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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council for November 10 1980WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING /PORTAGE ISLAND DECISION NOVEMBER 10, 1980 The meeting was called to order at 4 :05 p.m. All Council members were present except Johnson. The matter before the Council was a resolution authorizing the sale of Portage Island and the purchase of Semiahmoo Spit. A new draft of the resolution which had changes in the language was accepted, replacing the one.introduced by Donnellan on October 23. Copy of acquisition contract was received. A letter from I.A.0 /Robert Wilder recommending approval of the Lummi project was received. A letter recommending the sale of Portage Island and purchase of Sera:iahmoo Spit from the Parks Board was also - received. The Prosecuting Attorney's office had ver- bally recommended approval of the sale and purchase. Entered into the record, and read verbatim by the Chair, was a letter from the Lummi Indian Business Council regarding their desire to see the completion of the contract and that this action would lead to further cooperative action on matters of mutual concern between Whatcom County and the - Lummi Tribe. There was Council consensus on the concept. Hansey had some problems with the fact that the condition in the original agreement calling for marine access on Portage Island was not being met. Roger DeSpain, Parks Director, and Bill Dittrich of the Parks Board answered Council questions. Vote on the resolution was unanimously in favor of the sale of Portage Island to the Lummi Indian Tribe and for purchase by the County of Semiahmoo Spit. Subsequent to the adoption of the resolution, Willy Jones, Chair- man of the Lummi Indian Business Council addressed the Council, text of his speech follows: First of all, I'd like to thank you for accepting our letter from the Lummi Tribe. Second of all, I'd like you to know that every word.in that letter I think demonstrated our willingness to deal on a government to government relationship.. We've dealt in the past with groups of people thinking vwe`re solving problems; we finally came to the point prior to the negotiations with the Park Board and the County Commissioners, we finally told them that we would like to deal on a government to government rela- tionship, so that we could get problems solved and not be going over and over them again. I am truthful in my efforts to make a better working relationship. T, went to school in Ferndale, I graduated from Bellingham, so I have friends all over the area. I was sworn into Chairmanship at the same t'.:,.ie our County Execu- tive and Council were sworn in, so I think at in the future I Irlinutes of special meeting /Portage Island November 10, 1980 page 2. think this a foundation for a beautiful beginning to some real constructive type projects that we can all work on. I met with John Louws and he and I had the same concerns if this were passed, which it did, that this was the start of something where we could it down and have coffee and talk, maybe dream of plans, and hen work together to achieve them, so on behalf of my Lummi ndian Business Council, on behalf of the Lummi Tribe, I thank you for accepting the letter and reading it. I think it had an impact because this is how I felt. I think this is how our Lummi Council feels. We'll run into differences of opinion in the future, disagreements; but it is my feeling that we'll walk away from the table accepting these disagreements because we're different. We have a different value system that's changing out there, so we have different degrees of our value system of the past. We do have some vaules that we want to keep, and I think this will come out in our differences in the future. I think we have to accept each other for what we are, and I am just so pleased with your action today. I'll bring it back to our Council, and John, I thank you for taking the time to meet with me on so many problems. I know this will carry on. I'm going to run for office again one more year. I am totally sincere in my committment to you. I thank you for your time. McIntyre moved to add to the agenda the resolution of intent regarding urban services in the Bellingham urban fringe. Roehl moved the passage of the resolution as amended. Muenscher spoke against the resolution, stating that it is "premature to vote on a policy at this time." Hansey felt that the Council was reversing itself on its decision made at-the November 6 meeting to hold a public hearing on December 4, 1980 on the matter. Hansey moved to defer to December 4 for public hearing,: Motion was defeated. The resolution (as amended on November 6) was adopted on a 4--2 ( Hansey and Muenscher) vote. Meeting adjourned at 4:45 p . m . i WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL, Minutes of Public Hearing Ferry Rates and Gambling Tax November 10, 1980 Called to order at 7:15 p.m. All Council members present but Johnson. FERRY,RATES The hearing was opened on the matter of establishing Whatcom County Ferry Rates. Ed Henken, County Engineer, presented to the Council why the need for the rate increase was necessary: To meet the 75 -25% user /County match goal for the maintenance and operation of the Lummi Island Ferry. A letter from Colleen_ Dickenson of Lummi Island was read into the record. Will Roehl responded to her comments, concerning appearance of fairness, stating that he felt the letter was questioning his objectivity and integrity in making a just decision on the matter; that his resi -. dence on Lummi Island in no way would affect his decision making. lichael.Bobbink representing Lummi Island residents, gave the Council the Island committee, which was established to form an alter- native proposal for rates, suggestions and reasoning for their suggestions. Also testifying, and a brief synopsis of testimony were: Dick Poole - .larger vehicle rates should not be increased Paul Davis - justified the $125 per quarter commuter pass Carl Hanson - supported Lummi Residents' proposal Ronnie Moore - suggested a break be given to car - poolers Lee Taylor - supported residents proposal Paul Ritchie - disagreed with the concept of 75 -25% match Joan Stewart - supports the proposal, suggested Public Transportation District to tax for revenue; suggested .3% sales tax in area to support ferries Ernest Johnson - felt rates favored residents on Island, penalizing the visitors and property owners /non - residents Jack Baldwin - spoke on commuter tickets Henry Stryd - questioned method for reimbursing portion of commuter passes Nancy Phillips - requested an earlier a.m. ferry Dick Holland - spoke in favor of commuter passess Jack Weatherby - asked for clarification of $17,000 overtime amount in budget Ed Henken supported the Lummi Islanders' proposal for ferry rates for the year 1981. The hearing was closed. IL Whatcom County Council Minutes of public hearing Ferry Rates and Gambling Tax November 10, 1980 GAMBLING TAX Hearing was opened on the matter of levying a tax on the various forms of gambling in the County. The Chair explained the proposed tax rates to the audience. Larry Mount, proposer of the Ordinance, gave a brief presentation, and introduced the Director of the State Gambling Commission, Keith f Kisor, who gave a history of the Gambling Commission, and reasons for why taxing for enforcement was necessary. Bill Travis, auditor for the Gambling Commission gave a run -down of the Revenue projections for Whatcom County. Ken 14cDaniels, the chief enforcement officer for the Gambling Commission spoke to weaknesses in Whatcom County law enforcement practices in relation to gambling law enforcement, briefly described the training process the Commission supplies to counties, and, addressed the current problems related to gambling in Whatcom County. Also testifying were: George Wilcox - in favor of tax Robert Thomas - against taxing Don Snow - objects to taxing non- profit organizations. Suggested phasing in taxing William Goff - against taxing Forrest Mays - pros and cons of taxation. Suggested an Ordinance with a termination date of one year after enactment, or retroactive taxation. Art Lawrenson - felt the tax rates were too high Miki Gilliland - strongly in favor of the tax and increasing enforcement of gambling Council answered various questions from the audience The Council is to meet on November 13 to make a decision on these and other matters. Meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m. r