December 2009
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at September 29, 2009 Meeting
Shall the council:
214. Authorize the executive to accept a $21,000 state grant to purchase 65 acres of wetlands? The grant will be used by the Whatcom Land Trust to purchase 3,000 feet of wetlands adjoining the Land Trust’s Samish River preserve in the headwaters of the Samish River near Wickersham. It will protect Coho salmon and trout habitat and provide protection for 80 species of birds. The Land Trust will manage the site, Whatcom County will manage the grant. (AB 2009-368) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
215. Authorize the executive to spend $880,030 to purchase of 146 acres in the northern portion of Point Roberts from The Nature Conservancy? In 2008, The Nature Conservancy purchased 48 acres of uplands, 98 acres of tidelands and adjoining beach at Point Roberts. Funding for this purchase is from the Conservation Futures Fund; it will be reimbursed by a state grant in the following vote. (AB 2009-237A) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
216. Authorize the executive to accept a $1,563,115 state grant for the purchase of uplands and tidelands at Lily Point, Point Roberts? The grant required a $936,663 local match, already funded. The $1,563,115 grant funds include $880,030 to acquire the northern portion of Lily point (previous vote), $20,307 closing costs, $163,000 to the Whatcom Land Trust for expenses related to southern portion and $499,778 for development of trails and park needs. (AB 2009-237B) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
217. Authorize the executive to sign a $628,427 contract (amendment #2) with Reisner Distributor of Lynden for the annual supply of fuel? The actual amount of the contract may vary since the price per gallon is subject to fluctuation. The contract runs from 10/1/09 through 9/30/10, with a significant decline in fuel prices. The previous fuel contract approved at the 9/23/08 meeting, vote number 185, was for $990,578. Delivery includes 87 octane unleaded gasoline, low sulfur diesel and B20 bodiesel. The total amended contract is $2,313,407 with the option of one more annual renewal. (AB 2009-371) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
218. Authorize the executive to sign an $109,324 contract with Nordisk Systems of Milwaukie, Ore., to upgrade a computer server? The upgrade (disk capacity, RAM and CPU) for the IBM iSeries i520 server will extend the life for an estimated five years. The server is used for county financial records, the auditor, assessor, public defender, sheriff, prosecuting attorney and the jury system. (AB 2009-373) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
219. Adopt the annual six-year (2010–2015) transportation improvement program? (Public hearing held) State law requires counties to update their transportation plans yearly. The program establishes a list of needed capital improvements, eligibility for state and federal funds and sets the rate for impact fees. The 14-year (2010–2023) ferry plan is attached to the resolution. The top three transportation priorities are: Lincoln Road, Birch Bay Lynden Road/Blaine Road (SR 548) and Yew Street Road (phase 2). Projected funding sources are federal ($7,287,000), state ($4,500,000) and local ($25,597,000). AB 2009-361 (Resolution 2009-53) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
220. Authorize the preparation of a reassessment roll for property within the boundaries of Whatcom County Road Improvement District No. 2? The Marineland Lighting District was last assessed on 11/21/85, that assessment will not cover the cost of the present lighting system. AB 2009-54 (Resolution 2009-54) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
221. Amend the interim ordinance prohibiting the illegal and illicit discharge of hazardous materials and non-stormwater runoff into the county’s municipal separate storm sewer system? (Pubic hearing held) The interim ordinance was first passed at the 7/21/09 meeting, vote number 186. This amendment extends the ordinance throughout the Lake Whatcom watershed. Interim ordinances must be renewed every six months. AB 2009-320C (Ordinance 2009-67) Adopted 5-1, Sam Crawford opposed, Ward Nelson absent.
222. Establish a no-shooting zone in the Columbia Valley Urban Growth Area? (Public hearing held) The discharge of forearms is prohibited in a no-shooting zone. This is the 21st no-shooting zone in unincorporated Whatcom County. The purpose is to protect the public safety in densely populated areas. The Columbia Valley area along Kendall Road presently has a population of 4,000 residents, with projections of a significant increase. AB2009-251A (Ordinance 2009-68) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
223. Amend the 2009 budget (request #10) in the amount of $1,098,633? Appropriate: $6,151 for emergency repairs to the Lighthouse Marine Park residence; $2,908 for repair projects at Tennant Lake, the Interurban Trail and Silver Lake day lodge; $2,555 to complete work on the Bay to Baker trail from Maple Falls to Glacier Trail, including plantings, bollards and trail signs; $35,000 to fund pre-design work for an evaluation and treatment facility at the county triage center; $329,900 to fund purchase of 31 acres of development rights on the Eldridge dairy farm; $21,000 state grant to fund Whatcom Land Trust acquisition of 65 acres of wetlands at headwaters of the Samish River; $201,341 state grant to fund purchase of northern portion of Lily Point at Point Roberts and $499,778 state grant for trails, restroom facilities, signage, parking and develop a public park at Lily Point. AB 2009-358 (Ordinance 2009-69) Approved 6-0, Ward Nelson absent.
Action Taken at October 13, 2009 Meeting
Shall the council:
224. Authorize the executive to sign a joint funding agreement with the federal government for the annual operation and maintenance of six stream gages on the Nooksack River? (Council acting as the board of supervisors of the flood control district) The county’s share of the flood warning system will be $58,820 and the federal government’s will be $13,560 for a total of $72,380. Separate agreements with the city of Bellingham and state of Washington have provided partial funding. The agreement runs from 10/1/09 to 9/30/10. (AB 2009-388) Approved 6-0, Bob Kelly absent.
225. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $175,925 to RTB Electrical and Power of Fife, Wash. for a generator and its installation at the central shop? The equipment was advertised and three bids were received. (AB 2009-392) Approved 6-0, Bob Kelly absent.
226. Set October 27 as the public hearing date to sell tax-title property by negotiation? TR 2009-03 is lot 27a of the Sandy Point Garden Tracts. It will be be sold for no less than taxes and expenses of $2,023. AB 2009-389 (Resolution 2009-55) Approved 6-0, Bob Kelly absent.
227. Set October 27 as the public hearing date to sell tax-title property by negotiation? TR 2009-04 is lot 2 of the Anderson Creek Ranchette, located near the intersection of Goshen Road and Salakanum Way. Having an assessed value of less than $500, it will be sold to the adjoining landowner for taxes and expenses totaling $922.40. AB 2009-390 (Resolution 2009-56)Approved 6-0, Bob Kelly absent.
228. Set October 27 as the public hearing date to sell property by public auction? TR 2009-05 is a right of way over an old railroad grade near Pine Lake to be sold for no less than taxes and expenses of $900. AB 2009-391 (Resolution 2009-57) Approved 6-0, Bob Kelly absent.
229. Accept the assessment roll of property within the boundaries of Whatcom County Road Improvement District No. 2 and set November 10 as the public hearing date? The preparation of the Marineland Lighting District reassessment roll was authorized at the 9/29/09 meeting, vote number 220. Public works set the annual fee of $2.00 per account and $40.00 per parcel. Subsequent annual maintenance will be based on the $2.00 fee and charges from Puget Sound Energy, not to exceed $70.00 per parcel. AB 2009-360A (Resolution 2009-58) Approved 6-0, Bob Kelly absent.
Action Taken at October 27, 2009 Meeting
Shall the council:
230. Authorize the executive to accept a $74,999 state grant (amendment #6) for phase four of the watershed management program? The council approved the detailed implementation plan for Water Resource Inventory Area 1 (WRIA 1) at the 7/24/07 meeting, vote number 156. The implementation plan is a tool for action and strategies to achieve water quality and quantity, instream flows and fish habitat goals and to monitor their progress. This vote continues the implemental of phase four, it facilitates communication between citizens in the basin and initiating governments and extends the deadline to 6/30/11. The state grant requires a local funding of $8,333. The total project cost is estimated at $229,394.1 (AB 2009-400) Approved 7-0
231. Authorize the executive to sign a $122,430 contract with Land Development Engineering and Surveying of Ferndale to assist in stormwater design projects? The consultant will develop plans for three projects to address for water quality and flooding issues identified in the Lake Whatcom Comprehensive Stormwater Plan for the vicinity of Silver Beach Creek. (AB 2009-401) Approved 7-0
232. Authorize the executive to sign a $25,000 contract with Linsley, Kaeger Associates of Mountain View, Calif., for calibration of the lower Nooksack River? (Council acting as flood control district board of supervisors) The contract will prove calibration of the FEQ model to the January 2009 flood event and provide technical assistance to county staff as needed? The updated model will be the basis for computing data as it relates to the 2009 lower Nooksack flood. (Contract amended to note district instead of county) (AB2009-402) Approved 7-0
233. Authorize the executive to sign a $49,767 contract with Wilson Engineering of Bellingham for stormwater facility retrofits in the Silver Beach watershed? Improvement of water quality on the creek is top priority for reducing phosphorous, sediments and bacteria entering Lake Whatcom. Wilson will evaluate all seven stormwater facilities in the watershed and develop final plans and estimates for two of the retrofits. Work to be completed by the spring of 2010 to allow county construction in June through September. (AB 2009-403) Approved 7-0
234. Authorize the executive to sign an agreement (amendment #3) with the city of Everson for annexation? The 9.83 acres within the Urban Growth Area is known as the Skillman East Everson annexation. Its use will be limited to road, utility and stormwater facilities with a buffer of 100 feet between designated agricultural lands and limited residential development. Everson will remove an equal quantity of agricultural land from its UGA at the next major update. (AB 2009-407) Approved 7-0
235. Authorize the executive to accept a $50,000 state grant for phase two of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System? Authorized by the Clean Water Act, the discharge system is a permit program to control water pollution. This grant will be used to detect illicit discharges of pollutants into county waters. No county match is required. (AB 2009-418) Approved 7-0
236. Sell county tax-title property by negotiation? TR 2009-03 is lot 27a in Sandy Point Garden tracts. It is to be sold for no less than taxes and costs of $2,023. No acceptable bids were received at public auction, allowing negotiation with the county parks department. AB 2009-389A (Resolution 2009-59) Approved 7-0
237. Sell county tax-title property by negotiation? TR 2009-04 is lot 2 in the Anderson Creek Ranchettes, located near the intersection of Goshen Road and Salakanum Way. Having an assessed value of less than $500 it will be sold to the adjoining landowner for taxes and expenses totaling $922.40. AB 2009-390A (Resolution 2009-60) Approved 7-0
238. Sell county tax-title property by public auction? TR 2009-05 is a right-of-way over an old railroad grade near Pine Lake to be sold for no less than taxes and expenses of $900. AB 2009-391A (Resolution 2009-61) Approved 5-2, Barbara Brenner2 and Laura Caskey-Schreiber opposed.
239. Consider a petition to vacate a portion of Portal Way? Mark Douglas submitted a petition to vacate fifteen feet of Portal Way near Grandview Road. The 6,602 square feet of right-of-way is valued at $6,240. This vote initiates a county engineering report on the proposed vacation. AB 2009-406 (Resolution 2009-62) Approved 7-0
240. Authorize the executive to submit a $25,000 grant application to the state of Washington? The grant, on behalf of the Northwest Economic Council, will pay for an Innovation Resource Center site assessment. The center will facilitate job growth in Whatcom County. AB 2009-399 (Resolution 2009-63) Approved 7-0
241. Amend the 2009 budget (request #11) in the amount of $287,325? Appropriate: $5,000 to pay board of equalization members through 2009; $13,189 for updates to the Whatcom County Code; $76,733 to fund Operation Stonegarden program (border security); $76,000 to purchase night vision equipment; $39,670 for the computer server room air conditioning upgrade; $76,733 for overtime and expenses related to Operation Stonegarden program. AB 2009-394 (Ordinance 2009-70) Adopted 7-0
1 - 2Barbara Brenner's comments appear in the printed edition.
