HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources March 17 20151
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
March 17, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
(9:31:12 AM)
Present: Carl Weimer, Barry Buchanan and Rud Browne.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Barbara Brenner.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. OVERVIEW OF THE GREENLINK PROJECT AND POTENTIAL COUNTY
PARTICIPATION (AB2015 -101)
Ryan Erickson, Futurewise, submitted and read from a presentation (on file).
The committee discussed how Futurwise will engage people on all sides of the issues,
how to get neighborhoods to accept retrofitting efforts, efforts in other jurisdictions to
successfully integrate watershed planning with land use planning, and what the County can
do to participate.
The following people spoke about the project:
• Mark Personious, Planning and Development Services Department
• Jack Louws, County Executive
The committee discussed timing with the 2016 Comprehensive Plan review, whether
the administration and staff want to be involved in the process, and the project's return on
investment.
Linda Twitchell, Building Industry Association, stated this was described as a pilot
program with the City of Bellingham before the City of Bellingham was consulted. The work
is potentially good. She's concerned about prioritizing items and becoming obligated to
follow the study. Be clear about the degree to which the County is obligating itself to any
result. The County planners should do any prioritization work.
Larry Helm stated there is nothing about agriculture in this plan. The agricultural
community has not been included in the process. Let the agricultural community be
involved in planning.
Karen Brown stated the list of stakeholders is concerning. The County needs to do
this work, not Futurewise. Many of the stakeholders listed don't know anything about it.
Natural Resources Committee, 3/17/2015, Page 1
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Weimer asked for information on and the committee discussed the stakeholder
committee membership.
Louws asked to receive a copy of the grant application and grant acceptance letter.
Erickson stated the study will produce recommendations only, and nothing obligates
the County to do anything.
The committee discussed whether the final report implies County support when there
may not be, and whether there is any other effort by the County to integrate water planning
and future growth planning.
Greg Brown stated the information would be great, but he doesn't like where it's
coming from. The County should get this money to find out how much water there is.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
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The i�iieeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m.
ATTET
- C; -
Dana "Frown- Davis, Council Clerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Bry uchanan, Committee Chair
Natural Resources Committee, 3/17/2015, Page 2