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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil June 19 2007I WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL 2 Regular County Council 3 4 June. 19, 2007 5 6 Council Chair Carl Weimer called the meeting to order at 7:14 p.m. in the Council 7 Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington. 8 9 Present: Absent: 10 Barbara Brenner L. Ward Nelson 11 Dan McShane 12 Sam Crawford 13 Seth Fleetwood 14 Laurie Caskey- Schreiber 15 16 17 FLAG SALUTE 18 19 20 ANNOUNCEMENTS 21 22 Weimer announced that there was a presentation of baseline report on the 23 Design Guidelines for Commercial Development in Birch Bay as developed with A 24 Northwest Collaborative (AB2007 -274) during the Committee of the Whole meeting. 25 26 Weimer also announced that there was discussion of how the Council can meet 27 its legal obligations and move its policy directions forward considering the current 28 level of vacancies in key County staff positions (AB2007 -281) during the Committee 29 of the Whole meeting. 30 31 32 MINUTES CONSENT 33 34 Brenner moved to approve the Minutes Consent items. 35 36 Motion carried unanimously. 37 38 1. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR MAY 8, 2007 39 40 2. SURFACE WATER WORK SESSION FOR MAY 15, 2007 41 42 3. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR MAY 22, 2007 43 44 4. REGULAR COUNTY COUNCIL FOR MAY 22, 2007 45 46 5. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR JUNE 5, 2007 47 48 6. REGULAR COUNTY COUNCIL FOR JUNE 5, 2007 49 50 7. BOARD OF HEALTH FOR JUNE 12, 2007 51 52 53 OPEN SESSION Whatcom County Council, 6/19/2007, Page 1 The following people spoke: Tim Paxton, Clean Water Alliance, stated Rita Foley has been pretty active putting in complaints about development. Recently, she called the County enforcement staff numerous times to get someone to look at a problem with a neighbor clear cutting and developing land. She called many times. Staff came out a few times but didn't see any problems. She kept calling. The County issued a few corrective notices, but the developer ignored them. Finally, the developer decided his problem was all these visits from enforcement staff and Rita Foley. She asked for his help. The State Department of Natural Resources, Department of Ecology, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and others visited the site. The developer retaliated by suing Ms. Foley. The person developing this property has run his bulldozer through the creek out there, wiped out all the trees along the riparian zone, and trashed much of the flood plain by Blue Canyon Creek and Butter Creek. Ms. Foley has been sued for harassment. Because the hearing location was moved, her witnesses couldn't find her to testify. The Court clerks claimed they'd never heard of her. She now has an anti - harassment order. She's being sued again for infliction of emotional distress, and they're trying to get her water cut off so she has no water. This whole incident could have been solved with one enforcement call and visit with a stop order. Dragging Ms. Foley through the court system shouldn't have happened. When looking at the lack of personnel in the Planning Department, this is an example of what's happened. Brenner stated enforcement is the administration's function. She's been talking to Ms. Foley and understands what's going on out there. Anjah Englund, Anti - Hunger Coalition, stated she thanks the Council for declaring June 5, 2007 to be Hunger Awareness Day. She submitted information (on file). They would like to continue working with the Council to end hunger in Whatcom County. She discussed statistics from the food bank. Currently, there is no City or County governmental support for emergency food programs. Bill Quehrn, Building industry Association Executive Officer, stated he is concerned about the memo to the County Council dated June 14, 2007 about moving Planning Department staff into the legislative branch. He submitted and read from his testimony (on file). The Council's recent actions have caused the department to not respond in a timely manner. The County planning process is an administrative, not legislative, function. The Executive is assuring that customer service and business will continue during this reorganization period. Weimer asked about the stakeholder committee. He asked if citizens with concerns and complaints are considered stakeholders. Quehrn stated he believes the County Executive appointed the committee of eight. The committee has first looked at customer service, and will make recommendations. Gerald Larson, 5045 Alder Street, Birch Bay, stated the County invested a lot of money in Birch Bay planning in the last couple of years. One project was the stormwater and shellfish protection task force. Bruce Roll told them that the Council should be able to vote on the fee structure in August. The Treasurer said the County Council has until October 1, 2007 to get a fee on the 2008 tax statement. if the date is not met, there will be a year delay. Dennis Jones, 1487 Sudden Valley, stated there are challenges -and plans regarding the Lake Whatcom watershed. They are trying to move from defending and reacting to a Whatcom County Council, 6/19/2007, Page 2 1 governance revenue proposal for either Sudden Valley or seven precincts, which is the 2 entire watershed. The concept is a district concept. It will most likely be a County junior 3 district for things they need out there. 4 5 The City of Bellingham has committed to developing a funding mechanism to buy 6 back major undeveloped areas of the watershed. Work with the people in the watershed, 7 including Rita Foley to the people with their beautiful terraced yards. 8 9 Caskey- Schreiber stated she spoke with City Council Member Barbara Ryan, and the 10 motion to increase the fee to acquire more property in the watershed did not make it out of 11 committee. Jones stated it's still moving in that direction. It's not out of committee. They 12 know they have a lot of things to work out. 13 14 Fleetwood asked how the County could use governance systems money. Jones 15 stated Sudden Valley could use five different levels of governance, using governance and 16 revenue. They must budget for a plan and then make sure the Executive implements it. 17 18 Crawford stated they should take up the topic of the fee at some point. There are 19 implications to working with the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District and how the City 20 handles its customers outside the city. They are all Lake Whatcom water users. They need 21 to share that conversation. The other aspect is to do stormwater work. The Council must 22 be involved and discuss this at the next Joint Lake Whatcom meeting. 23 24 Virginia Watson, 2729 Jensen Road, Bellingham, stated the idea to have long -range 25 planners under the Council is brilliant. The moratorium probably will not be voted on 26 because no one has worked on it. She has tried to get information from Planning staff since 27 June 1, but has not had a response. The Council, administration, and Planning Department 28 work for her. It's not acceptable that little of the Planning Department remains. Little, if 29 anything, has been done to bring the County code in line with the Growth Management Act. 30 That Act passed in 1990. Seventeen years of non - compliance is not acceptable. She's been 31 told that members of the administration yell at County staff and some of the elected 32 officials. This is unacceptable. The Council knows what's best for the county. 33 34 John Lesow, 317 Madrona Place, Point Roberts, stated that over the past two years, 35 former Planning Director Hart briefed the County Planning Commission about what's on at 36 the Planning Department. He was concerned about the number of code enforcement 37 violations that are out there in the county. There are over 800 to 1,000 code enforcement 38 violations out there. He asked how they can have that many code enforcement violations 39 and reasonably expect them to be addressed, particularly with one or two code enforcement 40 staff. When they do get more staff for code enforcement, they are moved over to 41 permitting because permitting, not code enforcement, is what makes this county run. 42 43 They talk a lot about spending a lot of money on grand plans like the legacy plan. 44 Their legacy is the fact that they aren't enforcing the code, including filled wetlands, 45 diverted stormwater, and bad building. They need to concentrate more on code 46 enforcement and less on permitting. Twenty people have left the Planning Department in 47 the last seven years, according to the Whatcom Watch. He asked if they would take their 48 investment money and invest in a company that loses employees that rapidly. Meeting with 49 the administration will not work. They need to do something else. 50 51 Bob Wiesen, 3314 Douglas Road, Bellingham, stated that if the work load is too 52 heavy, they must cut it down. They appointed a Planning Commission that is unbalanced, 53 uninformed as to their responsibilities under the Growth Management Act, and is producing Whatcom County Council, 6/19/2007, Page 3 1 a poor quality product, as evidenced by the Bellingham urban growth plan. They also 2 elected Pete Kremen, who stands for some of them as well. The Council is spinning its 3 wheels on the Bellingham urban growth area. It is Bellingham's urban growth area. They 4 have a staff that is much more qualified than the County's at this point. While watching 5 these subarea plans, some of these consultants seem to suggest that they can develop a 6 whole new plan. He thought the object was to fine -tune the plans, not overhaul them. He 7 asked about the work of the people who have already been involved. They have a hard 8 time getting volunteers to participate because the projects take too long and take up too 9 many issues. 10 11 Brenner asked which subarea plans are being overhauled. Wiesen stated they are 12 working on Bellingham's urban growth area plan. Regarding the subarea plans in the 13 county, the consultants aren't following the parameters of the Growth Management Act. 14 {how, they are working on the Foothills Subarea Plan. The same thing happened with the 15 Lummi Island Subarea Plan. 16 17 Wendy Sutter, 4320 King Mountain Road, stated the Bellingham Herald reported that 18 someone would be clear cutting portions of King Mountain. She went through the 19 applications at the Planning Department. The applications were inconsistent, and indicated 20 that the area has been walked and approved. She questioned that. There are no flags on 21 the property. She asked how the Planning Department would know what they were walking 22 because there were no flags. Many things in the Planning Department need to be looked at. 23 If this happens on King Mountain, it is happening in other places. 24 25 Brenner asked if the administration can find out about this. Sutter stated that they 26 had a meeting with Bob Martin, who was told to put a hold on it because of questions. The 27 person who owns the property has to flag the property so they can actually walk the correct 28 area. 29 30 Ken Mann, 71D East Maryland Street, Bellingham, stated he has had a front row seat 31 to the deterioration of the County Planning Department. For awhile, they were concerned 32 that the product was being affected, that no planning was getting done, and that the 33 department had turned into a permit distribution center and nothing more. There is more 34 to customer service and long -range planning than handing out permits. He applauds 35 Councilmembers Brenner and Weimer for their proposal. 36 37 John Belisle, citizen, stated the staff reports to the Planning Commission have been 38 getting smaller and more general. The Commission also feels what the Council feels, but 39 more so, because they have no power. There are many issues before the Planning 40 Commission and Council. It's difficult to have intelligent and concise analysis. Faire more 41 staff to help Rebecca Craven. 42 43 Jack Petree, 2955 Sunset Drive, Bellingham, stated he spent all day today, the last 44 six months, and the last five years working on the urban fringe subarea plan, which was 45 written in the 1970's to be the ultimate growth boundary. 46 47 Dave Pros, 1466 Roy Road, Bellingham, stated the reality is that the County is 48 responsible for the population projection, Other counties don't give the cities an 49 opportunity to make those decisions. If lots are taken out of one area, they don't have to 50 put them back in the same urban growth area. The number Bellingham picked is too large. 51 The Bellingham City Council said the City taxpayers would have to pay $131 million to bring 52 the urban growth areas into the city limits. The City Treasurer said that's the cost for 53 infrastructure inside the urban growth areas. It's not related to the impact that those Whatcom County Council, 6/19/2007, Page 4 1 people will have on the rest of Bellingham. Intersections are already below the level of 2 service. 3 4 There are a number of issues before the Planning Commission that have a gray area. 5 The Council must have people give the Commission input from a perspective different from 6 the administration's. The Council should have its own planning department to do what the 7 citizens of the area would like. The people should control the county. 8 9 Marian Beddill, 3600 Seeley Street, Bellingham, stated her concerns continue 10 regarding the Lake Whatcom watershed in particular and the exodus of the County staff in 11 general. Nine staff have left in the past month or two. 12 13 Enforcement is an Executive function, not a Council function. The administration 14 should substantially increase its code enforcement activities. There are laws, but no one 15 follows them. At a number of familiar sites around Lake Whatcom, enforcement hasn't 16 happened, development continues improperly, and developers seem to do whatever they 17 please because they can get away with it. That's not right. That's not government. That's 18 not why the Council and Executive were elected, 19 20 While this is a problem, the right thing to do is a freeze, which is not quite a 21 moratorium. She is concerned that undesired activities will be allowed during this interim 22 period. The Council's oversight of planning activities should somehow be strengthened. 23 Make sure policy happens. 24 25 26 PUBLIC HEARINGS 27 28 1. ORDINANCE FOR TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF STOP SIGNS ON 29 MOSQUITO LAKE ROAD AT BOTH ENDS OF THE WELCOME BRIDGE #332 30 (AB2007 -253) 31 32 Weimer asked why they are doing this. The signs are already up. 33 34 Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, stated there was an issue of overloading the 35 bridge. They needed to put up load restrictions. They were able to install a stop sign as 36 long as they began the paperwork to do the ordinance within 12 hours. The intention is to 37 not have to restrict loads on the bridge, for the businesses that are out there. 38 39 Brenner stated it's a two -way bridge. People stop, and then they go. She asked if 40 the weight is the same. Rutan stated the issue is impact loading. When they don't stop, 41 there is an impact loading factor that goes into the weight of the bridge due to the speed. 42 If a driver stops when entering the bridge, it lessens the loading on the bridge. It's a trick 43 they will use until they can get out there and grind off some of the asphalt to lessen the 44 dead load, when they can remove the stop signs. 45 46 Weimer opened the public hearing and hearing no one, closed the public hearing. 47 48 Brenner moved to adopt the ordinance. 49 50 Motion carried unanimously, 51 Whatcom County Council, 6119/2007, Page 5 CONSENT AGENDA Crawford reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee and moved to approve Consent Agenda items one through 14. Weimer withdrew item six. Motion to approve Consent Agenda items one through five and seven through 14 carried unanimously. 1. REQUEST FOR THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE TO ENTER INTO A THREE -YEAR CONTRACT WITH SOLE SOURCE AWARD PROVISION BY THOMSEN WEST FOR ON LINE LEGAL RESEARCH SERVICES, TOTAL COST IS $25,068 (AB2007 -260) 2. REQUEST FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID #07 -29 TO LOW BIDDER, NORTHEND TRUCK EQUIPMENT, FOR A REPLACEMENT ROLL -OFF HOIST IN THE AMOUNT OF $36,670.93 (AB2007 -261) 3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID #07 -41 TO LOW BIDDER, SOUND FORD, FOR TWO REPLACEMENT 3/4 TON TRUCKS IN THE AMOUNT OF $59,765.16 (AS2007 -262) 4. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID #07 -43 TO LOW BIDDER, SOUND FORD, FOR REPLACEMENT OF TWO 1 -TON TRUCKS IN THE AMOUNT OF $64,742.50 (AB2007 -263) S. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID #07 -57 TO LOW BIDDER, FOSS SHIPYARD, FOR ANNUAL DRYDOCK REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE WHATCOM CHIEF FERRY IN THE AMOUNT OF $218,310 (AB2007 -264) 6. RESOLUTION REGARDING AN INCREASE IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NON - RECOURSE REVENUE BONDS OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORP OF THE PORT OF BELLINGHAM WITH PROCEEDS TO BE USED FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT FACILITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY BY BP WEST COAST-PRODUCTS LLC (AB2007 -265) Crawford reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee and moved to approve the resolution. Weimer stated they are approving an increase on bonds up to $300 million, but there wasn't a description of the reason for the money. John Carter, Port of Bellingham Chief Financial Officer, stated the Port authority includes a component called the Industrial Development Corporation of the Port of Bellingham. It's only purpose is to process industrial revenue bonds for Whatcom County applications. Those exist because the internal revenue code allows for tax exempt financing, conduit bond financing, where there is no security from any public agency. By Whatcom County Council, 6/39/2007, Page 6 I passing through this corporation, it accesses tax exempt financing for a number of 2 categories, including student loans. 3 4 (Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.) 5 6 Carter continued to state that tax exempt financing categories also include low 7 income housing, pollution control, and solid waste projects. The projects that British 8 Petroleum (BP) proposes qualifies as a pollution control solid waste exemption under the 9 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax code. BP has issued bonds in the past through this 10 corporation. The County Council has supported in the past activities of this for $130 million, 11 which is now being increased to $300 million. The State determines the qualifications and 12 allocates bond capacity. The IRS allows the State to have conduit financing for industrial 13 revenue bonds in the amount of $75 per capita. He explained the application process. This 14 resolution comes to the Council because the County is the holder of the economic 15 development strategy for Whatcom County. The Council is being asked to say that this is 16 consistent with that strategy. 17 18 Crawford asked whose money this would be. Carter stated BP would issue financing 19 for a project. The bonds are issued as tax exempt, which drives down the interest rate. 20 The bond holder does not have to pay federal income tax on the earned interest, so they 21 are willing to take a lower interest rate. 22 23 McShane asked how competitive it is to obtain this bonding, within the state. Carter 24 stated it varies from year to year. Typically, applications will be approved in consecutive 25 order. They anticipate that British Petroleum will get funding in the range of $50 million 26 this year, but this application is for future years also. Typically, they look at projects at the 27 end of September. If they are not going to be funded, there is no carry forward of the tax 28 exemption. If other applicants can use some of the funding capacity, the State will issue 29 additional amounts. Typically, that's gone to low- income housing projects around the state. 30 31 McShane stated this is a service that the Port provides. It sounds like the Port pays 32 a fair amount of attention to this service. Carter stated this is done in every state. The 33 State has its own industrial development corporation, as well. Some counties have more 34 than one corporation. Theoretically, Whatcom County can also become an industrial 35 development corporation. 36 37 Michael Abendhoff, British Petroleum (BP) stated this is an extremely valuable 38 financing tool that allows them to secure capital to invest in the plant. They are looking to 39 increase the cap, which is good news since they already met the cap and have invested 40 about $130 million in pollution control. They call it waste. It's traditional human waste, 41 from doubling the number of jobs out there in the last five years. They've gone from 425 to 42 800 workers. There are upgrades needed to their wastewater treatment system, They also 43 have to do upgrades for stormwater collection and solids. Because of new investments, 44 they have more stormwater runoff. Much of the investment is in treating and handling 45 sulfur and carbon that's high in sulfur and metals, which is unusable. Gasoline regulations 46 require them to make lower sulfur fuels and change the characteristics of the Alaskan 47 crude. It has a higher sulfur content and more metals than in the past. They must upgrade 48 equipment to continue to treat it and make the same amount of fuels they've made in the 49 past. One project is to process a heavier, high metallic, high sulfur carbon. Another project 50 is to upgrade the sewage disposal systems, which will cost $65 million. 51 52 Crawford asked what they do with all the left -over sulfur. Abendhoff stated there 53 used to be a market for it, and they would ship it out and sell it. Now, the market is flooded Whatcom County Council, 6/19/2007, Page 7 with sulfur from all the refineries. In five to ten years, they will have to pay to get rid of it. Today, it goes all over to fertilizer and chemical companies. Eventually, it will become a waste deposit. Brenner stated someone may come up with another use for the sulfur. Weimer asked if any of the tax return helps lower the gas prices. Abendhoff stated it helps make the refinery a sustainable local business, and allows them to continue to add jobs. Motion carried unanimously. 7. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE WASHINGTON STATE MILITARY DEPARTMENT TO SUPPLEMENT THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT'S 2007 OPERATING BUDGET IN AN EFFORT TO ENHANCE THEIR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,783 (AB2007 -266) S. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT WITH SNOHOMISH COUNTY TO PROVIDE EQUIPMENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN WHATCOM COUNTY FOR ENHANCED CAPABILITIES TO COMBAT TERRORISM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $178,155 (AB2007 -267) 9. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES TO LOW- INCOME PEOPLE IN WHATCOM COUNTY (AB2007 -268) 10. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES OF NORTHWEST WASHINGTON TO PROVIDE OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES TO LOW- INCOME PEOPLE IN WHATCOM COUNTY (AB2007 -269) 11. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH WESTCOAST COUNSELING AND TREATMENT SERVICES TO PROVIDE OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES TO LOW - INCOME PEOPLE IN WHATCOM COUNTY (AB2007 -270) 12. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH SEAMAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER TO PROVIDE OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES TO LOW - INCOME PEOPLE IN WHATCOM COUNTY (AB2007 -271) 13. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE BELLINGHAM WHATCOM COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY TO USE 2060 CAPITAL FUNDS FOR 45 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS (AB2007 -272) 14. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH NAMI OF WHATCOM COUNTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,648 (AB2007 -273) Whatcom County Council, 6119/2007, Page 8 1 2 OTHER ITEMS 3 4 1. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2007 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, SIXTH 5 REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,841,651 (AB2007 -254) 6 7 Crawford reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee and 8 moved to adopt the ordinance. 9 10 Caskey - Schreiber stated the bill from Security Specialists Plus (SSP) for the llama 11 rescue is very questionable. Everything should be covered under the contract. However, 12 she will support the request because she wants these people to get paid. She cannot 13 believe that SSP had the gall to add a $270 bill to this for their labor in this action. That's 14 what the County contracts with them for. She hopes a future provider is allowed these 15 types of discrepancies. She asked how that is going, and if the administration is in talks 16 with the Humane Society. 17 18 Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated they are talking with the Humane 19 Society. 20 21 Caskey - Schreiber asked if the jail siting amount of $700,000 includes property 22 acquisition. Desler stated it does not. 23 24 Brenner stated she is bothered about the SSP request. She asked why that fee was 25 included and why the County should pay SSP a fee and other bills on top of the contract 26 amount. Desler stated he found this whole effort difficult to deal with. A number of people 27 were out there, including various people representing the County. He didn't know what was 28 being committed to. Many people were doing lots of different things. They started 29 collecting all this claims for the resulting work. He went through the contact and the bills. 30 Some things were rejected outright. They went over other things with the attorney. They 31 looked carefully, and the Executive felt this was an appropriate request. 32 33 Brenner stated she was out there voluntarily doing the same thing that the SSP 34 employees were doing. She assumed that was part of their job. 35 36 Fleetwood asked about the Razor Home Bridge. Desler stated the Council approved 37 the project in 2006. It provides a bridge for a trail from the White Salmon ski area to the 38 State Department of Transportation building. The administration and Forest Service have 39 partnered to improve the forest area. They heard about this project through a committee 40 that is working on this. 41 42 McShane stated the Council plays a role in this Resource Advisory Committee. The 43 Council makes a yearly decision. This project was funded again this year from the Secure 44 Schools Fund Act. The County has a choice to take all the money and use it in a limited 45 way or share a portion of the money with the local forest, along with Skagit County. The 46 Resource Advisory Committee makes decisions and prioritize the projects that get funded. 47 He described the project. 48 49 Motion carried unanimously. 50 51 2. APPOINTMENT OF GARY KNAUS TO THE NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL BOARD 52 (AB2007 -258) 53 Whatcom County Council, 6/19/2007, Page 9 Crawford moved to appoint Gary Knaus. Motion carried unanimously. 3. COUNTY EXECUTIVE KREMEN REQUESTS CONFIRMATION OF THE CONCURRENT APPOINTMENT OF PETER THEISEN TO THE BELLINGHAM- WHATCOM COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITIES BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS (AS2007 -275) Crawford moved to confirm the appointment. Motion carried unanimously. INTRODUCTION ITEMS Crawford moved to accept the Introduction items. Motion carried unanimously. 1. ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE CURRENT STATE BUILDING CODE AND REPEALING THE EXISTING TITLE 15 OF THE WHATCOM COUNTY CODE (AB2007 -259) 2. ORDINANCE FOR REDUCING THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S PETTY CASH REVOLVING FUND TO $4,700 (AB2007 -276) 3. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2007 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, SEVENTH REQUEST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 (AB2007 -277) 4. ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE TITLE 3 TO PROVIDE FOR INCREASING THE COLLECTION RATE OF SALES TAX FROM .08% TO .09% (AB2007 -278) OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. REPORTS AND OTHER ITEMS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS Weimer stated the City Council wants a legal opinion on what water districts can and cannot do in terms of running water outside the urban growth areas (UGA's). There may be a Joint Lake Management meeting possibly before the August break. That question may be addressed at that time. Crawford stated the Joint Lake Management meeting should also address the fee issue. It should be broadened. There are lot more water users than those in the city of Bellingham. If a fee is applied, people who use that water have an obligation to take responsibility for that water. Whatcom County Council, 6/19/2007, Page 10 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 Weimer stated one idea is to create another subzone district around the lake to generate money for both stormwater and purchase of property. Brenner stated there was an excellent timber tour recently, done by the Women in Timber. She learned that the timber industry produces the most negative carbon footprint with the quick replant process. No other industry reduces carbon emissions as much as the timber industry. The trees give off the most oxygen between years one and 65 to 85. With all the replanting the industry does, a lot of oxygen is put into the atmosphere. She also attended a presentation group of veterans have put together described the event. There is a very doesn't exist anywhere else in the state to this. ADJOURN with a Veterans Affairs organization in Marietta. A 3 beautiful place for the veterans to come. She active veterans program in Whatcom County that Only a couple of other states have anything close The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. ]ill Nixon, Minutes Transcription ���tititliiirlr � `��� o ,%%,roved these minutes on July 10 , 2D07. ,% 'W '1 11 AES�:• �HATC •� �e� WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL 0••��C COUNTY0� �± WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON �r ��r!!!llllil� Clerk Carl Weimer, Council Chair Whatcom County Council, 6/19/2007, Page 11