Whatcom County Council

Shall the council:

160. Authorize the executive to enter into a $39,865 contract with Kerr Wood Leidel Associates of North Vancouver, B.C., for the first phase of a sediment management plan for the Nooksack River? This includes review and assessment of data and past studies and development of a scope for further work on flood hazard reduction, fish habitat concerns and possible gravel bar mining. The contract began 9/29/04 and ends 12/31/05. (AB 2004-328) Approved 6-0, Barbara Brenner absent.

161. Authorize the executive to enter into a $125,770 amended contract with Burlington Environmental of Renton for the moderate risk waste facility on Airport Way? The amendment adds administrative responsibilities for the facility (it had been a county function) plus the construction of a storage building. The total amended amount of the three-year contract is $989,758. The contract runs from 1/04 through 12/06. For details on the original contract for the facility at 3505 Airport Way, see 12/9/03 meeting, vote 212. (AB 2004-332) Approved 6-0, Barbara Brenner absent.

162. Amend Ordinance 1999-85 to increase emergency medical and ambulance service fees for Whatcom Medic One? The change to the interlocal agreement between the city of Bellingham (8/23/04, vote 185) and the county, last adjusted in 1999, reflects current Medicare reimbursements. (Ordinance 2004-46) Adopted 6-0, Barbara Brenner absent.

163. Adopt the Birch Bay Community Plan? The plan allows 3,457 new homes by 2022. One hundred acres are added to the urban growth area, but 620 acres at Birch Point and 120 acres at Pt. Whitehorn are removed to protect steep slopes and marine resources. A new arterial will reroute residential traffic. New regulations are proposed for wetlands, shorelines and stormwater run-off. (Ordinance 2004-47) Adopted 4-2, Ward Nelson and Sam Crawford opposed, Barbara Brenner absent.

164. Amend the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan for the Birch Bay Urban Growth Area? This amendment establishes the Birch Bay community plan as a subarea of the Whatcom County Comprehensive plan, revises the Birch Bay short-term planning map, and designates the Birch Bay watershed as a special district for stormwater and water resource management. (Ordinance 2004-48) Adopted 4-2, Ward Nelson and Sam Crawford opposed, Barbara Brenner absent.

165. Amend the Whatcom County zoning map to implement the Birch Bay Community Plan? Much of the zoning at Birch Point and Point Whitehorn changes from UR4 (urban residential four homes per acre) to R5A (rural one home per five acres). Three general commercial zones are created at the intersection of Birch Bay-Lynden Roads, Lincoln and Shintaffer Roads, and Alderson and Birch Bay Roads. Long-term plans could also allow some high density UR24 (urban residential 24 dwellings per acre) at Alderson and Birch Bay Roads. (Ordinance 2004-49) Adopted 5-1, Sam Crawford opposed, Barbara Brenner absent.

166. Amend the Critical Area Ordinance for Birch Point and Point Whitehorn? The amendment will provide additional protection for wetlands and potential landslide areas. Wetland mitigation is required to be on-site and must result in no loss of area or function as stormwater control. Residential structures must keep a minimum buffer of 150 feet from potential landslide areas. (Ordinance 2004-50) Adopted 4-2, Sam Crawford and Ward Nelson opposed, Barbara Brenner absent.

167. Amend the Whatcom County Code to provide additional protection for the Birch Bay watershed? This amendment will provide additional protection of water resources and natural drainage systems. (Ordinance 2004-51) Adopted 5-1, Ward Nelson opposed, Barbara Brenner absent.

168. Approve 2004 budget request #12 in the amount of $147,740? It appropriates $6,500 for used radios for the sheriff’s office; $1,799 for Lynden Fair supplies for the sheriff; $4,500 for sheriff’s purchase of community presentation equipment; $1,000 to fund sheriff deputies’ overtime for teen driver safety patrols; $8,000 to purchase a replacement dog (and training) for one injured in the line of duty; $123,240 for jail medication purchases and $10,000 contract with the secretary of state for microfilm services. (Ordinance 2004-52) Adopted 6-0, Barbara Brenner absent.

Shall the council:

169. Continue the interim conditional use criteria for commercial mushroom composting for six months? The continuation within agricultural zoning districts allows additional time for monitoring and gathering facts on the effects composting may have on public health and welfare. The interim ordinance was first passed at the 11/26/02 meeting (vote 210), continued at the 5/6/03 meeting (vote 90), the 10/21/03 meeting (vote 184) and the 4/20/04 meeting (vote 82). (Ordinance 2004-53) Adopted 7-0

Shall the council:

170. Authorize the executive to spend up to $382,500 to purchase the Anderson property in the Lake Whatcom watershed? The 34 acres of land will be purchased jointly with the city of Bellingham (10/25/04 meeting, vote 224, page 13). The property is on a steep wooded slope adjacent to the Stimpson Nature Preserve. The area is to be used for habitat preservation and light nature-oriented recreation. The money for the county’s share of the purchase comes from the Conservation Futures Fund. (AB 2004-378) Approved 7-0

171. Authorize the executive to enter into a $214,000 grant agreement with the city of Bellingham for the Depot Market Square? The Economic Development Investment Board* recommended the grant for the permanent Farmers Market building at the south end of Railroad Avenue. For more information, see the city meeting on 8/16/04, vote 173. (AB 2004-360) Approved 7-0

172. Authorize the executive to enter into a $170,000 grant agreement with Delta Pacific LLC of Ferndale to modify the Delta Line Road? The Economic Development Investment Board* recommended the grant for improved access to the proposed light industrial business park north of Ferndale. The county will own the right-of-way with all improvements to the rerouted Delta Line Road connector to Vista Drive. Designed as incentive for business to locate there, this is called a “developer’s agreement.” (AB 2004-360) Approved 6-1, Dan McShane opposed.

173. Authorize the executive to enter into a $200,000 contract agreement with Northwest Hydraulic Consultants of Lynden for flood control planning? The agreement is for the south fork Nooksack River from Saxon to the confluence with the north and middle forks. A second task is the development of a two-dimensional model of the river in the Potter Road Bridge area to help prepare alternatives for the replacement of the bridge. (AB 2004-362) Approved 7-0

174. Authorize the executive to enter into a $155,416 professional services agreement with Beckwith Consulting Group of Medina to review and update the parks and recreation open spaces plan? The contract, running from 10/18/04 to 12/31/05 will enable the county to meet state requirements. (AB 2004-363) Approved 7-0

175. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $226,138 to Ebenal General of Bellingham for a one-stop permit center? Located at the Northwest Annex (at the corner of Northwest Road and Smith Road), the center would expedite permits for planning and development, health and public works. (AB 2004-364) Approved 7-0

176. Adopt the annual road construction program? The 2005 program has scheduled 37 road projects to begin work next year at an estimated cost of $16,587,000, plus sixteen unfunded alternate projects. Included in the scheduled projects are road maintenance and upgradings, bridge replacements, shoulder widenings, and fish barrier removals. (Resolution 2004-56) Approved 7-0

177. Establish Whatcom County Council meeting dates for 2005? The council will meet every other Tuesday. Exceptions occur in August and December when only one meeting is scheduled and on Wednesday, November 9, to avoid Election Day. (Resolution 2004-57) Approved 7-0

178. Oppose the Commerce Corridor along state Highway 9 in the South Fork Valley? The impact of expanded rail, highway or electrical utilities on agricultural lands, wildlife and salmon habitat along the Nooksack and Samish Rivers are contrary to the county’s Comprehensive Plan and other state programs. (Resolution 2004-58) Approved 5-2, Sam Crawford and Ward Nelson opposed.

179. Create rules for commercial mushroom production facilities? The rules require odor control, ground water protection and vermin management. In addition, any new or expanded facilities for increasing compost production require complete indoor operations with scrubbers for exhaust and stormwater controls. This vote was the County Council acting as the Health Board (Ordinance 2004-54) Adopted 6-1, Ward Nelson opposed.

180. Approve 2004 budget request #13 in the amount of $501,232? The request includes $3,500 for overtime for the sheriff’s office seatbelt emphasis campaign; $90,000 to fund overtime for homeland security at ports of entry; $5,619 for an emergency situation involving the city of Bellingham swat team; $5,413 to fund an eight-week course for the Community Emergency Response Team; $14,200 to fund a Citizens’ Corps program of volunteers for homeland security emergencies; and $382,500 to purchase the Anderson property adjacent to the Stimpson Nature Preserve (see vote 170). (Ordinance 2004-55) Adopted 7-0