HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil April 4 20001
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Regular County Council
April 4, 2000
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Council Chair Marlene
Dawson in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Also Present:
Dan McShane
Barbara Brenner
Sam Crawford
Robert Imhof
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Absent:
Connie Hoag
L. Ward Nelson
Dawson announced there were three discussions in executive session during
the Committee of the Whole meeting. Those discussions include: Discussion with
Chief Civil Deputy Randy Watts regarding possible litigation (AB2000 -018),
discussion with Deputy Prosecutor Karen Frakes regarding pending
litigation (AB2000 -018), and Discussion regarding current collective
bargaining negotiations (AB2000 -062).
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE FOLLOWING MEETING: SPECIAL
COUNTY COUNCIL (WATER RESOURCES WORK SESSION) FOR
FEBRUARY 15, 2000
McShane moved to approve.
Motion carried unanimously.
OPEN SESSION
The following people spoke:
Harry Skinner, 6600 Goodwin Road, Everson, stated the Williams pipeline
explosion in 1997 resulted in a 650 -foot high flame, visible from Canada to
Darrington. For several hours, it threatened to ignite the slopes of Sumas
Mountain. It would have destroyed valuable natural resources and trapped those
people living in the area. On advice from a local fire department official to
evacuate, and without benefit of an ambulance to transport his ill mother -in -law, he
carried his mother -in -law from her bed to the car, and spent the night in a
Bellingham motel. His mother -in -law died two weeks later. This vignette is
intended to demonstrate some of the aspects of the reality of living with
Regular County Council Meeting, 4/4/2000, Page 1
1 unregulated industry in Whatcom County. These aging gas pipelines are sleeping
2 giants running through an ancient landslide, next to Trillium's rapidly- expanding
3 rock blasting surface mine. There can be no reasonable doubt that this blasting
4 over time triggered a part of a landslide in 1997, causing the pipeline to rupture
5 and explode. The cumulative impacts of 30 years of blasting, more clear -cut
6 logging, and stormwater run -off next to the pipelines will cause a repeat
7 performance. He questioned how much more impressive the impacts must be for
8 the Council to take seriously the requests to upgrade the surface mining industry.
9
10 Karen Frakes, Senior Civil Deputy Prosecutor, cautioned the Council that the
11 information they are receiving has to do with the matter currently before the
12 Planning and Development Services Department for administrative approval for an
13 expansion of the Trillium pit. The Council is hearing information that should be
14 heard in the context of that appeal.
15
16 Dawson stated the speaker must speak in general terms and cannot be
17 specific to the company.
18
19 Brenner stated this is a public meeting. The Council can't say that people
20 can't speak.
21
22 Frakes stated she understood that, but is trying to protect the Council as
23 potential decision - makers in that case that is almost certainly going to come before
24 the Council on appeal.
25
26 Brenner suggested they send a copy of this meeting tape to Williams
27 pipeline. People should be allowed to speak.
28
29 Dawson stated they've been asked if they've received prejudicial information.
30 The Council can be prevented from addressing it in a quasi - judicial matter. They do
31 have to be careful.
32
33 Brenner stated it is ex parte communication if an appeal is filed later.
34
35 Skinner stated there is no appeal in this process. He hoped they are wrong
36 and that this will not go to appeal.
37
38 Frakes stated she has heard that it is likely to come on appeal.
39
40 Skinner stated she was speculating, and that isn't necessary.
41
42 Frakes stated she is trying to protect the Council as decision - makers.
43
44 Brenner questioned whether Frakes is talking about ex parte communication.
45
46 Dawson stated this testimony would be part of the ex parte information.
47
48 Brenner stated that if the Council sends a tape to the company, it is not ex
49 parte.
50
Regular County Council Meeting, 4/4/2000, Page 2
1 Frakes stated they are constrained to dealing with the record that comes
2 from below when they are working as an appellate body. This is outside of that
3 record. It is information that isn't properly considered by the Council on appeal.
4 She was concerned that it could taint them as decision - makers.
5
6 Skinner stated the Council is not acting as an appellate body at this moment.
7
8 Frakes stated it is her job to warn the Council that the potential is there.
9 They could be receiving information now that could taint them in the future, if they
10 were to hear this. They can do what they want, however.
11
12 Skinner questioned how much more impressive the impacts of the industry
13 must be for the Council to take seriously the request to upgrade the surface mining
14 industry and all industry, including pipelines. There have not been any deaths in
15 the unincorporated part of the county resulting directly from these impacts, at least
16 not yet. The citizens are looking to the County Council to take a leadership role,
17 and help the citizens in this effort to prevent any deaths. They may wonder why
18 people keep coming back before the Council on this and other issues. When the
19 public process becomes diverted, distracted, or disrupted, he wants to see it fixed.
20 Living in rural Whatcom County, where the impacts of important County decisions
21 play out, gives him an advantage point. Some of the urban area residents might
22 not understand this perspective. He hoped the Council would welcome different
23 perspectives in its decision process.
24
25 Shirley Fuller Nielsen, 6287 Siper Road, Everson, stated she wanted to
26 discuss developing a surface mining regulatory program in Whatcom County.
27 Under the guise of a recent demonstration test blast run as part of their permit
28 application to expand their quarry on Sumas Mountain, Trillium operators have
29 expanded on their own to twice their original size. They are doing this without
30 required permits. Also, they are illegally shipping as much as 10,000 tons of rock
31 from this test blast off -site within the last two weeks. This is in violation of state
32 forest practices law and in violation of the wording and intent of the County laws.
33 They are even operating without any valid permits from the state or the County.
34 This is a quarry business in full swing. Other counties in this state have developed
35 comprehensive surface mining regulations and enforcement provisions for restoring
36 aquifers. Citizens need the Council's help to update the regulations. She
37 questioned why Whatcom County is so far behind the other counties, and how
38 industry could be allowed to operate and expand without complying with proper
39 permits. She questioned why reclamation has been ignored for so long. Sumas
40 Mountain Pipeline Safety Association would like to meet face -to -face with the
41 County's planning staff to discuss serious short - comings in their administration of
42 the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) environmental impact statement
43 (EIS) process for this expansion permit. They have been requesting this for
44 months and ask that the results of this discussion be more than cosmetic.
45
46
47 CONSENT AGENDA
48
Regular County Council Meeting, 4/4/2000, Page 3
1 Imhof reported for Finance and Administrative Services Committee and
2 stated items two and five were withdrawn from the agenda, and moved to approve
3 items one, three, four, and six through nine.
4
5 Items number two and five are held in committee for two weeks.
6
7 Motion to approve items one, three, four, and six through nine carried
8 unanimously.
9
10 1. RESOLUTION CANCELING UNCOLLECTIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY
11 (AB2000 -147)
12
13 2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO JOIN WHATCOM
14 LAND TRUST TO PURCHASE THE TIMBER RIGHTS FROM THE
15 GOODYEAR NELSON HARDWOOD LUMBER COMPANY, INC. UTILIZING
16 CONSERVATION FUTURE FUNDS NOT TO EXCEED $750,000, WITH
17 $500,000 BY AN ANONYMOUS DONOR FOR A TOTAL OF $1,250,000
18 (AB2000 -133A)
19
20 This item was withdrawn from the agenda.
21
22 3. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
23 AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND BLACK MOUNTAIN
24 FORESTRY CENTER, AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES FOR SERVICES
25 UNDER THE GRANT AS APPROVED BY COUNCIL IN OCTOBER OF 1999,
26 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $35,000 (AB2000 -148)
27
28 4. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY AND
29 THE SETTING OF A DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING THEREOF PURSUANT
30 TO WCC 1.10 (AB2000 -149)
31
32 S. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
33 INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE
34 CITY OF BLAINE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT
35 ACT (AB2000 -150)
36
37 This item was withdrawn from the agenda.
38
39 6. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
40 CONTRACT FOR LEGAL SERVICES BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND
41 RIDDELL WILLIAMS FOR DECLARATORY JUDGMENT RELATED TO I-
42 99, AS APPROVED IN SUPPLEMENTAL #3, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
43 EXCEED $30,000 (AB2000 -151)
44
45 7. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO AN
46 AGREEMENT FOR CONSULTING SERVICES BETWEEN WHATCOM
47 COUNTY AND URS GREINER WOODWARD CLYDE TO PROVIDE
48 REGULATORY AND OPERATIONAL REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT OF
Regular County Council Meeting, 4/4/2000, Page 4
1 ESA RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE COUNTY RELATED TO NOOKSACK
2 CHINOOK SALMON RECOVERY ACTIVITIES, IN THE AMOUNT OF
3 $118,618 (AB2000 -152)
4
5 8. RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING COUNTY ROAD PROJECT NO. 900901
6 AND THE AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR THE STRUCTURAL OVERLAY OF
7 GRANDVIEW ROAD - JACKSON ROAD TO BLAINE ROAD, AND
8 APPROVAL OF CONTRACT AWARD TO WILDER CONSTRUCTION CO. AS
9 THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $348,655
10 (AB2000 -153)
11
12 9. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A
13 CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN WHATCOM COUNTY AND PACIFIC
14 SURVEYING AND ENGINEERING, INC. TO PROVIDE SURVEYING
15 SERVICES TO ESTABLISH PRE -MARKS FOR AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
16 AND TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING FOR SANDY POINT, IN THE
17 AMENDMENT AMOUNT OF $6,792 BRINGING THE TOTAL AMENDED
18 CONTRACT AMOUNT TO $20,608 (AB2000 -154)
19
20
21 OTHER ITEMS
22
23 1. DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION REGARDING
24 THE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROJECT (AB2000 -143)
25
26 McShane reported for Natural Resources Committee and stated this item was
27 discussed. The committee received the packet for the Water Resources work
28 session to be held next week on April 11 at 10:00 a.m. There will be a water
29 resources inventory area (WRIA) meeting the day after the work session. Staff,
30 particularly Water Resources Manager Bruce Roll, would like direction.
31 Councilmembers should get all questions to him or Bruce Roll by Friday. If there
32 are concerns, it would be nice to get them to staff before next Tuesday so they can
33 be prepared to answer questions and can receive guidance from the Council.
34
35 2. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE POSSIBLE FORMATION OF A SURFACE
36 MINING ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SMAC) (AB2000 -069A)
37
38 McShane reported for Natural Resources Committee and stated this was held
39 in committee. Two weeks ago, the committee approved the membership of the
40 proposed surface mining advisory committee. An ordinance will be introduced on
41 the next Council agenda.
42
43 3. DISCUSSION OF OPTIONS RELATIVE TO THE CANYON CREEK
44 ALLUVIAL FAN AREA, REGARDING A REQUEST FROM THE FLOOD
45 CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ENACT A
46 MORATORIUM ON NEW DEVELOPMENT AND TARGET THE AREA FOR A
47 VOLUNTARY BUYOUT PROGRAM (AB2000 -114)
48
49 Imhof reported for Finance Committee and stated this item was discussed
50 with the Public Works Department staff. A number of citizens from that area
Regular County Council Meeting, 4/4/2000, Page 5
1 testified to the committee. The committee still had questions and concerns as time
2 ran out. It will be scheduled before the Public Works Committee in two weeks.
3
4 Dawson stated most of the people who testified felt that the berm needed to
5 be retrofitted. The problem there is with Fisheries.
6
7 Imhof stated the permitting process will not be done by this fall, but may be
8 done by next fall. It is something they need to address to get an idea of where to
9 go and to get the options from the Public Works Department staff.
10
11 McShane stated Fisheries is an issue on the flood projects, but he was not so
12 sure that fixing this thing would work. There are some very serious problems up
13 there that have nothing to do with fish. The question is whether the County should
14 continue to spend the money. The citizens are interested in getting together with
15 the Engineering Division to discuss what a buy -out program would entail and what
16 it would mean to the community. It was a surprise, and is a scary thing. In other
17 communities he's worked in, there was a lot of resistance initially because residents
18 didn't understand that it isn't that bad.
19
20 Brenner stated the Public Works Committee will address separating out the
21 ancient part of the alluvial fan from the active part. If they are going to do a
22 moratorium or buy -out, she wanted to see it scaled to the active part. That hasn't
23 been fleshed out enough for her.
24
25 4. REQUEST CONFIRMATION OF THE EXECUTIVE'S REAPPOINTMENT OF
26 JOHN THOMPSON TO HIS SECOND FULL TERM AS A MEMBER OF THE
27 BELLINGHAM - WHATCOM COUNTY COMMISSION AGAINST DOMESTIC
28 VIOLENCE (AB2000 -155)
29
30 Imhof moved to approve.
31
32 Motion carried unanimously.
33
34 5. REQUEST CONFIRMATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE'S APPOINTMENT OF
35 JUDITH WINTER TO HER FIRST PARTIAL TERM IN A POSITION THAT
36 IS CURRENTLY VACANT ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
37 ADVISORY BOARD (AB2000 -156)
38
39 Imhof moved to approve.
40
41 Motion carried unanimously.
42
43 6. REQUEST CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DR. ROBERT
44 SMITH TO HIS FIRST PARTIAL TERM TO FILL THE VACANCY LEFT BY
45 EILEEN SCHENK, AND CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
46 JOE TRIMBLE, FRED MEYERS, DAVID PETERSON, AND LAWRENCE
47 PARADIS, ALL TO SERVE THEIR SECOND FULL TERM AS MEMBERS OF
48 THE WHATCOM COUNTY LAKE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT NO. 1
49 ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AB2000 -157)
50
Regular County Council Meeting, 4/4/2000, Page 6
1 Imhof moved to approve.
2
3 Motion carried unanimously.
4
5 7. RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AMENDING THE GOALS OF SECTION
6 110 OF THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM AND IMMIGRANT
7 RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 1996 (AB2000 -158)
8
9 Imhof moved to approve. Section 110 of the Immigration Act is supposed to
10 eventually require documentation on all citizens coming across the border, such as
11 Canada. It will potentially cause a back up of hours at the border and discourage
12 economics between the two countries. There are some problems, but this isn't the
13 way to handle it. A local attorney is handling this locally.
14
15 Dawson stated the County Executive is sponsoring this. The Council has
16 already sent a letter in support of this issue.
17
18 Motion carried unanimously.
19
20
21 INTRODUCTION ITEMS
22
23 Imhof moved to accept the introduction items.
24
25 Motion carried unanimously.
26
27 1. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF WHATCOM COUNTY
28 SURPLUS PROPERTY PURSUANT TO WCC 1.10 (AB2000 -149A)
29
30 2. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OFFICIAL WHATCOM COUNTY ZONING
31 ORDINANCE TEXT 20.90 — AMENDMENTS SECTION, TITLE 20.92 —
32 HEARING EXAMINER SECTION, AND TITLE 2.33 — PERMIT REVIEW
33 PROCEDURES (AB2000 -159)
34
35 3. ORDINANCE ADOPTING NEW WHATCOM COUNTY LAND DIVISION
36 REGULATIONS (TITLE 21) REPEALING THE EXISTING WHATCOM
37 COUNTY SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS (TITLE 21), AND MAKING
38 MINOR MODIFICATIONS TO TITLE 2 AND TITLE 20 (AB2000 -160)
39
40 4. RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN UPDATED COMPREHENSIVE SOLID
41 WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN (AB2000 -161)
42
43 S. ORDINANCE AMENDING 2000 BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 4 (AB2000-
44 162)
45
46
47 OTHER BUSINESS
48
Regular County Council Meeting, 4/4/2000, Page 7
1 Dawson stated there was discussion regarding a Franklin County
2 resolution that requests changes to the Endangered Species Act (AB2000-
3 146). They discussed sending a Letter to the Army Corps of Engineers regarding
4 opposition to breaching dams. This was prompted after a resolution was sent to
5 Whatcom County from Franklin County. The agriculture counties are going to be
6 hard hit if the dams are breached, which is proposed due to the Endangered
7 Species Act (ESA). The letter was recommended to be approved by the full Council.
8 The policy is to require four signatures before a letter can be sent out on County
9 Council letterhead. She only has approval to send the letter from three
10 councilmembers. She read it into the record. She will seek approval of the letter
11 tomorrow from other councilmembers who are not in attendance.
12
13 McShane stated it is embarrassing. The section of the letter that says "less
14 demanding on the food reserve." Very small fish are trying to get down the river,
15 and they are in a lake. They have to swim the entire length of four lakes. He
16 questioned the worry about the fish being bruised while swimming up stream. It is
17 amazing. He was embarrassed that there are councilmembers who would actually
18 sign the letter. It shows a total lack of regard to an industry that is very important
19 in this community, which is the fishing industry.
20
21 Imhof stated that he agreed with the letter in concept. There have been a
22 number of studies about breaching the dams on the Snake River. None of them
23 have been taken together, as a whole. That is what needs to be done. One group
24 does a study of a very narrow focus on the effects of hydroelectric dams on a
25 certain segment of the fish population. Another study is on the impact to another
26 section of the economy. There needs to be a holistic approach. They are talking
27 about a massive impact on the transportation system in the Idaho, Oregon, and
28 Eastern Washington areas. The infrastructure in those areas is lacking to begin
29 with. This needs to be addressed. He wasn't sure this is addressed properly in the
30 letter. He would like to add more about the transportation issues and to request a
31 holistic approach.
32
33 Dawson stated that, after listening to Senator Slade Gorton, she is not
34 convinced that the benefits would outweigh the cost. With everything evaluated,
35 he figured there would be a ten percent increase in salmon for the river. When
36 they look at the human element, she wonders if they should spend money
37 elsewhere.
38
39 Brenner stated the letter flies in the face of what people know about dams.
40 The letter says the Council takes a position against breaching the dams, but also in
41 support that the dams are beneficial to the fish. That is outrageous. Dams are a
42 necessary evil. It doesn't mean they should support them and pretend they are not
43 a necessary evil. She was not sure about whether the dams should stay or go, but
44 it is really insulting to send a letter claiming that human endeavors are much better
45 than mother nature and the process by which the fish have lived for years. They
46 are not trying to save salmon. They are trying to save hearty stocks of salmon. It
47 is called survival of the fittest. If those salmon are not allowed naturally to do what
48 they have to do, they will change genetically. If all they care about is saving
Regular County Council Meeting, 4/4/2000, Page 8
1 salmon, they should just have fish farms, build lots of dams, and let the wild stock
2 go extinct. They are losing the genetic aspects that make the existing species of
3 salmon unique. There are rails in the area, and increasing the rail will not create a
4 burden on the roads.
5
6 Dawson stated she was concerned about the idea that the fishes' genetics
7 would change if they are not challenged enough. The ladders will provide plenty of
8 challenge.
9
10 McShane stated there are rail lines on both sides of the Snake River in
11 Franklin County. There would be impacts to the town of Lewiston for shipping
12 timber. That is a real issue. Oregon would not be affected at all by transportation.
13 There is no navigable water upstream of Lewiston. The area that is barge traffic
14 from agriculture is a very narrow area along the Snake River canyon. It is dry land
15 wheat. There are truck lines that will run down to the river to a barging location
16 and rail lines. There would be additional cost to those wheat farmers along the
17 river. It isn't a region -wide transportation concern.
18
19 Imhof stated it is a region -wide transportation concern because 30 states
20 access the Columbia River system for either ingress or egress of produce, product,
21 or manufactured good. The two rails on either side of the Snake River would not be
22 there if the dams were breached. They would have to be relocated. That study
23 was done by the County Road Administration Board. The impact in Oregon would
24 be increased because of the access of other states on the upper part. Goods would
25 be trucked to Portland, through the eastern part of Oregon.
26
27 McShane questioned whether other states truck goods into Lewiston for
28 shipment.
29
30 Imhof stated they do.
31
32 Dawson stated this is not being voted on for action. It just needs one more
33 signature.
34
35 Brenner said she didn't think they should send a letter at all. It was said
36 twice during committee that the Corps of Engineers support the same position. It
37 struck her as odd because they are strict to Whatcom County when it comes to
38 gravel extraction from the river. It occurred to her that the Corps built that dam.
39 When self- interest is involved, the Corps seems to change its position. There is a
40 lot they don't know. They need more information before a letter like this goes
41 anywhere. There is no way that dams benefit salmon.
42
43 Dawson stated they also need to discuss whether to meet next week as the
44 Council for a public hearing regarding Sumas Energy 2 and to consider whether to
45 take intervener status. The Council would have to act as the Council to consider
46 that. The idea is that, if the County did take intervener status, it would hire a lot of
47 experts and spend a lot of money. A lot of the experts and technical people will be
Regular County Council Meeting, 4/4/2000, Page 9
1 hired by the state. She would prefer that the Council draft a letter stating its
2 concerns instead of taking intervener status, but she wanted other opinions.
3
4 Imhof questioned why the Council would send a letter and stir it up any
5 more. The County Council has no authority. The state has been given the job to
6 look at siting and has taken it on. The Council has a representative on that
7 commission and should let that process work.
8
9 Brenner spoke in favor of intervener status. If the County didn't have any
10 way to effect this, there wouldn't be any option for intervener status. She
11 questioned why they would have to meet as the Council to decide.
12
13 McShane stated there is a deadline.
14
15 Brenner questioned whether they could approve it by taking a poll of the
16 councilmembers.
17
18 Karen Frakes, Senior Civil Deputy Prosecutor, stated it would be an action
19 the Council would take, which needs to be taken in the context of a meeting.
20
21 Brenner moved to meet the following week to consider taking action on
22 whether or not to become an intervener.
23
24 McShane stated the current hearings are only for receiving public comment
25 verbally on the draft environmental impact statement. The deadline for comment
26 on the draft environmental impact statement is April 17. The Energy Facility Site
27 Evaluation Council (EFSEC) has given that date as also the deadline for submitting
28 a request for intervener status. The interveners would be able to present their
29 opinions, pro or con, to EFSEC. They would also be interviewed.
30
31 Dana Brown - Davis, Clerk of the Council, stated the Council can call a meeting
32 anytime, as long as there is 24 hours notice. They don't need to vote to have a
33 meeting. If the motion is voted down, Councilmembers Hoag and Nelson can still
34 change that.
35
36 Brenner stated the councilmembers represent the entire county. Whatever
37 each councilmember thinks about the project, they should not be passive. They
38 should be interveners and should make their position known to EFSEC.
39
40 Motion to meet as a Council failed 1 -3 with Brenner in favor and McShane
41 abstaining.
42
43
44 REPORTS AND OTHER ITEMS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
45
46 Imhof reported about the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC)
47 Spring convention this week in Bellingham at the Lakeway Inn.
48
Regular County Council Meeting, 4/4/2000, Page 10
1 Dawson stated that she and Councilmembers Hoag and Imhof are the hosts.
2 Also, County Parks Director Roger DeSpain will be a guest speaker at one of the
3 meetings to discuss the various partnerships the County has used to develop its
4 outstanding park program.
5
6 McShane stated he took a field trip with Jennifer Belcher, Commissioner of
7 Public Lands, and the Natural Resources Board to look at a switchback road above
8 Lake Whatcom. That bill has been signed into law, so there will be changes
9 regarding State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) timber harvests in the
10 Lake Whatcom watershed.
11
12 Brenner reported that the Mental Health Advisory Board and County
13 Executive Pete Kremen supported a pilot program that will make services and
14 medication available to the mentally ill population that is hardest to serve. The bill
15 passed. They asked for $1.2 million dollars, and she believed they received $1
16 million. She assumed the majority of the money would go to Whatcom County,
17 because it is the only county in the position to do the pilot program.
18
19 Crawford stated he publicly acknowledged the efforts of the Building Industry
20 Association (BIA) to endorse the County enforcement officer position in the Lake
21 Whatcom watershed. The BIA would cooperate in an education program with the
22 enforcement officer. They are for education. He lobbied the BIA and suggested
23 that this is in everyone's best interest. Clearly, the message was that they are for
24 education of watershed protection. Also, he attended a meeting about the draft
25 presentation on the plan for the Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic
26 Violence. There have been comments by the Council about added layers of
27 bureaucracy. After the meeting, he felt it is a tangible strategy they are
28 developing. He was overwhelmed with the amount of work they've put into it. He
29 had no idea there was that degree of effort going on to come up with a tangible
30 strategic plan to combat domestic violence. If they have something that threatens
31 people's property, the entire Council Chambers is filled with people.
32
33 (Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.)
34
35 Crawford continued to state he was surprised only 15 were there, but they
36 are talking about people's safety. This affected him personally in this last year
37 because of a relative that was in a domestic violence situation. People who testified
38 had no one to turn to and clearly were victims. He fully endorsed this program.
39 They funded this to the tune of $30,000 per year. Those are dollars well spent. He
40 encouraged other councilmembers to read the draft plan.
41
42 Dawson stated it is important enough that they should put it into committee.
43 Her concern has always been that a lot of these things were already going on, but
44 were not coordinated so people knew what everyone else was doing. Perhaps they
45 don't need a full -time position, but a half -time position.
46
47 Imhof suggested they make a presentation to the Council after they put their
48 program together.
Regular County Council Meeting, 4/4/2000, Page 11
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Crawford stated he hasn't learned enough about it to make comments on
how the roles should be played, but he wanted to keep it as a priority item.
Government is not going to make families work better. That is a personal thing.
However, government needs to help people when there are victims in the
community that have nowhere to turn. That is a fundamental role of government,
to be involved with public safety.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
These minutes were approved by Council on April 18 , 2000.
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Marlene Dawson, Council Chair
Regular County Council Meeting, 4/4/2000, Page 12