HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources December 10 20131
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
December 10, 2013
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Carl Weimer called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
(9:32:44 AM)
Present: Carl Weimer, Bill Knutzen and Sam Crawford.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Barbara Brenner and Pete Kremen.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. WHATCOM COUNTY AGRICULTURAL - WATERSHED PILOT PROJECT
PRESENTATION AND UPDATE ON PROGRESS IN THE PROJECT TO DATE
(AB2013 -080A)
Mark Personious, Planning and Development Services, gave a staff introduction and
submitted a presentation (on file).
Heather McKay, FHB Consulting Services, read from the presentation.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of who appointed the people to the phase 2
review committee.
Kremen stated and there was discussion of the two citizen representatives who both
have the same extreme points of view and have sued the County.
Weimer asked and there was discussion of the appointment process.
Knutzen stated and there was discussion of the farmers not feeling equally
represented.
Brenner stated she would like to see the names of all the people invited to
participate in the phase 2 review committee.
Kremen stated that any product this committee develops will not have credibility.
Weimer asked and there was discussion of whether anyone invited was turned away
and including differing points of view, which will strengthen the product.
Personius stated this is a research and development (R &D) project. There's no
outcome to be adopted. Everyone must be involved.
Knutzen stated there has been no R &D, and money was used to hire more
inspectors. Personius stated that is a different project of the State. He described the State
process versus this County process.
Natural Resources Committee, 12/10/2013, Page 1
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Knutzen asked and there was discussion of the source of funding for this project.
McKay stated this work began when members of the agriculture community asked if
they could trade development rights for water rights, which is a funding alternative.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of how a person who trades development
rights for water knows that they will have water indefinitely.
Crawford moved to recommend to the full Council that this project be put on hold
until this review committee includes a minimum of 60 percent of large acreage landowners
currently engaged in active farming in Whatcom County. The committee also needs
someone from the lending sector that issues farm loans. Those affected should participate
in this process. Make sure they engage the folks who have the most at stake. If necessary,
they may have to reduce the number of people on the committee.
Knutzen suggested a friendly amendment that the 60 percent include
representatives of potato, berry, and dairy farmers.
Crawford accepted the friendly amendment.
Weimer asked and there was discussion of whether they have the authority to put
this grant on hold and the feasibility of delaying the process until they can find more
farmers to participate.
Crawford amended his motion and moved to recommend to the full Council that
this project be put on hold until this review committee is restructured to include a minimum
of 60 percent of large acreage landowners currently engaged in active farming in Whatcom
County, including representatives of the potato, berry, and dairy industries.
Weimer stated the Council doesn't have a good enough understanding of how this
committee operates. There are six agricultural representatives already. Including as many
farmers as possible is good, but don't stop the process. There is outreach to the
Agricultural Advisory Committee already. This is an opportunity to come up with something
other than litigation to move many issues forward, so all sides should be represented. They
are trying to find a balance of voluntary and regulatory participation. It's just a discussion
committee, not a voting committee.
Knutzen suggested a friendly amendment that the motion be that a majority of
the committee be farmers, not necessarily 60 percent. He's concerned about being able to
find participants.
Crawford accepted the friendly amendment and moved to recommend to the full
Council that this project be put on hold until this review committee is restructured to include
a majority of large acreage landowners currently engaged in active farming in Whatcom
County, including representatives of the potato, berry, and dairy industries.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Knutzen and Crawford (2)
Nays: Weimer (1)
McKay continued the presentation with characterization and mapping.
Natural Resources Committee, 12/10/2013, Page 2
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Knutzen asked and there was discussion of whether steelhead and other stocks are
included as anadromous fish and whether any fish species are on the Endangered Species
Act (ESA) list. He also asked and there was discussion about rewarding landowner efforts
for supplementing instream flow. Other watersheds in the state have come up with creative
ways to supplement flows.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of whether any projects could seed fish back
into some of the streams and seeding native fish to protect, enhance, and restore habitat.
McKay continued the presentation with the watershed and agricultural enhancement
actions and benefits of the proposed pilot programs.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of how to work around a problem when
ditches are no longer allowed to be maintained because they have salmon.
McKay continued the presentation on the medium- and long -term outcomes and of
working within regulations with a marketplace approach.
Weimer asked and there was discussion exploring incentives that fit within
regulations.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of the disconnect between the tribes and
agricultural community regarding the science of necessary buffers and refining scientific
measurements.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of allowing farmers to apply work they've
already done, or if this is for future efforts only. Allow people to get credit for work they've
already done.
Weimer stated it makes good sense to be able to know how much credit is provided
through this process, how much money is available, whether money constraints affect how
fast they can move forward, and whether the conservation futures fund could support this
type of program once it's developed.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:02 a.m.
ATTEST:
, Council Clerk
-, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Carl Weimer, Committee Chair
Natural Resources Committee, 12/10/2013, Page 3