February 2004
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at December 9, 2003 Meeting
Shall the council
209. Authorize the executive to enter into an agreement to provide $18,210 towards the purchase of 83 Sudden Valley lots? The agreement with the Sudden Valley Community Association, the city of Bellingham and Water District #10 will have restrictive covenants to prevent building on the property but they can be sold at public auction. (AB2003-378) Approved 7-0
210. Authorize the executive to accept a $65,000 state grant designating Whatcom County as the lead entity for Watershed Resource Inventory Area 1? The lead entity provides administrative and coordination support of a committee of representative citizens to ensure public involvement in local salmon recovery efforts, coordination of grants, and the creation of a salmon habitat recovery project list and work schedules. (AB 2003-396) Approved 7-0
211. Authorize the executive to renew a $120,000 agreement with the city of Bellingham to operate the Lakeway yard waste collection facility in 2004? The facility will be open to all county residents. (AB 2003-397) Approved 7-0
212. Authorize the executive to enter into an $863,988 contract with Burlington Environmental of Renton to operate the moderate risk waste facility? A state grant will fund 75 percent of the cost for the three-year contract, 2004 through 2006. The facility at 3505 Airport Drive in Bellingham handles household and moderate risk hazardous waste, servicing four used motor oil and antifreeze stations and promotes programs to create industry awareness of the importance of proper hazardous waste disposal. (AB 2003-398) Approved 7-0
213. Authorize the executive to accept a $144,760 grant from the state Department of Ecology to conduct assessments of potential and existing hazardous waste disposal sites? The grant also funds the response, assessment and control of clandestine methamphetamine drug labs. (AB2003-399) Approved 7-0
214.Authorize the executive to award a contract for $72,511 to Bennett Engineering of Bellingham for phase 4* of the Y Road landfill study? The company will collect quarterly ground water samples, surface water samples from Carpenter Creek and monitor seven methane gas wells. Initial tests began in 1969; phase 3 found that ground water appeared to be in contact with waste material and two of the methane gas wells exceeded standards. It recommended additional investigation. (AB2003-400) Approved 7-0
215. Authorize the executive to enter into an $111,616 contract with David Evans and Associates of Bellingham for completion of the Sunrise Road project? The project includes widening, repaving and repairing two bridges between Birch Bay-Lynden Road and West Badger Road. (AB 2003-401) Approved 7-0
216. Authorize the executive to amend the contract to continue work on a hydraulic model of flood action and its effects in the lower Nooksack River? The contract with Linsley, Kraiger Associates of Mountain View, CA, will add $149,200 to continue work from Deming to Bellingham Bay. The work will be used for prediction and control of flooding, increasing the services to December 3l, 2006, with a total of $672,960 for the six-year study. Funding for the amended amount is from a $l00,000 state grant and county flood control funds. (AB 2003-402) Approved 7-0
217. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $92,812 to B&B Painting Company of Bellingham for exterior repairs to the Public Safety Building? The executive requests further authorization to enter into another agreement with the same company for repairs not to exceed $130,00. (AB2003-405) Approved 7-0
218. Authorize the executive to enter into a two-year agreement for $1,067,626 with Greg Rustand, Inc. of Bellingham to operate the work release facility for minimum-security inmates? The 2004 cost will be $529,250 and for 2005 it will be $538,375. (AB2003-409) Approved 7-0
219. Authorize the executive to sign a right of way easement with Cascade Natural Gas? A regulator station placed in the easement will provide additional customer service to Bay Horizon Park on Alderson Road. The park improvement fund receives $1,350 for this perpetual easement. (AB 2003-411) Approved 7-0
220. Modify and extend the flood control district funding through December 31, 2004? The funds are used to address flooding and reduce flood damage. The revised formula** will generate approximately: $69,177 for the Sumas/Nooksack/Everson subzone (Resolution 2003-72); $19,637 for the Acme/Van Zandt subzone (Resolution 2003-73); $23,735 for the Lynden/Everson subzone. (Resolution 2003-74). All were amended and approved 7-0.
221. Authorize the auction of county property? The surplus goods include used vehicles, tractors, mowers, miscellaneous equipment and truck parts, on various dates beginning in December at two locations, with Berglund and Jones on James Street in Bellingham and a state location in Kenmore. (Resolution 2003-75) Approved 6-0, Laurie Caskey-Schreiber out of the room.
222. Set January 13 as the public hearing date for the public auction of 10 Sudden Valley lots? The lots will be sold for no less than taxes, interest, penalty, title search and foreclosure costs that total $8,978. Request 9-03 (Resolution 2003-76); Request 10-03 (Resolution 2003-77); Request 11-03 (Resolution 2003-78); Request 12-03 (Resolution 2003-79); Request 13-03 (Resolution 2003-80); Request 14-03 (Resolution 2003-81); Request 15-03 (Resolution 2003-82); Request 16-03 (Resolution 2003-83); Request 17-03 (Resolution 2003-84); Request 18-03 (Resolution 2003-85). All approved 6-1, Laurie Caskey-Schreiber opposed.
223. Set January 13 as the public hearing date for the negotiation of a Mosquito Lake Road lot? The lot will be sold for no less than taxes, interest, penalty, title search and foreclosure costs that total $1,047. Request 19-03 (Resolution 2003-86) Approved 6-1, Laurie Caskey-Schreiber opposed.
224. Approve the formation of the Point Roberts Park and Recreation Service Area? A majority of voters at the November 4, 2003 general election approved a measure to provide financing for neighborhood park facilities. (Resolution 2003-87) Approved 7-0
*The phase 1 contract for $50,179 was awarded to BEK Engineering of Bellingham at the 10/12/99 meeting. The phase 2 contract for $126,000 was awarded at the 7/24/01 meeting. The phase 3 contract for $152,284 was awarded to BEK Engineering at the 5/21/02 meeting. The latest contract brings total spending for the studies to $400,974.
**Flood hazard areas are based on 100-year flood plans or alluvial fans on Federal Emergency Management Agency maps. Formerly the assessment was a countywide flood fee but has been changed to a property tax levy. Fees for all parcels designated as open space, classified forest land, non-commercial forest land and forest preserves will be reduced by 40 percent. Exempted are all parcels classified as Indian lands held in trust, all parcels assessed at less than $2,500, all parcels owned by the federal government, all parcels exclusively classified as mineral rights, and all parcels classified as tidelands or bedlands. The new formula ranges from $.25 per acre for unimproved land outside the flood area to $2.50 per acre for improved acreage within the flood hazard area. There will be “tiered minimums” based on the values of the improvements: these range from $30 to $200 per parcel.
Action Taken at December 9, 2003 Meeting
225. Place the question of annexing the city of Blaine into Fire District 13 on the February 3, 2004 ballot? The Whatcom County auditor requested this question be placed on the special election ballot (Resolution 2003-88) Approved 7-0
226. Appoint David Gellatly to fill the vacant position on the Point Roberts fire commission? (Resolution 2003-89) Approved 7-0
227. Adopt the 2004 unified fee schedule? This is a schedule of fees*** charged by Whatcom County for the cost of providing products and services (i. e. vaccinations, photocopies, council packets, filing fees, etc.) (Ordinance 2003-62) Amended and approved 7-0
228. Approve 2003 budget request #13 for $344,514? It appropriates $10,000 for the public defender, $3,636 for planning and development, $51,517 for the jail, $15,137 for parks, $27,548 for the sheriff’s department, $3,676 for the Whatcom County investment pool and $233,00 for human resources–workers compensation. (Ordinance 2003-63) Adopted 7-0
***Increases this year include sheriff’s office expenses, which have not changed since 1992, environmental health and food services that require additional inspection, and some parks facilities rentals. One-stop permitting requires additional help at a new location. Certain proposed employee and other parking increases were amended so there will be no increase.
