HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources August 8 20181
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
August 8, 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: Todd Donovan and Satpal Sidhu
Absent: Tim Ballew
Also Present: Barbara Brenner, Barry Buchanan, and Tyler Byrd
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. RESOLUTION DECLARING COUNTY COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR THE 2018
WHATCOM COUNTY AGRICULTURAL STRATEGIC PLAN (FROM JULY 24)
(AB2018 -217)
Chris Elder, Planning and Development Services Department, answered questions on
a flexible policy framework regarding parcel reconfiguration.
Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Donovan and Sidhu (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Ballew (1)
Staff and councilmembers discussed advisory boards and committees presenting
annual reports.
2. RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS (PDR)
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE RANKING AND AUTHORIZING WHATCOM COUNTY
PDR ADMINISTRATOR AND WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO PROCEED
WITH THE ACQUISITION OF AN AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT
ON THE SIDHU APPLICATION (AB2018 -223)
Sean D'Agnolo, Purchase of Development Rights Oversight Committee Chair, spoke
about the importance of the support of local government to agriculture and stated he
supports the proposals.
Chris Elder, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted and read
from a presentation (on file) describing the applications and submitted an updated ranking
list (on file). He answered questions on the property features in which the properties are
scored, the impact of future upzones, the impact of funding on a property's priority rank,
alternatives to the Whatcom Land Trust, water supply for the VanderVeen property, water
Natural Resources Committee, 8/8/2018, Page 1
1 rights, potential agricultural use of the Chambers & Chambers property, and whether the
2 resolution specifies the rank of each property.
3
4 Sidhu moved to recommend approval to the full Council. He is not related to the
5 Sidhu family named in this resolution.
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7 Councilmembers and staff discussed whether they should purchase development
8 rights in areas that already have homes, given the demand for housing in the county; how
9 the County markets the program to the farming community; focusing on PDR target areas;
10 and the impact of neighbors next to a farm.
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12 The motion carried by the following vote:
13 Ayes: Donovan and Sidhu (2)
14 Nays: None (0)
15 Absent: Ballew (1)
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17 Councilmembers and staff discussed the request for a full -time equivalent (FTE)
18 employee in the strategic plan.
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21 OTHER BUSINESS
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23 There was no other business.
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26 ADJOURN
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28 The meeting adjourned at 10:29 a.m.
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41 -_
42 Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Todd Donovan, Committee Chair
Natural Resources Committee, 8/8/2018, Page 2