HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources August 9 20051
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
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
August 9, 2005
Committee Chair Sharon Roy called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Seth Fleetwood Dan McShane
Also Present:
L. Ward Nelson
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING RENEWABLE ENERGY (AB2005 -337)
Hal Hart, Planning and Development Services Director, stated the presenters
look at sustainable development and planning for communities such as Whatcom
County and the City of Bellingham. The current Comprehensive Plan has policies
that move the county toward sustainability. In addition, they have the Salmon
Recovery Act, the Shellfish Protection Act, and many other duties to move this
region toward long -term sustainability. The presenters today will provide them with
a new way to look at how to put all those policies together to create a rational,
structured agenda for the future. Recently, they've heard that other groups such
as the Council of Governments are interested in planning for 60 or 100 years. Key
questions for the councilmembers are how to make the policy objectives in the
current Comprehensive Plan be carried on through the generations, how they can
make investments in capital facilities last for generations, and how to shape new
growth coming into Whatcom County. It is an exercise in policy and shaping
programs such as housing, transportation, critical areas protection, and open space
preservation. From the County's perspective, they are working on a subarea plan.
They need to look beyond five or 20 years. Begin thinking about how the policies
they make today will influence future policy makers. The choices they make today
will be there for others to respond to. If they didn't protect salmon, it will be a lot
harder to recover those salmon in the future. If they foreclose some of those
opportunities by not thinking of the future generations, they may never have those
opportunities again or it will cost the community too much. Think holistically about
sustainable systems. Whatcom County has a great deal more information about its
landscape and the things they treasure. They now have the science that explains
how to preserve and protect them beyond this generation. Use that science to base
their concepts of sustainability, whatever they may be. No one has pulled out all
the sustainability policies from the Comprehensive Plan and looked at them as a
package to determine if they are coherent and integrated. Stormwater master
planning is moving forward. Shellfish protection is a goal at Birch Bay. That is a
Natural Resources Committee, 8/9/2005, Page 1
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
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
forerunner of what they do for Drayton Harbor in other areas. Integrate critical
areas, salmon protection, shellfish protection, the built environment, and the
natural environment. There is a potential grant to develop design criteria.
Whatcom County is doing pilot projects for sustainability. Today, however, they are
looking at the big picture of policy.
Anindita Mitra, CREA Affiliates, gave a presentation (on file). She is
concerned about how development is affecting critical areas. She read the
presentation on CREA Affiliates.
Jayson Antonoff, International Sustainable Solutions, stated his approach to
promoting the idea of sustainability is to bring people together globally to
experience the best global practices.
Mitra stated her current concern is energy. In planning the communities,
they do a poor job of integrating energy concerns in planning. She created a task
force of professionals which is looking for a client on which to test their ideas. That
is how she met Mr. Hart. They share ideas and values about how communities
should be in the future.
She read the presentation on present opportunities and what sustainable
development is. The strategies they have now are good, but they are not cohesive
and coordinated.
Antonoff read the presentation on current planning priorities in Whatcom
County. All of the priorities need to be a single cohesive goal.
Mitra read the presentation on why current development is not sustainable
and what sustainable development is. Sustainable development is location- specific.
Waste to energy is recycling waste products so they are used for other efforts.
Antonoff stated people in Scandinavia have learned that sustainable
development increases the quality of life, economic well- being, and the
environment in the region. It's not a sacrifice for them. He read the presentation
on what they can learn from Scandinavia and about high performance building
energy goals. Scandinavia faced a crisis 20 years ago because the people used
imported oil for energy. They embarked on a path of sustainable energy and began
to wean themselves from high energy imports. They looked at high performance
building goals. Many buildings can reduce their energy consumption by 75 to 80
percent. Do annual audits of building energy and water consumption to increase
efficiency annually.
Whatcom County can have smaller scale power plants located within
residential or commercial areas and that must blend with the neighborhood. It can
reduce distribution costs, the need for new transmission lines, and, by using local
bio- fuels, it links the rural and urban areas. There are wonderful opportunities to
incorporate more solar power use. For instance, they can use solar panels instead
Natural Resources Committee, 8/9/2005, Page 2
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
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
of roofs to produce as much energy as is being consumed, which provides a way to
increase growth without creating new energy sources. In Denmark, energy
consumption has been flat, even though their gross domestic product (GDP) has
gone up 30 percent.
He read the presentation on stormwater management. Look at the impact of
urban developed areas. One doesn't necessarily need lawns and grass to have a
wonderful environment. Bring water to the surface through swales, ponds, and
other methods so it becomes a retention basin and doesn't immediately go into the
waterways and becomes an aesthetic element. Allow the water to become part of
the environment for habitat, water treatment, and economic benefits.
Mitra stated they need to be systematic to get to sustainable development.
Review codes, plans, and programs. It will take a deliberate effort to get to clean
environment, prosperity, and health. Have a clear and powerful vision to inspire
the community. Involve the community to develop the vision. They also need a
collective will at all levels. There must be a strategic plan that has clear goals on
how to get there. The plan needs to be supplemented with cohesive programs and
policies. Finally, there must be financing. She read the presentation on how to get
there. Either establish a sustainable development strategy overlay for existing
processes or amend the Comprehensive Plan.
She read the presentation on a hypothetical model community called
Bowling, Washington with three broad goals to build community, have prosperity
and health, and have a clean environment. The model community would have
measurable sub -goals that acted as progress indicators.
Fleetwood stated the presentation is wonderful. He would like to live in a
world where the whole world lived with these goals. In the United States, they are
not close to those goals. Implementing these things is a different story. He asked
how they answer the question of property rights that are inherent in American
culture. Many of the ways to implement these is modification of practice and
behaviors. He asked if this needs to come down from the higher national or State
government. If there is a regional benefit, there may need to be a regional plan.
Mitra stated that in order to sell something, they have to make it market worthy.
The market today is transforming. Companies are realizing that they must go
green to attract and maintain customers and for environmental legacy and
responsibility. Collect data to justify the green stance. The market realizes that
unless they participate, they will be inundated. It is a slow, evolutionary process.
A think tank of large investors that control 75 percent of development worldwide
has created principles for informing their investment strategy. The investing banks
will review projects for investment using the principles in the investment strategy.
Whatcom County doesn't need to wait for the federal or State government to do
anything. Be consistent and deliberate. Make the community realize it's for the
larger good and for their children's good.
Natural Resources Committee, 8/9/2005, Page 3
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
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Antonoff stated a key aspect is that they're talking about a holistic solution to
problems. Work with the development community to find ways to minimize the
impacts of development on the rest of the infrastructure. There really isn't a large
difference in the costs. There may be a decrease in costs. However, they would
gain long -term and profound benefits in many areas. They must elevate it to a
regional plan. An individual building can't have that sort of impact. However, it
doesn't have to happen at the national or State level to realize an effect. The
County can do many things.
Mitra stated this country is wonderful at leading and following by example.
They just need a leader.
Roy stated there are political realities. The real estate interests are telling
them they are destroying affordable housing by not allowing the industry to destroy
wetlands. The County is doing many of the things suggested. Philosophically, the
County is ready. It's a matter of pulling everything together and measuring their
progress. The County is also talking about embarking on a 60 -year community
visioning process.
Hart stated the Association of Realtors is beginning to see this way. They are
seeing the advantages of marketing green developments and improving housing
density and design. The Building Industry Association (BIA) is beginning a Built
Green program. The conversation has moved toward sustainability. This topic will
affect next year's Comprehensive Plan amendments, the vision over the next 20
years, and public education on what sustainability means. Partner with all to get a
positive outcome for the community. A lot more people will get on board if the
process is regional.
Roy thanked the presenters.
(Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.)
2. UPDATE FROM THE WHATCOM COUNTY MARINE RESOURCES
COMMITTEE (AB2005 -318)
Amy Kraham, Marine Resources Committee Member, submitted and read
from a power point presentation (on file). The committee is authorized from the
Northwest Straits Initiative. The committee receives federal funds through the
Northwest Straits Commission.
A main focus of the Northwest Straits Commission this past year was a five -
year evaluation. She read the presentation on the Northwest Straits evaluation and
the initiative recommendations. The way to affect social change is through a grass
roots effort. People feel the initiative has magic. The committee includes
representatives from many different walks of life. Change is easier when everyone
works together.
Natural Resources Committee, 8/9/2005, Page 4
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
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Erika Stroebel, Senior Planner, stated they will build projects they've worked
on in the past. She read the presentation on the 2005 -2006 focus, nearshore
habitat. They will come up with an assessment and priorities they can agree on for
a variety of needs. The Marine Resources Committee has collected and shared data
for the Shoreline Management Plan update. They are also working to enhance the
assessment and restoration component of the marine aspect of the Shoreline
Management Plan, through a grant. There is a great focus on marine resource
data. The pictometry data will allow an enhanced element of the marine nearshore
assessment and restoration plan.
She read the presentation on shellfish. The clam surveys involved
community members and filled data gaps to be used as baseline data. Volunteers
have helped with surveys in the summers. She handed out the 2004 Clam Survey
Results for Mud Bay, Birch Bay, and Semiahmoo Spit (on file). She continued
reading the presentation on shellfish and rockfish.
Kraham stated a major goal and benchmark under federal legislation is
community outreach. She read the presentation on community outreach. The
Marine Resources Committee is happy to research any issues the Council has. She
read the presentation on the Northwest Straits Commission projects.
Tom Cowan, Northwest Straits Commission Director, stated the members
and staff of the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee are dedicated and
very successful. He showed a film on the derelict fishing gear removal project.
Whatcom County has some of the heaviest concentrations of derelict fishing gear.
Recently, the recognition of this project, which is the only one in the continental
United States, received a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) to export the program to other areas of the country.
Nelson asked if there are any offset revenues for this program. Cowan
stated they have not found a way to recycle the fishing nets. It would be a massive
effort to clean them. They have been able to recycle some parts of the crab pots.
In Washington law, they are required to locate the prior owner if the pots are
salvageable. It would be more work than it's worth to charge the owner for the
cost of recovery.
Roy asked how much gear they've found in the Whatcom County area.
Cowan stated he doesn't have that information. The very first recovery project was
done in Whatcom County. Over 280 pots were removed. In the next month, they
will concentrate on the highest priority areas. Whatcom County and the San Juan
islands are those priority areas.
Fleetwood asked how this one program affects the overall salmon recovery
effort. Cowan stated he can't say how significant the program is in comparison to
habitat restoration and other issues. No one understood this was a problem until a
couple of years ago. Now, the problem and program have recognition. Now, the
nearshore section of the Salmon Recovery Plan says that removing derelict fishing
Natural Resources Committee, 8/9/2005, Page 5
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
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
nets will help to recover salmon. A sizeable portion of funding came from the
Salmon Recovery Funding (SRF) Board.
Fleetwood stated many of the projects relate to assessments and surveys,
which are important. He didn't see much information on projects and plans to
change human behavior that would result in protection. He asked what the project
is doing to address that change. Cowan stated the reason the project has been
successful is because it has taken a no -fault approach. Therefore, they have been
able to work with commercial and tribal fisherman. Also, they have come up with
suggestions to limit future losses and have made suggestions to the Washington
State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the State legislature. For
instance, law requires that each crab pot be equipped with rot cord. However,
retailers are not required to sell crab pots with rot cord. That is a simple fix that
was overlooked when that legislation was created. The legislature is responsible for
doing prevention. Prevention is clearly important, but is not their main focus.
Nelson stated that public education is the best way to solve the problems in
the community. There is a cost factor to public education. He asked if the State
looked at other ways to generate fees or other funding to help with public
education. Cowan stated those options are being explored.
Roy stated the Council is willing to support this effort.
Kraham stated the Marine Resources Committee is happy to do research on
issues the Council is interested in.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Natural Resources Committee, 8/9/2005, Page 6
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
1 Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk Sharon Roy, Committee Chair
Natural Resources Committee, 8/9/2005, Page 7