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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole December 13 19942 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 4 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 ,g WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Committee of the Whole December 13, 1994 The meeting was called to order at 6:06 p.m. by Council Chair Robert Imhof in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue. Also Present: Absent: Marlene Dawson None Barbara Brenner Alvin Starkenburg Larry Harris Ken Henderson Ward Nelson 1. PROCEDURAL REVIEW FOR THE EVENING COUNCIL MEETING This was procedural review only; no business was conducted. 2. DISCUSSION WITH COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (COG) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARK CHALLENDAR REGARDING THE POSSIBLE FORMATION OF A SHELLFISH PROTECTION DISTRICT IN WHATCOM COUNTY (AB94 -556) (30 MINUTES) Mark Challendar, Executive Director of the Council of Governments, and Nancy McKay of the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, made a short presentation to the Council. The basic message was that the status of Drayton Harbor may be downgraded by environmental agencies due to the mixture of pollution concerns and the Harbor's value as a shellfish producer. If this downgrade occurs, the County will be required to create a Shellfish Protection District. The boundaries could encompass the whole County or a smaller portion of the County in order to draw from a broader tax base to raise funds for protecting the district. McKay distributed a packet of materials to the Council (on file). McKay noted that the Shellfish Protection District does not need to be a new government entity but that it may be combined with an existing entity's function. In response to a question from Brenner, McKay said most counties have set the boundaries to be the same as the watershed's boundaries. One county includes all of its area in the boundaries of the District. Council members asked questions about the process. McKay indicated that once the area is downgraded, the County has 180 days to create a district. Challendar said the State Department of Health will work with the County during the district creation project to develop a short -term upgrade plan. A long -range plan, such as the Drayton Committee of the Whole Minutes, 12/13/94, Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 4 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 Harbor Management Plan, will need to be done later; Challendar said a draft of a Drayton Harbor Management Plan created by the Council of Governments is under review by various County departments. Challendar conceded that the source of problems with the Drayton Harbor watershed have been known for about ten years but that nothing has been done for a variety of reasons. Potential funding for this project may come from Centennial Clean Water Funds and possible imposition of taxes, fees and service charges when the District is created. Implementation will be expensive, Challendar said. McKay added that Puget Sound Water Quality Authority can do a workshop on financing and provide other information on funding sources. Imhof noted that Conservation Futures levy money may be available for this project. Challendar introduced Gail Dorf of the Department of Ecology, who also was present; she did not address the Council. 3. CONSIDERATION OF APPEAL: HEARING EXAMINER'S DECISION ON APPEAL FILED BY MARLO HOLLANDER, HEARING EXAMINER FILE NO. APL93 -0007 (AB94 -455) 4. DISCUSSION WITH COUNTY PROSECUTOR DAVE MCEACHRAN, PENDING LITIGATION (CITY OF BELLINGHAM) (AB94 -597) (30 MINUTES) Discussion of items 3 and 4 may take place in executive session: Item 3 pursuant to RCW 42.30.140 (2) in order for Council to be briefed by its attorney on a quasi - judicial matter; Item 4 pursuant to RCW 42.30.10 (1) (i) in order for the Council to discuss pending litigation or litigation in progress. Imhof moved to discuss items 3 and 4 in executive session. Motion carried unanimously. The Council moved to the Committee Room to discuss these items. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m. �vz &__LA'_ Ramona Reeves, Recording Secretary Committee of the Whole Minutes, 12/13/94, Page 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 These minutes were approved by the Council on March 7 , 1995. ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON r �� W Ii' 1 Committee of the Whole Minutes, 12/13/94, Page 3