October-November 2006
Watching Government
Whatcom County Council
Compiled by League of Women Voters Council Watchers
Action Taken at August 8, 2006 Meeting
Shall the council:
160. Authorize the executive to enter into a $720,143 contract with David Evans and Associates of Bellingham for the Slater Road flood-proofing project? This contract is for the design and permitting phase. Flooding from Tenant Creek closes Slater Road and detours traffic through Ferndale. Two thousand feet of road will be raised and a bridge constructed. Lummi Business Council secured a federal grant for $3 million towards the total estimated cost of $6,777,000. See the 5/9/06 meeting, vote number 106, for additional information. (AB 2006-326) Approved 6-1, Dan McShane opposed.
161. Authorize the executive to enter into a $49,880 contract with Philip Williams and Associates of San Francisco to provide a feasibility report for the Birch Bay shoreline enhancement project? This is Phase 1 of a berm and promenade along Birch Bay Drive that is to be accomplished in three phases. This contract is for the design and permitting phase. The first phase will survey existing conditions and provide alternate designs for subsequent analysis with input from local committees and property owners. The contract runs from 8/8/06 through 12/31/07. (AB 2006-327) Approved 7-0
162. Authorize the executive to enter into a $229,557 contract with Whatcom Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic of Bellingham to provide services to mentally ill offenders? The clinic will assist offenders transition from jail to programs that offer mental health services. The contract runs from 7/1/06 through 6/30/07. (AB 2006-328) Approved 7-0
163. Adopt the annual six-year (2007-2012) transportation improvement program and the 14-year (2007-2020) Lummi Island ferry plan? State law requires counties to update their transportation plans yearly. It establishes a list of needed capital improvements, establishes eligibility for state and federal funds and sets the rate for impact fees. The estimated cost of six-year road plan is $74,128,000. Projected funding sources are federal ($25,345,000), state ($14,495,000) and local ($34,288,000). The ferry plan was amended to delay the Lummi Island ferry replacement from 2007 to 2008. AB 2006-320 (Resolution 2006-50) Amended and approved 6-1, Barbara Brenner opposed.*
164. Authorize the executive to award the low bid of $1,720,625 to Wilder Construction Company of Bellingham for improvements on Marine Drive? The original amount of $1,400,000 adopted at the 12/6/05 meeting, vote number 246, has been increased to $1,970,625 to cover design and construction costs. The project includes shoulder reconstruction with curb, gutter and sidewalks and a five-foot-wide bike lane from Bennett Drive to Locust Avenue. AB 2006-330 (Resolution 2006-51) Approved 7-0
165. Amend a resolution regarding sale of tax title property on Market Road? The resolution passed at the 7/11/06 meeting, vote number 144, contained a clerical error. The road fund, not the river and flood division of Whatcom County Public Works, purchased the property. AB 2006-331 (Resolution 2006-52) Approved 7-0
166. Support the creation of a comprehensive stormwater management plan for the Lake Whatcom Watershed? The executive is requested to develop the stormwater management plan. The plan should include an inventory of present treatment facilities; construction and maintenance plan for new facilities, a 20-year capital improvement plan and financing. The plan shall be submitted to the County Council for adoption by 12/l/07. AB 2006-322 (Resolution 2006-53) Approved 7-0
167. Authorize an assessment for the newly established Samish watershed subzone? The subzone was established at the 6/20/06 meeting, vote number 136. The assessment is for channel clearance and the replacement of a dam on Friday Creek. AB 2006-300 (Ordinance 2006-34) Adopted 7-0
168. Accept the southern portion of Whitecap Road off Chuckanut Drive as a county road? The privately owned portion is 700 feet; it is up to public road standards and is a public necessity as it provides access to a number of residences. AB 2006-303A (Ordinance 2006-35) Adopted 7-0
Action Taken at September 12, 2006 Meeting
Shall the council:
169. Adopt the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner recommendations on Horizons Village at Semiahmoo? The hearing examiner recommended approval of a site-specific rezone, binding site plan and planned unit development with conditions. A minimum of 80 and a maximum of 200 residential units with 134,000 square feet of commercial space will be developed on 36 acres with four acres of open space on the south side of Semiahmoo Parkway, west of Shintaffer Road. (AB 2006-286) Approved 7-0
170. Uphold the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner’s decision related to Horizons Village at Semiahmoo? The hearing examiner’s decision prohibited Fire District #13 from imposing impact fees on the development for fire and emergency services, determining that other funding mechanisms were available. The fire district filed an appeal maintaining that without the fees the development would cause a significant reduction in the ability to respond to emergencies within the Birch Bay Urban Growth Area. (AB 2006-308) Upheld 7-0
171. Authorize the executive to award the sole bid of $135,186 to Scholten Roofing of Lynden for roof repairs at the Bellingham Senior Center? The work was advertised and one bid was received. (AB 2006-336) Approved 7-0
172. Authorize the executive to enter into amendment #6 with the city of Ferndale for proposed annexation within the Ferndale Urban Growth Area? The city wants to annex 6.6 acres west of Church Road and north of Thornton Road (known as the Church Road annexation). The site has been within a short-term planning area since 1997, meeting the Comprehensive Plan requirements. (AB 2006-340) Approved 6-0-1, Sam Crawford abstained.
173. Authorize the executive to enter into a $47,545 amended contract with Wilson Engineering of Bellingham to reduce the impact of stormwater on Lake Whatcom water quality? The original contract for $247,220 was approved at the 11/22/05 meeting, vote number 226. Wilson Engineering will prepare plans, specifications and estimates for the Genera area stormwater retrofits and Cable Street reconstruction. The total amended contract is $294,765. (AB 2006-341) Approved 7-0
174. Approve revisions to the bylaws of the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee? The committee made changes regarding voting procedure and times, subcommittee meetings, grammatical and spelling corrections. (AB 2006-344) Amended and approved 5-2, Barbara Brenner and Ward Nelson opposed.
175. Authorize the executive to award the sole bid of $89,350 to Award Construction of Ferndale for the Marine Drive culvert rehabilitation project? Between Bennett Drive and Locust Avenue, a 32-inch polyethylene pipe will be placed inside an existing 36-inch concrete pipe. The work was advertised and one bid was received. AB 2006-330A (Resolution 2006-54) Approved 7-0
176. Approve recommendations for the expenditure of national forest related federal funds? These funds are no longer directly connected to timber sales. Federal law requires counties to spend 80 percent of the money for public schools and roads. This vote suggests how the other 20 percent should be spent: trails and stream restoration, culvert repair, search and rescue, jail work crews, purchase of easements, fire prevention, county planning and forestry. A committee, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, makes the final decision for Whatcom and Skagit counties. AB 2006-343 (Resolution 2006-55) Approved 7-0
177. Continue the interim ordinance prohibiting commercial salmon farming in Whatcom County waters? The moratorium began as a resolution at the 8/13/02 meeting, vote number 133; an emergency ordinance at the 12/7/04 meeting, vote number 219 and interim ordinances at the 2/8/05 meeting, vote number 45; 7/29/05 meeting, vote number 150 and 1/31/06 meeting, vote number 33. Interim ordinances must be renewed every six months. AB 2006-58A (Ordinance 2006-36) Adopted 6-1, Sam Crawford opposed.
178. Amend 2006 budget request #11 in the amount of $538,626? Transfer $190,622 from the general fund and $348,004 from the flood control zone district to finance new Lake Whatcom monitoring programs. The programs deal with tributary phosphorous monitoring, illicit discharge detection, tributary baseflow monitoring and continuous turbidity data. AB 2006-319 (Ordinance 2006-37) Adopted 7-0
179. Amend 2006 budget request #12 in the amount of $166,799? Authorize the expenditure of the grant from the Department of Homeland Security to combat terrorism. The county sheriff will receive $56,757; the police departments of Bellingham $52,018; Blaine $9,669; Everson/Nooksack $13,920; Ferndale $13,138; Lynden $13,598 and Sumas $7,700. AB 2006-334 (Ordinance 2006-38) Adopted 7-0
180. Amend the zoning map from long term to short term planning area for Horizons Village at Semiahmoo? Horizons Village is in the Blaine Urban Growth Area. For additional votes on Horizon Village at this meeting see 169 and 170. AB 2006-286A (Ordinance 2006-39) Adopted 7-0
