Whatcom County Council

Shall the council:

62. Authorize the executive to sign a $195,090 contract with Fire District 7 to support the cost of paramedic services? At the 11/12/2008 meeting, vote #212, 12/9/2008 meeting, vote #260 and 1/26/2010 meeting, vote #21, the council approved funding for paramedic training. This 2011/2012 contract is for incentive pay and continued education for the six paramedics. It prepares for implementation of a 5th medic unit in the county Medic One program for Fire District 7. The contract runs from 1/1/2011 through 12/31/2012. (AB 2011-163) Approved 7-0

63. Authorize the executive to sign a $22,650 contract with the federal government for patrols in the Baker Lake Recreational Area? The U.S. Forest Service will pay the county for a officer and marked vehicle for a total of 140 regular hours and 190 overtime hours to ensure protection of government property and public safety on forest service land during peak periods of public use. The contract includes $1,200 for an AR-15 rifle. The contract runs from 4/15/2011 through 8/31/2011. (AB 2011-164) Approved 7-0

64. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $1,375,090 to Granite Construction Company of Watsonville, Calif., for the annual hot mix asphalt prelevel for county road projects? The estimated total amount of asphalt prelevel to be used in 2011 is 20,040 tons. A county engineer estimated the cost at $1,465,180. A request for bids was advertised and two bids were received. (AB 2011-166) Approved 7-0

65. Authorize the executive to accept a $131,020 state grant for the Lahti Drive stormwater improvement project in the Silver Beach Creek watershed? A stormwater treatment facility was installed for a 31 acre residential area west of Britton Road in the sub-basin that drains into Silver Beach Creek and reduces stormwater pollution including phosphorus and bacteria entering Lake Whatcom. The grant represents 75 percent of the cost, with the county providing 25 percent match of $43,674. (AB 2011-167) Approved 7-0

66. Authorize the executive to sign a $14,522 contract with Rosario Archeology of Bellingham for cultural resource assessment of the Charel Terrace stormwater system improvements? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors) In order to move forward with this project for the Birch Bay watershed and archaeological excavation permit will be submitted to the state to guide the excavations in the event any archaeological and/or cultural artifacts are uncovered. The contract commences on 4/28/2011 and terminates on 1/21/2012. (AB 2011-168) Approved 7-0

67. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $928,771 to Colacurcio Brothers Construction of Blaine for Silver Beach Creek improvements? The project from Brownsville Drive to East 16th Place will improve water quality and reduce flooding in the reach of the creek that drains to Lake Whatcom from these two streets. It includes constructing a vegetated swale, installing stormwater vaults, raising and widening the channel, and stabilizing slopes. Project funding: local $500,000 and federal $430,00. The work was advertised and five bids were received. (AB 2011-169) Approved 7-0

68. Authorize the executive to sign into an agreement with the Port of Bellingham, the city of Ferndale and the city of Bellingham for the shared use of a street sweeper? In April, the city of Bellingham purchased a high-efficiency street sweeper for $290,000; most of the money ($282,000) came from state grants. The sweeper is to be used by all four parties to help comply with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System’s Municipal Stormwater Permit for Western Washington. The city of Bellingham will be contributing an additional $55-60 thousand toward the purchasing and make-ready charges for the sweeper. The agreement establishes guidelines for sharing the costs of operation and maintenance of the sweeper, as well as disposal of pollutants. The agreement expires on 12/31/2021. (AB 2011-170) Approved 7-0

69. Authorize the executive to sign a $500,000 loan with the Port of Bellingham to partially renovate a port owned building on Harris Avenue? The County Council approved the loan at the 1/11/2011 meeting, vote #8. 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 11/16/2010 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 2011-171) Approved 7-0

70. Authorize the executive to award low bid of $111,579 to American Marine Holdings of Sarasota, Florida for a Lake Whatcom patrol boat? The replacement craft will be available to the county sheriff’s office for the 2011 boating season. Funding was approved at the 3/29/2011 meeting, vote #44. The patrol boat was advertised and five bids were receive, two bids didn’t meet bid specifications. (AB 2011-173) Approved 7-0

71. Accept Whatcom County’s annual risk management self assessment? The prosecutor’s office has reported areas of risk rated for liability potential. This report is required by the Washington Counties Risk Pool membership compact, a self-insured group of member counties. AB 2011-156 (Resolution 2011-15) Approved 7-0

72. Amend the Whatcom County Zoning Map, the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and maps to implement changes related to rural land use planning? (Public hearing held, testimony limited to the April 12 version of the ordinance that was introduced on April 26.) Most of the amendments are in the land use chapter, which contains the Rural Lands elements and includes the establishment of limited areas of more intensive rural development (LAMIRD) affecting thousands of acres in various unincorporated areas. They update the county’s vision of rural character and replace land use designations and policies that were found to be out of compliance with the state Growth Management Act. AB 2011-72D (Ordinance 2011-13) Adopted 5-2,1 Ken Mann and Carl Weimer opposed.

Shall the council:

73. Confirm the executive’s appointments to the Whatcom County Jail Planning Task Force? The council established a Jail Planning Task Force at the 4/26/2011 meeting, vote #59. The executive appointed 13 members to the task force. Designated Representatives: (Police Chiefs’ Association) Erik Ramstead; (Sheriff’s Office) Wendy Jones; (Corrections Deputy) Caleb Erickson; (County Executive) Marianne Caldwell and (Mental Health Services) Anne Deacon. Citizen Appointees: Ray Baribeau, Doralee Booth, David Christensen, Peter Dawson, Peter Dworkin, Lisa McShane, Barbara Sternberger and John Wilson. (AB 2011-078) Approved 6-0, Tony Larson absent.

74. Authorize the executive to sign a $36,000 contract with Linsley/Kraeger Associates of Mountain View, Calif., for the preparation of a technical report on floodplain mapping? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors) The original contract for $186,000 was approved at the 2/13/2007 meeting, vote #30. The report will provide a better analysis of the lower Nooksack River channel and flood plain based on improvements in the full equations model made after recent flood events. The flood control district will be the funding source. The contract expires on 4/30/2012. (AB 2011-192) Approved 6-0, Tony Larson absent.

75. Authorize the executive to award a low bid of $98,200 to Western Refinery Services of Ferndale for street sweeping and cleaning services in the Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish watersheds? The work also includes twice a month cleaning of certain roads in the Lake Whatcom watershed during October and November. The contract can be renewed three times at the same amount. The work was advertised and four bids were received. (AB 2011-194) Approved 6-0, Tony Larson absent.

76. Authorize the executive to sign a $235,000 contract with Daniels Electronics Ltd of Victoria, B.C., to purchase of communication equipment for the sheriff’s office? Three crossband repeaters will be installed on Sumas and Galbraith mountains’ towers and the customs and border protection headquarters in Blaine. It is part of the inter county communication project and is funded by a federal grant administered by the Washington State Military Department. (AB 2011-195) Approved 6-0, Tony Larson absent.

77. Authorize the executive to award the only bid of $113,616 to TriVan Truck Body of Bellingham for interior conversion and installation of equipment in the communications van for the sheriff’s office? It is part of the Buffer Zone Protection Program and is funded by a federal grant administered by the Washington State Military Department. (AB 2011-196) Approved 6-0, Tony Larson absent.

78. Amend the Whatcom County code to allow horse-drawn carriages to operate on Birch Bay Drive? Carriage rides are allowed between Harborview Road and Anderson Road as long as the operator has obtained an approved plan of operations from the sheriff’s office. An interim ordinance passed at the 4/27/2010 meeting, vote #79, appears to have addressed concerns regarding traffic safety, potential pollution and animal welfare. AB 2011-162 (Ordinance 2011-14) Approved 6-0, Tony Larson absent.

79. Amend the 2011 budget, (request #5) in the amount of $1,182,185? Appropriate: $10,312 for a 2010 adjustment to the What-Comm contract; $678,525 to the sheriff’s office for equipment purchases and $22,650 for Baker Lake patrols; $196,648 for Beach Creek/Brownsville Drive and 16th Street improvements; $11,689 to adjust the jail controls debt service budget and $58,000 for window security screening and $203,861 to fund 2010 G.O. Bonds. AB 2011-179 (Ordinance 2011-15) Approved 6-0, Tony Larson absent.

80. Adopt a new Foothills Subarea Plan, related comprehensive plan and zoning amendments? The plan covers part of northeastern Whatcom County including Columbia Valley, Kendall, Maple Falls, Glacier, Deming, the North and Middle Forks of the Nooksack River along with forest, rural and recreational lands. LAMIRD* amendments include: (1) rezone the Columbia Valley UGA north of Limestone Road to Light Impact Industrial; (2) prohibit single family dwellings and restricting multi-family development in the general commercial zone in Columbia Valley UGA (the planned town center); (3) rezone 40 acres east of Columbia Valley UGA from (RF) rural forestry to (R10) one dwelling per l0 acres and (4) repeal the 1988 Foothills Subarea Plan. AB 2010-343 (Ordinance 2011-16) Approved 6-0, Tony Larson absent.

81. Amend the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and zoning map for Harbor Shores? The property is located on Blaine Road, south of Dakota Creek. The amendments include: changing the comprehensive plan designation from Rural to Blaine Urban Growth Area and a zoning change from R10 to UR4 for 35 acres and a 91 acre parcel of adjacent tidelands. These amendments will allow inclusion in the Blaine sewer system and lessens impact on Drayton Harbor. AB 2010-258 (Ordinance 2011-17) Approved 6-0, Tony Larson absent.

82. Amend the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan to establish fire protection level of service? The Planning Commission had two public hearings and received a clear message that public is pleased with the current rural level of service for fire protection. It requires a response time of 14 minutes 80 percent of the time. The proposal meets all legal requirements. AB 2010-370 (Ordinance 2011-18) Approved 6-0, Tony Larson absent.

83. Amend the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and zoning map designations for 60 acres in the vicinity of Paradise Road? The change is from Agricultural Resource Land to Rural and from Agriculture to R10. Gordon Gerard’s 45 of 60 acres have been mined for sand and is not considered prime soil and. The change is not inconsistent with adjoining land uses. AB 2010-273 (Ordinance 2011-19) Approved 6-0, Tony Larson absent.

84. As a group, approve the four above comprehensive plan amendments? (AB 2010-113B) Approved 6-0, Tony Larson absent.

*Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development

¹Barbara Brenner's comments appear in the printed edition.