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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources April 10 20071 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL 2 Natural Resources Committee 3 4 April 10, 2007 5 6 Committee Chair Dan McShane called the meeting to order at 9:08 a.m. in the 7 Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington. 8 9 Present: Absent: 10 Seth Fleetwood None 11 Carl Weimer 12 13 Also Present: 14 Sam Crawford 15 L. Ward Nelson 16 17 18 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 19 20 1. UPDATE ON THE PORTAGE BAY SHELLFISH PROTECTION DISTRICT AND 21 MARINE RESOURCE COMMITTEE (AB2007 -180) 22 23 Erika Stroebel, Public Works Department, stated many priorities for Portage Bay are 24 the same as those for the Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection District. She submitted and 25 read from a presentation (on file) on Portage Bay. They still have work to do in the sub - 26 drainages of the Nooksack River basin. 27 28 Weimer asked if the Council will approve a--plan for Portage Bay. Stroebel stated 29 there isn't a written plan for Portage Bay. They are working through a spreadsheet. 30 31 Stroebel continued to read the presentation on the Marine Resources Committee 32 (MRC). A federal grant, administered by the State Department of Ecology (DOE), goes to 33 each of the seven marine resources committees in the region. 34 35 Mark Herrenkohl, Marine Resources Committee Scientific Expertise Representative, 36 read from the presentation and from the annual update document in the Council packet on 37 community outreach and nearshore habitat. 38 39 Fleetwood asked why they think there may be a problem with the woody debris at 40 Cliffside Beach. Herrenkohl stated they want to see if they can increase and improve 41 habitat if the debris is removed. Part of the feasibility study will consider the cost of 42 removal. They are considering removing the finer grain woody chips, not the large woody 43 debris. 44 45 He continued the presentation on the Squalicum Creek estuary restoration. They 46 plan to promote nearshore habitat in this area. 47 48 Atina Casas, Public Works Department, read from the presentation and from the 49 annual update document in the Council packet on shellfish. 50 51 McShane asked about funding for the Beach Watchers Program. Stroebel stated the 52 program received federal funding for two years, and is now looking for other funding, 53 Natural Resources Committee, 4/10/2007, Page 1 Casas continued the presentation on shellfish, rockfish, and the 2007 -2009 proposed projects. Weimer asked about funding. Herrenkohl stated there is the possibility of funding from the Puget Sound Partnership. Federal funding isn't yet certain for the next two years. Casas showed a video of an underwater video survey of rockfish. Fleetwood asked if the Canadians are making an effort similar to the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative. Stroebel stated there are coordination efforts on a variety of joint projects with Canadian officials. Fleetwood asked what the agency is doing to control sea squirt. Casas stated there is an education campaign for recreational divers. Boat and seaplane inspections may be done. They are trying to figure out how to remove the species without harming water quality. Fleetwood asked the time of the global warming and rising seas presentation. Casas stated it is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on May 4 at the Bellingham Public Library. Weimer asked if the Portage Bay district needs any money. Stroebel stated the advisory committee has not requested additional funds at this time. They are identifying projects right now. She's not sure if the advisory committee will make a recommendation for more funding. 2. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE COUNTY'S VARIOUS NATURAL RESOURCE PROGRAMS AND HOW THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED AMONGST COUNTY DEPARTMENTS (AB2007-160) McShane stated they should speak a bit about the County Charter in this process. They want to understand how various natural resource programs are being carried out in the County. He referenced Charter section 2.20(C), which gives the County Council power to establish and set duties for County departments. In Charter section 1.50, each branch of government must strive to work together. That has generally been the case. The administration has always been very cooperative with the County Council. Fleetwood asked for an inventory of the County's natural resource programs. (Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.) Weimer stated the administration discussed funding priorities, the list of things that fall under natural resources programs, coordination of all the County programs and services to be more efficient, and breaking out of the never ending cycle of State mandates, which takes up all their time. Hal Hart, Planning and Development Services Director, stated the administration has said they want to combine natural resource program lists from the Planning Department and the Public Works Department. Many traditional land use planning efforts have a direct impact on natural resource programs, such as where they put people in urban growth areas affecting natural resources. He and Public Works Director Frank Abart will present a combined program list in the next few weeks. As the Council reviews that list, also look at the land use list. There is a desire to integrate natural resource efforts and land use planning at the local, State, and federal levels. The issue for Whatcom County is Natural Resources Committee, 4/10/2047, Page 2 implementation. The real long -term vision is to review how each permit enhances the landscape. The Governor's Office is asking those questions to save Puget Sound and the Columbia River. Create a team that is focused on natural resource management. Identify potential long -term objectives for such a team. Policies should drive integration. McShane asked if there will be opportunities for leverage by taking the lead, similar to the Shoreline Program and critical areas ordinance. Hart stated there will be. They need the County to stay engaged in the conversation. The Shoreline Program and critical areas ordinance are the beginning of handling one million people who grow into the Puget Sound area every ten years. People are struggling with how to grow population at all levels. Whatcom County is engaged with the State on these issues. Frank Abart, Public Works Director, stated going over the projects and programs was good education for him. There are over 30 projects in the Public Works Department, and more in the Planning Department. Many public works projects have to be sensitive to the environment, so they have an interest in this issue. They have great plans. Now, take the next step into implementation, which requires additional funds. He supports the idea of a comprehensive countywide water resource project to help identify priorities. That is a good next step. Weimer stated the departments could bring forward information to the next Natural Resource Committee in two weeks. They need to discuss priorities. McShane stated a problem on the Council tends to be prioritizing the big picture, which isn't often done, since things come to the Council in pieces. Often, citizens involved in specific issues also don't see the big picture that the Council must consider. The Council wants its policies to be consistent. Hart stated the first key issue is identifying the resources and how to deploy the resources to get the most benefit. Weimer stated the Council also needs to coordinate with department heads and not divert the staff to different directions when the Council hears about issues from the public. Fleetwood asked if this new effort to coordinate programs will limit their concentration on countywide water resource planning, for example. Abart stated it might for a few months. Pursuing this effort will draw resources from other efforts. Hart stated he doesn't have any resources to work on this effort. He will have to request administrative direction to put off other efforts, which has consequences, or request additional monies to work on this effort. The County as a whole should define their common goals, objectives, and priorities. Steve Jilk, Public Utility District #1, stated there are critical issues around water resources in the Health Department. Include their policies and administration in this effort. As they look at the Planning and Public Health lists of programs, see how those programs relate to the County Comprehensive Plan goals and objectives. The water resource inventory area (WRIA) Joint Board will meet to review a staff recommendation on integrating salmon recovery and Joint Board efforts. They want to know about the County's efforts in water resource. Integrate all these efforts for natural resource planning. Natural Resources Committee, 4/10/2007, Page 3 Bob Wiesen, 3314 Douglas Road, stated they are on the right track to consolidate all the individual issues. One good example is to protect areas that have gravel and are not in conflict with agriculture. The County keeps doing things that conflict with each other. Henry Bierlink, Agricultural Preservation Committee, stated this discussion is long overdue. Bring land, water, and natural resources together in a way that make sense. Make sure many people participate in that discussion. Work on this effort, but don't let other efforts lose momentum. In the discussion, consider working with non - governmental organizations (NGO's) and other groups that are already out there to help with implementation. The County departments can't do everything. Dick Grout, State Department of Ecology, stated he acknowledges the State mandates that the County must deal with. The continual problem is of having to deal with the immediate issue, which displaces everything else. An organizational structure discussion is great. Keep in mind how to structure things so the immediate, hot issues don't constantly displace the middle -term and long -term efforts that are just as important. Also, ensure that there is greater communication among the various departments. Dorrie Belisle, Ten Mile Creek Watershed Project Manager, stated the County must work on a sub -basin level to preserve the natural resources. Her biggest issue is how to keep water in the creeks all year. Development affects tributary water levels. Balance growth with natural resources. Create a process that considers water resources when making growth decisions. She supports sub -basin management. Weimer stated he suggests having a joint Natural Resources Committee and Finance Committee discussion on this issue in two weeks. Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, discussed the administration's efforts on this topic. Because they have limited resources, they must prioritize efforts. Some things in the queue will be left undone. If some new crisis or issue comes forward from a key interest group, the County may have to delay other things it is doing. Focus on the outcomes they want to achieve in the coming two to three years. That will allow the administration to focus staff time. Also, the administration will make sure the Health Department is involved. (Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side B.) McShane stated many contracts come forward and projects are funded because they are in crisis mode and go to the Finance Committee in isolation. The theme of comments today was about immediate issues that come up displacing long -term goals. The Council must recognize that some immediate issues come forward outside of the large context of a program. Crawford stated clarity of Council policy is something the administration needs. OTHER BUSINESS McShane stated the Council received a letter from the Department of Natural Resources about a land exchange of school board lands in the western part of the county. Also, he wants to bring forward the channel migration zone issues in this committee at some point in the future. Natural Resources Committee, 4/10/2007, Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m. .fill Nixon, Minutes Transcription ATTEST: off Na %9kwn.&a*s, -Council CI$ gtATE,0FO WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Dan McShane, Committee Chair Natural Resources Committee, 4/10/2007, Page 5