HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources February 26 20131
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
February 26, 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 (9:38:12 AM)
Present: Carl Weimer, Bill Knutzen and Sam Crawford.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Kathy Kershner, Pete Kremen, Ken Mann, and Barbara Brenner.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING A PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A
WHATCOM COUNTY FORESTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AB2013 -098)
Knutzen stated this is modeled after the Skagit County committee. He hopes for
suggestions for changes from Councilmembers.
Crawford stated function one in section 2.123.030 addresses his concern that this be
an active and meaningful advisory group to the 2016 Comprehensive Plan update. He
asked if the Planning Department agrees this group will be involved.
Knutzen stated there was an email from the County Executive (on file) allowing for
staff participation and facilitation.
Crawford stated and there was discussion of whether the Planning and Development
Services Department supports this effort, and will work on forestry components of the 2016
plan actively with the forestry community.
Mark Personious, Planning and Development Services Department, answered
questions. He fully supports formation of and using the committee.
Brenner stated and there was discussion of whether or not they should have general
representation from citizens who aren't involved in the forestry industry and the difficulty of
maintaining full membership on the Surface Mining Advisory Committee.
Weimer suggested that the members who are private citizens be required to have
technical forestry knowledge.
Crawford stated and there was discussion of the outcome of the 2016
Comprehensive Plan process related to forestry being that they can quantify forestry issues.
Attempt to define what creates a viable industry from a land use perspective. The process
should focus on an inventory of the land base. The process should recommend specific
references in the Comprehensive Plan about what it would take to maintain and protect a
forest resources economy for the future.
Brenner stated and there was discussion of creating this committee before deciding
on the reconveyance.
Natural Resources Committee, 2/26/2013, Page 1
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Weimer moved to recommend adoption to the full Council, including technical
changes from Council staff. He moved to amend "two private citizens with forestry
expertise."
Kremen stated and there was discussion of end terms.
Jill Nixon, County Council Office, answered questions.
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Weimer, Knutzen and Crawford (3)
Nays: None (0)
(9:52:27 AM)
Tom Westergreen stated all the members of the Skagit County committee are
members of the forestry industry. They include representatives from the banking and
insurance industries who understand the industry. He was on the Surface Mining Advisory
Committee, which mistakenly decided to make decisions based on consensus. Committee
members disagreed, and the Council disregarded everything the committee did. Potential
committee members may be suspicious that their opinions will be disregarded after
spending a lot of time studying the issues and forming recommendations.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of whether the committee membership
representatives are appropriate from the perspective of the foresters.
Weimer stated and there was discussion of the committee setting up it's own
operating rules.
Tom Nelson stated he agrees with Tom Westergreen. He has been a member of the
Skagit County Forestry Advisory Board, which acts as a technical board. The County
Commissioners, not the advisory board, address policy issues. The key to success is who
the Council appoints. The Skagit meetings are generally technical sessions that talk about
technical aspects of the industry a private citizen may not really understand. If the idea is
to have some sort of diversity or resolve conflict before making a recommendation, that's
the wrong goal. The forestry community has diverse views within the community of how
forestry should work.
Weimer asked and there was discussion of getting a State Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) or other State employee attend and participate as a committee member.
Nelson described the process the Skagit County Forestry Advisory Board follows.
Aubrey Stargell stated the Skagit County Forestry Advisory Board doesn't have a
voting representative of the DNR, but they have an open spot for their participation. Don't
have a consensus approval process. This should have been done before the reconveyance,
but it will be useful for the future. He is in favor of creating a Whatcom County Forestry
Advisory Committee.
Brenner stated make the DNR position ex officio.
Weimer stated and there was discussion of removing the DNR position and one of the
private citizen members and whether there should be an odd number of members.
Kremen stated the DNR should be ex officio and nonvoting.
Natural Resources Committee, 2/26/2013, Page 2
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Kershner stated she supports Councilmember Weimer's suggestion of removing the
DNR and one private citizen positions.
Knutzen stated and there was discussion of having one representative designated by
the Department of Natural Resources and /or U.S. Forest Service.
The motion to recommend approval of the amended substitute carried by the
following vote:
Ayes: Weimer, Knutzen and Crawford (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
Terry Montagna stated he was a fish cop with the Coast Guard, and he was
enormously successful finding and enforcing regulations on people who were crabbing for
prohibited species. They can't rely on federal or State officials to protect fish. Only locals
can protect fish. Sheriff Elfo has jurisdiction. Enforcement to protect fish should be in the
Sheriff's hands. Only three percent of the water is in the city and only eight percent of the
service is in the city. The rest is in the county.
The fundamental issue is pollution. The question is whether the Department of
Ecology and the State can administrate the protection of both the water resource and the
fish better than a deputy sheriff with a pour- through spectrophotometer who is taking
samples and developing a sense of who may be polluting and where. Consider the concept
of having a deputy sheriff do real time sampling, determining whom the culprits, and
rendering necessary fines. It may be better to have simpler rules that are enforced than
have a lot of bureaucracy.
Brenner stated and there was discussion about the State Department of Ecology,
which just hired three more enforcement staff locally and the County Health Department
doing testing.
Weimer stated the County has a network of employees who do a lot of water
sampling and work with the Health Department and Planning Department to do
enforcement. The idea of involving the Sheriff's Office is interesting, but is also a resource
problem.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 10:19 a.m.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
IE
is Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council@�o.whatcom.wa.us
Natural Resources Committee, 2/26/2013, Page 3