HomeMy WebLinkAboutSurface Water Work Session October 18 2016Whatcom County Council
Special Surface Water Work Session
October 18, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 10:30 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 (AB2016 -0241
Joint Board / Planninc Unit / Coordinated Water System Ian (CWSP) Ui)date
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, gave a staff report and stated the CWSP is
done. It may need to be updated as they learn more about the Hirst ruling.
The Planning Unit's next meeting is October 26. Geneva Consulting has begun its
update of the implementation report and detailed summary report, due at the end of this
yea r.
The Joint Board met in September and approved the interlocal agreement to combine
the Joint Board and Salmon Recovery Board. Seven of the 12 parties have signed the
agreement so far. There will be long -term funding needs to pay for, including stream
gaging, water resource inventory area (WRIA) 1 program administration, and the
groundwater model. He described plans to fund some of these efforts.
A groundwater forum is scheduled for October 19 at the Bellingham Public Library.
He described the presentations planned for the forum and the WRIA 1 recovery plan. He
answered councilmember questions about obligations associated with the Puget Sound
Partnership grant, whether the Planning Unit will undergo any changes, and whether funds
can be spent without County Council approval.
Overview of Flood and Stormwater Budgets
Paula Harris, Public Works Department, submitted and referenced a handout (on file)
on the proposed 2017 budget and described the work plan and supporting documentation in
the work session packet. She answered questions on the flood permit review fee, the use of
the jail work crew, whether the railroad company will contribute to the cost of projects, the
County's change in liability from an improved Deming levee and other projects near
railroads, and how the County disposes of gravel dredged from creeks.
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, submitted a handout (on file) and referenced
and read through the packet on the Natural Resources budget. He described an additional
service request (ASR) for a farm planning position for the pollution identification and control
Surface Water Work Session, 10/18/2016, Page 1
1 (PIC) program and a data manager. The two new positions would be in the Conservation
2 District and funded by the County through and contingent upon a Department of Health
3 grant. There is no impact to the County budget. He answered questions and the
4 councilmembers discussed getting property owner permission to test for contamination in
5 creeks and streams.
6
7 Kirk Christensen, Public Works Department, submitted a handout (on file) and
8 referenced and read through the information on the stormwater budget, including the costs
9 for administration, capital costs, and program costs. He answered questions and the
10 councilmembers discussed the differences between the County expenditures and City
11 expenditures on Lake Whatcom water quality modeling, repairs and maintenance costs of
12 new facilities, experimenting with coconut as a stormwater filter media, and the cost to
13 build a facility.
14
15 Councilmembers discussed the 2017 ending fund balance that leaves little money
16 other than the $5 million reserve for flood emergencies, whether the $5 million reserve is
17 enough, other sources of funds to use in an emergency, and identifying programs that are
18 required and /or have grant money.
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20 Update on Improvements to the Lake Whatcom Homeowners Incentive Program (HIP)
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22 Ingrid Enschede, Public Works Department, gave a staff report on implementing the
23 program, including easement and maintenance agreements with private property owners,
24 applying the revised HIP to priority properties that have the greatest potential to reduce
25 phosphorous, standard engineering designs for homeowners, a contractor certification
26 program, and improved marketing for the program. Councilmembers discussed property
27 owner incentives and motives.
28
29 Stoyka stated upcoming items include an interlocal agreement with the Conservation
30 District to run the program for the City and County, an interlocal agreement with the City to
31 unify the programs, and hiring a geo- technical contractor for soil infiltration data. He
32 answered questions on the ratio of the City's total maximum daily load (TMDL) contribution.
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35 ADJOURN
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37 The meeting adjourned at 12:21 p.m.
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40 The Council 'ao�pfoved these minutes on December 6, 2016.
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41 '. ; T WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
42 ATTE 43 WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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48 Darts BroW67Z- 670$ 'IC-bunc-1 "Clerk 4163rr Buchanan, Council Chair
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53 Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
Surface Water Work Session, 10/18/2016, Page 2