Committee forwards contracts, procurement agreement and pay adjustments to consent agenda

The Snohomish County Finance, Budget and Administration Committee on March 25 forwarded six administrative items to the general legislative session (GLS) consent agenda for final consideration, including two service contracts, an intergovernmental purchasing agreement and multiple salary- and bargaining-related actions.

The items moved to the consent agenda at the committee—s March 25 meeting in the Jackson Boardroom and by remote participation. Committee members unanimously indicated no objections during the meeting; no public commenters spoke. The items will be considered by the full council at upcoming GLS meetings on April 2 and March 26, as noted on the record.

The most immediate fiscal items were two contracts authorizations. Motion 25-144 would authorize the executive to sign a contract with Greater Seattle Partners for up to $100,000 through Dec. 31, 2025, for economic development services focused on global trade and foreign direct investment across the Central Puget Sound region (Pierce, King and Snohomish counties). Jim Martin, council staff, summarized the contract scope, saying the work includes implementing a strategic plan for business recruitment, a national and international marketing plan and leadership support for the regional economic recovery framework.

Motion 25-145 would authorize a professional services contract with Arkena Risk Group, selected through RFP 24-0371BC, for up to $75,000 through March 31, 2026. The scope presented includes assembling a policy library that houses the county—s insurance policies dating back to 1960, preparing coverage charts with required policy coding, and conducting internal records research and court and broker outreach to support the county—s insurance coverage records.

Also forwarded was Motion 25-151, an intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement with Snohomish County PUD that would allow each party to make purchases under the other—s bids and contracts to the extent permitted by law and agreed with contractors.

On personnel and compensation matters, the committee moved several sheriff—s-office related items to the consent agenda. Motion 25-148 would adjust the salary range for the sheriff—s office director of communications from range 111 to range 112, effective Feb. 1, 2025. During the meeting, a council member asked whether the position is funded from the general fund; staff replied it is believed to be general-fund supported. A staff member identified as Nathan said, "They'll just have to eat it," indicating the county would absorb the additional cost.

Motion 25-168 would apply a 3.63% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to exempt management positions in the sheriff—s office (majors, bureau chiefs and the undersheriff) for 2025; staff said the COLA is consistent with other bargaining units. The committee moved this item for GLS consideration March 26.

Finally, Motion 25-169 would approve a four-year collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Local 1811 JPD covering employees in Superior Court juvenile services. The presented terms include tying sick-leave cash-outs to being in good standing, revising the reclassification process, adjusting legal-process job classification pay ranges to align with other court units, converting clerical pay tables to classified tables, and COLAs and step increases: a 4.51% adjustment in 2024, a 3.63% COLA in 2025, and additional steps in 2026 and 2027 moving the scale to seven steps. Staff asked the committee to move the item to GLS for final consideration on March 26.

The committee recessed at the close of the meeting and scheduled to reconvene for the Health and Community Services meeting at 11:00 a.m. No votes on final approval were recorded at this session; each item was forwarded to the full council—s consent agenda for consideration on the dates noted on the record.