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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council December 14 1989WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING December 14, -1990 r %_ 'r nom, The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by Council Chairman Don Hansey. Other Council Members Present: Absent: Tom Burton Emily Jackson Corky Johnson Will Roehl Dan Warner Mary Vanderpol 1. UPDATE ON COMPREHENSIVE SEWER AND WATER PLAN Planning Director Dan Taylor introduced the topic, saying that Senior Planner Diane Harper and consultant Ray Weden would also be speaking. Harper said the comprehensive sewer and water plan has taken about a year to complete. Her presentation took place in three parts: 1) Development /human impacts, why the plan is needed; 2) Water and physical resources in the county; 3) Intensive look at Nooksack River as major source. As things stand now, it is uncertain whether there will be adequate water in Whatcom County. Harper talked about the growth of Whatcom County and the spill- over growth from Vancouver, B.C. In the future it will be necessary to conserve water, but right now there really is not incentive to do so. The Council has taken the first step toward developing a comprehensive water resource plan, in authorizing the groundwater study. The next highly - recommended step is a Nooksack River study. Another is that the Council declare the county as a critical water supply area, which triggers all purveyors with more than 50 connections to cooperate in managing water supplies, and agreeing that the county does have a critical problem with water resources. After this point there are general policies the Council will need to adopt. Harper noted that the comprehensive plan being presented at this meeting identifies problems, and planning steps, but does not establish a water resource plan. There was further explanation of the plan by Harper and Weden, with some questions from the Council. 2. REQUEST FOR REPORT ON THE MEDICAL WASTE INITIATIVE ISSUE FROM RANDY WATTS Watts was unavailable, because he was out of town on business. Hansey read a letter from Watts (on file with other MEDICAL WASTE information), in which he said he does not anticipate opposing the intervention of the attorneys for Safe Waste Management Now in the lawsuit against the Medical Waste Ordinance, filed by Browning- Ferris Industries. He said he thinks the matter will be heard quickly. Jackson asked that the County Council support the Safe Waste Management Now's attorneys as intervenors. The firm that has done extensive research on solid waste management and drafted the initiative would be an asset to the County in this lawsuit, Minutes, 12 /14 /A, Page 2 she said. Roehl said perhaps the County could hire this firm (Riddell - Williams) since they seem to have the same aim as expressed by Randy Watts. JACKSON MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE FULL COUNCIL ON THE 12/21/89 REGULAR MEETING THAT THE COUNTY SUPPORT SAFE WASTE MANAGEMENT BECOMING AN INTERVENOR IN THE LAWSUIT. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned (an exact time could not be determined from the tape; staff was not present at the meeting). ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY. WASHINGTON Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk onald G.