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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Council for September 20 1979WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING minutes September 20, 1979 The meeting was called to order at 7:37 p.m. All members were present for roll. The minutes of the previous meeting and of the special gambling hearing held on September 13 were approved as presented. OTHER BUSINESS A motion by Thompson to table the 9 -1 -1 advisory ballot issue indefinitely passed by majority vote. Bill Gardiner, Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney advised that the County Council as a munici- pality does not have the power to issue this type of taxation, that such a decision must come from the state level. Gary Hedberg from the Bellingham Fire Department addressed the Council, informing them that the proponents of the Emergency Medical Service Funding had decided that they did not wish this issue to be put on the November ballot. They felt that at present it stood no chance of receiving county -wide approval. Hansey moved to postpone indefinitely, which carried unanimously. Phil Serka, Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney requested the Council to make an appointment to the State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council. This Energy Council member would have a vote on a state -wide board of 21 members. Their decisions would be passed on to the Governor regarding the marine terminal for oil to be built at Port Angeles and the pipeline that would carry the oil;-and pass through Whatcom County. -.Roehl moved to make this appointment on the 10/4/79 meeting. Motion passed unanimously. FINAL HEARINGS & CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS The agenda was changed to reverse the order of the first two items. Bob Muenscher introduced and moved for adoption the ordinance prohibiting punch boards, pull tabs, and certain other forms of minutes of Council meeting September 20, 1979 page two gambling; and amending and repealing ordinances in conflict therewith. He said the state legislature has "candy coated" what is really gambling by calling it "social card games" etc. He added he has seen the levels of what a "visciousness" gambling can be. Roehl stated that he was judging by the common interest of the individual, and that he hadn't heard of any serious problems with gambling. Hansey concurred, as did Thompson. The ordinance was defeated by a five ( Roehl, Thompson, Johnson, McIntyre, and Hansey) to two (Muenscher and Van Zanten) vote. The ordinance levying tax on bingo, raffles, social card games, punch boards and pull tabs; exempting charitable and non - profit organ- ization; designating revenue for law enforcement; authorizing collection by State Gambling Commission, and repealing ordinances and resolutions in conflict herewith was moved for adoption by Roehl. Thompson moved to amend by striking all language in Section 3 after the word "organization" on line 13. The amendment was defeated by a 3 to 4 vote. It was observed that a need for additional law enforcement specifically for enforcing gambling ordinances was not proved. The ordinance was defeated by unanimous vote. On the ordinance amending the Comprehensive Plan Map and Zoning Map in the vicinity of Telegraph and East Bakerview Roads (60 acres), the Howard Hammer rezone, Van Zanten disqualified herself from voting on the grounds of a question of appearance of fairness. Her husband, Paul, served on the Planning Commission and had voted twice on this issue. The chair was turned over to C. J. Johnson. Muenscher also disqualified himself due to owning property within a mile of the proposed rezone area, and a possible conflict of interest that might be charged. The ordinance, moved for adoption by McIntyre, was defeated by a 3 in favor ( Hansey, McIntyre, $ Johnson) to 2 against (Thompson Roehl) vote. An ordinance needs a vote of four in favor to be passed. Public hearing was declared open with Van Zanten resuming the chair on the vacation of Limestone Road. No testimony was given. Thompson moved for adoption with Public Works and County Engineer recommendation of "do pass." The vacation was granted unanimously. Public hearing was held on the vacation of an unnamed county F minutes of Council-meeting September 20, 1979 page three road right of way in Bakerview Addition. Paul B. Hanson, President, Mount Baker Mutual Savings and Loan, spoke in favor of the vacation. With favorable recommendation from Planning, Public Works, and the Engineer, the vacation was ordered by unanimous vote. Roehl moved for adoption the ordinance providing for a supple- mental budget for the Adult'Probation Department of the Whatcom County District Court in the 1979 annual budget, with recommended "do pass" of Public Safety and Finance. The motion passed unanimously. The ordinance providing for a supplemental budget for the Nental Retardation Department's 1979 budget with Finance Committee recommendation of "do pass'' was enacted unanimously. A "do pass" recommendation was given by the Finance Committee on the ordinance providing for a supplemental budget for the Public Works Department 1979 budget as rebated to the Coastal Zone Management Grant. The motion to approve carried unanimously. The ordinance providing for a supplemental budget for the County Infirmary.d /b /a Nor -Bell Nursing Home 1979 budget with Finance recommended "do pass" was passed unanimously. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES $ RESOLUTIONS The ordinance regarding the matter of placing stop signs in the Plat of Birch Crest Estates in Section 31, Township 40 North, Range 1 East, W.M. was introduced by Thompson and sent to Public Safety. McIntyre restated his position - that there has to be a faster way than the conventional means of placing stop signs. The ordinance regarding placing stop signs in the Plat of Tweed Twenty, Division 6 was introduced by Thompson and referred to Public Safety. Nat Dickinson, County Grants Coordinator, addressed the Council on the next two items: The resolution approving the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between Whatcom County and the City of Blaine and Authorizing the County Executive to sign the _.Agreement and the resolution regarding the Administration of the HUD Small Cities Block Grant Program. Passage would allow the County Grants Office to administer and assist the City of Blaine in their application to the minutes of Council meeting September 20, 3979 page four HUD Small Cities project, and would provide for Blaine to reimburse the County for the work done by County employees. The County Executive would be allowed to sign this agreement. Jerry Pressler spoke from the City of Blaine in favor of the resolutions. He stated that the Blaine City Council had already approved these resolutions. Finance Committee reviewed both resolutions and recommended "do pass." Both resolutions moved by Thompson for adoption received final approval by unanimous vote. The resolution approving the interlocal cooperation agreements between Whatcom County and the cities of Sumas, Everson, Lynden, Blaine and Ferndale concerning mutual aid and assistance in the event of a mojor disorder of law enforcement operation; and authorizing the County Executive to sign the agreement was introduced and received final approval by unanimous vote, in congruence with Public Safety recommendation of "do pass." OPEN SESSION COMMITTEE REPORTS The chair reported that she had received two requests asking for appointment of committee members to the Cablevision Rate Review Board for �fh.e Pt..Robefts area and the Lake Samish district. Will Roehl was unanimously appointed to serve from the 3rd district for the Pt. Roberts area. Don Hansey was unanimously appointed to serve from the 1st district for the Samish area. The council was informed of the Puget Sound District of Washington State Association of Counties meeting to be held Friday, September 28 in Kirkland. Roehl�smotion to preauthorize travel expenses for any Council member who might wish to attend was approved. The Planning Committee will meet Wednesday September 26 at 7.00 p.m. C. J. Johnson wished it to be known why he has been missing such a number of meeting recently. He is serving on the State Jail Commission and has been out of the area attending those meetings. The Commission is in a very critical phase of its proceedings now, and Corky cannot miss these meetings. Thompson would like to set a scheduled meeting time for the Public Works Committee. minutes of Council meeting September 20, 1979 page five There will be no meetings the next two Tuesdays for the Finance Committee. Johnson informed the Council on the state of the James St. - Telegraph Road area petition for reduced truck traffic and speed limit. He remarked that John Louws has observed the area, and that at present, +s he can see no need for the reduction - that there is no apparent problem. Muenscher mentioned the unanimous Health Board approval of the study done on the handling of septic tank permits, drainfields, and related issues by Thompson, Ernie Blankers and himself. The meeting was adjourned at 9:2S.