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Home My WebLink AboutCounty Council August 20 1987WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL August 20, 1987 The meeting was called to order by Council Chair Burton at 7:30 p.m. with Hansey, Johnson, Roehl and Warner present. Muenscher arrived at 7 :35 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTE$ The minutes of the Council meetings of August 6, 1987 and August 11, 1987 were approved. EXECUTIVE ITEHS REPORT OF TUE EXECUTIVE Executive Van Zanten reported to the Council the following items: County Treasurer Bob Jordan has been certified as a "Professional Finance Officer" for the State of Washington by the Washington Finance Officers Association. The Council joined the Executive in congratulating him on this achievement. Superior Court Clerk Jenna Graham will retire as of September 30, and the Executive plans to have a recommended appointment before the Council at its first meeting in October. The computer upgrade from the IBM 34 to the IBM 36 has been completed. The Executive commended Information Systems Manager George Reid for his work on this project. The past week's problems with the Lummi Island ferry are expected to cost the County road fund approximately $50,000. The County's recent state safety inspection earned a generally good report from the inspector. The Executive commended Safety Director Gail Kelly for her work in this area. The road crew has completed oiling 132 miles of county road; is working on improving a path along Birch Bay Drive; and the Massey Road Bridge project is nearly complete. A National Association of Counties lawsuit will result in the release of $48,310 in federal shared revenue funds to Whatcom County. The County did not receive the Community Development Block Grant for which it applied in April. August 20, 1987 Page 2 HEARINGS PETITION RE U S G THE VACATION RNIE RQAD BETWEEN CUS SCHOOL ROAD AND PORTAL WAY, FILED BX JAKE CREASEY The public hearing on the petition was opened. Jake Creasey 7650 4th St. Custer Discussed the need for the vacation; explained that the road right -of -way runs through his house. There was no further testimony and the hearing was closed. Muenscher reported that the Planning and Development Committee recommended vacation of the southerly 10 feet of the road. MUENSCHER MOVED TO APPROVE THE VACATION OF THE SOUTHERLY 10 FEET OF ARNIE ROAD BETWEEN CUSTER SCHOOL ROAD AND PORTAL WAY. There was discussion about whether the vacation should cover the Creasey property only, or all of the property along that portion of the road, and about who should pay the $1,000 fair market value of the property. It was determined that the petition was intended to cover the length of Arnie Road between Custer School Road and Portal Way. ROEHL MOVED TO AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE THAT THE COST OF THE $1,000 FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE VACATED PROPERTY BE SHARED BY THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS ON A PRO -RATA BASIS, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF FEET OF FRONTAGE. The motion to amend carried. The main motion as amended carried. REQUEST FOR ALTERATION OF LOT LIMES BETWEEN LOTS 265 AND 266, DIVISION 22, IN THE PLAT OF SUDDEN VALLEY, FILED BY FRANK AND EDITH MCCULLY The public hearing was opened; there was no testimony and the hearing was closed. Muenscher reported that the Planning and Development Committee recommended approval of the request with the conditions proposed by Buildings and Code Administration. August 20, 1987 Page 3 MUENSCHER MOVED TO APPROVE THE REQUEST WITH THE CONDITIONS PROPOSED BY BUILDINGS AND CODE ADMINISTRATION. The motion carried. OPEN SESS Robert Imhof 2287 Slater Road Asked Council to approve petition requesting that County take over Bell -West Drive. Anne Marie Rasmussen 7603 Kendall Road Recent claims that ORV noise is comparable to logging noise are false; logging is economically necessary and temporary, and stops on weekends when most people are home; noise from an ORV Park on Sumas Mountain would be permanent and worst on weekends. Peter Rasmussen 7603 Kendall Road Moved to Sumas Mountain and puts in a month of commuting time per year in order to get away from noisy urban environment; fight against ORV Park on Sumas Mountain is a fight for his home. Jane Lund 1385 Smith Way Stated that County should take over Bell -West Drive because of the number of people who are serviced by the road. Dick Nolan Installation of speed bumps on Bell -West Drive has polarized community; property owners are trying to reach a consensus; County should take over road now to avoid having to rebuild it if it is taken over at a later date; asked that Council delay action on petition until next meeting. Orville Pfeiffer Smith Way Smith Way residents have easement rights over Bell -West Drive which predate the development on Bell -West; County should take over road. August 20, 1987 Page 4 RESOLUTION IN IHE MATTER QF AUTHORIZING THE COUNJY IREASURER ADVERTIS E AND ESTABLISH AT FOR UB IC AUCTION OF THE GAS AND OIL RIGHTS ON COUNTX-OWNED PROPERTY AND COUNTY HIS -OF -WAYS TO THE HIGHESI AND BESI BIUDER FOR CASH Al UB IC AUC ION EURSUANI TO RCW 36,75,040, , RCW CHARTER 78.16 AND RCW 80.40,070 The resolution was held until the next meeting at the request of the Public Works Department. ORDINANCE AAMENDING WHATCQM COUNTY C BX ADDINQ CHAPTER 3,50, COUNTY JAIL HOUSING FEES The ordinance had been held in the Finance Committee. ORDINANCE V S HE 1987 CURRENT EXPENSE U APPROPRIA11ON, DISTRICT AND SUPERIOR COURTS PUDGETS THEREIN Warner explained the ordinance, and reported that the Finance Committee had recommended against its adoption. WARNER MOVED NOT TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE. There was discussion on the motion. Warner withdrew his motion. ROEHL MOVED TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE. The motion failed 1 -5 (Burton, Hansey, Johnson, Muenscher, Warner). ORDINANCE TO REVISE THE 1987 SOLID WASTE FUND BUDGET Warner explained the ordinance, and reported that the Finance Committee recommended that it be adopted with one condition. WARNER MOVED TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT FURTHER RESEARCH BE DONE INTO WHETHER THE RETROACTIVE BUSINESS AND OCCUPATION TAX IN THE AMOUNT OF $39,300 HAS TO BE PAID. There was discussion on the motion. The motion carried unanimously. August 20, 1987 Page 5 ORDINANCE TO REVISE THE 1987 CURRENT EXPENSE FUND, PUBLIC DEFENDERS APPROPRIATION THEREIN Public Defender Jon Ostlund addressed the Council on the need for the ordinance. Warner reported that the Finance Committee had forwarded the ordinance to the Council with no recommendation. WARNER MOVED TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE. There was discussion on the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m., and reconvened at 9:05 p.m. OTHER BUSINESS PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE COUNTY ACCEPT AND MAINTAIN BELL -WEST DRIVE Johnson reported that the Public Services Committee had extensively reviewed the issues surrounding the petition and recommended that the County not take over the road. There was discussion about the petition. ROEHL MOVED TO TABLE THE ISSUE FOR TWO WEEKS. The motion failed 2 -4 (Burton, Hansey, Muenscher, Warner) on a roll -call vote. MUENSCHER MOVED THAT THE COUNCIL TAKE NO ACTION ON THE MATTER OF BELL -WEST DRIVE UNTIL THE COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATES THAT A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED HAVE REACHED A CONSENSUS. There was discussion on the motion. HANSEY MOVED TO SUBSTITUTE A MOTION THAT THE COUNTY NOT TAKE OVER THE ROAD. Muenscher withdrew his motion in favor of Hansey's motion. The motion that the County not take over the road carried. August 20, 1987 Page 6 OPEN SFACE AEELICAIION FQR IRANSFER CLASSJEJED OR DESIGNAIE FOREST LAND TO CURRENT USE CLASSIFICATION, FILED BY MARL EN HANSEN The application was received by consent and referred to the Planning Commission. INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES RESOLUJION IN IHE MAITER OF AMENDING THE SALARX SCHEDULE 0 UNREPRESENTED EMPLQXE S OE NOR-BELL NURSING UQME EOR THE YEA 1987 Warner explained the resolution and reported that the Finance Committee recommended it be approved. WARNER MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. The motion carried. OEDINANCE AMENDINQ THE OF L 0 OFFICIAL WHAJCQ COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCEs TQ ALLOW INDOOR CQMMERCIAL RECREATION, FACILIIIES AS PERM11JED UaES AND OUTDQQR RECREAJION FACILITIES S CONDIIIQNAL USES IN THE TOURIST COMMEBQJAL ZONE DISTR CT The ordinance was introduced by consent and referred to the Planning and Development Committee. ORDINANCE 0 REVISE THE 8 CURRENT EXPENSE FUND, NON DEPARIMENTAL A�PPROPRIAIJON THEREIN The ordinance was introduced by consent and referred to the Finance Committee. ORDINANCE CREAJING WHATCQM COUNJY ROAD IMPROVEMENJ DISTRICT NO FOR SIREET LIQHIINQ LANDSCAPING MAINJENANCE AN STQRM DETENTION EACILIIIES MAINTENANCE N THE AREA KNOWN AS CORDATA IN WHATCOM CQUNjY, WASHINGTOI, ORDINANCE R G R NG THE MATIER OF PLACING SIQE SIGNS END ROAD AND BIRCH JERRACE PLACE The ordinances were introduced by consent and referred to the Public Services Committee. August 20, 1987 Page 7 A Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss 1988 budget priorities was scheduled for August 27 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting Was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. ATTEST: � V Carol Ebergson Clerk of the Council WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Tom Burton, Chair