HomeMy WebLinkAboutSurface Water Work Session February 15 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 Surface Water Work Session
February 15, 2011
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 10:38 a.m. in the
Whatcom County Civic Center Annex, Garden Room, 322 N. Commercial, Bellingham,
Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Sam Crawford, Bill Knutzen, Tony Larson and Carl
Weimer
Absent: Kathy Kershner and Ken Mann
SURFACE WATER WORK SESSION (AB2011 -024)
1. WATER RESOURCES BUDGET OVERVIEW AND PROGRAM SUMMARY
Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department, submitted a handout (on file). There was
a last- minute change last year in financing stormwater and flood control. There was a shift
from flood control zone taxes to the real estate excise tax (REET). They have a $7.5 million
water resource program. He read through the handout. They are budgeted to be $200,000
in the hole, but he's confident that the budget will balance. The Board of Supervisors
authorized a dip in the fund balance to do the Deming Project Resolution.
Paula Cooper, Public Works Department, submitted a handout (on file), and
submitted and read from a presentation (on file) regarding flood plain mapping and other
2011 projects planned from the Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan (CFHMP).
Kirk Christensen, Public Works Department, continued the presentation on the
stormwater programs for 2011.
Hutchings continued the presentation on the Natural Resource programs, which
support other programs.
There was discussion about how much REET money they can use; how much benefit
the County receives from Corps work; whether there are any overlapping flood and
stormwater projects funded by REET; the difference between the effects of vegetation on
rivers in the Pacific Northwest and in other parts of the country; how effective stormwater
vaults have been; adding safety measures to protect stormwater improvements; the lack of
a response from the Department of Ecology regarding the total maximum daily load (TMDL)
study, and; the rising costs of stormwater programs and reduced amounts of grant funds.
2. WINTER FLOOD UPDATE AND DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department, submitted and read from a presentation
(on file) and stated contracts and issues will soon come forward.
Surface Water Work Session, 2/15/2011, 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
Paula Cooper, Public Works Department, continued to read the presentation from the
previous agenda item and described the December 2010 and January 2011 floods. She
described the damage sites at Jones Creek, Racehorse Creek, Smith Creek, Abbott Levee,
and the Hovander Park Levee.
Hutchings described the flood damage site from the Birch Point Bluff erosion, the
alleged cause, and preventing similar incidents in the future.
Discussion included how the County can provide public resources, such as sand bags
and other materials, to flooded home owners.
3. 2011 MEETING SCHEDULE AND AGENDA TOPICS
Jon Hutchings, Public Works Director, suggested future surface water work session
topics that include sediment management, Swift Creek, Jones Creek, Birch Bay, the value of
natural resource programs, a construction program update, and other topics. They will
need to discuss long -term funding and administration of the stormwater program.
Discussion included construction on Academy Road; Swift Creek; a bill that would
allow gravel removal to prevent flooding; scheduling fewer surface water meetings and
instead scheduling items before the Council Natural Resources Committee or Public Works
Committee; funding for the stormwater program; the Department of Ecology changing
surface water quality standards;
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:01 p.m.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council &o.whatcom.wa.us
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Sam Crawford, Council Chair
Surface Water Work Session, 2/15/2011, Page 2