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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Council for October 18 1979WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Minutes of meeting October 18, 1979 The meeting was called to order on October 18, 1979 at 7:35 p.m. All members were present for roll call. The minutes were approved as presented. The Council welcomed Roger Van Dyken, State Representative. EXECUTIVE ITEMS John Louws presented the preliminary budget for the 1980 fiscal year. The Council accepted it and turned it over to Finance Committee for in- vestigation and review. Thompson spoke to the large cuts the Parks De- partment budget received and a possible separation of the Senior Services from the Parks Department. He feels the financing of the Parks Department should be kept at the present level. The transfer of funds within the Parks and Recreation budget was unanimously approved. HEARINGS $ FINAL CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS Hearing was declared open on the vacation of alley in Block 2, Town of Deming. Muriel McInnes spoke in favor. Hearing was closed. It was moved to approve the vacation. The motion was made that the petitioner pay only the processing fees for the vacation, and not the assessed land value. The motion carried, and the vacation was granted for the cost of the processing fees. Public hearing was held on the ordinance relating to the liceTAing of private guard, security,'investigative and detective businesses. Sheriff Larry Mount was present to give testimony. He gave details of proposed amendments and endorsed the ordinance. There were amendments approved as follows: Section 28: ".Registration - Fee The registration fee for employees of a icense is fixed as follows: 50 for the first year; however, those employees who have previously registered with the City of Bellingham shall pay a $5 registration fee upon providing a written waiver as to any back- ground information retained in the City files; $5 for annual renewal thereof." Section 31 - item #5 page 1.4, line 1, after "County" insert the word "Council" Section 32 - page 14, line 17, insert "Council" after "the County." Ve minutes of Council meeting October 18, 1979 (cunt. to 10/15) page two William A. Gardiner, Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and legal advisor to the Whatcom County Council died of a heart attack during the Octobe 18, 1979 Council meeting. The meeting was recessed for one week, until October 25, 1979 at 7:30 p.m The Council meeting was reconvened on October 25, 1979 at 7:40 p.m., resuming the agenda from 10/18/79. All members were present. A moment of si.le ce iry of William A. Gardiner, Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. Johnson moved the adoption of the ordinance relating to the licensing of private guards, etc., with the amendments as passed last week. His motion carried by unanimous vote. Hearing was declared open on the ordinance for stop signs in the plat of Birch Crest Estates. No testimony was given. Johnson, with Public Safety recommendation of "do pass," moved for adoption. His motion was passed unanimously. Public hearing was held on the Ordinance placing stop signs in the Plat of Tweed Twenty. No testimony was given. With Public Safety recommended "do pass," Muenscher moved for passage. The ordinance was enacted by unan- imous vote. The ordinance authorizing a supplemental budget for the Solid Waste Management /P.W. fund for 1979 was tabled for one week. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTIONS Item 3 was deleted and two additional items were added to this section by motion. The ordinance implementing the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan by amending Whatcom County Interim Zoning Maps to reflect a change from General Protection District to Agriculture District was introduced by Muenscher and referred to the Planning Committee. It was proposed to have a full- Council work session under Planning Committee direction to consider this ordinance. Thompson introduced the ordinance that would change a stop sign to a yield sign on West Main Road. The matter was referred to Public Safety. An emergency ordinance establishing a fee for copies of the budget was inserted as item 3 in the agenda, and introduced by Hansey. It was amended to insert six dollars and fifty cents as the amount to be charged. The ordinance passed by unanimous vote. minutes of Council meeting October 18, 1979 (cont. to 10/25) page three The resolution establishing Whatcom County Ferry Rates was introduced by Hansey and referred to Finance and Public Works. Hearing will be on 11/15/79. The resolution cancelling two unclaimed salary warrants was intro- duced by Hansey and passed by unanimous vote with Finance recommendation of "do pass." The resolution cancdlling warrants over one year old was also intro- duced by Hansey with Finance recommended "do pass," and received final passage by unanimous vote. The resolution approving Water District No. 10, August 8, 1979 amend- ment to the Comprehensive Plan was introduced by Muenscher and referred to Planning. The resolution adopting Whatcom County's 1980 Annual Construction Program was introduced by Thompson and referred to Public Works. The resolution fixing time and place of hearing on assessment roll for Road Improvement Dist. 4, Birch Crest Estates was introduced by Thompson and received final passage by unanimous vote. The hearing will be 12/6/79. A resolution authorizing Whatcom County to intervene in the Trans - mountain Pipeline Site Certification Application No. 79 -1 was introduced by Roehl and passed by majority vote. OPEN SESSION No one from the audience spoke. Thompson made note of the death of Bill Gardiner, how much he did for the County, and how much he will be missed by all who knew him:; He also requested reimbursement for mileage in his commuting from Olympia, since he is returning his pay for October and one week of Sept- ember to the County. It was agreed he should retain the amount needed to cover his mileage. COMMITTEE REPORTS On the petition by James St. /Telegraph Rd. area residents for a reduced speed limit and banning of truck traffic, it was mentioned that the heavy truck traffic is due to the construction on the Guide Meridian. Another study should be done when the construction is finished, and the matter be reconsidered and some policy direction developed. The truck traffic is a necessity of the contruction phase, and the problem may solve itself after the construction is completed. minutes of Council meeting October 18, 1979 (cont. from 10/25) page four The Wiser Lake issue has been pos pone �,,,�The $2,000,000 requested ,14 Federal Grant money it is felt4w u d be et�er�spen el here than I-Viser Lake. However, Public Works should still set up a meeting to discuss the issue with those concerned. The public meeting on the South Fork area problens has been postponed; however., Parks Department is continuing to work on it at the request of Pub- lic Works and Public Safety committees. It was moved to adopt the schedule proposed by the Finance Committee for a Finance Committee of the Whole to consider the 1980 budget for What - comt County. The motion passed. The first meeting is to be on 10/29 at 3:00 on the second floor of the Courthouse. OTHER BUSINESS John Louws was appointed to serve on the Emergency Services Joint Communications Center Administrative Board by unanimous decision. The letter from the Executive regarding the findings of a petition request 'by citizens in Pt. Roberts relating to the parking problems was accepted. Thompson clarified the issue, and brought up some points about the problem. The petition for Franchise by Puget Sound Power and Light Company was accepted, and will have hearing on November 15, 1979. Johnson moved to adopt a resolution thanking and commending Councilman Conrad Thompson for the fine job he has done for the County. The motion carried unanimously. Johnson cited the Lynden Tribune article referring to complaints that an indefinite "some" of the Council are not carrying their weight. It was the general feeling that if there are complaints about specific members, these complaints should be brought to the attention of the County Council, not indirectly referred to in newspaper articles. Nominations were made for County Council Third District Position B. They were as follows: Johnson nominated Jim Hawley, McIntyre moninated Elizabeth Bailey, Wella Hanson, Gary Gibbons, Art Jorgenson, Bill Pierone, And Billy B. Frey. Roehl nominated Everett Sanders and Phyllis Graham. Muenscher nominated Hugh Pottle, Phyllis Entriken, Jon Donellan, and Jon Gaar. Noninations were closed. It was moved and passed that all be notified and asked to submit a resume no later than Tuesday, Oct. 30 to the Council minutes of Council meeting 'October 18, 1979 (cont. to 10/25) page five office, and that each will be interviewed by full - Council on Oct. 31 beginning at 7:00 p.m. At that time, there may be a narrowing down of the thirteen to a few for more extensive interviwing, or the Council may make the final appointment an the Novermber 1 meeting. It will be decided on 10/31 what the final course of action will be in this matter. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15, and will reconvene on Thursday, Nov. 1, 1979 at 7:30 p.m.