HomeMy WebLinkAboutres1990-070W_ -iTCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL
NO. 90 -3(,-
'CLEARANCES
initial
Date
Date Received in Council office:
Agenda Date
Assigned To:
Originator- Hansev
10/29
10/30/90
Council
Division Head-
a
Department Head -
Prosecutor Review -
Purchasine/Budget Dir:
Executive-
Resolution establishing a position opposing Initiative 547 relating to land use
ATTACHMENTS.
Resolution
Public Hearing Needed? Yes /lNoI241
SUMMARY STATEMENT.-
Hansey said in talking with Kurt Sharar of the Washington State Association of Counties, he smid there
is new ruling information on what elected officials can do in regards to taking stands on ballot issues:
1. The issue must have relevance to County (or city) operations. I -547 takes away local control, imposes
demands on cities and counties, etc.
2. The position must be taken by elected representatives of the people, not by staff.
ORIGINATOR'S RECOMMENDED ACTION.•
Hansey recommends the resolution be passed.
COMMITTEE ACTION (including dates):
COUNCIL ACTION (including dates):
10-.R 0 -90 Council passed (75= 2)''with Warner and Vander Yacht voting against it.
Related File Numbers. Ordinance or Resolution Number. Res 90 -70
547.ms 10/29 /90 SPONSORED BY: Hansey
PROPOSED BY: Hansey
INTRODUCTION DATE: 10 -30 -90
RESOLUTION NO. 90 -70
2 ESTABLISHING A POSITION OPPOSING INITIATIVE
3 547 RELATING TO LAND USE
4 WHEREAS, Whatcom County supports efforts to implement an effective growth
5 management bill, enacted by the 1990 Legislature and signed into law by Governor Gardner;
6 and
7 WHEREAS, Whatcom County supports effective growth management which relies
8 on comprehensive local governmental planning and decision making processes within
9 legislatively established statewide policies; and
10 WHEREAS, ESHB 2929 is the logical first step towards revising the planning and
11 land use policies of this state by directing change in the high growth areas, to be followed
12 by the recommendations of the Governor's Growth Strategies Commission; and
0 WHEREAS, Initiative 547 requires the Department of Ecology to establish a general
14 permit program for agriculture which imposes further unnecessary regulations on agricultural
15 activities; and
16 WHEREAS, Initiative 547 would directly appropriate $20 million of additional
17 revenue each year from the state treasury to state planning efforts when such funds might
18 be more appropriately spent on other vital programs; and
19 WHEREAS, Initiative 547, because it is complex and ambiguous in nature, may
20 generate lengthy litigation;
21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council
22 opposes Initiative 547 because it is premature, and because county governments were not
23 given sufficient time for addressing their concerns with the drafting of the initiative; and
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Whatcom County affirms its support of the
25 Growth Management Act of 1990 (ESHB 2929) and opposes Initiative 547 because it will
26 cost $20 million each year, represents a loss of local control, and repeals the current Growth
27 Management Act; and
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1 BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Whatcom County endorses substantive
2 amendments to the ESHB 2929 based on further local citizen input, local implementation
3 experiences and the thoughtful recommendations of the Governor and the Growth Strategies
4 Commission.
5 APPROVED this 30th day of October, 1990.
6 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
7 ATTEST: L;on TCOM CO ,WASHINGTON
i
8
9 Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk d G . nsey, hairman
10 APPROVED AS TO FORM:
11
12
Civil Deputy Pros. Atty.
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