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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works April 4 20171 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee April 4, 2017 CALL TO ORDER Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:00 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, and Satpal Sidhu COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 1. DISCUSSION WITH DAN MCSHANE REGARDING CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE ARTICLE 3, GEOHAZARDS (AB2017 -090A) Dan McShane, Geologist, submitted and read from a presentation (on file). He spoke about the technical decisions made by scientists and policy decisions made by local policymakers. Decisions have a certain amount of inherent uncertainty. He described the history and geology of Mount Baker. McShane answered questions about and councilmembers discussed early warning system technology, and establishing a threshold for ordering an evacuation; a paper pending publication on best available science and Mount Baker by Scott and Tucker; and different types of geological events. 2. DISCUSSION WITH DON EASTERBROOK REGARDING CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE ARTICLE 3, GEOHAZARDS (AB2017 -090) Don Easterbrook submitted and read from a presentation (on file). Lahars can occur when hot molten lava flows on a glacier and melt ice and water to create a volcanic mudflow. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) map and modeling are incorrect. Regulations can't be written to improve safety from a seismic event. They can only improve early warning systems and monitoring. The amendments proposed by Councilmember Brenner are correct. Easterbrook answered questions about and councilmembers discussed whether the books that Dr. Easterbrook cited are published by a peer- reviewed, scientific press; the balance between individual and sociological risks; whether a lahar can happen without an eruption; the differences between debris flows and lahars; the lack of a geological record before 12,000 years ago; the difference between probable and possible events; and whether it makes sense to write a restrictive code based on the probability that an event happens infrequently, such as once every 10,000 years, for example. Carole Perry spoke about the many hours spent on this issue by staff, agencies, and advisory groups and dedicating resources instead to problems they can see. Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 4/4/2017, Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 Seth Woolson, attorney, spoke about lahars occurring only in conjunction with volcanic activity, which will provide advance notice and allow emergency planners to evacuate an area. Restrictive occupancy limits don't make sense. Linda Twitchell, Building Industry Association, spoke about the difference between probability and possibility and determining acceptable risk. An early warning system is appropriate and preferred over closing areas to use and development. Phil Wolth spoke about other jurisdictions that have made the same decisions, how insurers look at these risks, and getting better odds and probability from aggregating information from other volcanos. McShane spoke about getting information from other lahars and events not associated with volcanic eruptions. Councilmembers discussed the responsibility of government to protect people, the Council's direction to create the least restrictive lahar regulations allowed by law versus staff creating recommendations that are more restrictive, and focusing on early warning systems over restrictive development. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 2:35 p.m. ATT'I aea ►r q l/�r, 't r,q0 COUNTY °, ►.- r AT- Y Darla Br©wr', a firlcil clerk r y r ► r q ► ► • r \ Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 4/4/2017, Page 2