Snohomish County Council approves HIPAA audit, energy-audit grants, sports-marketing contract, appointments and Paine Field rate update

On Feb. 12, the Snohomish County Council approved a series of motions that authorized contracts, grant agreements, appointments and a multi-year update to lease and rental rates at Paine Field.

The council voted unanimously, 5-0, to: authorize a HIPAA compliance audit with Moss Adams LLP capped at $122,300; approve amendments and new contract terms for digital court-recording services with American Platform Services (doing business as RecordX) that include an automatic annual renewal and a scheduled 4% yearly increase beginning Aug. 1, 2025; accept energy-audit reimbursements for several county facilities through Washington Association of Counties and the Washington State Department of Commerce totaling roughly $458,182 (combined line items described below); approve a tourism-promotion agreement with the Snohomish County Sports Commission not to exceed $647,130 for 2025; add District Court to a drug-and-alcohol testing collection contract with Regional Toxicology Services LLC (doing business as Corded Health Solutions) with a $59,000 maximum for the district court scope; increase the Bridge Coordination Services contract by $300,000 and remove ARPA-specific exhibits; confirm a slate of appointments and reappointments to county advisory boards; and accept revised Paine Field lease and rental rates developed by CBRE, which the county estimates would yield about $5.7 million in additional revenue over a multi‑year phase-in.

Why this matters: The bundle of actions addresses compliance (HIPAA and drug testing), energy-efficiency planning for county facilities (to meet Washington State Clean Buildings Act requirements), tourism and event marketing, victim-support services funding, and airport revenue policy. Several items include deadlines or funding windows that staff said required expedited council action.

The council heard staff reports for each item and moved them forward as committee-of-the-whole motions. Staff identified procurement and statutory citations in the record for several items and emphasized narrow timelines for energy-audit reimbursements.

HIPAA audit Deb Evanston Bell, council staff, told the council the county issued RFP 24-033BC and selected Moss Adams LLP to perform an enterprise-wide risk analysis and compliance assessment addressing 45 C.F.R. §164.308 and related HIPAA requirements. The audit term is one year and the maximum contract amount is $122,300 (Motion 25-061). The council approved the motion 5-0.

RecordX services amendment Bell described an amendment to the county's existing digital court-recording software agreement with American Platform Services (doing business as RecordX). The amendment would convert the contract to an automatic annual renewal and implement a scheduled 4% annual fee increase beginning Aug. 1, 2025. Staff said the ongoing costs were anticipated in the IT budget for the 2025–2026 biennium. The council approved the amendment 5-0 (Motion 25-083).

Energy audits and state reimbursements Council staff reported multiple related energy-audit actions. A Washington Association of Counties reimbursement program would provide $172,438.88 after completion of audits at four county buildings tied to airport operations and the Health Department (Motion 25-094). Separately, three Department of Commerce contracts to fund ASHRAE Level 2 energy audits for campus administration buildings, courthouse buildings and the Denny Juvenile Justice Center would total $285,743.53; staff said work must be completed promptly to meet a June 30, 2025 reimbursement deadline (Motions 25-095, 25-096 and 25-097). Council members asked whether these grants and contracts were related; staff clarified they are separate reimbursement agreements. All energy-audit motions passed 5-0.

Sports marketing agreement Jim Martin, council staff, presented a tourism-promotion-area agreement with Amateur Athletics Commission of Snohomish County (doing business as Snohomish County Sports Commission). The scope includes regional and national sports-event marketing, attendance at at least 10 sporting events for evaluation and participation in trade shows. The not-to-exceed amount is $647,130 through Dec. 31, 2025. The council approved the agreement 5-0 (Motion 25-087).

Contracts for court services and victim support Nicole Gourley, council staff, described an amendment to a Regional Toxicology Services LLC contract (d.b.a. Corded Health Solutions) to add District Court drug-and-alcohol testing collection services for the county’s therapeutic courts, with a maximum budget specifically for District Court of $59,000 (Motion 25-082). The council approved the amendment 5-0.

Gourley also presented Amendment No. 2 to the Bridge Coordination Services contract, originally funded by ARPA dollars and extended in 2024. The council-approved 2025–2026 budget included $300,000 ($150,000 per year) to continue the domestic-violence coordination work. The amendment adds $300,000 to the contract ceiling, updates the scope of work, and removes exhibits tied only to ARPA funding. The motion passed 5-0 (Motion 25-085).

Appointments and reappointments The council confirmed one appointment to the Airport Commission (Eric Epstein) and multiple appointments and reappointments to the Parks Advisory Board (Kevin Kronk; Dusty Dion; David Devokey; Jennifer Fris; Holly Hernandez), the Marine Resources Advisory Committee (Alan Hicks; Francesca Perez), the Noxious Weed Control Board (Molly Jackson) and the Snohomish County Children’s Commission (Sanica Cabrer). Staff noted one reappointee (David Devokey) would be entering a final term. The combined motions passed 5-0 (Motions 25-059, 25-071–25-078, 25-086).

Paine Field lease and rental rates Ryan Hambrick, council staff, presented updated lease and rental rates for aviation and nonaviation property at Paine Field developed by CBRE. Staff said the last update was approved Aug. 31, 2022 (Motion 22-0717). The new rates would phase in over three years, and staff estimated the changes would yield approximately $5,700,000 in additional revenue; staff also said existing leases would not change unless a lease allowed it. The motion to update rates passed 5-0 (Motion 25-070).

Process notes and next steps Staff repeatedly described time-sensitive reimbursement windows for energy-audit work and asked the council to expedite consideration. Council members asked clarifying questions — for example about the phase-in and lease tiers at Paine Field and whether individual contracts were related — and staff provided procedural clarifications. All motions described in this report were approved without recorded dissents or abstentions.

Votes at a glance - Motion 25-061: Authorize professional services agreement with Moss Adams LLP for a HIPAA compliance audit; maximum $122,300; outcome: approved 5-0. - Motion 25-083: Approve Amendment No. 3 to services agreement with American Platform Services (RecordX) to change term to automatic yearly renewal and schedule a 4% annual increase starting Aug. 1, 2025; outcome: approved 5-0. - Motion 25-094: Approve WA Association of Counties reimbursement agreement for energy audits at four county buildings; reimbursement amount $172,438.88; outcome: approved 5-0. - Motions 25-095, 25-096, 25-097: Approve Washington State Department of Commerce contracts for ASHRAE Level 2 energy audits for campus administration buildings, courthouse buildings and Denny Juvenile Justice Center; combined amount $285,743.53; reimbursement deadline June 30, 2025; outcomes: each approved 5-0. - Motion 25-087: Approve 2025 tourism-promotion agreement with Snohomish County Sports Commission; not to exceed $647,130 through Dec. 31, 2025; outcome: approved 5-0. - Motion 25-082: Amend Regional Toxicology Services LLC (d.b.a. Corded Health Solutions) agreement to add District Court testing services; District Court maximum $59,000; outcome: approved 5-0. - Motion 25-085: Approve Amendment No. 2 to Bridge Coordination Services contract; add $300,000 to the ceiling, update scope, remove ARPA-tied exhibits; outcome: approved 5-0. - Motions 25-059, 25-071–25-078, 25-086: Confirm appointments and reappointments to multiple advisory boards and commissions (list in body); outcomes: approved 5-0. - Motion 25-070: Adopt updated Paine Field lease and rental rates based on CBRE appraisal with a three-year phase-in; staff estimate ~ $5,700,000 additional revenue; outcome: approved 5-0.

Ending The council recessed the general legislative session after the items above and scheduled public hearings at 10:30 a.m. for the remainder of the day.