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HomeMy WebLinkAboutres1997-030WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO-1997-113 CLEARANCES Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned To Orig. Dept.: County Council 4/8/97 Council Division Head: Dept. Head: Prosecutor: Budget: Executive: SUBJECT: Resolution creating the Whatcom County Water Resources Alliance ATTACHMENTS Exhibit A SUMMARY STATEMENT.• Related County Contract #: Should the Clerk schedule a hearing? (Y/N N Requested Date: Proposal for creation of the Whatcom County Water Resources Alliance, including a Water Resources Council, an Executive Board, a Technical Advisory Committee and a Citizens Coordinating Committee RECOMMENDED MOTION (for final action): COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN 1997-113 4/8/97: Introduced 4/22197: Held in Council indefinately 6/17/97: Substitute Amended and approved 7 - 0. Res. #97 -03a ,elated File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item only): Zez*. 9 -1 -03p water.res 4/8/97 SPONSORED BY: Consent SUBSTITUTE PROPOSED BY: Sutter INTRODUCTION DATE: 6/11/97 1 RESOLUTION NO. 97 -030 2 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF THE WHATCOM COUNTY 3 WATER RESOURCES ALLIANCE 4 WHEREAS, on February 25, 1997 the Whatcom County Council approved Resolution 5 97 -005, concerning water resource management; and 6 WHEREAS, Resolution 97 -005 states that the Whatcom County Council shall be an active 7 participant in the formation of a vehicle to develop and implement a coordinated County -wide water 8 resource management strategy; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council hereby supports 10 the proposal for the Whatcom County Water Resources Alliance, a group consisting of a Water 11 Resources Council, an Executive Board, a Technical Advisory Committee, and a Citizens 12 Coordinating Committee based on the suggested guidelines outlined in Exhibit A to this resolution. 13 APPROVED this 17th day of June, 1997. 14 15 ATTEST: 16 17 -Dana Bro�D is,-rtA-- "6f'the Council 18 APPROVED' ASS TO FO 19 �/f�a e� 20 Civil Deputy Prosecutor WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Ward Nelson, Oouncil Chair EXHIBIT A THE WHATCOM COUNTY WATER RESOURCES ALLIANCE MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Water Resources Alliance is to foster provision of adequate safe, reliable and affordablwater for 'all beneficial uses (as defined in RCW 90.54.020 (1)) in Whatcom County. SCOPE The geographic scope of the WRA shall be all of the area within the borders of Whatcom County. In as much as water bodies are not restricted to political boundaries, it will be necessary for the WRA to coordinate its activities with neighboring jurisdictions. STRUCTURE. The Water Resources Management Alliance shall be made up of the following: I. Water Resources Management Council A. Members 1. The WRMC shall be comprised of all elected officials from each legislative body within Whatcom County: each City Council, the County Council, and each Tribal Council. B. Roles and responsibilities 1. On the recommendation of the Executive Committee, to adopt and implement water resource related plans, projects and legislation that will further the mission of the WRA. 2. Provide, secure or assist in the acquisition of funding for projects which implement approved plans and projects. C. Accountability 1. Members are directly accountable to the voting public. II. Executive Committee A. Membership 1. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of one member from each from each City Council, the County Council and each Tribal Council. 2. Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected to that position by their respective councils for a 2 year term. B. Roles and responsibilities 1. To review proposed water resource related plans, projects and legislation to ensure that they: a. furthers the mission of the WRA; and b. is not incompatible with other water resource plans, projects or legislation. 2. To make recommendations to their respective councils for adoption of water resource related plans, projects and legislation. 3. To supervise the Technical Advisory Committee and the Citizens Coordinating Committee. 4. Interact cooperatively with state, federal, international and other jurisdictions with regard to water resource related issues. C. Accountability 1. Members are directly accountable to their respective councils and may be removed by a majority vote of their council at any time. They are also accountable to the voting public. III. Technical Advisory Committee A. Membership 1. Professionals with technical or scientific expertise in fields related to water or water resources. 2. Appointment to this committee shall be made by application to and acceptance by the Executive Board. B. Roles and responsibilities 1. To review the technical aspects of all proposed water resource related plans and projects advise the Executive Committee in that regard. 2. Assist the Citizens Coordinating Committee in evaluating the technical aspects of proposed plans and projects. C. Accountability 1. Members are accountable to the Executive Committee. IV. Citizens Coordinating Committee A. Membership 1. Must be a representative of an identified Planning Group with a direct, active involvement in water resource related issues. 2. Members shall be elected to the CCC by their Planning Group. B. Roles and responsibilities 1. To evaluate plans and projects brought forward by Planning Groups engaged in any aspect of water resource related planning and integrate them into a County -wide Water Resource Plan. C. Accountability 1. Members shall be accountable to their Planning Group. V. Planning Groups A. Membership 1. Any group of citizens and /or officials wishing to participate in the on -going fulfillment of the mission of the WRA. 2. Interest groups shall be identified through application to and acceptance by the Executive Committee. B. Roles and Responsibilities 1. To develop plans and projects for their area of interest and submit them to the CCC and. TAC. for evaluation. C. Accountability 1. lnc&[dual. members shall . be. accountable . to the other members of the group and to any citizens by whom they may be elected or appointed. PROPOSED FUNCTIONS OF THE WRMX The following is a preliminary list of the possible functions of the WRMX. They are categorized under three broad -based functions: legislative change, assessment of water resource uses and needs, and strategies for managing water resources. The categories and items below are not listed in any order of priority. Strategies for Managing. Water Resources A. Identify action items B. Review, coordinate and participate in restoration projects. This may include expanding the scope of existing efforts by conducting long -term planning and funding. needs (ie. similar process to establishing a capital improvement plan). C. Provide a public forum for issue discussions. Many include such roles as providing a focal point for local involvement in TMDL processes, providing input on TMDL wasteload allocations, and participating in Ecology's 5 -year permit cycle for watershed assessments. D. After an assessment of water availability is complete, identify priorities of water use by sub -basin or other geographical area for water right and land use purposes. The WRMX recommendations for priorities would be made in an advisory capacity to the appropriate agencies. E. Wetlands F. Inter- and intra -basin cooperation G. Funding, including grant review and coordination. H. CWSP coordination I. Coordinate ground and surface water protection efforts J_ Education K. Interjurisdictional coordination on issues, including international topics L. Dispute mediation? II. Assessment of Water Resource Uses and Needs A. Identify issues B. Coordinate data collection for both water quantity and quality efforts (including monitoring) III. Legislative Changes (Statutory and Policy Change A. Define the public interest for both water right processing and public projects. B. Review and assist in updates of Department of Ecology and Department of Health water duties. C. Review Department of Health source protection policies D. Provide a local focus for agency program review. E. Review in- stream flows and make recommendations on changes.