Compiled by Barry MacHale
Action Taken at June 10, 2025 Meeting
Shall the council:
136. Appoint Andrew Patterson to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee? Andrew Patterson is a retired chemical engineer. He was formerly employed by the Anvil Corporation in Bellingham and has lived in Ferndale for the past 21 years. He will fill one of two citizen positions with no financial ties to the waste collection industry, waste recycling industry, solid waste disposal facility, business/industry, or public interest group. (AB2025-372) Approved 7-0
137. Authorize the executive to sign a $121,000 with Northwest Educational Services District 189 of Anacortes? This grant-funded contract will provide substance use prevention services for the Nooksack Valley School District. Similar services have been provided by NWESD 189 since 2014; the new contract will remove mental health services. The contract expires on 8/31/2026. (AB2025-416) Authorized 7-0
138. Authorize the executive to sign four contracts — totaling $4,671,899 — to provide supported employment and community inclusion services to eligible individuals with developmental disabilities? These grant-funded contracts are with Cascade Connections of Bellingham ($1,661,673); Kulshan Supported Employment of Bellingham ($1,588,773); Washington Vocational Services of Everett ($255,333); and Work Opportunities of Lynnwood ($1,166,120). In January 2025, 339 adults in Whatcom County received supported employment services and 45 received community inclusion services. All four contracts expire on 6/30/2026. (AB2025- 423/424/426/427) Authorized 7-0
139. Authorize the executive to sign a $350,000 grant-funded contract with Clean Earth Environmental Solutions of King of Prussia, Pa., to provide transportation and disposal of moderate risk waste from the Disposal of Toxics Facility? The facility is located at 3505 Airport Drive in Bellingham and will be operated by the county starting on 7/1/2025. The contract expires on 6/30/2026. (AB2025-431) Authorized 7-0
140. Authorize the executive to sign a $131,052 grant-funded contract (amendment #4) with Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services of Bellingham to operate and maintain three safe shelters? The shelters include a 21-bed house for women with children and two other houses with 16 total beds for single women. The initial $50,000 contract was approved at the 12/6/2022 meeting. The total amended contract is $287,922; it expires on 6/30/2026. (AB2025-433) Authorized 7-0
141. Authorize the executive to sign a $910,503 contract (amendment #1) with YWCA Bellingham for housing case management and other support services for shelter and permanent supportive housing units? At the 12/3/2024 meeting, vote #369, the council approved the original $425,012 contract. The Larrabee Residence shelter has 14 emergency shelter beds, five are reserved for women who are at least 55 years old. The Lakeway Shelter offers emergency shelter for 19 women with young children. The purpose of the amendment is to extend the contract and update reporting requirements. The total amended contract is $1,335,515; it expires on 6/30/2026. (AB2025-435) Authorized 7-0
142. Authorize the executive to sign a $300,000 contract (amendment #2) with Cascadia Law Group of Olympia to provide investigation and legal defense of county and district water rights? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) On 5/1/2024, the Washington State Department of Ecology filed a water rights adjudication in Whatcom County Superior Court. On 1/30/2024, the original contract for $25,000 was signed by the county executive. The purpose of this amendment is to provide investigative and representative services for the water rights adjudication process. The total amended contract is $325,000; it expires 12/31/2026. (AB2025-429) Authorized 5-2, Tyler Byrd and Ben Elenbaas opposed.
143. Approve the sale of easements to Verizon Wireless? (Public hearing held.) The Whatcom County property is located at 3645 East McLeod Road. Verizon Wireless will pay the county $14,000 for the easements which will be used by Verizon Wireless and Puget Sound Energy for the installation and maintenance of communications and electrical facilities. AB2025-378 (Resolution 2025-019) Approved 7-0
144. Amend the 2025 Flood Control Zone District and subzones budget (request #2) in the amount of $445,550? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) This amendment adds $445,550 to the 2025 budget, approved at the 11/19/2024 meeting, vote #321. AB2025-379 (Resolution 2025-020) Approved 6-1, Ben Elenbaas opposed.
145. Update position titles for the board of the Washington Counties Risk Pool? The board provides member counties with joint self-insurance, joint purchasing of insurance, and joint contracting for risk management, claims handling, and administrative services. The resolution will update county position titles that have not changed since last designated at the 9/29/2015 meeting, vote #178. AB2025-437 (Resolution 2025-021) Approved 7-0
146. Request information from the executive and planning and development services regarding the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update? AB2025-413 (Resolution 2025-022) Substitute approved 7-0
147. Amend county code related to public utilities? (Public hearing held.) The amendments will increase allowable power line voltage from 115 kilovolts to 230 kilovolts for the purposes of modernizing the county’s electrical grid and meeting growing energy demands. AB2025-381 (Ordinance 2025-029) Substitute adopted 7-0
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Action Taken at June 24, 2025 Meeting
Shall the council:
148. Authorize the executive to sign a $544,578 grant-funded contract with the Opportunity Council to operate the Whatcom Homeless Service Center? The center is the county’s intake system for homeless housing services and makes referrals to partner agencies for housing case management and rental assistance programs, cultivates and maintains relationships with local landlords and motel operators and serves as a liaison for homeless housing activities to a network of service providers and community stakeholders. The Opportunity Council has provided these services under previous contracts since 2008. The contract expires on 6/30/2026. (AB2025-443) Authorized 6-1, Tyler Byrd opposed.
149. Authorize the executive to sign a $7,274,164 contract with the Opportunity Council to administer a rental assistance program through the Whatcom Homeless Service Center? The contract will fund the authorization and distribution of rent subsidies and motel room rentals to local landlords and motel operators on behalf of households experiencing or exiting homelessness. The contract expires on 6/30/2027. (AB2025-444) Authorized 5-2, Tyler Byrd and Mark Stremler opposed.
150. Authorize the executive to sign a $277,723 contract with Catholic Community Services of Bellingham to provide on-site supportive services and housing at Francis Place? Francis Place is a 42-unit apartment building that provides permanent supportive housing services for individuals exiting homelessness and navigating physical or mental health diagnoses. The contract will partially fund year-round onsite support services for residents; it expires on 12/31/2025. (AB2025-445) Authorized 7-0
151. Authorize the executive to sign a $375,000 contract with the City of Bellingham to provide funding for the Alternative Response Team Program (ART)? At the 4/26/2022 meeting, vote #116, the council approved the initial $427,127 contract with the City of Bellingham for a pilot program. The ART program is a collaborative effort between law enforcement, emergency medical responders, and social services providers to reduce the impact of heavy consumers of these services through the creation of individualized plans and support. The contract expires on 12/31/2026. (AB2025-446) Authorized 7-0
152. Authorize the executive to sign a $2,899,813 contract with the Port of Bellingham for the purposes of establishing a Whatcom Agricultural Research Station? The contract is funded by an Economic Development Investment grant of $1,966,542 and loan of $933,271. The contract will support the acquisition of the former Boxx Berry Farm site located at 6211 Northwest Avenue. The purchase price for 58.81 acres is $3,390,893, a state grant for $741,060 will help fund the purchase. The EDI loan expires on 12/31/2045. (AB2025-448) Authorized 7-0
153. Authorize the executive to sign a $473,162 grant-funded contract (amendment #2) with Lydia Place to provide rapid rehousing, case management, and coordinated entry access services? At the 12/3/2024 meeting, vote #375, the council approved the original $249,080 contract. The purpose of the amendment is to extend the contract. The total amended contract is $722,242; it expires on 6/30/2026. (AB2025-450) Authorized 7-0
154. Authorize the executive to sign a $258,976 grant-funded contract (amendment #1) with Lydia Place to provide permanent housing and supportive services? At the 12/3/2024 meeting, vote #375, the council approved the original $129,487 contract. The purpose of the amendment is to extend the length of the contract. The total amended contract is in the amount of $388,463; it expires on 6/30/2026. (AB2025-454) Authorized 7-0
155. Authorize the executive to sign an $80,000 grant-funded contract (amendment #1) with Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group of Everson to expand assistance to homeowners participating in the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) The Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group is a nongovernmental organization that reports weekly to the Division of Emergency Management. The purpose of the amendment is to extend the length of the contract for project completion purposes as a result of the November 2021 flood events. The total amended contract is $120,000; it expires on 10/31/2026. (AB2025-461) Authorized 7-0
156. Authorize the executive to sign a $436,352 contract (amendment #2) with Lydia Place to provide funding for the emergency shelter program? At the 12/3/2024 meeting, vote #375, the council approved the original $358,426 contract. The purpose of the amendment is to extend the contract and update the scope of work. The total amended contract is in the amount of $794,778; it expires on 6/30/2026 (AB2025-463) Authorized 7-0
157. Authorize the executive to sign a $1,354,509 contract (amendment #9) with the Northwest Regional Council of Bellingham for nursing services to inmates at the jail and work center and to detainees in juvenile detention? At the 12/3/2019 meeting, vote #286, the council approved the original $1,456,501 contract. The purpose of the amendment is to extend the length of the contract and adjust the compensation rates at $101.04 per hour for regular hours and overtime at the rate of $151.56. The total amended contract is $11,009,534; it expires on 12/31/2025. (AB2025-465) Authorized 7-0
158. Authorize the executive to sign a $2,007,866 grant-funded contract (amendment #3) with the Opportunity Council to provide homeless housing services? At the 12/3/2024 meeting, vote #342, the original contract for $1,003,932 was approved. The purpose of the amendment is to extend the length of the contract. The total amended contract is $3,011,798; it expires on 6/30/2026. (AB2025- 467) Authorized 6-1, Tyler Byrd opposed.
159. Authorize the executive to sign a $6,129,076 contract with the state of Washington for local services for persons with developmental disabilities? The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Developmental Disabilities Administration will fund services that include: employment and community inclusion services, child development services for children aged birth through three, and community information and training; it expires on 6/30/2027. (AB2025-468) Authorized 7-0
160. Authorize the executive to sign a $3,409,883 grant-funded contract with the Opportunity Council to administer the Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) Program? The HEN program provides funding to counties for rent and utility assistance, essential needs items, and case management for county residents with established eligibility through the Whatcom Homeless Service Center. This is a new contract; there have been previous HEN contracts with the Opportunity Council since 2014. The contract expires 6/30/2027. (AB2025-473) Authorized 5-2, Tyler Byrd and Mark Stremler opposed.
161. Amend the 2025 budget (request #7) in the amount of $1,500,000? Appropriate: $1,500,000 to fund substance use disorder contracts through the end of the year. AB2025-451 (Ordinance 2025- 030) Adopted 4-2-1, Ben Elenbaas and Mark Stremler opposed, Tyler Byrd abstained.
162. Amend the 2025 budget (request #6) in the amount of $16,735,908? Expenditures: $135,000 to continue jail funding with Northwest Regional Council; $125,100 to purchase three sheriff vehicles for investigations; $10,500,000 for homeless housing funds through the end of 2026; $150,000 for opioid awareness campaign; $2,764,722 to fund contracts executed in 2024 that continue in 2025; and $2,899,813 to fund the agricultural research station. There are four additional appropriations under $100,000 that total $161,273. AB2025-453 (Ordinance 2025-031) Adopted 6-1, Tyler Byrd opposed.
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Executive, Satpal Singh Sidhu
360–778-5200 (phone), ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us
Term expires: January 2028
County Council
311 Grand Avenue #105, Bellingham, WA 98225
360–778-5010 (phone), council@co.whatcom.wa.us
www.co.whatcom.wa.us
At-Large, Position A, Barry Buchanan
360–224–4330, bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us
Term expires: January 2026
At-Large, Position B, John Scanlon
360-935-1523, jscanlon@co.whatcom.wa.us
Term expires: January 2028
District 1, Kaylee Galloway
360–303-1644, kgalloway@co.whatcom.wa.us
Term expires: January 2026
District 2, Todd Donovan
360–483–8474, tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us
Term expires: January 2026
District 3, Tyler Byrd
360–778-5021, tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us
Term expires: January 2026
District 4, Mark Stremler
360-935-1266, mstremler@co.whatcom.wa.us
Term expires: January 2028
District 5, Ben Elenbaas
360-778-5025, belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us
Term expires: January 2028
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