Snohomish County Council approves budget transfers, grants and multiple contracts March 12

The Snohomish County Council approved a series of routine and programmatic actions March 12, including budget transfers, a state grant for landfill methane reduction, contract amendments for legal and law-enforcement services, the transfer of a telecommunications franchise and a multi-year collective bargaining agreement.

Most items were approved without extended debate. Council staff summarized each request and council members moved and voted for approval according to the agenda. Several items required the council to authorize the county executive or department directors to sign contracts or administrative amendments.

Key approvals and outcomes at a glance:

- Motion 2051125 — Approve a 2024 budget transfer within Facility Services Fund 511 totaling $1,150,000 to shift expenditure authority between programs. Staff said the transfer moves unused appropriations to cover higher-than-expected janitorial, HVAC, fire-and-safety, utility and contracted maintenance costs; the jail facilities program needs $290,000 and the facilities maintenance program needs $860,000. Council approved the motion; staff reported the transfer does not increase or decrease the overall fund amount and was expedited to assist with timely payment.

- Motion 2051134 — Authorize the county executive to sign grant AQLMER-2325-SNCSWD-0005 with the Washington State Department of Ecology for landfill methane emission reduction in the amount of $1,125,000. Staff said the grant covers surface-emissions monitoring, upgrades to older systems and a feasibility study; the Solid Waste Division may expend $400,000 prior to the current contract end date and will submit an appropriation for an additional $725,000 if an extension is awarded. Council approved the motion.

- Motion 25137 — Authorize Amendment No. 1 to on-call legal services contract with Hillis, Clark, Martin & Peterson PS to add $100,000 for a total not to exceed $200,000 for environmental review and potential litigation support. Council approved the motion.

- Motion 25138 — Approve transfer of control of the telecommunications franchise granted to Ziply Fiber Northwest by Ordinance No. 23-059 from Northwest Fiber Holdco LLC to BCE Holding Corporation, conditioned on termination or transfer of the county cable franchise before closing per RCW 36.55 and Snohomish County Code 13.80.08(6). Council provided the required consent; the staff report and the motion noted the cable franchise must be terminated or transferred on or before closing. Council approved the motion (vote recorded as 4–0 after one council member left the meeting).

- Motion 25135 — Authorize execution of a software services agreement with Contruent for continued use of the Procureware bid-management portal. Annual costs were reported as approximately $30,000 and the contract contains an automatic annual renewal. Council approved the motion.

- Motion 2051139 — Approve the 2024–2028 collective bargaining agreement between Snohomish County and the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, AFSCME, AFL-CIO Local 1811 (Assessor’s Office supervisors). The contract includes cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) and a market-rate adjustment: COLAs of 4.51% for 2024 and 3.63% for 2025; in 2026–27 the bargaining unit moves from a 5-step to a 7-step scale, adding an extra step each year; in 2028 compensation is set at 100% of the June 2027 CPI with a minimum of 1% and maximum of 5%. Appendix A positions receive a one-pay-grade market-rate adjustment. Council approved the contract.

- Motions 25117, 25136, 205113 and 25114 — Approved amendments to interlocal law-enforcement service agreements with the cities of Gold Bar, Stanwood and Snohomish and the town of Darrington to add costs tied to increases in interfund ER&R, IT and risk rates so the contracts achieve full cost recovery. Staff said a breakdown is in the staff report; council approved each amendment (votes recorded as 4–0 on those items after one member left the meeting).

Several motions authorized the county executive or department directors to sign contracts or administrative amendments under specified Snohomish County code sections. Staff noted some items were expedited to meet payment or contract deadlines.

The council concluded the agenda after the action items; there were no public hearings.