HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2014-055 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2014-300
CLEARANCES Initial Date - I t c ed}iin council Mice Agenda Date Assigned to:
Originator: y�/�, L `=' L`-,
Erin E. Osborn 157) Cl Witt- Sept. 16, 2014 Introduction
Dept. Head: ,�� SEF O 9 2014 NR Committee/
J.E. "Sam"Ryan fee ,/e/q Oct. 14, 2014 Hearing
Division Head: p( Public
Mark Personius 04P 01 COUNTY Oct. 28, 2014 H
earin.
Purchasing Budget: I ae Ally., C O U N C I L
Brad Bennett
Executive:
Jack Louws 9/$//9
TITLE OF DOC . E I' :
Ordinance terminating open space timber land classification and consolidating timber land classification with
designated forest land classification and declaring land previously classified as timber land to be designated
forest land.
ATTACHMENTS:
Cover Memo
Washington State Department of Revenue—FAQ on SB 6180
Draft Ordinance
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( X ) No Should Clerk schedule a hearing? (X) Yes ( ) No
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes N/A
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Effective June 12, 2014, and pursuant to RCW 84.34.400, a county legislative authority may opt to merge its
timber land classification with its designated forest land program. To merge the programs, the County Council
must enact an ordinance that:
(a) Terminates the timber land classification; and
(b) Declares that the land that had been classified as timber land is designated forest land under Chapter
84.33 RCW.
A draft ordinance is attached should the County Council decide to merge the two programs.
* Distribution Request: Assessors Office—Keith Willnauer, County Assessor
COMMITTEE ACTION: COUNCIL ACTION:
10/14/2014: Discussed 9/16/2014: Introduced 7-0, Proposed for 10/14/14
Natural Resources Committee Discussion and
Public Hearing
10/14/2014: Substitute Introduced 7-0
10/28/2014: Adopted 7-0, Ordinance 2014-055
Related County Contract#: Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution
Number: Ord. 2014-055
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing
on the County's website at: www.co.whatcom.wa.us/council.
SPONSORED BY: Consent
PROPOSED BY: Planning
INTRODUCTION DATE: 9/16/2014
ORDINANCE # 2014-055
TERMINATING OPEN SPACE TIMBER LAND CLASSIFICATION AND CONSOLIDATING
TIMBER LAND CLASSIFICATION WITH DESIGNATED FOREST LAND CLASSIFICATION
AND DECLARING LAND PREVIOUSLY CLASSIFIED AS TIMBER LAND TO BE
DESIGNATED FOREST LAND
WHEREAS, During the 2014 legislative session Senate Bill 6180 was passed by
the Washington State Legislature which allows a county legislative authority to merge
its open space timber land classification with its designated forest land program;
thereby terminating the open space timber land classification; and
WHEREAS, On June 12, 2014 the new law became effective; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County finds that is in the public interest to merge the
County's open space timber land classification with its designated forest land program;
and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County finds that for the purposes of this ordinance, the
definition of the term "designated forest land" contained in RCW 84.33.035 is adopted.
The term "designated forest land" as it is used in the context of this ordinance applies
only to the classification of forest land for tax purposes. It does not designate forest
lands of long term commercial significance for the purposes of comprehensive land use
planning under the Growth Management Act pursuant to Chapter 36.70A RCW.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that:
Section 1. All open space timber land classifications granted in Whatcom County
prior to the effective date of this ordinance are hereby terminated.
Section 2. Whatcom County declares that on the effective date of this ordinance, all
land previously classified as open space timber land pursuant to RCW 84.34 is now
designated as forest land under Chapter RCW 84.33.
Section 3. Whatcom County declares that the date the property was classified as
timber land is considered to be the date the property was designated as forest land.
Section 4. In accordance with state law (RCW 84.33.130) the Whatcom County
Assessor shall notify each owner of open space timber land of the merger by
certified mall.
Section 5. Adjudication of invalidity of any of the sections, clauses, or provisions of
this ordinance shall not affect or impair the validity of the ordinance as a whole or
any part thereof other than the part so declared to be invalid.
ADOPTED this 28th day of October 20 14
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
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rte., Dan®. i6•. vis,council Clerk Carl Weimer, Chairperson
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APPROVED as to form: PSSpproved ( ) Denied
v =uckingham, Jack Lp w Executi e
C Deputy Prosecutor
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