HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works February 7 20171
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee
February 7, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 2:37 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 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
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. RESOLUTION AMENDING CRP NO. 916008 AND AUTHORIZING PUBLIC
WORKS TO: 1) PROCEED WITH PETITIONING THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES
AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE YACHT
CLUB ROAD AT -GRADE RAILROAD CROSSING; AND 2) CONSTRUCT
IMPROVEMENTS USING PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT'S " "COUNTY FORCES"
(AB2017 -043A)
Brenner moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, gave a staff report.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Donovan, and Mann (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND
POSTED SPEED LIMITS IN THE MARINE DRIVE /MARIETTA AREA (AB2017-
062)
This item was postponed to March 7, 2017.
2. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY
CODE 24.05, ON -SITE SEWAGE SYSTEM REGULATIONS (AB2017 -053)
The following staff answered questions:
• Mike Kim, Health Department
• Karen Frakes, Prosecutor's Office
• Tadas Kisielius, Legal consultant
• John Wolpers, Health Department
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 2/7/2017, Page 1
1 Councilmembers discussed why this item was held in committee, the total number of
2 self- reported systems that were failing, how these changes will respond to the Hirst
3 decision, whether they can comply with the Hirst decision regulations by focusing mostly on
4 agriculture, the lack of inspection reports at the time of property sale, the miniscule
5 difference between the one percent failure rate from professional inspections and the two
6 percent failure rate from self- inspections, reaching an agreement with the litigants on this
7 topic, and how staff is calculating the number of systems that are potentially failing.
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9 Councilmembers asked for more information on the following:
10 • Evidence that was presented to the Growth Management Hearings Board
11 • Requiring professional inspections from people with failing systems who
12 submitted satisfactory self- inspection reports
13 • Whether the Hearings Board would be satisfied if the Council amended the
14 program to make professional inspections required more often
15 • How many septic systems are less than 10 years old and less likely to fail
16 • How many septic systems are more than 30 years old
17 • How many properties have changed hands
18 • Letting the homeowner do no more than two consecutive inspections or
19 requiring professional inspections every five years
20 • The number of proprietary systems
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22 Brenner stated this item is held in Committee for two weeks so councilmembers can
23 direct questions and suggestions for amendments to staff and Council Policy Analyst Forrest
24 Longman.
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26
27 OTHER BUSINESS
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29 There was no other business.
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31
32 ADJOURN
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34 The meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
35
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43 Dana Browiit69' A T ncil ClerlE Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
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49 Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 2/7/2017, Page 2