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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole July 13 1989WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE July 13, 1989 7 p.m. The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by Chairman Don Hansey with members Dan Warner, Mary Vanderpoi and Corky Johnson present. 3. ENGINEERING REQUESTS A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE SUMAS RIVER FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT Henken introduced Dan Dickson who has been working on this project; he in turn introduced the members of the Citizen's Advisory Committee of the Sumas Flood Control District - Gerett Feenstra, Cy Laudenbach, Fred Nowicke, Harry Peilboer and Tom Thornton. Dickson gave a history of the SRFCD - formed in the early seventies. It was initially was formed as a Drainage Improvement District (DID) in the early 80's but the petition failed so it had to be returned to a Flood Control District (FCD). The FCD is under the auspices of the Council with the input of the advisers whereas a DID would have been under the auspices of the district supervisors and had the authority of special assessment. There were no mechanisms whereby the FCD could get any extra funding except as a district, similar to fire, water or cemetery districts; there is no extra money in that area. In 1986 It f al led aga In as a DI D. This FCD has met 13 times over the last 18 months to determine what can be done with the 20,000 area affected. There is a slide area (the Swift Creek Slide) that is filling up the Sumas River with sl It. It now floods the surrounding area and prevents the crops from being put in early or taken off late. The fisheries are also gone because of this. Mark Schuler of Department of Fisheries says that cleaning out the Sumas would have a great deal to do with the return of fish to the Sumas River and allowing them to go up some of the tributaries. Basic problem is that the district has no funding. The only course left is to go to the voters to request a special levy on the November ballot which would give them the $50,000 initially needed. The advisers have gone to Department of Ecology and they are willing to put in $20,000 matching funds. Fred Nowicke made a plea to the Council to take action on this problem. 1. DISCUSSION AND PRELIMINARY BRIEFING OF COMPREHENSIVE PARK AND RECREATION PLAN Roger DeSpain introduced the members of the Park Board - Leslie Clark, Chair, Bill Dittrich, Vice Chair, Brian Lynch, David Martin, and John Sweeney. Bob Tull was absent. There were two issues DeSpain wanted to mention; first the comprehensive plan and second the funding from the levy. There has been a 15 member steering committee who have met faithfully for the past 7 months ago. DeSpain introduced Jerry Dragoo of Jerry Dragoo and Associates who were the Consultants hired to work on this project. Dragoo briefly explained the draft and stated that a number of meetings are planned with the final document to be presented to Council on August 17th so that it will be completed in time to meet the State and Federal deadlines for funding. Dragoo stated that the time to plan for future park land is now when there is land available. The general overview of a survey conducted was the need for a swimming pool, growth, solid waste, pollution, environment and concern of the loss of farmland. The things that are needed in the County are listed in the following order: 1. swimming pools; 2. walking and hiking trails; 3. bicycle trails; 4. swimming areas; and 5. camping areas. The survey showed that the residents would like the County to acquire more shoreline so there would be more public access to salt water as well as lakes. When asked what residents felt were the major land -use issues facing the County, the reply was: 1. solid waste issues; 2. housing; 3. preservation of farm land; 4. watershed protection; and 5. shoreline access. On the funding issue, the reply was that each household would be willing to contribute $10. He discussed possible grants and other funding sources. Clark spoke about the funding; she stated they would like to retain any surplus money in a dedicated fund for future equipment replacement or repair, and retain interest income on the levy money. 2. ENGINEERING REQUESTS A FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNCIL ON ALTERNATES TO LAKE WHATCOM BOULEVARD, AND WHETHER FUTURE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN THAT AREA SHOULD PROCEED Ed Henken, County Engineer, updated the information on the peak hour traffic on Lake Whatcom Boulevard. He stated the kinds of people living in Sudden Valley is changing; it is now more working people who commute and that translates into a need for improved traffic facilities. if nothing is done the situation will deteriorate to unacceptable conditions within 10 or 12 years. Henkin recommends the County acquire the right of ways for future roads. It will be more economical now and would let the residents know what the plans are. Henken believes there should be an environmental impact review done as well as a study to show how to mitigate the impacts on the existing neighborhood. The Lake Louise project should go forward; Henken said it would serve both the Whatcom connector and the Euclid connector. Eligible funding for this project and perhaps the Euclid project would be the State's Transportation Improvement Fund and the Federal Aid Urban System money. The other project is further upgrading of Lake Whatcom Boulevard. The Engineering department recommends that safety improvements are required but does not recommend it be made into a four lane road. Henkin said that an in depth environmental impact review should be carried out on all three routes. He said that Federal money beyond 1991 does not look good but the State Transportation Improvement Board is still a good source particularly if a gas tax does pass soon. The Engineering department is therefore recommending that it be instructed to carry out impact studies and mitigating impact studies so that there would be more information to look at. Henken says the proposed Whatcom connector (from Lake Louise Road to Yew Street) would have as steep hills as Alabama for much longer distances. He did state that by moving this proposed route several blocks north and dipping into the Cl ty of Be I I Ingham the grade wou I d not be as steep but wou I d 1 nterf ere w i th housing projects. (Tape ran out at this point.) NO 11; 0 mllad 711"WIN , IN 0 r, 4Bar ara Maher, Clerk �'