March 2011
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at January 11, 2011 Meeting
Shall the council:
1. Fill two vacancies on the Whatcom County Planning Commission? Both vacancies were in District 1. Ken Bell, the owner of Best Recycling and David G. Onkels, a retired general contractor were appointed to the commission. (AB 2010-329)
2. Appoint seven members to the Lummi Island Ferry Task Force? The County Council established a seven-member task force at the 11/23/2010 meeting, vote #204. Whatcom County Code decrees that Lummi Island fare revenues shall recoup 55 percent of ferry operating costs. In recent years, revenues have fallen short of the 55 percent goal. The mission of the task force will be to examine ferry operation and make recommendations to the council for its ongoing operation. Appointed to the task force are: Kathy Berg, Jim Dickinson, Patricia Dunn, Diane Harper, John Chandler Johnson, Barbara Ryan and Riley Starks. A written report will be presented to the general public no later than 8/1/2011. (AB 2010-329)
3. Fill two of the three vacancies in the Whatcom County Noxious Weed Control Board? Appoint L. Alan Yoder to the District 2 vacancy and Ray Fann to the District 3 vacancy. There were no applicants for the District 5 vacancy. (AB 2010-329)
4. Authorize the executive to sign a $58,000 contract with the Bellingham Food Bank for the collection, warehousing and distribution of food? The food bank program will receive $50,000 and the gleaning project will receive $8,000. The county will pay 40 cents per pound for food distributed to food banks in Blaine, Ferndale, Nooksack, Deming/Kendall (Foothills), Lynden (Project Hope), Lummi Tribal, Nooksack Tribal, Pt. Roberts, Nugent’s Corner (Lord’s Table) and The Salvation Army. The contract runs from 1/1/11 through 12/31/11. (AB 2011-38) Approved 6-1, Kathy Kershner opposed.
5. Authorize the executive to accept a $500,000 state grant to establish a loan program for the replacement of failing septic tank/sewage systems? The program will provide financial assistance to property owners repairing or replacing failing sewage systems. The grant requires a dollar for dollar match that will be met through use of private loan funds. The grant expires on 12/31/2013. (AB 2011-45) Approved 7-0
6. Authorize the executive to enter into a $66,750 contract with the federal government for patrol services? The U.S. Department of Agriculture will pay the county to provide a deputy in a marked car to patrol the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest within Whatcom County. The contract runs from 1/1/2011 through 12/31/2011. (AB 2011-46) Approved 7-0
7. Authorize the executive to sign a $150,000 contract (amendment #1) with the Opportunity Council for the operation of the Whatcom County Homeless Service Center? The amount will be provided from the Veterans Assistance Fund and increases the $381,915 held by the county to $531,915. The additional money will be used for program and administrative services for rental assistance to eligible veterans and their families. (AB 2011-51) Approved 7-0
8. Enter into a $500,000 loan with the Port of Bellingham to partially renovate a port owned building on Harris Avenue? The Economic Development Investment Board1 approved the loan by a vote of 12-0. The loan will partially fund the $2,500,000 renovation of a 15,000 square foot building at 300 Harris Avenue. The Port Commission approved a 10-year lease with Index Industries at the November 16, 2010 meeting, vote #159. The manufacturing facility is currently located in Stanwood. Approximately 14 Stanwood employees will move to Bellingham, 20 employees will be hired in Bellingham and number of employees may increase to 50 in three years. (AB 2011-53) Approved 5-2, Ken Mann and Carl Weimer opposed.
9. Authorize Whatcom County to apply for a state grant to assist with funding to replace a boat launch at Lighthouse Marine Park in Point Roberts? The creosote-treated floating dock has been demolished. The county is requesting $240,000 or 75 percent of the projects cost. AB 2011-37 (Resolution 2011-01) Approved 7-0
9. Impose a emergency moratorium on the acceptance of new applications for subdivisions and short subdivisions in rural areas? This ordinance imposes the moratorium on applications for divisions of property into parcels smaller than ten acres in the areas within the boundaries of the Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development (LAMIRD). Review of existing zoning densities and development codes are necessary for compliance with the Growth Management Act . The ordinance takes effect immediately and is valid for sixty days. AB 2011-60 (Ordinance 2011-01) Adopted 7-02
Action Taken at January 25, 2011 Meeting
Shall the council:
10. Appoint four members to serve on the Whatcom County Districting Committee? Appointed to the committee are: Hue Beattie, Charlie Crabtree, Kelli Linville and Robert Thorndike. The four members will appoint a fifth member who shall be the chair. Each district shall be approximately equal in population. The districting plan shall be submitted by May 1 and the committee shall adopt the plan within 15 days. (AB 2011-35) Approved 7-0
11. Authorize the executive to enter into a contract with Whatcom Land Trust for monitoring and easement enforcement for conservation easements acquired through the Purchase of Development Rights program? A minimum fee of $3,000 per easement or a 6 percent fee on first $150,000 of easement price, with 4 percent fee on the price in excess of $150,000 is agreed on for the land trust’s work. This working relationship has existed for the past six years; the contract was to begin on 1/15/2011 and terminate on l2/31/2013. The contract was amended to run for one year ending on 12/31/2011. (AB 2011-64) Amended and approved 6-1, Bill Knutzen opposed.
12. Authorize the executive to sign a $146,3000 contract (amendment #1) with Pacific Surveying and Engineering of Bellingham to amend the design of mitigation measures for a long term asbestos management strategy on Swift Creek? The state of Washington agreed to the revisions to utilize unspent funding of $146,300 and to reimburse the county for 67.14 percent of the project’s cost. This amendment brings the total contract to $306,300. The contract expires on 6/30/2012. (AB 2011-66) Approved 7-0
13. Authorize the executive to award the sole bid of $106,569 to Zumar Industries of Tacoma for the annual supply of traffic control signs? The contract run from 1/1/2011 through 12/31/2011 and may be renewed for three one-year periods. (AB 2011-73) Approved 7-0
14. Approve Amendment #1 to the Birch Bay Water and Sewer Districts Comprehensive Water System Plan? The amendment updates portions of the plan to implement agreement between the water and sewer district and BP West Coat Products to provide potable water to the Cherry Point Refinery and implement water purchases by the district from the city of Blaine through 2030. AB 2010-449 (Resolution 2011-02) Approved 7-0
15. Impose an interim moratorium on the acceptance of new applications for subdivisions and short subdivisions in rural areas? (Public hearing held) An emergency moratorium was passed at the 1/11/2011 meeting, vote #9. This vote and vote #9 imposes the moratorium on applications for divisions of property into parcels smaller than ten acres in the areas within the boundaries of the Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development (LAMIRD). Review of existing zoning densities and development codes are necessary for compliance with the Growth Management Act. The moratorium is for divisions of property smaller than ten acres and does not apply to applications that were complete prior to the effective date of this ordinance. Interim moratoriums must be renewed every six months. AB 2011-60A (Ordinance 2011-02) Adopted 5-2, Ken Mann and Carl Weimer opposed.
16. Amend the 2011 budget (request 1) in the amount of $46,315? Appropriate: $37,850 to fund part of 2011 WhatComm Communications Emergency 911 operational expenses; $5,820 to fund Nesset Farm caretaker position in 2011, based on rent from the caretaker house; $2,645 to parks to fund extra help at Fragrance Garden. AB 2011-55 (Ordinance 2011-03) Adopted 7-0
1The Economic Development Investment Board was set up by the county; board members include small cities and other economic interests such as the agriculture community. The loan money comes from portions of the rural sales tax which can only be used for public facility projects.
2Barbara Brenner's comments appear in the printed edition only.
