HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works January 26 20161
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works, Health and Safety Committee
January 26, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
Committee member Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:04 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Rud Browne, Barbara Brenner, and Ken Mann
Absent: None
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Satpal Sidhu, and Todd Donovan
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE CHAIR (AB2016 -021)
Mann moved to nominate and appoint Councilmember Brenner.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Browne, Brenner, and Mann (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING PROPOSAL TO INSTALL A PUBLIC -USE PHONE IN
GLACIER (AB2016 -070)
Brenner thanked Dana Brown - Davis, Clerk of the Council, for gathering Information
on this. The County could lease the pay phone service for $75 per month. It's a small
expenditure to make sure many people have emergency medical service (EMS) phone
service if they need it.
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Office, gave a staff report on the information she
gathered from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) and Frontier
Communications. The cost for installation is $100. The question is whether the
administration can use public funds to pay for the phone.
Brenner stated it is in the public's interest.
Mann stated the Sheriff's budget could absorb the cost.
Brenner stated the Sheriff's email indicated he supports having emergency phone
service in the area.
Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, stated the administration must figure out how
best to pay for the installation and service. He will work with the Facilities Division to see
how they pay for the current pay phone in the courthouse.
Public Works, Health and Safety Committee, 1/26/2016, Page 1
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Brown -Davis said the representative from Frontier Communications told her that the
coinage collected in the phone goes to Frontier, and it doesn't contribute to the monthly fee
for the phone.
Mann stated it is a public safety issue. They're not doing it to make money.
Schroeder asked to receive a copy of the email from Sheriff Bill Elfo.
Schroeder stated the Committee could hold this item and discuss it again when he
gets a recommendation on how best to pay for it.
2. BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION ON WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
CHAPTER 4, CAPITAL FACILITIES (AB2016 -047D) (THE WASHINGTON
STATE GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT REQUIRES PERIODIC UPDATES OF THE
WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND REVIEW OF URBAN
GROWTH AREAS UNDER RCW 36.70A.130, TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF
JUNE 2016)
Matt Aamot, Planning and Development, submitted and read from a presentation (on
file).
Forrest Longman, Council Office, stated he will work with the Planning Department to
process proposed Council amendments.
Donovan stated development drives the need for more public facilities, such as
schools and fire districts. He asked if there is an equivalent of capital facilities planning for
schools. Aamot stated they work with school districts on their plans. Those plans will come
to the Council with Appendix E.
Mann asked how to measure and determine when the level of service for activity
centers warrants a new facility. Aamot stated they are moving away from numerical
standards in favor of the community preferences and desires. The Parks Department keeps
track of use. The Washington Administrative Code requires a level of service for facilities
that are necessary for development, which is a local decision. Facilities are considered
necessary if they're required to achieve urban densities and if impact fees are collected.
Facilities like activity centers allow discretionary decisions.
Donovan asked the reason for the change to policy 4F -5. Aamot stated the Parks
Commission decided that the new facilities should be built on factors other than population
level. Needs could be met with other methods, such as changes to programming or
additions to an existing building.
Donovan asked if the language change indicates that seniors would be included in
the broader category of activity centers, rather than separate senior centers. Aamot stated
that's correct.
Aamot concluded the presentation.
Linda Twitchell, Building Industry Association, asked about the funding plan for
infrastructure improvements that need to be done during this timeframe. Aamot stated
there is the six -year capital improvement program, which includes a funding plan. There is
also a 20 -year capital facilities plan. The County's Finance Division is working on revenue
projections for a 20 -year period for County facilities.
Public Works, Health and Safety Committee, 1/26/2016, Page 2
Darcy Jones stated he works with Caitac USA. The City of Bellingham's capital
facilities plans addressed all the issues with the Caitac proposal for all 600 acres. The City
Planning Commission believes the entire area is a future part of the city. Caitac was
removed only from the map. The County Planning Commission recommends bringing the
south half of Caitac back into the urban growth area (UGA). The City has a strong capital
facilities plan that includes the south Caitac property.
Brenner stated she understands that the City worked out an agreement to leave the
Larson Road portion out, but someone is proposing that it be in. Jones stated there is an
area to the east of Caitac's property that was included in the south Caitac area for the
purpose of discussion of the UGA.
Clayton Petree described the history of the Yew Street area. Other areas in other
UGAs don't have good capital facilities plans that are complete. Consider that when
deciding where UGAs should and should not be. Bellingham has a lot of adopted capital
facilities plans in place and doesn't have a resource land issue. Also, consider the non -
rolling 20 -year horizon for the provision of these capital facilities. When a UGA is
designated within an unchanging 20 -year horizon, the County and cities have 20 years to
make sure that developers can develop at urban densities within that original first 20 years.
Many UGA areas will be turning 20 in 2017. Look through all the UGAs at those 20 -year old
UGA areas.
Brenner stated the City has made its recommendation. She's not comfortable going
outside the City's recommendation. She asked what the City said about the 20 -year old
UGA areas. Petree stated they have an effort underway to make sure their planning,
funding, and processes are working well. They are working with a consultant and updating
plans.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
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The meetigg djv#�rned at 1:55 p.
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A_i— ri�sTc, °i rc eat
Dana 'rgwn- Davis, �ouh Clerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works, Health and Safety Committee, 1/26/2016, Page 3