May 2003
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at the March 11, 2003 meeting
50. Authorize the executive to purchase 12 replacement vehicles for $249,557? Seven vehicles will be purchased from Bud Clary Chevrolet of Longview: four half-ton pickups for $79,123 and three light utility vehicles for $67,808. Five vehicles will be purchased from Sound Ford of Renton: three small pickup trucks for $48,903 and two full-size utility vehicles for $53,723. Approved 7-0
51. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $600,000 to McAsphalt Industries of Langley, B.C., for the annual supply and delivery of asphalt and road oil? Approved 7-0
52. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $154,447 to Coastline Tractor of Everett for two tractor mowers? They replace units with 8,700 and 9,346 hours of use. Approved 7-0
53. Authorize a $10,000 contract with RE Sources of Bellingham for support of the Watershed Resource Inventory Area #1 (WRIA 1)? This is for communication/ public information from Jan. l, 2003 to Dec. 3l, 2003. Approved 7-0
54. Review and approve the 2003 Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Program? The program includes clearing brush, trimming tree branches, seeding and mowing when necessary. Use of herbicides is minimized and monitored. A one-week notice in the area to be sprayed with chemicals must be widely circulated. Property owners may post “Owner Will Maintain” signs if they agree to take care of right-of-way along their property and sign an agreement with the Public Works Department. Approved 7-0
55. Set a public hearing date for the sale of two county tax title properties? Request 01-03 is a parcel located on Valley Highway 9 near Deming (it’s not buildable, floods, and has some agricultural use) for not less than $1,047 (Resolution 2003-20); Request 05-03, on the corner of Meridian and Kline Road totaling 2.65 acres. The assessed valuation is $11,925. (Resolution 2003-24) Approved 7-0
56. Set a public hearing date for a public auction sale of three county tax title properties? These include Request 02-03, in Sudden Valley for not less than $804. (Resolution 2003-21); Request 03-03 in Sudden Valley for not less than $1,043. (Resolution 2003-22); Request 04-03 Holland-McFarland’s property in Blaine for not less than $805. (Resolution 2003-23) Approved 7-0
57. Adopt the ranking of nine applications totaling 536 acres for participation in the agricultural development rights program? Buyouts are concentrated on areas serving as barriers to keep urban development away from farms. Farmers are paid the difference between farm value and development value. In return, they give a conservation easement to the county, limiting potential development and serving as barriers to prevent urban spreading. The list goes to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for grants to match the county Conservation Future Funds. (Resolution 2003-25) Approved 7-0
58. Amend the Whatcom County zoning ordinance on the sale of multi-farmworker housing, separate from farmland? The amendment will only allow the sale to not-for-profit agencies specializing in managing low income housing. This sanctions well-maintained facilities that are available to farmworkers. (Ordinance 2003-2l) Adopted 7-0
Action Taken at March 25, 2003 meeting
59. Authorize the executive to spend $90,000 for the annual purchase of herbicides through the State of Washington? The vendor is UAP Northwest of Burlington and the cost is the same as 2002. Approved 7-0
60. Authorize the executive to award the sole bid of $121,208 to Washington Culver of Burlington for culverts? The company will provide galvanized aluminum culverts for fish passage. Approved 7-0
61. Authorize the executive to sign a $109,520 contract with Brigid Collins House to facilitate referrals for substance abuse and other health services? The Bridgit Collins staff will provide the services at two local DSHS offices, specifically for pregnant women and parents with a potential or known substance abuse problem. Approved 7-0
62. Authorize the executive to sign a $60,000 contract with the federal government for patrol services? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest) will pay the county $60,000 for a deputy in a marked sheriff’s vehicle to patrol national forest lands within Whatcom County. Approved 7-0
63. Approve the development of Anchor Manor Phase II? The 30 lot single-family residential development is located on the Birch Bay-Lynden Road in Blaine. The development is zoned Urban Residential and uses 9.56 acres of a 19-acre site and meets legal regulations and requested critical areas mitigations. Approved 7-0
64. Support the Skagit County Commissioners’ request for federal funds to extend three Skagit River bridges? One rail and two highway bridges will be protected during floods if the approaches are extended. The resolution will be included with Skagit County’s request for federal transportation funds. (Resolution 2003-32) Approved 7-0
65. Sell by negotiation two county tax title properties? Request 01-03, frequently flooded parcel located on Valley Highway 9 near Deming for not less than $1,047.20. (Resolution 2003-27) Approved 7-0; Request 05-03, on the corner of Meridian and Kline Road totaling 2.65 acres, with assessed valuation of $11,925. (Resolution 2003-31) Approved 7-0
66. Sell at public auction three county tax title properties? These include Request 02-03 in Sudden Valley for not less than $804. (Resolution 2003-28) Approved 6-1, Laurie Caskey-Schreiber opposed; Request 03-03 in Sudden Valley for not less than $1,043. (Resolution 2003-29) Approved 6-1, Laurie Caskey-Schreiber opposed; Request 04-03, Holland McFarland’s undeveloped property in Blaine, for not less than $805 (Resolution 2003-30) Approved 7-0
67. Approve 2003 budget request #3 in the amount of $63,990? Appropriate $30,990 of the remainder of the High Intensity Drug Traffic Act (HIDTA) 2002; $33,000 to five organizations to promote tourism in Whatcom County. They are: Bellingham/Whatcom County Chamber of Commerce ($4,000), Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce ($6,000), Mt. Baker Foothills Chamber of Commerce ($7,000); Bellingham Festival of Music ($6,000) and Bellingham/Whatcom County Convention Center ($10,000). (Ordinance 2003-22) Approved 7-0
68. Should professional offices be removed as an allowable “conditional use” in urban residential medium density districts? The amendment will prevent office buildings, with their attendant traffic, parking and lighting problems, from locating in an area of the county that will later be annexed into an Urban Residential area. (Ordinance 2003-23) Adopted 7-0
Action Taken at April 8, 2003 meeting
69. Authorize the executive to amend an agreement with the county PUD for additional administration and oversight of WRIA 1? This increases the original Watershed Resource Inventory Area 1 amount to the Whatcom County Public Utility District #1 by $23,500 and extends the contract from 6/30/03 to 12/3l/03. Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
70. Authorize the executive to enter into an $l32,940 agreement with the state Department of Health (AIDS Service Network) for HIV/AIDS prevention? This includes counseling, testing, outreach and education for the period 1/l/03 through 12/31/03. Funding is through state revenue sources. Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
71. Authorize the executive to enter into an agreement with the Birch Bay Lions Club to operate a hostel at Bay Horizon Park? The Parks and Recreation Department will pay a state tax of $270 while determining (from 4/9/03 through 9/30/03) if the hostel (former U.S. Air Force radar station) will be run efficiently and be cost-effective. If the lease is extended, the Lions Club will be responsible for the tax payments. Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
72. Amend the Lummi View Drive construction project to include an additional $1 million and an agreement with the Lummi Nation? Currently $200,000 is in the construction budget for preliminary engineering and purchasing right of way. The cost of the entire two-mile project is $2,700,000. The additional $1,500,000 was obtained by Lummi Nation from a variety of state and federal programs. (Resolution 2003-33) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
73. Declare intent to determine feasibily of moving a portion of the Lummi View Drive/Lummi Shore Road? The road would be relocated due to the instability of an eroding bluff. A public hearing will be scheduled on this project. (Resolution 2003-34) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
74. Amend zoning for 50 acres north of Ferndale from Rural (R5A) to Light Impact Industrial (LII)? Additional tree and vegetation buffers were added to protect California Creek and shield the residents from the undesirable effects of the industrial park and commercial area. (Ordinance 2003-24) Approved 5-1, Seth Fleetwood opposed, Ward Nelson absent.
