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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources September 12 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 Natural Resources Committee September 12, 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: Satpal Sidhu and Todd Donovan Absent: Carl Weimer Also Present: Barbara Brenner, Ken Mann, Rud Browne, and Barry Buchanan SPECIAL PRESENTATION 1, PRESENTATION OF THE WILDLIFE ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S ECOSYSTEM REPORT (AB2017 -274) Vickie Jackson, Wildlife Advisory Committee Chair, reported on the Advisory Committee's process and information for creating the ecosystem report. She thanked Planner Chris Elder for his staff support of the committee. The five most important points are: 1. Identify and protect high functioning habitats and the corridors that connect them. 2. Develop a database of wildlife and habitat in Whatcom County. 3. Develop a county ecosystem conservation plan. 4. Extend the duration of the Wildlife Advisory Committee, and possibly expand to a natural resources advisory committee. 5. Develop incentive programs for protecting wildlife, habitat, and sensitive areas. Chris Elder, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted the full report (on file) and gave a presentation (on file) on the ecosystem report regarding the methodology, findings, and recommendations. He answered questions on whether they collected new data in the field to produce the report, tribal access granted by the Point Elliot Treaty, including only the priority species in the report, and ecosystem assessments in other jurisdictions. Councilmembers and staff discussed the specific report recommendations. Linda Twitchell, Building Industry Association, stated she has concerns about accepting the information into County Code and the cost of assessments. Carol Perry spoke about historic precipitation in Whatcom County and making sure government prioritizes people. OTHER BUSINESS Natural Resources Committee, 9/12/2017, Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 There was no other business. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m. ATTEST��,*/'`. Q Dana - :gown- Davis; Council ClErk Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription WCOM COUNTY COUNCIL W A COM COUNTY, WASHINGTON n r f Todd onovan, Committee Chair Natural Resources Committee, 9/12/2017, Page 2