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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Council for January 24 1980WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Minutes of meeting January 24, 1980 The meeting was called to order at 7:37 p.m. with all present but McIntyre, who was excused. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved. REORGANIZATION OF COUNCIL A motion by Johnson to continue the officers of 1979 for 1980 passed unanimously, and the Chairperson and the Vice - chairperson will be Van Zanten and Johnson for 1980. Johnson's motion to continue the 1979 committee membership for 1980 was defeated. By council vote, the standing committees were reorganized as follows: Finance - Hansey, Roehl and Van Zanten; Planning - Donnellan, Muenscher and Roehl; Public Safety - McIntyre, Johnson and Hansey; Public Works - McIntyre, Donnellan and Johnson. The committees are to determine their chairmen. A hearing, continued from December 20, 1979, was held on the vacation )f White's Park Addition to Drayton, William's Addition to Blaine, and Cleveland Addition to Blaine. Harry Fulton. testified as the consultant for the petitioners. Planning and Engineering departments recommended approval of the vacation, but Enginering had established no assessed land value. The petitioners had requested that they not pay for the land that it should be deeded over to them since they were going to turn over property for additional right -of -way on Drayton Harbor Road to the County. Whatcom County Code stipulates that land MUST be paid for in a vacation, so there was a stalemate-;, and at the request of the petitioners, this matter was referred back to committee. Fulton felt that the Whatcom County Code should be changed to allow land to be vacated with no charge for the land to the petitioner(s). Gary Nawman from KARL Radio also spoke in favor of the road and lot line vacation as one of the petitioners. The matter was referred back to Planning Committee and the hearing contin- tied to February 7. EXECUTIVE ITEMS The first item was bid awards: The bid of Blazer Pacific Equipment >ompany for $87,044.20 for a cone -type rock crusher was authorized as per Executive recommendation, by the Council. I Minutes of Council meeting January 24, 1980 page two The bid of Whatcom Builders in the amount of $161,634 to rebuild Skookum Creek bridge was authorized in accordance with the Executive recommendation. Diehl Ford's bid of $53,814.76 for five sedans and two station wagons for the Sheriff department was authorized. The Executive made a change in the nominations for the Library Board. Paul Elvig and Eileen Geisher were confirmed as members on that board from the third district by the Council. Claudia Partlow was nominated and confirmed as a member on the Devel- opmental Disabilities Board. The three nominations on the Appeals for Buildings & Codes Board were Si confirmed. They were Willis Libolt, Jerry Livermore, and VMW Eldred. Louws gave information on the Lummi Island Ferry Dock problem. Major problems have developed in the last five weeks there. The ferry dock has been functioning an estimated ten out of the last thirty -five days. The present system is not working, and the company has been instructed to inst ,-'1 a counter- balance system. The County may have to go to litigation to settle this problem with the engineering firm (CH2M) that designed the present dock, if they do not consent to repair the facilities. Budget transfers were approved with Finance recommendation by Hansey's motion as follows: $65,000.00 in the Sheriff's 1980 budget $ 9,410.35, Federal Shared Revenue Budget, subject to a clarification of the legality to do so in a F.S.R. budget,by the Chair. $ 5,000 in the 1979 Alcoholism budget $25,000 in the 1980 Alcoholism budget FINAL CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS Two items were added to this section by motion and vote of the Council. Finance reviewed and recommended "do pass amended ordinance" on the Ordinance authorizing a supplemental budget for the Auditor's 1980 budget. Hansey moved for its passage. His motion carried by unanimous vote. The ordinance establishing Personnel Policies and Procedures pursuant to Home Rule Charter Article 7 was postponed to the February 7 meeting to allow the Council people and the departments time to review the suggested amend ordinance as proposed by the Ad -Hoc Committee. minutes of Council meeting January 24, 1980 page three The resolution approving Water District No. 10, September 12, 1979 amendment to their Comprehensive Plan was amended with the addition of "provided that hookups on the 10 inch watermain on the 2100 feet southeast of Lake Whatcom Boulevard and extension thereof along Dutch Harbor Road to North Summit Drive are prohibited." The amendment and the amended resolution passed. The resolution approving Water District No. 10, August 8, 1979 amendment to their Comprehensive Plan was tabled. OTHER BUSINESS The Council received communication from Lake Whatcom residents regarding the Blue Canyon Facility. It was suggested that Planning consider it in conjunction with the Water District 10 resolution. Also received was a letter from residents in the Euclid - Lakeway area. The Executive Ihas_ handled this matter. Jon Donnellan was appointed to serve on the Whatcom County Opportunity Council by unanimous vote. Muenscher moved to approve the preliminary plat of Birch Bay Village subject to conditions as set out in the findings of fact as recommended by the Hearing Examiner. Roehl made motion to amend the findings of fact, section 1SA E3 insert "shall conform to Whatcom County standards and then be approved by the Whatcom County Engineer." The amendment passed, and the preliminary plat was approved, subject to the amended findings of fact. The major development permit application of Puget Sound Power and Light was accepted. Committee of the Whole meeting was set for January 31,:1980 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers to review it. Information was given on the mini - initiative petition. The Prosecut- ing Attorney's office researched and issued an opinion to the Council advising on the legality of the proposal. The major points were: Primarily, there is no legal basis for enacting the mini - initiative, the Council's administrative actions on issuing permits are not properly the subjects of referendum elections, and a referendum before an action takes place is improper use of referendum. Bob Stewart spoke as a proponent of the nitiative. At the Feburary 7 meeting, an upcoming ordinance being drafted which deals with allowing generating facilities in the county will be Minutes of Council meeting January 24, 1980 page four introduced. Council will most likely set a public hearing on that ordinance. Since the general topic is similar to the mini - initiative request, Council might consider a joint public hearing on both issues. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS Donnellan introduced the ordinance authorizing a supplemental budget for the Planning Department budget for 1980 and referred it to Finance. The ordinance establishing procedures to close or restrict use of Whatcom County Public Roads when such road will be damaged by climatic conditions was introduced by Roehl and sent to Public Works. Johnson introduced the resolution in the matter of a memorandum of understanding for an'interlocal cooperation agreement by and between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham regarding the construction of a Jail, and moved for its passage. His motion carried unanimously. The Committee of the Whole had discussed it prior to the Council meeting. Hansey, with Finance recommendation of "do pass" introduced the res- olution cancelling uncollectable personal property taxes more than 6 years delinquent and moved for its passage. His motion passed. Finance committee recommended "do pass" on the resolution adjusting the Whatcom County Tax Rolls. Hansey's motion to enact the resolution passed unanimously. OPEN SESSION NeldaSigurdson and Paul Larson addressed the Council on the collection of daater samples for the Health Department from the Water Districts. It was recommended to bring this matter before the Health Board. COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance reported of upcoming business regarding mileage increase. Public Safety brought.up a dance license application by American Legion Lounge in Blaine, and recommended "do pass" with Sheriff Department approval. The motion by Johnson to approve carried. Meeting was adjourned at 10:05.