The board is created pursuant to Whatcom County Ordinance 2023-039 and county contract No. 202404018, an interlocal agreement, to advise on administrative and operational matters related to the public health, safety, and justice tax fund, as adopted by the voters.
(Ord. 2024-042 Exh. A)
The board shall function pursuant to:
A. 
The current jail use interlocal agreement with the cities.
B. 
Ordinance 2023-039 and any subsequent amendments.
C. 
The most current version of the justice project implementation plan.
If there is a discrepancy in the functions as outlined in these documents, the board shall comply with the function as described in the most current jail use interlocal agreement with the cities.
(Ord. 2024-042 Exh. A)
A. 
Members. The advisory board shall consist of 13 members.
Permanent members as designated by their representative agency shall be the Whatcom County executive, one Whatcom County councilmember, the Whatcom County sheriff, the mayor of Bellingham, one Bellingham city councilmember, one elected representative from the remaining cities within Whatcom County, two elected representatives from federally recognized tribes within Whatcom County, the Bellingham police chief, and the chair(s) of the incarceration prevention and reduction task force/law and justice council. Permanent members may appoint a designee to attend any specific meeting of the board.
Appointed members shall be two positions jointly recommended by the county executive and city of Bellingham mayor and confirmed by the county council and Bellingham city council: one individual with lived experience in the criminal justice system, and one representative of the behavioral health system who shall live in Whatcom County or be a representative of an agency or group that serves Whatcom County.
B. 
Terms. There is no term length or limits for the permanent members.
The appointed board members will have initial staggered terms: the behavioral health system representative shall initially serve a term ending on January 31, 2027.
The member with lived experience in the criminal justice system shall initially serve a term ending on January 31, 2028.
Thereafter, appointed board member terms will be four years. All terms will expire on January 31st in their year of completion.
(Ord. 2024-042 Exh. A)
To qualify for appointment by the county and city of Bellingham to fill an appointed board member vacancy, the behavioral health system representative shall live in Whatcom County or be a representative of an agency or group that serves Whatcom County. The member with lived experience in the criminal justice system shall be a resident of Whatcom County.
(Ord. 2024-042 Exh. A)
A. 
Meetings of the board shall be open and accessible to the public and shall be subject to the Open Public Meetings Act.
B. 
The board shall determine its own meeting schedule, but shall meet at least four times a year.
C. 
Written and audio records of meetings, resolutions, findings and recommendations shall be kept and such records shall be public.
D. 
The board shall adopt its own rules and procedures for the conduct of business.
E. 
The board shall elect a chairperson from among its members who shall preside at its meetings.
(Ord. 2024-042 Exh. A)
A. 
Pursuant to Ordinance 2023-039, the board will report as follows:
1. 
No less than every two years, the board shall coordinate with the Whatcom County executive and the IPRTF/LJC to update the implementation plan with a detailed spending plan for the public health, safety, and justice tax that adheres to the terms of this chapter. The spending plan may not impede the county's ability to pay debt service on facility bonds issued against the tax.
2. 
No less than every five years, the board shall coordinate with the Whatcom County executive and the IPRTF/LJC to update the justice project implementation plan based on an analysis of data collected, measurements for outcomes and efficacy of the current plan, and in alignment with a population health report such as the community health assessment, as well as cost estimates, timelines, and gaps in resources needed to reach community health targets. The IPRTF/LJC shall transmit the implementation plan to the Whatcom County council for approval.
Implementation plans must be consistent with Section 3 of Ordinance 2023-039, Sales and Use Tax Purpose, and may not impede the county's ability to pay debt service on facility bonds issued against this tax.
B. 
Pursuant to the justice project implementation plan, the board will:
1. 
Provide a written and oral report no less than annually to the IPRTF/LJC and Whatcom County council on the financial performance of the fund and associated programs. This report shall detail: fund revenue, expenditures by project, resources beyond the sales and use tax invested in implementation plan projects, additional resources needed to further meet goals, and recommendations for any updates to the implementation plan and/or spending plan. Make report accessible to the public.
(Ord. 2024-042 Exh. A)
The Whatcom County executive's office shall provide staffing for the board as needed.
Service on the board is voluntary. The county council/executive may provide for reimbursement to board members for appropriate qualified expenses, consistent with county procedures and policies for such reimbursement.
(Ord. 2024-042 Exh. A)