June 2008
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at April 8, 2008 Meeting
Shall the council:
66. Authorize the executive to enter into a $21,200 contract with Bennett Engineering of Bellingham, to perform a groundwater investigation for a fuel spill? The underground storage tank spill occurred on 1/11/06 at the Whatcom County central shop on the Smith Road. Four groundwater-monitoring wells will the installed. The state of Washington is requiring that the cleanup be investigated and confirmed by a neutral party. The contract terminates on 12/31/09. (AB 2008-157) Approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.
67. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $470,998 to Western Refinery Services of Ferndale, for street sweeping and cleaning services in the Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish watersheds? This is a 36-month contract. The work was advertised and four bids were received. (AB 2008-159) Approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.
68. Authorize the executive to enter into a $285,970 contract with Stewart+King Architects of Bellingham, to develop a master site plan for phase I of county facilities to be built at Smith and Northwest Roads? Phase 1 will develop long-range plans for approximately 130 acres of Whatcom County property that will provide offices and storage for public works, planning, health, facilities management and the sheriff. The contract expires on 12/31/10. (AB 2008-163) Approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.
69. Authorize the executive to accept a state grant of $100,000 to continue flood control analysis on the lower Nooksack River? The project will develop a detailed hydraulic model of the lower Nooksack River from Deming to Bellingham Bay. The Whatcom County Flood Control District will contribute a matching grant of $33,334 for a total of $133,334. The first grant was approved at 1/17/06 meeting, vote number 11, and ran from 6/1/05 through 6/30/07. This grant runs from 9/1/07 through 6/30/09. (AB 2008-164) Approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.
70. Authorize the executive to enter into a $18,366 contract with Northwest Ecological Services of Bellingham for preliminary design and permitting for the Chuckanut Village marsh restoration project? The project includes a wetland assessment, a culvert removal plan and completion of permit applications. Eventual restoration will enhance the salt marsh habitat and provide a pocket estuary for juvenile salmon. The contract is funded by a state grant and expires on l2/31/08. (AB 2008-165) Approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.
71. Authorize the executive to enter into a $27,830 contract with Aspect Consulting of Bainbridge Island to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement for the Foothills Subarea Plan? A technical report will be prepared to support water quality, stormwater components and identify protection and mitigation measures. The Foothills Subarea consists of 208 square miles; the Canadian border is on the north, the Mt. Baker National Forest bounds it on the east, Sumas Mountain defines the west and the southern boundary is the divide between the middle and south forks of the Nooksack. The contract expires on 8/15/08. (AB 2008-166) Approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.
72. Sell tax-title property by public auction?1 (Public hearing held) (1) TR 2008-03, unit 106 at the Cabana Club condominium in Birch Bay for no less than $1,425 AB 2008-135A (Resolution 2008-26); (2) TR 2008-04, unit 201 at the Cabana Club condominium for no less than $1,041 AB 2008-136A (Resolution 2008-27); (3) TR 2008-05, unit 208 at the Cabana Club condominium for no less than $859 AB 2008-137A (Resolution 2008-28) All approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.
73. Sell tax-title property by negotiation? (Public hearing held) (1) TR 2008-08 Boynton Sunset Tracts #3 (near Gooseberry Point) a 30/100 interest in the beach reserve for no less than $890.93 AB 2008-140A (Resolution 2008-29) (2) TR 2008-09 Boynton Sunset Tracts #2 with l/50 interest in playground reserve for no less than $910.37 AB 2008-141A (Resolution 2008-30) Both approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.
74. Cancel uncashed jail inmate checks more than two years old? The 138 unredeemed checks (totaling $1,075) were issued from 1/3/05 to 12/30/05. The checks will be transferred to the state treasurer as abandoned property and the money will be returned to the county budget. AB 2008-158 (Resolution 2008-31) Approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.
75. Reaffirm the oversight committee rankings under the Purchase of Development Rights program and authorize the county administrator to proceed with the acquisition process? The farms and acreage approved at the 2/12/08 meeting, vote number 31, has been modified.2 One 82-acre farm has been deleted and two farms totaling 273 acre have been added. This vote approves six applications totaling 398 acres. AB 2008-87A (Resolution 2008-32) Approved 6-0, Carl Weimer absent.
76. Amend the Lummi Island ferry rates? The rates will be increased to fund 55 percent of the total operating cost? A summer surcharge (June through August) will also be added for cars, passengers and pedestrian fares. A discount and a senior/disabled discount are available as well as student multiride cards. AB 2008-85B (Ordinance 2008-17) Adopted 4-2, Sam Crawford and Ward Nelson opposed, Carl Weimer absent.
Action Taken at April 15, 2008 Special Meeting
Shall the council:
77. Approve request #2 for the 2008 project-based budget to replace the Lummi Island ferry? The estimated cost of a new ferry is $12.5 million; the county received a state grant of $8,150,000 (7/24/07 meeting, vote number 154) that would be paid in installments of $407,500 annually for 20 years. Operating costs for a new ferry are currently estimated to be an additional $800,000 annually. Remodeling the existing ferry is estimated at approximately $7.5 million less than purchasing a new ferry. (AB 2008-109) Failed 2-5, Barbara Brenner, Laurie Caskey-Schreiber, Seth Fleetwood, Bob Kelly and Carl Weimer opposed.
78. Authorize the executive to ask the Washington State County Road Administration Board to amend the $8,150,000 grant? If the amendment is approved, the county can us the money to renovate the existing ferry and make dock improvements. Approved 4-0, Barbara Brenner,3 Bob Kelly and Ward Nelson were out of the room.
Action Taken at April 24, 2008 Meeting
Shall the council:
79. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $248,778 to Myers General Commercial of Bellingham for alterations to the Courthouse basement? The County Council packet didn’t explain the alterations. The work was advertised and four bids were received. (AB 2008-173) Approved 7-0
80. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $508,020 to Whatcom Builders of Bellingham for the annual hot mix asphalt for county road projects? The request for bids was advertised and three bids were received. (AB 2008-175) Approved 7-0
81. Authorize the executive to spend $107,156 to purchase ballot envelopes from K&H Integrated Print Solutions of Everett? Only this vendor can furnish the special envelopes required for the county mail-in voting system and meet the all the U.S. Postal Service and county requirements. By ordering 690,000 envelopes the auditor anticipates a savings of $8,280. (AB 2008-177) Approved 7-0
82. Authorize the executive to accept a state grant of $311,250 to implement phase 1 of a project on the Lower Canyon Creek? This vote includes $103,750 in matching county funds for a total expenditure of $415,000. The goal of the project on the North Fork of the Nooksack River is habitat restoration for Chinook salmon, bull trout, steelhead and other salmonids. Project funding expires on 6/30/11. (AB 2008-179) Approved 7-0
83. Enter into a $10,000 contract with Bricklin, Newman, Dodd of Seattle to review petitions filed with the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board? (AB 2008-182) Approved 6-1, Sam Crawford opposed.
84. Update the list of community development projects? This vote updates the 2006 revision (10/24/06 meeting, vote number 214), which updated the 2004 list (8/10/04 meeting, vote number 151). The list adds, removes and revises projects to reflect new priorities and updated community plans, with input from the city of Bellingham. The list requires approval from the federal government before the projects are eligible for federal grants. AB 2008-99 (Resolution 2008-33) Approved 7-0
85. Approve 10 open space applications?4 State law gives property relief to open space designations and it decreases conversion to nonrural use. The county planning commission received one new application for open space/open space, one application to continue open space/open space, four new applications to open space/timber, one to continue open space/timber with an updated management plan, two transfers from designated forest to open space/timber and two transfers from open space farm and agriculture to open space/timber. AB 2008-168 (Resolution 2008-34) Approved 7-0
86. Authorize the executive to enter into an agreement with the Whatcom Transportation Authority for a pilot program of reduced fare bus passes for county employees? Free passes will be provided to county employees for the months of May and June. In July, August and September, the county will purchase passes for 25 percent of courthouse employees and employees housed in other county facilities. Employees will be charged $5 per pass per month; employees who commit to riding the bus at least once a week will not be charged for the passes. AB 2008-185 (Resolution 2008-35) Approved 7-0
1Two pieces of property TR 2008-06 (AB 2008-138A) and TR 2008-07 (AB 2008-139A) were withdrawn from the sale by public action. They are in a Nooksack River floodplain so they will be sold to the city of Nooksack.
2Deleted: Vern Derr, 82-acres on Matt Road. Added: Dean and Heather Tjoelker, 195-acres with heifers, grass and corn sileage on Burk Road; Perry Family Farm, 78-acres of grass and corn sileage and hay on Old Guide Road.
3From Barbara Brenner: I left immediately after the ferry vote because I had the flu. I had come in for the vote, was running a high fever, wore a mask in the office so not to expose anyone to the flu and sat away from the council so I wouldn’t expose them. I want people to know I don’t take my responsibilities lightly.
4New application for open space/open space: Dan and Jeffie Pike, 2.5 acres in the 700 block of H Street Road. Continuation of open space/open space: Stephan George, 5 acres in the 3700 block of Gilmore Road. New applications for open space/timber: Maryse/Tarradan Sagewynd, 5 acres in the 3900 block of Bay Road; Dan and Jeffie Pike, 5 acres in the 700 block of H Street Road; Eric Amsbury, 15.8 acres in the 2900 block of Haynie Road; Eugene and Ernestine Ketchem, 9 acres in the 4800 block of Reese Hill Road. Continuation of open space/timber with updated management plan: Brian Berg, 9.9 acres that are east of Massey Road. Transfers from designated forest to open space/timber: Congregation of Beth Israel, 5 acres that are southeast of San Juan Boulevard; Amy Jamieson, 18.3 acres that are northeast of Canyon Lake Road. Transfers from open space/farm and agriculture to open space/timber: Gardner-Whittaker Trust, 5.7 acres in the 5900 block of Noon Road.
