HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole March 29 20111
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee Of The Whole
March 29, 2011
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 1:11 p.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL (1 :11 :20 PM)
Present: Barbara Brenner, Ken
and Tony Larson.
Absent: Kathy Kershner.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
Mann, Sam Crawford, Bill Knutzen, Carl Weimer
1. PRESENTATION BY THE EMS PLANNING COMMITTEE AND DISCUSSION OF A
"CRITICAL ELEMENTS LIST" - AB2011 -107
Brenner stated that from the last meeting on this issue, she has concerns about the
new governance idea, the long -term stable funding, and the consideration of legal action
regarding unfair labor practices.
Knutzen stated he hopes concerns from East County residents will be addressed.
Michael Lilliquist, Bellingham City Council, stated he can address questions and
describe his perception of the City meetings as a citizen, not on behalf of the City Council.
Dave Ralston, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Planning Committee, discussed the
differences between the Visioning Committee and the EMS Planning Committee.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of:
• Opening paramedic training in Whatcom County.
• The potential for collective bargaining agreements and unfair labor practices.
Mann asked and there was discussion of:
• Who decides and how they decide an appropriate proportionally distributed
tax.
• Whether there would be different levels of standards in different areas.
• How someone stays under operational control of their district if they're on a
call for countywide service.
(1 :41 :28 PM)
Weimer asked and there was discussion of whether separate administrative oversight
is efficient or cost - effective.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of identifying stakeholders who would be
involved in the governance planning effort.
Special Committee of the Whole, 3/29/2011, Page 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
Mann asked and there was discussion of when employees would be under operational
control of the over - arching agency. He stated he is comfortable with the list of items.
Larson stated he has concerns with critical element items one, four, six, and eight
from the EMS Planning Committee letter dated March 3, 2011. He understands that the
EMS Planning Committee will start to identifying the details associated with each factor. He
will want to see those details when they're developed. He supports the idea of moving
forward with these critical elements.
The following people spoke and answered questions:
• Tom Fields, EMS Planning Committee Vice -Chair
• Gary Russell, Fire District 7 Chief
Crawford stated he will continue to be a Council liaison with this group. In general,
the councilmembers seem to agree with the direction in which they're going.
The Committee concurred.
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING WHICH VERSION OF A PROPOSED ORDINANCE
AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE TITLE 20, TO ALLOW DRIVE THROUGH
SERVICES IN THE URBAN RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE (URMX) ZONE WILL BE
INTRODUCED AT THE EVENING MEETING (ONE ORDINANCE AMENDS THE
ALLOWABLE BUILDING SIZE IN THE URMX ZONE AND LEAVES DRIVE
THROUGH SERVICES AS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND THE OTHER
AMENDS THE ALLOWABLE BUILDING SIZE IN THE URMX ZONE AND
CHANGES DRIVE THROUGH SERVICES FROM A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMIT) - AB2011 -127 AND 127A (1:58:24 PM)
Alex Cleanthus, Planning and Development Services Department, gave a staff report
and answered questions.
Crawford stated he never intended to allow coffee shops with drive up service as a
permitted use. He asked and there was discussion of:
• How to change the drive - through services from a conditional use permit to an
administrative use permit in the urban residential, mixed use (URMX) zone.
• Where this item came from.
• The vision for the URMX zone concept and how it developed in reality.
• Mr. Quom's issue with the City about water and sewer services.
Michael Lilliquist, citizen, stated the County Council writes the conditions, which the
Hearing Examiner must apply when making a decision on conditional uses. The Hearing
Examiner must apply the rules as written.
Weimer stated he supports leaving the use a conditional use. He asked and there
was discussion of:
• Whether the changes open up the use to any kind of drive - through
restaurant.
• Whether the County can have an interlocal agreement with the City first, so
the County can't change things in the urban growth area (UGA) without input
from the City.
Special Committee of the Whole, 3/29/2011, Page 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
Crawford moved to introduce the ordinance that leaves a drive - through restaurant
and coffee shop a conditional use, and increases the square footage to 5,000.
Butch Kvamme, 3783 Hatley Road, Everson Road, described the history of his
project.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann, Crawford and Larson (4)
Nays: Weimer (1)
Absent: Knutzen and Kershner (2)
(Council Conference Room)
3. DISCUSSION WITH ASSISTANT CHIEF DEPUTY PROSECUTOR DANIEL
GIBSON REGARDING FERRY ISSUES (AB2011 -018)
Crawford stated that discussion of agenda item one may take place in executive
session pursuant to RCW42.30.110. Executive session will conclude no later than 3:30 p.m.
If the meeting extends beyond the stated conclusion time, he will step out of the meeting to
make a public announcement.
Mann moved to go into executive session until no later than 3:30 p.m. to discuss
the agenda item, pursuant to RCW citations as announced by the Council Chair.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Crawford, Mann, Larson and Weimer (5)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Knutzen and Kershner (2)
(Clerk's Note: The Committee went into executive session at 2 :29 p.m. and met in
executive session in the County Executive's Conference Room, Courthouse Suite 108. At
3:30 p.m., the Committee came out of executive session.)
Mann moved to go into executive session until no later than 4:30 p.m. to discuss
the agenda item, pursuant to RCW citations as announced by the Council Chair.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Crawford, Mann, Larson and Weimer (5)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Knutzen and Kershner (2)
(Clerk's Note: The Committee returned to executive session at 3 :30 p.m. in the
County Executive's Conference Room, Courthouse Suite 108. At 4 :30 p.m., the Committee
came out of executive session.)
Weimer moved to go into executive session until no later than 4:45 p.m. to discuss
the agenda item, pursuant to RCW citations as announced by the Council Chair.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Crawford, Mann, Larson and Weimer (5)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Knutzen and Kershner (2)
Special Committee of the Whole, 3/29/2011, Page 3
1
2
3
4
5
1
1
i
1
15
16
17
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council &o.w hatcom .wa.us
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Sam Crawford, Council Chair
Special Committee of the Whole, 3/29/2011, Page 4