HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Council for February 5 1981WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Minutes of meeting
February 5, 1981
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The meeting was called'to order at 7:37 with all members present.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved with corrections, on
page 3, subsituting "preliminary plat and variance request" for "findings
of fact" in the last sentence concerning Valley View Meadows, and the ap-
pointment of Hawley rather than Roehl on the Open Space Taxation Committee,
page 4.
OPEN SESSION
Stewart Andrews and Hugh Pottle spoke to the Council requesting that
the hearing on the Cherry Point /Ferndale subarea be on the entire document
rather than just the Counci�- proposed changes.
OTHER BUSINESS
The first item was the decision on A.A. 8- 80 /Riteway Construction. Two
Lppeals were filed, and handled separately. Council members were individu-
ally polled to determined possible conflict of interest or appearance of
fairness problems. All answered they had none.
Appeal of Planning Department: Hansey moved to grant the appeal of the Plan-
ning Director on the Hearing Examiner decision finding the Hearing Examiner
clearly erred by not examining the judicial transcript and Conditional Use
Hearing transcripts to determine whether an EIS should be required or not.
After discussion on the rationale for the motion, Hansed added to his motion
that the arguments in the decision, and findings of fact of A.A. 8 -80, parti-
cularly on page 30 -31 where he points out the argument for both sides of the
case. The motion passed onla majority vote, and the appeal will be granted.
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Mr. & Mrs. Charles Wieland 4ppeal - The Wielands were appealing the decision
of not requiring an EIS in the granting of C.U. 31 -77A permit. Hawley moved
to grant the appeal based Pa the arguments of the appellant.'s brief, that
the Riteway Construction gravel pit having more than a moderate adverse im-
pact on the environment. The motion was defeated on a knajoity.vote.
and the appeal was denied.
There was consensus among Council that the Hearing Examiner ordinance
concerning the administratiYe appeal procedures be changed; that the appeals
would go through Superior Court, as this sort of appeal requires expertise
in land use law, which Coun it members. not have to the degree, required
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Minutes of Council meeti.,g
February 5, 1981
page two
for this technical a matter.
Floyd Sandell was appointed to the Open Space Advisory Board subject
to his acceptance of the appointment. He could not be reached to verify
that he wished to be reappointed. The Prosecuting Attorney's office had
clarified that the two term limit on appointments started with appointments
following the implementation of.the Home Rule government.
Roehl disqualified himself from making a decision on the bid award
for the construction of theCentral Road District Garage due to a conflict
of interest. Hansey moved to reject all bids based upon the recommendation
from Public Works, as all bids were above the Engineering estimate, and
also moved that new bids beicalled for as per new scaled -down specifications
that will be provided for by the Public Works Department. Motions passed.
Paul Rushing answered questions on the hiring of financial consultants
for the sale of bonds and on long platting the Bakerview property.
Roehl moved to hire Harper McLean for $3,000.00 to provide financial
services for the sale of the $750,000 in bonds to finance the construction
of the Central Road District Garage, and to initiate the long plat process.
on Bakerview in order to make the property more saleable. The question
was divided, and both motions passed.
Hansey moved to approve the bid of Robinson Chambers for three pickups
for the Motor Pool in the amount of $19,800.90. Finance recommended ap-
proval of the bid. Motion carried. Hansey stated that he would like a
policy established that pursued the purchasing of energy efficient vehicles.
The application of Henn Scholten for Preliminary Plat approval and
subdivision variance request,to replat portions of "Lochmoor" was accepted
and reffered to Planning, ti,come before Council for decision on 2/19,.
A petition requesting creation of a dog control zone in the.Greenville
and'Tweed Twenty area filedby Robert A. Cannata, et al was received and
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referred to Public Safety t establish a hearing date, examine the petition
and the boundaries, and to finance to discuss the financial impacts.
A petition requesting alteration of plat lines filed by Sean Gallagher
was received and sent to Pl�nning Committee.
The petition requesting1permanent road closure of a portion of Island
View Drive filed by Dan Low ry, et al, was received and referred to the
Executive and Engineering f�r investigation and recommendation.
Minutes of Council meeting
Fehruary 5, 1981
Wage 3
The Water District 17 Resolution #9 adopting findings of fact regarding
the withdrawal of certain property for the district was received. The
Chair is to clarify with the Boundary Reivew Board if they are going to
invoke jurisdiction on holding the required public hearing.
The resolution from the Planning Commission referring the Cherry Point/
Ferndale subarea Comprehensive Land Use Plan back to the County Council
was received. Two letters were read into the record requesting public
hearing from the Board of Realtors,,and from the Homebuilders' Association.
McIntyre moved to hold public hearing on the recommended changes as soon
as possible, with opportunity to be given for discussion of the entire
plan. Motion passed.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Motion was made to excuse Johnson from the 2/19 meeting,as he will be
out of town attending a Jail Commission meeting. Motion passed.
Planning will meet on 2/12 at 7:00 to discuss "Lochmoor" and the Gal -
lagher petition.
Public Safety announced that Johnson will be the chairman for 1981,
and Public Works will have Hawley as Chair. Their meeting times will re-
main the same.
The Committee of the Whole will meet on 2/10 at 7:30 to discuss the
gambling ordinance.
The meeting adjourned
session to discuss contrac
I t 9:48 'from regular session to go into executive
negotiations with the Personnel Director.
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