HomeMy WebLinkAboutSurface Water Work Session April 11 2017Whatcom County Council
Surface Water Work Session
April 11, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. in the Civic
Center Garden Level Conference Room, 322 Commercial Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Satpal Sidhu, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Ken
Mann, Todd Donovan and Carl Weimer
Absent: None
SURFACE WATER WORK SESSION (AB2017 024 ,
1. WATER PLANNING UPDATE
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, gave a staff report on the Planning Unit
meeting schedule. They've received results of phases 2 and 3 of groundwater modeling and
a presentation on modifications to the Middle Fork diversion structure. The consultant is
working on implementation of watershed management plan items. He reported on the Joint
Board /Watershed Management Board meeting schedule and preparation of five -year work
plan to integrate all water projects. They are still processing invoices for the Joint Board
account. They need to identify long -term funding strategy of Joint Board /Watershed
Management Board.
Regarding the groundwater modeling update, they have money to complete phase 4
of the Lynden /Everson /Nooksack /Sumas groundwater modeling project.
2. FLOOD AND WATER RESOURCES LEVELS OF SERVICE AND FUNDING
file).
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, submitted and read from a presentation (on
The following staff answered questions:
• Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department Director
• Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office
• Henry Bierlink, Ag Water Board
Staff answered questions and the councilmembers discussed impacts to salmon
recovery from countries fishing too close to US waters, acidity from Asia, how to address
the Supreme Court Hirst decision, competition between hatchery fish and wild fish, the cost
of the homeowner incentive program, revenue sources, the reallocation of revenue to meet
the needs of water resource programs and the general fund, the increased budget in 2017
due to plans to construct the Deming levee, the differences between an annual budget
amount versus actual amounts spent, and the cycle of large capital projects every three to
five years.
Carol Perry spoke about the unclear relationship between the Joint Board /Watershed
Management Board and the Planning Unit.
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Stoyka continued the presentation on the level of service funding options. He
referenced the presentation and a handout of water resource level -of- service and funding
options (on file).
Staff and councilmembers continued to discuss the best process for creating
homeowner incentives for the Homeowner Incentive Program (HIP), the flood fund that
fluctuates due to the cycle of saving for and spending on major capital construction, the
shift in revenue collection from the flood fund to general fund, the difference between
budgeted and actual expenditures, and the County anticipating the loss of a substantial
amount of State and federal grant funds.
Stoyka continued the presentation on the four proposed levels of service.
Staff and councilmembers continued to discuss Conservation District farm planning;
using other funds to pay for programs that would otherwise be reduced; the difference
between the Corps levee program and the FEMA flood insurance program; coordinating
culvert and trail programs; the possibility of using money from other funds; losing grant
revenue due to the lack of matching funds; the fate of future grant funds; focusing on
priorities, which include protecting capacity to implement programs, water quality, and
maintaining current spending; considering additional projects that the Council wants, but
aren't on the list of current programs; raising more revenue instead of using money from
the general fund; not giving money to property owners through the homeowner incentive
program (HIP); and creating a list to move forward that includes all the programs, their
cost, their source of funding, and how many people are affected.
Hutchings stated staff will condense the information into a form the councilmembers
can use to consider the appropriate level of service and funding options. Staff needs to
know whether this meets the Council's needs, is consistent with the request made in the
Council resolution approved last November, and what staff must do next. They will discuss
this further at the May surface water work session, before the field trip to Swift Creek and
Oat Coles Bridge.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:04 p.m.
The Council approved these minutes on May 16, 2017.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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nan, Council Chair
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