HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Services March 16 1989WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE
Thursday, March 16, 1989
The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. by Councilman Marvin
Vanderpol, who chaired the committee meeting in the absence of Corky Johnson.
Dan Warner was present. Others at the meeting were: Emily Jackson; Executive
Shirley Van Zanten; Solid Waste Manager Bob Jurica; Personnel Director Harold
Raymond; Public Works Director Paul Rushing; Engineer Ed Henken; Buildings and
Codes Director John Tyler; City Councilman Don Gischer; Lisa Neulicht; Barbara
Brenner; Marge Laidlaw; Jim Maricle; Roy Lungren of TRC; and one unidentified
citizen.
1. REQUEST FOR AN EXCEPTION TO THE NO- SMOKING POLICY
Juvenile detention staff dislike having to leave the facility and go
outside in the dark area between the courthouse and the jail to smoke when
they're working the late shift; an area at the top of the stairwell could be
used, if the Council authorizes the exception to the no- smoking rule.
WARNER MOVED'THAT THE REQUEST BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.
Motion carried.
2. ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR THE ABATEMENT AND REMOVAL
... (OF) ABANDONED VEHICLES OR AUTOMOBILE HULKS (KEPT OPEN FROM
3/2 MEETING)
WARNER MOVED THAT THE ORDINANCE BE RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION, SUBJECT TO
THE OUTCOME OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
Motion carried.
3. ORDINANCE RESTRICTING THE USE OF WHATCOM COUNTY'S LANDFILL TO
WASTE GENERATED WITHIN ... WHATCOM COUNTY AND ADDING SECTION 8.13
TO THE COUNTY CODE
There was discussion of this matter. Jurica and Rushing asked that it
be tabled until after the county's solid waste comprehensive plan is adopted,
saying that it could cause problems with negotiations to use other county's
landfills in an emergency situation. Jackson noted that Skagit County, with
whom some of the negotiations are taking place, already has such an ordinance
in place. There was further discussion. Jackson suggested that the Public
Works director be given discretion in allowing out -of- county waste into the
landfill.
WARNER MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNCIL TABLE THiS ORDINANCE
INDEFINITELY.
Motion carried.
4. ORDINANCE CREATING WHATCOM COUNTY LOCAL AND ROAD IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT NO. 10 FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ... (NOTE:
EXECUTIVE REQUESTS THIS BE DELAYED TO 4/3 FINANCE AND 4/6 COUNCIL
MEETINGS; MORE TIME iS NEEDED FOR APPRAISALS AND STAFF REVIEW)
This item will be rescheduled as indicated.
PS minutes, 3/16/89, page 2
5. RESOLUTION CLARIFYING MATTERS RELATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE SOLID WASTE PLAN AND OTHER SOLID WASTE ISSUES (DRAFT
IN PACKET; REVISIONS MAY BE MADE BY 3/16)
Warner said the resolution would smooth the way for the comprehensive
plan's completion, clarifying responsibilities and thus eliminating conflicts.
Brenner called the resolution insulting to Solid Waste Advisory Committee
members. Gischer said that as a member of SWAC, he does not know how the
council or the administration got the idea that the committee was trying to
write the plan. Vanderpol said the problem arose when Jackson stated, several
weeks ago at a Council meeting, that she was happy to report that SWAC was
moving along and getting the plan written. Warner said meetings had been
called without staff present. Brenner said those were social gatherings, not
meetings, but then said she wasn't present at any of those gatherings.
Maricle said the proposed resolution defeats the purpose of SWACs, which were
creatures created by the Legislature to work for county legislative
authorities.
Warner said there has been no attempt to muzzle Jackson, and that the
recent debates between Jackson and the Executive have been unseemly and they
both should be criticized for them. If the Council doesn't like the way the
administration Is doing its job, that's fine, he said; but the Council should
not interfere. Warner suggested that any inferences that the SWAC is writing
a plan be deleted from the resolution.
WARNER MOVED THAT THE RESOLUTION BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL, AS
AMENDED.
Motion carried.
6. ITEMS REFERRED TO THIS COMMITTEE BY FULL COUNCIL 3/2, FOR
DISCUSSION:
A. IS IT TRUE THE COUNTY CAN'T CONTINUE SITING A SOLID WASTE
LANDFILL UNTIL ITS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS COMPLETED?
Van Zanten said it actually is possible for the siting and the plan -
writing to move along on parallel courses; however, legal counsel has advised
that such a procedure would open the county to liability. Brenner asked if
attorney Dick Ford has a conflict of interest in working for the county and
for Thermal Reduction Company; Van Zanten said no, that details would be
presented at the Council meeting.
B. ALLEGATIONS OF GARBAGE DIVERSION FROM TRC TO CEDARVILLE, DUE
TO HIGH VOLUME MEDICAL WASTE BURNING
Roy Lungren (not sure of spelling) of TRC said the company does not
divert waste, and that it would be nice to have more waste to burn. He asked
Brenner who is diverting the waste; she said she doesn't know who orders the
city of Bellingham trucks to go elsewhere, but they do. Maricle said he sees
fish processing waste from Bellingham being dumped at Cedarville all the time.
Lungren said he doesn't know why this occurs.
PS minutes, 3/16/89, page 3
C. GAS TESTING AT CEDARVILLE: HAVE ALL THE TESTS POSSIBLE BEEN
USED?
A report will be given at the 7 p.m. meeting.
6. SIGNAGE FOR NUCLEAR FREE ZONE
Neulicht (pronounced "Newlight ") said she wants council to enforce its
resolution which ordered such sign placement.
WARNER ASKED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION FIND OUT WHO TO WRITE TO [AT THE
STATE LEVEL] IN ORDER TO GET SUCH A REQUEST PROCESSED; THEN THE COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN WILL BE ASKED TO WRITE A LETTER ASKING FOR DETAILS ON THE PROCESS.
Motion carried.
7. OTHER BUSINESS
There was none.
The meeting was adjourned at 6 :58 p.m.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
ATTEST: WHAATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk Marvin G. Vanderpol, memb