HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council April 27 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
Special County Council
April 27, 2004
Council Chair Dan McShane called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present:
Barbara Brenner
Laurie Caskey- Schreiber
Sam Crawford
Seth Fleetwood
Sharon Roy
Absent:
L. Ward Nelson
1. COUNCIL TO CONFIRM RECOMMENDATIONS GIVEN TO PUBLIC
WORKS ON APRIL 20 REGARDING THE WRIA 1 WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT PROJECT (AB2004 -025A)
McShane stated there was a committee meeting, and the Council didn't
formally make a recommendation on just what it recommends for section three.
Sue Blake, Resources Planner, stated the committee discussed several
things, including programs in appendix I.5.
Roy stated this meeting is about everything the Natural Resources
Committee went over at its last meeting. The Council must approve section three
as a draft section that will go to the public for review and comment.
One change is to water use tracking in appendix I.5. The committee felt the
tracking appendix can be interpreted as being a little onerous. Support a more
cautious approach to water use tracking through doing a pilot project such as
Bertrand Creek, where they can look at how everything works together.
The Council concurred.
Sue Blake, Resources Planner, stated the Natural Resources Committee gave
direction to Dr. Roll for the Planning Unit meeting on April 28:
1. Remove from the preliminary draft Watershed Management Plan
reference to exploring the feasibility of importation of water from the
Skagit River in Appendix 1.3, and
2. Remove from the preliminary draft Watershed Management Plan
reference to evaluate the feasibility of trans -basin importation from British
Columbia.
Whatcom County Council - Planning Unit Direction to Staff, 4/27/2004, 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.
McShane moved to remove from the preliminary draft Watershed
Management Plan reference to exploring the feasibility of importation of water
from the Skagit River in Appendix 1.3.
Motion carried 4 -2 with Brenner and Crawford opposed,
Fleetwood moved to remove from the preliminary draft Watershed
Management Plan reference to evaluate the feasibility of trans -basin importation
from British Columbia in Appendix 3.4.
Caskey- Schreiber stated that until they're willing to have another jurisdiction
look to Whatcom County for exporting water, Whatcom County shouldn't engage in
speculation about importation being a viable solution. Manage the resources they
have. The whole point of this plan is to use what they have wisely. It's hypocritical
to look to others to solve their problem when they won't offer up local water to
solve other people's problems.
Fleetwood stated there is a question of whether or not there are distinctions
between the two locations. The reasoning for the two locations is the same. Is
there good reason to not import from Skagit County, then there is good reason to
not import from British Columbia. It was on that basis he supported not importing
from British Columbia.
McShane stated the issues are different. The Skagit River basin is a closed
basin. It's foolish to consider Baker Lake as a long -term source, which is at great
risk. It would be a really expensive approach.
Whatcom County has water that flows into British Columbia and from British
Columbia into Whatcom County. In the case of this project, the advocate is the
City of Sumas. It may make sense for them to want to have water brought in from
Canada for agricultural purposes. He wouldn't want to remove that possibility.
Blake stated the request from the City of Sumas is just to compile the information
they learned about the possibility for future decision - making purposes.
Roy stated she agreed with Councilmember Caskey- Schreiber. They first
have to use the resources they have locally. At some future date, after they have
figured out everything else, it may be the time to consider it.
McShane stated the Surface Mining Advisory Committee is meeting. Some of
those members own land in that area. There will be some who will push for the
County to allow mining in that area, and Sumas can get its water from elsewhere.
It will be good to have that information from the City of Sumas within the WRIA
plan on what it will cost and what it will take to do that. Given the concentration
the City has made on protecting its water source, it has probably already looked at
it and is really worried about mining in that area for that reason. It would be good
to have that information available.
Whatcom County Council - Planning Unit Direction to Staff, 4/27/2004, 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 that expense should be borne by the City of Sumas.
It allocated an enormous amount of water to Sumas Energy I and Sumas Energy II.
It has created its own situation. The County should not be responsible for providing
a backup plan.
Motion failed 3 -3 with Crawford, McShane, and Brenner opposed.
McShane moved to approve section three as amended.
Motion carried unanimously.
Blake submitted a handout (on file). At the next Natural Resource
Committee work session, Dr. Roll will go over section four regarding
implementation and governance, long -term monitoring, and adaptive management.
OTHER BUSINESS
Roy stated she wants to add an agenda item to the May 4 regular County
Council meeting. Schedule the Birch Bay Subarea Plan on the evening agenda for
the full Council meeting. She wants to make amendments. The plan is scheduled
on the Planning Committee agenda that day. She would like the opportunity at the
full Council meeting to offer any amendments to the full Council.
McShane stated that can happen.
McShane moved to schedule the Birch Bay Subarea Plan on the May 4,
2004 regular County Council meeting.
Motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:25 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
The Council approved these minutes on May 18 , 2004.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Whatcom County Council - Planning Unit Direction to Staff, 4/27/2004, Page 3
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 Dan McShane, Council Chair
Whatcom County Council - Planning Unit Direction to Staff, 4/27/2004, Page 4