HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole December 9 2003WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Committee Of The Whole
December 9, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Council Chair Dan McShane
in the Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Barbara Brenner None
Laurie Caskey-Schreiber
Sam Crawford
Seth Fleetwood
Sharon Roy
L. Ward Nelson
1. DISCUSSION WITH CHIEF CIVIL DEPUTY PROSECUTOR RANDY
WATTS REGARDING A PENDING LEASE AGREEMENT (AB2003-018)
Randy Watts, Chief Civil Deputy Prosecutor, stated there is also a pending
claim they need to discuss in executive session.
items.
Nelson moved to go into executive session to discuss the first two agenda
Notion carried 6-0 with Fleetwood out of the room.
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING VARIOUS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENTS
3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE DRAFT GROUNDWATER
MODEL ACTION PLAN (AB2003-390)
Bruce Roll, Water Resources Division Manager, stated he submitted a
substitute version (on file). This is what the staff team and Planning Unit members
have been working on during the last month to move the groundwater work
forward. This item will go before the Planning Unit next Wednesday for approval.
The staff recommendation is still consistent with the Council's request, to get the
information requested in the first four items, and then reconsider the groundwater
model and funding. They will have to deal with items five through eight, but at a
time when they understand how big the model needs to be, how much data they
need to collect, and the cost.
Crawford stated he had previously asked to spend reserves to do multi -layer
modeling instead of single -layer modeling. He understands from this information
that they're going to take the information Utah State University (USU) has at this
point, look at it, and define the real costs. This is taking a close work at that
Committee of the Whole, 12/9/2003, Page 1
1 component to give the Planning Unit and Council opportunity to discuss the real
2 cost, what they want to get out of it, and move forward. Roll stated that is correct.
3 The County Executive supports using some of that reserve fund balance from the
4 Water Resource Division. He also is interested in having a better understanding to
5 these questions.
6
7 Brenner stated she has a problem with item two. She didn't understand that
8 assessment of the modeling components must be done with a public agency. The
9 Council said they could work with a public or private agency. Item two should
10 reflect that recommendation. Roll stated this item is a potential technical resource
11 that will be there free of charge to help put that package together. Item two
12 doesn't prohibit anyone from doing the modeling. It is to help put the scope and
13 budget together.
14
15 Brenner stated she would feel fine if they can say it may be done with the
16 assistance of another public agency free of charge. However, right now item two
17 says they will go with a public agency. The Council said it would keep its options
18 open on using either a public or private agency.
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20 McShane moved to approve the substitute plan.
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22 Brenner moved to amend item two, "...or other publie ageneies entities."
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24 Crawford stated any private entity won't be free of charge. It would cost a
25 great expense.
26
27 Brenner stated that she would support it if it ends being done free of charge,
28 she would support it from a public agency.
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30 Motion to amend carried 6-1 with McShane opposed.
31
32 Fleetwood asked how important the Simon Fraser University study of the
33 Abbotsford -Su mas aquifer is to the local work. Roll stated they need to spend
34 some time finding out what that model is intended to do. Right now, it's a single-
35 layer model. There were some proponents to go with Simon Fraser, but it's too
36 early to say. They want to collaborate with Simon Fraser to share data and
37 maximize what they've done. They may be able to use a part of the Simon Fraser
38 model to populate one of the layers in the local model. Their model is tied to fate
39 and transport of nitrate. It doesn't talk about what is possible in the deeper
40 aquifers.
41
42 Caskey-Schreiber stated the Council encouraged staff to incorporate as many
43 of their findings as possible. It might be a good indicator of the cost they will face
44 locally.
45
46 Roll stated it's prudent that the Council support the plan. He didn't
47 necessarily recommend supporting the items past item five. They don't want to
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predetermine where they may or may not want to go. They will have to evaluate
the other items when they have the budget.
Nelson proposed a friendly amendment to approve items one through
four only, not items five through eight at this time.
McShane accepted the friendly amendment.
Motion to approve carried unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:00 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
These minutes were approved by Council on January 13 , 2004.
ATTEST:
Dana Brown -Davis, ouncil Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
�J
Dan McShane, Council Chair
Committee of the Whole, 12/9/2003, Page 3