Compiled by Barry MacHale
Action Taken at August 11, 2026 Meeting
Shall the council:
207. Authorize the acquisition of certain property rights by eminent domain for the Birch Bay Lynden Road and Blaine Road intersection improvements project? (Public hearing held.) The project is being upgraded from a four-way stop to a single-lane roundabout. Public Works’ staff recommended that council members vote against the bill due to a last-minute agreement with the involved property owner. Construction is scheduled for spring or early summer of 2027. (AB2026-518) Failed 0-7, all council members opposed.
208. Authorize the executive to sign a $7,052,947 contract with AidKit, Inc. of Denver, Colorado, to develop and implement a childcare subsidy program that will serve families earning up to 75 percent of the state median income, $104,848/year for a family of four in Whatcom County? The contract will also fund public outreach, education, and enrollment navigation activities. This contract is a result of vote #378 at the 12/3/2024 meeting supporting the development and implementation of a localized child care provider rate augmentation and family subsidy program. It aligns with Strategy 3 of the Healthy Children’ s Fund Implementation Plan and it expires on 11/30/2028. (AB2026-590) Authorized 5-2, Ben Elenbaas and Mark Stremler opposed.
209. Authorize the executive to accept a $2,194,591 federal grant for the construction phase of the Birch Bay-Lynden Road and Blaine Road (SR-548) Intersection Improvements project? The project is being upgraded from a four-way stop to a single-lane roundabout. The total cost of the project is $3,802,670, with $1,608,079 from local road funds. Construction is scheduled for spring or early summer of 2027. (AB2026-595) Authorized 7-0
210. Authorize the executive to sign an agreement with the state of Washington for a Washington Conservation Corps crew and supervisor? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) The total cost of the crew is $359,267; the county will reimburse the state $269,450. The six-member crew will assist public works staff with installation and maintenance of native vegetation plantings, and conduct site assessment and monitoring of salmon recovery, fish passage and other stormwater projects. The agreement runs from10/1/2026 to 9/30/2027. (AB2026-599) Authorized 7-0
211. Approve regular and standing meeting dates for 2027? The Whatcom County Charter requires the council to meet 22 times per year. Meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, except for the first meeting in November which will be held on Wednesday. Meetings are held twice per month, except for one in August and December. The council meets as the health board and special committee of the whole six times during the year on the same day as council meetings (AB2026-605) Approved 7-0
212. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $277,342 to Western Refinery Services of Ferndale for 2026 Swift Creek channel excavation activities? The engineer’s estimate was $335,891. The major work includes: channel excavation ($105,000), mobilization ($33,000), shaping and capping of sediment stockpiles ($27,500), and quarry spalls ($27,088). Three bids were received; the high bid was $305,159. (AB2026-606) Authorized 7-0
213. Authorize the executive to sign a $251,825 five-year contract with Camis USA of Ann Arbor, Michigan, to provide a cloud-hosted reservation and point-of-sale system? The Parks & Recreation Department manages a variety of park facilities, programs, and revenue-generating services, including 134 campsites at two park locations with four campgrounds. These services currently generate approximately $750,000 in revenue annually. Camis USA will support revenue collection and visitor reservation software for the park facilities and programs. The contract expires on 8/10/2031. (AB2026-609) Authorized 7-0
214. Authorize the executive to accept a $845,141 federal grant for matching funding for the Canyon Creek Forest Conservation Easement? At the 8/6/2025 meeting, vote #195, the 610 acres of property was purchased for $1,830,000. Combined with a $500,000 grant from a state conservation program, this funding will meet 75 percent of the cost of the easement; the remaining 25 percent will be met by county Conservation Futures funding. The grant expires on 3/10/2028. (AB2026-610) Authorized 7-0
215. Authorize the executive to accept a $750,000 federal grant for matching funding for the Jensen Agriculture Conservation Easement? The county has applied for state Recreation and Conservation Office funding; if received, it will meet 100 percent of the cost of the easement. The grant expires on 3/31/2029. (AB2026-611) Authorized 7-0
216. Accept the proposed jail program and proceed with design and construction of the new jail? The jail program was developed over the last several months based on the priorities provided by council and the community, and the financial constraints of the project and professional experience of county staff and national experts. “The council accepts the jail program as presented and requests the executive to move forward with design and construction.”(AB2026-613) Motion approved 5-2, Mark Stremler and Jessica Rienstra opposed.
217. Confirm the executive’s appointment of James Marks as director of Whatcom County Planning & Development Services? James Marks is currently employed as the Alaska area planning principal at HDR Engineering in Alaska. Formerly, he was director of planning and program development at the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities. He holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Alaska. (AB2026-625) Confirmed 7-0
218. Rename the Canyon Lake Trail after local conservationist Randolf “Rand” Field Jack? Th e request for the renaming was submitted by the Whatcom Land Trust and recommended by the county Parks & Recreation Department. Th e 3.5 mile “Main Trail” at the Canyon Lake Community Forest will be renamed the “Rand Jack Forest Trail.” Th e Whatcom Land Trust will donate the materials for signage and kiosk replacement associated with the renaming. AB2026-616 (Resolution 2026-035) Approved 7-0
219. Temporarily change the format of council committee meetings on council meeting days? The changes are a pilot to promote efficiency for council members and staff and start on 9/15/2026 and continue through the end of December. The finance and administrative services committee will start by 9 a.m. and adjourn by 12 p.m. and the committee of the whole will start after the finance and administrative services committee and adjourn by 4:30 p.m. AB2026-623 (Resolution 2026-036) Approved 4-2-1, Ben Elenbaas and Mark Stremler opposed, Jessica Rienstra abstained.
220. Establish the Criminal Justice Sales Tax Fund? At the 4/14/2026 meeting, vote #96, the council established a sales and use tax for jail health and food services, lease payments for a new sheriff ’s office, and labor costs. Collection of the sales and use tax began in July 2026 and the county requires a separate fund to track and account for revenues and qualifying expenditures. The fund has a budget of $3,658,280 approved at the next vote. AB2026-580 (Ordinance 2026-044) Adopted 7-0
221. Amend the 2026 budget (request #11) in the amount of $3,658,280? Revenue: $3,658,280 for the new Criminal Justice Sales Tax special revenue fund for jail food and medical operating expenditures. AB2026-581 (Ordinance 2026-045) Adopted 7-0
222. Amend Whatcom County code relating to food service rules and regulations? (Acting as the Board of Health.) State law permits local health authorities to regulate retail food service establishments. Amendments include: updating references and definitions; removing outdated language; and the inclusion of a more educational and less punitive regulatory approach to retail food regulation. AB2026-559 (Ordinance 2026-046) Adopted 7-0
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Whatcom County Council
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