HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2021-065strikeWhatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2021-572
File ID: AB2021-572 Version: 1 Status: Adopted
File Created: 09/24/2021 Entered by: AHester@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Public Works File Type: Ordinance Requiring a Public Hearing
Department
Assigned to: Council Final Action: 10/26/2021
Agenda Date: 10/26/2021 Enactment#: ORD 2021-065
Primary Contact Email: sdraper@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 12.20 Road Vacations to update procedures for
processing petitions
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Whatcom County Code 12.20 and RCW 36.87 provide for the procedures for approving road
vacations. The code amendment will better align the processing of road vacation petitions and provide
better service to petitioners. The code changes will clarify and correct outdated sections of the code
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
Action:
Sent To:
10/12/2021 Council INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC Council
HEARING
Aye: 7 Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
10/26/2021 Council ADOPTED
Aye: 7 Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 1012812021
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2021-572)
Attachments: Staff memo, Proposed ordinance (clean), Proposed ordinance (redline)
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 1012812021
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PROPOSED BY: PUBLIC WORKS
INTRODUCTION DATE:
ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 12.20 ROAD VACATIONS TO
UPDATE PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING PETITIONS
WHEREAS, the Revised Code of Washington Chapter 36.82 authorizes the Whatcom
County Council to receive compensation for the vacation of county roads; and
WHEREAS, on November 23, 1993, Council adopted Ordinance 1993-080 to replace
fees listed with a reference to the fee set forth in the Whatcom County Unified Fee Schedule
and replace the term "board" or "commission" with the term "Council"; and
WHEREAS, on October 11, 1994, Council adopted Ordinance 1994-059 to
streamline the road vacation petition, review, and approval/denial processes; and
WHEREAS, the County Council wishes to amend WCC Chapter 12.20 to better align
the processing of road vacation petitions with the general operations of the Public Works
Department and County Council Office and provide better service to petitioners.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED that the Whatcom County Council adopts
the above "WHEREAS" recitals as finding of fact in support of its action; and
BE IT FINALLY ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that the Whatcom
County Code 12.20 is hereby amended as described in Exhibit A.
ADOPTED this __ day of 2021.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council Barry Buchanan, Council Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Christopher Quinn
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
(approved electronically 9/28/2021)
WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
( ) Approved ( ) Denied
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive
Date Signed:
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EXHIBIT A
Chapter 12.20 ROAD VACATIONS
Sections:
12.20.010 Authority.
12.20.020 Scope and application.
12.20.030 Petition - Fees.
12,20.040 Petition - Format.
12.20.050 Engineer's report and resolutions.
y12.20.060 11 Resolution ri2quare'me'nts.
f'L�'t"CY�Sc�Trl-�1"Cn
12.20.010 Authority.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to authority contained in RCW 36.87.120. (Ord. 94-059
Exh. A; Ord. 93-080 Exh. P; prior code § 7.40.010).
12.20.020 Scope and application.
This chapter shall apply to all a'p'p'I'i'c'a'tionspetitions to the Whatcom County council seeking
vacation and abandonment of a Whatcom County road, or any portion thereof, initiated
pursuant to Chapters 36.87 and 58.17 RCW. (Ord. 94-059 Exh. A; Ord. 93-080 Exh. P; prior
code § 7.40.020).
12.20.030 Petition - Fees.
A. Every petition to the Whatcom County council for vacation and/or abandonment of any
road or portion thereof shall conform to the requirements of the applicable state statute and
shall be accompanied by an petiti9.0._approis'al fee and""aRp'I'ica'tion fee as set forth in the
Whatcom County Unified Fee Schedule.
B. The petition form, along with the f2ettionftfll shall be
submitted to the Whatcom County public works department.
C..,.......T#re...appraisal ....fee ...1.i3ay....be...refunded by the"G'OU.1e.il..-at ....the ...-rccai-nfnen'd'atio.n..of...t.he"coaiAy'
engineer ...if -no appfaisal-'i,a'sm been cafr'r'ied out in connection with the read vacation petition.
Said --refund din a'y-be given only after -the eoun'cil-makes its final dec'is'ion in connection v,,it'h
- �� ea�o� pekta qte ten
C.D. The portion of the petitionapjafi'ca't'io'n fee designated for recording the final order of
vacation may be reimbursed to the petitioner if the council denies the petition.
F---/?-portion-o€-t#;c—rr�!ic�rt�oi"3--f�; l,ut-ne-r�toit1-tha+a 3b�erre,;ro; '�f;U;�-a�p;l;aTior,�-;ee; +rray
be're'inibu'rsed to l'I'a::'petitioner by the -cote cil Pt the tine(- t'h-e application is approved, if the
vacation ..'a,a.s.... granted .._p'ur-suan.t....to.._th-e Territorial..Lantt Act ...of....1890.,......(.Oi-d..,....94--059...Exh, ....A.
0 i-.el....g.3._.f3.8{}._E.x.li.....P.;.._#a f,lor...cot#e...§....7... 4.0':'0.3'0')':
12.20.040 Petition - Format.
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A. Propertv_Oowners of the majority of the frontage on any county road or portion thereof
may petition the council to vacate and abandon for -the vacation-and/er-abandonnaent of
that same county road or portion thereof by submitting a vacation petition to the Whatcom
County_.p_u_b.1.is„_work..... �a_rtment_ f�leH } a for;:rprep eci bq k�Jl�atco Co nty.
f ,,_,,, Th,e,,,,pctit o,n,._m_ust,._b.e,,,s,i_g_n_ed.._b,y,,ea,c_h.,..petitioner.._an_d....i_ncl,0-de.._th.e._name.,.,_.a..dd-r..e.s...s.._a-n-dI-arid.
owned for each petitioner and set fortis that the right of way is useless as mart of the county
road system and that the public will be benefited bv_its vacation.
C The petition mus..t_include„a legal..._ description the right of way,,,proposed,.,to IN yacate.d.
ncludin� the square footage of the area of vacation. The coun>Lty_engineer may,_recLuire a
drawing prepared by a surveyor licensed by the State of Washinqton_
D8. As...partof._ the __.public „notification process.,the
petitioner shall include in th.e..petition,,,be the names,.._signatures and addresses of five
persons who owning property within a one -mile radius of the road to be vacated,; -as -part of
the public notification proeess, unless If the petitioner can demonstrate to the Whatcom
County public works the transportation department that fewer than five people own
property within a one -mile radius of the road to be vacated_ then,"in-which case _the
petitioner shall submit with, the pgtition__an affidavit stating the same, m add,ition to the
namesal-ig wash -the,,. signatures andad_dressesof as —those people whom do own
property within a one -mile radius of the road to be vacated.
EC. By signing the petition, the notified_.property owners are on_Ly-_acknowledging that they
arerecer_ved-rat4-ied.._notice, of the petitioner's intent to seek vacation of the county road or
portion thereof. Notified pro..perty ownersThey are not agreeing to become co -petitioners for
the road vacation. (Ord. 94-059 Exh. A)
12.20.050 Engineer's report and resolutions.
A. The county read engineer shall examine a d f 3aiy p e arrap a s a-ef t{ e
r~o�a�-f�fiNaed to-bti v�te�the-eaagineer�ha'�!-}�e+fi+�-t6�-I ec�a'cripEisrre�thc—rear+
proposed to be vacated, and report upon such vacation and abandennient to the Whatcon7i
County cauncii Said report hail be in the fea-ray of a_resolutien by :vhich the Whatcom
County council either authorizes or- denies tl�e petition to vacate the county road_the
pcjition for_com,plete..ness and prepare a resolution for- CounCil,. to co.n_sidu _yacatmq.the road_..
If th-e. Whatcom.Cou_nty cou,n,cil approves the.._resolu,tion to considc r._vacating.,thc. roa .! it vr�il.l.
direct the county engineer to pronare an engineer's r-c port_ If the Whatcorn County council
does not approve the resolution to consider vacating the road the petition to vacate the
road s shall lbed ee medtoha havebeen denied.
..__ _ ... ..______.__.
B. 7..he._c...o..unay„e.n.g.i.nee„i,,,,s,hal..l....i_n....v...esti.gate,a,n....d......p.t:e,pa,re.._the_en,0.i.ne...e..r's....re_Dg.l!. on.,,t,he.,,,peti.tio.n.:.
l-he engineer is authorized and directed to resew. each vacation and recommend the
cor the vacation based on current market data._ If necessary the
county will,c...o..niract fora full_appraisal, andthe petitioner will be responsible for.the costs.
C. Upo,rl„_! oq.gjp.letio.n of„th...e.._re...po-rt,,,_Tthe co_u.riay,,,engineer will„_.pre.pare._a._s,lia;[-4ik -Nie-pet jon
and resolution to vacate. couneil 1rpen completion of his/her
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+eport. In addition to the re uirenunts of RCW 36.87 Ot0 the resolution shall contain the
following information:
1_,..The_ p.etition_er'sname ...,...tile date ,.. t1,e_hetiti_o_n_was,_fi.1ed_with_._the,,,.pu_blic._works --- i Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5"
......... .. ......................... -...........
department, a. statement that_ih� applicatJ.Q.ii a,nd report fee has been,,, paid, a_nd..._a.
short..descnption of the ro.a.0.5.._or portion of roads to be vacated..;..
2 A legal description of the roads or portions thereof to be vacated [Formatted: Indent First line: 0.5"
3,.,,,,A„_Statement._that,the...a.ppli,ca.n_t...h_as,.si,x.._calen_d_aJ.:_,mo_nth_s._fro_m,,, the„d,ate.._t_he Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5"
1.... ......... ......... ............,
resolution is passed to pay an ry emaining fees to the_Whatcom, Countyi)ublic works
department with checks made payable_to the Whatcom County treasurer, prior to
the vacation becoming effective including but not limited to the compensation
amount of,.t-h-e a_re_.a s.ou.ght.to.._be._ .a.cated.;.,
4. As..tatement that.ihe petitioner has.met_dl.l.._of the_ped ion.._ requirements ass.et j Formatted:Indent Left o5
_-_ _
forth by this chap
i:er and by all other applicable laws;
5. The_ compensatfo_n_arnou_nt._of thc._a...rea sought to_..be,vacate...d as determ—..._by,the -- {Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5
cou,n_ty._.e...n.q i,n eer,..
6. The classification of_the road_area and the nature of the county's interest therein, — [Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5"
according to the following classification:
Pass ,..A.,,Public expenditure made, _ _ _
_` Formatted: Underline
,Class.,_B No public expenditures roade..or nonascer tain_able from records —
Formatted: Indent. First line: o.s"
ClassClass 1, NoNo part thereof lies in anv_hlat _ _
_
[Formatted: Underline
Class 2. Part or all lies within a platted ubdivisior1
Class„3,,,,,Did, not remain unopened „for public use for a•.per iod•._of five years after ,the
underline
_� �� Formatted: Underli
--
auth_o,rity was...gr anted. for ope.ging it,..
—:,
Formatted: Underline
Classu4 Re-T ained,un,opened•,.for public U.S.D. fo.r five or„more_,years after the order
Left:
t Formatted: Indent: e. 0.5
�..-
made or authority granted for openm it
Formatted: Underline
Class 5 is contained .within that portion of a plat which is to be re latted
C,'lass_6 Abandoned in tact dui to relocation of naht_oi way
Formatted: Underline
,Class..... Infornialities exist in._the record of title which are construed invalidate
j Formatted: Underline
and divest the publlc.._gf any„night, tiil.e:_or inierest.ln.the ri ht.of vda.y,.
---
[ Formatted: Indent: First line 05'
[ Formatted: Underline
1. A statement that the vacation does not become effective until the fees ar e paidx _
and the final order a,nd,the resolution recorded with, the county a_uditor..(.Ord. 94:.. [ Formatted: Indent: Left 0S"
059 Exh ,A, Q.rd„930&Q E xh,_ I', pr io.r cod f„_§,,,I.40 060)., j Formatted: Underline
Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5"
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D. The clerk of the council will schedule a public hearing on the resolution to vacate. The
county_engineer; ill aftef its arrival rtT-therou;ieil-office, �•4ith�ri ovide public notice taLe
grverr as pr-ovided in accordance with Chapter 36.87 RCW.
E. Aftc.i...th_.c pu f(i.c Ili.ear.i.ii.g,,...?the Whatcom County council shall consider the r'.e5..o...l_.t.o.n_to.
vaca..tepeet%t�n-�-otutkt, `o;,^. Action on the resolution will be the FC...ouncil's final action
in the matter.
F. The petition shall be deemed to have been denied if a motion to approve of the
resolution fails, or if by other means a majority of the council denies approval of the
resolution ar,petitien. If the engineer- recarnmerrd, by ;- 5odt;tion that a. petition he denied
and -the -councid.ddsagfees kJtlT thete deny,_tl1e-eountFp may
amend the resolution to indicated that it is approving of the -petition -desp+te the engin-eer's
eEem,m,, ;at,on-
G. If the Whatcom County council passes the resolution to..__ I..c...a...t... the,. co.u.n...ty.._en.g. ie..er,.._o_r
the county engineer's designee will prepare a preliminary order of vacation. If the
ap roved resolution contains and tfaere-is a provision seeking or requiring. payment by the
applicant of further costs t>eXond, those covered hy,the petiton.fee_or appraised_the. value of
the area being vacated, the ..c..pushall notify the applicant
that they 4e;s+he haves six calendar months in which to pay €of such costs .....,'At.._the,,.ti.me„_of
the hearing the Whatcom,County council may waive pavment of the appraised value or any
ortion theif it finds that the granting of such vacation will be of some benefit to
Whatcom County,.,,_._Sa. d__wa ,v_er,.Shalt einclud_ed..as,.part.of_tlaere elution_a.p.provind,_o..f_th_e,
vaca...tlon (O_rd 94=Q_59 ExhF�, Ord.,. 93OIIO....Exh _P,. Ord 8.0. 15 .§_ 1,. prior co.de§.
H. If the �e[ "titio.ner applicant p ayssubmits the total amount such rnoaey as is owed to the
county within the six calendar months after the date of passage of the resolution, or if upon
passage the resolution no money is# owed -the. -co,, —by-qi�ct+ttent-� , the co,u,n,ty.
rLe..c ishall prepare a. fina,l-s. anorder of vacation and ha..J,lus.. ca.e..,d=ove it, along with the resolution, to be recorded by the Whatcom cCounty Aauditor. If the
petitioner applicant fails to make a payment as required, the Ccouncil's authorization of the
vacation becomes null and void.
I. The vacation becomes official only after a final order of vacation and the resolution to
vacate are recorded by the county auditor. (Ord. 94-059 Exh. A)
12 Y}.. 4GO-lke sekjj-on eq riresH2nts
e die �a ce t the-fallotg Fa€e+fn �d t sr the t+i+-esei�ts o-f
RED\n}.. 3-6.87.0110
r.-The-paetdtione;-'s-na;ne and rnailirag address; tlhe date the petition vjas filedtdie
transportation department; a statement that the -application -and report fee has been paid,
L. A legal d ascfip>tion o, _l.he._read , or portions thereof to bevacated
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2 C. A statement that -the applicant has -six -calendar rnanths, frorai tlir date the resoluti-on.. is
3 passed to pay any remaining fees to the lWhatcom Cour�ty ceuncil office, with checd<s made
4 at_ areas-u- er pr efAe_t-fie—vacatiar;-becer-miq_ -e€femme
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7 D.. A statement -that the petitianer has met all of the petition r quir-en�)eo;ts as set forth by
8 this -chapter-, and by all other applicable laws
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10 Tti Tri ,rnaret va ic. n ed by app ;sal
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12 F. The-cdassificatien of the. -road area and the nature of -the countys interest therein,
13 according -ta-the -following classificatiem..
14
15 I �— rtTa n. r y etpf f dltN t'� u C
16
17 I Class.B; No public expenditures mr Ae or rranaseertainable from records,
18
19 3 clas.s.....1. No part thereof... lies in any ...plat,
20
rl 7 n I I'� '�h' I d
21 �r—�z� �-c-7 ar`�v�=a�n-nc s-.b, crni=rcr pruttPcd-Stid3cr arsrni,,
22
23 5, Class 3; Did not. remain unopened fat public use far a period -of-five.years after the
24 au+thsr+ y was gran ed for sper� �} t;
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26 f ;- ClassA. Reinairaed unopened for par{odic use-fer T+vc ei-.more years ....after the order rnade: or
27 authority, granted €or opening.4tr
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29s fs ce}t taed a th r td {Jars ors of a plat JJd dc4� s s-die-repd�tted
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33 (),Gass y. li�fofrnalities.exist in the -records -of title which, areconstrufed to invalid. ate and
34 dwelt the public of any. r ighti title or- interest in the right of k"ay,
35
36 tc-trve -ni r ' ic^ fei=s- e-par-&nd-the
37 final -order ..arad the i-eselution are recorded with the county autdite-r: (Ord; 94-0.59 FxJ: ...A
38 Ord. ....g.3....0g.0...E.xh.,...P.-....prior-. eade...§....y..;40.0603
39
40 k .� 7d Ray�a aF ��s lFicn
41 Recompense in the amount of the appraised value arKI all certified casts and expenses
42 incurred in..the proceedings above and beyond those covered by the uappdicatien aiid
43 appraisalfee ,dull be tendered kAthin six 1-nenths of..the hearing on the petdtien far vacation
44 provideedi however; that at the aline -of the hearing the county council may v,.,aive payment of
45 d ed tadt,�s� <,� t oafs# rau'� thz, ih1. y u, tray oftau Tae� w+d
46 d o; sir E sp e f men e€i t ts�W hatco Cot+nty id a ve " bL ��c uet4 z a It rt of
1 theirsolutian approvfrag-e€...the ...vacation. (Uid. .._c34_359...E..x.h.;....A Oa:.d..,....g..3_>J80...{..xh.....P.....Dfci,.-u0--
2 15....§....}.. pr'ioa-...code ...§r.._z..;.a.a.;.0.7.a)..
3