HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources March 7 2017WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
March 7, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Todd Donovan called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Carl Weimer, Satpal Sidhu and Todd Donovan
Absent: None
Also Present: Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. WHATCOM COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT STAFF TO
PRESENT A SUMMARY OF WORK COMPLETED IN DEVELOPING THE DRAFT
BIRCH BAY COMMUNITY PARK MASTER PLAN (AB2016 -185A)
Mike McFarlane, Parks and Recreation Department Director, submitted and read from
a presentation (on file). Planning is done, they're waiting for State Environmental Policy Act
(SEPA) review, and then it will come back to Council for approval. He described the location
and phased site plan. Pervious concrete will be used in the parking lot so they don't have to
do additional stormwater mitigation. Raising the site by one foot will preserve the cultural
artifacts and raise the site higher than flood level. The next step is to move forward with a
final design and enter into the permitting process.
He answered questions about tying the project with the berm project in the same
area, the location of the crosswalk to the beach, community- raised funds for the park,
leveraging funds to get development grant funds from the Recreation Conservation Office
(RCO), using volunteer groups to do maintenance, creating a sliding fee scale for nonprofit
groups that organize events at County parks, not using the areas specifically for athletic
fields, the timeline of the three phases, determining the number of parking spaces, and
installing basketball hoops next to the parking lot.
Dora Lee Booth stated residents would like the County to consider hosting a park
attendant. Sheriff Elfo supports having a presence at the site at night to close the gate and
keep an eye on the park.
McFarlane answered questions about the possibility of having volunteers serve as an
onsite park attendant. It won't substantially change maintenance costs. There is an issue
with giving up a parking spot and providing water and power. Folks don't want people
camping there. The cleaning necessary for a high use restroom is intense. Most people
don't want to volunteer for that.
Natural Resources Committee, 3/7/2017, Page 1
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION OF A PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY
CODE CHAPTER 2.27A, AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES, TO FURTHER DEFINE
AND ENHANCE THE AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PROGRAM (AB2017 -084)
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, referenced Council packet page 93 and
described the changes. He answered questions about the types of motorized vessels and
syncing this ordinance with the City of Bellingham ordinance.
Brenner noted a number of grammatical corrections.
Teagan Ward, City of Bellingham Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Coordinator,
answered questions about boaters who don't participate in the program.
The Committee discussed proposed ordinance amending the Whatcom County
Unified Fee Schedule relating to the Aquatic Invasive Species Program (ordinance
scheduled for introduction this evening) (AB2017 -085).
Stoyka gave a staff report on amending the Unified Fee Schedule and answered
questions on cost recovery issues, gauging the impact from a fee increase, getting feedback
on fees from the City of Bellingham and from boaters, the presence of invasive species, and
whether there is a State funding mechanism.
Weimer moved that the committee recommend to the Council adopting the
ordinance changes as discussed, including the grammatical changes, and to recommend to
the Finance Committee the adoption of the unified fee schedule as shown in the packet.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Weimer, Sidhu, and Donovan (3)
Nays: None (0)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO GRANT THE WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AN EASEMENT ON PARK PROPERTY
LOCATED ON THE SOUTH END OF LAKE WHATCOM FOR THE PURPOSE OF
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF A FISH HATCHERY AND STREAM
BANK ON BRANNIAN CREEK (AB2017 -091)
Mike McFarlane, Parks and Recreation Department Director, gave a staff report and
answered questions on the status of the easement if the property is sold to another party.
Weimer moved to recommend approval.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Weimer, Sidhu, and Donovan (3)
Nays: None (0)
Natural Resources Committee, 3/7/2017, Page 2
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OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 10:31 a.m,
ATTi =ST:
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Dana Brow ;J: Wcil Clerk
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATC COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Todd Donovan, Committee Chair
Natural Resources Committee, 3/7/2017, Page 3