HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2000-046WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2000 -347
CLEARANCES
What
Date
Date Reeelvedin CouticilOtfine
Aenda Dale
Assinedan
riearor: Mm W.Aamot
[ ill
-
sFP 19 2000
tNhi: +TC(3PN i (7UNTY
COUNCIL
9126100
Introduction
Division Bead: Sylsia Goodwin
10/5/00
P&D Worksession
Dept. Head: J@ Ryan, Inholm
Director
q�l3ld
10/24/00
Council
Proserwor."ren Fmkes
Parchumagaudger:
Excadve: PemSremen
-/
SUBJECT.- Ordinance adopting Comprehensive Plan amendments relating to the Six Year Capitallmprovement Program (2001 to
2006), capital fac0ities, and transportation.
ATTACHMENT:
(1) Proposed Ordinance
SEPA review required? ( x ) Yes ( ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( x )yes; ( ) NO
Should Clerk schedule a hearing? ( ) Yes ( z' ) NO
Requested Dale:
'The Council must hold a hearing ifthey want to change the Planning
Commission's recommendation (WCC20.10.770).
SUMMARY STATEMENT: Amending the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan
as follows:
Adopting the Six -Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) 2001 -2006 for
County parks, buildings, correction facilities and roads to replace the existing
COP 2000 -2005.
• Amending the Capital Facilities chapter to provide for updating of the Six -Year
CUP every other year, instead of every year.
• Amending the Transportation and Capital Facilities chapters to comply with
House Hill 1487 by incorporating information on state highways and
modifying the level of service standards for state highways to bring
consistency with state and regional plans.
Distribution Request
Indicate those who should recd a copy after Council action.
List speLcsi` "awns to the right.
ADS Fadlitks Management
Mike Russell
ADS Furnace
ADSBuman Resources
AASGfo Serum
Assessor
Awfisor
Cooperative Exmmwn
Cooper
District Court
5seeurive
Health
Nearing Examiner
Jail
C' __-- .•••A�•&r.
2000 -341 10/2412000: Held in committee to November 14th
11/14/2000: Adopted 7 -0, Ord. 02000.046
Related Loamy wntract a:
Related File Numbers: File RCMP2000 -00002
Juvenile
Parks
Roger DeS din
Planting
J.E. °SamaRyan
Prosecutor
Public Works
Sheri
Superior Court
TKCSYKr
Ocher
Ordinance or Reso 1,: Number
(this item): 'J1T•
EE AB2000 -349 FOR PLANNING COMMISSION BACKGROUND DOCUMENTATION
PSGUM CMG
N
tr
WHATCOM COUNTY �9yHlH�t�`v SAM RYAN, C.B.O.
PLANNING & Interim Director
DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES SYLVIA GOODWIN, A.I.C.P.
5280 Northwest Drive Planning Manager
Bellingham, WA 98226 I� ryo I� p�
Memo RECIGVVEQ
Date: September 15, 2000 SEP 15 2000
To: The Honorable Whatcom County Council ETE KREMEN
COUNTY EXECUTIVE
From: Matt W. Aamot, Senior Planner
Subject: Concurrent Review of Comprehensive Plan Amendments
As you know, the Growth Management Act requires that comprehensive plan
amendments be considered only once per year, with certain exceptions. The
amendments must be considered concurrently so that cumulative impacts can be
assessed. This year, the County Council initiated five comprehensive plan
amendments for review under Resolution No. 2000 -005. One of the comprehensive
plan amendments included an associated rezone request.
The Planning Commission issued "Findings of Fact, Reasons for Action,
Conclusions and Recommendations" on the package of the five amendments on
September 14, 2000. These amendments are:
1. Lynden Urban Growth Area Boundary (CMP 2000 - 00003). This amendment
was already introduced under AB 2000 -323.
2. Unincorporated Urban Growth Area /Short Term Planning Area Policies (CMP
2000 - 00004).
3. Forestry Lands Map Clarifications (CMP 2000 - 00005).
4. Bellingham Urban Growth Area - Urban Residential to Light Impact Industrial
Rezone (CMP 2000 - 00006).
5. Capital Facilities/Transportation Amendments (CMP 2000 - 00002).
The Council can not adopt the amendments until 60 days after they were sent to the
State Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development, which occurred
on September 12, 2000 (RCW 36.70A.106). Additionally, the amendments have to
be adopted prior to or along with the budget (WCC 20.10.040). Therefore, the
request should be voted on at the Council's November 14, 2000 or November 28,
2000 meeting.
1:2 Planning Division/rezone/Comp Plan 2000 /CMP200 Cover lelw.do
��om co
3 v 4�i
WHATCOM COUNTY h. 2 SAM RYAN, C.B.O.
PLANNING & 9s ' "` Interim Director
DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES SYLVIA GOODWIN, A.I.C.P.
5280 Northwest Drive Planning Manager
Bellingham, WA 98226
G°3FCGEWE®
Memo NOV 0 2 2000
Date: November 2, 2000 VVHATCOM COUNTY
To: The Honorable Whatcom County Council COUNCIL
Dewey Desler, Whatcom County Executive's O Ice
From: Matt W. Aamot, Senior Planner
Through: J.E. Ryan, Interim Director, Planning & Development ServicesirX
Subject: AB2000 -347; Proposed Six -Year Capital Improvement Program
The Washington Supreme Court, in an opinion issued on October 26, 2000,
ruled that Initiative 695 is unconstitutional. Therefore, the reference to Initiative
695 in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) should be removed.
Additionally, as mentioned in my October 17, 2000 memo, staff is recommending
that the Northwest Annex Renovations be added to the CIP. When this year's
CIP was being assembled, it was anticipated that the Northwest Annex
Renovations would be completed before the end of 2000, so they were left off
the 2001 -2006 CIP. However, this will not be the case, so staff is recommending
that they be added back in.
These two changes have been incorporated into an updated draft of the CIP as
follows:
• The deleted reference to Initiative 695 is on p. 4.
• The Northwest Annex Renovations are shown on p. 37.
Thank you for your consideration of these changes
1:2 Planning Division /staff /m WupiW faciliaeeCa Fac2000/Fiml CIP Ch nges.doc
File Reg CMP2 0 2 SPONSORED BY: Consent
9 -13-00 PROPOSED BY: Planning & Development Services
INTRODUCTION DATE: 9/26/2000
ORDINANCE NO. 2000 -o4 e
AMENDING THE WHATCOM COUNTY
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN'S SIX -YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM,
CAPITAL FACILITIES CHAPTER AND TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER
WHEREAS, The Whatcom County Council passed Resolution #2000 -005 on
February 8, 2000 initiating five Comprehensive Plan amendments for review in 2000; and
WHEREAS, One of the proposed amendments is a request to amend the
Comprehensive Plan relating to the Six -Year Capital Improvement Program, capital
facilities and transportation planning; and
WHEREAS, The SEPA Official for Whatcom County issued a determination of non -
significance; and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to RCW 36.70.390, legal notice was published in The
Bellingham Herald; and
WHEREAS, The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed
amendment; and
WHEREAS, The Planning Commission held a work session on September 14, 2000
to consider the five Comprehensive Plan amendments concurrently, as required by WCC
20.10.100; and
WHEREAS, The Planning Commission has evaluated the merits of each
amendment in relationship to the County Wide Planning Policies and the goals, policies
and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan, as required by WCC 20.10.100;
WHEREAS, The Planning Commission issued Findings of Fact, Reasons for
Actions, Conclusions and Recommendations on the amendment; and
WHEREAS, the County Council has considered the Planning Commission's
Findings of Fact, Reasons for Action, Conclusions, and Recommendations for the
amendment, as required by WCC 20.10.110; and
WHEREAS, the County Council has considered the five amendments
concurrently so that the cumulative effect of the various proposals can be ascertained,
as required by the Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.130) and WCC 20.10.010;
and
WHEREAS, the County Council finds that the Comprehensive Plan amendments
recommended by the Planning Commission conform to the Growth Management Act;
and
WHEREAS, the County Council finds the Comprehensive Plan amendments are
in the best interest of the public health, safety, and welfare, based on the following
findings and conclusions:
FINDINGS
1. Notice of the hearing for the subject amendment was published in the Bellingham
Herald on August 31, 2000.
2. A determination of non - significance was issued under the State Environmental
Policy Act (SEPA) on April 3, 2000. The SEPA Official reaffirmed this determination
of non - significance on August 23, 2000.
3. A public hearing was held on the subject amendment on September 14, 2000.
4. The Growth Management Act (GMA), at RCW 36.70A.070(3), requires that the
Comprehensive Plan include a capital facilities plan element. This element must
consist of an inventory of existing capital facilities, a forecast of the future needs for
capital facilities, and the proposed locations and capacities of expanded or new
capital facilities. It must also include a six -year plan that will finance capital facilities
within projected funding capacities and clearly identifies sources of public money
for such purposes.
5. County -Wide Planning Policy K -1 indicates that, as part of the comprehensive
planning process, the County must identify appropriate land for public facilities
which meets the needs of the community, including recreation, transportation and
human service facilities.
6. The Whatcom County Law & Justice Plan, Phase 11 Report, was issued in June of
2000. It recommends construction of a new minimum /medium security correction
facility.
7. The Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan was originally adopted in May of 1997.
Since adoption, Whatcom County has reviewed inventories of existing County
facilities and evaluated the need for future capital facilities based upon adopted
level of service standards and population projections. Based upon the identified
capital facility needs, a Six -Year Capital Improvement Program for the years 2001
to 2006 has been formulated, to replace the existing Capital Improvement Program
for the years 2000 to 2005.
8. Policy 413-1 of the Comprehensive Plan currently indicates that the Six -Year Capital
Improvement Program should be updated annually. Amending the Comprehensive
Plan to allow biennial updates of the Six -Year Capital Improvement Program would
be consistent with section 365 - 195- 315(2)(d) of the Washington Administrative
Code. This would also balance the County's work load to enable to the County to
focus on other planning priorities while still providing adequate planning and review
of needed capital facilities.
9. House Bill 1487 was passed by the State legislature in 1998. It required Counties
to incorporate planning for state highways into local comprehensive plans by
December 31, 2000. Specifically, it requires an inventory of state -owned
transportation facilities, level of service standards for state highways, identification
of state highway needs, and estimated traffic impacts to state transportation
facilities from planned land uses.
10. The level of service standards for state highways in the Whatcom County
Comprehensive Plan are being revised so that they are consistent with state and
regional plans. Additionally, the state highways inventory, state highway needs and
estimated traffic impacts to state highways have been included in the subject
amendment, consistent with House Bill 1487.
CONCLUSIONS
The subject amendment is consistent with Growth Management Act, County Wide
Planning Policies, and Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan goals that seek to
provide adequate capital facilities to serve planned growth and development in
order to maintain the community's quality of life.
2. The subject amendment is based upon further study and evaluation of the need for
capital facilities over the next six years in Whatcom County. Therefore, the
proposed amendment is consistent with the RCW 36.70.410, which requires that
Comprehensive Plan amendments must be based upon further study or changed
conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that:
Section 1. The text of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan chapter 4 relating to
capital facilities is hereby amended as shown on Exhibit 1.
Section 2. The text of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan chapter 6 relating to
transportation is hereby amended as shown on Exhibit 2.
Section 3. The Six -Year Capital Improvement Program 2001 -2006, Appendix F
of the Comprehensive Plan, is hereby adopted as shown on Exhibit 3 to replace
the existing Six -Year Capital Improvement Program 2000 -2005.
Section 4. The TModel Update Preoared by R.S. Whitewolf, Appendix G of the
Comprehensive Plan, is hereby adopted as shown on Exhibit 4.
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 j4 day of w,,,,,mh,, 2000.
ATTEST:
Dana rown- Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Mar ene Dawson, Chairperson
WAPPR VED as to form:
(� Approved
()
Denied
a
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
Kr
men,
Executive
Date: �( �S' 60
Exhibit 1
Amend Chapter 4 of the Comprehensive Plan as follows:
Policy 413 -1: Maintain and update, on at least a biennial basis annually, a six -
year capital improvement program (CUP that identifies projects,
outlines a schedule, and designates realistic funding sources for all
county capital projects based on a review of population and
revenue conditions existing at that time.
Policy 4E -1: Include in the annual review of the six -year CIP, a program of
building and space improvements to efficiently provide quality work
space for projected staffing levels through the year 2014.
Policy 4G -1: Adopt the following level of service standards for transportation
facilities:
• A volume - to-capacity ratio of 0.75 (LOS of C- minus) during p.m. peak hours for county
arterials and collectors located outside of City UGAs.
• A volume -to- capacity ratio that offers a reasonable transition for roads located within
City UGAs.
• A volume -to- capacity ratio of 0.8 (LOS of D) for arterials and collectors within County
Unincorporated UGAs.
• LOS of C D) d FiAg P.M. peak houins for rural state
routes in Whatcom County.
• LOS of D for urban state routes in Whatcom County.
• A level of service for roads located within city urban growth areas consistent with those
set by the city.
• A level of service for arterials and collectors that is adequate to accommodate efficient
transit service.
• 513 ferry passenger trips annually per capita Lummi Island population.
CAPITAL FACILITIES - ACTION PLAN
6. Analyze probable future staffing and space requirements aaaually and in
conjunction with the budget process and updating of the capital facilities plan.
Exhibit 2
Amend Chapter 6 of the Comprehensive Plan as follows:
Policy 6A -5: Establish level of service "CB" du"
pin. peak heurs for rural state routes
in Whatcom County. Establish level of service °D" for urban state routes
in Whatcom County.
RECOMMENDED TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS
In addition to the above recommended actions, a preferred road improvement network is
recommended. Map 16 identifies necessary major road improvements over the next twenty
years to accommodate future desired growth patterns. The plan is based on future projections
of revenues balanced with needs to maintain desired levels of service and correct existing
deficiencies.
Recommended transportation improvements are based on the premise that the City of
Bellingham will complete its project improvements. Within six years, they are as follows:
• Lakeway Drive From Puget to Electric, widen to four lanes.
• Bakerview Rd From 1 -5 to Deemer, widen to five lanes.
• Yew Street Rd/ Add a street connecting Yew Street and Samish Way.
Samish Connector
• Sunset Drive From Orleans to City limits, widen to five lanes.
Major twenty-year County and State improvements described in the preferred alternative are
the following:
• Guide Meridian From Bellingham City Limits to Pole Road, widen Guide Meridian
to five lanes. From Pole Road to the Canadian Border, widen Guide Meridian to four lanes,
two lanes in each direction.
• Mt. Baker Highway From Bellingham City Limits to the intersection with SR9 north,
improve to two lanes in each direction.
• E. Badger Road From Garrison Road to Guide Meridian, widen existing lanes and
improve shoulders.
• Hannegan Road From Bellingham City Limits to Van Wyck Road, widen to four
lanes.
• SR9 From Siper Road to Mt. Baker Highway, improvement for safety
purposes, recognizing the residential character.
• SR9 From Canadian border to Badger, realign.
• Slater Road From Northwest to Hannegan, extend two lanes.
For
long -range
planning
and future right -of -way use,
retain the following:
•
Lincoln
Rd) from SR 546 (at the
Widen to four lanes and
extend to Blaine Road.
• Blaine Road From Birch Bay - Lynden Road to 1 -5, widen to four lanes.
• SR9 From Badger to Nugent's Comer, improve alignment.
• Slater From Hannegan to Mt. Baker, connect with two lanes.
• Lake Louise Road Improve in conjunction with installation of Water District #10 sewer
line.
Revisions to the Growth Management Act adopted under House Bill 1487 in 1998, indicate
that the County's Comprehensive Plan must incorporate planning for state hiahways
consistent with state and regional transportation planning efforts
✓ Wideninq 1 -5 in the Bellinqham and Ferndale areas, to six lanes. improvina interchanaes
along 1 -5.
and constructing
park & ride lots along 1 -5.
✓ Widening
State Route 9 (Garrison Rd. and a portion of Badger
Rd) from SR 546 (at the
intersection of Badger Rd.
and Nooksack Rd.) to Barbo Rd.
(lust west of Sumas) to four
lanes.
✓ Widenina
State Route 539
(Guide Meridian) from Horton Rd.
to the border to four /five
lanes.
✓ Wideninq
State Route 542
(Sunset DOW. Baker Hiahwav) from Orleans to Britton Rd.
to five lanes
✓ Imoroving stormwater runoff and eliminating fish barriers along state hiahways.
An inventory of state and county roads is provided in the Six -Year Capital Improvement
Program (Appendix F /Map F11). The Tmodel Update Prepared by R.S. Whitewolf in
January 1996 estimates future impacts to state and county roads (Appendix G).
7
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
Exhibit 3
DRAFT
SIX -YEAR
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
2001 -2006
WHATCOM COUNTY
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
(APPENDIX F)
November 2000
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Map F1 —Parks
Map F2 — Trails
Map F3 — Activity Centers
Map F4— Maintenance and Operations
Map F5 — Government Office Space that Serves the Entire County
Map F6 — Government Office Space that Serves Unincorporated Areas
Map F7 — Sheriff's Office -
Map F8 — Emergency ManagemenUEOC
Map F9 Mails
Map F10 — Juvenile Detention
Map F11 —Transportation
PAGE
Chapter 1- Introduction ...... ..............................2
Chapter 2 - Parks, Trails, and Activity Centers .................
6
Chapter 3- Maintenance & Operations .......................
14
Chapter 4 - Government Office Space ........................
16
Chapter 5- Sheriff's Office .. ...............................
21
Chapter 6 - Emergency Management/EOC .....................24
Chapter 7- Jails ........... ...............................
27
Chapter 8- Juvenile Detention .............................
30
Chapter — Transportation .. ...............................
32
Chapter 10 -Total Costs .... ...............................
36
Location Maps ............. ...............................
38
Map F1 —Parks
Map F2 — Trails
Map F3 — Activity Centers
Map F4— Maintenance and Operations
Map F5 — Government Office Space that Serves the Entire County
Map F6 — Government Office Space that Serves Unincorporated Areas
Map F7 — Sheriff's Office -
Map F8 — Emergency ManagemenUEOC
Map F9 Mails
Map F10 — Juvenile Detention
Map F11 —Transportation
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
CHAPTER1
INTRODUCTION
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six-Year CIP 2001 -2006
The Growth Management Act requires that the County's Comprehensive Plan include a
"capital facilities plan element" (RCW 36.70A.070(3)). Capital facilities, as defined by the
Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan, include:
... all facilities owned by Whatcom County used directly or indirectly to serve the
public interest. Those facilities typically have long useful lives, significant costs, and
are not mobile. Whatcom County capital facilities include buildings, land, parks, and
roads ... (p. 4 -1).
The Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan's capital facilities element (Chapter 4) calls for
the County to develop and update the Six -Year Capital Improvement Program. The main
purpose of this Six -Year Capital Improvement Program is to plan for adequate capital
facilities to serve anticipated growth and development in Whatcom County over the next
six years. It also provides information to decision makers regarding the costs of
constructing capital facilities as the County continues to grow.
Growth Management Act Requirements
According to the Growth Management Act, a county's capital facilities plan must include
five items, which are shown below.
A. An inventory of existing capital facilities owned by public entities, showing the
locations and capacities of the capital facilities.
Current inventories of existing capital facilities, based upon information provided by various
County departments, are included in each chapter of this document.
B. A forecast of the future needs for such capital facilities.
Chapter 4 of the Whatoom County Comprehensive Plan establishes "levels of service" for
parks, administrative facilities (i.e. government office space), correction facilities, and
transportation. Levels of service are expressed in acres of parkland needed for every
1,000 people in the County, square feet of government office space needed to serve each
person in the County, etc. Forecasts of future needs for capital facilities over the six -year
planning period are determined by applying the adopted level of service for a given facility
to the expected population in the year 2006. For example, the adopted level of service for
developed parkland is 9.6 acres for every 1,000 people living in Whatcom County. The
County is expected to grow to about 184,230 people by the year 2006. Therefore, a total
of 1,769 acres of parkland would be needed by the year 2006 to maintain the adopted level
of service. Since we already have 1,594 acres of developed parkland, about 175
additional acres would be needed six years from now (in 2006) to meet the needs of the
growing population.
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
C. Proposed locations and capacities of expanded or new capital facilities.
Locations and capacities (i.e. acres or square feet) of proposed new facilities are shown
in tables and on maps in this document.
D. At least a six -year plan that will finance such capital facilities within projected
funding capacities and clearly identifies sources of public money for such purposes.
This Six -Year Capital Improvement Program presents costs and funding sources for
proposed capital facilities (all figures are in 2000 dollars). The Finance Manager for
Whatcom County indicated that, over the six -year planning period, there would be little
revenue in the County's General Fund to finance capital facilities. However, the capital
facilities proposed in this Six -Year Capital Improvement Program are within the County's
funding capacity. Specifically, according to Whatcom County's 2000 Final Budget, the
County's unused long -term debt capacity is $144,768,754 (with limited tax general
obligation bonds), which far exceeds the expenditures proposed by this Six -Year Capital
Improvement Program. Therefore, it would be possible to issue bonds to pay for capital
facilities if revenue is increased, expenses decreased, or programs reprioritized to make
debt service payments. u,.,.,eyeF if Initiative 696 is fully imp nted, there .;IG
E. A requirement to reassess the land use element if probable funding falls short of
meeting existing needs and to ensure that the land use element, capital facilities
plan element, and financing plan within the capital facilities plan element are
coordinated and consistent.
Finally, in accordance with the Growth Management Act, a requirement to reassess the
land use element of the Comprehensive Plan if probable funding falls short of meeting
existing needs and to ensure consistency between plans already exists in the
Comprehensive Plan (Policy 4A-4).
County Charter Provisions
In addition to Growth Management Act provisions relating to capital facilities, Section 6.30
of the County Charter also requires the County Executive's Office to include a six -year
capital improvement program as part of the budget. Chapter 10 shows how capital facility
responsibilities are being met under both the Growth Management Act and the County
Charter.
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
Alternative Projects
When the Six -Year Capital Improvement Program was being reviewed last year, the
Planning Commission requested that alternative projects be presented. This version of
the Six -Year Plan has incorporated alternative projects where feasible. These
alternatives could be implemented instead of a facility on the "improvement projects" list
if priorities change or difficulties arise in implementing one of the proposed projects.
Additionally, the alternative project list can serve as a vision for the future, beyond the
six -year planning period.
Master Planning
The County administration intends to engage in a master planning process in the near
future in order to achieve a more objective assessment of actual needs for County
facilities. The master plan will provide a comprehensive review of capital facility needs
over a 10 to 20 year time frame.
Contracting for Services
Whatcom County contracts with other entities, such as the Council of Governments and
the Northwest Regional Council, for vital community services. These contracts
represent County participation in providing essential services, alongside other partners,
without the need to construct County owned capital facilities, which can be very costly.
Consolidated Services Building
One of the proposed projects in this Six -Year Capital Improvement Program is the
Consolidated Services Building that would be located at the campus at the comer of
Smith Rd. and Northwest Drive. This building would provide space for a number of
County functions and, therefore, appears in several chapters of this document. The
table below is intended to provide an overall view of the County functions that this
building would contain.
Function
Square Feet
Office space that serves the entire County (including people in cities)
21,050
Office space that serves unincorporated areas only
20,950
Sheriffs Office -
12,000
Emergency Management/Emergency Operations Center
90000
Total
63,000
November 2000 Version DRAFT ix -Yea CIP 2001 -2006
CHAPTER 2
PARKS, TRAILS, AND ACTIVITY CENTERS
November 2000 Version DRAFT ix -Year CIP 2001 -2006
PARKS
Existing Park Facilities
The 2000 inventory of County parks shows a total of 1,594.50 acres of developed and /or
usable parks at various locations throughout the County. This inventory, which does not
include undeveloped parks that are not readily usable by the general public, is shown
below and on Map F1.
EXISTING PARKS
Site No.
Park Name
Acres
1
Monument Park
8.17
2
Lighthouse
Marine
Park
21.66
3
Semiahmoo
Park
20.27
4
Birch Bay Miscellaneous Properties
.27
5
Sunset
Farm Equestrian Center
69.50
6
Bay Horizon Park (portion not
devoted to activity center
48.00
7
Hovander Homestead Park/Tennant
Lake Interpretive Center
346.00
8
Northwest Soccer Park & Northwest
Baseball /Softball Complex
35.00
9
Alderwood Property
.50
10
Bayview Marine
2.15
11
Teddy Bear Cove
9.50
12
Chuckanut Mountain
Property
140.00
13
Pine & Cedar
Lakes
157.00
14
Lummi
Island
Stairway
.01
15
Samish
Park
39.00
16
Squires Lake Park
84.00
17
Ted
Edwards
Park
3.68
18
Lake Whatoom
Property
North
193.54
19
Park
Headquarters
4.75
20
Silver Lake
Park
411.00
21
Maple Beach
Park
.50
Total
11594.50
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
Future Park Needs
A level of service of 9.6 acres of developed parkland for every 1,000 people in the County
was adopted in the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan. With projected population
growth in Whatcom County over the next six years, an additional 175 acres of
developed /usable parkland would be needed by the year 2006 to serve the people of
Whatcom County.
Proposed Park Improvement Projects
Four park improvement projects are proposed to provide additional developed and /or
usable park space to meet the anticipated need by the year 2006 (not including the
alternative projects). These projects would add 185 to 190 acres of developed and /or
usable park space in Whatcom County, as shown below and on Map F1.
Financing for Park Improvement Projects
The total cost of the four proposed park improvement projects is approximately $360,000
over the six -year planning period. These costs would be paid for through the Nesset
Foundation, the General Fund, and donations from the Whatoom Parks and Recreation
Foundation as shown below.
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, 2001 -2006
Site
Project
Acres
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Total
Funding
No.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Cost
Source
Cost
Cost
Cost
cost
Cost
Cost
22
Nesset
106
$75,000
$75,000
$30,000
$10,000
$10,000
0
$200,000
Nesset
Farm
Foundation
23
East Acme
25 -30'
0
$5,000
$25,000
0
0
0
$30,000
Geneml Fund
Farm
24
Dittrich
24
$15,000
$15,000
$15,000
$15,000
$12,500
$27,500
$100,000
Donations
Park
from Malcom
Park
Parks &
Tot
NIA
39-44
$1,000
$5,500
$25,500
$500
$500
$500
$33,500
Recreation
Foundation
($75,000) and
General Fund
$25,000
25
Cherry
30
$5,000
$10,000
$10,000
$5,000
0
0
$30,000
General Fund
Point
Industrial
Area
Access
Tot
NIA
185 to
$95,000.
$105,000
$80,000
$30,000
$22,500
$27,500
$360,000
NIA
190
' The total size of the East Acme Farm site site is 282 acres. However, it is anticipated that
only 25 -30 acres will be developed as usable park space within the six -year planning period.
ALTERNATIVE PROJECTS, 2001 -2006
Site
Project
Acres
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Total
Funding
No.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Cost
Source
Cost
Cost
Cost
Cost
Cost
Cost
NIA
Goodyear
25-30'
0
$5,000
$25,000
0
0
0
$30,000
General Fund
Nelson Site
NIA
Deming
14
$1,000
$500
$500
$500
$500
$500
$3,500
General Fund
Homestead
Eagle
Watching
Park
Tot
NIA
39-44
$1,000
$5,500
$25,500
$500
$500
$500
$33,500
N/A
The total size of the Goodyear Nelson site is 310 acres. However, only 25 -30 acres
would be developed as usable park space within the six -year planning period. This
would be as an alternative to developing the East Acme Farm site.
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
TRAILS
Existing Trails
Whatcom County currently has 42.45 miles of trails in various locations throughout the
County. This inventory is shown below and on Map F2.
EXISTING TRAILS
Site No.
Trail Name
Miles
1
North Lake Whatcom Trail
3.1
2
Interurban Trail
5.9
3
North Lost Lake Trail
4.6
4
Teddy Bear Cove Trail
.9
5
Pine and Cedar Lakes Trail
3
6
Hemlock Trail
3
7
Squires Lake Trails
3.7
8
Samish Park Trails
2
9
Semiahmoo Park Trails
2.4
10
Lighthouse Marine Park Trail
.5
11
Silver Lake Park Trails
3.1
12
Hovander Homestead Park Trails
2.6
13
Tennant Lake Marsh Boardwalk
1.4
14
Northwest Complex Trail
.25
15
Canyon Lake Creek Community
Forest Trail
6
Total
42.45
10
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
Future Trail Needs
A level of service of .75 miles of trails for every 1,000 people in the County was adopted
in the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan. With projected population growth in
Whatcom County over the next six years, an additional 96 miles of trails would be needed
by the year 2006 to serve the people of Whatcom County.
Trail Improvement Projects
Five improvement projects are proposed to provide additional trails to meet the anticipated
need by the year 2006 (not including the alternative projects). These projects would add
103.17 miles of trails in Whatcom County, as shown below and on Map F2.
Financing for Trail Improvement Projects
The total cost of the five proposed trail improvement projects is approximately $752,000
over the six -year planning period. These costs would be paid for through Conservation
Futures, the General Fund, and the Whatcom Land Trust as shown below.
TRAIL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, 2001.2006
site
Project
Miles
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Total
Funding
No.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
cost
Source
cost
Cost
Cost
Cost
Cost
cost
16
Bay to
67
0
$125,000
$150,000
$100,000
$100,000
$25,000
$500,000
Conservation
Baker Trail
Futures
($300,000)
and General
Fund
($200,000)
17
Chuckanut
30
$3,000
$3,000
$3,000
$3,000
$3,000
0
$15,000
General Fund
Mountain
Trails
18
North Lake
.17
0
$200,000
0
0
0
0
$200,000
Conservation
Whatcom
Futures
Trail
Extension
19
Canyon
5
0
$30,000
0
0
0
0
$30,000
Whatcom
Lake Creek
Land Trust
Community
Forest Trail
Extension
20
Goodyear/
1
0
$7,000
0
0
0
0
$7,000
General Fund
Nelson
Trail
Tot.
N/A
103.17
$3,000
$365,000
$153,000
$103,000
$103,000
$25,000
$752,000
N/A
11
November 2000 Version DRAFT ix -Year CIP 2001 -2006
ALTERNATIVE PROJECTS, 2001 -2006
Site
Project
Miles
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Total
Funding
No.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Cost
source
Cost
Cost
Cost
Cost
Cost
Cost
N/A
Nessett
4.5
0
$7,000
$3,000
0
0
0
$10,000
General Fund
South
($5,000)
Fork
Land Trust
Nooksack
($5,000)
River Trail
N/A
Coast
to to 12'
$15,000
$20,000
$50,000
$50,000
$50,000
$15,000
$200,000
Conservation
Millennium
Futures
Trail
($100,000)
Grants
$100,000
Tot.
N/A
14.5 to 16.5
$15,000
$27,000
$53,000
$50,000
$50,000
$15,000
$210,000
N/A
The overall length of the Millennium Trail will be approximately 45 to 50 miles, developed
with other partners from the public and private sectors. Most of this length will consist of
existing or new trails on lands that are not owned by the County. The new portion on
County lands will be approximately 10 -12 miles.
ib
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
ACTIVITY CENTERS
Existing Activity Centers
Whatoom County currently operates 11 activity centers that provide a variety of year -round
programs for various age groups. The activity center inventory is shown on below and on Map F3.
EXISTING ACTIVITY CENTERS
Site No.
Activity Center Name
1
Plantation Rifle Range
2
Roeder Home
3
Bellingham Senior Activity Center
4
Blaine Community/Senior Center
5
Everson Senior Center
6
Ferndale Senior Center
7
Lynden Community Center
8
Point Roberts Community Center
9
Sumas Community Center
10
Welcome Valley Senior Center
11
Bay Horizon
Future Activity Center Needs
A level of service of six activity centers for every 100,000 people in the County was adopted in the
Whatoom County Comprehensive Plan. With projected population growth in Whatoom County over
the next six years, 11 centers would be needed by the year 2006 to serve the people of Whatoom
County. Since 11 such centers already exist, no more will be needed within the six -year planning
period.
Proposed Activity Center Improvement Projects
No activity center improvement projects are proposed within the six -year planning period.
Financing for Activity Center Improvement Projects
No activity center improvement projects are proposed within the six -year planning period.
13
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Yew CIP 2001 -2006
CHAPTER 3
MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS
14
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS
Existing Maintenance and Operations Space
The 2000 inventory of maintenance & operationstfacilities management space that serves
the County is 36,087 square feet. This inventory is shown below and on Map F4.
EXISTING SPACE
Site No.
Name
Square Feet
1
Central Shop (Maintenance and Operations)
289693
2
Public Safety Building (Facilities Management)
21394
3
401 Grand Ave. (Facilities Management)
5,000
Total
361087
Future Maintenance and Operations Space Needs
A level of service of .41 square feet for each person who resides in an unincorporated area
of the County was adopted in the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan. With projected
population growth in unincorporated areas of Whatcom County over the next six years, no
additional space would be needed by the year 2006 to meet the adopted level of service.
Proposed Maintenance and Operations Improvement Projects
No improvement projects are proposed within the six -year planning period.
Financing Maintenance and Operations Improvement Projects
No improvement projects are proposed within the six -year planning period.
15
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CiP 2001 -2006
CHAPTER 4
GOVERNMENT OFFICE SPACE
iC
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
OFFICE SPACE THAT SERVES THE ENTIRE COUNTY
Existing Office Space that Serves the County -Wide Population
The 2000 inventory of County government office space that serves, at least in some
capacity, the population of the entire County is 138,342 square feet at five locations. This
inventory is shown below and on Map F5.
EXISTING OFFICE SPACE
Site No.
Name
Square Feet
1
County Courthouse (311 Grand Ave.)
107,319
Administrative Services — 11,003 s.f.
Assessor -4,800 s.f.
Assigned Counsel — 605 s.f.
Auditor — 7,585 s.f.
County Council — 6,117 s.f.
District Court - 11,445 s.f.
Executive — 2,425
Juvenile — 25,977 s.f.
Law Library -2,125 s.f.
Prosecuting Attorney — 8,440
Public Defender 4,380 s.f.
Superior Court — 18,147 s.f.
Treasurer — 4,270 s.f.
2
509 Girard St.
11,836
Health & Human Services Dept.
3
Forest St. Annex (1000 North Forest St.)
99392
Cooperative Extension —4,832 s.f.
Health and Human Services — 2,738 s.f.
Public Works (Water Resources —1,822
4
1500 N. State Street ([eased space)
7,685
Health and Human Services
5
3373 Mt. Baker Highway
2,110
Parks & Recreation
Total
138,342
Future Office Needs to Serve the County-Wide Population
A level of service of .71 square feet of office space per capita was adopted in the
Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan. Even with projected population growth in
Whatcom County, the existing office space would be adequate to serve the people of
Whatcom County over the next six years. However, there are benefits to consolidating
County offices instead of having them dispersed in different locations.
17
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
Proposed Office Space Improvement Projects Serving the County -Wide Population
Two improvement projects are proposed to provide additional square footage to meet
future needs and to consolidate County services. These projects would add 45,050 square
feet of office space to serve the entire population of Whatcom County, as shown below and
on Map F5.
If the existing Forest St. Annex (1000 North Forest St.), the County Health Department
space (509 Girard St. and 1500 N. State St.), and the Parks & Recreation building (3373
Mt. Baker Highway) were no longer used for County offices, the net increase would be
14,027 square feet.
Financing for Office Space Improvement Projects Serving County-Wide Population
The overall cost of the Consolidated Services Building is $5,950,000, but only a portion of
this building would be used for office space that provides services to the County-wide
population. These costs would be paid for through bonds as shown below.
OFFICE SPACE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO SERVE COUNTY -WIDE, 2001 -2006
Site
Project
Square
Year2001
Year2002
Year 2003
Year
Year
Year
Tote /Cost
Funding
No.
Feet
Cost
Cost
Cost
2004
2005
2006
Source
Cost
Cost
Cost
6
County
24,000
$850,000
0
0
0
0
0
$850,000
Bond
Health
Proceeds
Center
Building
7
Consolidated
21,050'
$100,000
$850,000
$5,000,000
0
0
0
$5,950,000
Bonds
Services
Building
Parks
-7,000 s.f
Cooperative
Extension
- 7,100 s.f
Other
- 6 950 s.f.
Tot.
N/A
45,050
$950,000
$850,000
$5,000,000
0
0
0
$6,600,000
N/A
The overall size of the Consolidated services Building is planned for approximately 63,000 square
feet. However, only 21,050 square feet would be utilized for office space that serves the County-
wide population.
ku
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
OFFICE SPACE THAT SERVES UNINCORPORATED AREAS
Existing Office Space Serving Unincorporated Areas
The 2000 inventory of County government office space that serves only the unincorporated
areas of Whatcom County (that doesn't serve City residents) is 24,008 square feet at three
locations. This inventory is shown below and on Map F6.
EXISTING OFFICE SPACE
Site No.
Name
Square Feet
1
Northwest Annex (5280 & 5256 Northwest Dr.)
20,037
Planning and Development Services — 10,863 s.f.
Public Works — 9,174 s.f.
2
316 Lottie St.
30696
Public Works
3
County Courthouse (311 Grand Ave.)
275
Hearing Examiner
Total
241008
Future Office Needs to Serve Unincorporated Areas
A level of service of .51 square feet of office space per capita was adopted in the Whatcom
County Comprehensive Plan. With projected population growth in unincorporated
Whatcom County over the next six years, an additional 14,025 square feet of office space
would be needed by the year 2006 to serve the people of Whatcom County.
19
November 2000 Version DRAFT ix -Year CIP 2001 -2006
Proposed Office Space Improvement Projects Serving Unincorporated Areas
One improvement project, the Consolidated Services Building, is proposed to provide
additional square footage to meet the anticipated need by the year 2006. This project
would add approximately 20,950 square feet of government office space that serves
unincorporated areas of the County. The location is shown on Map F6.
Financing for Office Space Improvement Projects Serving Unincorporated Areas
The total cost of the Consolidated Services Building is $5,950,000. However, only a
portion of this building would be devoted to government office space serving
unincorporated areas.
OFFICE SPACE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO SERVE UNINCORPORATED
AREAS, 2001 -2006
Site No.
Project
Square
Total Costs and
Feet
Funding Source
4
Consolidated Services
20,950'
See p. 18 for total costs
Building
and funding sources
Public Works - 20,000 s.f.
Hearing Examiner -950 s.f.
The overall size of the Consolidated Services Building is planned for approximately 63,000 square
feet. However, only 20,950 square feet would be utilized for office space that serves the
unincorporated population of Whatcom County.
20
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Yeu CIP 2001 -2006
CHAPTER 5
SHERIFF'S OFFICE
21
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Existing Sheriff's Office Space
The 2000 inventory of
Sheriff facility space is 19,002
square
feet serving the
unincorporated population.
This inventory is shown below and
on map
F7.
EXISTING SHERIFF'S FACILITIES
Site No.
Site Name
Square
Feet
1
Public Safety Building
9,473
2
401 Grand Ave.
6,353
3
Point
Roberts
Facility
3,176
Total
19,0021
The Sheriffs Office also has a 4,032 square foot building adjacent the Central Shop that is used for
evidence processing and the storage of vans, boats, and evidence.
Future Sheriff's Office Needs
A level of service of .26 square feet of Sheriffs Office space per capita was adopted in the
Comprehensive Plan. With projected population growth in unincorporated Whatcom
County over the next six years, an additional 387 square feet of office space would be
needed by the year 2006 to serve the people of Whatoom County.
Proposed Sheriffs Office Improvement Projects
One Sheriffs Office improvement project is proposed to meet the anticipated need by the
year 2006 and beyond. This project would add 12,000 additional square feet of space in
the Consolidated Services Building to house Sheriff patrol offices, as shown on map F7.
22
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
Financing for Sheriff's Office Improvement Projects
The total cost of the Consolidated Services Building is $5,950,000. However, only a
portion of this addition would be devoted to serving Sheriffs office space.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, 2001 -2006
Site No.
Project
Square
Total Costs and
Feet
Fundina Sourrce
4
Consolidated Services
12,000'
See p. 18 for total costs
Building
and funding sources
The overall size of the Consolidated Services Building is planned for approximately 63,000 square
feet. However, only 12,000 square feet would be utilized for Sheriffs office space.
23
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
CHAPTER 6
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT /EOC
e
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT /EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
CENTER (EOC)
Existing Emergency Management/EOC Space
The Emergency Management/Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which serves the
entire population of Whatcom County, presently occupies 1,916 square feet in the
basement of the County Courthouse. This inventory is shown below and on Map F8.
EXISTING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT /EOC FACILITIES
Site No.
Site Name
Square
Feet
1
Whatcom County Courthouse (311
11916
Grand Ave.
Future Emergency Management/EOC Needs
A level of service of .011 square feet of emergency management/EOC space per capita
was adopted in the Comprehensive Plan. With projected population growth, 111 additional
square feet would be needed to serve the people of Whatcom County by the year 2006.
This space serves two purposes: as daily office space for Emergency Management and,
during an actual emergency, as an EOC. The Deputy Director of Emergency
Management/EOC indicated that the existing facility is inadequate to function as an EOC
during an emergency, when it may have to accommodate several hundred people in a
single day. These people include a combination of elected officials, trained personnel and
volunteers, who serve in a variety of capacities during the emergency. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines recommend an emergency facility of
7,000 square feet for a County of 150,000. The Deputy Director of Emergency
Management/EOC indicated that 7,000 square feet would, in fact, be adequate to serve
the anticipated population of Whatoom County in the year 2006.
Proposed Emergency Management/EOC Projects
One improvement project to provide space for Emergency Management/EOC is proposed
to meet the anticipated need by the year 2006 and beyond. This project would allocate
9,000 square feet of space in the Consolidated Services Building to house Emergency
Management/EOC, as shown below and on Map F8.
25
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
Financing for Emergency Management/EOC Improvement Projects
The total cost of the Consolidated Services Building is $5,950,000. However, only a
portion of this addition would be devoted to serving Emergency Management/EOC.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT /EOC IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, 2001 -2006
Site No.
Project
Square
Total Costs and
Feet
Funding Source
2
Consolidated Services
9,000'
See p. 18 for total
Building
costs and funding
sources
The overall size of the Consolidated Services Building is planned for approximately 63,000 square
feet. However, only 9,000 square feet would be utilized for Emergency Management/EOC space.
26
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
CHAPTER 7
JAILS
w
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
JAILS
Existing Jail Facilities
The existing County jail was designed for 148 beds, although it currently has 245 beds due
to double bunking. Additionally, the jail is currently not in compliance with the Uniform
Building Code for double bunking, although measures are being formulated to bring it into
compliance. Whatcom County also regularly contracts for 40 work release beds from
Security Specialists Plus (SSP) Legal Support Services. Ten additional beds are available
at this site, and are used on occasion for an extra fee. The jail is located in the Public
Safety Building next to the County Courthouse in downtown Bellingham and the SSP
facility is located in the Bakerview Rd. industrial area, as shown on Map F9.
EXISTING JAIL BEDS
Site No.
Name
Beds
1
Public
Safety
Building
M-
2
Security Specialists
Plus
Facility
40
Total
285
Future Jail Needs
A level of service of 1.42 beds for every 1,000 people in the County was adopted in the
Whatoom County Comprehensive Plan. With projected population growth in Whatcom
County over the next six years, a total of 262 beds would be needed by the year 2006 to
comply with the adopted level of service.
Proposed Jail Improvement Projects
While the County is currently meeting its adopted level of service for jail beds, there is
concern about the space provided to serve the jail population. Because of this, a
correction facility has been included in the capital improvement program approved under
Section 6.30 of the County Charter for the last three years. Additionally, the Whatcom
County Law & Justice Plan Phase II Report (June 2000) recommends constructing a new
correction facility. Therefore, a minimumlmedium security correction facility is included in
this capital improvement program. However, a location for the facility has not yet been
determined.
FE
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
Financing for Jail Improvement Projects
The total cost of the proposed correction facility is approximately $8,000,000. These
costs would be paid for through bonds.
JAIL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO SERVE COUNTY -WIDE, 2000 -2005
Site
Project
Beds
Year 2001
Year 2002
Year 2003
Year
Year
Year
Tota /cost
Funding
No.
Cost
Cost
Cost
2004
2005
2006
Source
Cost
Cost
Cost
N/A
Minimum/
290
$250,000
$3,500,000
$4,250,000
0
0
0
$8,000,000
Bonds
Medium
Security
Comections
Facility
RE
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
CHAPTER
JUVENILE DETENTION
30
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
JUVENILE DETENTION
Existing Juvenile Detention Facilities
The 2000 inventory of County juvenile facilities includes 31 beds serving the county -wide
population. The juvenile detention facility is located on the sixth floor of the County
Courthouse at 311 Grand Avenue, as shown on Map F10.
EXISTING JUVENILE DETENTION BEDS
Site No.
Name
Beds
1
1 County Courthouse — 311
Grand Ave.
3V
There is one additional bed used for short periods of isolation for behavior modification, but this bed is not
used to provide housing for juvenile offenders.
Future Juvenile Detention Needs
A level of service of .165 beds per 1,000 population was adopted in the Whatcom County
Comprehensive Plan. With projected population growth in Whatcom County over the next
six years, no additional beds would be needed by the year 2006 to meet the needs in
Whatcom County at the currently adopted level of service. The level of service was lowered
last year pending the outcome of the Whatcom County Law and Justice Plan.
The Whatcom County Law and Justice Plan Phase II Report (June 2000) recommends
"continuing evaluation of the need for an additional 30 beds for juvenile offenders."
However, it does not include a specific recommendation to construct additional juvenile
facilities.
Proposed Juvenile Detention Projects
No improvement projects are currently proposed within the six -year planning period.
Financing for Juvenile Detention Improvement Projects
No improvement projects are currently proposed within the six -year planning period.
31
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
CHAPTER 9
TRANSPORTATION
WA
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Yew CIP 2001 -2006
ROADS
Existing Roads
The 2000 inventory shows a total of 948.66 miles of County roads. Additionally, there are
210.5 miles of state highways in Whatcom County (including 1 -5). Therefore, there is a total
of 1,159.16 miles of public roads in Whatoom County. This inventory is shown on Map F11.
Future Road Needs
The Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan states that:
A roadway's "level of service" is a measure of how full of traffic it is. It is the ratio
of the actual volume of traffic to the maximum amount of traffic the road could hold.
Levels of service range from completely unrestricted flow of traffic (level "A ") to stop -
and-go traffic jams (level "F "). At level of service "C" the road is 70% to 80% full.
The flow of traffic is generally stable, though individual users are significantly
affected by the presence of other vehicles (p. 6-4).
The Whatoom County Comprehensive Plan sets the following levels of service (LOS) for
County roads:
➢ A volume -to- capacity ratio of 0.75 (LOS of C- minus) during p.m. peak hours for county
arterials and collectors located outside of City Urban Growth Areas (UGAs).
➢ A volume -to- capacity ratio of 0.8 (LOS of D) for arterials and collectors within County
Unincorporated UGAs.
➢ A volume -to- capacity ratio that offers a reasonable transition for roads located within
City UGAs.
➢ A level of service for roads located within city urban growth areas consistent with those
set by the city.
➢ A level of service for arterials and collectors that is adequate to accommodate efficient
transit service (pp. 4 -6, 6-4, and 6 -5).
In relation to state highways, the State Highway System Plan 1999 -2018 indicates "The
current Level of Service objective for rural highways is LOS C. On urban highways, the
objective is to mitigate congestion when the LOS falls below D" (p. 4). Similarly, the
Whatcom County Regional Transportation Plan Update (1996) indicates a LOS of C for
state routes in rural areas and a LOS of D for state routes in urban areas /urban growth
areas (p. 7). Both of these plans are will be updated soon.
33
November 2000 Version _... DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
The level of service for the roads can be calculated using modeling software such as the
'T- Model," the program that has been used by Whatcom County. The last run of this
model occurred in 1996. The Whatcom County Public Works Department hopes to update
and run the model again in the near future in order to ascertain current and project future
levels of service of roads in the County. The results of this "T- Model" will assist the County
in planning road improvements in the future.
However, there is a need to continuously plan for County road improvements, prior to the
time the next T -Model can be run. Whatcom County accomplishes this planning by
approving a Six -Year Comprehensive Road Program each year, as required by RCW
36.81.121.
Proposed Road Improvement Projects
The Whatcom County Council adopted the Six -Year Comprehensive Road Program for the
Years 2001 Through 2006 under Resolution No. 2000 -036. This six -year plan includes
three proposed new road projects and numerous reconstruction projects. The three
proposed new road projects are:
• Slater Road Connector (Northwest Dr, to City Limits)
• Grandview Road/West Pole Road Connector
✓ Whatcom Connector (Yew Street Rd. to Lake Louise Rd).
While these three possible projects are on the Six -Year Comprehensive Road Program,
construction is not anticipated within the six -year planning period (2001- 2006). Rather,
preliminary engineering to determine project feasibility would be completed within this time
frame.
Financing for Road Improvement Projects
The total cost of the County road projects, including reconstruction projects, on the Six -
Year Comprehensive Road Program is $62,495,000. These costs include $50,845,000 of
County funds, with the remainder being funded by the State and Federal governments. A
specific breakdown of these costs and revenue projections for road construction are shown
in Resolution 2000 -036.
0
November 2000 Version DRAFT ix -Year CIP 2001 -2006
LUMMI FERRY
Existing Ferry Facilities
Whatcom County currently has one ferry vessel serving Lummi Island. The ferry runs
between Lummi Island and Gooseberry Point on a daily basis. The ferry route is shown
on Map F11.
Future Ferry Needs
The Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan sets a level of service of 513 ferry passenger
trips annually per capita of Lummi Island population. It is projected that Lummi Island will
have a population of approximately 790 people in the year 2006 (compared to the 1990
census population figure of 620). Based upon this population projection, the ferry would
be expected to make 405,270 trips annually by the year 2006 to meet the level of service
set by the County. In 1999, there were a grand total of 378,507 passenger trips, which
included vehicles, trucks & trailers, bikes, motor cycles, and pedestrians. Therefore, the
ferry would have to provide approximately 26,763 more passenger trips annually by the
year 2006 to meet the level of service standard set by the County.
Proposed Ferry Improvement Projects
The Six -Year Comprehensive Road Program includes ferry improvements. The current
version of this six -year plan, which was adopted under Resolution No. 2000 -036, indicates
that two proposed improvement projects to the ferry terminal are slated for construction
within the six -year planning period. However, these projects will not increase the capacity
of the ferry and there are no plans at the current time to enlarge the ferry or purchase a
new ferry. Therefore, the Equipment Rental Division Manager in the Public Works
Department, who oversees operation of the ferry, indicated that the only way the level of
service standard set by the County could be maintained over the next six years would be
to extend the hours that the ferry runs.
Financing for Ferry Improvement Projects
There are no ferry improvement projects proposed within the six -year planning period that
would increase the capacity of the ferry. The two projects on the Six -Year Comprehensive
Road Program, which involve electrical work, piling work, painting, etc., would cost a total
of $650,000. This includes $220,000 of County funds with the remainder coming from the
Federal government, as shown on Resolution 2000 -036.
35
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year C'IP 2001 -2006
CHAPTER10
TOTAL COSTS
36
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
TOTAL COSTS
Six -Year Capital Improvement Program Costs 2001 -2006'
Project Name
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Total for
the six year
period
Nesset Farm
75,000
75,000
30,000
10,000
10,000
0
$200,000
East Acme Fan
0
51000
25,000
0
0
0
$30,000
Dithich Park
15,000
15,000
15,000
15 000
12,500
27,500
$100,000
Cherry Point Industrial
5,000
10,000
10,000
5,000
0
0
$30,000
Area Access
Bay to Baker Trail
0
125,000
150,000
100,000
100,000
25,000
$500,000
Chuckanut Mountain
3,000
3,000
31000
3,000
3,000
0
$15,000
Trails
North Lake Whatcom
0
200,000
0
0
0
0
$200,000
Trail Extension
Canyon Lake Creek
0
30,000
0
0
0
0
$30,000
Community Forest
Trail Extension
Goodyear/Nelson Trail
0
7,000
0
0
0
0
$7,000
County Health Center
850,000
0
0
0
0
0
$850,000
Building
Consolidated Services
100,000
850,000
5,000,000
0
0
0
$5,950,000
Building
Minimum/Medium
250,000
3,500,000
4,250,000
0
0
0
$8,000,000
Security Corrections
Facility
Renovations to Public
100,000
500,000
0
0
0
0
$600,000
Safety Building
Health Center Parking
100,000
0
0
0
0
0
$100,000
Improvements
401 Grand Avenue
0
0
0
2,150,000
0
0
$2,150,000
Parking Improvements
South Courthouse
0
2,150,000
0
0
0
0
$2,150,000
Parking Improvements
Complete Northwest
173,000
2
4
2
0
2
$173,000
Annex Renovations
Upgrade Original
0
100,000
0
0
0
0
$100,000
Courtrooms in old
Courthouse
Alterations to
0
350,000
0
0
0
0
$350,000
Construct one new
Courtroom Suite (5"
floor
Public Safety Building
150,000
0
0
0
0
0
$150,000
Roof Replacement
Install Earthquake
50,000
0
0
0
0
0
$50,000
Protection Measures
at all Occupied
Facilities
Totals 1
1871000 1
7,920,000
9,483,000
2,283,000
125,500
52,500
21735 0
See Six -Year Comprehensive Road Program for Road and Ferry Costs
37
November 2000 Version DRAFT Six -Year CIP 2001 -2006
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TModel Update Prepared by R S Whitewolf January 1996 Page 1
Exhibit 4
Appendix G
TMODEL RUN
6 YEAR RUN
Procedure
Began with the JHK model "No Build, Alt. 1," as it included committed (already funded)
improvements to be performed by the City of Bellingham and Washington State using a
concentrated land use assumption. To those advancements, I added a five -lane upgrade on
Guide Meridian, from the City Limits to Hemmi Road, as this segment showed an LOS of
greater than 0.80 within six years on past model runs. Converted 20 -year land use assumption
to six-year numbers using a trip table conversion ratio.
Projects
Lakeway Drive From Puget to Electric, widen to four lanes
Bakerview Road From Interstate 5 to Deemer Road, widen to five lanes
Yew St/Samish Connector Add a street connecting these roads
Sunset Drive From Orleans to City Limits (Britton Road) widen to five lanes
Meridian From City Limits to Hemmi Road improve to five lanes
Outcome
Problem links identified were Mount Baker Highway, from Britton Road to Everson Goshen
Road and the Guide Meridian between Hemmi Road and Pole Road. Both of these locations
contained LOS ratios between 0.85 and 0.90.
TIIWA on A RIK]
Procedure
Began with the six year run, with the 20 year concentrated land use assumption.
Attempted to "fix" problem links noted in the six year run by adding improvements to those
segments. Adjusted to 10 -year land use assumption using a trip table conversion.
Projects
Mount Baker Highway From Britton Road to Everson Goshen Road, four lanes
Guide Meridian From Hemmi Road to Pole Road, widen to five lanes
State Route 9 From Siper Road to Mount Baker Highway, improvement for safety
purposes
TModel Update Prepared by R S Whitewolf January 1996 Paae 2
Outcome
Problem link identified on Guide Meridian from Pole Road to Birch Bay Lyndon Road with
LOS between 0.80 and 0.85.
20 YEAR RUN
Procedure
Due to modeling difficulties, began with the JHK Alternative one ran. A different land use file
was modeled in order to run with a concentrated land use assumption. Projects were
added/deleted in order to comply with Planning Commission requests.
Projects
Guide Meridian From Pole Road to the Canadian Border, widen to four lanes
Hannegan Road From Bakerview Road to Van Wyck Road, widen to four lanes
The remaining projects were added at the request of the Planning Commission:
Mount Baker Highway From Everson Goshen Road to Highway 9
East Badger Road Widen existing lanes and shoulders to improve capacity
Slater Road From Northwest to Hannegan Road, extend existing two lane road
Pole /Grandview Connector From Northwest Drive to Grandview Road, extend two
Imes
Outcome
Problem links identified as
• Lake Whatcom Boulevard, from Cable Street to Sudden Valley (V /C 0.83)
• Hannegan Road from Sunset Drive to Bakerview Road (V /C 0.89)
• Yew Street Road from San Juan Boulevard to Douglas Road(V /C 0.97)
• Lakeway Drive from Electric to Cable Street (V /C 0.94 -0.98)
• State Route 9 from Siper Road to Mount Baker Highway (V /C 0.83 -0.95)
• State Route 9 from Badger Road to the Canadian Border (V /C 0.76 -0.80)
• Everson Goshen Road from E.Pole Road to Mission Road (V /C 0.81 -0.90)