HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resource August 7 20191
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
August 7, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Todd Donovan called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Todd Donovan, Barry Buchanan, and Satpal Sidhu
Absent: None
Also Present: Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Tyler Byrd, and Carol Frazey
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. AB2019-351 REPORT FROM WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Sue Blake, Washington State University Extension, submitted and read from a
presentation (on file) and answered questions.
Chris Benedict, Washington State University Extension, answered questions.
Councilmembers and staff discussed translating educational materials to other
languages for non-English speaking farmers; business training that would help expand
options for value-added products in agricultural areas; making a commercial kitchen
available in Lynden; and City and County coordination on stormwater efforts.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. AB2019-383 ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE CHAPTER
11.32, BOATING AND SWIMMING, SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS, RELATING TO
TWO-STROKE ENGINE POWERED WATERCRAFT
Steve Hood, Department of Ecology, submitted a handout and gave a staff report on
benzene levels since 2000 in the City of Bellingham water intake. He answered questions
on the location of the intake pipe, whether there is monitoring on Lake Samish, and exhaust
going into the water.
Councilmembers discussed the community meeting at Lake Samish, and the number
of older 2-stroke engines that actually boat on the lakes.
2020.
Buchanan moved to amend the effective date from November 2019 to November
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Donovan, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
Buchanan moved to recommend approval as amended to the full Council.
Natural Resources Committee, 8/7/2019, Page 1
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The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Donovan, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
2. AB2019-424 REVIEW AND APPROVE SCOPING DOCUMENT FOR THE 2020
SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PLAN (SMP) PERIODIC UPDATE 2020
The following Planning and Development Services Department staff gave a staff
report and answered questions:
• Cliff Strong
• Ryan Ericson
Councilmembers and staff discussed the schedule for a more comprehensive update;
the list of issues not recommended because they are already in the Washington
Administrative Code (WAC); examining the issue of no net loss of ecological function;
Whatcom County's policy goal of knowing what land use changes would cause a net loss of
ecological function; the possibility of redoing the ecological baseline in this update;
considering issues with rising sea levels; measuring if there has been a no net loss since the
previous baseline done in 2007 versus the 2019 baseline; and whether policy language
should be in the SMP or the Comprehensive Plan.
Buchanan moved to hold and request staff and the consultant to provide as soon
as possible an estimate for creating a baseline of ecological function as shown in item 28,
including cost and timing, as would be required to be done in a comprehensive update.
The motion to hold carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Donovan, Buchanan, and Sidhu (3)
Nays: None (0)
Councilmembers and staff continued to discuss gravel bar mining and studying at
what distance back from the river it may make sense to remove gravel from dry uplands
and washes.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
�T[ie=f d6tIng�adjourned at 10:10 a.m.
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'Council Clerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHA COM COUNTY COUNCIL
WH COM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Add Donovan, Committee Chair
Natural Resources Committee, 8/7/2019, Page 2