Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Resources June 8 1993WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEE June 8, 1993 The meeting was called to order at noon in the Council Chambers, 1000 N. Forest St., 2nd floor, by Larry Harris, Chair. Also present: Barbara Brenner Absent: Ken Henderson Louise Bjornson, Bellingham City Council Tom Getzie, Water District No. 10 Commissioner Sue Blake, County Water Resource Manager Bonnie Strode, Water District No. 10 1. DISCUSSION WITH JOINT LAKE WHATCOM WATERSHED ACTION PLAN SUBCOMMITTEE REGARDING DIRECTIONS AND AGENDA FOR THE ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTING TEAMS (AB93 -202) Harris introduced the purpose of the meeting and basically outlined the concepts decided on at the last meeting. Blake reviewed the work that has been done since then. She explained the changes that have taken place in the team aspects and said a report from each team will be coming shortly. She passed out an outline (attached) of what each team is being asked to do. Blake named the seven teams that are activated, noting that the Waste Water Team, the Urbanization and Development Team and the Storm Water Team are being held up, though the Storm Water team and the Waste Water team should be active shortly. Blake and Brenner discussed the make up of the teams and the method of determining who is on each team. Blake explained that the plan is to have some form of written report ready by budget time. She discussed the plans and strategies each team would be using in order to come up with a written program and what the contents of those programs are expected to be. Henderson and Blake discussed the initial dates of the team meetings, the date of the handout, and the work involved in getting the teams up and going and organized. Harris expressed concern about the three teams that have not yet been set. Blake clarified how the Management Committee is working with these areas because they are considered high priority. Strode clarified further that coordinating with the Growth Management Act is slowing down the organizational process. Brenner stressed the importance of involving citizens right now, at the beginning, in order to gain the maximum cooperation and confidence. Strode agreed and will pass on Brenner's concerns. Henderson asked Strode to clarify the constraints of GMA on Water District 10. He suggested that the City of Bellingham and the County Planning Directors need to sit down and work out some of these things together. Strode explained that that is exactly what the Management Committee is trying to do. Henderson and Strode further discussed the role of Water District 10 in the process. Brenner returned to the issue of public involvement. Strode stressed that Water District 10 represents the public interest. Blake explained the concept that the teams are using to determine public involvement. Harris brought up the team concept and asked for clarification on that issue, explaining the discomfort the Committee felt at the moment. Blake handed out the proposed program plan for the teams (attached). She then further clarified what the teams are being asked to do and the ways they will be meeting the objectives of the Lake Whatcom Watershed Goal Statement. Brenner again expressed concern about public involvement, that it appears that the,public will not be involved until after the fact. She and Blake discussed this further. Blake asked for any specific recommendations that Brenner or other members of the Committee might have. Harris asked if a very specific list of concerns from the Committee would be conveyed to the teams. Blake said such a list should go to the Management Committee, then channeled to the various teams. She is the link between the Management Committee and the various teams. Fred Miller, 3229 North Shore Road: Expressed concern about public involvement and that the process is swirling in confusion. He asked for more leadership from the two Councils, City and County. Lee Denke, 615 N. Fourth St., Mt. Vernon: Suggested that the GMA is designed to keep from happening exactly what is happening with this - -the adding of another layer of rules and regulations. Denke pointed out that the land is already zoned, there already is a plan out there, there are already rules and regulations. Urged the Committee to go back to the Growth Management Act; everything the Committee wants to accomplish has been covered. Nate Brown, Manager, Buildings and Code: Explained that the team approach is designed to take a non - legislative approach to solving some of the problems of the watersheds. Brown and Brenner discussed again the idea of public involvement. Brown tried to clarify what Blake was trying to get across- -that the teams are in the process of deciding just how and how soon the public can get involved. Harris and Brown discussed storm drainage and the uses Buildings and Code will make of the Storm Water Team. Water Resources Minutes, 618193, Page 2 Robin Dexter, 3726 Broad St.: Acknowledged the frustration of dealing with water issues because they are so cross jurisdictional and thanked the Council for directing staff time toward dealing with this difficult issue. He said that if the Committee wants more public involvement, then they should give this direction to the Teams. Larry Williams, 4052 Jones Lane: Because this is an exceedingly complicated process, now is the time to get citizens involved so they can be up to speed. Bjornson suggested that the committee should meet again after the teams are up and running. Henderson said that he perceived the purpose of having these meetings is to see whether the teams are meeting the Committee's intentions and would like to review the make up of the teams and provide on -going feedback to the Management Committee. He expressed concern that the Management Committee will bog down the process, that the teams should be reporting back faster, and that a whole lot should be taking place. BRENNER MOVED THAT THE MANAGEMENT TEAMS BE DIRECTED TO USE PUBLIC /CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT FROM THIS STAGE ON AND CITIZENS SHOULD BE ACTIVELY RECRUITED TO BE ON EACH OF THE TEAMS. IF A TEAM DOES NOT FEEL THIS IS APPROPRIATE, THE TEAM SHOULD RETURN WITH A REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE. HARRIS MOVED TO HAVE FULL REPORTS MADE BACK TO THE COMMITTEE AT ITS NEXT MEETING. Brenner accepted this as a friendly amendment. Blake, Harris, Brenner, Henderson, and Bjornson discussed the motion. The motion failed 4 to 1 with Brenner for. Harris directed Blake to return to the teams and have each explain how they expect to involve the public on their team and report back to the Committee. Harris further asked Blake to explain how she sees the teams moving -- parallel with each other, or some moving ahead faster than other teams -- because he sees some of the work as having priority, such as storm water and waste water management. Blake, Bjornson, and Harris discussed this issue. Blake asked Harris to prioritize issues for the teams. Henderson suggested that the Committee sit down and have a work session to set the priorities, but that the teams should continue organizing and beginning their work. The next meeting was set for Tuesday, June 15, 2 p.m in the Council chambers. This meeting will be a work session. Members were asked to come with specific issues, priorities, etc. for the teams. Written comments from the public are welcome. Water Resources Minutes, 618193, Page 3 The meeting was adjourned at 1:37. ATTEST: Nancy n, Assistant Clerk WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEE Larry Harris, Chair Water Resources Minutes, 618193, Page 4