HomeMy WebLinkAboutSurface Water Work Session January 21 20141
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Whatcom County Council
Special Surface Water Work Session
January 21, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Carl Weimer called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. in the Civic
Center Garden Level Conference Room, 322 Commercial Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Sam Crawford, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Pete
Kremen and Carl Weimer
Absent: Ken Mann
SURFACE WATER WORK SESSION (AB2014 -024)
1. PROGRAM UPDATES
Water Resources Database and Six -Year Water Resources Improvement Plan
Roland Middleton, Public Works Department, submitted a list of programs in the
water resources database and the six -year water resources improvement plan (on file). Any
changes to the six -year water resources improvement plan will be done by Council
resolution. Projects are ranked by specific benefit to the County. The Council sets the
priorities. The ranks are based on habitat, public safety and welfare, recreation, and other
criteria. Some projects have funding, but are not done in order of ranking. Some projects
are required by law, but don't have a high priority. For other projects, the Council decided
they were priorities. This spring, a supplemental budget request will come forward with a
new resolution to amend the six -year program to add a couple of projects and get funding.
Browne asked if the programs have no capital component. Middleton stated that is
correct.
Weimer asked about level of service for water programs and if they will be able to
more accurately understand where the County is at with implementation. Middleton stated
he will work on that soon and get back to the Council.
Kremen asked the total cost estimate for accomplishing everything in the database.
Middleton stated it is about $342 million. When a plan comes to the Council for adoption,
he has to put the project through the system and include it in the database. The County did
a lot of planning in the 1980's and 1990's. This is the list of all those plans and ideas.
Browne asked what on the six -year program is funded. Middleton stated that
information is on the handout.
Brenner asked why the Lincoln Road project is not on the plan. Middleton stated it's
on the road plan, not the water resources plan.
Surface Water Work Session, 1/21/2014, Page 1
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Weimer stated level of service is important because the current level of spending was
$4.8 million on water programs. The Council considered increasing the expenditures to $11
million to $14 million per year to start working through the items on the chart.
Browne asked if the projects are maintenance or improvement projects. Middleton
stated they are both. The capital improvement projects are improvements and include the
Birch Bay stormwater program, river and flood program, and natural resources program.
The Council will debate the level of those improvements during the budget process. The
County has been fortunate to receive grants for projects.
Kremen stated in the future, the prospects of getting grant money won't be as
optimistic as it has been in the past. They must be prepared for more competition for less
money in the future. Middleton stated they are approaching the point where they are
spending more than is coming in.
Browne asked how much it costs to maintain the current level of service. Middleton
stated they will bring that information forward during the budget process.
Stormwater Work Program
Kirk Christensen, Public Works Department, submitted and read from a presentation
(on file).
Brenner asked if some of the funding for stormwater comes from the road fund.
Christensen stated not presently. Some projects such as Cable Street combine road and
stormwater aspects. The road fund will help pay for that. He continued the presentation.
Crawford asked what the $850,000 for Academy pays for.
Kremen stated $500,000 was just for property acquisition.
Crawford asked what project is on Academy. Christensen stated the City purchased
property on the lake. The County is paying for the design, for which the County will likely
be reimbursed. They're hoping to get a grant with the City for construction. If not, they'll
have to decide how it will be funded. Construction is just a treatment plant at the vacant
lot.
Crawford asked about water coming down through the neighborhood, and if that
problem is mitigated. Christensen stated the City is sorting out that issue.
Jon Hutchings, City of Bellingham, stated the City has a project in that neighborhood
that involves upgrading stormwater facilities. There are also private property issues. He
will get back to the Council with details.
Crawford stated he thought the problem was a way of dealing with a storm event
and there was controversy over who is responsible for fixing the problem.
Christensen continued the presentation showing photos of various construction
projects.
Brenner asked for an update on the Trillium property water that is falling into the
road, which is flowing into and eroding a neighboring property. Christensen stated they are
working on the problem. They are hoping the State Department of Natural Resources
(DNR), Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management (BBWARM) district, and
Surface Water Work Session, 1/21/2014, Page 2
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others will chip in to fix the problem. He continued the presentation on the Lake Samish
Stormwater Plan.
Brenner asked if they've made any changes since adoption and more community
outreach. Christensen stated he called the concerned citizens, but they haven't responded.
Once adopted, the capital projects will be included in the water resources database and staff
will be able to apply for grant funds. Adoption doesn't mean the County will tax the
watershed residents. That would be a separate step if the community asks for it, similar to
Birch Bay.
Brenner stated there are many more people in Birch Bay. Christensen stated a Lake
Samish district would not generate the same amount of money as the Birch Bay district.
Browne asked how they decide to set up a new taxing district. Christensen stated
the community decides to set up a new taxing district.
Browne asked the County's responsibility versus the community's responsibility to
address the issue. Middleton stated funds that go toward the water resources program are
from the flood control zone district fund. The Birch Bay community wanted several projects
done in Birch Bay. Compared to other places in the county, those projects weren't the
highest priority. The community decided to tax itself with a flood subzone and keep the
funds in Birch Bay. The people of Lake Samish can choose to do the same, but it's a very
different and much smaller community. The tax would have to be much higher to get
anything done. The plan provides some of those funding opportunities, but it doesn't
establish a tax fund. That is a separate action. Staff hopes to adopt the plan so the
projects and programs are on the table and they may start discussing how to fund them.
The County's obligations are through the national pollution discharge elimination system
(NDPES) program, total maximum daily load (TMDL) permit, or other things required by the
Clean Water Act. The County is not required to do much after that, but it has a stewardship
responsibility to get stormwater as clean as it can. Lake Samish is a drinking water source.
This stormwater plan helps water quality for that isolated watershed.
River and Flood
Paula Cooper, Public Works Department, submitted and read from a presentation (on
file). She described the flood mapping project, lower Canyon Creek project, Deming levee
project, Jones Creek project in Acme, and county levee inspections and system wide
improvement framework with the Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies.
Natural Resources
This item was not discussed.
2. PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PROGRAM AND
ORDINANCE
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, submitted and read from a presentation (on
file) and submitted handouts (on file).
Crawford asked if home inspections would be done for non - motorized boats. Stoyka
stated they talked about doing neighborhood inspections for a group of people who live in
the same area.
Surface Water Work Session, 1/21/2014, Page 3
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Clare Fogelsong, City of Bellingham, stated some people with non - motorized boats
don't have racks to transport them to Bloedel Donovan. They are considering having a
minimum number of non - motorized boat inspections in one area for staff to come do an
inspection.
Brenner stated non - motorized inspections aren't as important as getting the pass.
Fogelsong stated to stay true to the concept of getting an inspection before a sticker, treat
everyone the same. This is a test year to see what the demand will be.
Browne stated he supports education first. He asked what part of the small
watercraft is a concern during inspection. Stoyka stated anywhere in the boat where water
gets in is a concern.
Browne asked if someone has to go through this if they use the boat only on Lake
Whatcom. Fogelsong stated it is a fairness issue of how they make sure it's true when
people claim they only use their boats on the lake. He tends to believe most people most of
the time, but they're trying to put together a program that treats everyone the same. It's
difficult to have an arbitrary, subjective standard for deciding who gets inspected and who
doesn't.
Stoyka continued the presentation regarding an online aquatic invasive species (AIS)
education course and 2014 proposed program modifications and proposed costs.
Crawford stated he hopes the cost remains the same for the County. The County
has had issues with the City in the past, when the City starts charging fees for various
things such as the Mayor's Office. He hopes they don't see an increase for those reasons.
Brenner stated she doesn't understand the increased costs for inspectors. Stoyka
stated the estimates are from the City. There will be an increased amount of inspection
hours, because there will be more boats to inspect.
Kremen stated the City has a formula for charging fees to the Mayor's and City
Council's offices for programs, even if they have nothing to do with program
implementation. He asked if Whatcom County would be charged for those line items.
Stoyka stated he doesn't believe those costs are in any of the estimates.
Crawford stated there is a $40,000 line item for other administration.
Weimer asked the County's cost for 2014. Stoyka stated the County has budgeted
$70,000 for 2014 at this time. The estimates are not refined.
Crawford stated he approves of spending $70,000.
Fogelsong stated the estimates aren't refined. The estimated 2013 cost for
inspectors was $15,000 each for the eight inspectors, totaling $120,000. The actual 2013
staff cost was $83,000. They will continue to estimate the staff costs for 2014 at $15,000
for each inspector, but expect the actual cost to be less. They are now looking at covering
Lake Samish and sending people to other lakes for monitoring. That is all new work. They
are trying to estimate the maximum amount so they don't have to ask for more during the
course of the year.
Stoyka stated there is a draft version of the ordinance that will implement the
proposals.
Surface Water Work Session, 1/21/2014, Page 4
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Crawford stated the proposals for 2014 look good, but he wants to know how much
the County and other jurisdictions will each be asked to contribute before adopting the
ordinance. Stoyka stated staff is trying to coordinate the changes with the City's changes to
its ordinance.
Weimer stated he agrees with Councilmember Crawford. He supports the proposed
program changes. The program will have to continually be adjusted, so the costs won't be
perfectly estimated at this point. He wants to see the contract with the City and how much
it will cost.
Browne asked if other jurisdictions have an education program that the County and
City can use instead of spending resources to develop their own. Stoyka stated they looked
at online programs from Lake Tahoe and the State of Utah. The County is using those for a
lot of the content.
Browne stated he's concerned about tourists and asked if a training program taken in
another state, for example, could apply here. Stoyka stated staff will consider it. The only
programs they're aware of are Lake Tahoe and Utah, so he's not sure how many people
would be affected.
Fogelsong stated people passing through will be surprised. He doesn't know what
the County would do about that.
Crawford stated the most unhappy feedback was from Canadian citizens.
Browne stated an unexpected $50 fee is difficult. Fogelsong stated there is a $20
day pass. Getting the word out about the requirements beyond Whatcom County isn't a
problem they know how to solve.
Stoyka stated it sounds like the Council wants the ordinance to come through the
same time as the contract with the City.
Crawford asked for a better explanation on the employee costs and additional work
plan.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m.
The Council approved these minutes on February 11, 2014.
ATTEST:
, Council Clerk
-, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Carl Weimer, Council Chair
Surface Water Work Session, 1/21/2014, Page 5