HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2022-007•
Whatcom County
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
ILI
(360) 778-5010
Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2022-071
File ID:
AB2022-071
Version: 1
Status: Approved
File Created:
01/19/2022
Entered by: RSnijder@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department:
Planning and
File Type: Resolution
Development Services
Department
Assigned to:
Council Natural Resources Committee
Final Action: 02/08/2022
Agenda Date:
02/08/2022
Enactment #: RES 2022-007
Primary Contact Email: rsnijder@whatcomcounty.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Resolution affirming the Conservation Easement Program Oversight Committee ranking and authorizing
Whatcom County Conservation Easement Program Administrator and Whatcom County Executive to
proceed with the acquisition of conservation easements on the Vander Veen, Rethlefsen, Savage, and
Moors applications
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Conservation Easement Program update, please see attached staff memo for full summary.
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To:
02/08/2022 Council Natural Resources Committee RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL
Aye: 3 Donovan, Elenbaas, and Galloway
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
02/08/2022 Council APPROVED
Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 21912022
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2022-071)
Attachments: Staff Memo, Proposed Resolution, Ranked Applicant List, Presentation
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 21912022
SPONSORED BY: Planning
PROPOSED BY: Planning
INTRODUCTION DATE: 2/8/22
RESOLUTION # 2022-007
AFFIRMING THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE RANKING AND AUTHORIZING WHATCOM COUNTY
CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR AND WHATCOM
COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO PROCEED WITH THE ACQUISITION OF
CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON THE VANDER VEEN, RETHLEFSEN, SAVAGE,
AND MOORS APPLICATIONS
WHEREAS, Whatcom County government recognizes agriculture and forestry as major
contributors to the local economy and a high quality of life for Whatcom County citizens; and
WHEREAS, The Growth Management Act and the County Comprehensive Plan support the
retention of agricultural and forestry lands of long term commercial significance and encourage
the use of innovative techniques to do so; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #92-002 enacted a property tax levy known as the Conservation Futures
Tax as authorized by RCW 84.34.230 to provide a funding source to assist in acquiring "open
space land, farm and agricultural land, and timber land, and a significant Conservation Futures
fund balance is available for additional farm land protection efforts"; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #2002-054 adopted Whatcom County Code Title 3.25A that authorized
the creation of a Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program that offers voluntary farm
agreements that include the purchase of agricultural conservation easements on farmable land
within Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #2002-054 and WCC 3.25A established a Purchase of Development
Rights Oversight Committee to provide review and assistance to the PDR Program Administrator;
and
WHEREAS, The Whatcom County Council adopted the PDR Guidelines Document through
Resolution #2002-040 which includes specific direction for program administration and
conservation easement acquisitions; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #2018-065 amended Whatcom County Code Title 3.25A to direct the
PDR Program to also offer voluntary agreements to purchase forestry and ecological
conservations easements on working forestlands and important ecosystem areas within Whatcom
County; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #2021-037 amended Whatcom County Code Title 3.25A to change the
program name to be the Whatcom County Conservation Easement Program (CEP); and
WHEREAS, Council, pursuant to Conservation Easement Program Guidelines Document, must
affirm or modify the properties as submitted by the CEP Oversight Committee; and
WHEREAS, Council has reviewed the application ranking and background materials at a public
meeting, with input by County staff and CEP Oversight Committee members; and
WHEREAS, Council has determined the ranking in accordance with their policy priorities and
the requirements of Title 3.25A and the Conservation Easement Program Guidelines Document;
and
WHEREAS, The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office has approved matching
fiords to support acquisition of the agricultural and forestry conservation easements on the
Rethlefsen and Moors projects; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agriculture has approved matching fiends to
support acquisition of the agricultural conservation easements on the Vander- Veen and Savage
projects; and
WHEREAS, The CEP Oversight Committee met on October 22, 2021 to develop a ranking of
active applications received to date and forward that ranking to Council; and
WHEREAS, The CEP Oversight Committee considered the ranked list of active applications and
recommended at their October 22, 2021 meeting that County Council authorize the CEP
Administrator and County Executive to proceed with the acquisition of conservation easements
on the Vander Veen, Rethlefsen, Savage, and Moors applications.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that:
1. The CEP Oversight Committee and Administrator proceed with the acquisition of four (4)
conservation easements on the Vander Veen, Rethlefsen, Savage, and Moors applications
pursuant to the process outlined in the CEP Guidelines Document.
2. The Executive is authorized to enter into a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Vander Veen,
Rethlefsen, Savage, and Moors properties, provided:
a. Appraisals are completed and conservation easements are drafted which meet the
requirements of the Whatcom County Conservation Easement Program, and
b. Landowners have agreed to the offer price and conservation easement conditions,
and
c. Budget authority has been adopted by the Whatcom County Council.
3. Expenditures of Conservation Futures Funds, within budget authority, are authorized to cover
expenses associated with purchase of conservation easement, including title search and
insurance, appraisal services, easement monitoring and enforcement fees.
APROjFDvtli� dad, of
February 2022
WHATCO-COUNTY COUNCIL
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WHATC C N W HINGTON
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Dana Brown is,`Couuncil Clerk
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T d Donovan, Council Chair
APPROVED as to form:
Approved by email/C Quinn/B Snijder
Civil Deputy Prosecutor