September 2004
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at July 13, 2004 Meeting
Shall the council:
131. Authorize the executive to award a contract for $925,800 to HDR Engineering of Bellevue for the design and construction of a minimum-security jail? The temporary minimum-security jail will be located in the Irongate industrial area and will also be used for triage treatment, election tabulation and storage. HDR was judged the best qualified of the four finalists. (AB2004-267) Approved 7-0
132. Authorize the executive to award a $24,000 contract to HDR Engineering of Bellevue to review possible sites for a regional justice center? The center is to be located in Bellingham or the urban growth area and house a jail and courts. It will be partially funded by a new sales tax (see vote 134). (AB2004-268) Amended and approved 7-0
133. Adopt the annual six-year (2005-2010) transportation improvement program? State law requires counties to update their six-year transportation program each year. It provides a list of needed capital improvements to establish eligibility for state and federal funds and sets the rate for impact fees. The estimated cost of the six-year plan is $52,877,000. (Resolution 2004-49) Approved 7-0
134. Place a sales tax increase on the November 2, 2004, ballot? A sales and use tax increase of one-tenth of 1 percent will help pay for improved jail facilities. It will partially fund a 150 bed temporary jail and a 600-800-bed permanent regional justice center. It is estimated that by 2015 the tax would generate $4.3 million. (Resolution 2004-50) Approved 7-0
135. Endorse the expansion of the Deming Library? The Friends of the Deming Library are undertaking fund-raising for the expansion, hoping to raise $500,000 in cash and in-kind services. (Resolution 2004-51) Approved 7-0
136. Amend Chapter 6.04 of the Whatcom County Code, animal control? A recent legal case prompted code revisions in the definition of dangerous and potentially dangerous animals, infractions, nuisance rules and appeal proceedings. (Ordinance 2004-39) Adopted 7-0
137. Approve 2004 budget request #9 in the amount of $1,334,915? The request includes $19,915 for a temporary Superior Court accountant to study methods for recovering current and past due legal charges; $5,000 to the Economic Development Council to develop Web site visitor information; $1,310,000 to fund a $436,667 grant and an $873,333 loan to the city of Blaine for the marina bluff boardwalk project (6/29/04 meeting, vote 121). (Ordinance 2004-40) Adopted 7-0
138. Amend the Whatcom County zoning ordinance to restrict power transmission lines? An emergency moratorium has been in effect since January 15, 2002. This amendment applies to transmission lines of 115 volts capable of operating above 160 megawatts in current corridors or industrial districts and prevents new lines in forestry lands by modifying rural and forestry chapters of the code. (Ordinance 2004-41) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at July 20, 2004 Special Meeting
Shall the council:
139. Ban the use of all gas-powered craft on Lake Whatcom? Emergency, maintenance and enforcement vessels were not included in the ban. An initiative to the people (No. 1-04) did not have enough signatures to quality for the ballot, but had enough signatures to qualify as a mini-initiative. A mini-initiative requires the County Council to hold a public hearing and vote on the proposal. (AB2004-242) Failed 0-7, Barbara Brenner, Laurie Caskey-Schreiber, Sam Crawford, Seth Fleetwood, Dan McShane, Ward Nelson and Sharon Roy opposed.
140. Amend Whatcom County Code 11.32 to phase out carbureted two-stroke motorized watercraft on Lake Whatcom beginning January. 1, 2009? Exemptions to the 1/1/09 phase out that are prohibited after January 1, 2013: engines meeting 2006 or later model year EPA emission standards, two-stroke auxiliary sailboat engines, two-stroke engines of 10 horsepower or less, electronic fuel injected two-stroke engines purchased before August 2004 and two-stroke engines meeting EPA 2001 emission standards. (Ordinance 2004-42) Adopted 4-2, Barbara Brenner and Sam Crawford opposed, Ward Nelson absent.
Action Taken at July 27, 2004 Meeting
Shall the council:
141. Authorize the executive to enter into a $l9,500 contract with Fairbanks Environmental Services of Bellingham for a clam study and an aquatic vegetation assessment? Fairbanks Environmental will provide technical assistance for a clam restoration feasibility study at Birch Bay and a submerged aquatic vegetation assessment in Drayton Harbor. The contractor was chosen through a competitive selection process. (AB 2004-280) Approved 7-0
142. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $618,308 to Award Construction of Ferndale, to construct a bridge over Saar Creek? The bridge will be located on Frost Road (just north of South Pass Road). Frost Road has been closed since December 2001 due to the failure of the Saar Creek culvert. The bid includes construction of the 100' bridge, erosion, spill prevention and traffic control, excavation, asphalt and concrete pavement and a structural earth wall. (Resolution 2004-52) Approved 5-2, Laurie Caskey-Schreiber and Dan McShane opposed.
143. Approve expenditures of funds from timber sales in national forests? Federal law requires counties to spend 80 percent of the money from timber sales for public schools and roads. This vote allocates the other 20 percent; it will be used for the benefit of federal lands, like fire prevention and salmon enhancement. A 15 member resources advisory committee, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, will determine the distribution of the funds. (Resolution 2004-53) Approved 7-0
144. Approve 2004 budget request #10 in the amount of $470,896? It appropriates $19,196 for the sheriff, $8,571 (a private grant) to fund the King Mountain radio tower, $3,631 (a state grant) for radar that can be fastened to car dashboards and $6,994 to convert a storage room to computer forensic room; $451,700 for WRIA watershed management community outreach and instream flow studies in the Bertrand Basin (west of Lynden) and future undesignated drainages. (Ordinance 2004-43) Adopted 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
