HomeMy WebLinkAboutres1994-025WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL
NO. 94-156
CLEARANCES
Initial
Date
Date Received in Council Office:
A enda date
Assigned to:
;inator. Assoc. Gen. Contractors
Division Head:
3/1
3/8/94
Open session (non - scheduled)
3/22/94
P &D /Council
Dept. Head:
Prosecutor.
Purchasing /Budget:
Executive:
SUBJECT
Resolution stating the Whatcom County Council's policy to encourage enhancement of a jobs -based economy
ATTACHMENTS:
Letter from Associated General Contractors, dtd 3/1/94
Resolution
SUMMARY STATEMENT . Please complete sections of box as appropriate & explain the item below.
Related County contract #:
Should Clerk schedule a hearing? NO YES Requested date:
Amount budgeted for this item /project: $
Is it or will it be within budget? YES NO Please explain below
Budget line item number(s): ,
Please see letter and resolution for details. A similar resolution was proposed, then withdrawn, in July 1993.
ORIGINATOR'S RECOMMENDED ACTION.•
Recommend passage of the resolution.
COMMITTEE ACTION TAKEN.-
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN.•
3 /22 /94:Council approved the resolution with amendments.
Related File Numbers. AB93 -297 Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item on ):
Res 94 -02
g: \ms\jobecon.ms, 3/8/94
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SPONSORED BY: Consent
PROPOSED BY: Associated General Contractors
RESOLUTION NO. 94 -025
DATE: March 22, 1994
6 STATING THE WHATCOM COUNTY
7 COUNCIL'S POLICY TO ENCOURAGE ENHANCEMENT
8 OF A JOBS -BASED ECONOMY
9 WHEREAS, a jobs based economy is an economy in which the bulk of the
10 employment is created by the production, transport, or sale of goods, or by the supplying
11 of services required by firms producing, transporting, or selling goods; and
12 WHEREAS, "quality of life" for most Whatcom County citizens depends primarily
13 upon the economic self - sufficiency provided by living wage jobs; and
14 WHEREAS, the economic ability of Whatcom County's citizens and families are
15 affected directly by the affordability, convenience, quality, and variety of living; and
16 WHEREAS, findings in the state of Washington's Growth Management Act
17 include a statement that "economic development is an essential public purpose." (RCW
18 43.31.005); and
19 WHEREAS, the state of Washington's Growth Management Act further finds
20 that, "In order to increase job opportunities and revenues, a broader and more stable
21 economic base is needed'; and
Jobs -Based Economy Resolution, AB94 -156 Page 1
1 WHEREAS, the state of Washington recognizes in its economic workbook on the
2 Growth Management Act that, "Local economic policy and initiatives will play an ever
3 increasing role in shaping the global competitiveness of industry;" and
4 WHEREAS, Whatcom County Council Ordinance 93 -024 established County
5 Wide Planning Policies which include statements addressing the importance of the
6 economy in maintaining quality of life in the county; and
7 WHEREAS, the county's Overall Economic Development Program, adopted by
8 the Council of Governments through authorization by the County Council and accepted
9 by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration as being
10 Whatcom County's economic plan, demonstrates that "government attitude" is seen as
11 one of the most important factors in a manufacturer's decision to locate; and
12 WHEREAS, Whatcom County is currently in a position to benefit greatly in terms
13 of attracting new business as a result of recent major international agreements; and
14 WHEREAS, the Council believes that a goal of Whatcom County's governing
15 authorities should be the removal of unnecessary delays, indecision, and uncertainty in
16 the business environment; and
17 WHEREAS, other economies in the county including government, education,
18 social services, and others cannot be healthy economies in the absence of a strong jobs
19 based economy; and
20 WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Community Development has
21 provided a checklist for counties desiring to consider how to integrate their economic
22 interests and state Growth Management Act planning requirements in a publication
Jobs -Based Economy Resolution, AB 94-156 Page 2
1 titled Economic Development Through Growth Management, Making the Vision Real;
2 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE WHATCOM COUNTY
3 COUNCIL THAT:
4 1. It is the policy of the Whatcom County government to assure that restrictions on
5 the ability of private. enterprise to establish, conduct, and maintain a healthy jobs-.
6 based economy be removed and that the ability of private enterprise to establish
7 and maintain a healthy jobs based economy be enhanced by the actions of
8 government, provided that the County does not compromise the quality of life of
9 its citizens; and
10 2. All departments of the Whatcom County government shall revise rules,
11 regulations, findings, and legislation to reflect a common theme of positive
12 encouragement of the establishment and maintenance of a healthy jobs -based
13 economy in Whatcom County; and
14 3. A theme of enhancing the jobs based economy of Whatcom County be an on-
15 going theme common to all new legislation, rule making, and implementation of
16 County policies; and
17 4. This effort begin immediately, though it is recognized that full implementation
18 will come about gradually as the County adopts a vision for itself and rewrites its
19 Comprehensive Plan; and
20 5. The County Council and the County Executive should work together with
21 representatives from private enterprise and the community to assure that the
Jobs -Based Economy Resolution, AB94 -156 Page 3
1 following questions are answered when a rule, regulation, policy, or other action is
2 proposed for adoption or reviewed for revision purposes:
3 a. Will this action increase or decrease the creation or retention of
4 jobs?
5 b. Will this action have a positive impact on the affordability of
6 housing?
7 C. In situations where regulation is necessary to protect the
8 environment, what are the burdens to owners of commercial, industrial,
9 _ residential, or other property, and is there any way to reduce or mitigate that
10 burden?
11 d. Will this action or policy be viewed positively by business leaders
12 outside the county who may wish to locate their businesses in the county?
13 6. The analytical review will include a written checklist or explanation procedure to
14 assure a written record that is accessible to the public, as it seeks to understand
15 and influence the decisions made on its behalf by the County Council, the County
16 Executive, and the departments of county government, and
17 7. The checklist provided by the state of Washington in its publication, Economic
18 Development Through Growth Management, pages V -1 through V -S be completed,
19 with appropriate comment, by the Whatcom County Planning Department as part
20 of its final presentation to the Council on adopting a Comprehensive Plan for
21 Whatcom County in accordance with the mandates of the state of Washington's
22 Growth Management Act, and
Jobs -Based Economy Resolution, AB94 -156 Page 4
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8. A nine- member committee, consisting of three industry representatives, four
business and development organizations representatives and two citizen
representatives, be formed by the Council to suggest to the Council and the
County Executive ways in which the goals of this Resolution can be .effectively and
economically implemented in a timely manner, and
9. Nothing in this Resolution be taken as weakening the County's commitment to
the conservation of Whatcom County's environment or to the enhancement of
Whatcom County's other economies, and
10. The Council wishes to work positively and actively with the County Executive in
implementing this Resolution.
PASSED this 22nd day of _March , 1994.
ATTEST:
ox
tL� A ,.-
Ramona Reeves, Clerk of the Council
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Jobs -Based Economy Resolution, AB94 -156
'W'NAMAMMIA, 6 T! i
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