Compiled by Barry MacHale
Action Taken at April 15, 2025 Meeting
Shall the council:
86. Fill a vacancy on the Forest Advisory Committee? The purpose of the committee is to provide review and recommendations to the council on issues that affect the forest industry. Robert Janicki was approved 7-0 to the commercial forest landowner position. He is the owner of Galbraith Tree Farm and Janicki Logging. (AB2025-185)
87. Authorize the executive to accept a $298,592 state grant (amendment #3) for various public health services? The original contract with the state Department of Health didn’t involve money; it was approved by the council at the 1/14/2025 meeting. This amendment increases funding and revises scopes of work for programs addressing: agricultural worker health; emergency preparedness, opioid use, public health infrastructure, and workforce development. The total amended agreement is in the amount of $5,617,278; it expires on 12/31/2027. (AB2025-283) Authorized 7-0
88. Authorize the executive to sign a $67,129 contract (amendment #4) with Bennett Engineering of Bellingham to monitor closed landfills? At the 5/21/2002 meeting, vote #89, the council approved a contract for the installation of a ground water and methane gas monitoring system for the closed Cedarville and Y Road landfills. At the 12/9/2002 meeting, vote #214, Bennett Engineering began collecting quarterly ground water samples, surface water samples from Carpenter Creek and monitoring seven methane gas wells. This amendment adds monitoring PFAS in water and 6PPD-Q sampling. The total amended contract is $157,265; it expires on 12/31/2025. (AB2025-284) Authorized 7-0
89. Authorize the executive to sign a two-year $180,000 contract with Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual & Domestic Violence for domestic violence and sexual assault services? The contract will provide administrative support for the commission and deliverables such as project and training partnerships with the county, Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, and all seven county school districts. The contract expires on 12/31/2026. (AB2025-288) Authorized 7-0
90. Authorize the executive to sign a $75,079 contract (amendment #3) with Astound Business Solutions (a Delaware Company — formerly Wave Business Solutions) for additional fiber optic connectivity from the Courthouse to 400 N. Commercial Street? The orginal contract was approved at the 118/2023 meeting, vote #311; it was for connecting the Courthouse and seven county building with fiber optics. The total amended contract is $469,882; it expires on 7/26/2028 (AB2025-296) Authorized 7-0
91. Authorize the executive to sign contracts with four cities — totaling $100,000 — for Operation Stonegarden FY23? The cities are: Blaine ($25,000), Everson ($25,000), Lynden ($25,000), and Sumas ($25,000). Funding for these contracts are from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The cities will use the money for border security. Participating cities will not enforce U.S. Immigration law. (AB2025-298/299/300/301) Approved 7-0
92. Authorize the executive to sign a $244,597 contract with Pacific Northwest Psychiatry dba the Sendan Center of Bellingham to increase kindergarten readiness? The contract will support partnerships with two early learning centers by providing staff coaching, evaluation, education and training of children ages 2-5, as well as individual consultation services. Financing is from the Healthy Children’s Fund. The contract expires on 4/30/2026. (AB2025-308) Authorized 7-0
93. Authorize the executive to sign a $506,253 contract with Whatcom Family YMCA to increase kindergarten readiness? The contract will provide music enrichment and developmental services such as speech-language and occupational therapy for children aged one month through 5 years of age. Financing is from the Healthy Children’s Fund. The contract expires on 4/30/2026. (AB2025-309) Authorized 7-0
94. Fill a vacancy on the Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection Advisory Committee? The committee advises the County Council on proposed actions and operations relating to the restoration of water quality in the watershed. Kyle Burton was approved 7-0. He is the owner of INEX Property Services in Blaine and a member of We Love Blaine. (AB2025-317)
95. Declare Whatcom County property as surplus and approve the transfer? (Public hearing held.) State law permits local authorities to declare county-owned properties as surplus and approve transfers of such. The Whatcom County Property Management Committee has recommended a transfer of the property located on Wharf Street in Bellingham to the city for use in a future project. The city will pay the appraised value of $15,000 and all related closing costs. AB2025-234 (Resolution 2025-014) Approved 7-0
96. Sell county tax title property by negotiation? (Public hearing held.) State law allows counties to sell real estate acquired by tax foreclosure. The Whatcom County Property Management Committee recommends the sale of property located north of the Northern Burlington Railroad near N. State Street in Bellingham for a negotiated sum of $887.27. AB2025-255 (Resolution 2025-015) Approved 7-0
97. Approve a conditional use permit and development agreement for the Ponderosa Estates MHC mobile home park? On 3/17/2025, the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner approved the installation of 122 new manufactured homes at the park, for a total of 163 units. The development agreement modifies standards such as parking space dimensions, guest parking requirements, storage areas created, road widening for emergency vehicles, unit density, phasing of units and infrastructure, and critical area buffers. AB2025-280 (Resolution 2025-016) Substitute approved 7-0
98. Amend the Whatcom County code relating to precinct boundaries? (Public hearing held.) Changes in county precinct lines are required due to adjusted boundaries for precinct 127, 128, 601, 605, and 611 and changes for outlying areas 130, 609 and 610. The City of Lynden annexations will be amended and added to the “Book of Election Precinct Maps.” The book is available through the Whatcom County Council office, the auditor’s office and website. AB2025-231 (Ordinance 2025-019) Adopted 7-0
99. Amend the Whatcom County code relating to zoning of home-based businesses? (Public hearing held.) These amendments will consolidate existing regulations for home occupations, cottage industries, agritourism, and commercial use of noncommercial properties for limited hosting of special events. AB2025-246 (Ordinance 2025-020) Adopted 7-0
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Action Taken at April 29, 2025 Meeting
Shall the council:
100. Authorize the executive director to sign two contracts — totaling $140,347 — for election related material? A $90,000 contract is with AMS Print and Mail Specialists of Blaine for the design, production and distribution of primary and general election voters’ pamphlets for local candidates. A contract not to exceed $50,347 is with Clear Ballot Group of Boston, Massachusetts, for ballot scanning equipment. (AB2025-322/339) Authorized 7-0
101. Authorize the executive to accept a $512,000 federal passthrough grant for the Martin Road/Anderson Creek bridge replacement project? The existing bridge is nearing the end of its service life and is deteriorating, requiring load limits and a one-lane configuration. The grant will support preliminary engineering and right-of-way acquisition; the county share is $50,000 for a total of $562,000. The county has been awarded $4,778,000 in federal funds; the total estimated replacement cost is $5,494,000. The grant expires on 12/31/2029. (AB2025-324) Authorized 7-0
102. Authorize the executive to sign a $590,829 contract (amendment #10) with Herrera Environmental Consultants of Seattle for continued services to update and broaden the scope of the 1999 Lower Nooksack River Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan and continue the floodplain integrated management planning process? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) The original $39,000 contract was approved at the 3/19/2018 meeting. This amendment provides funding for additional analysis, modeling, and technical support services. The total amended contract is $2,998,369; it expires on 3/31/2026. (AB2025-325) Authorized 7-0
103. Authorize the executive to accept a $105,000 federal grant from the U.S. Geological Survey to develop and assess alternate gaging methods for measuring discharge in the Nooksack River during high-flow events? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) Turbulent, high-volume river flows with high sediment loads at the North Cedarville gaging site make traditional discharge measurement methods difficult and the contract will include experimenting with using hand-held radar to measure surface velocity and ground-penetrating radar to measure depth. The county share is $222,698 and matching funds from the federal government for $105,000 are combined for a total of $327,699: the grant expires on 9/30/2027. (AB2025-326) Authorized 7-0
104. Authorize the executive to sign a $114,000 contract with the University of Washington to support integrated floodplain management planning? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) The contract will provide computer modeling assessments of the Nooksack River’s morphodynamic response to potential channel and floodplain modifications; it expires on 6/30/2025. (AB2025-327) Authorized 7-0
105. Authorize the executive to sign a $430,000 contract with the City of Ferndale to establish the responsibilities of the flood control district? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) The City of Ferndale and the flood control district each manage a section of a contiguous levee system within the city limits and unincorporated Whatcom County. This contract — 80 percent funded by a state grant — will continue the design and permitting phase, and acquisition of rights-of-way for the levee improvement project. (AB2025-329) Authorized 7-0
106. Authorize the executive to sign a $12,063 contract (amendment #1) with the Northwest Natural Resource Group of Seattle for development of a forest management plan in the Lake Whatcom Watershed? The council approved the original $133,060 contract at the 9/24/2024 meeting, vote #258. This amendment will expand planning services to cover 754 acres of forested parcels in the Lake Whatcom Watershed recently purchased by the City of Bellingham. The total amended contract is $145,123; the contract expires on 12/31/2025. (AB2025-331) Authorized 7-0
107. Authorize the executive to allow county departments to use the Washington State bid procurement list to temporarily rent equipment? The state has awarded contracts with 24 vendors for construction equipment. Besides the need for rarely use equipment, additional equipment may be required in emergency situations. Any one vendor in one fiscal year cannot exceed $100,000. This authorization expires on 12/31/2026. (AB2024-335) Authorized 7-0
108. Appoint councilmembers Ben Elenbaas and John Scanlon to participate in the health director recruitment process? On March 19, 2025, the health department director was fired by Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu. No specific reasons were given for the dismissal. (Council acting as the health board.) (AB2025-345) Appointed 7-0
109. Amend the 2025 Flood Control Zone District and Subzones budget (request #1) in the amount of $14,400? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) This amendment will be used for a GIS software upgrade. AB2025-302 (Resolution 2025-017) Approved 7-0
110. Amend the Whatcom County code relating to commuting reduction and adopt the 2025-2029 Commute Trip Reduction Plan for Whatcom County? (Public hearing held.) State law requires that Whatcom County adopt and review annually a plan for major employers in the affected urban growth area to increase citizens’ awareness of issues related to air quality, energy consumption, and traffic congestion issues as relate to their commute to work. The county last adopted a plan in 1999. AB2025-282 (Ordinance 2025-021) Adopted 7-0
111. Amend the North Fork Road/Kenney Creek project-based budget (request #2) for the fish passage project in the amount $453,200? The council approved the original $425,000 budget at the 11/23/2021 meeting, vote #290; it was amended at the 12/3/2024 meeting, vote #382. The existing five-foot diameter corrugated steel culvert which carries Kenney Creek under the North Fork Road has been identified as a barrier to fish passage and its replacement is considered one of the highest priorities in the county road system. This amendment will add additional state funding for the construction phase. The total amended budget is $5,015,389. AB2025-290 (Ordinance 2025-022) Adopted 7-0
112. Amend the project-based budget for courtroom audiovisual systems upgrade? At the 12/3/2024 meeting, vote #380, the council established the $462,000 project-based budget to replace technology no longer eligible for annual maintenance. This amendment will remove $180,000 in budget authority, as it is being replaced by a state grant. The total amended project budget is $282,000. AB2025-293 (Ordinance 2025-023) Adopted 7-0
113. Amend the project-based budget for the Lookout Mountain road repairs’ project fund (request #1) in the amount of $500,000? At the 9/24/2024 meeting, vote #274, the council established the original $264,000 project budget to make repairs on access roads. This amendment will fund engineering and mitigation to minimize erosion and divert future storm overflows on access roads used by land managers and telecommunications tower sites. The total amended budget is $764,600. AB2025-310 (Ordinance 2025-024) Adopted 7-0
114. Amend the 2025 budget (request #4) in the amount of $6,227,211? Expenditures: $440,000 for rapid DNA machine; $156,866 for continuation of justice assistance grant; $4,230,000 for capital investment in childcare; $350,000 to purchase an armored vehicle; $500,000 for forest road repairs; and $373,375 to complete HVAC system at Plantation Rifle Range. There are 12 additional expenses under $100,000 that total $176,970. AB2025-314 (Ordinance 2025-025) Adopted 6-1, Mark Stremler opposed.
