HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole January 24 2017WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee of the Whole
January 24, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Ken Mann, Satpal Sidhu, Carl Weimer, Todd
Donovan, Rud Browne and Barry Buchanan.
Absent: None.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION — CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE UPDATE
1. CONTINUATION OF COUNCIL'S REVIEW OF THE 2016 CRITICAL AREAS
ORDINANCE UPDATE — TOPICS SCHEDULED FOR DISCUSSION:
Article 4 — Freauently Flooded Areas (AB2016 -276D
Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted and
introduced a presentation (on file) on Article 4. He answered questions about local issues
with frequently flooded areas (FFA).
Ryan Ericson, Planning and Development Services Department, answered questions
on the habitat, which may or may not go beyond the flood plain for a species. To get the
lower flood insurance premiums, they must protect Chinook.
Article 7 — Habitat Conservation Area AB201,6-276H
Strong continued the presentation on habitat conservation areas. He answered
questions about ditches that have to be treated like streams; changes to the definitions for
streams, ditches, and drainage ditches; applying the same standards to ditches that
eventually drain into streams; the Technical Advisory Committee JAC) recommendation to
regulate landscape ponds; determining the difference between natural ponds and manmade
ponds; allowing the local jurisdiction to identify specific species that are at risk; ensuring
the County's regulations are the same as the other jurisdictions and agencies; regulations
and processes for removing beaver dams; whether any residential development will incur a
critical areas assessment; the administrative discretion of the technical administrator;
restoring the exemption for single family development of less than a half -acre in section
16.16.750(A); the reasons for all the changes from "may" to "shall" and the perception that
staff has been too lenient; whether definitions in the CAO will match the definitions from the
Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW); and creating baseline information.
The following staff answered questions:
• Joel Ingram, Technical Advisory Committee and State Department of Fish and
Wildlife
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• Erin Page, Planning and Development Services Department
• Diane Hennessey, Technical Advisory Committee and Department of Ecology
• Chris Elder, Planning and Development Services Department
Staff answered questions on historic conditions of streams before farming and
development and how to differentiate between historic streams and ditches; how private
ponds are regulated; the discussion and recommendations from the Wildlife Advisory
Committee and Planning Commission; whether repair to an existing private boat launch is
allowed; and whether beavers are relocated.
Linda Twitchell, Building Industry Association, referenced section 16.16.720(0)
regarding onsite sewage disposal systems and stated there is a change from minimizing to
disallowing completely adverse effects on water quality and slope stability. Someone will
have to prove there is not even one molecule of negative impact. Be specific about who has
the perception that staff is too lenient. Others believe staff isn't lenient enough.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business,
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
February 21, 2017.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
A 0�anar, ouncil Chair
Special Committee of the Whole, 1/24/2017, Page 2