HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council October 10 1995WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
WORK SESSION
October 10, 1995
The meeting was called to order at 10:04 a.m. by Council Chair Robert Imhof in
the multi - purpose room, courthouse basement.
Also Present: Absent:
Marlene Dawson Larry Harris
Alvin Starkenburg
Ward Nelson
Barbara Brenner
Ken Henderson (late)
1. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON DRAFT COMPOST
REGULATIONS (AB94 -601)
The Council recessed the meeting of the County Council and convened a meeting
of the Whatcom County Board of Health.
The following people spoke:
Dr. Frank James, Health Department
Regina Delahunt, Health Department
There was discussion by the Council members on how they wished to proceed.
The first item discussed was the definition of sludge. Dr. James stated the Health
Department has not added to, or subtracted from, the definition agreed upon by his
department and BBBLENS (Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Lynden, Everson, Nooksack
and Sumas). Steve Jilk, City of Lynden, commented.
Type I composting was then discussed regarding pesticides in the yard waste;
removing Type I regulations; testing Type I yearly vs. quarterly; and potential risks. Ken
Bell, RECOMP, commented, as did Jerry Huckabay, Mt. Baker Mushroom Farms.
Starkenburg moved to delete Type I composting from the regulations.
Motion carried unanimously.
Imhof stated he wanted to discuss some of the definitions, noting that the Health
Department can agree on these definitions in a meeting with the industry. Dr. James
Compost Minutes, 10/10/95, Page 1
requested a list of concerns from the Council members in order to assist them in their
meeting. Among those definitions discussed were: sharps; food waste; and nuisance
odor.
Starkenburg moved to amend language on page 3, line 16 by deleting the
definition of pre- and post -food waste and adding line 17 to accept RECOMP's
definition of food waste.
After discussion, Starkenburg withdrew his motion.
Nelson moved to delete "nuisance odor" from the definition and substitute the
definition of "nuisance ", which includes odors (page 28).
There was much discussion.
(Clerk's Note: Nelson's motion was voted on in two separate motions.)
Motion to delete "nuisance odor" from the definition carried 4 -2 with Dawson and
Henderson opposed.
Motion to include the definition of "nuisance ", which includes odors carried
unanimously.
Henderson moved to reword language in Section C to say that compost must not
be a nuisance and must not have vector attraction potential and to delete the remainder
of the paragraph.
Motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved to include glass in the definition of manufactured innards.
There was discussion.
Motion carried unanimously.
Starkenburg moved to use the definition for stability that is used by the U.S.
Compost Council.
There was discussion.
(Clerk's Note: No vote was taken on the motion.)
Imhof stated the Council should, after reviewing the draft document, decide on
whether to have another work session or a public hearing.
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Council adjourned its meeting of the Whatcom County Board of Health and
reconvened the County Council meeting.
2. DRAFT URBAN GROWTH AREA INTERLOCAL COOPERATION
AGREEMENT (AB95 -343A)
Dan Gibson, Council's counsel, addressed the Council. He noted informational
content is not executive session material, whereas strategy content is.
Vickie Hardin- Woods, Planning Department, gave the Council members a
handout prepared by David Davidson, consultant for Nooksack and Everson (on file).
She walked through the handout with those present. Dan Gibson also participated in the
discussions, as did Nate Brown, Planning & Development, and Bob Woods, Council
Budget and Program Analyst.
The tentative date for the first negotiating meeting is December 6 at 7:30 p.m. at
the Bellingham Public Library.
There was discussion on the following topics: The Boundary Review Board
(BRB); who determines annexation of resource lands; revenue sharing; property tax
regarding the Road Fund; capital assets and liabilities; RR /UR zones; growth
boundaries; and impact fees.
Imhof noted there will be a work session executive session in the near future to
complete this issue.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 1 p.m.
Liz
li beth Bennett, Recording Secretary
These minutes were approved by the Council on November 21 , 1995.
ATTEST:
FISPONEN
WRIQ_
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Compost Minutes, 10/10/95, Page 3