Compiled by Barry MacHale
Action Taken at May 9, 2023 Meeting
Shall the council:
116. Send a letter to Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands regarding the Brokedown Palace timber sale? The letter recommends the timber sale be paused until it can be evaluated for inclusion in the Climate Commitment Act program. The timber sale is located along the Middle Fork of the Nooksack River; the council is concerned about potential impacts to water quality and salmon recovery. (AB2023-273) Substitute amended and approved 4-3, Tyler Byrd, Ben Elenbaas and Kathy Kershner opposed.
117. Authorize the executive to sign a contract with Unity Care Northwest for the Way Station located at 1500 State Street? This contract will allow the use of $2 million in federal grant funds awarded to Unity Care Northwest for the construction of the Way Station and for space to be leased to Unity Care at the rate of $1.00 per year for 10 years. (AB2023-295) Authorized 7-0
118. Authorize the executive to sign a $136,000 contract with Communities in Schools of Whatcom-Skagit? Support services will be provided to students in Bellingham and Ferndale School Districts who are experiencing a variety of challenges affecting their overall academic success, including behavioral and mental health issues, substance use, and lack of basic needs. The contract will expire on 6/30/2024. (AB2023-301) Authorized 7-0
119. Authorize the executive to sign a $472,072 contract (amendment #7) with the Opportunity Council to provide housing case management services? The original contract for $262,341 was approved at the 6/29/2021 meeting, vote #151. The purpose of the amendment is to update program outcomes and reporting requirements, and add funding for eviction prevention services, personnel and staff training. The total amended contract is $1,928,202; it expires on 12/31/2023. (AB2023-308) Authorized 6-1, Tyler Byrd opposed.
120. Authorize the executive to sign a $43,945 contract (amendment #1) with United General Hospital of Sedro Woolley to support youth cannabis- and tobacco-use prevention strategies and activities? The original contract for $81,650 ran from 1/1/2023 to 6/30/2023. The total amended contract is $125,595; it expires on 6/30/2023. (AB2023-311) Authorized 7-0
121. Approve the public participation plan for the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulation Amendments? The plan is a guide to review comprehensive plan and development regulations by 6/30/2025. (AB2023-313) Approved 7-0
122. Approve the Economic Development Investment Board funding recommendation ($250,000 loan/$250,000 grant) with the Whatcom County Drainage Improvement District 7 to increase the size of the Atwood Road culvert? The county administers the Economic Development Investment Program program and the money comes from portions of the rural sales tax which can only be used for public facility projects. Every year the Atwood Road culvert overflows onto the roadway, causing damage and polluted runoff. The total cost of the project is $600,000. (AB2023-318) Authorized 7-0
123. Authorize the executive to accept a $381,005 state grant (amendment #12) for the delivery and funding of various public health services? Programs funded include: water quality programs; Covid-19 vaccine programs; youth cannabis- and tobacco-use prevention programs; and West Nile Virus monitoring programs. The total amended contract is $8,981,095; it expires on 12/31/2024. (AB2023-325) Authorized 7-0
124. Authorize the executive to sign a $108,650 contract (amendment #9) with Lydia Place to provide funding for motel rooms for families experiencing unsheltered homelessness? The original contract for $223,681 was approved at the 6/29/2021 meeting, vote #151. The purpose of the amendment is to add funding to increase the number of families able to access 90-day emergency motel stays. The total amended contract is $1,743,775; it expires on 12/31/2023. (AB2023-327) Authorized 7-0
125. Amend the 2022 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategic (CEDS) project list? State law requires grant applicants seeking public works funding from the state Economic Development Administration to develop and update an economic development plan. At the 8/13/2002 meeting, vote #154, the council adopted the initial Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and updated it every five years. It was last updated at the 6/7/2022 meeting, vote #155. The purpose of the amendment is to include a Drainage Improvement District 7 project known as the Atwood Road drainage replacement project on the list. AB2023-314 (Resolution 2023-011) Authorized 7-0
126. Authorize the executive to purchase flood response equipment? The county received a state grant for $4,294,850 to purchase flood response equipment. The county has entered into an agreement with Sourcewell Cooperative to take advantage of their bids and request for proposal. Attachment A to the resolution itemized the equipment and the price of each. AB2023-323 (Resolution 2023-012) Approved 7-0
127. Agree upon a schedule for joint county and city review of Urban Growth Areas? The state Growth Management Act requires that county and city comprehensive plans be coordinated and consistent and that they are required to accommodate urban growth projected in the succeeding 20-year period. The agenda bill (exhibit A) has a schedule to meet the state-mandated deadline of 6/30/2025. AB2023-312 (Resolution 2023-013) Approved 7-0
128. Authorize a revised system of assessment for Drainage Improvement District No. 7? (Public hearing held.) The Whatcom County engineer is proposing changes to the method of assessment for property owners within the district. In addition to ratio per acre assessment, the new method will also incorporate relative improvement value per lot. AB2023-231 (Ordinance 2023-027) Adopted 7-0
129. Establish a temporary speed limit on the Hannegan Road? (Public hearing held.) The state has requested the use of Hannegan Road as a detour. The state Department of Transportation is removing the Squalicum Creek culvert on the Mount Baker Highway because it is a fish barrier. The construction will close the Mount Baker Highway for approximately three months. The county engineer has determined it is necessary to establish a temporary speed limit of 35 miles-per-hour on the Hannegan Road from Smith Road to the Bellingham city limits. The standard speed limit will resume upon completion of the project. AB2023-246 (Ordinance 2023-028) Adopted 7-0
130. Authorize the temporary closure of Kelly Road and Van Wyck Road? (Public hearing held.) The state has requested the use of Hannegan Road as a detour. The state Department of Transportation is removing the Squalicum Creek culvert on the Mount Baker Highway because it is a fish barrier. The construction will close the Mount Baker Highway for approximately three months. The county engineer has determined it is necessary to limit access to Kelly Road, east of Hannegan Road, and Van Wyck Road, east of Hannegan Road and west of Noon Road. The temporary closures will expire when the project is complete. AB2023-248 (Ordinance 2023-029) Adopted 6-1, Ben Elenbaas opposed.
131. Amend the 2023 budget (request #7) in the amount of 2,880,144? Appropriated: $113,000 to fund the Way Station Project; $76,208 to fund 2023 paramedic training; $110,936 to fund the development of a childcare facility at the Laurel and Forest Street location; $2,580,000 in funds transfer to support the Way Station Project. AB2023-298 (Ordinance 2023-030) Adopted 7-0
132. Amend the project budget (request #2) in the amount of $5,844,751 for the Way Station Project Fund? At the 2/2/2022 meeting, vote #67, the council established a $2,384,322 project-based budget, and amended it by adding $5,708,388 at the 4/26/2022 meeting, vote #127. The project site is located at 1500 State Street in Bellingham and is a collaborative effort between PeaceHealth, Unity Care Northwest, and the Opportunity Council to provide recuperative respite care, health care and hygiene services, and case management for unsheltered individuals. The purpose of the amendment is to add $5,844,751 of expenditure authority for a total amended project budget of $13,937,461. AB2023-299 (Ordinance 2023-031) Adopted 7-0
Action Taken at May 23, 2023 Meeting
Shall the council:
133. Authorize the executive to accept a $3,987,575 federal grant to fund the Lummi Island ferry replacement and system modernization project? The current 60-year-old ferry is capable of carrying 16 vehicles. This funding will be used for the construction of a new 34-car hybrid diesel-electric ferry and associated terminal upgrades, including upgrading loading lanes and installing Americans with Disabilities Act compliant restrooms. The construction costs of the new ferry is estimated at $46,305,000 and a total cost of $50,297,575. The project is listed as Item No. 44 on the 2023 Annual Construction Program. (AB2023-337) Authorized 7-0
134. Authorize the executive to accept a $108,000 state grant for the Everson-Goshen Road? Funding will be provided by the state County Road Administration Board (CRAB) through the Rural Arterial Program for approximately four miles of resurfacing for the Everson-Goshen Road. The funds require a local match of 10 percent and the total anticipated cost of construction in 2026 is $2,215,000. The grant expires upon the project completion. (AB2023-339) Authorized 7-0
135. Authorize the executive to accept a $1,092,000 state grant (amendment #2) for the Hampton Road Pavement Rehabilitation Project? Funding will be provided by the state County Road Administration Board (CRAB) through the Rural Arterial Program to rehabilitate 4.65 miles of pavement on Hampton Road. The council at the 6/15/2021 meeting, vote #136, accepted a state grant for $170,100, and at the 6/7/2022 meeting, vote #153, a state grant for $690,000. The purpose of this amendment is to add funding. The funds require a local match of 10 percent The total amended contract is $1,782,000; it expires upon project completion. (AB2023-340) Authorized 7-0
136. Authorize the executive to sign a $170,041 contract with Catholic Community Services of Bellingham? The contract will fund operations of the permanent supportive housing facility known as Francis Place, a 42-unit residential facility with supportive services for individuals with a history of chronic homelessness and behavioral health challenges. The contract expires on 12/31/2023. (AB2023-342) Authorized 7-0
137. Authorize the executive to sign a $85,452 contract (amendment #4) with the Whatcom Family & Community Network of Bellingham to provide youth prevention programs? The original contract for $65,000 provided mental health and substance use interventions; it ran from 1/1/2020 to 12/31/2020. The purpose of the amendment is to add funding for increased events, services, and staff training. The total amended amount is $585,452; it expires on 12/31/2023. (AB2023-344) Authorized 7-0
138. Authorize the executive to accept a state grant not to exceed $100,000 for Superior Court? The state Administrative Office of the Courts will fund “Courtroom of the Future” upgrades to the audio-visual system in Superior Court courtroom number 4C. The expiration date is 6/30/2023. (AB2023-347) Authorized 7-0
139. Authorize the executive to sign a $69,319 contract with Justice AV Solutions of Louisville, Kentucky, for AV presentation and recording solutions? A 60-inch HD monitor will added, attorney table monitors, five cameras, microphones, HDMI connections, HD recorders, and integration with Zoom and video conferencing systems. (AB2023-348) Authorized 7-0
140. Amend the budget (request #8) in the amount of $2,557,297? Appropriated: $100,000 to fund the Racial Equity Commission; $100,000 to fund a new court recording system; $9,911 to fund the acquisition of firearm silencers from a 2022 casino donation; $134,731 to fund elections systems security improvements; $121,141 to fund a public health nurse position at the Health Department; $31,514 to fund state homeland security grant program; $1,560,000 to fund floodplain property acquisitions in Acme; $500,000 to fund the Atwood Road culvert replacement project. AB2023-324 (Ordinance 2023-032) Adopted 6-1, Ben Elenbaas opposed.
141. Authorize a no-interest interfund loan of $780,000 for the purchase of floodplain land near Acme? The general fund will loan the money to the Conservation Futures Fund. The loan will purchase 124 acres and an application will be submitted for a conservation easement. AB2023-326 (Ordinance 2023-033) Adopted 6-1, Ben Elenbaas opposed.
