HomeMy WebLinkAboutSurface Water Work Session November 12 2019Whatcom County
Council Surface Water Work Session
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste 4105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Minutes - Final
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
10:30 AM
Civic Center Building Garden Room
COUNCILMEMBERS
Barbara Brenner
Kud 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 November 12, 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: 5 - Barbara Brenner, Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan and Carol
Frazey
Absent: 2 - Rud Browne and Satpal Sidhu
Marine Resources Committee Update
Swift Creek Update
The following people gave a presentation (PowerPoint included in the agenda packet)
about the work of the Marine Resources Committee (MRC) over the last 20 years
including beach clean-ups and monitoring, various surveys, and restoration efforts.
They highlighted projects and partnerships including the Northwest Straits Initiative,
the Marine Conservation class at Western Washington University, the North Sound
Stewards Program, a survey of the invasive green crab in Drayton Harbor, the
Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST), a fish forage internship,
and community outreach efforts.
Glen "Alex" Alexander
Dr. Brooke Love
Margaret Grant
Amanda Weiss
Eleanor Hines
They answered questions about the green crab invasive species problem, the level of
garbage removed from beaches and whether beach trash in some areas is improving
as a result of the MRC efforts, whether kelp has been destroyed here by sea urchins
as much as it has been in California, and whether the Chuckanut Bay culvert
replacement was done only by the MRC.
Roland Middleton, Public Works Department, gave an update and answered
questions about Swift Creek including the large landslide on the mountain, the
Management Action Plan and its related projects and funding, the involvement of the
the Environmental Protection Agency, the appraisal process for the Great Western
Lumber property, and an upcoming consent decree.
Watershed Planning Update
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, gave an update on the following:
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Council Surface Water Work Session Minutes - Final November 12, 2019
Other Business
The Watershed Management Board's work and schedule, drainage basin
management and how it compares to water supply planning, the Regional Water
Supply Plan Phase I work and what it will involve, and staff moving forward with two
recent interlocal agreements concerning water use efficiency.
Chris Elder, along with Stoyka, answsered a question about whether the
Conservation District has reached out to the Planning Unit and well owners.
Stoyka continued updating on the following and answering questions:
A contract with RH2 Engineering and a resulting report concerning water banking and
how different options for water banking could work; the Planning Unit's consideration
to use a facilitator, newly formed ad hoc committee to do an evaluation of a potential
update of the Watershed Management Plan, selection of a representative to report at
future Surface Water Work Sessions, upcoming presentation from the Department of
Ecology on a proposed instream flow rule, and letters to the two tribes and the City of
Bellingham asking them to come to the Planning Unit; two applications received by the
Local Itegrating Organization to continue funding for water supply work; the Ag
Water Board's notification that they will be recieving grant funds; the Bureau of
Reclamation's approval of the the Public Utility District's drought contingency plan;
whether the Bureau understands that the plan did not come from the Council and
whether the Council should send a letter to clarify their involvement; the 2020-2024
five year work plan for Lake Whatcom which should be ready for approval at the
Annual Joint Councils meeting in March; and an interlocal with the Lake Whatcom
Sewer District for a follow up investigation on potential impacts of on -site sewage
systems on water quality.
Stoyka brought up a potential change to the name of the Surface Water Work
Session.
Brenner moved to change the name of the Surface Water Work Session to Water
Work Session. The motion was seconded.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 5 - Brenner, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, and Frazey
Nay: 0
Absent: 2 - Browne and Sidhu
Nancy Alyanak asked about the process for getting a building permit in the Lake
Whatcom watershed, what is involved in tearing down a building, and whether there is
an emergency designation that can override a decision to tear a building down.
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Council Surface Water Work Session Minutes - Final November 12, 2019
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on December 3, 2019
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Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
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