HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works September 14 20101
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Safety Committee
September 14, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:33 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL (1:33:11 PM)
Present: Carl Weimer, Barbara Brenner and Ken Mann.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Kathy Kershner, Bill Knutzen and Sam Crawford.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2011 ANNUAL ROAD CONSTRUCTION
PROGRAM (AB2010 -322)
Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, gave a staff report and stated this is an
appropriate time to talk about construction features such as sidewalks, bike lanes, and
other design specifics. Since approval of the six -year program, they have obtained
$470,000 for a fish passage culvert on Bay Road. It came with a 13.5 percent match. They
took the money from project 32 and assigned it to the match for this Bay Road project.
Discussion included whether there is criteria for total maximum daily load (TMDL)
study; the sidewalk project on Haxton Way; whether project 23 regarding the ferry dock
should be on the list, given current negotiations; planned electrical work on the Lummi
Island dock; deferring capital expenditures at Gooseberry Point; the reason for the Slater
Road project; fire hydrants installed at the Slater Road and Haxton Road intersection;
potential future development at the Slater - Haxton intersection; the purpose of money
assigned to the Slater - Haxton intersection project; using the Slater - Haxton project in ferry
mediation with the Lummi Nation; the status of the speed control signs on Haxton Way;
whether a neighborhood association or other organization could pay the County to pave the
roads in their neighborhood; narrowing the minimum width of certain roads to lower their
impacts; whether they can turn down any future grant for projects they no longer want to
do, and; how much has been spent so far on the engineering of the Slater Road project.
The following person answered questions:
Chris Brueske, Public Works Department
Brenner moved to recommend approval to the full Council,
Mann moved to amend to remove project four.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 9/14/2010, Page 1
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Weimer stated major employers in the area of Slater Road prefer the Slater Road
route, so that project is not just for the benefit of the Lummi Nation. Lummi Island
residents are also inconvenienced. He will vote against the amendment for those reasons.
Crawford stated keep this project. It's a placeholder. The cost is only $10,000. The
Council has debated the improvements to Slater Road for at least five years. Be consistent.
There are many advocates for this project that aren't here to speak for it. The County is at
a critical point of negotiations with the Lummi Nation regarding the ferry and other things.
Many of those discussions have been tied to mutual support of these projects. He's
concerned about the signal this would send to the Lummi Nation. The Council will consider
a resolution tonight that includes Slater Road improvements. The County may be more
amenable to Lummi requests if the County receives federal funding for the project.
Brenner stated some people have said the County has not been working with the
Lummi Nation on improvements. This project has been on the list forever. If the County
doesn't draw special attention to the fact that these projects are on the improvement list,
specifically for the benefit of the Lummi Nation, they aren't going to notice it. (2:14:05 PM)
Rutan stated the Public Works Department Director understands that point. Opportunities
to make that point have not been missed.
Mann stated he agrees with Councilmember Crawford about the signal this would
send to the Lummi Nation. The reason for his motion is because it would be disingenuous of
him if he knew he was going to vote against the project later. The timing of removing the
project from the list isn't the best. He does not like this project. It would be dishonest to
approve the project for the benefit of another negotiation. The Lummi Nation has installed
fire hydrants along the road and seem to be planning for a large commercial development
on the reservation side at that intersection, to which he is opposed.
Crawford stated a commercial shopping center has never been a part of the
negotiation discussion.
The motion to amend failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann (1)
Nays: Brenner and Weimer (2)
Brenner asked for the list of County projects that are for the betterment of the
Lummi Nation. Rutan stated he would provide that list.
He referenced the Emerald Lake Way project and provided an update on the status
of the project. They haven't gotten that project done for a number of reasons. They will
have to work through the winter.
The motion to recommend approval to the full Council carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner and Weimer (2)
Nays: Mann (1)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 9/14/2010, Page 2
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:23 p.m.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council4o.w hatcom .wa.us
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works and Safety Committee, 9/14/2010, Page 3