July 2002
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at May 21, 2002 meeting
89. Authorize the executive to award a contact for $l52,248 to BEK Engineering of Bellingham for phase 3 of the Y Road landfills study? The company will design and place ground water and methane gas monitoring systems and prepare stormwater management and soil cover improvement. It will evaluate contamination of ground and surface water quality in nearby wells and Carpenter Creek, which feeds into Lake Whatcom. Initial tests began in l999 and did not find any problems. County Health officials recommended further study. Approved 5-2, Ward Nelson and Dan McShane opposed.
90. Discuss WRIA #1 (watershed planning unit), an ongoing project to assess instream flow? The number of economic sector categories was increased to be more inclusive and specific. Public meetings on the environmental impact statement will be held on July l0 and July l8. Call 676-6850 x308 for time and location.
91. Award the low bid of $2,259,495 to IMCO General Construction of Bellingham for the reconstruction of Lake Terrill and Mountain View Roads? Reconstruction involves clearing, grubbing, embankment construction, grading, drainage improvements, placement of gravel base, asphalt/concrete paving, installing guardrail, detention ponds and landscaping. $1,239,608 will be local funds and $1,595,162 will be federal funds. (Resolution 2002-19) Approved 7-0
92. Adopt recommendations of the Whatcom County Planning Commission for one open space/open space and four open space/timber applications? State law gives property tax relief and decreases conversion to non-rural uses.To qualify for open space/open space, the owner agrees to public access and posts signs to that effect, to protect wildlife and promote conservation on the property. Open space/timber must show wildlife habitat enhancement, forest management, and if timber is harvested, a replanting program. (Resolution 2002-20) Approved 6-0-1, Barbara Benner recused herself because she shares ownership in one of the properties.
93. Authorize the distribution of about $400,000, or twenty percent of a federal forestry fund grant, which can be used for Title II projects? Projects such as salmon enhancement on forest service lands in Skagit and Whatcom counties are subject to approval by the Resource Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from both counties and the U. S. Forest Service. (Resolution 2002-21) Approved 7-0
94. Reduce the number of county voting precincts from 150 to 117? Lowering the number of precincts would save between $11,000 and $22,000 per election. Increased absentee voting (from 20 percent of the general election voters in 1992 to 67 percent in 2001) has significantly lowered the need for polling places. (Ordinance 2002-29) Adopted 5-2, Laurie Caskey-Schreiber and Seth Fleetwood opposed.
95. Suspend monthly meetings of the Surface Mining Advisory Committee until the county’s mineral resource study is completed? This change will allow the Planning and Development Services staff to focus on other high priority issues until late 2002 or early 2003. (Ordinance 2002-30) Adopted 7-0
96. Approve $269,633 for 2002 budget amendment request #5? For teen court $70,640; the“healthy choices for girls” program $46,745; and $152,248 plus 15 percent contingency to complete Y Road landfill monitoring of ground water and gas concentrations. See vote 89 for details. (Ordinance 2002-31) Adopted 6-1, Dan McShane opposed.
Action Taken at June 4, 2002 meeting
97. Authorize the executive to award the county legal notices contract to The Bellingham Herald? Advertising rates will increase from $10.82 to $10.86 per column inch. The previous year the ad rate increased 48 cents per column inch. The contract will run from July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003. Approved 7-0
98. Authorize the executive to enter into a $50,000 grant agreement with the state Department of Ecology? This grant will build upon a 2001 grant and allow the marine resources committee to continue gathering information on forage fish, bottom fish, data management and building local and regional partnerships for marine resource efforts. Approved 7-0
99. Award the low bid of $137,270 to Henifin Construction of Bellingham for the Lake Terrell Road/Mountain View Road wetland mitigation project? The mitigation will ease the effects of road repair (see vote 91) on wetland areas. The work includes clearing and grading, herbicide application, digging out some native topsoils and sub-soils, adding necessary fertilizer, water control structures, habitat features and planting native plants. (Resolution 2002-22) Approved 7-0
100. Initiate new zoning text amendments aimed at mitigating odor from commercial composting, especially mushroom composting? New requirements would include set-backs and filtering technology, and the council would further direct the Planning Commission to review and incorporate other criteria and conditions for operating these commercial facilities. The state of Washington is preparing new guidelines for composting. (Resolution 2002-23) Approved 6-1, Sam Crawford opposed.
101. Appropriating $478,000 from the Conservation Futures Fund to purchase the Olsen Estate property ($429,500) and the Turner/Jaeger property ($48,500)? The city and county are sharing the cost of the 369 acres in the Lake Whatcom watershed to reduce development in the watershed. (Ordinance 2002-32) Adopted 5-2, Ward Nelson and Barbara Brenner opposed.
102. Establish interim criteria for siting of commercial mushroom composting as a conditional use within areas zoned agricultural? These criteria require that the composting facilities have 1,500 feet setbacks unless technology for filtering can reduce nuisance-level odors—then 500 foot setbacks would be required. This ordinance would temporarily amend Whatcom County Code, Title 20 while county and state consider permanent rules governing composters.(Ordinance 2002-33) Amended and adopted 6-1, Sam Crawford opposed.
