HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources December 10 1996WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
December 10, 1996
. The meeting was called to order at 11 a.m. by Committee Chair Marlene Dawson in the
Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue.
Also Present:
Tom Brown
Kathy Sutter
Absent:
None
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO APPROVE TASK
ORDER #10, EVALUATION OF WATER STORAGE NEEDS (AB96 -410)
Dawson noted this item was discussed in Finance and Administrative Services
Committee at its November 26 meeting. She reviewed the questions that were asked at that
meeting, which included: more detailed, focused service needed; involvement of various groups
in this process; bidding; and the possibility of transition with elected officials on the committee.
Sue Blake, Water Resources Manager, addressed the confusion regarding the task force
and its purpose. She then reviewed the purpose of Task Order #10, which is to examine river
flow information and water demands using preliminary engineering calculations for storage
requirements and work with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Whatcom County Flood Hazard
Management group.
Tom Anderson, P.U.D. Manager and Nooksack Steering Committee Chair, stated one of
his goals was to sufficiently define the commercial/residential/industrial needs so the flood group
will have adequate information to make its decisions.
Blake pointed out for $20,000, a detailed study would.not be done; the intent was to
gather at least some basic information to assist in the decision - making process regarding the
pursuit of this issue.
According to Anderson, the true goal of this issue is to discover if there is support from
citizens in the various cities to allow an engineering study, which will be a larger task both in
time and cost than what is proposed. Also important will be setting a cost definition in order to
project the cost of water for cities to determine water affordability. Anderson stated he was
hoping to use input from the Bureau of Reclamation, the city of Bellingham, and the services of
Natural Resources Minutes, 12/10/96, Page 1
1 John Matzinger, Public Works, to assist him with this definition. He further noted this request
2 was an approval of money for the Steering Committee's use on pursuing this water issue. His
3 intent was to spend the $20,000 in a number of pieces and pull together everything for the one
4 report.
5
6 Wayne Beech, Maple Falls, inquired of Anderson regarding the instream levels being
7 addressed in this study, to which Anderson replied no, as the instream levels are being pursued in
8 other avenues. According to Anderson, instream levels are not only a legislative but a policy
9 issue, as well as a local Planning issue. Blake pointed out one of the Steering Committee's
10 activities from last year was to examine instream flows.
11
12 Bob Andersen, land use planner, expressed his concern about this issue. The scope of
13 services is vague to his point of view and needs to be specified. Also, his opinion is that there is
14 insufficient funding for this project, which problem must be solved. Andersen stated that what is
15 needed is proper funding of this project so that the detail implementation costs are available to
16 satisfy concurrency under the Growth Management Act (GMA). He was also concerned about
17 opening up the process.
18
19 Kathy Sutter, County Council member, stated she thought what was lacking were future
20 goals. What is needed is an overall view of how this will all come together in one place to
21 satisfy the unstated goal.
22
`3 Dawson was concerned about the evaluation of this Task Order and asked what exactly
24 needed to be done in order to complete each step in the process, stating more detail is needed.
25
26 Brown inquired as to the number of future task orders. Anderson replied there are no
27 defined numbers. He also stated it was economically beneficial for the five participants and the
28 Steering Committee to pool their resources in order to generate as much beneficial information as
29 possible.
30
31 Dawson suggested identification of the players in the scope of work. There was
32 discussion on this subject.
33
34 Brown inquired of the contract process. Anderson stated it would not be large enough to
35 go through an RFP (Request for Production); he would use services he had used in the past.
36
37 Dawson moved to recommend approval of this project.
38
39 Sutter stated she would like to discuss with those involved a way to present this task
40 order in a more helpful manner to all involved.
41
42 Skip Richards offered his comments on this issue. He suggested committee begin by
43 envisioning the final result and working backwards, which would be a better evaluation method
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for each piece of the puzzle. He was concerned with language in the Task Order regarding water
storage, fearing the language may be too restrictive. The process of analysis also concerned him,
stating "the cart was before the horse ". Anderson responded to Richards' concerns.
Robin Dexter, Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association, commented, stating he approved
of Richards' comments. He recommended beginning the proceedings in order that "something
gets done ".
In conclusion, Sutter and Andersen again commented.
Motion carried unanimously..
ADJOURN
The meeting was adj
Bennett, Recording
ATTEST:
'� 7,
approximately 12:15 p.m.
TCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
TCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
C�
Mar ene Dawson, Council Member
Natural Resources Minutes, 12/10/96, Page 3