HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources June 18 20131
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
June 18, 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 :18 AM)
Present: Carl Weimer, Bill Knutzen and Sam Crawford.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Ken Mann, Pete Kremen, Kathy Kershner and Barbara Brenner.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. BIRCH BAY WATERSHED AND AQUATIC RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
DISTRICT PROGRAM UPDATE (AB2013 -215)
This item was withdrawn from the agenda.
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING REQUESTED CHANGES TO WHATCOM COUNTY
CODE 2.27A, AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AB2013 -146A)
Chris Brueske, Public Works Department, referenced and read from his staff memo in
the Council packet. The staff submitted a grant pre - application.
Weimer asked the timeline for implementing the proposed changes and stated they
must coordinate efforts with the City of Bellingham for Lake Whatcom. Brueske stated the
website could be up this summer and the entire boating program next year.
Knutzen asked about coordinating with the Coast Guard boater education program.
Brueske stated he will look into it. They will meet with the State aquatic invasive species
(AIS) coordinator in July.
Knutzen asked if they worked with the British Columbia (B.C.) invasive species
council. Brueske stated they are.
Mann asked how the program is going so far. Brueske stated the feedback is
generally positive. The crew is doing a great job.
Crawford stated he watched the inspection process, and the inspection staff are very
respectful, courteous, and professional to the boaters. The sheriff lets them know when a
deputy is on the lake enforcing the sticker program. The local community feels good about
the program. It was a good experience.
Natural Resources Committee, 6/18/2013, Page 1
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Knutzen asked if they are distributing pamphlets to boat owners when they come
across the border.
Laurel Baldwin, Public Works Department, stated they are developing a pamphlet for
distribution now.
Brenner asked about coordinating with the fishing groups. Brueske stated they will
continue to expand outreach. The program will get smoother in the future.
Weimer stated the Lake Whatcom Joint Policy Group talked about the program
recently. The City didn't include kayaks in its program because they thought the County
wouldn't be interest in that, and vice versa. He asked if there will be an analysis of the
money and if it can be self- funding. Brueske stated they'll have a full report toward the end
of the boating season. A one -time fee will affect cost recovery, but they hope the online
system will keep the inspection program small and limit the revenue shortfall.
Weimer stated he supports moving forward. Work with the City.
Mann asked if they've found any AIS.
Baldwin stated they haven't found any mussel AIS. They found some marine
mussels from saltwater. They are not finding any invasive plants yet.
Brueske stated he attended a recent regional meeting including several states in the
northwest and B.C. Of 100,000 boats inspected, they found 100 with invasive quagga
mussels. That is a high percentage.
Brenner asked if the Lake Whatcom Joint Policy Group talked about a one -time
charge for boats that don't leave the lake.
Weimer stated they did.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE WHATCOM COUNTY AGRICULTURAL LAND
COVER ANALYSIS AND REVISIONS OF THE RURAL LAND STUDY AREAS
(DISCUSSION TO INCLUDE AN AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
REPORT ON ACTIVITIES) (AB2013 -110) (9:51:45 AM)
Samya Lutz, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted a color
version of the analysis.
Ed Blok, Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) Chair, stated this year they are
working through the agricultural strategic plan. They are working on parcel reconfiguration
and transfers of development rights (TDRs). They don't want to take things away from
people and create downzones. When the Council deals with agricultural issues, look at it
from their perspective. Help them stay in business. Water issues are also coming forward.
Their location in the Pacific Northwest creates certain disadvantages.
Knutzen asked about the AAC vote on parcel reconfiguration. Lutz stated an AAC
subcommittee worked on parcel reconfiguration. The AAC ordinance went to the Planning
Commission, which is the version the Council has.
Natural Resources Committee, 6/18/2013, Page 2
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Knutzen asked if parcel reconfiguration benefits Mr. Blok's family farming situation.
Blok stated it would not.
Brenner asked who are the members of the subcommittee that worked on parcel
reconfiguration. Lutz stated the subcommittee included Lisa Box, Larry Helm, and David
Buys.
Brenner asked if they recommended it. Lutz stated the vote was on a conceptual
idea, not a specific zoning change.
Lutz gave a staff report on the proposed resolution. The analysis includes more
details about the original rural land study report. They added the Grandview rural, one unit
per five acres (R5A) area as a rural study area, changed the methodology, and looked at
the agricultural protection overlay (APO) reserve tract areas. The geographic information
system (GIS) staff was able to include more areas. They would like the Council to
acknowledge that this is the information they will use going forward.
Crawford stated it seems this document continues to refine the data, and isn't to be
compared to it. He would like to know annually how much farmland is being added and
subtracted from the land basis. The report doesn't put all the statistics together. He would
like to know staff's interpretation of what the Council meant when it designated 100,000
acres of agricultural land, and if it includes fallow land or residences, for example. They
didn't specify in detail what that 100,000 acres was to be. He asked if they will be able to
compare annual statistics to identify trends. Lutz stated they have the data to create an
annual comparison. There are policy questions that need to be answered. The analysis
conveys raw data without providing policy analysis. The AAC is discussing how to define
100,000 acres and will bring forward a recommendation.
Crawford stated certain factors other than the agricultural land designations have
bigger impacts on the agricultural industry. More than a land study and regulations go into
the viability of the industry.
Weimer stated he agrees they must define the policy for calculating 100,000 acres.
Knutzen stated an increase in agricultural ground prices is affecting the agricultural
industry. He asked if commercial forestry is included and if they are deciding how much
forestry is necessary. Lutz stated they did not include commercial or rural forestry in this
analysis.
Weimer stated the report only indicated its forested land cover, and didn't analyze if
it was forest management.
Brenner asked for information in the soil types for all the areas. Lutz stated she has
that information.
Weimer moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Brenner asked if the AAC vote to support was unanimous. Blok indicated it was.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Weimer, Knutzen and Crawford (3)
Nays: None (0)
Natural Resources Committee, 6/18/2013, Page 3
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OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 10:18 a.m.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council(gpo.w hatcom .wa.us
Natural Resources Committee, 6/18/2013, Page 4