HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources May 20 20141
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
May 20, 2014
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
(9:30:19 AM)
Present: Sam Crawford and Barry Buchanan.
Absent: Carl Weimer.
Also Present: Ken Mann, Rud Browne, Barbara Brenner and Pete Kremen.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE
PORTAGE BAY SHELLFISH RECOVERY PLAN (AB2014 -184)
Erika Douglas, Public Works Department, introduced Portage Bay Shellfish Protection
District Advisory Committee members.
Christine Woodward, Portage Bay Shellfish Protection District Advisory Committee
Vice - Chair, submitted and read from a presentation (on file).
Albert de Boer, Portage Bay Shellfish Protection District Advisory Committee Chair,
continued the presentation regarding the committee members and participating agencies.
Woodward continued the presentation on the update process.
Brenner asked and there was discussion about whether anything changed to shift the
trend to worsening conditions. Douglas stated fecal matter from unknown sources is getting
into the tributaries during rain events.
Kremen stated there has been less acute flooding in the past several years. The
population of that area is growing faster than any other in the county. Addressing these
issues will be expensive.
Crawford asked and there was discussion about whether the monitoring and
methodology have changed recently.
Browne stated track rainfall events and compare it to monitoring results. He
believes something else is going on.
Kremen stated the elevated contamination levels preceded spring rains. It's good
they're taking a close look at the problem to determine the cause.
Natural Resources Committee, 5/20/2014, Page 1
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Fred Likkel, Portage Bay Shellfish Protection District Advisory Committee Member,
stated there has been more rainfall. In the past five years, they've averaged 24 inches of
rain from January to April. From 2000 to 2004, the average rainfall from January to April
was only 15 inches. Regulations make it more challenging for people to clean out ditches to
facilitate drainage. There is increased rainfall and a decreased capacity to deal with the
rainfall.
(9:59:09 AM)
Crawford asked and there was discussion about the difficulty for farmers to clean out
ditches. He would like to hear more about this issue from Public Works staff.
Browne stated they don't have enough data to determine what the sources are.
Kremen asked and there was discussion about historic rainfall amounts.
Dorie Belisle, Portage Bay Shellfish Protection District Advisory Committee Member,
stated there are a lot of new people in the county, and those people don't understand the
resources they're trying to protect. The County must engage in community education
countywide. They must keep reminding people of what is going on.
Buchanan asked and there was discussion about what will be their next steps.
Douglas stated they are bringing forward a resolution at the next meeting for the Council to
adopt this plan. The Committee is bringing forward this priority one recommendation, and
the County staff will fold it into a discussion regarding level of service.
De Boer stated they need to communicate to everyone what actions they must take
to solve the problems. The Committee struggles with the difficult problem, but is
committed to the pollution identification and correction (PIC) program.
Brenner asked and there was discussion about whether Portage Bay was a major
area that had a problem with septic systems.
John Wolpers, Health Department, answered questions.
Brenner stated she would like to know the failure rate of systems in the area.
Browne asked and there was discussion about options for finding funding that may
be available for additional data gathering.
Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, stated staff from the Executive's Office, Health
Department, Planning Department, and Public Works Department met a few months ago
about the PIC program. He referenced Council packet page four, which includes the
recommendations for moving forward the PIC program. He described the results of the staff
meeting. The Executive will look for short term actions with funding available now and also
work on the issue through the 2015 -2016 budget process.
Browne stated he doesn't think that the PIC program will identify the problem. Get
other questions answered to identify what has changed over time.
Brenner stated septic system failure rates are more important than inspections.
Natural Resources Committee, 5/20/2014, Page 2
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2. DISCUSSION OF FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION ON SYRE PROPERTY EROSION (AB2014 -185) (10:22 :12
AM)
Paula Cooper, Public Works Department, stated the Flood Control Zone District
Advisory Committee didn't vote to stop the projects in Deming and Jones Creek. They
asked her to present some information on what they can do right now. She submitted a
handout of what could be done and a cost estimate (on file). The Advisory Committee
voted to make a recommendation to support the proposed passive bank stabilization project
on the Syre property. The Advisory Committee recommends to the Board of Supervisors to
hire staff to implement the project. However, it is more expeditious to use the consultant.
The Advisory Committee wants to move the project forward and build it this year. It would
take too long to hire a staff person. Get the consultant started on design. The construction
program this year is to do Canyon Creek and then Swift Creek. This project could be
constructed in November or December, at the soonest.
Crawford stated and there was discussion about this being a low priority on the
project list, but he defers to the judgment and recommendation of the Advisory Committee.
He asked and there was discussion about whether they can get the work done this year
versus putting it off to next year.
Mann asked and there was discussion about the total acreage at risk and the cost of
good berry ground per acre.
Browne asked how the advisory committee members voted on this recommendation,
whether this project guarantees a solution, whether this land is within the original meander
zone, what other projects would be delayed, why the Deming levee and Jones Creek
projects are a priority, and where the Syre property ranks on the existing priority list.
Brenner stated she supports the project because there is a great deal of sediment in
the water. She stated and there was discussion about how this project would protect
salmon habitat, why they have to manage the managers, and what it means for
mobilization.
Mann asked and there was discussion about whether this truly has salmon habitat
benefits.
Kremen asked and there was discussion about whether increased sediment creates
flooding problems downriver eventually.
Crawford moved to recommend to the full Council that Public Works Department
staff move forward with a Syre farm bank stabilization project.
Buchanan stated he supports the motion. Take action sooner rather than later. A
major highway is involved.
Crawford stated he is open to not conditioning that it happens this year. If it's
impractical to move the project forward this year, then delay it to next year regardless of
potential loss. Unfortunately, government works slowly. It would be helpful if the Public
Works Department considers a small investment to pay for aerial photographs of this area
so the County can always know the status of the site and have more contemporary photos
of what is happening. Consider it for the next budget cycle.
Natural Resources Committee, 5/20/2014, Page 3
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Browne stated many farmers on the Advisory Committee were opposed. Know the
impact on salmon habitat, the impact to other projects on the list, and the chance of
success. If the process for prioritizing projects is incorrect, they need to adjust the process.
He stated and there was discussion that protecting the highway is the State's responsibility,
not the County's.
Mann stated he doesn't support the expenditure. It is quicker and cheaper to buy
the land. Don't spend public dollars to defend private property, which does not feel right in
principle. He stated and there was discussion about the property being subject to this type
of river action.
Browne stated the Advisory Committee doesn't clearly understand its mandate. He
asked for a review of the original mission for spending the money and the mandate for this
money.
Brenner stated they can't guarantee the success of these types of projects. The
County has already set a precedent on spending money on private property.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Crawford and Buchanan (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Weimer (1)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m.
ATTEST:
, Council Clerk
-, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Barry Buchanan, Committee Chair
Natural Resources Committee, 5/20/2014, Page 4