HomeMy WebLinkAboutClimate Action Oct 24 2023Whatcom County
Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
10:15 AM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 10:45 A.M. (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON,
SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil,
OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Kaylee Galloway
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Climate Action and Natural Committee Minutes - Final October 24, 2023
Resources Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Kaylee Galloway called the meeting to order at 10:23
a.m. in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, and Kaylee Galloway
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, and Carol Frazey
Announcements
Special Presentation
1. AB2023-682 Report from the Parks and Recreation Department
Bennett Knox, Parks and Recreation Department Director, reported on:
• Projects accomplished since April
• Updates on capital projects
• An update on the Plantation Range and plans for a site
characterization
• Current projects
• Mid -biennium budget requests in the context of broader initiatives
and future projects
He answered whether the Council on Aging is also helping with other senior
centers around the county besides the one in Bellingham, and whether a
request for a dog park in Point Roberts can be prioritized.
This agenda item was REPORTED.
2. AB2023-691 Update on status of North Cascades ecosystem grizzly bear restoration
Elenbaas updated the Councilmembers on the plan to reintroduce 200
grizzly bears starting in 2024. One of the biggest conversations was habitat
and the human impact on habitat. The data that was presented was on how
much recreation has increased and how that impacts the movements of
grizzlies and his question was whether we are going to manage the bears or
manage people in their area. He was told they were going to manage the
bears and not hinder people in the area, but all the presentations were
around other areas where they have looked to expand core habitat and in
which they have excluded people. He spoke about the implications of the
"100)" designation (coming from section 100) of the Endangered Species
Act) and said he questions whether that is feasible because it is typically
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Council Climate Action and Natural Committee Minutes - Final October 24, 2023
Resources Committee
reserved for populations that are isolated, and it would be hard to argue that
the introduced grizzlies would be isolated from the natural population in the
British Columbia habitat since the habitats are connected. He stated he
reached out to the Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Tribe to get their
perspective. The First Nations and tribes in Washington may not all be in
alignment on whether they support it not so he wanted to get the input of
our Whatcom County neighbors and see how they felt. He stated the
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is open for public comment until
November 13, 2023 so he would encourage anyone who would like to, to
comment on the EIS.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adjournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 10:51 a.m.
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
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Kaylee Galloway -via email 10/27/2023
Dana Brown-` ii i , Council Clerk
Kaylee Galloway, Committee Chair
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Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
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