September 2006
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at July 11, 2006 Meeting
Shall the council:
139. Uphold the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner’s decision granting a shoreline variance? The applicants appealed one condition of the Birch Bay variance; a second-story deck that is prohibited unless adjacent property owners construct similar structures. (AB 2006-225) Decision upheld.
140. Authorize the executive to accept a federal grant of $166,799 for law enforcement equipment? The equipment will be used to detect, deter, disrupt and prevent acts of terrorism. The Washington State Patrol authorized the Department of Homeland Security grant. (AB 2006-292) Approved 7-0
141. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $38,858 to Bill Pierre Ford of Seattle for a bomb response vehicle? The purchase is funded by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. The bid was advertised and four bids were received. (AB 2006-287) Approved 7-0
142. Authorize the executive to accept a federal grant of $435,153 for conservation easements? The easements protect farms from conversion to non-agricultural uses under the Purchase of Development Right program. The council earmarked the grant money for Dale Dickson (44 acres) and Herman Joneli (61 acres).* At a future date, the council will add matching funds from the conservation futures levy and purchase the easements. (AB 2006-290) Approved 7-0
143. 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 2006-277A (Resolution 2006-41) Approved 7-0
144. Authorize the sale of tax-title property by negotiation? TR 2006-11, 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 2006-280A (Resolution 2006-42) Approved 7-0
145. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $118,819 to Associated Underwater Services of Spokane to repair Bridge #38 over California Creek? The bridge on Drayton Harbor Road has 30 concrete pilings that are deteriorating. The pilings will be wrapped in fiberglass jackets and filled with epoxy grout. AB 2006-288 (Resolution 2006-43) Approved 7-0
146. Set August 8 as a public hearing date to authorize revenue assessment for the Lake Samish watershed subzone? The subzone was established at the 6/20/06 meeting, vote number 136. The assessment is for channel clearance and the replacement of a dam on Friday Creek. AB 2006-294 (Resolution 2006-44) Approved 7-0
147. Authorize the executive to apply for a state grant to fund conservation easements? The money would be used to acquire easements on the Herman Joneli and Dale Dickson farms,* with a combined area of 105 acres. The grant would cover half the estimated cost of the two properties. AB 2005-295 (Resolution 2006-45) Approved 7-0
148. Establish the south portion of Whitecap Road as a county road? The privately owned portion is 700 feet; it is up to public road standards and is a public necessity as it provides access to a number of residences. A public hearing was held at the August 8 meeting. AB 2006-303 (Resolution 2006-46) Amended and approved 7-0
Action Taken at July 25, 2006 Meeting
Shall the council:
149. Authorize the executive to enter into a $395,250 contract with KPFF Consulting Engineers of Seattle to design a bridge to replace the current one spanning Kamm Creek? The bridge (Mormon Ditch Bridge #261) is on Hampton Road near Lynden. A federal grant will cover the bridge and its replacement; the grant doesn’t cover improvements to the roadway, a bike lane and sidewalk. The design phase is to be completed by 1/08. (AB 2006-313) Approved 6-0, Dan McShane absent
150. Authorize the executive to enter into a $649,473 amended contract with Reisner Distributor of Lynden for petroleum fuel? Fuel prices have almost tripled during the four years of the contract. For 2003/04, the total was $241,03; for 2004/05, the total was $348,123 and for 2005/06 the total was $545,007. This is the final year of the four-year contract and it runs from 9/1/06 through 8/31/07. (AB 2006-314) Approved 6-0, Dan McShane absent.
151. Confirm eight initial appointments by the executive to the Whatcom County Veterans’ Advisory Committee? The committee, established at the 5/23/06 meeting, vote number 117, will consist of nine members. Appointed to four-year terms ending on 12/31/09: Philip M. Andress, Jr., Eugene Goldstone and Holly Lanoux; appointed to three-year terms ending on 12/31/08: Thomas Noel, Michael Novotny and Jim Pace; appointed to two-year terms ending on 12/31/07: Ken Richardson and Edwin Simmers. (AB 2006-317) Approved 6-0, Dan McShane absent.
152. Reimburse $62,009 to Morning Star Ventures of Bellingham for improvements to West Road near Blaine? The gravel road was widened by Morning State Ventures from 17 feet to 26 feet for a length of 1,004 feet. Whatcom County will pave the road. (AB 2006-220) Approved 5-0, Dan McShane absent and Seth Fleetwood out of room.
153. Allow the Wood Stone Corporation of Bellingham to sell up to $8 million in tax-free bonds to finance expansion plans? Wood Stone applied to the Port of Bellingham for permission to sell tax-free bonds (see the port meeting on 11/15/05, vote number 106); the company is located on port property at the Bellingham airport. The project is in unincorporated Whatcom County so the port needs council approval to allow the sale. The bonds will finance a facility to manufacture home versions of its restaurant stoves. AB 2006-315 (Resolution 2006-47) Approved 6-0, Dan McShane absent.
154. Adopt the rankings for eight applications* under the Purchase of Development Rights program and continue the acquisition process? The program purchases conservation easements to protect farms from conversion to non-agricultural uses. The council, concerned with the high cost of the first two ranked properties and fearing two smaller properties could be sold soon for development, changed the rankings by the oversight committee. AB 2006-296 (Resolution 2006-48) Amended and approved 6-0, Dan McShane absent.
155. Oppose the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative? The U.S. law will require everybody entering or leaving the U.S. after 12/31/07 to have a passport. The council feels the law will negatively impact trade, tourism and border communities and requests that the U.S. and Canadian governments explore other options to meet security concerns, while ensuring that the border is open to free and fair flow of trade. AB 2006-304 (Resolution 2006-49) Approved 6-0, Dan McShane absent.
156. Amend the health code rules on mushroom substrate production facilities? Allow existing facilities a limited increase in production, subject to the use of best management practices. All substrate must be used on site; any amount produced over limits must operate indoors under permit. An amendment to limit equal exchanges between same owned facilities for quality testing to l,600 yards per year, and an amendment requiring the Health Department to notify interested parties and county newspapers when any exchange shipments are to be made were passed by the council. This is a companion ordinance to the next vote. AB 2006-301 (Ordinance 2006-30) Amended and adopted 6-0, Dan McShane absent.
157. Amend the mushroom substrate production facilities siting requirements? At the 10/26/04 meeting, vote number 179, the council created rules for commercial mushroom production facilities and at the 7/12/05 meeting, vote number 133, regulated the siting and zoning of facilities that produce substrate. The ordinances were appealed to the Growth Management Hearings Board and the board ruled that the county must comply with the Growth Management Act’s less restrictive regulations. Amendments included a provision for on-farm mushroom substrate production facilities in the agricultural district with buffering and setback requirements, and established commercial and on-farm production definitions. This is a companion ordinance to vote 156. AB 2006-302 (Ordinance 2006-31) Adopted 6-0, Dan McShane absent.
158. Approve 2006 budget request #10 in the amount of $2,941,729? Expenditures include: $68,750 for two positions on the Bertrand Watershed improvement project; $7,005 to help fund roof replacement for the Sumas Community Center; $5,077 to the sheriff’s office for supplies to deal with meth labs; $2,507,790 for construction of the interim jail facility; $286,515 to fund a marine resources project planner, stream gage installations and monitoring for Bertrand Watershed, a Conservation Corps crew to work for three months with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and completion of a water quality monitoring project; $33,296 for custodian and maintenance technician positions. AB 2006-298 (Ordinance 200-32) Adopted 6-0, Dan McShane absent.
159. Loan $2,260,000 to the interim jail construction fund? The loan from the general fund is necessary to continue construction while financing agreements with cities in the county are in the process of being approved. For the Bellingham agreement, see the city votes on 7/10/06 meeting, number 160 and 8/7/06 meeting, number 195. AB 2006-299 (Ordinance 2006-33) Adopted 6-0, Dan McShane absent.
