HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works March 24 19981
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee
March 24, 1998
The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. by Council member Barbara Brenner in the
Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Also Present:
Tom Brown
Marlene Dawson
Absent:
None
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING VAN WYCK ROAD COMPLAINT FILED BY GREG
AND CINDY ANDERSON AND GEORGE LEONARD (AB97 -413)
Brenner stated she received a letter from Pete Kremen, County Executive, asking the
Committee to table this issue and that Dan Gibson is working on an ordinance for trail permits.
Dan Gibson, Senior Civil Deputy Prosecturo, stated that the work he is doing is in
conjunction with Public Works Director Jeff Monsen.
Brenner read the memo from Kremen into the record. Her concern is that a
comprehensive trail plan ordinance must include citizen involvement.
Gibson mentioned that there are a number of things being looked at and worked on.
There is progress being made on an updated latecomers' ordinance.
Monsen discussed his memo dated March 24, 1998. There was discussion regarding the
three segments of the road. Public Works is planning on paving segment 2 and converting it
from a privately to a publicly maintained road. He has been addressing the question of what it
would take to upgrade this road to make it a maintainable county road.
Brown asked about the Road Department's authority to decide when a road needs to be
chip sealed.
Monsen stated that the County would need to follow the steps outlined in the memo to
have the ability to recover some of its costs. He asked the Council to establish a latecomers'
ordinance before this is done. It should be amended to allow the County to enter into a
latercomers' agreement, which would allow what the State allows.
Brown asked if the assessment would be charged immediately or upon development of
the property. Gibson stated it would be upon development, but required a building permit.
Public Works Committee, 3/24/98, Page 1
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Phil Serka, Attorney with Adelstein, Sharpe, and Serka, stated that in terms of the
proposal in the process in the memo, he has no objections. Number three should mention that
property owner's funds have already been committed. It sounds as if the Council is being asked
to fund the full $174,000. He would also like the Council to go with Number 3, contingent on
the adoption of numbers 1 and 2. People still do not know what the full Council thinks of this
issue. The public hearing on establishing a public road is required by law.
The original commitment was for $82,000, of which $12,500 was committed from the
property owners.
Monsen stated that the CRP resolution will say the funding is the final cost of $174,000.
It is actually an additional $92,000.
Cindy Anderson stated the additional $92,000 includes the cost of the original work
committed.
Brenner moved to recommend to Council to accept the items 1- 4 as presented by the
Public Works Dept., indicating that $92,000 will be appropriated, for a total of $174,000, to
complete item #3, contingent on adoption of items #1 and #2, which will be returned to the
County through a latecomers' agreement. Of the $174,000 requested for the total project,
$82,000 has already been committed.
Motion carried unanimously.
There was discussion on scheduling a road establishment hearing.
Brown asked Gibson and Monsen about upgrading the trail ordinance. He would like to
have some concepts that they think would work to revise the ordinance, then bring in citizens to
work on those suggestions.
Brenner stated she does not want staff to have the issues worked out before the citizens
are brought into the process.
Brown moved to allow staff and Council to prepare the basic elements of this revised
ordinance, then allow committee and citizen input.
Brenner spoke against the motion.
Dawson asked the staff which method they prefer. Monsen replied that they will at least
consider having some standards set to minimize confusion.
Monsen stated that this will be something to utilize in the interim, not the final project.
Public Works Committee, 3/24/98, Page 2
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Brown amended his motion by clarifying that this is for the interim only.
Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
1. DISCUSSION WITH SHERIFF DALE BRANDLAND AND LIEUTENANT RON
PETERSON REGARDING CONCERNS RAISED BY CITIZEN JOEL DOUGLAS
(AB98 -116)
Chief Civil Deputy Ron Peterson was in attendance.
Whatcom County Sheriff Dale Brandland stated that the county is in a unique situation.
By state law, he has the responsibility to do search and rescue activities within the jurisdiction,
which includes parks and forest services. Search and rescue is a fine -tuned procedure. He has
given instructions to not use helicopters unnecessarily. They enjoy free use of helicopters from
Whidbey Island.
Brenner clarified that this is a state mandate. She asked if the state will fund helicopter
costs if we no longer are available through the military base.
Brown suggested that it may be possible to use hotel /motel tax to fund search and rescue.
Brandland stated that the only thing Whatcom County provides for search and rescue is a
coordinator and his vehicle. All staff are volunteers. These volunteers are opposed to the county
charging a fee. They are donating their time and would like this service available to the
community. It would disrupt a very good procedure to implement charges. If someone is
blatantly reckless, they may be charged a fee. Most of the time, it is simply a matter of error in
judgement.
Brandland stated it would cost a lot of money to provide beepers and such devices to the
public. Brown stated that the electronic devices are not dependable in certain areas.
Brenner clarified that the state mandates the County to do these activities on federal land.
Brandland stated the guys from the park services provide a lot of support.
Brenner stated that she would contact Joel Douglas and discuss with him the result of the
conversation.
Brown asked what percentage of time the county staff is out doing this type of work.
Dustin Hurlbut, Chief Deputy Sheriff, stated that it is a small percentage of time. 90% of
their time is spent on patrols.
Public Works Committee, 3/24/98, Page 3
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Brown suggested determining whether most of the rescue efforts are for people that are
local or out of town.
Hurlbut stated that most people that are rescued have made donations.
There was discussion regarding taking a percentage of the hotel /motel tax because we are
rescuing out -of- towners.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 2:20 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Barbara Brenner, Council Member
Public Works Committee, 3/24/98, Page 4
Public Works Committee, 3/24/98, Page 5