HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works July 25 2006WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Safety Committee
July 25, 2006
Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:38 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present:
L. Ward Nelson
Also Present:
Carl Weimer
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
I, RESOLUTION IN THE MATTER OF
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
THROUGH 2012 (AB2006 -320)
Absent:
Sam Crawford
THE WHATCOM Cf111rJTV STV -Yewo
A. ��M
PROGRAM FOR THE YEARS 2007
Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, stated they have traditionally carried a road
fund balance of $11 million. The department will do $9 million of work this year. Large
projects are coming up in the next few years. The road fund balance will be drawn down to
$2 million at the end of 2007. During this time of the year, they will have to borrow from
other funds for cash flow purposes. At less than $3 million, they have cash flow issues.
Nelson stated this shouldn't pose a problem. The reason for emergency reserves is
to complete projects timely. Rutan stated the reserve has been for cash flow purposes or
for emergency road work.
Nelson asked why this is a concern. If a road is washed out, it is generally due to
flooding and the County can use Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)
money. Rutan stated Mosquito Lake Road flooded because the river meandered. No federal
money was involved. FEMA applies if there is a natural disaster. Now, Marshall Hill Road is
closed because of a landslide.
Nelson asked if this is a policy discussion they must have, whether or not to dip
below the road fund reserves. At this time, it's important to get projects done.
Brenner stated this is only temporary.
Rutan stated it is administration's desire to get these projects done.
Brenner stated it has been the Council's desire for some time.
Rutan indicated the location of the projects on a map. The circles at the Lummi
Island docks should be triangles, indicating bridges, not spot projects. The docks are
considered County bridges.
Brenner stated that if they are treating docks like bridges, the dock maintenance and
operations should be part of the ferry fee. Rutan stated the 14 -year capital ferry program is
Public Works and Safety Committee, 7/25/2006, Page 1
1 part of the six -year road program. It is Exhibit B, on Council packet page 287. The first six
2 years of the ferry program are in the six -year transportation improvement program.
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4 The first four projects are currently underway, and will continue to next year.
5 Projects one through 30 are underway, and won't be completed in 2006. They will continue
6 to 2007. Projects 31 through 35 are ferry- related. Projects 36 through the end are
7 programmatic projects they do every year.
8
9 Brenner asked if projects 36 through 43 also includes chip seal. Rutan stated the
10 chip seal is not part of the capital program. It is a maintenance activity. Gravel
11 conversions are an improvement, and are shown as day labor. They are a betterment.
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13 Brenner stated she would like to see the chip seal plan for the next five or ten years.
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15 Nelson stated project 12 is Yew Street. He asked if the City of Bellingham
16 considered this area an urban growth area (UGA) expansion. Rutan stated they have met
17 with the City and school district. The school district wants to locate a school out there.
18 Some of it is in the UGA. It has Cit%i water and sewer. He obtained federal grant funds
19 because of the need to make the road all weather and to connect regional parks. With the
20 City school going in and existing City utilities, there has been talk.
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22 Nelson stated the County is putting $5 million into it. If the City makes it part of the
23 city, there is an interlocal agreement between the City and County. The City has to buy all
24 the improvements at ten percent depreciation.
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26 Brenner stated there is no incentive for the City to annex these areas until after ten
27 years, when they get it for free. Rutan stated that's why it's been ranked 12 instead of
28 higher. It's been pushed back year to year. The road is coming apart. The County needs
29 to protect the investment. Once the pavement cracks up and water gets into the sub -
30 grade, they have to completely remove the road and sub - grade, not just put on a new top.
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32 Brenner stated the County may be able to let it deteriorate and let it be a
33 substandard road, if the City isn't interested. She's concerned about these expensive
34 projects in areas that obviously belong in a city. They have the same problem on James
35 Street.
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37 Nelson stated than in ten years, it will be time for a road to be worked on again.
38 That would be the reason for the ten years.
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40 Brenner stated it's not in the best interest of the citizens of Whatcom County for the
41 County do all the upkeep on roads that are mostly city use. Rutan stated there are fewer
42 funds being used than on Lincoln Road. The northern part of Lincoln Road is in Blaine's
43 UGA.
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45 Brenner stated Lincoln Road is important to Birch Bay, not just Blaine. It's a
46 different situation. She thought Lincoln Road would be done by 2008. She asked why
47 $200,000 is budgeted in 2009. Rutan stated that construction project has been a two -year
48 program. They will begin in 2008 to have it functionally operational. They will be back in
49 2009 to finalize pavement and landscaping.
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51 Brenner asked if the ferry dock relocation was decided on yet. Rutan stated that
52 item is just for a study.
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Public Works and Safety Committee, 7/25/2006, Page 2
1 Brenner asked why they would schedule money for ferry replacement.
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3 Jeff Monsen, Public Works Director, stated these dates are consistent with what was
4 recommended and approved last year. This is being carried forward on the same
5 timeframe. They are inclined to recommend pushing it back a year or two. The community
6 must offer some direction. He received word recently from the County Road Administration
7 Board (CRAB), which is recommending that the State give the County more than $8 million
8 for a new boat. Don't build a boat until they are sure the money is going to arrive. There is
9 a good chance that, by this time next year, they will be in compliance under the Growth
10 Management Act (GMA) and eligible to apply for low- interest loans. They can't make
11 application until May 2007. He will not be sure of funds until 2008.
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13 Brenner stated they won't know absolutely until 2010 or so. Put off the ferry
14 replacement discussion until they know what they are doing. Monsen stated put off most of
15 these capital expenditures one or two years until they know the financial situation. They
16 can't push it back longer than that. If the funding is approved, the County must decide to
17 accept or reject the funds.
1R
19 Brenner asked the percentage of the low- interest loan. Monsen stated it is about
20 one -half a percent. It is an annual application process, subject to money available and GMA
21 compliance. Requests for funding from the State for the ferry can come once every two
22 years. Because that money comes off the top of the fuel tax distribution, he would expect
23 that those program rules will change, which will make access to that money more difficult in
24 the future. The County has already made that application. The CRAB has made that
25 recommendation to the legislature. A year from now is the earliest he recommends going
26 to bid.
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28 Brenner stated that if they don't push back the program schedule, it will look like the
29 County is working on it sooner. Monsen stated the annual work program will reflect what is
30 actually happening if the Council approves it the way it is. They can easily move the
31 projects back one year with no implications. The exception is some dock items should move
32 ahead in 2006 and 2007.
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34 Nelson stated that just because they budget for it, it doesn't mean they will spend
35 the funds. This schedule provides flexibility.
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37 Brenner stated the County should not provide any indication to the public that the
38 County is moving ahead with the ferry replacement, when it isn't moving ahead right now.
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40 Monsen stated this is the first time they've needed approval on the front end to get
41 the design work done, so they can apply for financing. Now that the design is done, the
42 County is gathering financing. Once financing is put together, then they can begin
43 construction. Now, they are waiting for final approval to move ahead and implement a
44 financing plan.
45
46 Brenner stated a dock relocation to an area with different currents might necessitate
47 a different ferry design. Monsen stated that the relocation requirements vary from a dock a
48 few feet away of the current dock to a location closer to the Stommish Grounds. The boats
49 would be the same in those areas. The currents aren't different enough to require a
50 different boat design, but maybe just how the boat is operated. The feasibility of dock
51 locations looks at locations for many mobility issues. If it's feasible to consider, the
52 administration will have enough information to seek federal support for the relocation. A
53 dock relocation, even if it goes really fast, will take ten years.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 7/25/2006, Page 3
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2 Brenner asked if approval of the ferry design includes approval of the ferry engine.
3 Monsen stated he recommends proceeding with approval of the proposed design and
4 propulsion system. Until the Council approves a bid award, there is no boat. Funding is
5 only available to expenditures that have not yet been made.
6
7 Brenner asked if they could go ahead with the design, but they won't be forced to
8 use the engine being considered now. Monsen stated they won't be forced, but they would
9 have to do some redesign.
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11 Wayne MacPhee, Birch Bay Village resident, stated he is concerned with the traffic
12 flow, particularly with the current development in the Horizons project and Seagrass
13 project. The proposed main throughway is Lincoln Road. However, it won't be until 2008
14 before that road project is done. He asked where this traffic from Birch Bay and
15 Semiahmoo will go while this work is being done. Drayton Harbor Road is closed.
16
17 Rutan stated Drayton Harbor Road should be reopened in time while Lincoln Road is
1 A being Atr%rLeri on. No matter what the final deesign iJ, the County nGGds to fix the slope at
19 Drayton Harbor Road.
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21 MacPhee stated those south of Lincoln Road have alternative routes. He asked if
22 they would be adequate alternative routes during the Lincoln Road construction.
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24 Rutan stated they are working on the alternatives analysis of the road, done by the
25 Seagrass development. That design will influence how they propose to handle traffic. The
26 cost and time for a project go up when they try to construct them under traffic flow. It
27 would be cheaper and easier to do the work if the road were closed, but that would cause
28 problems.
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30 MacPhee stated Lincoln Road is going to be the logical, larger throughway from the
31 entire area west of Shintaffer to the freeway. He asked why everything turns south on
32 Blaine Road and then intersecting at Birch Bay - Lynden Road, at an intersection zoned for
33 general commercial and that will have it's own traffic congestion. Have an angled roadway
34 from Lincoln to Blaine Road to go to the Kickerville Road. Or, have a new on- and off -ramp
35 to the freeway.
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37 Brenner stated there are other routes that go south.
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39 MacPhee stated that in terms of efficiency of traffic movements, people in the
40 Semiahmoo and Birch Bay Village area will have to go along Birch Bay Drive or go to Blaine
41 Road to go south. Those roads go to that main key intersection, which is his main concern.
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43 Rutan stated a project is scheduled in 2009 for the reconstruction of that
44 intersection, greatly influenced by developer contributions. The County has had several
45 meetings with the State Department of Transportation about Blaine Road. It's a State
46 route. There will be a lot of work and funneling traffic to Lincoln Road. This is the missing
47 link of which the Department of Transportation needs to approve.
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49 MacPhee stated a lot of the focus in Birch Bay has been to get traffic away from the
50 shoreline in Birch Bay. To do that, the alternative route will place a heavy burden on
51 Lincoln Road, Birch Bay - Lynden Road, and Blaine Road.
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Public Works and Safety Committee, 7/25/2006, Page 4
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Brenner stated it won't be effective and efficient while Lincoln Road is constructed.
There will be a problem for awhile, but they have to get Lincoln Road done.
Rutan stated the preliminary design for the Birch Bay - Lynden Road is a roundabout
to keep traffic flowing. At Portal Way there will be a traffic signal because of the proximity
to the railroad tracks. Discussions with the Department of Transportation went beyond that
one section of Blaine Road, to how it connects to Birch Bay Drive. The question is the
community concept for Birch Bay Drive, which is to go north and south on Blaine Road, and
access down to the water. They are working with where those accesses are. They are
working with developers to create those roadways.
MacPhee stated the councilmembers and Mr. Rutan are aware of the problems. It
will be a mess for awhile.
Claudia Hollod, 8240 Birch Bay Drive, stated she is concerned about Drayton Harbor
Road. When Semiahmoo was built, there was a binding agreement between Blaine and
Semiahmoo that it would not be a through road for Semiahmoo residents. Opening it for
construction at I incoln Road may plant it in peoples' Minds. She doesn't want that.
They are having a lot of problems with Anderson Road traffic. People go too fast. It
is a residential area. Those three roads will be heavily impacted. Plan for traffic calming
and traffic controls in those locations. Have speed tables, or parabolic curves, which are
now in use in many cities. The new designs are accepted throughout the states. Rutan
stated parabolic curves have been used successfully in many places.
Dora Lee Booth, 8188 Birch Bay Drive, stated the Birch Bay Transportation
Committee is concerned about the Six -Year Transportation Improvement Program. It lacks
contiguous development and planning. She is excited about the County's new
transportation engineer. She hopes that staff person will be able to sit down and develop a
transportation plan for Birch Bay. Now, there is a piecemeal approach that is reactive,
always behind, and unpredictable.
(Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.)
Booth continued to state that the County must move forward with the concurrency
ordinance for the entire county. They've worked on Lincoln Road for many years. It is an
important corridor for Semiahmoo and Birch Bay. It creates another problem at Birch Bay,
which is the Blaine Road and Birch Bay - Lynden Road intersection. People had a meeting
with the developer this spring. The people of Birch Bay want this development to go
forward. It will get people off the road if they can get this intersection moving forward,
especially at the same time with what is going on at Lincoln Road. Work compatibly with
the developers.
They are interested in the Birch Bay - Lynden Road and Peace Portal intersection.
Lineups are incredible at times. Concurrency impact fees were returned because the
upgrades weren't done in time. That is not okay.
Regarding the Birch Bay- Lynden Road and Blaine Road hub, traffic is backed up
beyond the dump.
Regarding Blaine Road, work diligently with the State Department of Transportation
about widening this road and making enhancements for non - motorized vehicles and
pedestrians.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 7/25/2006, Page 5
1
2 They are concerned with public safety on Jackson Road. There is a huge new
3 development, the residents of which would like to safely drive down Birch Bay Drive, but it's
4 not possible now.
5
6 Rutan stated the funds for project 18 were returned because the funds must only be
7 used if the traffic signal met federal warrants. At the time the money became due, the
8 signal did not meet warrants. A warrant is a condition by which a signal is installed, such as
9 the length of traffic delay or number of accidents.
10
11 Brenner asked the requirements for that area. Rutan stated he can provide that
12 information. Staff analyzed all of the warrants. At that time, the warrants didn't meet the
13 conditions of the contract. Since then, staff makes sure agreements are written so the
14 County can use the funds.
15
16 Regarding Jackson Road, he understands the problem. He placed a requirement on
17 the development to construct a pedestrian walkway through unimproved right -of -way, to
18
eventually provide a pedestrian brldgea across the slough. Mdening of Jackson Road br idge
19 is limited because of structures and the way the road is designed. They can improve the
20 bridge for vehicles and provide a separate pedestrian path. The first link of that is already
21 built.
22
23 Brenner asked the discussions with the Department of Transportation about Blaine
24 Road. Rutan stated they talked about design ideas and costs involved.
25
26 Monsen stated the chances of the State coming up with the money to rebuild Blaine
27 Road are few. He will look for ways to leverage local dollars, such as developer
28 contributions or a local improvement district (LID) to get some portion of State money for
29 that improvement. It requires a State legislative action to get those monies.
30
31 Brenner stated she is not comfortable with the idea of an LID on a State road. It is a
32 regional road. Monsen stated State highways are categorized according to highways of
33 statewide significance. The State needs to fully deal with those highways. Blaine Road is
34 not one of them.
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36 Brenner asked if there is a concept such as a regional improvement district. Monsen
37 stated they can create a road improvement district that can assess dollars. There is also a
38 transportation benefit district mechanism to deal with specific projects. To find ways to
39 move traffic away from Birch Bay Drive, the County must press the Department of
40 Transportation hard to accelerate improvements to Blaine Road and to start a process to do
41 the feasibility work for shoreline improvements to Birch Bay Drive. That study will begin
42 this fall.
43
44 Kathy Berg, 7585 Sterling Avenue, Birch Bay, stated she agrees with the previous
45 speakers. The pedestrian trail proposed is too steep. It's not a slough. It's Terrell Creek, a
46 salmon- bearing creek. The community is working to restore that creek. Find a better way
47 to provide beach access.
48
49 Regarding Blaine Road, she has seen British Petroleum (BP) using Blaine Road to
50 take aviation gas to the Vancouver airport. Trucks haul dirt. It's difficult to pass those
51 trucks. It will only get worse because of continuous construction. Many trucks go south on
52 Blaine Road to get to the gravel pit on Mountainview. They need help with Blaine Road.
53
Public Works and Safety Committee, 7/25/2006, Page 6
1 Brenner asked if they could include BP in an improvement district.
2
3 Berg stated BP will say they aren't BP trucks. They are contractors.
4
5 Monsen stated they can include any properties. What you fund through the district
6 will influence how the properties are assessed. It depends on the benefits received.
7
8 Brenner asked if any widening of the road will have to be done locally. Monsen
9 stated they can come up with local funds to generate matching State dollars.
10
11 Brenner stated the County has done visioning with Birch Bay. Citizens wanted to use
12 Blaine Road as the north -south road to get traffic off Birch Bay Drive. She asked if that
13 would bump it up on the list. Monsen stated it would. That is in discussion with the
14 residents and development community. They are looking for ways to make it possible. A
15 lot of it comes to the financing plan. They don't disagree on the goal.
16
17 Brenner asked if the City of Blaine can be in an LID. Monsen stated it can. The City
l R Can ha in a transportation henefit dictriCt. The City would have to agree to it, but keep the
19 entire region in mind, including all the roads in the region. Determine the appropriate
20 sequence of work, which is influenced by the financing plans and where they can generate
21 money to do certain things.
22
23 Wayne Schwandt, Trillium Corporation, stated the development community has tried
24 to address some of these issues while working with the County. A goal is to create a
25 public /private partnership that addresses a regional transportation plan. Make sure there is
26 public process. The State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) review is the only
27 mechanism that ends up in the public process right now. They've come up with a way to
28 pre -pay SEPA mitigation requirements, to pool funds and direct them to projects the County
29 wants to accomplish. One example was the Seagrass SEPA determination from the City of
30 Blaine. They made funds available to support the corridor study on Lincoln Road, which
31 includes the intersection of Blaine Road and Birch Bay - Lynden Road.
32
33 A group of developers meet regularly to discuss these issues. Four of these
34 developers have agreed to fund two more transportation - related activities. One activity is
35 an area -wide transportation study that includes the Blaine and Birch Bay UGA's. Another
36 activity is the design phase for that roundabout that was discussed. When implemented,
37 the County will set the scope for the work and identify the contractors. The developers will
38 put the money into a credit account for future mitigation requirements of their projects.
39
40 Brenner asked if there are plans to contribute to the upgrade of Blaine Road.
41 Schwandt stated they do not have plans for that right now. He's willing to talk about
42 leveraging funds. Trillium is concerned about the road development for aesthetics and
43 safety of their clients.
44
45 Kathy Cleveland, Birch Bay, stated more people are driving south on Blaine Road,
46 causing backup on Birch Bay - Lynden Road. There are more delays and it takes more time
47 to cross the road. Many little things have contributed to the situations. Blaine should have
48 annexed all the way around the harbor, but it didn't. It should be taken care of.
49
50 Fred Bovenkamp, 2423 East Bakerview, Bellingham, asked how the schedule for
51 Lincoln Road has changed.
52
53 Brenner stated it is scheduled for 2008, the same as last year.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 7/25/2006, Page 7
1
2 Rutan stated it was proposed to be done in 2009 last year, but the Council moved it
3 up to 2008, based on additional staffing. However, they have not received additional
4 staffing. Instead, they have lost staff.
5
6 Bovenkamp stated it is very important to get done. Lincoln Road is critical.
7 Developers would hate to see it delayed again for lack of staffing or capacity. Split it into
8 two projects, starting with Harborview Road.
9
10 Nelson asked if the total funds shown include grant funds and road funds. Rutan
11 stated they do.
12
13 Nelson asked the ending fund balance of the road fund. He asked how the road fund
14 can diminish with grant funds and other loans. Rutan stated there are other non - capital
15 projects such as maintenance and operations that are funded by the road program.
16
17 Nelson stated the numbers are unclear. There is no separation that clearly
1 R rlalinaahac loan funds or grants in the road fund. Rutan stated that infnrmatinn i� nn Exhibit
19 A. Loans and grants are considered revenue and go into the road fund if they are for a road
20 purpose.
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22 Nelson asked if the available fund balance projections include what the County
23 receives in grants and loans. He asked how the administration estimates that grant and
24 loan revenue. Rutan stated grants and loans are projected. Construction grants and loans
25 are in column 13 of Exhibit A. They normally incorporate grant funds into the budget, even
26 if they are not secured.
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28 Nelson stated the projections could go up and down. Rutan stated they could.
29
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31 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
32
33 1. APPROVAL OF DEVELOPER REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT PERTAINING TO
34 ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION ON WEST ROAD (AB2006 -220)
35
36 Brenner stated the City of Blaine has no plans to incorporate or provide services.
37 There is no problem proceeding with those properties being included.
38
39
40 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND FINAL APPROVAL
41
42 1. REQUEST REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE 2006/2007 INTEGRATED
43 ROADSIDE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN (AB2006 -316)
44
45 Nelson moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
46
47 Weimer stated a number of nearby counties do not spray at all. He asked why the
48 County hasn't gone that route.
49
50 Paul Kelley, Public Works Department, stated the County has no -spray areas.
51
52 Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, stated it comes down to a level of service
53 decision of the County Council. It comes down to a cost and level of service issue. It will
Public Works and Safety Committee, 7/25/2006, Page 8
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cost more to maintain the road without spraying. He has a presentation on this issue he
can bring to the Council. Island County paints their clover white to create an edge stripe.
However, when the clover dies, the edge stripe will be gone. Also, clover holds water onto
the roadway. Clearing it manually increases the cost.
Brenner asked if they can hold off on approving this until the committee sees the
presentation. Rutan stated they can.
Brenner moved to hold in committee until September.
Motion carried unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:03 p.m.
i2j
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcriptio
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works and Safety Committee, 7/25/2006, Page 9