December 2003
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at September 23, 2003 Meeting
161. Authorize the executive to enter into an $118,056 contract with the state to continue narcotics control efforts?
This contract (7/1/03–6/30/04) will extend the efforts of the Northwest Regional Drug Task Force to intercept drug trafficking and disrupt manufacturing. The target is mid- to upper-level drug distribution/importation. (AB2003-299) Approved 6-0, Sharon Roy absent.
162. Authorize the executive to accept a $22,000 grant from the state to assist in updating shoreline and resource data?
The total cost to update the Shoreline Master Program is $44,000 (equal amounts of state and local money). The county Planning Department will coordinate with five state agencies as well as the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe. The work will be completed by June 30, 2004. (AB 2003-320) Approved 6-0, Sharon Roy absent.
163. Authorize the executive to sign an $113,069 contract with DuPont Flooring Systems of Seattle for new carpet?
DuPont will remove and dispose of existing carpet and install new carpet in the assessor, prosecutor and treasurer offices within six months. (AB 2003-321) Approved 6-0, Sharon Roy absent.
164. Enter into a $68,970 contract with Michael Bobbink for his services as Whatcom County Hearing Examiner?
This contract is a 10 percent increase ($6,270) over last year. It runs from October 1, 2003, through September 30, 2004, and is not renewable. (AB 2003-325) Approved 6-0, Sharon Roy absent.
165. Sell two foreclosure properties at public auction?
Request 7-03 is a time-share portion of Unit 201 in the Cobana Club at 7530 Birch Bay Drive for not less than $l,530; Request 8-03 is a time-share portion of Unit 208 in the Cobana Club at 7530 Birch Bay Drive for not less than $859. Both failed 0-6, Sharon Roy absent. The two bids were cancelled when the person bidding found out they were time-share properties.
166. Sell one foreclosure property at public auction?
Foreclosure properties have been tax delinquent for three years, so the properties are auctioned for not less than taxes, interest penalty, title search and foreclosure costs. Request 6-03 is a lot at Glenhaven Lakes for not less than $1,143. A neighbor bid on the lot. (Resolution 2003-57) Approved 6-0, Sharon Roy absent.
167. Establish an Airport/Land Use Compatibility Advisory Committee?
The nine-member committee will coordinate planning and zoning for the county’s public airports and adjacent land. The airports are the Bellingham International Airport, Port of Bellingham Seaplane Base, Floathaven Seaplane Base, and Blaine and Lynden airports. (Resolution 2003-58) Approved 6-0, Sharon Roy absent.
168. Approve the Birch Bay water and sewer plan?
The engineering divisions of Whatcom County and state health departments reviewed the plan. The water lines services only parcels zoned five or 10 acres per dwelling, and cannot be used as an excuse to develop at higher density. (Resolution 2003-59) Approved 6-0, Sharon Roy absent.
169. Change the name of the Whatcom County Rural County Sales and Use Tax Advisory Committee?
The name was changed to the Whatcom County Economic Development Investment Board. This ordinance also amends Whatcom County code to reflect changes in purpose, function, membership and organization of the committee to support the implementation of the Economic Development Investment Program. (Ordinance 2003-46) Adopted 5-1, Barbara Brenner opposed (see far right column for reason), Sharon Roy absent.
170. Approve 2003 budget amendment #10 in the amount of $20,879?
The Whatcom County Sheriff–Division of Emergency Management received a state grant of $20,879 for recruitment and organization of CERT members and a Homeland Security position (10/1–12/31/03). (Ordinance 2003-47) Adopted 6-0, Sharon Roy absent.
171. Update the ordinance relating to the Point Roberts transitional zone district?
The transitional zone district was adopted by Ordinance 2002-18 (March 26, 2002, vote 69). The purpose is to maintain low density and open space. This amendment to Title 20, Chapter 20.80, clarifies goals and policies of the district. A public hearing will be held at the October 7 council meeting. (Ordinance 2003-48) Amended and adopted 6-0, Sharon Roy absent.
Action Taken at October 7, 2003 Meeting
172. Change the name of Whatcom County Water District #10 to the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District?
The water district board of directors requested the change. The new name identifies both the location and the types of services provided. (AB2003-329) Approved 7-0
173. Certify the Port of Bellingham’s application for $500,000 in grant and loan money?
The port applied for a grant of $166,667 and a loan of $333,333 with the county’s economic development program. The money is for the Wood Stone Corporation expansion project at the Bellingham International Airport. The motion failed unanimously. The motion was amended and the entire amount was made a loan. (AB2003-333) Approved 7-0
174. Authorize the executive to enter into a contract with the state to conduct salmon recovery activities?
The Conservation Corps crew, coordinated by the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, will provide site preparation and native vegetative planting in riparian areas with emphasis on Ten Mile Creek and Bertrand Creek watersheds. The county will pay $28,400 in wages for work from 10/8/03 through 1/31/04. (AB2003-334) Approved 7-0
175. Authorize the executive to extend the agricultural development rights contract with the Whatcom Land Trust?
The Whatcom Land Trust works with the county to obtain appraisals, close deals, and assume primary responsibility for monitoring and enforcement of easements. The county pays the trust a minimum fee of $3,000 per easement or a 6 percent fee on the first $150,000, whichever is greater, plus 4 percent if the price exceeds $150,000. Financing comes from the Conservation Futures Fund. (AB 2003-336) Approved 7-0
176. Authorize the executive to sign an agreement to help purchase up to 24 Sudden Valley lots?
The agreement is with the Sudden Valley Community Association, city of Bellingham and Water District 10. Up to $8,250 in Conservation Futures Funds may be used at a tax foreclosure auction. The lots have been selected to reduce housing density and protect water quality. (AB 2003-337) Approved 7-0
177. Support Whatcom County Proposition 1?
The proposition will provide a six-year tax levy for the consolidation of countywide Medic One emergency services. For additional information, see 1/28/03, vote 22 and 5/6/03, vote 84. (Resolution 2003-60) Approved 7-0
178. Update zoning regulations to protect watersheds from the impacts of erosions and stormwater drainage?
Between October 1 and April 30, land clearing is allowed under certain conditions in the Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish and Drayton Harbor watersheds. (Ordinance 2003-49) Amended* and adopted 6-1, Sam Crawford opposed.
*1. Dan McShane moved that lots consolidated into two or more be permitted up to 4,000 square feet of impervious surfaces, replacing a 2,500 square foot requirement for all lots. Approved 7-0
2. Barbara Brenner moved to consider gravel as low-grade pervious surface, allowing only half of such surfaces to be included in the impervious limit. Approved 4 to 3, Seth Fleetwood, Laurie Caskey-Schreiber and Dan McShane opposed.
3. Barbara Brenner moved to change a section on bonds not to exceed 125 percent of the tree value from “requiring” to “may require.” Approved 7-0
Action Taken at October 21, 2003 Meeting
179. Authorize the executive to renew the lease with Sanitary Service Company for the Cedarville and Birch Bay landfill facilities?
The two locations handle recycled and self-hauled waste materials. Due to a fall in usage, the number of days the sites are open will decrease from two to one day a week. The monthly rent will be reduced from $100 to $50 and the five-year lease expires 10/31/08. Approved 7-0
180. Authorize the executive to renew the lease with Point Roberts Recycling and Refuse for the Point Roberts landfill facility?
The site handles recycled and self-hauled waste materials. The monthly rent is $50 and the five-year lease expires 10/31/08. Approved 7-0
181. Approve the annual road construction program?
The 2004 program contains 28 of the 59 projects in the county’s six-year transportation plan adopted on 7/8/03 (vote 122). One project in the annual program was not listed in the six-year plan. The estimated cost is $9,215,000 and will be included in the 2004 budget. The Yew Street Road project #9 (Kingsmill to Samish Way) was amended to include overhead lighting at the corner of Yew and Samish. (Resolution 2003-61) Amended and approved 7-0
182. Authorize the Birch Bay Water and Sewer District to apply for a $1,000,000 state grant to help finance a neighborhood sewer?
Because the area is uphill from Birch Bay, septic run-off threatens the shellfish area. Attempts to form a local improvement district (1989—2002) have not been successful. If constructed, the sewer will service an estimated 160 parcels in an area of rapid growth (126 now have septic systems). Approximately $746,000 in additional funding will be needed from other sources. (Resolution 2003-62) Approved 7-0
183. Certify the election for a new irrigation district?
The proposed district is the Bertrand Watershed Improvement District. The international border bounds the district on the north, the Mark Worth/Bob Hall Roads on the west, the Nooksack River on the south, and the Double Ditch Road on the east. Excluded are all properties in the city of Lynden, all parcels less than 2 1/2 acres, and all tax exempt properties. (Resolution 2003-63) Approved 7-0
184. Continue the interim conditional use criteria for commercial mushroom composting?
The interim ordinance was first passed at the 11/26/02 meeting (vote 210). It was renewed at the 5/6/03 meeting (vote 90). The Planning Commission is considering odor level problems and health impacts, and will make permanent code recommendations to the council in the near future. (Ordinance 2003-50) Adopted 7-0
185. Approve 2003 budget request #11 for $48,441?
The amount includes: $6,641 to the sheriff’s department for traffic safety; $22,000 to planning and development to update the Shoreline Master Program; and $20,000 to the prosecutor’s office to prepare for the hearing on the BP Cherry Point co-generation project. (Ordinance 2003-51) Adopted 6-0-1, Dan McShane abstained.
186. Amend the Point Roberts section of the county zoning ordinance?
Changes include a new section on archaeological sites and updating the section on tree canopy retention. (Ordinance 2003-52) Adopted 6-1, Sam Crawford opposed.
