HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources July 5 19951 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Natural Resources Committee
3
4 July 5, 1995
5
6 The meeting was called to order at 11 a.m. by Committee Chair Larry Harris in
7 the Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue.
8
9 Also Present: Absent:
10 Ward Nelson None
11 Ken Henderson (late)
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13 COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
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15 1. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION OF THE DRAYTON
16 HARBOR SHELLFISH PROTECTION DISTRICT PROGRAM
17 ANALYSIS PLAN (AB95 -197B)
18
19 Nelson gave a recap of the June 6 Natural Resources meeting.
20
21 Shirley Van Zanten, County Executive, commented.
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23 Those also speaking included:
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25 Bob Woods, Council Budget /Program Analyst
26 Bob Anderson (also provided handout)
27 Tom McInerney, Health Department
28 Alvin Starkenburg, County Council
29 Becky Peterson, Nooksack P.U.D.
30
31 In response to Harris' question regarding funding the proposed activities, Van
32 Zanten stated that was far beyond the resources and time her department has. She
33 noted she needs further policy direction and commitment from the Council before her
34 staff will be requested to carry out the work on the proposed activities. Now is the time
35 for the Council to determine an evaluation of its goals and objectives.
36
37 To answer the question what would be required to remove the downgrade, Van
38 Zanten had no idea; she thought the initial response strategy document provided by the
39 Department of Ecology (DOE) did not make clarify the question. She felt it is the
40 responsibility of the state DOE to provide a clear statement of the problem, the
41 quantification of the problem and what is required to address that problem.
42
43 Starkenburg suggested obtaining specific information from the state as to what it
44 will take to remove the downgrades.
Natural Resources Minutes, 7/5/95, Page 1
1 Van Zanten felt this issue is being made far too complicated than what it needs to
2 be. She felt a district can be formed that is limited in size and geographic location and
3 that basically has no other work or activity. It is very unclear as to what the standard is
4 that needs to be achieved in order for the downgrade to be lifted. There must be some
5 kind of ongoing monitoring program in order to measure whether that standard has been
6 reached.
7
8 Henderson disagreed, stating that more staffing would be required because
9 boundaries need to be decided, public hearings need to be held, etc. He felt using the
10 existing plan, delegating to the appropriate department and not attempting to define a
11 new area that will create much controversy would be sufficient.
12
13 Nelson moved to recommend for approval forming the district, writing a letter
14 to the state requesting a better analysis, and holding a work session if and after a
15 definitive answer is received from the state to go through this prioritization to allow staff
16 the opportunity to give the Council a price tag of what it would take or time it would
17 take, giving the Administration the ability to reallocate resources.
18
19 (Clerk's Note: No vote was taken on the motion, as it was agreed to by consensus.
20 It was also agreed to by consensus to have the letter to the state be sent from the Council.
21 Bob Woods volunteered to write the letter.)
22
23 ADJOURN
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25 The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 a.m.
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28 429 gf,41AAA�o1
30 EliAbeth Bennett, Recording Secr
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32 ATTEST:
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35 -
36'
37 '
38 �- Baru' - nci Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
y I �
Larry Harris, )Council Member
Natural Resources Minutes, 7/5/95, Page 2