HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole December 7 20041
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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
Committee Of The Whole
December 7, 2004
Council Chair Dan McShane called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the
Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Barbara Brenner None
Laurie Caskey- Schreiber
Sam Crawford
Seth Fleetwood
Sharon Roy
L. Ward Nelson
McShane moved to go into executive session to discuss the first two
agenda items.
Motion carried unanimously.
1. DISCUSSION WITH WHATCOM COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
JEFF MONSEN REGARDING TWO POSSIBLE PROPERTY
ACQUISITIONS (AB2004 -018)
2. DISCUSSION WITH SENIOR DEPUTY PROSECUTOR DAVID GRANT
REGARDING AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL (AB2004 -018)
3. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE POSSIBLE ACCEPTANCE OF A LAND
DONATION FOR PARK OR SCENIC PURPOSES, PER RCW 36.34.340
(AB2004 -413)
Mike McFarlane, Parks and Recreation Department Director, stated Ken Hertz
has offered to donate 43 acres near the shore. The value of the property will
leverage a grant to do other work in the Birch Bay area. That is a 50 -50
proposition because the County doesn't have a project lined up and there is a two -
year window to do that. Conceivably, they can do it. Upon the Council's direction,
he will work on the paperwork. The area is in Birch Bay.
Roy stated there are a lot of wetlands.
McFarlane stated the cemetery district would like to get hold of some of the
property for expansion in the future. The County could lease or sell the property to
the cemetery district in the future if it wants to.
Committee of the Whole, 12/7/2004, Page 1
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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.
The property is a conservancy and adjoins the Birch Bay State Park. Across
the street is a subdivision design. There is a large green space that the Coast
Millennium Trail will run through, as part of the development. Access to the
tidelands provides the public interest in having this property. If the County holds
the property long -term, it would probably let the Birch Bay State Park provide
oversight and management. There are no plans for the property. There is
marketable timber on the property.
Caskey- Schreiber stated she is in favor of the donation because there is no
downside to it.
Roy stated Mr. Hertz came to the Birch Bay community and implied that his
intention was to use this property for leverage for other projects. She is in favor of
the donation. The issue of incorporation may come forward again. She asked if the
property remains the County's property if Birch Bay should incorporate. McFarlane
stated it could remain the County's property. They've been looking for additional
property for restrooms off the beach area.
Nelson asked if this property is used as mitigation for other development.
McFarlane stated it is not that they are aware of.
Nelson asked what other properties, other than the State park, surround this
property. McFarlane stated the property is wedged between the State park and the
potential development across the street. The property is near the heronry.
Caskey- Schreiber stated any wildlife habitat value is enough reason to accept
the donation and leave the property alone. Put the property in conservancy and
save it for that community.
Crawford asked if anyone has looked at the merchantable timber in terms of
forestry management. McFarlane stated the owner looked at it in terms of what
they could do with it. The owner doesn't have any plans to harvest the timber.
The State and Land Trust looked at this property also. The State parks didn't have
anything to use to enhance the State park. It would have been more difficult for
the Land Trust to leverage the property.
Crawford asked if the property has been analyzed for habitat enhancement.
Selective logging could create a better habitat. McFarlane stated it hasn't been
analyzed that he knows of.
Caskey- Schreiber stated the best habitat is left alone.
Roy stated Terrell Creek runs through the property, which is the restoration
project of the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association. Those people may be
very interested in working on the property.
Committee of the Whole, 12/7/2004, Page 2
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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.
Caskey- Schreiber stated she is opposed to any logging of the property.
There is an enormous difference in the salmon return rates between streams
they've cleared out and streams that had natural vegetation.
McShane moved to accept the donation.
Motion carried unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:00 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
The Council approved these minutes on January 11 , 2005.
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Dan McShane, Council Chair
Committee of the Whole, 12/7/2004, Page 3