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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Work Session Sep 22 2020Whatcom County Council Water Work Session COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360)778-5010 Minutes - Final Tuesday, September 22, 2020 10:30 AM VIRTUAL MEETING COUNCILMEMBERS Kud Browne Barry Buchanan Tyler Byrd Todd Donovan Ben Elenbaas Carol Frazey Kathy Kershner CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C. Council Water Work Session Minutes - Final September 22, 2020 Call To Order Roll Call Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. in a virtual meeting. Present: 3 - Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan and Carol Frazey Absent: 4 - Rud Browne, Tyler Byrd, Ben Elenbaas and Kathy Kershner Water Resources Update Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, updated the Councilmembers on the following items: • Lake Whatcom updates • Watershed Planning • Water Use Efficiency Projects • Adjudication He answered questions about what the solutions to water supply problems might be in drainage basins and how much the funding would be for the enhanced water use efficiency program. Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, spoke about the Department of Ecology's pending recommendation for adjudication in the Nooksack and Upper Columbia Basins. The Administration, along with the Natural Resources Department, has prepared a white paper settlement proposal. They consulted with the major parties during the drafting of the proposal and have shared it with Lummi and Nooksack. They also requested a position paper and would like every affected party to write out what their vision is for what the ideal settlement should look like, share it with the other parties, then just concentrate on what they do not agree on. The County will be a neutral facilitator. He answered questions about the nature of the position paper and what the agricultural community may not cooperate with. He stated he is going to make a request to the Department of Ecology and the Legislature to give the County $200,000 for each of the next five years to facilitate these settlement talks and is also still on track to hire a director -level person to focus on all water issues. Whatcom County Page I Printed on 1011412020 Council Water Work Session Minutes - Final September 22, 2020 Stoyka updated the Councilmembers on the dates and topics of the next Watershed Management Board and Planning Unit meetings. Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility Capital Facilities Charge The following staff briefed the Councilmembers and answered questions. • Kraig Olason, Public Works Department • Cathy Craver, Public Works Department Olason answered whether the proposed amendment is just to fix problems with the language of the original Ordinance which set up a capital facilities charge and not a policy change. Craver went over the proposed changes to the Code language and answered what the dollar amount would be if they were to collect it and whether it is a one-time or a per -year charge. 2021-2026 Water Resources Improvement Plan The following staff briefed the Councilmembers: Kraig Olason, Public Works Department Paula Harris, Public Works Department Olason answered questions about how Whatcom County was going to be able to partner with Kitsap County on the Geneva Bioretention Pilot Project, and whether none of the projects are using the stormwater utility funds after 2023. Harris briefed the Councilmembers on River and Flood projects and answered a question about the dollar amount listed for the Everson Overflow Pipeline Bank Stabilization project. WRIA 1 Planning Unit Other Business Adiournment Skip Richards briefed the Councilmembers on items scheduled on the Planning Unit's upcoming agenda for September 23, 2020. There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 11:51 a.m. The County Council approved these minutes on October 13, 2020. Whatcone County Page 2 Printed on 1011412020 Council Water Work Session Minutes - Final September 22, 2020 ATTEST: , s WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL °V WHATCOM COUNTY, WA n o f i Dana Brown-�I?aGi ,Cp rl �rerk arr uch nan, Council Chair n dv �Transcription Kristi Felbinger, Minut Wkatcom County page 3 Printed on 1011412020