HomeMy WebLinkAboutSurface Water Work Session October 17 2017Whatcom County Council
Surface Water Work Session
October 17, 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 A0201.7 -024
1. WATER PLANNING UNIT
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, stated there is no new information on the
Watershed Management Board or groundwater modeling project. A water supply symposium
is postponed to December 13.
2. PLANNING UNIT PRESENTATION
The following Planning Unit members submitted information on the Planning Unit
work products (on file), gave a presentation, and answered questions:
• Dick Whitmore, forestry caucus
• Dan Eisses, water districts caucus
• Andy Ross, non - government water systems caucus
35 Every entity was involved in developing the plans. They're good plans, that may
35 need some tweaking. They are interested in defining a path forward. There are key points:
37 1. Whatcom County has done a lot of work with water resources management,
38 and should get credit for it.
39 2. The County is currently doing a lot of work with water resources
40 management, and should get credit for it.
41 3. Look at the future and identify the remaining work that needs to be done.
Planning Unit members read through the handout and stated the 2001
Comprehensive Water Resource Plan (CWRP) structure is well done. The difference between
the 2001 CWRP and the water resources inventory area (WRIA) 1 Watershed Management
Plan is that the WRIA 1 plan is a replacement of the 2001 CWRP and goes beyond being just
the County's plan, to include other agencies. The 2007 Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP)
focuses only on what is planned for a two -year period in implementing the 2005 plan. The
Lower Nooksack Strategy was developed in 2010 to change the focus of the items that the
County planned to work on. Geneva Consulting created reports on what work from the
plans was actually done. There are holes in the information on what has been done. A
partial solution to water concerns is in the Coordinated Water System Plan, by making sure
people can hook up to water associations. If those associations have a declared service
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area, they have enough water rights for that service area and possibly could sell a portion of
their water rights to cover an exempt well. Review the instream flow action plan executive
summary. Whatcom County is doing good work.
Councilmembers asked questions about and discussed whether the Planning Unit
would make recommendations on exempt well issues or a WRIA 1 budget, accomplishments
of the Lower Nooksack Strategy, the cost for Geneva Consulting to extend the report over
the last 11 years, the scope of the Geneva Consulting contract, impacts from staff and
Planning Unit member turnover, preventing water right adjudication, and the challenges of
implementing solutions.
The Planning Unit will return to complete its presentation in November.
3. OVERVIEW OF 2018 FLOOD BUDGET
Paula Harris, Public Works Department, read through the packet materials. Staff
time for implementing projects and programs is now budgeted under the particular project
or program. She answered questions on how certain the money is from the federal
government and the reason for less revenue due to fewer grants.
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, continued to read through the packet
materials on the budgets for the Natural Resources administration and the Flood Control
Zone District budget. He answered questions on potential grants and whether the County
could have a hydro - geologist on staff to help citizens with their projects.
4. LAKE WHATCOM
Total Maximum. Daily Load (TMDL ) Implementation Plan
Cathy Craver, Public Works Department, stated the they must submit the 10 -year
implementation plan this year. She described the plan. The Department of Ecology will
issue the next five -year permit in August 2019, after the one -year extension. TMDL - related
activities will be required with deadlines. The plan for the first five years will have more
detail than years six through ten.
Councilmembers and staff discussed how many developable lots exist in the county
and in the City of Bellingham, whether the County should give money to citizens through
the homeowner improvement program (HIP) to make sure their property doesn't pollute,
doing outreach for hazardous waste before 2024, the coordination between the County and
City to avoid duplication of efforts, educating people on ecologically -sound lawn care, and
not allowing equestrian use in the County park properties being developed in the Lake
Whatcom watershed.
Selection of Representative for October 23 City COLlnCll Meeting
Stoyka stated he would like a councilmember to attend the October 23 City Council
meeting to give a perspective on County Council funding.
Buchanan moved to appoint Donovan to attend the City Council meeting.
The motion was seconded.
The motion carried by the following vote:
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Ayes: Brenner, Mann, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (7)
Nays: None (0)
Options for Special District
Stoyka described different options for special district models and stated stormwater
work is the responsibility of the County, not the Flood Control Zone District, so a stormwater
utility may be more appropriate than a flood subzone. The Council needs to decide what it
wants to fund with the revenue collected from a special district. In November, he will bring
forward an ordinance to establish the district and put together a request for proposals to
study possible fee structures.
Staff and councilmembers discussed an appropriate funding structure, not charging
people who have stormwater protection measures on their property, and what could be
funded from revenue would be collected. Tasks that could be funded include lake
monitoring and educational efforts around the lake.
Weimer moved to establish a stormwater utility in November.
The motion was seconded.
Councilmembers discussed the need to know the costs of administration, parcel
assessment, monitoring, and implementing.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mann, Sidhu, Browne, Buchanan, Weimer and Donovan (6)
Nays: Brenner (1)
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:37 p.m.
The Council approved these minutes on November 21, 2017.
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Dana grown,-Davis,,[qu. -hcil Clerk
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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