HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Council December 3 19911 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Regular Meeting
3 December 3, 1991.
4 The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by Council Chairman Dan Warner in the
5 Council Chambers, 1000 N. Forest Street.
6 Present Absent
7 Don Hansey None
8 Emily Jackson
9 Mary Vanderpol
10 Marge Laidlaw
11 Dennis Vander Yacht
12 Bob Imhof
13 SPECIAL PRESENTATION
14 State Legislators' Reports: Sen. Ann Anderson, Rep. Pete Kremen, & Rep. Harriet
15 Spanel (AB91 -389)
16 Representative Harriet Spanel, 40th District: Spanel said she is working on a very
17 difficult budget with not enough money to go around. She will be looking out for Counties
18 and would welcome any calls. Congratulated the County on its efforts in Forest Practices.
i9 Representative Pete Kremen, 42nd District: Going into a very unpleasant seassion
20 because of the necessary cuts. Whatcom County is a bit more fortunate than many of the
21 counties in Washington State. He said he did not think additional taxes will be considered.
22 Commended the Council for the expeditious actions taken by the Council regarding the
23 Point Roberts Taxing District. Discussed closing some of the loopholes or exemptions on
24 taxes. He said he believes the State needs to learn to live within its means.
25 Senator Ann Anderson, 42nd District: Co- chairing a committee on flood control.
26 Urged the Council to continue to work with the Engineering Department. Urged the
27 Council to let her know if anything in the WACs or RCWs is not conducive to the interests
28 of Whatcom County. Discussed the budget problems and said she hoped she could
29 encourage a rainy day account for times like this. Anderson said she had been told there
30 would be a timeout on major environmental issues being passed this year. She said the
31 issues of clearcut, unstable slopes, etc. has been moved to the rulemaking authority in the
32 Forest Practices Authority as opposed to Legislative review.
33 OTHER ITEMS
34 1. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WATERSHED ISSUES, BY SUE BLAKE,
35 WATER RESOURCES COORDINATOR
36 Sue Blake, Health Department, discussed the actions taken by the County:
_,7 stormwater standards; mapping of the drainage structures in the watershed; clearing
1 ordinance; spills into the stormwater system; growth management critical areas. The
2 She said the connector might be good for the watershed if it meant getting some of
3 the roads and traffic away from the lake.
4 Blake also discussed the following: Sewer system in Water District 10 failing systems;
5 maintenance programs for systems; underground storage tanks; forest practices; solid waste
6 issues; pesticides; oil; conservation; limited water suppplies; role of the lake as a source of
7 water to the county residents; Growth Management requires adequate water supplies before
8 development occurs; streams with no further water rights being issued; hyudralic continuity
9 with surface water supplies; City of Bellingham has a substantial water rights supply that
10 could handle development; possible enforcement on proper domestic water supplies; health
11 assessment; alluvial fan hazards that have health and safety impacts; coordination and
12 management on the lake; need for committees to work on this issue; goals and objectives
13 to measure actions; acknowledging clearly that issues relating to Lake Whatcom.
14 2. LAKE WHATCOM TRANSPORTATION STUDY (LIMITED PUBLIC
15 COMMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN'S
16 DISCRETION) (AB91 -365A)
17 There was discussion between Warner and Hansey about the merits of the study.
18 Jay Taber, Friends of Lake Whatcom: He gave a quick comment that the omissions
19 are as obvious as the statements in the study. He said he appreciates the efforts of the
20 Council to understand this issue. He said he was sorry $100,000 had to be spent but would
!1 be worth it if it became clear what the result would be. He said that a recommendation
22 from a coalition of local conservation groups will be brought forward stating how the
23 watershed area could be preserved. Taber offered to help in any way he can.
24 Roy Van Schottenstein, Lake Whatcom Boulevard: He said he did not know this
25 study was available until yesterday and spent four hours trying to understand it. He thinks
26 it is appalling the council is not planning to have a committee at least study it.
27 Philip Urso, President of Sudden Valley Association: He said he wants to
28 understand what will happen with this study-sorry to hear that it may not be pursued.
29 Sherilyn Wells, 1020 Geneva: Does not oppose a solution but does want to make sure
30 that anyone who drinks from the watershed are not impacted. Has offered a petition with
31 200 signatures of people who want further discussion before this be pursued. She would like
32 to have the affected people get together and talk.
33 Roger Bourm, 1923 Lake Whatcom Boulevard: One of the unbiased parties in this
34 issue is Reid Middleton and recommended all council members read page 62. Under a no
35 action alternative traffic will increase on Lake Whatcom Boulevard. Pollutant levels will
36 be greater if the connector is not built.
37 Dan Ohms, 1105 Lake Whatcom Boulevard: Doesn't care if the connector gets built
38 or not but if it doesn't he feels all development should be stopped. He thinks it is build the
39 road or halt development or the lake will be polluted.
40 Lloyd Austin, 1838 Lakeside: Lake has been studied to death and there needs to be
41 another road.
Minutes, 12/3/91, Page 2
1 Items discussed were: the deteriorating traffic conditions; whether more roads would
2 solve the problem; possibility of rezoning Sudden Valley to have commercial enterprises so
3 residents who live there could work there; the need to sit down with the City of Bellingham
4 and discuss the water supply situation; alternatives to the Lake Whatcom Connector;
5 doing nothing will not solve the problem.
6 Comments were made by: Haney; Vander Yacht; Warner; Jackson; Imhof.
7 8:36 p.m.
8 Warner said the Council needs to constitute a committee who will analyze this study.
9 Taylor said it would be good to analyze the study further and then discuss it with
10 Planning and Engineering for their ideas on alternative.
11 WARNER MOVED TO REQUEST THE ADMINISTRATION TO REPORT
12 BACK AT THE LAST MEETING OF JANUARY WITH A PROPOSAL FOR A
13 METHOD OF STUDYING ALTERNATIVES TO BUILDING THE LAKE WHATCOM
14 CONNECTOR TO SOLVE THE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS.
15 The motion was carried unanimously.
16 It was decided to assign the study to Public Services and Solid Waste Committee.
17 3. DISCUSSION OF THE "LAKE WHATCOM AGENDA" (AB91 -379)-
18 Fred Miller, Friends of Lake Whatcom, expressed the need to develop a plan.
19 He said the first step would be to begin the lake Whatcom subarea plan by June 1992 and
20 end June 1993 which would provides an opportunity for a dual balance. He said this issue
21 needs to be addressed by setting objectives and timelines. The Growth Management Act
22 will increase the scope of the subarea.
23 There was discussion among Warner, Vanderpol and Laidlaw about who should
24 conduct a review.
25 LAIDLAW MOVED TO REQUEST A STAFF REVIEW OF THE 1986
26 LAKE WHATCOM MANAGEMENT PLAN AND PROVIDE A LIST OF
27 THE ELEMENTS IN THE PLAN THAT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED
28 AND A LIST OF CONTINUING PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE
29 UPDATED, WITH A TIME LINE OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1992.
30 The motion carried unanimously.
31 Blake said she would develop goals and objectives by January for the proposed
32 committee.
Minutes, 12/3/91, Page 3
1 Issues discussed were: clustering development; stormwater drainage plans; Harriet
2 Beale study to be given to the Planning Committee; transfer development rights; fiscal
3 impacts of acquiring forestry lands; interim moratorium on development; ranking of
4 Whatcom County's water supply; area of water supply interest to restrict the use of
5 pesticides.
6
7 Comments were made by: Taylor; Warner; Laidlaw; Wells; Miller.
8 Warner asked Watts, Prosecutor, to clarify the County's authority on
9 to enforce steps against forestry practices that negatively impact County Park lands that are
10 used as access to logging sites.
11 4. NOMINATIONS FOR APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
12 Planning_ Commission
13 District Two
14 Vanderpol nominated the incumbent Jim Heeringa
15 Laidlaw nominated Paige Shumway
16 District Three
17 Jackson nominated Emil Baijot and Martin Keeley
18
The nominations were closed.
19
Board of Equalization
20
Imhof nominated Jim Bliss
21
The nominations were closed.
22
Solid Waste Advisory Committee
23
Citizen positions
24
Hansey nominated Dan Mahar
25
Imhof nominated Nancy Keene
26
Jackson nominated Dusty Anderson and Amelia Lunde
27
Industry position
28
Warner nominated John Webb, Incumbent, as the Industry member.
29
Jackson nominated Herb Krause
c
31
The nominations were closed.
This will be voted on next week.
Minutes, 12/3/91, Page 4
INTRODUCTION
2 1. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER
3 INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR A SATELLITE HEALTH
4 DEPARTMENT OFFICE (FINANCE) (AB91 -423)
5 2. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR EXECUTIVE TO ENTER
6 INTO AN INTERIM DISPOSAL SITE AGREEMENT WITH COUNTY
7 CONSTRUCTION RECYCLERS (PUB. SVCS.) (AB91 -424)
8 3. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO ENTER
9 INTO AN INTERIM DISPOSAL SITE AGREEMENT WITH RECOMP OF
10 WASHINGTON (PUB. SVCS.) (AB91 -425)
11 4. RESOLUTION ACCEPTING CONDITIONS OF THOMAS & INGEBORG
12 NESSET TRUST AND THE NESSET CONSERVATION EASEMENT
13 FOR A FUTURE 104 -ACRE PARK (PLANNING) (AB91 -426)
14 5. RESOLUTION DEDICATING CERTAIN COUNTY -OWNED REAL
15 PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC USE AS A STREET TO THE CITY OF
16 BLAINE (PUBLIC SERVICES) (AB91 -427)
17 6. ORDINANCE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES
18 REQUIRED WITHIN WHATCOM COUNTY (AB91 -386B)
I.9 7. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OFFICIAL WHATCOM COUNTY
20 ZONING MAP FROM RURAL 10 ACRES (R10A) ... TO..(R5A)..CENTRAL
21 ROAD EAST FROM HANNEGAN ROAD (AB91 -433)
22 REPORTS AND OTHER ITEMS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS
23 pans Mountain Pipeline discussion: Jackson said tomorrow evening the energy
24 committee will be here on the Trans Mountain Pipelines at the Sehome Cafeteria at 7 p.m.
25 She urged council members to attend.
26 VANDERPOL MOVED THE DECEMBER 17 MEETING BEGIN AT 4 P.M.
27 AND THE STANDING COMMITTEES BE MOVED TO AN EARLIER TIME.
28 The motion carried unanimously.
29 The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
30
31 ATTEST:
32
33 Barbara: Maher, Deputy Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Daniel M. Warner, Chairman
Minutes, 12/3/91, Page 5