Whatcom County Council

Action Taken at January 14, 2014 Meeting

Shall the council:

1. Authorize the executive to sign a $217,789 contract with the North Sound Mental Health Administration of Mount Vernon for the Crisis Respite Triage Center and operation of the Rainbow Recovery Center? The beds at the crisis respite beds are operated by Whatcom Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic. Of the total $45,756 will cover the cost of medical services being provided on site and $172,033 will support the operation of Rainbow Recovery Center, a facility that helps adults with mental illness recover and integrate into the community. The contract expires on 12/31/2014. (AB2014-037) Approved 6-0, Ken Mann absent

Action Taken at January 28, 2014 Meeting

Shall the council:

2. Fill four vacancies on the Horticultural Pest and Disease Board? There were no applications for the vacancies (AB2013-387)

3. Fill two vacancies on the Noxious Weed Control Board? There were no applications for the vacancies (AB2013-387)

4. Fill five vacancies on the Open Space Advisory Committee? Incumbent Theresa Sygitowicz was the only applicant, and was confirmed. (AB2013-387)

5. Fill three vacancies on the Whatcom County Planning Commission? Jeff Rainey (incumbent), David Hunter, Delaine Clizbe and Nicole Oliver applied for one vacancy in District 1. David Hunter was approved for a four year term. Rod Erickson (incumbent), Bert Webber, Walter Haugen, Terese Vanassche. Kevin Van Beek, Natalie McClendon and David Arnold applied for two vacancies in District 3. Walter Haugen and Natalie McClendon were approved for four year terms. (AB2013-387)

6. Fill three vacancies on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee? Incumbents Amber Jones and Marjorie Ann Leone applied and were confirmed.

7. Fill three vacancies on the Surface Mining Advisory Committee? Judy Dudley was the only applicant and was confirmed.

8. Authorize the executive to sign a $405,000 agreement with the city of Bellingham and the Port of Bellingham to insure consistency in delivery of economic development services? In 2012, the Port of Bellingham assumed the lead coordination responsibility for economic development activities in Whatcom County, which includes contracting with service providers to deliver business start-up, retention, recruitment, expansion, and related services. For this year, Whatcom County will contribute $132,500, the port $66,250 the city $66,250 for a total of $265,000. The agreement expires on 12/31/2016. (AB2013-426) Approved 7-0

9. Authorize the executive to approve expenditures of up to $500,000 for traffic line paint from vendors? Whatcom County will obtain the paint from two companies — Alpine Products Inc of Auburn and Ennis Paint of Ennis, Texas. This should alleviate the supply problems that have occurred in recent years. The paint will be used for road maintenance in 2014. Whatcom County has an agreement with Pierce County to use their bid documents. The paint is purchased as needed, the expenditures for 2013 to date are $295,391. (AB2014-045/046) Approved 7-0

10. Authorize the executive to sign a $25,000 contract with Sustainable Connections of Bellingham for the Savor Whatcom Food & Farms program? The program is designed to promote tourism and overnight stays in Whatcom County. It will encourage tourists from Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. metro areas to discover culinary and agritourism experiences in Whatcom County. The contract expires on 12/31/2014. (AB2014-047) Approved 7-0

11. Authorize the executive to sign a $167,200 contract with PND Engineers of Seattle to design docking structures for Gooseberry Point and Lummi Island ferry terminals? The broken piles and rotting timbers will be replaced with steel structures. Phase one will be the Gooseberry Point docking structure replacement in 2014, and phase two will be replacing the Lummi Island deteriorating breakwater and docking structures in 2015. This contract expires on 12/31/2014. (AB2014-050) Approved 7-0

12. Authorize the executive to sign an agreement with the State of Washington for the Washington Conservation Corps? The five corps members, a crew supervisor, vehicle, and basic hand tools will work from 1/1/2014 through 9/24/2014 on water quality, habitat monitoring and improvement projects, new restoration projects, and maintaining existing projects. The total cost is $115,210, with the county providing $60,000 and the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association providing $55,210 under a separate agreement that began 10/1/2013. (AB2014-051) Approved 7-0

13. Authorize the executive to sign a $29,710 contract with Monarch Media of Santa Cruz, California, for the development of an online aquatic invasive species awareness course? The contract is for a joint program being implemented by Whatcom County, City of Bellingham and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District for a website, reporting system, and three years of web-hosting and support. The course is designed to take thirty minutes and will include aquatic invasive species educational material and examination to complete in order to receive a discount on the cost of an annual inspection permit. The contract will commence on 1/29/2014 and terminate on 3/31/2017. (AB 2014-052) Approved 6-1, Barbara Brenner1 opposed.

14. Urge the federal government to increased safety standards for rail-tank cars? The council encourages the U.S. Department of Transportation — Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration — to increased safety standards by adopting, as soon as possible, rules requiring safety retrofitting of existing rail cars, and encourage efforts of by the rail industry to retrofit or replace rail-tank cars to meet puncture-resistant standards. AB2014-064 (Resolution 2014-001) Approved 7-0

15. Amend the 2014 budget (request #4) in the amount of $775,964? Appropriate: $14,582 for sheriff's department ammunition; $76,912 to the health department for the Prevention Partnership for Success program; $635,000 for engineering design and construction to fund contracts for road projects; $42,600 to fund health insurance cost increase for correctional deputies; $6,600 to fund health insurance cost increase for ferry workers. AB2014-041 (Ordinance 2014-001) Adopted 7-0

16. Amend the Whatcom Comprehensive Plan and maps to implement changes relating to rural land use planning? The action amends the Comprehensive Plan by referencing existing codes that show how Whatcom County is protecting water quality. This action was taken to resolve an issue appealed to the Growth Management Hearings Board, who found that the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Rural Element did not contain measures to protect water quality. AB2014-040 (Ordinance 2014-002) Adopted 7-0

17. Repeal the 1986 Lynden-Nooksack Valley Subarea Plan and amend provisions in the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan relating to subarea plans? The revised Subarea Plan complies with the Growth Management Act. The plan was adopted in 1986 prior to the enactment of the Growth Management Act in 1990. The 1986 plan did not address urban growth areas, contained different land use designations, was inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan's rural element, and had a different planning period. AB2013-203 (Ordinance 2014-003) Adopted 5-0-2, Barry Buchanan and Rud Browne abstained.

18. Repeal the 1987 Birch Bay-Blaine Subarea Plan and amending provisions in the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan relating to subarea plans? The revised Subarea Plan complies with the Growth Management Act. The plan was adopted in 1987, prior to the enactment of the Growth Management Act in 1990. The 1987 plan did not address urban growth areas, contained different land use designations, was inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan's rural element, and had a different planning period. AB2013-204 (Ordinance 2014-004) Adopted 5-0-2, Barry Buchanan and Rud Browne abstained.

19. Repeal the 1986 Chuckanut-Lake Samish Subarea Plan and amending provisions in the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan relating to subarea plans? The revised Subarea Plan complies with the Growth Management Act. The plan was adopted in 1986, prior to the enactment of the Growth Management Act in 1990. The 1987 plan did not address urban growth areas, contained different land use designations, was inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan's rural element, and had a different planning period. AB2014-205 (Ordinance 2014-005) Adopted 5-0-2, Barry Buchanan and Rud Browne abstained.

20. Adopt amendments to the Point Roberts Character Plan? The amendments modify language that specifies how the Point Roberts Community Advisory Commission is established and allows it to fulfill a role in providing advice and recommendations to the county executive and County Council on needs and issues specific to their community. AB2013-306 (Ordinance 2014-006) Adopted 5-0-2, Barry Buchanan and Rud Browne abstained.

21. Adopt amendments to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan relating to capital facility planning for special purpose districts? The amendments adopt by reference or incorporate information from the plans of the Columbia Valley Water District, Water District 13, Mt. Baker School District, and Fire District 8 into the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and make related changes. AB2013-345 (Ordinance 2014-007) Adopted 5-0-2, Barry Buchanan and Rud Browne abstained.

22. As a group, approve the five above comprehensive plan amendments? Adopted 5-0-2, Barry Buchanan and Rud Browne abstained.