The Snohomish Health District adopted Resolution 19-20 revising the Division of Responsibilities which describes the roles of District leadership, the Board of Health, and the Executive Committee in four areas: organization, expenditures, revenues, and labor relations. The Responsibility and authority to enter into expenditure contracts based on factors like overall contract value and annual costs are assigned within that document. The Division of Responsibilities does not differentiate between contract types (e.g. work orders, service agreements, interlocal agreements).
In March of 2020, The Health Officer declared a public health emergency related to COVID-19. The emergency declaration allowed the Administrative Officer to shorten normally lengthy contracting processes to secure services and materials needed for the COVID response. Since then, several interlocal agreements have been drafted by legal counsel to contract with other entities in support of COVID-19 testing, mass vaccination, and mobile testing activities.
RCW 39.34.080 requires authorization by the governing body of parties entering into interlocal agreements. The District enters into a significant number of interlocal agreements, many of which are routine, or involve no financial commitment or a financial commitment that falls within limits allowed for administrative approval under the Division of Responsibilities. Staff respectfully request the Board adopt Resolution number 21-17 authorizing the Administrative Officer to execute specified interlocal agreements consistent with the Division of Responsibilities adopted pursuant to Resolution Number 19-20 and ratify previous actions related thereto.