HomeMy WebLinkAboutSurface Water Work Session May 15 2018Whatcom County Council
Surface Water Work Session
May 15, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Rud Browne 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: Tim Ballew, Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Tyler
Byrd, Todd Donovan, and Satpal Sidhu.
Absent: None
SURFACE WATER WORK SESSION (AB2018 -024)
1. FLOODPLAINS BY DESIGN UPDATE
Paula Harris, Public Works Department, submitted and read from a presentation (on
file). The County made the short -list and is invited to submit a full application. She
described the background and purpose of the Floodplains by Design program and answered
questions on how and why the program was originally developed, whether a project can
change after a grant is awarded, who is in charge of decision - making, and potentially
building water storage areas.
2. WATER PLANNING UPDATE
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, gave an update on the Lake Whatcom
Stormwater Utility public meeting and creating the advisory committee; the timeline for
implementing the utility for 2019; the status of the Burk Consulting contract; converting
population data to consumptive use numbers; the process for determining and offsetting the
impact of exempt wells; determining net ecological benefit by offsetting all consumptive use
at the place and time it is withdrawn, if possible; the Planning Unit and staff team meeting
schedule; and including and prioritizing projects.
Stoyka answered questions and councilmembers discussed the timeline for creating
the stormwater utility.
Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, provided information on upcoming meetings on
the water resources inventory area (WRIA) 1 website.
Stoyka submitted a handout of the WRIA 1 governance structure (on file) based on
the 2016 Interlocal Agreement and answered questions about the duties of the Planning
Unit outside the requirements of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 6091.
Jack Louws, County Executive, described the authority, role, and responsibility of the
Watershed Management Board. Whatcom County did not abdicate its authority to the
Watershed Management Board under State legislation. The Board's actions are not binding
on the legislative bodies until approved by the legislative bodies. It's good to collaborate
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with the Tribes early on in a process. The Watershed Management Board implementation
plan is not a planning document. The legislative bodies of the jurisdictions have to approve
funding for implementation. The Board structure works and the Planning Unit is doing its
work.
Staff and councilmembers discussed the structure and purpose of the Planning Unit,
WRIA 1 governance structure, setting deadlines for the staff decisions on ESSB 6091 to the
Planning Unit by September, so there is enough time for the County Council to make
changes; amending the draft implementation plan to indicate that the County Council, not
the Watershed Management Board, makes the decisions; the implementation efforts in the
implementation plan; and the best way for the Council to participate in collaboration efforts,
instead of seeing the proposal in September.
3. PLANNING UNIT UPDATE
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, submitted a handout of the water resources
inventory area (WRIA) 1 Planning Unit Caucus Representatives (on fi /e) and described how
caucuses and the Planning Unit as a whole reach consensus.
The following Planning Unit members submitted a handout of WRIA
Basics /Background (on file) and gave a presentation on the Planning Unit progress and
recent decisions:
• Dick Whitmore, forestry caucus
• Dan Eisses, water districts caucus
• Ann Russell, environmental caucus
Staff, Planning Unit members, and councilmembers discussed focusing on solutions,
not process; working with Gary Stoyka; successful and respectful collaboration; and the
proposed resolution from Councilmembers Brenner and Byrd.
The following people spoke about the governance structure and role of the Planning
Unit:
• Dave Onkels
• Carol Perry
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:08 p.m.
The Cou[ricil approved these minutes on July 10, 201
ATTEST:
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Dares Br6wh- l3av,is, Co ncil,,lerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOiM TUNTY COUNCIL
WHATC M UNTY, WASHINGTON
Rud Br6wne, Council Chair
Surface Water Work Session, 5/15/2018, Page 2