HomeMy WebLinkAboutSurface Water Work Session May 24 20161
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Whatcom County Council
Special Surface Water Work Session
May 24, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. in the Civic
Center Garden Level Conference Room, 322 Commercial Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Ken Mann, Todd
Donovan and Carl Weimer
Absent: Satpal Sidhu
SURFACE WATER WORK SESSION A62016 -024
1. JOINT BOARD UPDATE
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, reported on the status of combining the
Salmon Recovery Board and Joint Board. They are negotiating what the Planning Unit role
will be.
Brenner stated the Planning Unit is authorized by State law. Stoyka stated the
Planning Unit isn't in any of the current agreements of the Joint Board or Salmon Recovery
Board. The next Joint Board meeting is July 28, and they hope for a vote on the interlocal
agreement.
2. COORDINATED WATER SYSTEM PLAN (CWSP)
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, submitted and read from a presentation and
handouts (on file).
Mark Personius, Planning and Development Department, continued the presentation
on the CWSP and Comprehensive Plan update process.
Jim Bucknell, RH2 Engineers, continued the presentation on the water supply
analysis. He explained the analysis process and assumptions. There is a surplus of water,
but that surplus isn't necessarily where the future demand will be.
Stoyka continued the presentation beginning on the water utility service areas,
Section 4.
Donovan asked when public water is required. Stoyka stated it is required anytime
there is service in which the public will be drinking or accessing water. It does not include
industrial use.
Surface Water Work Session, 5/24/2016, Page 1
Brenner asked if the County has ever taken receivership. Stoyka stated it hasn't.
No one has ever done it in Whatcom County.
Brenner stated they've never talked about the possibility of desalinization. Bucknell
stated nowhere in the world is there a desalinization plant where there are other water
alternatives, due to the cost, but they could look at it.
Weimer asked if water systems that use more water than allowed is an issue with
Ecology. Stoyka stated County staff have contacted those systems to request more
information. Ecology is looking into it.
Bucknell stated Ecology's response would likely be to work with the State
Department of Health and the system owners to solve the problem and prevent new
connections.
Weimer asked if small systems north of Lynden are having nitrate problems they
can't afford to address. Bucknell stated they are. They are working on finding another
water source.
Browne asked the average water use per household in the county. Bucknell stated it
varies widely depending on whether the household had a dairy, for example.
Stoyka stated the urban average water use is 309 gallons per household per day and
the rural average is 258 gallons per day.
Browne stated that in some locations, the ability to draw water is less than what the
water right allows. Bucknell stated it would be evaluated in the water system plan process
to see if capacity meets needs, regardless of what the water right says. The forecast
compared the water right certificates to the demand.
Browne stated they need to answer the question of the actual physical capacity to
draw water. He asked if a public water system requires an underlying water right and must
stay within the physical boundaries of that water right. Bucknell stated they would have to
submit a request to change the place of use to add the additional area.
3. PLANNING UNIT
Sylvia Goodwin, Planning Unit Member and Port of Bellingham, gave an update on
the Planning Unit work on the Lower Nooksack Strategy, the Coordinated Water System
Plan, and the Comprehensive Plan policies on water, which she emailed to the Council.
4. NATIONAL POLLUTION DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) LEVEL
OF SERVICE EXPANSION DISCUSSION
Cathy Craver, Public Works Department, read from the presentation in the packet
supplement (on file).
Brenner asked if staff work with private property owners so they have an incentive to
do the work on their own. Craver stated they are evaluating an approach for consultation
and discussion with property owners.
Surface Water Work Session, 5/24/2016, Page 2
1 Rob Ney, Public Works Department, stated phase one is just about identifying and
2 inventorying what is out there so they can develop a program, prioritize the outfalls that
3 exist, and identify funding.
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5 Weimer asked the budget this year and next year. Ney stated they are working on
6 how to provide funding for the expanded level of service for the entire system.
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8 Weimer stated they need to have that discussion to address inequities in the system.
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10 Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department Director, stated they are working on a clear
11 scope of work that identifies what the funding will be spent on and to make the argument
12 for increased funding.
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14 Browne asked what is the sediment that gets into the facilities and what do they do
15 with it. Ney stated it's mostly sand. There is no information that indicates it is
16 contaminated waste.
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18 Hutchings stated contaminated waste goes to a managed waste facility through a
19 contract with the City of Bellingham.
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21 Brenner asked if it's possible to have agreements with smaller cities. Ney stated the
22 smaller cities would look to the County for help.
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24 S. FINAL SYSTEMWIDE IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK PLAN
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26 Paula Harris, Public Works Department, stated the plan is still a draft. She gave an
27 update on the plan process. There will be minor revisions as she receives more comments.
28 She submitted and read from a presentation (on file).
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30 Mann asked how often they have to do this plan. Cooper stated they will monitor
31 and update the plan every two years.
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33 6. MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT TO ADOPT THE SUDDEN VALLEY
34 STORMWATER AND PHOSPHORUS MITIGATION PLAN
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36 Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted and read
37 from a presentation (on file) on the background and purpose of the presentation.
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39 Melanie Mankamyer, Wilson Engineering and representing Sudden Valley Community
40 Association, continued and concluded the presentation.
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42 Strong stated the agreement will be scheduled on the June 14 County Council
43 meeting agenda for approval.
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45 Mann stated he is concerned about recordkeeping, ongoing operation and
46 maintenance, and the County's enforcement authority. Mankamyer stated the County has
47 the same enforcement as any other place.
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49 Strong, Craver, and Mankamyer answered questions about the current and future
50 reporting requirements of the homeowners and homeowner's association.
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Surface Water Work Session, 5/24/2016, Page 3
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:38 p.m.
The Council approved these minutes on June 14, 2016.
ATTEST:
Dana Br�tiv- jt }i'g J Clerk
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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Surface Water Work Session, 5/24/2016, Page 4