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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources July 24 20181 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 July 24, 2018 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: Tim Ballew, Todd Donovan, Satpal Sidhu Absent: None Also Present: Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, and Tyler Byrd COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 1. BRIEFING FROM PUBLIC WORKS STAFF ON ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON THE WRIA 1 WATERSHED MANAGEMENT BOARD'S AUGUST 1 MEETING AGENDA AND DISCUSSION OF REQUEST FOR COUNCIL INPUT ON THE BOARD'S DRAFT 2018 -2023 WORK PLAN (AB2018 -216) Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, reported on the upcoming Watershed Management Board meeting, including the Watershed Management Board on the Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 6091 process, Salmon Recovery Funding Board project review, and the eight strategies in the draft Watershed Management Board work plan. He answered questions. Stoyka and councilmembers discussed funding of the Watershed Management Board work plan; engaging the Planning Unit with Watershed Management Board; Council approval of spending on projects; drainage -based management planning mostly for the Bertrand drainage; potential funding sources; past attempts to develop surface water and groundwater modeling; monitoring and planning versus implementing projects; creating a pilot project for strategy 4 of the plan, which is drainage based management planning; and the timeline for finalizing the draft work plan. Carole Perry described the history of watershed management in the county. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL 1. PRESENTATION BY THE AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PDS STAFF ON THE 2018 AGRICULTURAL STRATEGIC PLAN AND DISCUSSION OF A PROPOSED RESOLUTION DECLARING COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR THE PLAN (AB2018 -217) Larry Davis, Agricultural Advisory Committee Chair, introduced the presentation and acknowledged the exceptional work of Planner Chris Elder. He answered questions on the goal of preserving 100,000 acres of land available for agricultural use. Natural Resources Committee, 7/24/2018, Page 1 1 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 Chris Elder, Planning and Development Services Department, answered questions on the natural resource marketplace compensating for services that farmers provide and on who is paying for land conversion to another use. He gave a presentation on the agricultural strategic plan. (Clerk's Note: Councilmember Sidhu left the meeting early.) Ba//ew moved to recommend approval of a resolution declaring County Council support of the 2018 Whatcom County Agricultural Strategic Plan. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Ballew and Donovan (2) Nays: None (0) Absent: Sidhu (1) OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 11:01 a.m. GQtj ATTEST: � 4 N11 C/ a Dana Qavis, Council Clerk Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription WHATCO COUNTY COUNCIL WHATC COUNTY, WASHINGTON Todd Donovan, Committee Chair Natural Resources Committee, 7/24/2018, Page 2