Compiled by Barry MacHale
Action Taken at May 13, 2025 Meeting
Shall the council:
115. Authorize the executive to accept a $1,536,380 state grant (amendment #1) to provide additional funding for the Whatcom County Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) Program? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) At the 7/11/2023 meeting, vote #171, the council approved the original $1,478,994 grant to address fecal bacterial sources affecting commercial, recreational, tribal shellfish harvest sites and declining water quality in Drayton Harbor, Portage Bay, Lummi Bay, and Birch Bay. The purpose of the amendment is to extend the length of the contract and add to the scope of work. The total amended grant is $3,015,374; it expires on 9/30/2027. (AB2025-347) Authorized 7-0
116. Affirm the need to increase ferry fares to address solvency issues and ensure that fare box revenues are meeting the required 55 percent of fare box recovery rate? The council encourages the county executive to increase ferry fares immediately to ensure solvency of the ferry system annual operations, provided the rate increase is ample enough to meet the goals set forth in the code for fare box recovery and reserve fund contributions. (AB2025-352) Approved 7-0
117. Authorize the executive to sign a $133,100 contract (amendment #1) with Mobile Mama Strategies of Bellingham to administer a mental health internship pilot project? At the 6/18/2024 meeting, vote #170, the council approved the original $164,235 contract to recruit and supervise perinatal mental health interns working with low-income eligible mothers. The purpose of the amendment is to increase the number of interns under supervision from three to five. The total amended contract is $297,335; it expires on 7/31/2026. (AB2025-354) Authorized 7-0
118. Authorize the executive to sign a two-year $120,096 contract with Siemens Industry of Bellevue to provide comprehensive support services for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning in county facilities? The facilities include the Courthouse, jail and work center, Northwest Annex, Lottie Annex, Williams Way central shop, East Whatcom Reginal Resource Center, Forest Street Annex , Civic Center Annex, and Central Plaza building. The contract expires on 3/31/2027. (AB2025-363) Authorized 7-0
119. Authorize the executive to purchase installation parts, and programming through Communications Northwest, of Oregon City, Oregon, in an amount not to exceed $100,000 per calendar year for 2025 and 2026? The sheriff’s office and Public Works maintenance and operations division will replace obsolete radios in approximately 30 vehicles for use in day-to-day operations. (AB2025- 364) Authorized 7-0
120. Authorize the executive to purchase a RapidHIT™ ID System from Thermo Fisher Scientific/Life Technologies Corporation of Hanover Park, Illinois, in an amount not to exceed $210,785? The system will be used by the sheriff’s office to collect DNA specimens from suspects, human remains, blood, and other biohazardous materials and discover, within 90 minutes, if a DNA database match exists. The shift’s office received a federal grant to the DNA machine. (AB2025-369) Authorized 7-0
121. Approve the Economic Development Investment Board’s recommendation of a $1,966,542 grant/$933,271 loan to help fund the Port of Bellingham’s property acquisition? The port purchased 58.81 acres of agricultural land (Boxx berry farm) located on Northwest Drive in Ferndale for a Whatcom Agricultural Research Station. The purchase price of $3,390,893 will be funded by a $741,060 state grant and the $2,899,813 EDI grant/loan. The port will lease the property to the Whatcom Food and Farming Station. The nonprofit represents berry farms, dairy farms, vegetable farms, market-oriented farms and agricultural businesses. (AB2025-373) Approved 7-0
122. Adopt amendments to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Plan? At the 4/25/2023 meeting, vote #110, the updated 2022 plan replaced the 2016 plan approved at the 1/24/2017 meeting, vote 13. The state Department of Ecology requested the county amend the plan — the amendments will: identify a procedure to amend the plan, incorporate single-stream recycling, update required language for management of organics, and make allowance for future discounts on curbside garbage service for income-eligible individuals. AB2025-328 (Resolution 2025-018) Approved 7-0
_______________________________
Action Taken at May 27, 2025 Meeting
Shall the council:
123. Authorize the executive to sign a $69,000 contract (amendment #5) with DentALL (Jessica Dubek, DDS) of Bow for additional jail and work center dental hours? At the 5/31/2023 meeting, vote #234, the original $36,000 contract for six months was approved. It was amended at the 1/9/2024 meeting, vote #5, and the 9/10/2024 meeting, vote #234. The purpose of this amendment is to add 230 hours to the contract to meet the needs of an increasing jail population due to the lifting of booking restrictions. The total amended contract is $320,600; it expires on 12/31/2025. (AB2025-359) Authorized 7-0
124. Authorize the executive to sign a $48,329 contract (amendment #2) with Glyph Language Services of Spokane to provide language interpretation and translation services for various public health programs? At the 6/18/2024 meeting, the original $65,000 contract was approved. The purpose of the amendment is to extend the contract and update the funding sources. The total amended contract is $141,329; it expires on 12/31/2025. (AB2025- 374) Authorized 7-0
125. Authorize the executive to sign a $203,882 contract with The Arc of Whatcom County to provide developmental disabilities information, education, and family support? The Arc of Whatcom County has provided similar services under different contracts since 2011. The contract expires on 6/30/2026. (AB2025-375) Authorized 7-0
126. Authorize the executive to sign a $117,849 contract with the Opportunity Council to provide behavioral health outreach services? The contract will provide assessment, intake, referrals to treatment, and ongoing support to individuals experiencing opioid use disorder and homelessness. The contract expires on 6/30/2026. (AB2025-385) Authorized 6-1, Tyler Byrd opposed.
127. Authorize the executive to accept a $214,400 state grant (amendment #1) for WRIA 1 collaborative water supply planning? At the 7/9/2024 meeting, vote #188, the original $485,600 state grant was accepted. This additional grant funding will support three additional technical studies to develop a collaborative process that can address water supply and instream flow issues. The total amended grant is $700,000; it expires on 6/30/2025. (AB2025-388) Authorized 7-0
128. Authorize the executive to accept an additional $97,500 federal pass-through grant (amendment #2) for Operation Stonegarden FY22? Funding is from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and will be used for border security operations in Whatcom County. The amendment will allow for budget categories to be adjusted and key personnel to be updated. Participating agencies will not enforce U.S. immigration law. The grant expires on 8/31/2025. (AB2025- 389) Authorized 7-0
129. Authorize the executive to sign a $35,442 contract (amendment #5) with FSi Engineers of Seattle to provide design and engineering services for HVAC and tenant improvements at the parks headquarters? At the 2/20/2024 meeting, vote #61, the council approved $172,200 for HVAC. The purpose of the amendment is to add funding for construction administration and observation support services. The total amended contract is $237,050; it expires on 12/31/2025. (AB2025-390) Authorized 7-0
130. Authorize the executive to sign a $226,477 contract (amendment #6) with Tiger Construction of Everson to complete final mechanical, filtration and ventilation improvements for the Plantation Rifle Range project? At the 6/15/2021 meeting, vote #141, the council approved the original $1,032,353 contract for installation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and roof replacement at the facility. The purpose of the amendment is to add funding to complete mechanical ductwork insulation and modifications and other repairs. Th e total amended contract is $1,393,961; it expires on 10/31/2025. (AB2025-391) Authorized 7-0
131. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $856,256 to Summit Construction Group of Bellingham for replacement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and tenant improvements at the parks headquarters? The engineer’s estimate was $1,212,060. Two bids were received; the high bid was $1,334,867. The contract expires on 12/19/2025. (AB2025-393) Authorized 7-0
132. Authorize the executive to sign a 10-year agreement not to exceed $100,000 with the state of Washington for material testing? Th e Washington State Department of Transportation will provide materials fabrication, testing and inspection; asphalt mix design and verification; preparation of “Record of Materials” documents; test drilling; and other engineering/geologic/testing services. The agreement expires on 5/7/2035. (AB2025-394) Authorized 7-0
133. Authorize interfund loans to finance cash flow for the Whatcom County road fund? The Whatcom County Treasurer is hereby authorized to make inter-fund loans from any eligible county funds to the county road fund for cash flow purposes. The loans shall not exceed $4 million per project and shall not be for a term exceeding two years. No interest shall be charged on the loans. AB2025-355 (Ordinance 2025-026) Adopted 7-0
134. Amend the 2025 budget (request #5) in the amount of $1,053,510? Appropriate: $213,000 to the sheriff ’s department for boarder security; $125,000 to the sheriff ’s department to purchase two hand held radar units; $125,000 to the sheriff ’s department for firearm safety; $200,000 to the health department for environmental health enterprise permitting and licensing software updates; $327,800 for underpayment to Stryker Corporation; $155,000 for minor remodel of assessor’s office. There were three additional appropriations under $100,000 that total $32,710. AB2025-337 (Ordinance 2025- 027) Adopted 4-3, Tyler Byrd, Ben Elenbaas, and Mark Stremler opposed.
135. Increase the monetary threshold required for council approval of contracts? The current threshold for council approval is $40,000; this vote will increase the threshold to $75,000. This increase will allow the council to approve 96 percent of awarded funds. The executive will report quarterly to the council on all executed contracts. AB2025-264 (Ordinance 2025-028) Adopted 4-3, Tyler Byrd, Ben Elenbaas, and Mark Stremler opposed.
