HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Jan 24 2023Whatcom County
Council Committee of the Whole
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
9:20 AM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 10:00 A.M. (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON AT
311 GRAND AVENUE SUITE 101, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Carol Frazey
Kaylee Galloway
Kathy Kershner
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 24, 2023
Call To Order
Roll Call
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 9:22 a.m. in a
hybrid meeting.
Present: 7 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, Carol Frazey,
Kaylee Galloway, and Kathy Kershner
Absent: None
Announcements
Committee Discussion
1. A132023-020 Discussion regarding Council Office internship pilot program
Cathy Halka, Council Legislative Analyst, updated the Councilmembers.
Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, answered whether this topic will
be addressed at the Council's retreat next week.
Councilmembers and staff discussed the idea of deciding one topic that all
the Councilmembers would like to work on and then finding an intern that
has some interest in that area or letting an intern choose what project they
work on, whether one major project would fill out the intern's capacity or
whether they would still try to accommodate individual Councilmembers'
requests, what the intern's role should be, incorporating field experiences
for the intern (such as taking them to meetings or tours), having them work
on projects as needed, whether or not they will just open this up to students,
and not having a requirement that the intern have a college degree.
Halka stated she would like to confirm whether the Council agrees to start
this pilot program with one intern, how the Council would like to select the
intern, and whether there is anything else in the memo they would like to do
differently, such as education requirements.
Galloway stated she would be happy to serve on the selection panel and
asked if Kershner was interested in also doing that. She stated she is fine
with starting with one intern and thinks it is fine to open up qualifications
and make an assessment of who we think would be the best fit for the
office.
Kershner moved to amend the current plan to remove the requirement for
the applicant to be a student and/or have a college degree.
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 24, 2023
Donovan suggested a friendly amendment that in order to receive credits as
an intern they need to be a student currently enrolled in school.
Kershner accepted the friendly amendment.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and
Kershner
Nay: 0
Donovan moved that Councilmembers Galloway and Kershner be on the
search committee with Cathy Halka. The motion was seconded by Frazey.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, Kershner, Buchanan, and
Byrd
Nay: 0
This agenda item was DISCUSSED AND MOTIONS) APPROVED.
2. A B2023-08 I Discussion and approval of letter of support for Ridge at Semiahmoo development
Kershner briefed the Councilmembers on the letter and answered whether it
was the same parcel the Council tried to take action on in 2011 but were
shot down by the Growth Management Hearings Board, and where The
Ridge at Semiahmoo is located.
Kershner stated the request in 2011 was a different parcel.
Buchanan moved approval of the letter. The motion was seconded by Byrd.
Councilmembers discussed whether they would be able to tweak it with
something that says if you get an extension then you are subject to whatever
code changes have happened since when your permit ended. You could
extend the person's vesting, but it would have to be updating to whatever
building codes or zoning codes apply.
Buchanan's motion that the Request for Motion be RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Items Added by Revision
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Council Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 24, 2023
Other Business
Adiournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 9:42 a.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on February 7, 2023.
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
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