HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole AM February 7 20171
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee of the Whole
February 7, 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, Satpal Sidhu, Carl Weimer, Todd Donovan, Rud
Browne and Barry Buchanan.
Absent: Ken Mann.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION — CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE UPDATE
1. CONTINUATION OF COUNCIL'S REVIEW OF THE 2016 CRITICAL AREAS
ORDINANCE UPDATE — TOPICS SCHEDULED FOR DISCUSSION:
Article 6 — Wetlands (AB2016 -276G)
Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted and read a
presentation (on file).
The following staff answered questions:
• Diane Hennessey, Department of Ecology
• Erin Page, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted a
handout (on fi /e) on geographically isolated wetlands
• Ryan Ericson, Planning and Development Services Department
Councilmembers discussed the additional work, cost, and environmental and financial
benefits from reducing the minimum size of a regulated Class IV wetland from more than
4,000 to 1,000 square feet; the State's wetland rating system; the effectiveness of
mitigation; the best available science for protecting the small wetlands; and how other
jurisdictions balance the protection of critical areas functions while allowing the maximum
reasonable use of land.
Sidhu moved to amend 16.16.610 (E) regarding the minimum size of a regulated
Class IV wetland from 1,000 to 4,356 square feet.
The motion was seconded.
The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner and Sidhu (2)
Nays: Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (4)
Absent: Mann (1)
Special Committee of the Whole (AM), 2/7/2017, Page 1
1 Councilmembers asked for more information from staff on which counties are and
2 aren't requiring a minimum Class IV wetland size of 1,000 square feet and the costs of
3 implementing the smaller minimum size and implementing a change to trails in buffers.
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5 Strong continued the presentation.
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7 Councilmembers discussed the possibility of staff restricting future legally established
8 roads and the reason for identifying primary agricultural structures in 16.16.620(E).
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10 Browne moved to strike the word "existing legally established" in 16.16.630(A).
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12 The motion was seconded.
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14 The motion carried by the following vote:
15 Ayes: Brenner, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (6)
16 Nays: None (0)
17 Absent: Mann (1)
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19 Brenner moved to amend 16.16.620(E)(1), "Construction of a significant
20 appurtenant...."
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22 The motion was seconded.
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24 Councilmembers discussed whether small structures such as sheds can be built
25 under the critical areas ordinance.
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27 Brenner withdrew the motion.
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29 Strong continued the presentation and concluded the section on wetlands.
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31 Councilmembers discussed why the Department of Ecology provides guidance
32 instead of rules on implementing the law, whether changes to the wetland report will result
33 in more work, and what the County is doing to establish baseline wetland studies to
34 measure tuture gains and losses.
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36 Article 8 - _Conservation Program on Agriculture Lands (AB2016 -276I)
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38 Strong continued on the Conservation Program on Agriculture Lands (CPAL) and
39 concluded his presentation.
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41 The following staff answered questions:
42 . Ryan Ericson, Planning and Development Services Department
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44 Councilmembers discussed the definition change from existing to ongoing farm and
45 why they penalize people who allow their farms to go fallow; the difference between
46 grammar changes and substantive changes; how many farm plans there should be
47 compared to how many there are; whether the program protects from groundwater
48 contamination; coordinating with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and global food
49 gap requirements from the grocery industry; and holding Article 8 in committee to allow
50 time for more discussion.
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52 Buchanan stated this Article will be held in Committee for more discussion.
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Special Committee of the Whole (AM), 2/7/2017, Page 2
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OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
tes on March 21, 2017.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
tBaryhan , Council Chair
Special Committee of the Whole (AM), 2/7/2017, Page 3