April 2013
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by the League of Women Voters
Action Taken at February 12, 2013 Meeting
Shall the council:
24. Authorize the executive to sign a $30,000 contract with the federal government for maintenance of the two climatological data collection stations? (Council acting as flood control district board of supervisors) The SNOTEL (SNOwpack TELemetry) sites are part of the county’s early flood warning system in the upper Nooksack River basin. The sites on Elbow Lake and Wells Creek were installed in 1995; they conduct snow surveys and provide stream flow forecasts. The data are also used by the National Weather Service to predict the river’s response. The county pays $6,000 a year for site maintenance. The contract starts on 1/1/2013 and ends on 12/31/2017. (AB2013-081) Approved 7-0
25. Authorize the executive to sign a $142,115 contract with Whatcom Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic of Bellingham for behavioral health primary care? The funds will be used to remodel existing space, buy equipment and hire start-up staffing for mental health clients with chronic physical health conditions. The program will be sustained by Medicare and Medicaid fee revenue. The contract runs from 2/19/2013 through 4/19/2014. A final progress report is due 5/15/2014. (AB2013-084) Approved 7-0
26. Authorize the executive to sign a $1,719,299 contract with Spillman Technologies of Salt Lake City, Utah, to acquire, install and maintain electronics records management, jail management and mobile data systems? The new systems are required to comply with national standards for state and federal mandates on crime statistics reporting. The contract is ongoing until vacated by either party. (AB2013-085) Approved 7-0
27. Confirm the executive’s appointment of Elizabeth Kilanowski to the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee? (AB2013-089) Confirmed 7-0
28. Authorize the sale of Whatcom County surplus property by public auction or sealed bid? (Public hearing held) The surplus property comprise objects which are too costly to repair or are outdated. The property includes: two vans (milage between 176,093 and 173,982), six buses (milage between 288,532 and 180,403), six computer printers, a large format copier, a projector and a retired narcotics K9 dog (before the sale the dog was removed from the list and found a home). AB2013-049A (Resolution 2013-005) Approved 7-0
29. Urge the Washington State Legislature to authorize a fourth Superior Court judge for Whatcom County? The population of the Whatcom County has increased from 89,700 in 1973 when a third judge was approved to the current population of 203,663. The average number of persons per judge in the state is 34,658 and in Whatcom County it is 67,877, nearly twice the state average. The increase in caseload has caused costly delays in the processing of criminal and civil cases. The county urges the legislature to provide the increase to four judges to be filled the first week in January, 2015. AB2013-082 (Resolution 2013-006) Approved 7-0
30. Initiate comprehensive plan and zoning amendments for 2013? Annual amendments would implement changes to the zoning map, zoning code and comprehensive plan. Eleven applications and three from previous years were forwarded to the Planning Commission(1) for further review in 2013. AB2013-088 (Resolution 2013-007) Substitute approved 7-0
31. Amend the 2013 budget (request #2) in the amount of $661,635? Appropriate: $421,473 to the sheriff’s office to fund a records management system software maintenance contract; $240,162 to transfer funds to the record management system project. Removed from the budget amendment was a $255,000 request from both Public Utility District #1 and the county health department for long-range water supply planning. AB2013-074 (Ordinance 2013-005) Substitute adopted 7-0
32. Establish a project-based budget for phase 1 of the sheriff’s record management system project? At the 11/20/2012 meeting, vote #203, the council established a project fund for the record management systems to comply with federally mandated criminal offense reporting standards. This vote amends the previous action and appropriates an additional $240,162 to complete the project. This ordinance will lapse when the project is completed or not funded for three years. AB2013-075 (Ordinance 2013-006) Adopted 7-0
33. Authorize an interfund loan of $661,635 to finance a portion of the sheriff’s records management system? The loan, from the road fund to general fund at one percent interest, will be repaid over five years. The money is also needed to fund a long-term software maintenance contract. AB2013-076 (Ordinance 2013-007) Adopted 7-0
34. Amend the Comprehensive Plan to allow interlocal agreements with service providers serving unincorporated Urban Growth Areas? The service providers include water and sewer districts serving the unincorporated UGAs. As amended such interlocal agreements will be made only if appropriate. AB2012-328 (Ordinance 2013-008) Adopted 7-0
35. Amend the capital facility planning chapter of the Comprehensive Plan for the eastern portion of the county? The amendments are: Water District 13 comprehensive sewer plan; Fire District 14 capital facility plan; the sewer and fire protection provisions of the 20-year capital facilities plan. AB2012-329 (Ordinance 2013-009) Adopted 7-0
(1) Initiated and forwarded to the planning commission:
2013-01 Amend and review provisions of the comprehensive plan relating to capital facilities.
2013-02 Review and potentially modify the level of service standards for correction facilities.
2013-03 Review and potentially revise the county code to adopt city of Bellingham development standards for Bellingham UGA.
2013-04 Review and potentially revise the county code to adopt city of Ferndale development standards for the Ferndale UGA.
2013-05 Repeal the Birch Bay-Blaine subarea plan which was adopted prior to enactment of GMA..
2013-06 Repeal the Chuckanut-Lake Samish subarea plan which was adopted prior to enactment of GMA.
2013-07 Repeal the Lynden-Nooksack Valley subarea plan which was adopted prior to enactment of GMA.
2013-08 Amend the mineral resource land (MRL) policies and MRL designation criterial in the comprehensive plan.
2013-09 Amend the six-year capital improvement program for Whatcom County facilities.
2012-07 Review the rural study areas of the Whatcom County Agricultural Strategic Plan.
2012-08 Amend the zoning ordinance to allow small scale slaughterhouses in the agriculture zoning district.
2012-09 Amend the zoning map for 19.7 acres on the west side of North Star Road, south of Brown Road to allow the expansion of mineral resource lands.
2012-10 Amend the transportation chapter of comprehensive plan to include transportation improvements with a multimodal approach.
2012-11 Amend portions of the zoning ordinance to ensure consistency with the Growth Management Act and the comprehensive plan.
2012-12 Amend rural elements of the comprehensive plan, including provisions relating to limited areas of more intensive rural development.
2011-09 Change the zoning overlay on rural forestry to mineral resource lands on approximately 28 acres of land on Lummi Island.
2011-12 Implement new land use policies in Birch Bay to accommodate growth in a way that protects the environment and respects landowners’ interests.
2011-15 Amend the zoning ordinance related to stormwater management, vegetation retention, re-vegetation options, erosion and sediment control in order to address the Total Maximum Daily Load finds for Lake Whatcom.
2008-01 Allow offsite wetland mitigation and habitat restoration as a form of compensatory mitigation in all zoning districts.
