HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole PM June 19 2018WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee of the Whole
June 19, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
Council Vice -Chair Todd Donovan called the meeting to order at 2:16 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Tim Ballew, Barbara Brenner, Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd
Donovan, and Satpal Sidhu.
Absent: Rud Browne
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1, DISCUSSION WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF REGARDING PUBLIC
WATER SYSTEM AUTHORITY AND PROCESSES CONTAINED WITHIN THE
COORDINATED WATER SYSTEM PLAN TO ADDRESS PROPOSED WATER
AVAILABILITY WITHIN SERVICE AREA BOUNDARIES (AB2018 -199)
The following staff gave a staff report:
• John Wolpers, Health Department
• Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, submitted a handout (on file)
• Richard Rodriguez, State Department of Health
Staff reported on the Coordinated Water System Plan, retail services areas, the
authority for each agency and jurisdiction, and State and municipal water law.
The following members of the public spoke:
• Roger Almskaar, land use consultant, spoke about reasonable water service
costs to homeowners.
• Bob Carmichael, attorney for certain water districts, spoke about not applying
changes to water districts.
• Dave Olsen, rural water systems consultant, submitted handouts (on file) and
spoke about plan definitions, including timely and reasonable service
standards and costs.
Staff and speakers answered questions on whether the County Council can make
amendments, the definition of "reasonable," whether districts participate on the Water
Utility Coordinating Committee (WUCC), and whether the coordinated water system plan
(CWSP) is flawed.
Special Committee of the Whole (PM), 6/19/2018, Page 1
1 Byrd moved to refer this issue to the Health Department to engage the WUCC, set a
2 deadline of September 30 to create solutions for the issues, determine the appeals process,
3 and decide how to regulate themselves. If necessary, they can hire an attorney to advise
4 on what the County Council can and can't do regarding water issues.
5
6 Staff and councilmembers continued to discuss creating temporary cost relief for
7 water customers until the processes are changed, the differences between water districts
8 and water associations and treating them differently, who owns water shares, who elects
9 water district supervisors, impacts of water service to affordable housing, the process for
10 convening the WUCC, and making sure there is a transparent application process.
11
12 Byrd restated the motion to refer this issue to the Health Department to convene
13 the WUCC to define a timely, reasonable, and transparent process and to set a deadline of
14 September 30 to create solutions for the issues.
15
16 The motion was seconded.
17
18 Sidhu suggested a friendly amendment to amend the CWSP to create a waiver if a
19 cost estimate is more than three times the water association share. Allow this particular
20 case to move forward before September and allow the WUCC to change the wording on the
21 CWSP to allow a waiver if the cost of hookup is more than three times the cost of the share.
22
23 Donovan stated the friendly amendment is not related to the original motion because
24 it's not related to giving direction to the WUCC.
25
26 The motion carried by the following vote:
27 Ayes: Ballew, Brenner, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, and Sidhu (6)
28 Nays: None (0)
29 Absent: Browne (1)
30
31 Sidhu moved to take this particular case and allow them to change the wording on
32 the CWSP to allow a waiver if the cost of hookup is more than three times the cost of the
33 share.
34
35 The motion was seconded.
36
37 Staff and councilmembers discussed unintended consequences for allowing a waiver
38 for a particular water customer
39
40 Sidhu withdrew the motion.
41
42 Donovan stated this item will be discussed at the next surface water work session to
43 discuss how this impacts the Engrossed Substitute House Bill (ESHB) 6091 process and how
44 to mitigate for wells.
45
46
47 OTHER BUSINESS
48
49 There was no other business.
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Special Committee of the Whole (PM), 6/19/2018, Page 2
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m.
The Council approved these minutes on July 10, 2018.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATC M COUNTY COUNCIL
WHAT M COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Todd Donovan, Council Vice -Chair
Special Committee of the Whole (PM), 6/19/2018, Page 3