HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources September 24 2019Whatcom County
Council Natural Resources Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste 4105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
9:30 AM
Council Chambers
COUNCILMEMBERS
Barry Buchanan
Todd Donovan
Satpal Sidhu
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Council Natural Resources Committee Committee Minutes - Final September 24, 2019
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Todd Donovan called the meeting to order at 9:31 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: 3 - Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan and Satpal Sidhu
Absent: None
Also present: Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Tyler Byrd, Carol Frazey
Committee Discussion
1. AB2019-396 Discussion of WRIA 1 Watershed Management Board 2018-2023 Work Plan
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, gave an update and Councilmembers
discussed the process for approval of the work plan.
Donovan opened the floor for public comment and the following people spoke about
how the Planning Unit has engaged in commenting on the update for the watershed
management plan:
Karlee Deatherage
Dave Onkels
Kathy Sable
Skip Richards
Councilmembers discussed and Stoyka answered questions about the Planning Unit
process for giving recommendations, timing for approving the work plan, and
schedules for the upcoming Management Board and Planning Unit meetings.
Buchanan moved that the work plan be returned to the Planning Unit for approval
and then resubmitted to the Council.
Sihu suggested a friendly amendment to set a limit of sixty days for return to
Council.
Buchanan accepted the friendly amendment.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan, and Satpal Sidhu
Nay: 0
Buchanan moved to amend his motion to clarify that it is a recommendation to the
full Council.
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Council Natural Resources Committee Committee Minutes - Final September 24, 2019
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan, and Satpal Sidhu
Nay: 0
This agenda item was DISCUSSED AND A MOTION WAS APPROVED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2019-475 Resolution declaring the County Council's support for the update to the Rural Land
Study to identify areas deserving heightened agricultural protection measures
Larry Davis, Agricultural Advisory Committee Chair, reported on background
information and thanked the County staff members who helped with the Rural Lands
Study update.
Chris Elder, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted and gave a
presentation (on file) and answered questions about water banking, how many
members of the Agricultural Advisory Committee are full time farmers, how the loss of
productive farmland has been determined, and ideas for how to make up for lost
agricultural land including segregating residential uses to more effectively maximize
adjacent agricultural uses.
Sidhu moved that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Buchanan, Donovan and Sidhu
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Other Business
Adjournment
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 10:53 a.m.
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Council Natural Resources Committee Committee Minutes - Final September 24, 2019
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Todd Donovan, Committee Chair