HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2023-072• Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
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Agenda Bill Report
File Number: AB2023-723
File ID: AB2023-723 Version: 1 Status: Adopted
File Created: 10/26/2023 Entered by: MMiterko@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Finance Division File Type: Ordinance
Assigned to: Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Final Action: 11/21/2023
Agenda Date: 11/21/2023 Enactment #: ORD 2023-072
Related Files:
Primary Contact Email: kschottb@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Ordinance establishing a Whatcom County Climate Action Fund and establishing an initial budget for
the Climate Action Fund
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Establishing the Climate Action Fund will allow Administration to better track grant revenue and
expenditures associated with the County's climate action work. The Climate Action Fund seeks an
initial budget of $297,119 as described in Exhibit A. Please see attached.
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
Action:
Sent To:
11/08/2023 Council INTRODUCED Council Finance and
Administrative Services
Committee
Aye: 6 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay: 1 Elenbaas
11/21/2023 Council Finance and Administrative RECOMMENDED FOR
Services Committee ADOPTION
Aye: 3 Donovan, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
11/21/2023 Council ADOPTED
Aye: 5 Buchanan, Donovan, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay: 1 Elenbaas
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 1112212023
Agenda Bill Report Continued (AB2023-723)
Absent: 1 Byrd
Attachments: Staff Memo, Proposed Ordinance, Exhibit A
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 1112212023
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PROPOSED BY: EXECUTIVE
INTRODUCTION DATE: November 8, 2023
ORDINANCE NO. 2023-072
ESTABLISHING A NEW WHATCOM COUNTY CLIMATE ACTION FUND
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Climate Action Plan was adopted by the Whatcom
County Council on November 9, 2021, through Resolution .2021-049; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County will seek local, state, and federal funding opportunities
in order to carry out activities in the Climate Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, initial climate action expenditures include but are not limited to climate
action staffing, urban forestry carbon sequestration projects, and sea -level rise planning;
and
WHEREAS, as State and Federal funding opportunities are released, Whatcom
County expects to utilize Real Estate Excise Tax revenue and other local funding sources as
match for grants, with an initial emphasis on electrification and solar for county facilities and
fleet; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to establish a dedicated fund to track climate -related
revenue and expenses across activities and County departments; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that a new
fund is hereby established titled Climate Action Fund, to operate beginning January 1, 2024.
This fund shall be used to account for revenue and expenditures associated with climate
action programs; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that the Climate
Action Fund is approved with an initial budget of $297,119 as described in Exhibit A.
eAqOp;TI:D'th�t2lst day of November 2023
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
A17FTEST LL``;.: . ' ry� lw
COM COWASHINGTON
�� c ,.
,.; ��
Danagrown-p{ �k �, ClerK of the Council Barr�7cnang, Council Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Christopher Quinn (via email 10/23/23)
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
Page 1
WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE
WHATCON COUNTY, WA HINGTON
Satpal S. Sidhu, County 4ecutive
( (Approved ( ) Denied
Date Signed:
EXHIBIT A
Supplemental Budget Request
Public Works Natural Resources
supp91 v 4457 _-J Fund Cost Center
Expenditure Type: One -Time Year 2 2024
Status: Pending
Originator. Randy Rydel
Add'1 FTE ❑ Add'I Space ❑ Priority 1
Name of Request. Climate Action Plan Implementation to new fund
x °`' — i
By Rat)dyRy e/ at 4 02 pm, Oct Ii, 2021t._. _.... _..
Department Head Signature (Required on Hard Copy Submission) Date
Costs:
Object
Object Description
Amount Requested f
6110
Regular Salaries & Wages
$79,547
6290
Applied Benefits
$61,252
6320
Office & Op Supplies
$500
6340
Books-Publications-Supsc
$5,770
6520
Software
$550
6520
Software
$1, 000
6625
Software Maint Contracts
$500
6630
Professional Services
$115,000
6699
Other Services- I nterfu nd
$25,000 !
6780 -- —
7110
7115
Travel-Educ/Training-------
Registration/Tuition
Membership & Assoc Dues
$2,000
$2,000
$2,500
7190
8301.169
Other Miscellaneous
Operating Transfer In
$1,500 (!
($50,000)
8301
Operating Transfer In
($100,000)
8301
Operating Transfer In
($147,119)
Request Total
$0
la. Description of request:
This request moves the Climate Action Plan Implementation from the Flood Fund to a newly created fund.
1b. Primary customers:
All residents of Whatcom County
2. Problem to be solved.
The Whatcom County Council adopted an update to the Whatcom County Climate Action Plan in 2021.
The plan includes actions for Whatcom County government and the community at large to implement to
reduce and/or mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the inevitable impacts occurring from
changing climate conditions. The County has hired a Climate Action Manager and developed a work plan
for 2023-24. Funds will be used as follows:
1. Administration- $25,000 (Urban Sustainability Directors Network, ICLEI, Conference Registration, Office
Expenses)
2. Forestry- $50,000 match funding for carbon sequestration project through Climate Commitment Act
funding, federal Community and Urban Forestry Grant, or state DNR grant programs.
3. Sea Level Rise- $50,000 funding to support 2nd round of Shoreline Planning Competitive Grant
(pending) and NOAA Regional Challenge Implementation Proposal (pending).
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 Rpt: Rpt Suppl Regular
Supplemental Budget Request Status: Pending
Public Works Natural Resources
supp r i�t�5r Fund Cost Center Originator: Randy Rydel
4. Grant Management- $25,000
This request also moves existing base budget authority of $147,119 to cover an employee and some
basic office expenses from the Flood Fund to the newly created fund.
3a. Options /Advantages:
The County has made a commitment to implement the Climate Action Plan. County funds will be used as
match for grants to implement four activities.
3b. Cost savings:
If left unaddressed, climate change impacts will have devastating effects on Whatcom County and the
world with associated costs. The cost of inaction is likely immeasurable in terms of future economic
impacts and impacts to public safety. Using County funds as match multiplies local dollars and expands
the amount of work that can be done with limited local funding.
4a. Outcomes:
Actions identified in the Whatcom County Climate Action Plan will be implemented and local GHG
emissions will be reduced lover a period of years and decades.
4b. Measures:
The assessments and plans identified in Section 1 will be implemented.
5a. Other Departments/Agencies:
The Climate Action Plan covers all of Whatcom County government. Implementation of the activities
included in this request will involve staff from the Public Works Department, PDS, AS -Facilities, and the
Parks and Recreation Department. Some activities will also include the involvement of the state
Department of Natural Resources.
5b. Name the person in charge of implementation and what they are responsible for.
Parks - Bennett Knox
AS Facilities - Rob Ney
PDS - Steve Roberge
6. Funding Source:
Flood Fund $50k - ASR-7016
ARPA $100k
General Fund - $147,119
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 Rpt: Rpt Suppl Regular