HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources March 27 20071 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Natural Resources Committee
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4 March 27, 2007
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6 Committee Chair Dan McShane called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. in the
7 Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
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9 Present: Absent:
10 Seth Fleetwood None
11 Carl Weimer
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13 Also Present:
14 Barbara Brenner
15 L. Ward Nelson
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18 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
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20 1. UPDATE ON THE DRAYTON HARBOR SHELLFISH PROTECTION DISTRICT AND
21 RESPONSE STRATEGY (AS2007 -159)
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23 Erika Stroebel, Public Works Department, and Geoff Menzies, Drayton Harbor
24 Shellfish Protection District Advisory Committee, submitted and read from a presentation
25 (on file).
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27 Menzies discussed the history of the district. Sources of pollution included failing
28 septic systems, Blaine's lack of a sewage collection system, and the marinas. Any lingering
29 effects of the historic shipyard in the 1950's are not a threat. Drayton Harbor is important
30 for wildlife, particularly great blue heron. The bay has been considered unsafe for shellfish
31 harvest 30 percent of the time. The bay has been closed since March 12 due to the recent
32 amounts of rainfall. They never know when the bay will be open or closed, which makes it
33 difficult to establish a commercial operation.
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35 McShane asked how the Health Department deals with these rainfall events in the
36 unmanaged recreational areas. Menzies stated they don't do anything. Signs in the area
37 warn that it's not a safe place to harvest. They want to work with the County and Marine
38 Resources Committee to develop a conditionally approved management plan for that area.
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40 Stroebel stated they need to control onsite sewage systems and smaller hobby farms
41 in the upper watershed. She described four recent monitoring programs to identify pollution
42 sources.
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44 John Wolpers, Health Department, stated a site identified by the State Department of
45 Health shoreline report was a failing septic system at a home. The Health Department
46 worked with the homeowner, who put in a new system.
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48 McShane asked if there is a way to track the cost of staff time that goes into
49 resolving problems. Wolpers stated that staff follows up on complaints, using one of their
50 databases to track time.
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52 Stroebel continued to read the presentation on recent projects and new needs for
53 onsite sewage systems and agriculture.
Natural Resources Committee, 3/77/7007, Page 1
Menzies read the presentation on building a team approach and a dedicated funding
source regarding recommendations to add staff to the County, Health Department, and
Conservation District.
McShane explained the budget amendment process. A budget amendment must
come from the County Executive.
(Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.)
Menzies stated the Advisory Committee recommends that the Council work with the
Executive to secure a dedicated funding source to implement the plan.
Weimer stated the Council and legal counsel should look at the State law that
enables the district, which puts the County Council totally in charge of funding and
implementation. The Council can approve the fees to fund these programs at any point.
He's not sure that this would have to follow the same budgetary process.
McShane stated the Council is considering creating a sub -flood district for the Birch
Bay area. He asked how that process would fit within the shellfish protection district.
Menzies stated the shellfish protection district is already formed. There is a funding
mechanism to assess eligible property owners in that district. First, thoroughly investigate
that funding mechanism. The advisory committee's charge is to develop the plan. Once the
Council adopts the plan, the Council would consider an assessment if there aren't enough
resources to implement the plan. There may be other ways to fund efforts. The County
should investigate the options.
Menzies continued to read from and concluded the presentation.
Weimer stated the necessary funding is missing. He is in favor of moving forward
with a dedicated funding source for a couple of years. A question is how the administration
coordinates a variety of these kinds of programs. He questions whether they need more
staff or can re- direct current staff. In Drayton Harbor and other places, they need staff who
are flexible enough to respond to issues as they come up. Get clear with the administration
who is doing what and when.
McShane stated the administration wants some time to think about their overall
goals and how to accomplish them within the existing structure. The Council could come up
with goals and objectives within this context, and work with the administration to figure out
the best way to approach these cross- department and cross- agency challenges.
Fleetwood asked for clarification on funding to the Conservation District.
Weimer stated the Council approved $150,000 for the OPAL program for the
Conservation District. The Conservation District wouldn't be able to start that program until
this summer. This committee should discuss with the Conservation District about working
together more as a partner than as a contractor.
Andrea Hood, Whatcom Conservation District, stated the Conservation District
submitted a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) to the County to lay out their
program ideas and a communication protocol. It's now in the County's hands. Staff at the
District is fully committed through June. They don't have someone on the Conservation
District staff who works with small farms. They have hosted workshops to provide people
Natural Resources Committee, 3/27/2007, Page 2
1 information on improving and managing their land and livestock. The District supports
2 working with the County. There needs to be a measured, sustained, deliberate program
3 that focus on an easily- managed size of watershed like Drayton Harbor. The Conservation
4 District provides workshops, but the problem is getting people to attend. They can't compel
5 people to come. There must be a regulatory backstop to compel people to come in, but
6 they need to meet face -to -face with people on their farms to work with them and provide
7 resources for solving problems, rather than send an anonymous notice of violation.
8
9 McShane asked if the shellfish district boundary is countywide. or within the
10 watershed. Menzies stated the district boundary is the watershed boundary.
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12 Fleetwood asked if the funding they want is $384,040 for dedicated funding.
13 Menzies stated that is correct, to put together a team and fully implement the plan. They
14 get approximately $70,000 from the County general fund in project funds and staff support.
15 The report includes rationale and the main components of the program. They need
16 dedicated staff to build a team.
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18 Fleetwood stated some people may say this is a way to begin commercial shellfish
19 harvesting. He asked for other public benefit reasons. Menzies stated it is an indicator of
20 other resources. It can be an important small business. The Comprehensive Plan values
21 shellfish protection. Improvement indicates a healthy ecosystem. If they don't take
22 advantage of the dollars invested so far, Drayton Harbor will deteriorate until there is no
23 shellfish presence. Over time, they won't have blue herons, eelgrass beds, and other
24 habitat. The asset serves everyone in the community.
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26 Brenner stated that the $150,000 was targeted specifically for working with small
27 farmers. Hood stated the Conservation District will start that work in July.
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29 Brenner asked if the County could specify that the Conservation District work
30 specifically with the small farmers in the Drayton Harbor watershed. Hood stated they
31 would have to specify that in the MOU. She has maps that show there are about 13,000
32 large.animals in Drayton Harbor at 255 data points.
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34 Brenner asked if the County recently approved more staff positions for the onsite
35 septic system (OSS) program. Wolpers stated the OSS staff included a program coordinator
36 and an environmental health specialist for 2007, and an environmental health specialist in
37 2008, and also a clerk.
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39 Brenner asked if the Council can give direction to that staff to focus initially on
40 Drayton Harbor. The percentage of failures in Drayton Harbor seems high. Wolpers stated
41 the local management plan must address specific areas and marine recovery areas.
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43 Brenner stated she is concerned about putting more costs onto the farmers. Find a
44 source that fits within the already - existing system. The marine resources are as important
45 as Lake Whatcom.
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47 Weimer stated the City of Bellingham helps fund dedicated staff for Lake Whatcom
48 OSS work.
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50 Brenner stated the County puts a lot of money into the Lake Whatcom watershed for
51 many different things. This area is very important too. It has a general public good.
52
Natural Resources Committee, 3/27/2007, Page 3
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Weimer stated this committee will discuss with the administration the possible
creation of a new County natural resources department.
(Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side 8.)
Nelson stated the effort is to coordinate a process to prioritize, identify, and fund
these programs. He asked the status of hiring a consultant. He doesn't want to spend
more taxpayer money on forming more districts without studying all aspects.
Frank Abart, Public Works Department Director, stated he believes the funding has
been allocated for the consultant. The administration is in the process of identifying all the
department activities, recommendations, and actions. They must identify all the current
and future funding needs in all the different areas. They haven't decided yet on what
product the consultant will bring to the table.
McShane stated a challenge is identifying existing and potential funding sources and
deciding if the County is appropriately using those funds.
Weimer stated Drayton Harbor was first in line for the last 12 years, and was the
highest priority for a long time. The District has never gotten this funding, which is distinct
from the flood fund. Don't forget about this district while in the process of having the
bigger discussion. He would like to see recommendations for funding these programs in the
next couple of months.
Brenner stated the district ended up being watershed -wide, but it was never
advertised that way. Many people were never informed about a potential assessment until
recently. The language in the notice requested comments from the residents of the Birch
Bay community. There was never any mention of the watershed.
OTHER BUSYNESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WH OM COUNTY, W SHINGTON
Dan McShane, Committee Chair
Natural Resources Committee, 3/27/2007, Page 4