HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council September 12 19951
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
WORK SESSION
September 12, 1995
The meeting was called to order at 10:10 a.m. by Council Chair Robert Imhof in
the Multi- purpose Room, Courthouse Basement, 311 Grand Avenue.
Also Present:
Marlene Dawson
Larry Harris
Alvin Starkenburg
Ken Henderson
Barbara Brenner
Absent:
Ward Nelson
The meeting of the County Council was recessed, and a meeting of the Flood
Control Zone District Board of Supervisors was convened.
1. REPORT PRESENTED BY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT
STAFF REGARDING 1996 WORK PLAN (AB95 -222A)
John Matzinger, Public Works Department, River and Flood Engineer, gave the
presentation. He stated that in the period following the floods a reactionary-type
structure was put in place, along with a funding mechanism anticipated to take over and
solve the problems in a three -year period. The Corps of Engineers was looking at five
different programs for two years. These programs were all non - feasible, too expensive or
rejected at the County level. In October 1993 the decision was made not to join forces
with the Corps of Engineers. It was recommended by the Public Works Department that
the Council undertake a Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan. As Public
Works is two - thirds into this plan, programs as well as projects are now being seen. The
budget is based on those programs. When it comes to flooding, the saving graces are a
methodology, a philosophy and a consistent plan.
He noted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is our
closest link to the national management system. The County participates in their flood
insurance program. Part of the way land use is managed here is in accordance with
FEMA's requirements. If all is done correctly by Public Works, Whatcom County can
pre - qualify for FEMA funding.
Carl Cook with FEMA stated that his organization is very supportive of the
Special Work Session Minutes, 9/12/95, Page 1
1 Carl Cook with FEMA stated that his organization is very supportive of the
2 County's Public Works Department. The current trend now is to get local solutions to
3 local problems, and FEMA thinks Matzinger is doing a good job finding local solutions
4 to local problems. He noted the locals come up with flood plain mapping. Points are
5 given in a community rating system, which lowers the premiums for all those with flood
6 insurance. Food planning sets up a community for monies from FEMA, both before and
7 after a disaster.
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9 A trusting relationship has been established with the County, Cook stated, since
10 the beginning of this project. Whatcom County is therefore treated differently than
11 other counties. His office believes the County is the most appropriate to make local
12 judgments.
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14 Topics also discussed included: relocation after a disaster; FEMA funding after a
15 disaster; and the flood insurance program.
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17 Matzinger stressed the importance of the relationship between Public Works and
18 FEMA. He defined the "biggest" problem by the amount of damage in money caused by
19 the last flood. This was the Sumas overflow. Half the monies spent to fix the flood was
20 spent in this area. He noted projects and plans need to be refined and prioritized. The
21 next challenge is preserving the agriculture /open space zoning.
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23 Those commenting included:
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25 Art Anderson, Advisory Committee Member
26 Lloyd Ludtke, Advisory Committee Member
27 Fred Nowicke, Advisory Committee Member
28 Don Bowens, representing the City of Abbottsford, B.C.
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30 Imhof requested Council members to respond to the documentation (on file)
31 individually in writing to Matzinger with a copy to all Council members.
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33 Matzinger ended by stating that the assumption in this revenue stream is the
34 same.
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36 The meeting of the Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors was
37 adjourned at 11:05 a.m., and the meeting of the County Council was reconvened.
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39 (Clerk's Note: A 10- minute break was taken.)
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Special Work Session Minutes, 9/12/95, Page 2
1 2. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON COMPOST REGULATIONS
2 (AB95 -601)
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4 The meeting of the County Council was recessed, and a meeting of the Whatcom
5. County Board of Health was convened.
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7 Larry Harris called the meeting to order at 11:15 a.m. He noted that all Health
8 Board members. were present except for Ward Nelson.
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10 Frank James, Health Officer, gave a presentation on draft compost regulations.
11 He stated there are three different sets of rules that regulate human feces: federal - -503
12 Rules (Environmental Protection Agency rules [EPA]); state - -solid waste regulations
13 (garbage and compost quality); and county- -more restrictive regulations than state law.
14 The state makes guidelines and laws; guidelines are interpreted in a friendly manner
15 while laws give us no choice. The Health Department is proposing to modify the existing
16 sludge rules to exclude biosolids when composting and also meet certain standards.
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18 Regina Delahunt, Environmental Health, spoke about compost standards, which
19 are relatively complicated. She briefly addressed the background, gave an overview of
20 the standards and their basis, and discussed a few of the major issues.
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22 The State Compost Quality Guidelines formed the basis of the compost
23 subcommittee's standards (on file). These guidelines are based on the Federal Sewage
24 Sludge Rules (EPA, 503 rule). The standards set health standards for compost quality.
25 Compost has two grades: Grade AA (recommended for home garden use) and Grade A
26 standard (other uses; e.g., ornamental landscaping). The purpose of the standards is to
27 set levels for what would be safe in a product put out in the community., These
28 standards apply to all compost produced, distributed,. sold or used in Whatcom County.
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30 Three types of feedstock that can be used to make compost: Type I, yard and
31 wood waste and manure; Type II, sewage sludge and post- consumer foodwaste; and Type
32 III, municipal and industrial solid waste. There are two exemptions to these standards:
33 non - commercial home and farm compost; and bagged compost made from Type I or
34 Type II feedstock.
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36 In order to market or distribute compost, a permit from the Health Department
37 must be obtained. There are three approval methods: small quantity producer waiver
38 (producing less than 1,000 cu yd per year); register, the compost; and testing out.
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40 If a facility exceeds the allowable contaminate limit, the compost would either be
41 reclassified to a lower grade or registration would be suspended until the process could
42 be changed.
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Special Work Session Minutes, 9/12/95, Page 3
There are five major issues receiving the most concerns:
Regulation of Type I compost;
Regulation of Type II compost;
The question of whether there should be two grades of compost;
Frequency of testing; and
The manner of testing (batch basis or periodic).
Delahunt then discussed briefly all these issues. Discussion followed.
Those also speaking included:
Keith Bode, BBBLENS (briefly discussed waste water treatment centers and state
regulations- -503s)
Jerry Huckaby, Mt. Baker Mushroom Farms
Ken Bell, RECOMP
The Health Board will have another work session in two weeks, September 26, at
10 a.m.
The Whatcom County Board of Health meeting was adjourned at
12:55 p.m. and the County Council meeting was reconvened.
(Clerk's Note: A 5- minute break was taken.)
3. RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION 95 -052 REGARDING SOLVING
ON- RESERVATION ISSUES WITH A NEGOTIATION PROCESS (AB95-
368A)
The meeting was called to order at 1 p.m. by Acting Council Chair Marlene
Dawson.
Dawson explained her resolution. There was discussion.
Starkenburg moved to accept the resolution as presented.
Harris moved to amend line 11 to place a period after "Tribe" and strike the rest
of the sentence. "...State government, and the Lummi Indian Tribe: :And affeete
pr-epeny evffier-s•
Motion carried 3 -2 with Dawson and Brenner opposed.
Motion to approve as amended carried 5 -0.
Special Work Session Minutes, 9/12/95, Page 4
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ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Recording Secretary
These minutes were approved by the Council on November 21 , 1995.
ATTEST: WHATCOM. COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
a rown - Davis, Council Clerk
Special Work Session Minutes, 9/12/95, Page 5