HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole December 7 20101
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee Of The Whole
December 7, 2010
CALL TO ORDER (9:32:25 AM)
Council Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in the Council
Conference Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Kathy Kershner, Barbara Brenner, Sam Crawford, Bill Knutzen, Ken
Mann, Tony Larson and Carl Weimer
Absent: None
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DRAFT AND SEND
A NOTIFICATION LETTER TO THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM TO DISCONTINUE
THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT REGARDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE
PROVISION (AB2010 -305A) (9 :32 :45 AM)
Brenner moved to add "Be It Finally Resolved that there will be a seamless
continuation of the unified EMS provisions while Whatcom County and the City of
Bellingham work out problems with the existing agreement through amendments that solve
legitimate concerns." She won't vote on the resolution without this language.
Crawford stated he won't support the motion with this current wording, but he is
happy to work on it. He suggested a friendly amendment, "Be It Finally Resolved
that there will be a seamless continuation of the unified EMS provisions whale ` hate^~~
Brenner did not accept the friendly amendment. She amended her motion, "Be It
Finally Resolved that there will be a seamless continuation of the unified EMS provisions
while Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham and Fire Districts work out problems with
existing agreement through amendments that solve legitimate concerns."
Crawford moved to amend the motion "Be It Finally Resolved that there will be a
seamless continuation of the unified EMS provisions
Bellingham werk eut pFeblerns with existing agreement threugh amendments that Selve
legitimate eeneeFn-s."
Discussion included whether the intent of the motion was to have seamless
continuation both before and after the agreement expires; working collaboratively with all
the agencies, and; using a resolution to indicate what the Council will work toward.
Brenner stated make sure that whatever they do works. Resolutions are about what
the Council would like to see happen. It has no force of law. (9 :39 :52 AM) She would like
Special Committee of the Whole, 12/7/2010, Page 1
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to see that there are no gaps. The City of Bellingham, Fire Districts, and County can work
out problems with the existing agreement. They may keep it or change it. It gives them
three years to work this out. Amendments can refer to the current agreement or a different
agreement.
The motion to amend the motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Crawford and Knutzen (3)
Nays: Brenner, Larson and Weimer (3)
Absent: Kershner (out of the room) (1)
(9:46:43 AM)
Brenner amended her motion, "Be It Finally Resolved that there will be a
seamless continuation of the unified EMS provisions while Whatcom County and the City of
Bellingham and Fire Districts work out problems with existing agreement through changes
that solve legitimate concerns." A new interlocal agreement among all entities.
The motion to amend failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann and Weimer (3)
Nays: Crawford, Knutzen and Larson (3)
Absent: Kershner (out of the room) (1)
Discussion included whether the resolution intends to and should place fault squarely
on the City of Bellingham and its employees; whether or not they should assign blame;
whether the Executive would be willing to send the letter; the last time the Council
approved a resolution asking for this notification letter, and; the purpose of the language
that says all fire districts and fire departments have equal input.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING A DRAFT ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM
COUNTY ZONING CODE TITLE 20, THE OFFICIAL WHATCOM COUNTY ZONING
MAP, AND THE WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND MAPS, TO
IMPLEMENT CHANGES RELATING TO RURAL LAND USE PLANNING (AB2010-
072A) (10: 02: 07 AM)
Gary Davis, Planning and Development Services Department, referenced additional
information submitted that included a memo and maps (on file).
Brenner moved to amend to use Rural Community (Type I), Rural Tourism (Type
II), and Rural Business (Type III) throughout the document. Don't use acronyms and the
titles of type I, type II, and type III. Come up with more descriptive names, and
referencing the type in parenthesis. Go back to using the definitions. There is nothing that
prohibits them from using the descriptive names. People will understand it better.
Crawford stated he won't support the motion. Be consistent. They are at the end of
a long process. It will be very important to have a good grasp of the maps. The labels
don't comprehensively describe them in the way that the reference to the Growth
Management Act (GMA) does.
Knutzen stated he's in favor of the motion to amend. It indicates what they can do
with each of the areas. Tools, such as the density overlay, have been named other things in
Special Committee of the Whole, 12/7/2010, Page 2
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other counties so they could understand what they're doing with that tool. It make sense to
have clearer names.
Brenner stated make it as clear as possible for the average person who will look at
this document. It gives people the ability to understand the differences, just by looking at
the titles. It's a minor change in many places.
Davis asked if the motion addresses how they discuss this in the future, in this
process, or is it to make changes to the way the Comprehensive Plan text is worded.
Brenner stated the intent is to change the text.
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Knutzen, Larson and Weimer (4)
Nays: Crawford (1)
Absent: Mann and Kershner (out of the room) (2)
Davis described the Acme maps and Smith and Guide Meridian maps in the
additional information.
Knutzen asked for information on conditional use permits or applicable uses around
the boundaries, that may have been left out of Acme.
Larson asked if they've communicated with the landowners whose properties are not
included. Davis stated the landowners were notified early in the process. He explained the
notification sent and the feedback received from the notification.
Discussion included the strength and tone of the notification message; whether there
would be more notification, and; the history of the Hearings Board decision and the
Council's actions on the rural element.
Larson stated he would like to know how many property owners are affected and the
cost associated with notifying folks affected by the September 7 version from the Council's
Committee of the Whole, not the Planning Commission version.
Crawford asked what a landowner notification would say. Consider what the County
would tell those people. Most of the folks won't want to be downzoned, but the criteria by
which they are adjusting the Comprehensive Plan will require downzones. He doesn't know
what people are supposed to do about that.
Larson stated he wants to know who are in the areas being impacted and make sure
people understand the impacts.
Crawford stated they will continue going through the policies and zoning in January.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
Special Committee of the Whole, 12/7/2010, Page 3
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 10:59 a.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, 12/7/2010, Page 4