HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2022-021strikeWhatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
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Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2022-131
File ID: AB2022-131 Version: 1 Status: Substitute Amended
and Adopted
File Created: 02/15/2022 Entered by: CHalka@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Council Office File Type: Ordinance
Assigned to: Council Committee of the Whole
Agenda Date: 03/08/2022
Primary Contact Email: chalka@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Final Action: 03/08/2022
Enactment #: ORD 2022-021
Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 2.126 (Whatcom County Climate Impact Advisory
Committee)
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 2.126 (Whatcom County Climate Impact Advisory
Committee) to add a county councilmember position and clarify role of the Office of Climate Action
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To:
02/22/2022 Council INTRODUCED Council Committee of the Whole
Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
03/08/2022 Council Committee of the Whole RECOMMENDED FOR
ADOPTION WITH
PROPOSED
AMENDMENT(S)
Aye: 6 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay: 1 Elenbaas
Absent: 0
03/08/2022 Council SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED AS
AMENDED
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 31912022
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2022-131)
Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Attachments: Proposed Ordinance, Proposed Ordinance - Substitute for 3.8.2022
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 31912022
PROPOSED BY: GALLOWAY
INTRODUCTION DATE: FEBRUARY 22, 2022
ORDINANCE NO. 2022-021
ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATOM COUNTY CODE 2.126
(WHATCOM COUNTY CLIMATE IMPACT ADVISORY COMMITTEEE)
TO ADD A COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER POSITION AND
CLARIFY ROLE OF THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE ACTION
WHEREAS, in 2016, Whatcom County Council adopted policy 1 OD-6 to the Comprehensive Plan
calling for the creation of a Climate Impact Advisory Committee to review the implementation of the
Climate Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, on December 5, 2017, Whatcom County Council adopted Ordinance No. 2017-080
establishing Whatcom County Code 2.126 Whatcom County Climate Impact Advisory Committee; and
WHEREAS, on November 9, 2021, Whatcom County Council approved Resolution 2021-049,
including a commitment to execute the Whatcom County Climate Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, the 2021 Climate Action Plan identified a need to establish an Office of Climate
Action, led by a Climate Action Manager; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County Council adopted ordinance 2021-068 on November 24, 2020,
adopting the 2021-2022 Biennium Budget, inclusive of funding for a Climate Action Manager; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County Council finds value in adding a non -voting, Councilmember
position to the membership of the Climate Impact Advisory Committee to keep updated on activities and
progress towards achieving the goals of the Climate Impact Plan; and
WHEREAS, additional clarifications regarding the role of the Climate Impact Advisory Committee
and the Office of Climate Action are needed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED that the Whatcom County Code Chapter 2.126 is hereby
amended as outlined in Exhibit A to this ordinance.
ag;SplIN'I1pjI
-,,A69PTE theh day of March , 2022.
h� \\ 6-�'ro
T C ° �
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Dina Browofof t11e Council
APPRO>VED AS TO FORM`
k it
Karen Frakes (by email 2/15/2022)
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHAT OM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Todd Donovan, Council Chair
Satpal Sidhu, dounty Executive
( ) Approved ( ) Den/ied
Date Signed: 3' 1 �122,
EXHIBIT A:
Chapter 2.126 WHATCOM COUNTY CLIMATE IMPACT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Sections:
2.126.010
Established.
2.126.020
Purpose.
2.126.030
Function.
2.126.040
Membership - Term of office.
2.126.050
Organization - Meetings.
2.126.060
Committee staffing.
2.126.010 Established.
There is hereby established the Whatcom County climate impact advisory
committee. (Ord. 2017-080 Exh. A).
2.126.020 Purpose.
The Whatcom County climate impact advisory committee provides review and
recommendations to the Whatcom County council and executive on issues related
to the preparation and adaptation for, and the prevention and mitigation of,
impacts of climate change. (Ord. 2017-080 Exh. A).
2.126.030 Function.
To advise the county council ef-and the executive, support the � �� � �'# ^�le
Ac+-Count's c mate actjon efforts, and work with county staff for related
activities as follows en the following functiens..
A. With data analvses from various deaartments or outside aaencies, Evaluating
evaluate and reporting on Whatcom County's compliance with meeting targets for
greenhouse gas reduction set forth in the County's current 2007 Climate Action
Plan, and setting targets, evaluat iRg and reporting on the 100 percent renewable
energy goal established in Ordinance 2017-080; and
B. Periodically recommending to the county council new or revised targets that
meet or exceed state and federal greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy
goals; and
C. Update+ng the Climate Action Plan, at a minimum every five to seven years, or
as needed to meet targets; and
D. Make recommendations to the Whatcom County council about policies and
budget priorities that will support a stable and just transition for workers and
businesses, wherever possible encouraging and supporting a predictable shift
towards clean energy and low carbon alternatives within the same or similar
industry; and
E. Review available science, and recommend to the county council the adoption of
standaFdized appropriate guidelines for anticipated future sea level rise, risk of
flood, fires, drought and other impacts of climate change to be used in community
planning and capital facilities development; and
F. Recommending updates to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan in
accordance with meeting Whatcom County's goals to mitigate climate change, and
prevent, adapt to, and prepare for climate change impacts; and
G. Recommend updates to Whatcom County land use policies and development
regulations to support Whatcom County's goals to prevent, adapt to, and prepare
for climate change impacts; and
H. Serve as a conduit for public education, information exchange, and engagement
in support of Whatcom County's climate change mitigation and impact prevention,
adaptation, and preparation goals; and
I. Make recommendations relevant to Whatcom County's climate change mitigation
and impact prevention, adaptation and preparation goals to the Whatcom County
council and Whatcom County executive regarding state and federal policy priorities.
(Ord. 2017-080 Exh. A).
2.126.040 Membership — Term of office.
A. The committee shall consist of 11 voting members. A minimum of seven of the
members will have previous work or educational experience in subjects including_
climate change; renewable energy development", energy conservation!; climate
impacts on health , farming, fisheries
and food security-; land use planning-; tribal environmental policy mt e i
geveFnm and flood mitigation and planning. Elected officials and staff from the
cities within the county are eligible and encouraged to participate as members. A
County councilmember shall serve on the committee as a non -voting member. A
quorum shall consist of at least half of the appointed voting members.
2.126.050 Organization — Meetings.
Meetings of the committee shall be open and accessible to the public and shall be
subject to the Open Public Meetings Act. At every meeting, the committee will
schedule an open session to take public comment on issues associated with the
committee. Written records of meetings, resolutions, research, findings and
recommendations shall be kept and such records shall be public. The committee
shall adopt its own rules and procedures for the conduct of business. The
committee shall elect a chairperson from among its members who shall preside at
its meetings. The committee shall determine its meeting schedule and agenda, but
shall meet at least quarterly. The committee may form and appoint ad hoc
committees to work on specific issues, so long as at least two committee members
are also members of each ad hoc committee. (Ord. 2017-080 Exh. A).
2.126.060 Committee staffing.
The committee is encouraged to operate and hold its meetings as independent of
county staffing and resources as possible. Staffing and other resources for the
committee shall be requested through the county executive's office. The committee
is authorized to request from }he e�ve's effiee information from administrative
departments as necessary, through the county executive's office. (Ord. 2017-080
Exh. A).