Whatcom County Council

Shall the council:

81. Send a letter to Senator Maria Cantwell opposing legislation allowing offshore fish farms? The letter (proposed by councilmember Barbara Brenner) expressed concerns about pending legislation (SB 1195) proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that would permit private fish farms in federal waters from three to 200 miles from shore without adequate safeguards. (AB 2006-57) Approved 6-0, Dan McShane absent.

82. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $140,725 to Western Roofing of Bellingham for roof repairs? Roofs at the Courthouse, health department and Forest Street annex will be repaired. (AB 2006-173) Approved 6-0, Dan McShane absent.

83. Authorize the executive to enter into a $15,009 reimbursable contract with the federal government for starling and pigeon control? In the past, the county has contracted starling control with the Agricultural Preservation Committee. This contract allows the county to work directly with the federal government. Trapping, shooting, harassing and using poisons may be used to accomplish control. The contract runs from 3/1/06 through 2/28/07. (AB2006-176) Approved 6-0, Dan McShane absent.

84. Authorize the executive to enter into amendment #6 with the city of Lynden allowing annexation of approximately 104 acres on West Main Street and Berthusen Road? The land that is within that city’s short-term Urban Growth Area and is currently zoned agricultural will be rezoned Industrial-2 to serve as a location for community facilities including parks, walkways and recreation facilities. (AB 2006-178) Approved 6-0, Dan McShane absent.

85. Authorize the sale of county property at public auction? The surplus property includes eight vehicles purchased between 1990 and 1997 with mileage between 66,427 and 123,800; one 15-passenger van purchased in 2003 with less than 24,000 miles; tools, office equipment, computer components and copiers. AB 2006-165A (Resolution 2006-31) Approved 6-0, Dan McShane absent.

86. Cancel uncashed jail inmate checks more than two years old? The 119 unredeemed checks (totaling $3,503) issued between 2/15/99 and 1/1/04 will be cancelled and the money returned to the county budget. AB 2006-179 (Resolution 2006-32) Approved 6-0, Dan McShane absent.

87. Grant a 25-year franchise along Jackson and Aldergrove roads to Puget Sound Energy? The non-exclusive franchise gives Puget Sound Energy the right, privilege and authority to construct, alter, and improve, renew, replace, repair, operate and maintain water and wastewater lines upon, under, across and along Jackson and Aldergrove roads. AB 2006-146 (Ordinance 2006-14) Approved 6-0, Dan McShane absent.

88. Approve 2006 budget request #6 in the amount of $1,152,377? Expenditures include: $10,000 to pay an outside lawyer for legal services regarding land in the Mosquito Lake area; $701,000 to purchase animal control facilities (building, land, vehicles and equipment) from Rustand, Inc. at 1661 Baker Creek Place. Rustand has handled animal control services and the company is not renewing the contract expiring on 7/1/06. No other facilities are available. More expenditures: $4,000 to Superior Court for refresher training; $316,548 to the auditor for disabled voter machines, voter pamphlet for the 2006 primary, rearranging reception area and individual receipt printers at each work station; $11,284 to train corrections deputies on domestic violence issues; $24,100 low-income housing funds for operation and maintenance projects; $19,902 to complete the contract with the Whatcom Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic; $65,543 for the county data integration project. AB 2006-169 (Ordinance 2006-15) Adopted 6-0, Dan McShane absent.

89. Approve 2006 budget amendment #2 for $594,688? Items include: $122,344 fund transfer for the laserfiche project; $122,344 for phase two of the laserfiche system to streamline records; $350,000 to expand Bowen Field Park in Sumas (see 3/28/06 meeting, vote number 77). The original appropriations have lapsed due to completed or abandoned projects. AB 2006-170 (Ordinance 2006-16) Adopted 6-0, Dan McShane absent.

Shall the council:

90. Enact an interim amendment to the Comprehensive Plan map and associated text provisions to rescind the Urban Growth Area designation for Sudden Valley? An emergency amendment was enacted at the 2/27/06 meeting, vote number 59. Whatcom County is committed to reducing development in the Lake Whatcom watershed. The council has decided that the public interest would not be served by having a second city on shores of Lake Whatcom. This amendment expires in six months; it may be renewed one or more times for six-month periods. (Ordinance 2006-17) Adopted 4-1, Sam Crawford opposed, Ward Nelson and Dan McShane absent.

Shall the council:

91. 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 2006-188) Approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.

92. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $418,200 to Whatcom Builders of Bellingham, for the annual supply and delivery of various asphalt mixes for county road projects? In past years, five companies have been awarded the contract. The price, location of work and type of mixes available determined which company was used. This year only two companies placed bids. (AB 2006-189) Approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.

93. Authorize the executive to accept a $157,002 federal grant to support the Northwest border task force prosecution initiative? The initiative moves criminal offenders through the systems in an expedited manor. The grant pays for two positions in the prosecutor’s office and software from 1/1/06 through 12/31/06. (AB 2006-195) Approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.

94. Authorize the executive to enter into a $16,167 amended contract with Sargent Engineers of Olympia, for unanticipated hydraulic and sediment analysis for the short bridge on Innis Creek Road? The project also relocates Innis Creek to its historical channel near the Samish River in Wickersham to improve drainage and fish passage. The original contract for $46,791 was approved at the 5/24/05 meeting, vote number 101. (AB 2006-197) Approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.

95. Authorize the executive to enter into a $50,000 amended contract with Bricklin Newman Dold of Seattle to defend two county ordinances regulating “mushroom substrate” production? The Ostrom Company is challenging the land- use and public health ordinances passed on 10/26/04, vote number 179 and 7/12/05, vote number 133. The council approved $40,000 at the 9/27/05 meeting, vote number 187 and $20,000 at the 1/17/06 meeting, vote number 2 for a total amended amount of $110,000. (AB 2006-105D) Approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.

96. Authorize the executive to enter into a $165,000 grant and loan agreement with Hempler’s B&B Meats for their relocation and expansion project? The Economic Development Investment Board* recommended an $82,500 grant and an $82,500 10-year loan. An access road, retaining wall and street frontage improvements within the public right-of-way are the costs covered by this funding. (AB 2006-201) Approved 5-0-1, Carl Weimer absent, Sam Crawford abstained.

97. Continue the interim moratorium on acceptance of new applications for subdivisions within the Lake Whatcom watershed for six months? All lots that remain five acres or greater are exempt from the moratorium. The interim ordinance was first passed at the 4/26/05 meeting, vote number 91 and renewed on 10/25/05, vote number 215. AB 2006-172 (Ordinance 2006-18) Adopted 4-2, Sam Crawford and Ward Nelson opposed, Carl Weimer absent.

98. Approve 2006 budget request #7 in the amount of $430,017? Expenditures include: a federal (Homeland Security) grant of $183,661 to purchase 33 laptop computers and installation for the sheriff’s office; $15,750 grant to Superior Court for legal advocacy for victims of domestic violence; $20,606 to parks and recreation to replace the Bellingham Senior Activity Center’s failing phone system (50 percent cost share with the Council on Aging); $90,000 for a cooperative project with the U.S. Forest Service to replace the aging road bridge on the heavily used Razor Hone cross country ski trail; $40,000 to fund a well and potable water system for Samish Park and $80,000 to replace the roof on the day lodge at Silver Lake Park. AB 2006-182 (Ordinance 2006-19) Adopted 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.

99. Approve 2006 budget amendment #3 in the amount of $373,400? Expenditures include: $185,000 for repairs and improvements to the Bellingham Senior Activity Center and $188,400 for part one of the two-phase project to update buildings at Semiahmoo Park with storm water treatment, surfacing of walkways, parking and landscaping. The original appropriations have lapsed due to completed or abandoned projects. AB 2006-183 (Ordinance 2006-20) Adopted 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.

100. Amend the Whatcom zoning map by rezoning 44 acres south of Ferndale between Hovander farmstead and Tenant Lake from urban residential (UR3) to rural five acres (R5A)? This corrects a transcribing error, the official zoning map was not changed from UR3 to R5A. The change is consistent with current uses of surrounding land and in agreement with the planning commission recommendation. AB 2006-184 (Ordinance 2006-21) Adopted 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.