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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Council for October 15 1981WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Minutes October 15, 1981 The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairperson Van Zanten. Present were Muenscher, Hawley, Roehl, Hansey, and McIntyre. Johnson at the October 1, 1981 meeting was excused for he was attending a Jail Commission meeting. Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as presented. HEARINGS Hearing was declared open'on the proposed Whatcom County Road Improvement District No. 5 to provide for improvements to Coronado Avenue, Lewis Avenue, and Columbus Avenue in the Plats of Geneva Amended and South Geneva. Bob Jurica, Assistant County Engineer, described the boundaries and the improvements to be done. The follow- ing gave testimony at the hearing: Dr. Werschkul - Stated he already has sewer from Fremont St. Does not have any use for the road. Al Ramerman -Can property owners pay their assessments in full without interest? Bob Jurica answered Ramerman's question by saying "yes" if done within thirty (30) days of approval of the district. Percy Maneval -Will the roads be put in before the Sewer and water is? Harry Whalen -Water Dist. #10 will put in theer Water District #10 utilities before the roads go in. Percy Maneval -Will the utilities be an extra cost? Harry Whalen -Yes. Only people on Coronado and Water District #10 Lewis Avenues are included in the ULID. Gail Luedke -Would like the entire avenue of Coronado improved. Asked,.why Fremont St. is not included. Does not want to be included in the RID. Objects to additional water being added to the creek that runs through the proposed RID area. Don Beatty - County should think about the Lake and the effects of the RID. Linda Seronie -Water run -off is a problem. Minutes October 15, 1981 page two Andrew McElroy -Does this RID need to go in along with the utilities? Barbara Werschkul -Are walkways included in the RID or are they optional? There was considerable discussion on putting in walkways. Jurica stated walkways were optional, but the Engineer had recommended them as a standard they follow . Jeray Edwards -There is a problem with water run -off. Jurica stated the maintenance liability of retention basins is with the County. The hearing was closed. Ballots from all property owners affected will be received in the Council office iinti-1 5:90 p.m. October 22, 1981. Hearing was declared open on the Petition requesting the closure of a portion of Lake 'Whatcom Boulevard, north of Cable Street. The County Engineer's Department recommended denial of the request. Bob Lovelace, Bellingham Fire Department, and the Whatcom County Sheriff's Department saw problems with the closure. Various letters and petitions were received in the Council office regarding the closure and are on file. A letter was also received from Dr, and Tubs. Ambrose, opposing the closure. The following persons gave testimony at the hearing: David Lynch -Said this is a quiet road and provides Petitioned for closure no access to anyones property. Con - cerned with children playing in the area. Does want the road open to emergency vehicle use only. George R.eggit -In favor of the closure. Concerned with the children's safety. Leave open to jogging, walking, bicycles. Rick Bass -Speed limit is 25 mph. If that is being broken request the Sheriff to look into it. Harry Schanaske -Spoke for many people in the audience. High speed factor can be handled by the Sheriff. Residence of the Rogers would be blocked. Owners of LePines Store would be greatly affected. Ronald Wilson -What about emergency vehicles? Fire District #2 Minutes October 15, 1981 page three Tisch Lynch -Need something to slow the traffic down. Suggested closing road with just a chain. LePines Store - Closure would affect their business owners 407o. Ralph Rader - Traffic is not great. No one is asking for the road to be inaccessible. Ellen Vaughn -Puget Power needs access in order to Puget Power be able to provide services to theer customers. Gene Hein -Extra traffice flow would be put onto Austin St. Ron Swanson -Not in favor of putting up chains, but Fire District #2 favors signs and markers. Concerned with access to Fairview area. Robert Grant - Traffic would be directed to Austin Austin St. and Cable streets, which a quite icy in the winter. Rod Ducker -Force the Fire Dept. to take Coronado. Fremont St. Jack Daniel - Concerned with the Fire Dept. getting Fairview Ave. to his home. Ed Feller -Make Road a one -way. Austin St. Hearing was closed. The matter was referred to the Public Safety Committee for review with the EngineQr. EXECUTIVE ITEMS Executive Louws presented to the Council the proposed 1982 budget. Council received the budget and it was referred to the Finance Committee for review. Hansey stated he would be setting up meeting dates for review of the matter. SPECIAL MATTER A Nor -Bell status report presentation was given by Marty Harper, Consultant with Harper -Owes. Stated meters have been installed at the site. Negotiations are under way with Ferndale on receiving wastewater for treatment and distribution. A public informational meeting was held October E. Met with Pepartment-.of Ecology. who, stated that Council had already established three alternatives in March of 1980. They are 1) pump station in vacinity of the Nor -Bell home, 2) local treatment plant on site, and 3) septic tank treatment system and ground disposal system. The Department of Ecology has eliminated four alteratives. Roehl and Minutes October 15, 1981 page four Hansey said that they understood at this time that Council would be selecting the three alternatives. Harper stated there has been some confusion of the process in selecting the alternatives. There has been no written response from the Department of Ecology of the three alternatives. Harper suggested the Council pick its own alternatives at a special meeting where the Department of Ecology could be present. The Chair will set a meeting for next week sometime. FINAL CONSIDEPATION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS The Ordinance regarding the prohibition of parking at the dead -end of the Roy Road was before the Council for consideration. Roehl stated the Public Safety Committee had reviewed the ordinance and recommended approval. Roehl so moved the ordinance for adoption. Motion passed unanimously. Hansey moved for final passage the following; ordinances: 1) Ordinance amending Ordinance 81 -62 for distribution of salaries and benefits 2) Ordinance authorizing a revised budget for the Election Reserve Fund 3) Ordinance authorizing a revised budget for the Mental Health Fund 4) Ordinance authorizing a revised budget for the Parks and Recreation Fund lie stated these revisions were necessary in order to correct a bookkeeping procedure. The Finance Committee recommended approval. The first ordinance passed on a 5 -0 vote (IIawley abstained) The rest passed unani- mously. Hansey moved the adoption of the Ordinance authorizing a revised budget for the IVhatcom County Jail Budget for 1981. This revision is due to the closure of the Bellingham Jail, Finance Committee recommended approval. Motion passed unanimously. Hansey moved the adoption of the Ordinance authorizing a revised budget for the Federal Shared Revenue Fund (Law Library). Motion passed unanimously. Hansey also moved the adoption of the Ordinance authorizing a re- volving fund for the Whatcom County Treasurer's Department. This will establish:a petty cash fund to be used for postage. Motion passed unanimously. Minutes October 15, 1981 page five Hawley moved for adoption the Ordinance providing for the sale and conveyance of County -owned property, real or personal or mixed, including tax title land, and reserving the mineral rights in such land in any sale or conveyance made of county land under the provi- sions as provided for in RCP; 36.34. The Public Works Committee had recommended the ordinance to Council without recommendation. McIntyre stated he thought the mineral rights should be sold with the land. He didn't see any reason to hold onto them. Muenscher moved to table the issue until the next Council meeting. Motion was denied on a 1 -5 vote. (Van Zanten, McIntyre, Hansey, Hawley, Roehl) Motion to adopt the ordinance passed on a 5 -1 vote. (McIntyre) OPEN SESSION Don Beatty spoke to the amendment being requesting by Water District No. 10. lie was concerned with the process in which this takes place and the way the boundaries are formed. Harry Whalen said he will meet with Beatty to answer any questions. OTHER BUSINESS The Selection of the top three alternatives for the Nor -Bell Sewer Project was deferred until a special meeting is set up as established earlier in the meeting under Special Matters. Decision on the Preliminary Plat of Lencam Estates was considered by the Council. Roehl stated the Planning Committee recommended approval subject to the Hearing Examiner's conditions. Roehl so moved to approve the preliminary plat. Motion passed unanimously. Iiansey gave a brief report of the Downtown Advisory Committee meeting. He stated the next meeting will be held October 22, at 7:30 p.m. Hawley moved to have Hansey attend this meeting as well for informational purposes only. Motion passed unanimously. Council accepted a Planning Commission resolution in the matter of amending the Zoning Ordinance Text to clarify 2.24.770.592 (3). An ordinance will drafted to this effect and be on the next Council agenda. Minutes October 15, 1981 page six INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS Muenscher moved to consider items seven and eight as one and two on the agenda. Motion passed unanimously. Roehl introduced and'moved for final adoption the Resolution of the County Council of Whatcom County, Washington fixing the interest rate to be paid on interim warrants to be hereafter issued by Consolidated Drainage Improvement District No. 31, the interest rate to be 11.7 %. Motion passed unanimously. Roehl introduced and moved for final adoption the Resolution of the County Council of Whatcom County, Washington authorizing the issuance of an interim warrant for the purpose of financing part of the cost of improvements in Consolidated Drainage Improvement District No. 31. Motion passed unanimously. Hansey introduced the Ordinance authorizing a revised budget for the Civil Service Commission Budget for 1981. The ordinance was referred to the Finance Committee for review by unanimous vote. The Resolution regarding Whatcom County sponsorship of a project proposed by Catholic Community Services Northwest to use State Referendui_. 37 funds to construct a building was withdrawn by the Services for they could not give answers to questions of the Finance Committee. Hansey introduced and moved for final adoption the Resolution re- garding Whatcom County sponsorship of a project by Whatcom Association of Training Centers to use State Referendum 37 funds to purchase equipment. Motion passed unanimously. Hansey introduced and moved for final adoption the Resolution regarding Whatcom County sponsorship of a project proposed by the Work Shop to use State 'Referendum 37 fund to purchase equipment. Motion passed unanimously. Roehl introduced the Resolution in the matter of amending the Justice Court Districting Plan for Whatcom County. A public hearing will be set for November 5, 1981. Roehl introduced and moved for final adoption the Resolution approving amendment to Whatcom County Water District No. 10's Comprehensive Plan, Resolution No. 325 dated July 1, 1981. The Planning Committee recommended approval. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned 10:55 p.m.