HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council Nov 17 2021Whatcom County
Council (Special)
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Minutes - Final
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
12 PM
Virtual Meeting
VIRTUAL MEETING (TO PARTICIPATE, SEE INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Rud Browne
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Carol Frazey
Kathy Kershner
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council (Special) Minutes - Final November 17, 2021
Call To Order
Roll Call
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 12:02 p.m. in a
virtual meeting.
Present: 7 - Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey, Ben
Elenbaas, and Kathy Kershner
Absent: None
Announcements
Special Order of Business
1. AB2021-700 Ordinance (emergency) amending the 2021 Whatcom County Budget, request no.
19, in the amount of $250,000 to cover emergency response costs related to
countywide flooding
The following people reported on misinformation regarding Sumas that
circulated overnight and the current status of the flood situation in the
county:
• Satpal Sidhu, County Executive
• John Gargett, Division of Emergency Management
• Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department Director
They answered whether there is a phone number for people to call who
would like to donate heavy equipment or help farmers with things like
feeding cattle.
Donovan moved and Browne seconded that the Ordinance be adopted.
Councilmembers and the speakers discussed whether $250,000 will be
enough, how high this flood was compared to others in the last 100 years,
the fact that the Flood Control Zone District has budget authority for
emergency response and this is in addition to that, the fact that this money
is just the lead-in to the recovery effort, a perception in the community and
on social media that the County is not doing all that it could to respond to
the flood event, whether the County could help with funds for non -profits
who are out there helping people, whether the County has reached out to the
State or the National Guard to help coordinate, whether the Council should
put out communication to help raise money for the community, public
perception about government's response to the crisis, whether a page could
be set up on the County's website listing the things that the County is doing
Whatcom County Page I Printed on 1217012021
Council (Special) Minutes - Final November 17, 2021
for the flood response, whether a Mine -Resistant Ambush -Protected
(MRAP) vehicle has been used for rescue, and whether Councilmembers
should share on social media what good things the County is doing.
Councilmembers voted on the ordinance (See vote and ordinance number
below at the end of the discussion) and the Ordinance was adopted.
Councilmembers and the speakers discussed how to best get information to
the public, directing people to organizations who are already helping,
encouraging people to sign up for County email lists and alerts, and
donations that have already come in.
Donovan's motion that the Ordinance be ADOPTED carried by the following
vote:
Aye: 7 - Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Frazey, Elenbaas, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Enactment No: ORD 2021-071
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Ad.iournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 12:43 p.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on December 7, 2021.
ATTEST �o ` e
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
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Da ria BrdWq IDavis, Cou iciI Clerk Ba chanan, Council Chair
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Kristi Felbinger,,Minutes Transcription
W/mtcom County Page 2 Printed on 1211012021