There were no agenda items added by revision.

Other Business

There was no other business.