HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works September 28 19991
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
48
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee
September 28, 1999
The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. by Committee Chair Barbara
Brenner in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Also Present: Absent:
L. Ward Nelson None
Tom Brown
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE LACK OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE
COUNTY -OWNED CANYON LAKE PROPERTY (AB99 -373)
Brown stated this came to him from a letter he received that residents
couldn't get in.
Larry Simkins, Whatcom County Parks Department, referenced a letter from
Roger DeSpain.
Councilmember Connie Hoag stated she wrote a letter to Pete Kremen,
County Executive, and never received a response.
Simkins stated they did exactly what they said they were going to do. They
said they would make the area safe before opening it up to the public, including
roads, signage, a parking area, and a gate at the lake. They are also working on a
trail.
Brown asked how long it would be before it would be open. Simkins stated it
should be open next year or the year after, at the latest.
Brown stated, when they appropriated funds, it was with the agreement
there would not be a lot of park development prior to letting people in. Simkins
stated that was correct, but they need to install certain infrastructure for public
safety.
Brown stated he disagreed they need trails for public safety. The majority of
the council voted on having public access as soon as possible.
Public Works and Capital Projects, 9/28/99, Page 1
1
2 Rand Jack, Whatcom Land Trust, stated he was disappointed by Brown's
3 questions. It was clear at the time this was done that the property would be open
4 to the public and also be used to protect the forest and ecological area. It has been
5 used occasionally by people over time and there has been damage done by that
6 occasional use. Once it is identified as a park, they increase the number of people
7 using the area. In order not to create more damage, they need a trail. Also, there
8 are parts of the forest that are not safe for the public, so they need a trail. They
9 contracted with professional trail builders, who started work as soon as the snow
10 melted. They have a professionally engineered and built trail, and the parking lot is
11 in place. This park will be open to the public next spring. This is entirely consistent
12 with the representations that were made to the council, consistent with the
13 conservation easement agreed to by the council, and consistent with the plans laid
14 out to the public since the beginning of this project.
15
16 Hoag stated it was her recollection there was discussion about making a
17 campground down by the lake and the council encouraged that as soon as it was
18 feasible. She was never under the impression that, while making improvements,
19 the public would be excluded from the area. Two different people who have used
20 the area as a family camping spot contacted her. She did not recall any discussion
21 about the county gating off the area. She understood about protecting the forest
22 and the safety of the public, but didn't understand why they were locking out the
23 people that have always gone there. She never received a reply from the County
24 Executive.
25
26 Simkins distributed a letter to Connie Hoag from Roger DeSpain. It was not
27 consistent with policy to let the public in their work area.
28
29 Brenner stated the concern really is whether the area would be closed for a
30 long time.
31
32 Jack stated there is not a master plan for the park, which is normal. In order
33 to avoid that delay, they agreed to install the rudimentary items needed for public
34 access, including a parking lot, trail, signs, and portable restrooms. Once they get
35 that in, the public will have access and then they will create a master plan. They
36 are trying to provide access as soon as possible, consistent with the other
37 improvements that have been made. Crown Pacific owns property near the lake,
38 and the county has a legal easement. The county needs to work out an agreement
39 with Crown Pacific about how they are going to move their gate. Now that it would
40 be open as a county park, there are things that have to be worked out. Everyone is
41 aware of that. The intention is to put in place the minimum of infrastructure.
42
43 Hoag asked if the Crown Pacific gate was keeping people out at this time.
44 Jack stated there are two gates. Most of the people that live in that area have been
45 using the lake. Most of those people have combinations to that gate and there are
46 frequently people going into that area. There is a second gate that has not had a
47 lock until recently. A lock was installed because bear hunters were going up there
48 and the workers did not feel comfortable.
Public Works and Capital Projects, 9/28/99, 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
47
48
Hoag asked if the gate had been historically locked. People that have used it
said there has never been a lock on the gate before. She asked if they could keep
the bottom portion accessible. Jack stated that is Crown Pacific's gate.
Brown asked when they would work this out with Crown Pacific. Jack stated
they would do that this winter.
Brown stated they should have worked this out prior to purchase. Jack
stated they have warranted access to the property. The priority has been to take
care of the trail and parking because they need to get it done this summer. They
knew, by starting so late because of the snow pack, they might not get the trail
done before the middle of October. They put off the remaining logistics until after
this first priority was done. The scientists wanted to go in this summer, but they
put it off until a research protocol could be established. They know they have legal
access. It is a question of how access can be done that protects Crown Pacific's
interests. A lot of people have been working to open this as fast as possible.
Brenner stated, with Squires Lake, it was a long time before it was opened.
Simkins stated it took three years.
Brenner stated she remembered she assumed they would have to fix things
Mai
Brown stated he didn't assume people would be prohibited when they
historically have been able to go through. It struck him as odd that they didn't
have an agreement with Crown Pacific. Jack stated they could have gone to Crown
Pacific early in the summer. There was a lot of animosity around the purchase of
Squires Lake, however since the purchase, there has been no animosity. That is
because everyone has been happy with the work done by the Parks Department.
The Land Trusts raised the money that is being used for the infrastructure. The
County is not paying for it. The Land Trust has an interest that the ecology will not
be damaged. Those things take time.
Brenner stated there was a concern about people who were not very
physically fit having access. She asked if the trail would accommodate that. Jack
stated it would just accommodate people who walk.
Brenner suggested some kind of transportation in the area by animals. Jack
stated that would be something that would have to be in the master plan.
Brenner asked if there would be campsites. Jack stated that decision would
be made for the master plan. He guessed they would open next year with
minimum facilities, including a trail and parking lot.
Nelson stated he was concerned that a master plan must go through a
budgeting process. That is something the council has to look at. Jack stated the
master plan will go through the County Parks, but the Land Trust has raised
Public Works and Capital Projects, 9/28/99, 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
48
$275,000 to support long -term development. The College may also raise a similar
sum of money. The planning process may take ten years, and they need to get the
public in there right away with the minimum of services .
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING SHERIFF'S RESPONSE TIME TO THE ACME
AREA (AB99 -374)
Brenner stated there was no one from the Sheriff's office present to discuss
this with. They will have to reschedule it.
Brown stated they approved funding for a satellite site in the Everson -
Nooskack area. He wasn't sure how that site was selected. There are already two
existing police agencies for that area. It is slower to get service to Acme from the
Everson- Nooksack area. The State Department of Transportation (DOT) is in the
process of acquiring and building a maintenance site within three miles of Highway
9 South and Highway 542. For the past eight years or so, it has been their desire
to work with local entities to build a joint facility. When the county gets into the
budgeting process, they should talk with the Sheriff's Department to see if they are
interested in working with the State. It would add to the State's security to have
the Sheriff there. There is a new fire district building at Nugent's Corner.
Nelson asked if that was a state highway. Brown stated it is, but they will
jointly share facilities with local entities. That would lower and decrease a need for
the state's security.
Brenner stated she wasn't comfortable with the satellite station being in the
Everson area. She wanted to recommend they change the proposal to a location
near Acme.
Brown recommended the administration look at that area as a plausible
location.
Brenner stated the council brought up the Acme /Foothills area, and there
was no interest in building in that area. That area needs a satellite station more
than Everson.
Brown stated the funding they have taken over from the deputies at the
Nooksack casino will fit into that area.
Brown moved to discuss it as a possibility during the budget cycle.
Motion carried unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
Brown stated he was still trying to figure out what is going on with the 56-
acre combination donation and purchase. It wasn't to be designated as a park.
Public Works and Capital Projects, 9/28/99, Page 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
The county could use it for any reason. If they don't have answers about it within a
week, they will put it on the Natural Resources Committee agenda.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:05 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works and Capital Projects, 9/28/99, Page 5