HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works January 24 20172
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee
January 24, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Member Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. in the
Council ChambQrs, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Todd Donovan, and Ken Mann
Absent: None
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Rud Browne, Satpal Sidhu, and Carl Weimer
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE CHAIR (AB2017 -021)
Mann nominated Brenner. The motion was seconded.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Donovan, and Mann (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION TO CLARIFY THE INTENT OF SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN
WHATCOM COUNTY CODE SECTION 20.80.970, HOME OCCUPATION
(AB2017 -055)
Brenner asked how the permit went through.
Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, asked if the Committee wants the administration
to propose new language to this section of the Code.
The Councilmembers and Schroeder discussed how the County allowed the applicant
to take neighboring property for emergency services vehicles turnouts, whether the
Planning Department made a mistake and should revoke the permit, the civil lawsuit that
resulted between the applicant and neighbors due to the Planning Department's approval of
the permit, and whether there is a limit on vehicle trips.
Schroeder stated that if the Committee holds this item in committee, the
administration can review the home occupation language and describe how they administer
the traffic section and provide information on the condition on the permit that required
coordination of the neighbors on an easement.
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 1/24/2017, Page 1
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Mann stated he would like information on how a compromise was reached to allow
turnouts on the neighbor's property, what is the County's role in adjudicating that dispute,
and whether the neighbors wanted to give up their property.
Brenner moved to hold in committee for more information.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Donovan, and Mann (3)
Nays: None (0)
3. DISCUSSION WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REGARDING A PROPOSAL TO
COMBINE THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH REVENUE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND CREATE A NEW MEMBERSHIP
PROFILE (AB2017 -056)
Perry Mowery, Health Department, submitted a handout (on fi /e) and gave a staff
report.
Brenner reported for the Behavioral Health Advisory Board and stated the members
are upset that they have had no input on programs. This will allow everyone to provide
input.
Mowery answered questions on the membership profile regarding the five behavioral
health advocates or professionals.
Mann moved to change the proposed membership by changing the five behavioral
health advocates or professionals to two members with personal /family background of
addiction recovery, two members with personal /family background of mental health, and
one member with professional expertise in behavioral health.
Anne Deacon, Health Department, stated staff will bring forward an ordinance in a
month or two.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Donovan, and Mann (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN UPDATE TO THE WHATCOM COUNTY
COMPREHENSIVE SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN
(AB2016 -302)
Brenner stated everyone on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee is in favor of this
resolution.
Jeff Hegedus, Health Department, gave a staff report on the history and update of
the flow control ordinance. He answered questions about disposal of toxics and
pharmaceuticals, requesting Sanitary Service Company (SSC) to provide photo labels in
Punjabi in addition to Spanish and Russian, and allowing local contractors to bid without
barriers.
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 1/24/2017, Page 2
1 Brenner moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
2
3 The motion carried by the following vote:
4 Ayes: Brenner, Donovan, and Mann (3)
5 Nays: None (0)
6
7 2. RESOLUTION IN THE MATTER OF CONSIDERING A VACATION OF A PORTION
8 OF CHETS ROAD (AB2017 -051)
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10 Mann moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
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12 Andrew Hester, Public Works Department, gave a staff report and answered
13 questions on the location of the road in the original plat.
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15 The motion carried by the following vote:
16 Ayes: Brenner, Donovan, and Mann (3)
17 Nays: None (0)
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20 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
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22 2. DISCUSSION OF A PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY
23 CODE 24.05, ON -SITE SEWAGE SYSTEM REGULATIONS (AB2017 -053)
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25 John Wolpers, Health Department, introduced the presentation.
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27 Mike Kim, Health Department, read from the presentation beginning on Council
28 packet page 175.
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30 The following staff answered questions:
31 . John Wolpers, Health Department
32 0 Mike Kim, Health Department
33 0 Karen Frakes, Prosecutor's Office
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35 Councilmembers discussed whether homeowners have to hire a professional every
36 six years; requiring professional inspections only from the people who cheat or neglect to do
37 the inspection, not from everyone; when and to whom notices are sent; the Supreme
38 Court's Hirst decision; the percentage of people who turned in phony reports; whether the
39 County can get into compliance with the Growth Management Act by lowering the failure
40 rate; the evidence presented to the Hearings Board and Supreme Court that the County is
41 out of compliance; the cost of an inspection; creating a process to allow homeowners to
42 submit their inspections electronically; the number of counties with self- inspection
43 programs; how quickly they can implement the new regulations; who decides what is
44 inspected; and why the Health Department has not been collecting and filing reports of
45 system status;
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47 Karen Frakes, Prosecutor's Office, stated the goal is to get into compliance with the
48 Growth Management Act as soon as possible.
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50 Linda Twitchell, Building Industry Association of Whatcom County, stated the real
51 question for the court is whether water quality contamination has gone up since 2006, when
52 they began to allow private inspections. Define whether they're objecting to self- inspections
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 1/24/2017, Page 3
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or if the issue is water quality contamination as a result of self- inspections or something
else.
Marilyn Martin stated she would like to know the difference between professional and
homeowner inspections.
Bob Seaman submitted a handout (on file) and spoke about the lack of outreach on
the fecal coliform problems in Whatcom County.
Councilmembers continued to discuss the homeowners' responsibility to submit a
report of system status to the Health Department and how a property buyer would know to
submit a report to the Health Department.
Brenner stated this item would be held in committee.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 1/24/2017, Page 4