January 2006
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at November 9, 2005 Meeting
Shall the council:
218. Adopt the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner’s recommendation to approve the application by Northwest Pipeline Corporation of Houston, Texas, for permits to replace pipe? Shoreline permits are needed for the pipeline crossing the Nooksack River and a number of streams. The project is subject to 69 conditions. (AB 2005-419) Amended and approved 7-0
219. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $7,467,285 to Impero Contracting of Bellingham, to construct a minimum-security jail and triage center? Impero has 300 days to build the 150-bed temporary jail with facilities for 14 inmates with mental health problems. (AB 2005-420) Approved 7-0
220. Amend a management agreement with the city of Bellingham to clarify the duties and responsibilities regarding maintenance and monitoring of the dam on the Anderson Property? The property is jointly owned by the city and county and adjoins the Stimpson Family Nature Preserve near Sudden Valley. The county will be responsible for maintenance in and around the dam and the state annual inspection fee. The city will inspect all the work and update the operation and maintenance manual, prepare an emergency action plan and insure compliance with the plan. (AB 2005-422) Approved 7-0
221. Rescind the motion approving Resolution 2005-62 passed at the 10/25/05 meeting, vote number 213, and vote on a substitute motion? The original motion established an 11-member Foothills Subarea Plan Advisory Committee. The substitute deletes the Acme/South Fork Valley area member and adds a business community member. AB 2005-411 (Resolution 2005-62) Approved 7-0
222. Support professionally trained public policing agencies protecting our border and oppose involvement by armed militia or vigilantes? The council is concerned about self-appointed groups, such as the Minutemen, with limited training and no legal authority patrolling the northern border. AB 2005-431 (Resolution 2005-63) Approved 7-0
223. Dispose of tax-title property by quitclaim deed to the city of Bellingham? Request 05-06, the two parcels lie under city streets in the Bakerview Spur and Iron Gate Road and are less than one acre. The parcels have no market value. AB 2005-409A (Resolution 2005-64) Approved 7-0
224. Authorize the executive to apply for a state grant to cover capital costs for a regional resource center? The $1 million request is for a facility to be located near Kendall, an area with “high needs” and will provide services such as health care and job skill training for low and moderate income and special needs people. Local agencies will provide the services. In addition, the state will match private and public contributions. AB 2005-412 (Resolution 2005-65) Approved 7-0
225. Approve 2005 budget request #11 in the amount of $110,880? At the 10/25/05 meeting, vote number 210, the council approved a contract with Snohomish County to house Whatcom County prisoners. This amount will purchase up to 30 beds a day at the Snohomish County jail for Whatcom County offenders through the end of 2005. AB 2005-418 (Ordinance 2005-80) Adopted 7-0
Action Taken at November 22, 2005 Meeting
Shall the council:
226. Authorize the executive to enter into a $247,200 contract with Wilson Engineering of Bellingham, to reduce the impact of stormwater on Lake Whatcom water quality? Wilson Engineering will prepare plans, specifications and estimates for the Geneva area stormwater retrofits and Cable Street reconstruction. The contract runs from 11/23/05 to 11/15/07. (AB2005-436) Approved 7-0
227. Authorize the executive to enter into a $19,930 contract with J.A. Brennan Associates of Seattle, to design and install a demonstration watershed-friendly garden? See 6/21/05 meeting, vote number 119, for details on the $130,000 state grant for lake gardening education. The contract runs from 11/23/05 to 12/31/06. (AB2005-437) Approved 7-0
228. Authorize the executive to enter into a $24,000 contract with RE Sources of Bellingham, to continue the waste reduction/recycling and household hazardous waste hotline? The phone lines are manned eight hours a day, five days a week. A state grant provides 75 percent of the funding. The contract runs from 1/1/06 to 12/31/06. AB2005-438) Approved 7-0
229. Authorize the executive to enter into a $18,065 contract with RE Sources of Bellingham, to coordinate the collection and recycling of agricultural plastics in Whatcom County? The goal is to establish new sources to recycle agricultural plastics such as film, pesticide containers and polyethylene sacks. The contract runs from 12/1/05 to 11/30/06. (AB2005-439) Approved 7-0
230. Adopt the 2006 salary schedule for unrepresented county employees? AB 2005-387A (Resolution 2005-66) Approved 7-0
231. Approve a 3.8 percent raise in salaries for elected county officials (other than County Council) in 2006? County councilmembers salaries will increase from $16,152 to $16,500. AB 2005-441 (Resolution 2005-67) Approved 7-0
232. Adopt the 2006 flood control zone tax levy at the same amount as 2005? The funds are used to address flooding and to reduce flood damage. AB 2005-429 (Resolution 2005-68) Approved 7-0
233. Set December 6 as the public hearing date to sell surplus property by auction? The minimum bid is appraised value ($79,000) plus eight other costs. Request 03-05, the property is a 9.34-acre property known as Finsrud Rock Quarry located near the Mt. Baker Highway in Deming. AB 2005-390B (Resolution 2005-69) Approved 7-0
234. Authorize the executive to purchase a conservation easement on the Clarence/Christina Paul dairy farm in Custer for $710,000? The easement will protect the 156.93-acre farm from conversion to non-agricultural uses under the Purchase of Development Rights program. The total (including closing costs) is $754,650; see vote number 238 for approval. A federal grant will cover $355,000 of the purchase and the rest is from the conservation futures fund. AB 2005-432 (Resolution 2005-70) Approved 7-0
235. Adopt the 2006 property tax levy at the same amount as 2005? Increased revenue will result from new construction, property improvements and increases in assessments. AB 2005-426 (Ordinance 2005-81) Adopted 7-0
236. Adopt the 2006 conservation futures fund tax levy? The levy (no change from the previous year) is 6.25 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation of real property. The funds can only be used to acquire land or development rights for conservation purposes. AB 2005-427 (Ordinance 2005-82) Adopted 7-0
237. Adopt the 2006 county road property tax levy? There is no increase in the 2005 levy. The road fund for 2006 will be $15,634,000. The funds come from state and federal grants as well as property taxes. AB 2005-428 (Ordinance 2005-83) Adopted 7-0
238. Approve 2005 budget request #12 in the amount of $937,272? Expenditures approved as follows: $13,506 for temporary help (1.5 positions) in Superior Court; $164,116 for general election expenses; $754,650 purchase and expenditures for the purchase of the Paul dairy farm development rights; $5,000 for consulting services collection of information on water users in the Lake Samish basin. AB 2005-430 (Ordinance 2005-84) Adopted 7-0
239. Provide additional protection for Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish? Implement permanent restrictions for agriculture, animal hospitals, commercial kennels and stables and wholesale greenhouse activities. The planning commission approved changes in the interim amendments (4/26/05 meeting, vote number 91 and 8/9/05 meeting, vote number 164) and recommended final approval. AB 2005-425 (Ordinance 2005-85) Adopted 7-0
240. Amend the comprehensive plan map and county zoning map for approximately 47 acres owned by the state of Washington? The zoning is changed along Chuckanut Drive adjacent to Larabee State Park and the Whatcom/Skagit County border and within the Chuckanut-Lake Samish subarea plan from suburban enclave/residential rural–2 units/acre (RR2) to public recreation/recreation open space (ROS). AB 2005-084A (Ordinance 2005-86) Adopted 7-0
241. Amend the comprehensive plan to update transportation impact fee information? The new information includes evaluation of existing and future traffic conditions due to development and the identification of improvements needed. Collecting impact fees from new developments will be considered using this information. AB 2005-084C (Ordinance 2005-87) Adopted 7-0
242. Amend the comprehensive plan map and county zoning map for two acres within the southern Urban Growth Area for Lynden? To allow consistency, two acres of the Gerben DeBoer property will be rezoned from urban residential medium (URM6) to agriculture. AB 2005-084D (Ordinance 2005-88) Adopted 7-0
