Whatcom County Council

Compiled by Barry MacHale

Action Taken at August 7, 2019 Meeting

Shall the council:
158. Authorize the executive to accept a $258,705 state grant for a pollution prevention assistance specialist? The specialist will provide technical assistance and outreach to small businesses related to implementing practices to reduce and eliminate toxic pollution of the Puget Sound region? The grant expires on 6/30/2021. (AB2019-404) Approved 7-0

159. Authorize the executive to sign a $321,055 contract with the Bellingham Fire Department? The contract will expand the community paramedic program by providing a second community paramedic vehicle. The program seeks to provide mobile integrated health services to reduce the overuse of 911 services by individuals enrolled in the Ground Response and Coordinated Engagement (GRACE) program. The contract expires on 12/31/2022. (AB2019-406) Approved 7-0

160. Authorize the executive to accept a $450,000 state grant relating to the Growth Management Act? The funding will help the county comply with the 2017 Growth Management Act’s review and evaluation program related to buildable lands. A buildable lands report is due on 6/30/2021. The grant expires on 6/30/2021. (AB2019-407) Approved 7-0

161. Authorize the executive to sign a  $135,000 contract (amendment #1) with Community Attributes of Seattle related to a new buildable lands program? At the 12/4/2018 meeting, vote #216, the council voted to enter into a contract to provide services relating to review and evaluation of the buildable requirements of the state Growth Management Act, including: public participation; coordination of countywide planning; data collection and analysis; production of a final report; and production of a draft comprehensive plan. The total amended contract is $221,350 and expires on 6/30/2021. (AB2019-408) Approved 7-0

162. Authorize the executive to sign a $820,000 grant agreement with the state of Washington? The agreement will provide $656,000 in federal ferry boat program funds and $164,000 in local matching funds for a total of $820,000 to support preservation work at the Lummi Island ferry terminal, including: repainting of the transfer span; overcoat of the tower and apron; and removal and replacement of high-strength bolts. (AB2019-409) Approved 7-0

163. Authorize the executive to sign a $67,000 grant agreement with the state of Washington for the removal of litter and illegally discarded material from public lands? The county has participated in the program since 1998. The program will target neighborhoods, trails, beaches and other public areas. and partner with community organizations. The expiration date is 6/30/2021. (AB2019-412) Approved 7-0

164. Authorize the executive to sign a $196,104 grant agreement with the state of Washington? The agreement will provide operation of a moderate-risk waste facility and three waste oil and antifreeze collection stations. The agreement requires $65,368 in local matching funds for a total of $261,471. An estimated 170 tons of moderate risk waste will be handled property as a result of these operations. The contract expires on 6/30/2021. (AB2019-413) Approved 7-0

165. Authorize the executive to sign a $163,300 contract (amendment #1) with BGC Engineering Inc. of Vancouver, Canada? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors) At the 12/4/2018 meeting, the council voted to enter into a contract to perform first phase review and analysis for the Glacier-Gallup Creeks levee replacement project. This amendment will fund the second phase of project development services, including: a hydrogeomorphic hazards assessment, alternatives development, analysis, and modeling. The total amended contract amount is $202,825; it expires on 12/31/2020. (AB2019-415) Approved 7-0

166. Authorize the executive to sign a $1,861,272 grant agreement (supplement #2) with the state of Washington? The agreement will provide $1,610,100 in federal funds and $260,896 in local matching funds for a total of $1,861,272 for the construction phase of the Birch Bay Drive and Pedestrian Facility Project. The project will include the development of a berm/trail to minimize beach erosion and storm damage, and to promote bicycling and walking. The total cost of the project is estimated at $14,150,000 with $10,978,000 in local funding. The project fund was established at the 11/20/2012 meeting, vote #199, and a project-based budget established at the 6/17/2014 meeting, vote #127. The total amended amount is $3,684,272. (AB2019-416) Approved 7-0

167. Authorize the executive to accept a $109,210 state grant that provides funds for solid wastes management compliance? The grant will provide funding for: investigation of solid waste management complaints; solid waste code enforcement; site inspections at conditionally permit-exempt solid waste handling facilities; and illegal dumping enforcement activities. The grant expires on 6/30/2021. (AB2019-420) Approved 7-0

168. Approve the Economic Development Investment Board’s recommendation of $2,650,000 for the city of Blaine? Economic Development Investment Board money comes from portions of the rural sales tax which can only be used for public facility projects. The Economic Development Investment Board recommended a $1,766,666 loan and a $883,333 grant to partially fund the Gateway regional stormwater and wetland facility project. (AB2019-421) Approved 7-0

169. Approve the Economic Development Investment Board’s recommendation of a $600,275 loan to the Bellingham Housing Authority? Economic Development Investment Board money comes from portions of the rural sales tax which can only be used for public facility projects.The Economic Development Investment Board recommended a $600,275 loan to be used to construct 69 housing units and the housing authority headquarters at the former Aloha Motel site on Samish Way. (AB2019-422) Approved 7-0

170. Authorize the executive to sign a $2,650,000 Economic Development Investment Board loan/grant agreement with the city of Blaine? Money for Economic Development Investment Board loans and grants comes from portions of the rural sales tax which can only be used for public facility projects. The Economic Development Investment Board recommended a $1,766,666 loan and a $883,333 grant to partially fund the Gateway regional stormwater and wetland facility project. The project will provide stormwater conveyance and detention for commercial and industrial entities in the city of Blaine. The contract  expires on 12/31/2034. (AB2019-423) Approved 7-0

171. Authorize the executive to sign a $407,130 contract with Whatcom County Fire District 7 to add one paramedic to the district?  The goal of the community paramedic program is to direct patients to the right care and reduce frequent 911 use supported by the Ground Response and Coordinated Engagement (GRACE) team. The expiration date is 7/31/2021. (AB2019-426) Approved 7-0

172. Amend the Coordinated Water Supply Plan to clarify and define language in the plan relating to the process of an applicant obtaining approval or denial from a Group A public water system? In addition, clarifying language will be added to Health Department forms used in the public water system service applications. (AB2019-427) Approved 7-0

173. Fill a vacancy in the Homeless Strategies Workgroup? At the 10/24/2017 meeting, vote #205, the council voted to create the workgroup for the purpose of identifying multiple policy initiatives that address the needs of individuals living unsheltered in Whatcom County. The membership was amended at the 7/23/2019 meeting, vote #150, expanding membership to 17. Applicants for the Homeless Advocate position were: Lynn Allen, American Bible, Debbie Fecteau, Jennifer Mansfield, Russ Sapienza, Kathy Standford and Markis Stidham. (AB2019-429) Appointed: Markis Stidham. Mr. Stidham works as a commercial fisherman and a carpenter in Whatcom County.

174. Support the executive’s decision to award the bid for the construction of the crisis stabilization facility? There is council support for a budget supplement of $1 million to be transferred to the project-based budget to provide the needed funds for the project. The Triage Center will expand from 13 beds to a 32-beds, 16 for mental health related needs and 16 for drug- and alcohol-related needs. Approved 5-1-1, Tyler Bryd opposed and Barbara Brenner (1) abstained.

175. Conduct a public hearing at a future date on a proposal to create a no-shooting zone in Drayton Harbor? The city of Blaine submitted a resolution on 7/12/2019 requesting that the council establish a no-shooting zone for all aquatic areas and tidelands within Drayton Harbor. State law allows counties to restrict the discharge of firearms within their jurisdictions to protect public health and safety. Twenty-two other no-shooting zones have been established in Whatcom County. AB2019-431 (Resolution 2019-035) Approved 6-1, Tyler Byrd opposed.

176. Adopt a statement of planning principles for any future public health, safety, and justice (jail) facility in Whatcom County? The resolution outlines three phases of planning: a phase one request for proposal for planning services to develop a needs assessment; a phase two facility design and alternatives analysis and a phase three initiative development effort to identify financing for any new or updated facilities and programs. AB2019-432 (Resolution 2019-036) Amended and approved 7-0.

177. Forward Cascadia Law Group’s recommendations for the Cherry Point UGA Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code Amendments to the Whatcom County Planning Commission? At the 1/29/2019 meeting, vote #23, council voted to provide funding and departmental assistance to the Cascadia Law Group to identify ways the county may choose to limit the negative impacts on public safety, transportation, the economy, and environment from crude oil, coal, liquefied petroleum gases, and natural gas transshipments from the Cherry Point UGA. AB2019-358 (Resolution 2019-037) Amended and approved 5-2, Barbara Brenner (2) and Tyler Byrd opposed.

178. Amend Whatcom County Code relating to boating, swimming, and two-stroke engine powered watercraft? The operation of two-stroke engine-powered craft on Lake Samish will be prohibited on 11/1/2020 for the purposes of protecting the lake as an important drinking source of residents in the area. Exceptions are made for two-stroke engines certified as meeting 2006 or later Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards. AB2019-383 (Ordinance 2019-059) Substitute adopted 6-0-1, Tyler Byrd abstained.

179. Adopt amendment #2 to the  Whatcom County Community Development Fund? Ordinance 81-06, allowed delayed loan payments for low and moderate income, single-family home owners to rehabilitate their homes with federal grants. This amendment will authorize the county treasurer to establish a fund for the receipt of loan program repayment proceeds and use of those proceeds to provide onsite sewage system program rebates and incentives for low income, single-family homeowners. AB2019-399 (Ordinance 2019-060)  Adopted 7-0

180. Amend  the 2019 budget (request #10) in the amount of $2,650,000? Appropriate: $2,650,000 to fund the Blaine Gateway regional stormwater and wetland facility project, intended to provide stormwater conveyance and detention for commercial and industrial entities in the city of Blaine. AB2019-400 (Ordinance 2019-061) Adopted 7-0

Action Taken at September 10, 2019 Meeting

Shall the council:
181. Review and approve a scoping document for the 2020 Shoreline Management Plan update? At the 5/27/1976 meeting, the County Council initially approved the Whatcom County Shoreline Master Program. Whatcom County is required to periodically review and update the program. The council approved amendments to the 1998 program at the 2/27/2007 meeting, vote #53. At the 5/7/2019 meeting, vote #102, council approved amendments to the Public Participation Plan for the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations that included the Shoreline Management Plan in the public participation process. Planning and Development Services received approximately 130 suggestions during that process that will be submitted for consideration. (AB2019-424) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

182. Authorize the executive to sign an agreement with the city of Bellingham to combine law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical dispatching services? The agreement will provide coordinated dispatch services for law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical communications by establishing a consolidated call and dispatch center. The expiration date is 6/30/2020. (AB2019-435) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

183. Authorize the executive to sign a $750,000 Economic Development Investment Board grant agreement with the Port of Bellingham? Money for Economic Development Investment Board loans and grants comes from portions of the rural sales tax which can only be used for public facility projects. The Economic Development Investment Board recommended a $750,000 grant to partially support the rural broadband construction project. (AB2019-436) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

184. Authorize the executive to accept a $350,008 state grant for home visiting services? The grant from the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families will provide support for home visit services for families participating in the Nurse Family Partnership program. The grant will fund home visits and other pregnancy-support services by the Nurse-Family Partnership to low-income, high-risk families in the county. The county first received a state grant to implement services for low-income first-time mothers at the 8/7/2012 meeting, vote #140. The program matches each family with a nurse to provide support. (AB2109-437) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

185. Authorize the executive to sign a $600,000 interagency agreement between the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District and the State of Washington? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) The source of these funds is the federal government. The agreement is with the state Department of Health and will support implementation of the pollution identification and correction program, including: project development, management, and reporting; program coordination; pollution identification and correction; outreach and education; and pollution control training and workshops. The agreement expires on 6/30/2121. (AB2019-439) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

186. Authorize the executive to sign a $125,000 agreement with the City of Bellingham? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) The agreement will support the development and implementation of a U.S. Geological Survey coastal storm-modeling system for the shoreline areas of Whatcom County. The system will be used to predict coastal flooding, erosion, and bluff failures related to storm events. The total cost of the project is anticipated to be approximately $500,000. The expiration date is 7/31/2121. (AB2019-440) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

187. Authorize the executive to sign a contract not to exceed $128,000 with US Imaging of Saginaw, Mich. to provide digital enhancement services for images? For the past 10 years, the auditor’s office has been expanding the number of digital images back to 1853. They will be made available to the public through the online document search function at the auditor’s office website. The contract expires on 12/31/2020. (AB2019-441) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

188. Authorize the executive to sign a $350,000 agreement with the city of Bellingham for the Lake Whatcom Homeowners Incentive Program? At the 7/9/2013 meeting, vote #111, the council voted to partner with the City of Bellingham to reduce stormwater runoff and associated phosphorous pollution flowing into Lake Whatcom. Homeowners within the sub-basin are eligible to apply for $1,000 to $6,000 reimbursement for the installation of landscape features on their property to improve water quality, including impervious surface and lawn removal, infiltration trenches, native plantings, porous paving, and rain gardens. The agreement will extend the Lake Whatcom Homeowner Incentive Program through the end of 2020. (AB2019-443) Approved 4-2, Barbara Brenner and Tyler Byrd opposed, Rud Browne absent.

189. Authorize the executive to sign a $50,000 contract with the Cascadia Consulting Group of Seattle? At the 12/5/2017 meeting, vote #259, the council established the Climate Impact Advisory Committee. The committee was created to advise council on the implementation of the climate action plan. At the 5/9/2006 meeting, vote #107, the council voted to participate in the Counties and Cities for Climate Protection Campaign. The climate action plan went into effect in January 2007, with a goal of 100 percent renewable energy use for Whatcom County operations. The Climate Impact Advisory Committee consists of 11 voting members appointed by the County Council. This contract will complete a greenhouse gas inventory and a review of the 2007 climate action plan. The contract expires on 6/30/2020. (AB2019-447) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

190. Approve a purchase not to exceed $104,060 of 28 computers from Datec, Inc. of Middletown, Conn. for the sheriff’s office? The purchase of 28 Panasonic CF-54 laptops will replace 28 laptops that are at the end of their useful life. This purchase will be funded by two $102,000 Department of Homeland Security grants. Datec, Inc. is an authorized Washington State contract reseller. (AB2019-449) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

191. Authorize the executive to sign a $85,113 contract with the city of Bellingham? The state legislature approved ESSB 5254 in 2017 and imposed review and evaluation requirements as part of the buildable lands component of the Growth Management Act. This contract will provide reimbursement to the city of Bellingham for analysis of buildable lands within city limits and other services. The contract expires on 6/30/2121.(AB2019-453) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

192. Authorize the executive to sign a $306,250 sub-recipient agreement with the Whatcom Conservation District? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) The agreement will support technical assistance and data collection efforts for non-dairy agricultural and farm series workshops for the pollution identification and correction program. (AB2019-454) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

193. Authorize the executive to sign a $148,600 interagency agreement with the state of Washington? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors.) This agreement with the state Department of Ecology will fund the environmental projects performed by a six-person Washington Conservation Corps crew. Projects will include: assisting with salmon habitat, restoration work, water quality monitoring, stormwater projects, and assisting county parks with the Noxious Weed Control program. The expiration date is 9/10/2020. (AB2019-455) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

194. Authorize the executive to sign a $50,000 contract with RE Sources of Bellingham for a countywide waste reduction and recycling education program? The countywide education program is for elementary, middle, and high school levels. The focus is on waste prevention, recycling, composting, household hazardous waste, and proper waste disposal. The contract expires on 8/31/2020. (AB2019-459) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

195. Authorize the executive to sign a $600,275 loan agreement with the Bellingham Housing Authority? Money for Economic Development Investment Board loans and grants comes from portions of the rural sales tax which can only be used for public facility projects. The loan will provide funding for phase one of the Samish Way Development Project. The phase will construct a 69-unit mixed use development on the former site of the Aloha Motel. (AB2019-462) Approved 5-0-1, Tyler Byrd abstained, Rud Browne absent.

196. Request a sales tax credit from the state to support housing development and rental assistance for individuals with low incomes? During the 2019 regular session, the state legislature approved House Bill 1406, authorizing local governments to impose a local sales and use tax to be used to address a shortage of housing available to individuals with incomes at or below sixty per cent of the area median income. After conversations with cities, it was decided that the county will take the credit on behalf of the entire county. In addition to approving a resolution of intent, the state requires local governments requesting the rebate to adopt an ordinance initiating the collection of funds. AB2019-467 (Resolution 2019-038) Approved 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

197. Amend the 2019 budget (request #11) in the amount of $986,542? Appropriate: $10,000 to fund training for the sheriff’s office crisis negotiations team; $23,363 to fund a corrective transfer between the Crime Victim Penalties and the Victim Witness Fund; $45,018 to fund What-Comm E911 emergency operations; $30,611 to fund inter-departmental data sharing software used by the GRACE program; $180,775 to fund GRACE program activities to reduce the use of emergency services by individuals with behavioral health concerns; $96,500 to fund behavioral health prevention services in Whatcom County schools; $600,275 to fund phase one of the Bellingham Housing Authority Samish Way Urban Village project. AB2019-419 (Ordinance 2019-062) Adopted 6-0, Rud Browne absent.

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1. From Barbara Brenner:: I abstained because I support the goal to helping alleviating the needs but I don’t support separating mental health related needs from drug and alcohol-related needs since I believe they are all related.

2. From Barbara Brenner: I opposed the Cherry Point interim moratorium on exporting unrefined fossil fuels because it was supposed to only be for unrefined fossil fuel, which I support, but it also included materials that are not unrefined such as propane, butane, and natural gas (an extremely clean fuel). I would like to see more refining done in the United States instead of shipping any unrefined fossil fuel off North America, especially shipments to Asia, including China. For many years I have researched wild salmon. During my research I found wild salmon are being very negatively impacted by processing/refining in Asia (having few regulations), which has caused lots of acidity and other pollution to come our way by the prevailing winds and currents. Although people here don’t see that pollution, it is still a huge problem! Our regulations are much stronger, our refineries are much better, and treatment of their employees is very good. If it isn’t refined here it will be refined somewhere else, especially Asia, and would likely increase the pollution we receive. I also do not believe the law firm chosen is objective.

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