HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2009-002 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO, 2009 -067
CLEARANCES Initial Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned to:
gi i
Orginator: s C.Dean / �2.( � j j C L,W - V I' J January 13, 2009 Introduction
Division Head:
1 / 27 / 09 Nat Res / Council
Dept. Head: j�q JAN 0 0 2009
Davidstalheim �� � � `/ WHATCOM COUNTY
Prosecutor: -011—,„4.- - I -dq COUNCIL
Purchasing/Budget:
Executive: 9 ,t- kr7
TITLE OF DOCUMENT:
Agricultural Advisory Committee, code amendment (WCC 2 .34) .
ATTACHMENTS: Memo and Ordinance w/Exhibit:
Exhibit A : Proposed ordinance changes .
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( X ) NO Should Clerk schedule a hearing? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( X ) NO Requested Date:
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: aphis item is an ordinance or requires a public
hearing, you must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate. Be
clear in explaining the intent of the action.)
The intent is to update and revise the language that established the Agricultural Advisory Committee (WCC 2 .34).
The changes include adding, a "citizen with expertise in agricultural programs" to the committee; capping the number of members at 13
instead of specifying that there be 13 members; and adding a non-voting FFA youth member as a non-voting member. Language was
removed that stated one of the committee' s functions was to "Establish, promote and implement a comprehensive agricultural
protection/preservation program . . . " This function is beyond the scope of an advisory committee.
COMMITTEE ACTION: COUNCIL ACTION:
1 / 27 / 2009 : Amended and forwarded to Council 1 / 13 / 2009 : Introduced
for approval 1 / 27 / 2009 : . Council Amended & Adopted 7 - 0
Ord . 2009 - 002
Related County Contract #: Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number:
Ord . 2009 - 002
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing on
the County 's website at: wwx. co. whatcom. wa. us/council.
1 SPONSORED BY : Consent
2 PROPOSED BY: Planning
3 INTRODUCTION DATE : 1 / 13 / 09
4
5 ORDINANCE NO . 2009-002
6
7 AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 2. 34,
8 AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
9
10 WHEREAS, Whatcom County government recognizes agriculture as a major
11 contributor to the local economy and a high quality of life for Whatcom County citizens ; and
12
13 WHEREAS, the Agricultural Advisory Committee was established by the Whatcom
14 County Council in 2001 through Ordinance 2001 - 036 ; and
15
16 WHEREAS, the Agricultural Advisory Committee has provided valuable service to the
17 County Council and to the people of Whatcom County regarding agricultural issues ; and
18
19 WHEREAS, the Agricultural Advisory Committee will continue to provide valuable
20 input into the Urban Growth Area review and the Whatcom 2031 comprehensive planning
21 process ; and
22
23 WHEREAS, members of the Agricultural Advisory Committee met on November 19 ,
24 2008 , and requested changes to the code to enable the committee to be more effective ;
25 and
26
27 WHEREAS, certain language in the code establishing the Agricultural Advisory
28 Committee is outdated ;
29
30 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that the
31 WhatcoNcRywity Code be amended as shown in the attached exhibit to this ordinance .
34 �`c,`QJ HP•19104/ , 27th day of January , 2009 .
35 ? o : OF Ark' •i WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
36 = A .Via COU It : WHATCOM COON , AS ' INGTON
37 E 19
38 . �l�>_ ,_. ���
39 Darrg &F - D v CleEk of the Council h Flee /ood , Council Chair
41 '0, t • • • ' \``
" �.
42 / WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE
43 APPROVED' 'AS T . OM r WHATCP ' • JUNTY, WASHINGTON
44 /AO
46
47 Civil De y Prosecutor Pete Kreme ounty Executive
48
49 ( Approved ( ) Denied
50 7 51 Date Signed : 0.? '" Gti`
52
53
1 EXHIBIT A
2
3 CHAPTER 2. 34 - AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
4 Sections :
5 2 . 34 . 010 Established .
6 2 . 34 . 020 Purpose .
7 2 . 34 . 030 Function .
8 2 . 34 . 040 Membership - Term of office .
9 2 . 34 . 050 Organization - Meetings .
10 2 . 34 . 060 Committee staffing .
11
12 2 . 34. 030 Function .
13 To report directly to county council or other appropriate advisory boards, commissions and
14 committees as necessary to carry out the following functions :
15 A . Review and provide recommendations on zoning , comprehensive plans, subarea plans,
16 regulations and annexation issues, and of proposals which directly affect lands or
17 agricultural activities in or adjacent to the agricultural district, or the agricultural protection
18 overlay district, or other lands of agricultural significance ; and
19 B . Assist the County and make recommendations in the effort to establish , promote and
20 implement a comprehensive agricultural protection/preservation program ; and
21 C . Analyze and develop recommendations that will assist the county in addressing other
22 issues which affect agriculture at the county, regional , state and federal levels ; and
23 D . Assist, upon request of the director of planning and development services, that
24 department by providing review and comment on comprehensive planning and zoning
25 related issues in or adjacent to the agricultural district, the agricultural protection overlay
26 district, or other lands of agricultural significance . ( Ord . 2001 - 036 ) .
27
28 2. 34 . 040 Membership - Term of office .
29 A . The committee shall consist of no more than 13 voting members consisting of one
30 member from the Whatcom County conservation district board , one representative from
31 Whatcom Farm Friends, one representative from the agricultural processing industry, one
32 citizen representing consumers of agricultural products, and one citizen with expertise in
33 agricultural programs .
34
35 The remaining voting positions are to include agricultural producers representing both large
36 and small scale producers of the various agricultural commodities produced in Whatcom
37 County . A quorum shall consist of at least half of the appointed voting members .
38 In addition to the voting members, a representative of Washington State University
39 Extension , Natural Resource Conservation Service, Whatcom County conservation district,
40 FFA youth , and Whatcom County department of planning and development services will
41 serve on the committee in an ex- officio capacity .
42 B . The county executive will appoint the voting citizen committee members with final
43 confirmation by county council . Citizen member terms will be four years . ( Ord . 2001 - 036 ) .
44
45 2. 34 . 050 Organization - Meetings.
46 Meetings of the committee shall be open and accessible to the public and shall be subject to
47 the Open Public Meetings Act . The committee shall determine its own meeting schedule, but
48 shall meet at least four times per year. At every meeting , the committee will schedule an
49 open session to take public comment on agricultural issues . Written records of meetings,
50 resolutions, findings and recommendations shall be kept and such records shall be public .
51 The committee shall adopt its own rules and procedures for the conduct of business . The
52 committee shall elect a chairperson from among its members who shall preside at its
53 meetings . ( Ord . 2001 - 036 ) .
54