HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources February 6 1996WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
February 6, 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 DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. DISCUSSION WITH THE SHELLFISH DISTRICT ADVISORY
COMMITTEE REGARDING DRAYTON HARBOR ISSUES (AB95-
491)
Dawson thanked the shellfish committee members for their time and efforts
working on this issue.
Each recommendation was discussed individually. Those commenting included:
Alvin Starkenburg, Council member
Bob Woods, County Budget and Program Analyst
Janet Hansen, Drayton Harbor Shellfish Committee chair
Raven Whitewolf, Drayton Harbor Shellfish Committee
Skip Richards
1. County Executive to direct the Health Department to enforce the existing
Sanitary Code.
Tom McInerney, Health Department, responded by noting that the sewer system
is a mound system that was installed in 1990. There are 21 sewer spaces available and
all but six have been connected. There are permits for those six which need repair; work
is expected to begin February 12.
Jeff Menzies, a member of the Shellfish Committee, stated a means to monitor
the system is needed. He encouraged the committee to communicate to the County
Executive the need to enforce the existing Sanitary Code.
Dawson moved to recommend drafting a policy direction letter to the County
Executive to work with the Health Department to ensure enforcement of the Sanitary
Code.
Natural Resources Minutes, 2/6/96, Page 1
1 Motion carried unanimously.
2
3 Margaret Cardell, member of the Shellfish Committee, stated that Blaine is in
4 need of a system to connect to.
5
6 Dawson moved to recommend drafting a policy direction letter encouraging the
7 County Executive to work with the Health Department regarding timeframes for septic
8 connections and working with the failing systems.
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10 Motion carried unanimously.
11
12 2. Interlocal Agreement between the City of Bellingham and Whatcom
13 County to provide services for septic tanks within the Drayton Harbor Watershed.
14
15 Sue Blake, Whatcom County Water Resources, commented on the County /City
16 Interlocal Agreement.
17
18 Woods noted the contract is in the negotiation process.
19
20 Menzies referenced the Health Department's Summary Report on the septic
21 system. He noted the monies are generated from septic tanks being pumped. Out of
22 150 systems, the Shellfish Committee came up with 64 suspect systems. There are still
23 27 outstanding systems in need of repair within the Harbor in the County. Twenty -five
24 of these are in the City of Blaine within 200 feet of sewer lines, none of which have ever
25 been investigated.
26
27 Hansen stated the Shellfish Committee is particularly interested in following up
28 on the failing septic tanks that have not yet been hooked up.
29
30 Starkenburg asked if the septic study (319 Grant) had been completed. Menzies
31 replied in the affirmative, for the majority. He stated the monies ($20,000) had been
32 used last year.
33
34 Menzies noted his Committee has identified three major concerns: commercial
35 marina problems; stormwater runoff from Blaine; and onsite septic issue.
36
37 Dawson moved to recommend the Health Department bringing before the Health
38 Board a proposal of the work plan, prioritizing examinations and alternatives of the
39 septic systems by the end of March as it relates to Drayton Harbor.
40
41 Discussion followed.
42
43 Motion carried unanimously.
44
Natural Resources Minutes, 2/6/96, Page 2
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3. Council request the Executive enact Health Department's SummM Report
designating the Harbor an "area of special concern ".
Steve Seamour (sp ?), Drayton Harbor Oyster Company, stated that the water
quality is not improving; the counts are still high.
Dawson noted the consensus was making recommendations to change an
ordinance for review by the Council.
4. Council and Executive enact appropriate standards for clearing regulation
and stormwater management.
Sue Blake noted that the development standards are an ongoing process. The
stormwater standards can be amended by designating those areas as a "special district"
and request higher regulations and standards be developed for those areas. The clearing
standards have not yet been reviewed by the Council. There are provisions for "special
areas" for additional controls.
Dawson moved to recommend requesting the Executive request staff to address
the pros and cons of a special district for stormwater management and clearing
regulations.
Motion carried unanimously.
5. Staff support for the needed work to be done.
Dawson moved to recommend to not fund any additional staff time.
(Clerk's Note: No vote was taken on the motion.)
Sue Blake requested a recommendation by the committee to the Executive to see
if Blake can play an active role.
Dawson and Sutter will send a letter to the Executive requesting a meeting for
administration participation in the Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection District.
Hansen submitted a letter to the committee on behalf of the Shellfish District.
Tom McInerney requested the committee include in its letter to the Executive the
definition of septic system failure.
Natural Resources Minutes, 2/6/96, Page 3
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g"I re 1is".
The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.
WA
Eliz eth Bennett, Recording Se tary
Jill Nixon, Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Mar ene Dawson, Council Member
Natural Resources Minutes, 2/6/96, Page 4