August 2006
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at June 6, 2006 Meeting
Shall the council:
118. Authorize the executive to accept a state grant of $l00,000 for the WRIA (Water Resource Inventory Area) #1 program? The funding is in preparation of a detailed implementation plan for phase 4 of the watershed management project in the Nooksack River watershed, including coordination, monitoring and outreach. The county will contribute $11,111 in salaries for the project. (AB 2006-245) Approved 7-0
119. Authorize the executive to sign a $492,053 contract with Shearer Design of Seattle to design a replacement for Bridge #140 on the Mosquito Lake Road? The bridge over the middle fork of the Nooksack River between Deming and Acme needs new approach spans, bridge deck, guardrails and load rating. Shearer Design was the most qualified among eight responding firms. The federal government will provide $2 million for design and construction. (AB 2006-247) Approved 7-0
120. Authorize the executive to sign a supplemental contract for $84,682 with KPFF Consulting Engineers of Seattle for complications replacing of High Bridge #115 on Lake Whatcom Boulevard? Previous bridge contracts with KPFF were approved at the 2/11/03 meeting, vote number #34 for $138,000; the 3/9/04 meeting, vote number #44 for $356,918 and the 10/25/05 meeting, vote number #207 for $87,155. Federal grants will cover 80 percent of the costs. (AB 2006-248) Approved 7-0
121. Authorize the executive to enter into amendment #5 with the city of Ferndale for proposed annexation within the Ferndale Urban Growth Area? The city wants to annex 98 acres south of Thornton Road and west of Church Road (Blomquist Annexation). The site has been rezoned to short-term planning area, meeting Comprehensive Plan requirements. (AB 2006-250) Approved 7-0
122. Authorize the executive to sign a $1,168,992 contract with SSP-Preferred Animal Care of Bellingham for animal control services? SSP has provided animal control for the previous nine years. The council approved the purchase of the animal care facilities for $697,350 at the 5/23/06 meeting, vote number 114. The three-year contract runs from 7/1/06 to 6/30/09. (AB 2006-251) Approved 5-2, Seth Fleetwood and Laurie Caskey-Schreiber opposed.
123. Authorize the executive to accept a property gift from Rob Staveland of Marble Falls, LLC? The 6.2-acre parcel in the Kendall area must be used (within eight years) for construction of a community-based resource center. The county will be responsible for approximately $175,000 in water and sewer expenses. (AB 2006-253) Approved 7-0
124. Confirm the executive’s appointment of Jon Komorowski as director of the public defender’s office? He’s replacing retiring director Jon Ostlund. (AB 2006-256) Approved 7-0
125. Set June 20 as a public hearing date to consider establishing a Samish subzone of the flood control district? A subzone in the Samish watershed is needed to manage lake levels, prevent flooding and increase stream flows into Friday Creek. The state operates a fish hatchery on Friday Creek that requires minimum flow rates from the lake. AB 2006-254 (Resolution 2006-34) Approved 7-0
126. Call on the Nooksack Tribe to discuss a planned casino site? The proposed 38,800-square-foot casino on tribal trust land is surrounded by farmland. Discussions would be growth management issues, traffic, protection of resource lands, air and water pollution. AB 2006-240 (Resolution 2006-35) Amended and approved 4-2-1, Dan McShane and Laurie Caskey-Schreiber opposed, Seth Fleetwood abstained. For Barbara Brenner’s comments on this vote, see the far right column on page 19.
Action Taken at June 20, 2006 Meeting
Shall the council:
127. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $163,171 to Foss Maritime Company of Seattle for annual repairs and maintenance of the Lummi Island ferry? The bids were advertised and two bids were received. (AB 2006-265) Approved 7-0
128. Authorize the executive to enter into a $94,888 contract with Herrera Environmental Consultants of Seattle to improve salmon passage and habitat in the lower Canyon Creek? The creek is an important tributary for early Chinook salmon and bull trout. In additional to improving habitat, flood risks will be evaluated so they are not transferred to public property. The contract expires on 12/31/06. (AB 2006-267) Approved 7-0
129. Authorize the executive to enter into two contracts totaling $150,000 for on-call surveying services for river and flood projects? One $75,000 contract is with Pacific Surveying and Engineering Services of Bellingham and the other $75,000 contract is with Compass Point Survey Group of Lynden. The services range from topographic surveys for site design and monitoring to levee profiles and surveys of flood high-water marks. The contracts end on 6/8/07. (AB 2006-268/269) Approved 7-0
130. Authorize the executive to enter into an agreement with the federal government to replace the Razor Hone Creek Bridge? The bridge (located on Forest Service Road 3070) is maintained for 11,000 ski and summer trail enthusiasts. The cost to the county will be $90,000. The U.S. Forest Service will oversee the project. (AB 2006-271) Approved 7-0
131. Set July 11 as the public hearing date to authorize the sale of surplus county property? The surplus property includes a three-bedroom mobile home used by a deputy sheriff posted at Point Roberts and a target carrier system from the county rifle range. AB 2006-277 (Resolution 2006-36) Approved 7-0
132. Set July 11 as the public hearing date to sell tax title property at public action? TR 2006-09, the Boynton Sunset Tracts #3 near the Lummi Reservation for no less than taxes and other costs of $890.93. AB 2006-278 (Resolution 2006-37); TR 2006-10, the Boynton Sunset Tracts #2 Playground Reserve for no less taxes and other cost of $910.37. AB 2006-279 (Resolution 2006-38) Both approved 7-0
133. Set July 11 as a public hearing date to sell tax-title property by negotiation? TR 2008-11, a parcel on Market Road that has been declared unbuildable will be sold to the Whatcom County public works road fund for no less than taxes and other costs of $327.14. AB 2006-280 (Resolution 2006-39) Approved 7-0
134. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $712,675 to Ram Construction of Bellingham for the Cable Street-Geneva stormwater project? This is phase 1 of the project to treat stormwater from an existing drainage system to reduce pollutants entering Lake Whatcom. The bid was advertised and three bids were received. The amendment eliminated Wall Street from the project. AB 2006-266 (Resolution 2006-40) Amended and approved 7-0
135. Rezone from long-term to short-term a planning area in the Ferndale Urban Growth Area? Minimum density for the 30.86 acres west of Vista Drive will be determined by the city of Ferndale. AB 2006-205 (Ordinance 2006-26) Adopted 4-3, Dan McShane, Seth Fleetwood and Laurie Casky-Schreiber opposed.
136. Establish a Lake Samish subzone to the flood control district? A subzone in the Lake Samish watershed is needed to manage lake levels, prevent flooding and increase stream flows into Friday Creek. The state operates a fish hatchery on Friday Creek that requires minimum flow rates from the lake. Assessment total will approximate $17,000. AB 2006-254A (Ordinance 2006-27) Adopted 7-0
137. Approve 2006 budget request #9 in the amount of $3,092,842? Expenditures include $142,774 to support new positions in Human Resouces and Information Technology, to fund a calendar coordinator position in district court, to continue funding the county clerk’s collections unit and fund software for 50 mobile computers for the sheriff’s office; $67,268 to public works to partially fund a compensation analyst position in administration services, a real estate manager and clerk IV; $18,107 for partial funding of the new real estate section to be under public works; $2,658,245* for flood planning studies, early warning gauge upgrades, repair and maintenance projects and flood hazard reduction; $4,656 to the auditor and assessor to upgrade software for processing records; $142,169 for further funding of subzone projects; $31,070 for compensation analyst position in human resources; $28,553 for a laser fiche scanner position in information technology division. AB 2006-257 (Ordinance 2006-28) Amended and adopted 7-0
138. Approve 2006 budget amendment #4 in the amount of $577,724? Appropriate $562,224 for maintenance management system software; $15,500 for a project facilitator position during software training period. AB 2006-258 (Ordinance 2006-29) Adopted 7-0
*A motion to remove $350,000 from the proposed amount was approved 4-3, Ward Nelson, Sam Crawford and Barbara Brenner opposed.
