Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Council for February 21 1980A WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Minutes of meeting February 21, 1980 The Council meeting of February 21 was called to order at 7:40 p.m., with all members present but C. J. Johnson, who was excused by motion. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as presented. HEARINGS Hearing was held on the vacation of dead end portion of East Pole Road. Ron York of Century Homes, Inc. testified on behalf of the petitioner, Lore-- -.zo Perez. The vacation had not yet been considered by Planning, but will be on Wednesday, February 27. It will have recommendation and final Consideration at the next regular meeting. Hearing was held on the vacation of North Street adjacent to the plat of Sunday Harbor. The petitioner, Ira Weidkamp testified in favor of it. There was question by the Council about the land being vacated, as it had `peen deeded to the County ten years ago as one of the conditions of granting the plat. The 26 foot strip is to be a county road right -of -way so that the plotted road can be 60 feet wide. The vacation had not been considered by Planning yet, but is on their next agenda.. It will have Council final consideration on March 6. No testimony was given on the ordinance establishing procedures to close or restrict use of Whatcom County Public Roads whenever any such public road by reason of climatic conditions will be seriously damaged unless the operation of vehicles thereon be prohibited or restricted. Public Works recommended "do pass," and Donnellan's motion to enact the ordinance passed by a 5 to 1 (Hansey) vote. EXECUTIVE ITEMS Five transfers were Iresented for approval to the Council. Finance Committee had reviewed th-,ii, and r•cccr.mended "do pass." Hansey's motions to authorize the transfers all passed. The transfers were as follows: $ 9,955.00 in the CETA II budget $ 60,000:OG in the Tort Claims Defense budget $ 32,500.00 undistributed excess in the Sheriff budget $ 25,500.00 undistributed excess in the Jail budget $7.00,000.00 in the Federal Shared Revenue Budget ($35,000 to Jails, $33,000 to Nor -Bell, $5,000 to mis&. Bldgs., and' $27,000 to Improve- ments Other than Buildings) Minutes of Council meeting February 21, 1980 . page two Louws brought up the matter of the establishment of a joint City/ County Committee to discuss various City /County items, which would consist of two Council members from each Council, the Executive, and the Mayor. Possible items they would discuss would be ambulance service, solid waste disposal, animal control, jail facilities, Buildings and Codes. Hansey moved to support this .request, have the City pursue this matter as well, and that the Council selects its own two members. His motion passed. Louws made point of supporting a resolution Hansey would be introducing later on the agenda, releasing contingency reserve funds for WACO and WSAC. FINAL CONSIDERA'T'ION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS The ordinance authorizing a revision in the Council's 1980 budget was referred to Finance for clarification. Finance recommended "do pass" on the ordinance amending WCC 1.14.040; fixing a reasonable rate of reimbursement for the use of personal tranport- ation for approved and official purposes. Hansey's motion for its adoption carried unanimously. Hansey moved for the adoption of the ordinance adopting rules and .fixing rates for reimbursement for travel for preauthorized transporta.tionfor ap- proved and official purposes and establishing travel allowances: with one amendment, that of striking on line 17, the word "itemized." The amendment passed, and the amended ordinance, with "do pass" from Finance was enacted unanimously. Finance reviewed and recommended "do pass" on the ordinance providing for a separation of 1980 Emergency Services Center Project Fund and 1980 Emergency Services Fund. Hansey moved for its passage, which motion carried unanimously. OTHER BUSINESS Hansey moved to indefinitely postpone further consideration of the pro - posed. mini -initiative. The letter from the Prosecuting Attorney's office stating that there was no need to hold public hearing on the mini - initiative, as it hati been found to be illegal was read into the record. Note was made of the letter from the proponents on the initiative stating why they felt public. hearing was mandatory. i';s1e motion passed by a 5 to 1 (Roehl.) vote to postpone indefinitely. Minutes of Council meeting February 21., 1980 ,age three The application of JIJ Concsturction Company for Prelimanary Plat approval and subdivision variance request to create and develop a resi- dential subdivision of "Border Estates: was accepted and referred to Planning,. The letter from R.S.V.P. was received. They are declining the use of F.S.R. money given them. by the Council. for 1980. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS There were changes in this section. Items 1 and 2 were deleted. Two items were added by unanimous vote. McIntyre introduced the ordinance approving the transfer of the admin- istration of Juvenile Court, probation Counselor intake and detention services from Superior Court to the County Executive. It will come up for final consideration of March 6. Muenscher introduced the ordinance in the matter of establishing an interim moratorium an all new land division within the Lake Whatcom Watershed, ?nd it was sent to Planning. Roehl introduced an ordinance amending WCC 7.40.070 to provide for a waiver of fees concerning road vacations upon finding that the vacation will be of specific benefit to Whatcom County. It was sent to Planning for review. Muenscher introduced the resolution in the matter of approving an a- mendment to Water District #10 Comprehensive Plan (ULID #16). Planning Committee recommended a "do pass" on the resolution.. It passed by majo_•ity vote (.4 -2, Roehl � Van Zanten). Hansey introduced the resolution in the matter of adopting a salar }7 schedule for Non - Union employees. Finance Committee had drawn up the resolution and recommended "do pass ". It passed unanimously. The resolution in support of Substitute Senate Bill. 113193 which would give county voters the right to vote on nuclear - fueled thermal. power plants recommended for siting within their respective counties was introduced by Muenscher and Hansey. It was amended to include in the title and text, "and /or House, Bill #1860" after "Senate Bill "3193 ". The amendment and the amended resolution passed unanimously. Dean Kahn spoke to this reso- ution indicating the Bill's status in Olympia at the present time. Finance recommended "do pass" on the first resolution, and Roehl moved for the adoption of the following three resolutions: (1) Resolution allowing reimbursement of certain expenses for County Council members, (2) Resolu- Y Minutes of Council. meeting February 21, 1980 page four tion in the matter of setting the terms of Council Members on Boards and Commissions and establishing annual elections thereof, and (3) Resolution in the matter of establishing terms of office on Boards and Commissions as appointed by Wha.tcom County Council. Al! three passed unanimously. Hansev in- troduced the Finance Committee proposed resolution re.leasino contingency reserve funds for WACO and WASC clues, 1980 Budget 519- 90- 31 -01. It passed unanimo -usly, with an amendment sponsored by Mclrntyre charigin� the effective date to August 31, 1980. Iansey requested that a copy or this resolution be sent -to those agencies as soon as possible, and also, that it be sent to the other counties pressing for their consolidation also. COMMITTEE REPORTS The Chair announced a Committee of the Whole meeting on the Public Utilities ordinance on Wednesday, February 27. It will be a work session for the Council with the Planning Department, and will be held at 7:00 p.m. Planning made note of the request by-Christ an ministries to drop their proposal for Contract. Zone. Public Safety Committee reported they had discussed the problem at Euclid Avenue and Lake Whatcom Boulevard. They approved the request of and d:irectied the Executive to place a "Local Traffic Only" sign at the county end of Euclid Avenue. Meeting adjourned at 9:35, next meeting to convene on March 6, 1980.