HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Resources October 8 1991WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 8, 1991
The meeting was called to order at 12:00 noon in the Council Chambers, 1000 N. Forest,
2nd floor, by Chairperson Don Hansey.
Also Present:
Bob Imhoff
Absent:
1. DISCUSSION OF "LAKE WHATCOM AGENDA" PROPOSAL (AB91 -379)
(NO PAPERWORK)
Others present were: Bob Moore, former Chairman of the former Lake Whatcom
Advisory Committee; Roy Von Schottenstein, Chairman of the Lake Whatcom Blvd. Safety
Preservation Association; Glen Johnson, also from the LWBSPA; Roger Almskaar; and Lisa
Johnson, Design Technician.
Bob Moore, at the request of Hansey, gave the Committee some background
information on Lake Whatcom. Moore expressed disappointment that The Friends of Lake
Whatcom weren't present; he'd read much of what they put out and had thought that this
might be an opportunity to listen to what they had to say. Moore explained that he had been
involved with issues dealing with Lake Whatcom since about 1975 when Water District #10
opposed the installation of the North Shore Road sewer. He felt that that would increase
development in the area, which was undesirable, he felt at that time. But today he feels that
he made a mistake. Growth is a function of population and cannot be controlled- -
discouraged or encouraged - -by any person. What you can do, and what you had better do,
is be prepared to accommodate what you expect to happen. This is why he disagrees with
the Friends of Lake Whatcom who oppose the Connector. In opposing it, it will create more
problems than it will solve. Their suggestion, however, that there may be alternative
solutions and that these need to be addressed is right.
Anyway, his initial involvement with the sewer led to his being involved in zoning for
the area. And the zoning held through two rezone challenges. This was then incorporated
into the first subarea plan. He does not understand, however, why the subarea boundaries
and the watershed boundaries are not the same, but they are not.
Following this, the Planning Commission requested that he put together a group of
people to address the subject of Lake Whatcom Watershed problems. The end result of this
group was a very concise 7 to 8 page paper ultimately published by the Bellingham Herald.
He says that paper is as valid today as it was when it was written; only one of the ten
recommendations they made was wrong.
Among their successes was the creation of a Lake Whatcom Watershed Advisory
Water Resources Minutes, 10 -8 -91, page 1
- - Committee consisting of 12 people, 6 of whom would be residents and 6 of whom would be
industry or agency representatives. One of those agency reps was to be from the County.
Eleven of those were appointed, but nobody from the County, which meant that that
Committee had no authority. They quickly found out that unsolicited advice is not wanted
and is therefore not acted on.
Another creation was the development of a water quality study financed 80% by the
Dept. of Ecology. It was an expensive study...
At this point Imhof objected strenuously: those who needed to hear this information
are not present. This meeting was scheduled too late for these people to accommodate it
in their schedules, and people were unable to attend.
After discussion among those present, it was decided to reschedule the meeting.
Haney asked Bob Woods to schedule another meeting with a block of one hour where it
would work in with other Council activities and with those who indicated an interest in
attending (including Sue Blake and Friends of Lake Whatcom).
The meeting was then adjourned.
ATTESTED:
Nancy C,cft Acting Clerk
Water Resources Committee
Water Resources Minutes, 10/8/91, page 2