HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole February 27 20181
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee of the Whole
February 27, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 1:25 p.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Tim Ballew, Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Tyler
Byrd, Todd Donovan, and Satpal Sidhu.
Absent: None.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. RESOLUTION INITIATING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ZONING
AMENDMENTS (AB2018 -084)
Matt Aamot, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted and read
from a presentation (on file) describing the docket items and answered questions.
The following people answered questions:
Jack Louws, County Executive
Mark Personius, Planning and Development Services Department
• Lynn Murphy, Puget Sound Energy
Staff and councilmembers discussed the docketed item for the six -year capital
improvement program, how the Council can impact the priority of docketed items given the
available staff resources, the role of subarea plans, commercial forestry areas around Lake
Whatcom that the County has taken over, and zoning based on ownership.
Timothy Stapleton, State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), spoke about plans
for recreation on DNR land and whether Whatcom County wants the DNR to allow off -road
vehicle (ORV) as a recreational use on DNR land in Whatcom County.
Councilmembers and staff discussed the number of people who support or oppose
ORV use on DNR land, determining the impacts of recreational use before submitting the
application, whether a sanctioned use would discourage unsanctioned use in the
surrounding area, sound and fire complaints, who is responsible for policing problems on
property adjacent to DNR land, liability for injuries on public land, the cost and planning
process for a sanctioned park, ongoing maintenance, potential for illegal dumping,
designated funding versus grant funds, design features of an ORV park, impacts from
unsanctioned use versus sanctioned use on habitat and water quality in other counties,
hours of use, feedback from people who don't live in Whatcom County, authorizing ORV
parks on private commercial forest land by default, and increasing opportunities for tourism
in the foothills.
Special Committee of the Whole, 2/27/2018, Page 1
1 Aamot continued the staff report and presentation on the Comprehensive Plan and
2 Code amendments docket.
3
4 Staff and councilmembers discussed the number of people on the Agricultural
5 Advisory Committee who are farmers, the Planning Department's ability to docket items at
6 any time, and whether wind energy is viable and profitable.
7
8 Browne referenced and reported on his proposal for the ninth new docket item
9 regarding Cherry Point amendments.
10
11 Councilmembers and staff discussed code amendments in the contract deliverables
12 from Cascadia Law Group regarding the Cherry Point amendments, differentiating between
13 the types of refined and unrefined fossil fuels, and docketing an item to identify the goals
14 for fish recovery and restoring harvest.
15
16 Donovan moved to recommend to the full Council to remove item four regarding
17 the motorized trail system from DNR.
18
19 The motion was seconded.
20
21 Councilmembers discussed whether or not they should allow the docket item to
22 continue to move through the process, the public comments received regarding the rezone,
23 and DNR refining its proposal.
24
25 The motion carried by the following vote:
26 Ayes: Ballew, Brenner, Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, and Sidhu (7)
27 Nays: None (0)
28
29 Donovan moved to add item nine, PLN2018- 00009, Cherry Point Amendments,
30 Applicant Whatcom County Council, to: Amend the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan
31 and Whatcom County Code to address ways the County may limit the negative impacts on
32 public safety, transportation, the economy, and the environment from crude oil, coal,
33 liquefied petroleum gases, and natural gas exports from the Cherry Point Urban Growth
34 Area, in accordance with Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Policy 2CC -16.
35
36 The motion was seconded.
37
38 The motion carried by the following vote:
39 Ayes: Ballew, Browne, Buchanan, Donovan, and Sidhu (5)
40 Nays: Brenner and Byrd (2)
41
42 Ballew moved to add a docket item to amend the Comprehensive Plan to create a
43 new policy to work with Lummi and Nooksack Nations, the State Department of Fish and
44 Wildlife (WDFW) and other stakeholders to establish a sustainable salmon harvest goal for
45 the county.
46
47 The motion was seconded.
48
49 The motion carried by the following vote:
50 Ayes: Ballew, Brenner, Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, and Sidhu (7)
51 Nays: None (0)
52
Special Committee of the Whole, 2/27/2018, Page 2
1 Staff and councilmembers discussed the status of the older docketed items, creating
2 a sunset clause for older items, the specific docket item regarding weddings and special
3 events, and whether the language regarding the Hirst language is still applicable.
4
5 Donovan moved to recommend to the full Council as amended.
6
7 The motion was seconded.
8
9 The motion carried by the following vote:
10 Ayes: Ballew, Brenner, Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, and Sidhu (7)
11 Nays: None (0)
12
13
14 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
15
16 1. ORDINANCE ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE URBAN FRINGE SUBAREA
17 PLAN, WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND WHATCOM COUNTY
18 ZONING CODE (ORDINANCE SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING THIS
19 EVENING) (AB2018 -055)
20
21 Matt Aamot, Planning and Development Services Department, stated there was no
22 recommendation last time from committee.
23
24 Browne stated no action on this is necessary today.
25
26 2. ORDINANCE ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO WHATCOM COUNTY CODE TITLE 2,
27 ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL; TITLE 9, PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND
28 WELFARE; TITLE 15, BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION; TITLE 16,
29 ENVIRONMENT; TITLE 20, ZONING; TITLE 21, LAND DIVISION
30 REGULATIONS; TITLE 23, SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM; TITLE 24,
31 HEALTH; AND CREATING A NEW TITLE 22, LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT
32 PROCEDURES, TO RELOCATE AND REVISE PROCEDURES FOR LAND USE AND
33 DEVELOPMENT RELATED PROJECT PERMITS AND LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
34 CODE (AB2018 -056) (CONTINUED FROM 2/13/18)
35
36 The following staff submitted and read from a presentation (on file), submitted a
37 handout of the current and proposed code matrix (on file), and answered questions:
38 C Amy Keenan, Planning and Development Services Department
39 a Nick Smith, Planning and Development Services Department
40
41 Staff and councilmembers discussed the process for working through the code
42 amendments.
43
44 Browne moved to hold public hearings sequentially in sections as proposed by staff
45 in each work session.
46
47 The motion was seconded.
48
49 Councilmembers and staff discussed including a scheduled time for public comments
50 during each work session and bundling the non - controversial items together in the same
51 public hearing, major project permit amendments, and impacts of the amendments on the
52 existing permit holders.
53
Special Committee of the Whole, 2/27/2018, Page 3
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Ballew, Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, and Sidhu (6)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Brenner (out of the room) (1)
Staff continued the presentation on amendments to the purpose and applicability,
consolidated permit review, pre - application meetings, and the applicant submittal and
determination of completeness.
Staff and councilmembers discussed noting changes in the decision -maker for certain
requests, the creation of an administrative manual, how to make sure the administrative
manual is applied consistently, and creating a process for the Council to review changes to
the administrative manual.
Carol Perry stated she supports the proposed ordinance.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 4:22 p.m.
The Council approved these minutes on April 10, 2018.
'OulITY
Darla Brovvn- D.avis;' Council,.tlerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATC9M COUNTY COUNCIL
WHAT O 77ASHINGTON
Rud rowne, Council Chair
Special Committee of the Whole, 2/27/2018, Page 4