June 2005
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at April 12, 2005 Meeting
78. Special Presentation: Whatcom County Executive Pete Kremen thanked Ken/Kathy Hertz and Jerry/Heidi Doornenball for their gift of 45 acres to the county. The property near Birch Bay has wetland habitat and forest with beach access. The parcel, valued at $338,000, provides buffering for Birch Bay State Park. Ken Hertz is the former Whatcom County parks director and mayor of Bellingham.
Shall the council:
79. Authorize the executive to sign a contract with GeoEngineers, Inc. of Bellingham for up to $100,000? GeoEngineers will provide engineering services, as needed, relating to landslides, road settlement and bridge foundation design. The contract also allows for a rapid response to emergencies and it expires on 12/31/06. (AB 2005-175) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
80. Authorize the executive to accept a $30,000 grant for water quality telemetry? The grant (from Washington State University) will set up two measuring stations that will analyze water quality in the Ten Mile watershed. (AB 2005-178) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent
81. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $700,000 to McAsphalt Industries of Langley, B.C., for the annual supply and delivery of oil for use on county roads? (AB 2005-179) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
82. Regulate the application of fertilizer in the Lake Whatcom watershed? The ordinance prohibits commercial fertilizers containing phosphorus on residential lawns and public properties in unincorporated areas of the watershed. The Sudden Valley golf course is exempt from the prohibition. The regulation also does not apply to newly established turf or lawns in their first growing season. AB 2005-171 (Ordinance 2005-38) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
83. Continue the interim siting regulations for commercial mushroom composting? Commercial composting may only take place in areas zoned solely for agriculture. The continuation of this regulation 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 (number 210), continued at the 5/6/03 meeting (number 90), the 10/21/03 meeting (number 184), the 4/20/04 meeting (number 82) and the 10/12/04 meeting (number 169). AB 2005-154 (Ordinance 2005-39) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
84. Amend the Whatcom County zoning map relating to the Sumas Urban Growth Area? This amendment corrects an error in the zoning map that put portions of the county Urban Growth Area inside the Sumas city limits. (Ordinance 2005-40) Adopted 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
85. Amend the lot clustering provisions of the Whatcom County zoning ordinance? The amendment ensures urban densities in the Urban Growth Areas by requiring: mandatory lot clustering on 10-acre parcels or greater within designated zones when public water and sewer are not available or within the long-term planning portions of the Urban Growth Area. (Ordinance 2005-41) Adopted 6-0, Ward Nelson absent
Action Taken at April 26, 2005 Meeting
Shall the council:
86. Authorize the executive to amend a contract with Art Anderson Associates of Bremerton for planning and design, as needed, of the Lummi Island ferry system? Phase #2 of the contract, for not more than $100,000, primarily relating to the ferry dock. Phase #1 was $15,000 for a total of not more than $115,000. This amendment extends the contract to 12/31/05. (AB 2005-193) Approved 7-0
87. Authorize the executive to amend a contract with Elliott Bay Design Group of Seattle, for the Lummi Island ferry? Phase #2 of the contract, for not more than $222,940, is for engineering and supervising the construction of a new passenger/vehicle ferry. Phase #1 was $15,000 for a total of not more than $237,940. This amendment extends the contract to 12/31/05. (AB 2005-194) Approved 7-0
88. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $439,234 to Whatcom Builders of Bellingham for the repair of Lake Louise Road and other county roads? The contract includes 446 tons of asphalt for Lake Louise Road and 8,596 tons of asphalt for other county roads. The contract run from 7/1/05 to 6/30/06. (AB 2005-195) Approved 7-0
89. Approve 16 open space applications?* The county planning commission recommended the adoption of 16 applications; all were for open space/timber. State law gives property tax relief to open space designation and decreases conversion to non-rural uses. The designation for open space/timber is rated according to seven criteria and requires a timber management plan to be submitted with the application. If the property is sold and removed from open space designation, seven years in back taxes must be paid. (Resolution 2005-19) Approved 7-0
90. Approve councilmembers salaries for the years 2006 through 2009? The current salary of $16,500 will apply to the years 2006 and 2007; it will increase to $18,000 in 2008 and $19,000 in 2009. Councilmembers must be reelected before they receive the increase. (Resolution 2005-20) Approved 7-0
91. Impose an interim moratorium on new subdivisions within the Lake Whatcom watershed? All lots that remain five acres or greater shall be exempt from this moratorium. AB2005-187 (Ordinance 2005-42) Adopted 6-1, Sam Crawford opposed.
92. Approve 2005 budget request #4 in the amount of $482,000? The money, from the Conservation Futures Fund, will purchase 5.7 acres of undeveloped property on the east shore of Lake Whatcom between Agate Bay and the end of the road for public park purposes. (Ordinance 2005-43) Adopted 7-0
93. Establish a revolving petty cash fund for the Juvenile Court administration? The $50 fund is change for public transactions and to make small purchases. (Ordinance 2005-44) Adopted 7-0
94. Establish a second revolving petty cash fund for the county clerk? The $200 fund is change for public transactions at a second cash register that was recently installed. (Ordinance 2005-45) Adopted 7-0
*Open Space/Timber: Rob and Amy Brandland, 18 acres on the Mosquito Lake Road; Gary Gehling, 13.2 acres off Silver Lake Road above Maple Creek; Tarig and Rachel Ilahi, 14.8 acres bordering on Reese Hill Road; Herb Cole, 8 acres on Reese Hill Road; Caroline Yaude, 8.4 acres in the 4500 block of Totem Trail Road; Jeff Turner, 18.3 acres in the 4800 block South Pass Road, east of Everson; Ivan Sims (Sundial Trust), 19.6 acres in the 4600 block of Hannegan Road; Gerald and Helen Hulbert, 11.8 acres in the 5600 block of Rock Road; Lee James Wagner, Jr., 20.6 acres north of the 5200 block of Mission Road; Sean Jensen, 18.7 acres in the 4200 block of Linnell Road, Van Zandt; Robert and Irma Kohlman, 5.7 acres at the intersection Barnhardt and Weidenkamp Roads; Patricia Kraft, 14 acres in the 5800 block of Schornbush Road; Wayne and Pennie Fitch, 11.7 acres in the 3800 block of Nelson Road; Robert and Kathleen Henderson, 11 acres in the 5300 block of Marshall Hill Road; Gary Gehling, 11.8 acres on the North Fork of the Nooksack River; Tim and Misty Krogh, 19.9 acres that is ¾ of a mile north of the Caron Road.
