HomeMy WebLinkAboutres1996-051WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 1996 - 304
CLEARANCES Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned To
Orig. Dept.: County Council
8/21/96
9/3/96
Public Works / Council
Division Head:
Dept. Head:
Prosecutor.
J) 61
/Budget:
Executive:
SUBJECT.-
Resolution establishing county -wide local phone service option
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
S U 1 E VI A R M S TA TE ME N7
Related County Cotract M. Should the Clerk schedule a hearing? (Y/N) Requested Date:
RECOMMENDED MOTION (for final action):
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN
1996 - 304 9/3/96: Amended & Approved 6 - 0. Res. #96-051
Related File Numbers:
Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item only):
t
phonesvc.res 8/20196 SPONSORED BY: Brenner & Brown
PROPOSED BY: Brenner & Brown
INTRODUCTION DATE: 9 .13 /�
1 RESOLUTION NO. 96 -051
2 ESTABLISHING COUNTY -WIDE LOCAL PHONE SERVICE OPTION
3 WHEREAS, Whatcom County is uniquely isolated from other areas by water,
4 mountains, and an international border, and;
5 WHEREAS, County residents rely on the only major city, Bellingham, for their basic
6 needs of county government, emergency services, hospital, theater, and major shopping, and;
7 WHEREAS, a large number of County residents are financially restricted from those
8 services by inequitable long distance phone service to Bellingham, and;
9 WHEREAS, a similar request was initiated by the County Council several years ago
10 to the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission which resulted in a portion
11 of the inequity being corrected by including a section of the County into the local phone
12 service area with Bellingham, and;
13 WHEREAS, the needs for a majority of the rest of the County residents have to date
14 not been addressed, and;
15 WHEREAS, County -wide local phone service throughout most of the County will
16 increase involvement of taxpayers, ratepayers, and residents, and;
17 WHEREAS, County -wide local phone service will assist in economic development,
18 education, environmental protection, and unification of Whatcom County, and;
Page 1
1 WHEREAS, County -wide local phone service will help promote tele- commuting and
2 thereby reduce public costs relating to increasing traffic and congestion, and;
3 WHEREAS, County -wide local phone service will help reduce costs to businesses and
4 government, thereby promoting economic potential and restraining pressures for increased
5 taxation, and;
6 WHEREAS, justice in a democracy requires equal access for all.
7 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council requests
8 the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission take the necessary steps to
9 create a fair County -wide local phone service option for affected County residents.
10 APPROVED this _3 day of September , 1996.
11
12 ATTEST:
15 APPROVED AS TO FORM:
16 �L "" a�/-, L�J
17 Civil Deputy Prosecutor
Page 2
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
6
Alvin Starkenburg, Acting Ch