HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Services May 4 1989WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
PUBLIC SERVICES AND SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE
May 4, 1989
Committee Chairman Corky Johnson called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. with
Council members Dan Warner and Mary Vanderpol present.
1. NEW APPLICATION FOR A CLASS H LICENSE BY DEREK MCPHERSON,
DIANA C. CAMPBELL, HELEN MAYFIELD, MAX BRIAND, BETH N. STRAND,
AND ERROLL ETIENNE FOR ROSIE'S CAFE, 1379 GULF ROAD, POINT
ROBERTS, WA 98281
WARNER MOVED THAT THIS ITEM BE RECOMMENDED TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR
APPROVAL.
Motion carried.
2. ORDINANCE RESTRICTING THE USE OF WHATCOM COUNTY'S LANDFILL TO WASTE
GENERATED WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF WHATCOM COUNTY AND ADDING
SECTION 8.13 TO THE COUNTY CODE (PUBLIC HEARING NEEDED BEFORE
CONSIDERATION?)
Warner discussed the ordinance, saying he would not vote in favor of it
because he didn't think the County should be so territorial. Johnson asked
Warner If it wouldn't be wise to impose some restrictions; what if another
county's incinerators go "gunnie bags" and they start hauling tons of garbage
to Whatcom County's landfill? Warner said local Incinerators could just as
easily go "gunnie bags." Johnson asked for Executive Shirley Van Zanten's
thoughts on the ordinance.
Van Zanten said she doesn't see that it is necessary at this time. She
also cited several flawed areas of the ordinance. For example, page 36 section
8.13.020 Is so comprehensive that if a person brought in a container from a
White Spot restaurant outside of the county, they would be in trouble. If taken
literally, this ordinance would be impossible to enforce and would make a
mockery of the law, she said. She suggested that the Council keep it in
committee and re -write it to be more specific, to say what the Council wants it
to say and to address specific problems.
Johnson conceded that he would be concerned that If he were picnicking in
Skagit County and brought hamburger containers back Into Whatcom County, he
could run into some problems; particularly when the hamburger containers left
from his six grandchildren comprise about a small truckload of garbage.
Vanderpol requested that the ordinance be brought out of committee and to
the full Council.
WARNER MOVED THAT THE ORDINANCE BE BROUGHT TO THE FULL COUNCIL WITH A
RECOMMENDATION NOT TO ADOPT IT.
Motion carried.
3. *ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 82 -30 FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSOLIDATING
EXISTING PRECINCTS COLUMBIA, GLACIER AND MAPLE FALLS INTO MAPLE
FALLS PRECINCT; CONSOLIDATING PRECINCT DEMING 1 AND LAWRENCE 3 INTO
DEMING 1 PRECINCT; CONSOLIDATING CUSTER PRECINCT 3 AND MT. VIEW
Public Services Minutes, 5/4/89, Page 2
PRECINCT 2 INTO CUSTER 3 PRECINCT; CONSOLIDATING BELLINGHAM PRECINCT
13 AND 23 INTO BELLINGHAM PRECINCT 13; AND CONSOLIDATING BELLINGHAM
PRECINCTS 53 AND 73 INTO BELLINGHAM PRECINCT 53
gad.
4. ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 82.30 AND 86 -31 FOR THE PURPOSE OF
ESTABLISHING NEW PRECINCTS BY DIVIDING EXISTING PRECINCTS LYNDEN
CITY NO. 5 AND 6, BELLINGHAM NO. 84 AND VALLEY
Although items 3 and 4 are only introduced this evening, Auditor Shirley
Forslof requested that public services discuss them at this meeting. She said
they must be adopted by the end of June in order to meet some sort of state
deadline. The ordinances will not affect this coming election, polling places
won't change, just the precinct size and type. Her goal, she said, is to get
all precincts to a size of about 500 registered voters. As noted in her memo
to the committee (on file), some precincts are very small while others have as
many as 900 registered voters. The change would enable fewer types of ballots
to be printed, since a few precincts will be combined. She said both political
party leaders had been contacted; they expressed no objection to the change.
Johnson asked if a public hearing was needed; it was decided that one was
not necessary. It was agreed that this item would be brought forward to the
Council with a recommended "do pass" at the May 18 Council meeting.
5. THE LAKE WHATCOM BOULEVARD DISCUSSION REFERRED TO THIS COMMITTEE AT
THE 4/6 MEETING; ENGINEERING MAY BE ABLE TO REPORT AT THIS TIME.
Engineer Ed Henken brought in maps showing the proposed route for the
Whatcom Connector, a road linking Sudden Valley to Bellingham and bypassing Lake
Whatcom Boulevard. He said to his knowledge the city has placed a low priority
on this project, expecting that it wlII be developed as growth in that area
dictates it. The county's portion of the construction wiiI cost between $7.5
to $11.2 million. The entire road budget at this time averages between $3 and
$5 million a year, he said, $2 million of that amount coming from County
coffers.
There was some discussion. Henken said another potential problem with the
Connector would be its elevation, at 750 feet,above sea level. He noted that
KGMI Radio, located on Yew Street hill, is at 600 feet; they always report snow
fall and freezes before other parts of the County do.
Henken also showed a map showing a possible route that could be
constructed at Euclid and Lakeway, which would connect with Lake Louise Road by
Wellberg (sp ?) School.
He said regardless of which option the County chooses, Lake Louise Road
needs to be reconstructed.
There was discussion. Henken said Engineering already is getting negative
reaction to the Euclid proposal; Van Zanten noted that such construction would
affect a lot of people. Warner said no matter what the County chooses to do,
someone will complain.
Johnson said the Committee would take Henken's report under advisement.
Henken noted that Lake Louise Road construction could be aided by grant
Public Services Minutes, 5/4/89, Page 3
money; new roads are not eligible.
Vanderpol noted that the Whatcom Connector would open up lots of prime
development land, so maybe the expenditure would be of benefit.
WARNER MOVED THAT THE PROPOSALS BE TABLED FOR FURTHER STUDY.
John Tyler, director of Buildings and Codes, said a traffic study needs
to be completed before options can be pursued.
Al Couch, 1943 Lake Whatcom Boulevard, said he doesn't want to see this
discussion tabled indefinitely. Said he has been after County officials to do
something since John McIntyre was in office. He said the Connector is not
doable, and the County should move to acquire.right of way in the Euclid area
before more houses are built there. This project should have more community
involvement than the Strawberry Point project did, he said. There was
discussion. Couch also asked if Sudden Valley could be asked to open more
access roads to Lake Louise Road, rather than shutting them down.
JOHNSON RECOMMENDED THAT THE COMMITTEE GET FURTHER STUDIES ON FUNDING AND
TRAFFIC IN THE AREA BEFORE PURSUING THE MATTER.
Roger Boem, 1923 Lake Whatcom Boulevard, spoke briefly.
The meeting adjourned at 6 :35 p.m.
ATTEST:
Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
C.J. "CorV -n Jnson, Member