HomeMy WebLinkAboutSurface Water Work Session September 17 2019Whatcom County
Council Surface Water Work Session
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Minutes - Final
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
10:30 AM
Civic Center Building Garden Room
COUNCILMEMBERS
Barbara Brenner
Rud Browne
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Todd Donovan
Carol Frazey
Satpal Sidhu
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Surface Water Work Session Minutes - Final September 17, 2019
Call To Order
Roll Call
Council Vice Chair Todd Donovan called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. in the
Civic Center Garden Level Conference Room, 322 Commercial Avenue, Bellingham,
Washington.
Present: 6 - Barbara Brenner, Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey
and Satpal Sidhu
Absent: 1 - Rud Browne
Watershed Planning Update
Gary Stoyka, Publlic Works Department, gave an update on a request to give
recommendations for the County Executive to take to the Watershed Managment
Board meeting concerning the WRIA 1 Watershed Management Board's five-year
work plan.
Brenner moved to send the plan to the Planning Unit for review and recommendation
to the Council. The motion was seconded.
The motion failed by the following vote:
Aye: 2 - Brenner and Byrd
Nay: 4 - Buchanan, Donovan, Frazey, and Sidhu
Absent: 1 - Browne
Frazey moved to forward a recommendation to the Executive to vote for approval of
the proposed plan changes. The motion was seconded.
Frazey withdrew her motion and moved to hold the item and refer it to the Council
Natural Resources Committee.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 4 - Buchanan, Donovan, Frazey, and Sidhu
Nay: 0
Abstain: 2 - Brenner and Byrd
Absent: 1 - Browne
Stoyka continued his update on Watershed Planning and discussed with
Councilmembers other topics being covered in the upcoming meetings of the
Watershed Management Board and the Planning Unit, contracts with the
Conservation District and RH2 Engineering to provide for water efficiency work and
an assessment for water banking, regional water supply planning work led by the
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Council Surface Water Work Session Minutes - Final September 17, 2019
Public Utility District (PUD), an update by the Department of Ecology (DOE) on the
status of the adjudication review process funded by the State Legislature, scheduling a
DOE update to the Natural Resources Committee, and a follow up study of the
impacts of onsite sewage systems around Lake Whatcom.
Steve Jilk, Public Utility District (PUD) General Manager, reported on amending the
PUD's Drought Contingency Plan based on comments from the Bureau of
Reclamation.
2020-2025 Water Resources Improvement Plan
The following staff submitted a handout, reported, and answered questions on the
projects for the 2020-2025 Six -Year Water Resources Improvement Program.
Kraig Olason, Public Works Department
Paula Harris, Public Works Department
Proposed 2020 Flood Control Zone District Budaet
The following staff reported and answered questions on the proposed 2020 FCZD
Budget items, including each cost center in the workplan and supporting
documentation:
Paula Harris, Public Works Department
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department
Proposed BBWARM Code Updates
The following staff reported and answered questions on a proposed resolution
ADOPTING CHANGES TO WCC 100.07 BIRCH BAY WATERSHED AND
AQUATIC RESOURCES MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FUNDING
MECHANISM, BY ADDING AN EXEMPTION FOR THE BIRCH BAY
WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT:
Kraig Olason, Public Works Department
Holly Faulstich, Public Works Department
Other Business - Public Comments
Donovan asked if anyone would like to give comments and the following people
spoke:
Karlee Deatherage, Environmental Caucus to the Planning Unit, spoke about
whether funding for Planning Unit coordination is included in the Flood Control Zone
District (FCZD) budget.
Dan Eisses, Birch Bay Water and Sewer District, stated the Five -Year Work Plan
went to the Planning Unit as a group and they made comments on it at that time.
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Council Surface Water Work Session Minutes - Final September 17, 2019 ,
Adiournment
DOcn Baker commented onconcerns ofthe Planning Unit about the Five -Year
Work Plan and the Draught Contingency Plan.
Carol Perry spoke about the County being the lead agency iuthe process ofsolving
water issues.
David Ookelmspoke about Council authority iuapproving the Watershed
Management Plan.
The meeting adjourned at 12:07 p.m.
The County Council approved these minutes ou September 24,2019.
VVBATCOMCOUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
'.Daha U�own,�,RMjg 06uticil Clerk Todd Donovan, Council Vice Chair
Kristi Felbiuger, Minutes Transcription
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