HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole November 6 2019Whatcom County
Council Special Committee of the Whole
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Committee Minutes - Draft Minutes
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
2:45 PM
Council Chambers
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 Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Draft Minutes November 6, 2019
Call To Order
Roll Call
Council Vice Chair Todd Donovan called the meeting to order at 2:45 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: 6 - Barbara Brenner, Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey
and Satpal Sidhu
Absent: 1 - Rud Browne
Committee Discussion
AB2019-472 Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 9.32, Unlawful Discharge of Firearms,
to establish a no shooting zone in the Drayton Harbor area of Whatcom County
Michael Jones, Blaine City Manager, submitted two emails (on file), sent to the
Mayor and the Blaine City Council, and a map showing the proposed zone (on file)
and he gave a report. He spoke about the boat launches on the map; the density of
use of the harbor and the density of development around the harbor; and how many
complaint calls have been received by the City, the Department of Fish and Wildlife
(DFW), and Blaine Police Departement. He answered questions about whether the
calls were for safety reasons.
Donnell Tanksley, Blaine City Police Chief, spoke about the number of calls made
over the last few years to 9-1-1 about safety concerns surrounding hunting and how
calls to DFW or elected officials are not factored into that data. He answered
questions about whether a person who calls the Police Department is identified,
whether any received calls on the issue have been verified to be about safety, what
constitutes a safety concern, and the range of pellets shot from a shot gun.
Councilmembers and Jones discussed whether there is data that reports on the
number of boats, kayakers, and walkers during the time that people would be
shooting; the population growth in Blaine; the distance between the shoreline and the
City limits; whether there are any homes in the range of a shot gun; what other hunting
locations there are in the county; and why the second proposal for a no -shooting zone
(AB2019-573) came as a separate petition request.
Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, gave an explanation of the process for the
two proposals.
Councilmembers and Jones discussed population growth, whether limiting hunting
areas would create another safety issue of hunters being concentrated in a few small
areas, making rules about incompatible recreational uses, and whether more data is
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Draft Minutes November 6, 2019
needed to make determinations about safety.
John Sitkin, Blaine City Attorney, spoke about the need for and the lack of available
data.
Karen Frakes, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, answered a question about whether
tribal treaty rights in open and unclaimed land would exempt tribal members from the
proposed ordinance and spoke about adding related language to the ordinance.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2019-573 Resolution acknowledging receipt of a citizen petition to form a no shooting zone in
Whatcom County to be known as the Dearborn No Shooting Zone
Sidhu moved to recommend introduction to the full Council. The motion was
seconded.
Dana Brown -Davis, answered a question about the process of the resolution.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 6 - Brenner, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Frazey, and Sidhu
Nay: 0
Absent: 1 - Browne
Doug Chadwick, Sheriffs Office, answered a question about a Sheriff report
submitted by the petitioner (on file), whether there have been firearm injury incidents
related to the area in question, whether a wound from shot gun pellets would be lethal,
how far a duck hunter need to be from shore, and whether a hunter could discharge a
firearm on land from the shoreline as opposed to the water if the land was not in a
no -shooting zone.
Sidhu moved and Frazey seconded that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED
FOR APPROVAL. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 6 - Brenner, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Frazey and Sidhu
Nay: 0
Absent: 1 - Browne
Other Business
Councilmembers and Brown -Davis discussed the process of adding an amendment to
the proposed ordinance AB2019-472 to include language about treaty rights.
Jones stated that addtional data could probably not be supplied by the City of Blaine.
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Draft Minutes November 6, 2019
Adjournment
Frazey moved to schedule the amended proposed ordinance for consideration on
December 3, 2019. The motion was seconded.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 4 - Buchanan, Donovan, Frazey, Sidhu
Nay: 1 - Byrd
Abstain: 1 - Brenner
Absent: 1 - Browne
The meeting adjourned at 3:47 p.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on December 3, 2019
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WHATCYJM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHAT,VOM COUNTY, WA
Todd Donovan, Council Vice Chair