HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2001-049WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2001-101
CLEARANCES
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Date Received in Council 0 ice
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SUBJECT: Resolution in support of expenditures from Conservation Futures Fund to acquire properly interests
in Agricultural land for strategic conservation purposes
ATTACHMENTS:
trequired? ( ) Yes ( x ) NO
completed? ( ) Yes ( x) NO
Should Clerk schedule a hearing ? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
Requested Date:
YSTATEMENT-*
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Indicate those who should receive a copy Per Council action.
List speck names to the right,
ADS Facilities Management
ADS Finance
ADS Human Resource;
ADS Info Services
Assessor
Auditor
Cooperative Extension
l iotirs Court
Executive
Francine Kincaid
Health
Hearing Examiner
jail
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN:
2001-301 9/11/2001: Approved 6 -0, Brenner absent, Res. #2001 -049
Related County Contract #:
Parks
Planning
Prosecutor
Public Warta
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Superior Court
Treasurer
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Ordinance or R�esro[utiyp Number
(this item): ?, rj , X'F
SPONSORED BY: Consent
PROPOSED BY: County Executive Pete Kremen
INTRODUCTION DATE: September 11, 2001
RESOLUTION NO. 2001 -049
IN SUPPORT OF EXPENDITURES FROM CONSERVATION FUTURES FUND TO
ACQUIRE PROPERTY INTERESTS IN AGRICULTURAL LAND FOR STRATEGIC
CONSERVATION PURPOSES
WHEREAS, Whatcom County has been blessed with rich lands well - suited for
agricultural production; and
WHEREAS, persons and families belonging to the farming communities of Whatcom
County have skillfully developed these lands into productive farms; and
WHEREAS, these productive farms have long served and still serve as a crucial
component of the economic and cultural life of Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, farming activity throughout the County has given rise to and is dependent
upon a complex web of support services and businesses, the continued vitality of which is of
great importance to both agriculture and the broader community; and
WHEREAS, the people of Whatcom County treasure this rich agricultural heritage and
are willing to take necessary and appropriate measures to promote its continuance as a vital part
of this community now and in the future; and
WHEREAS, maintenance of a healthy agricultural economy has positive ecological
implications, inasmuch as farming that employs good cultural practices provides abundant open
space and a productive landscape in and upon which not only domestic animals but also wildlife
thrive; and
WHEREAS, economic pressures have long beset agriculture as low commodity prices
force fanners to strive for further efficiencies in production that generally result in more
extensive use and intensive management of the land under production; and
WHEREAS, farmland and forest represent large parts of our landscape where the
prospects are greatest for good cultural practices under which various threatened and endangered
species can thrive; and
WHEREAS, it is neither equitable nor prudent to expect those who depend for their
livelihood upon these sectors of the resource -based economy to bear the full weight of
environmental regulation that is intended to achieve a broad public good; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County has, in Whatcom County Code 3.25, established a
Conservation Futures Fund with the express purpose, among others, of acquiring rights and
interests in farm and agricultural land "so as to protect, preserve, maintain, improve, restore,
limit the future use of, or otherwise conserve property for public use or enjoyment ...'; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of Whatcom County to apply these funds in a way that
promotes and enhances the economic and ecological viability of existing fames rather than
replacing them with publicly -owned open space; and
WHEREAS, the acquisition of conservation easements, including development rights, on
farmland is one way of advancing the purposes of the Conservation Futures Fund, and of
sustaining and promoting on -going agricultural activity through fair compensation to owners of
such lands;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council commits itself to expend a
fair and significant share of the Conservation Futures Funds for acquiring interests in agricultural
Inds;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a Purchase of Development Rights Steering
Committee be created by the Executive with the charge of developing a PDR program for
Whatcom County in concert with the Whatcom County Agriculture Advisory Committee. An
interim report shall be submitted to the Executive and the Council no later than the first Council
meeting of 2002; with a final recommendation from the committee no later than April 30, 2002.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Council recognizes that staffing levels must be
adequate to achieve the goals set forth herein in a timely manner, and commits itself to support
adequate staffing to complete the PDR program in a timely manner and requests the County
Executive to fully support this commitment; the Council also authorizes the County Executive to
expend up to $30,000 to contract for outside assistance in preparing the PDR program.
APPROVED this 11 day of September 52001.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Dana Brown- Davis, County Clerk Ward Nelson, Council Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Civil Deputy Prosecutor