HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole June 13 2017WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee of the Whole
June 13, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 9:30 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
1. CONTINUATION OF COUNCIL'S REVIEW OF THE 2016 CRITICAL AREAS
ORDINANCE UPDATE (AB2016 -276K) REVIEW OF CERTAIN QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, AND SUGGESTIONS BY STAFF AND COUNCILMEMBERS RELATED
TO: ARTICLE 5 — CRITICAL AQUIFER RECHARGE AREAS, ARTICLE 8 —
CONSERVATION PROGRAM ON AGRICULTURE LANDS, ARTICLE 9 —
DEFINITIONS
The following staff answered questions:
• Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department
• George Boggs, Conservation District
• Ryan Ericson, Planning and Development Services Department
Staff and councilmembers discussed the following items:
• Staff response to an email from Wendy Harris regarding best available science
(BAS)
• Whether and how they should protect critical aquifer recharge areas (CARAs)
from agricultural pollution from 1,500 small farms in the county without farm
plans, which are impacting the CARAs, but are not mentioned in Article 5
• Creating a new Article in the code for agricultural - related statutes and
changing the membership of the Agricultural Advisory Committee
• Possible processes for educating farm owners regarding problems and best
management practices
• Possibly contracting with the Conservation District to collect data on the
number and types of small farms in the county
Weimer moved to look at the septic system model for a self- reporting feedback
loop within the high susceptibility CARAs.
The motion was seconded.
Browne suggested a friendly amendment that considers a broader range of
participants to come up with a solution, such as the agricultural community, rather than just
Special Committee of the Whole, 6/13/2017, Page 1
1 use the septic system model, "to eIN at the septie systern M I identify and engage all
2 relevant stakeholders."
3
4 Weimer accepted the friendly amendment.
5
6 Brenner stated the County must engage all relevant agricultural users.
7
8 Weimer restated the motion to ask staff to identify and engage all relevant
9 agricultural stakeholders for a self- reporting feedback loop.
10
11 Strong stated he understands that the motion is to request staff to create a draft
12 path forward for how they would put together a program to educate people on best
13 practices, and once Council agrees with the process, they would engage the stakeholders.
14
15 The Council concurred with Mr. Strong.
16
17 The motion carried by the following vote:
18 Ayes: Brenner, Mann, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (7)
19 Nays: None (0)
20
21 Donovan moved to amend 16.16.810, "A
22 Keeping horses and other large animals creates potential adverse impacts to critical areas
23 and to water quality. It is the County's policy to minimize such impacts."
24
25 The motion was seconded.
26
27 Brenner suggested a friendly amendment, "...It is the County's policy to
28 minimize stir potential impacts."
29
30 Donovan accepted the friendly amendment.
31
32 Donovan amended the motion to amend 16.16.810, "Agricultural operations,
33 including keeping horses and other large animals, create potential adverse impacts to
34 critical areas and water quality. It is the County's policy to minimize such potential
35 impacts."
36
37 The motion carried by the following vote:
38 Ayes: Mann, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (6)
39 Nays: None (0)
40 Abstains: Brenner (1)
41
42 Brenner moved to amend 16.16.810(D), "Degradation of Riparian Areas. The
43 term ... and keep water cooler in summer. If it occurs, uncontrolled grazing reeves has the
44 potential to remove important riparian vegetation."
45
46 The motion was seconded.
47
48 The motion carried by the following vote:
49 Ayes: Brenner, Mann, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (7)
50 Nays: None (0)
51
52 Brenner moved to amend 16.16.820(D)(1), "Type 1 low impact farm or livestock
53 operations."
Special Committee of the Whole, 6/13/2017, Page 2
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2 The motion was seconded.
3
4 Staff and councilmembers discussed identifying level of impact of a farm versus farm
5 size.
6
7 The motion failed by the following vote:
8 Ayes: Brenner (1)
9 Nays: Mann, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (6)
10
11 Brenner moved to amend 16.16.820(D)(2)(a), "Type 2 operations are farms that
12 include, but are not limited to those that exceed one...."
13
14 The motion was seconded.
15
16 The motion carried by the following vote:
17 Ayes: Brenner, Mann, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (7)
18 Nays: None (0)
19
20 Brenner moved to amend 16.16.830(B)(1), "Only on enge+ftg agricultural land
21 where such activities are a demonstrated to be an integral part of the end +n -g agriculture
22 use or part of routine maintenance; and."
23
24 The motion was seconded.
25
26 Councilmembers and staff discussed defining an active, ongoing agricultural status.
27
28 The motion failed by the following vote:
29 Ayes: Brenner (1)
30 Nays: Mann, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (6)
31
32 Browne moved to amend 16.16.830(B)(1), "Only on ongoing agricultural land
33 where such activities are a demonstrated part of th - vffgvi-ngr a history of legal agriculture
34 use or part of routine maintenance; and."
35
36 The motion was seconded.
37
38 Sidhu suggested a friendly amendment to add language, "Other state or federal
39 rules may apply."
40
41 Browne accepted the friendly amendment.
42
43 Councilmembers and staff discussed historical uses and how the County is the
44 State's enforcement mechanism for the Growth Management Act.
45
46 Browne withdrew the motion.
47
48 Councilmembers stated they would like more information on the definition of ongoing
49 agriculture and historical agriculture.
50
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OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
The Gounciy,ppproved these minutes on September 26, 2017.
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Special Committee of the Whole, 6/13/2017, Page 4