HomeMy WebLinkAboutClimate Action Nov 8 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
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
9:45 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 November 8, 2023
Resources Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Kaylee Galloway called the meeting to order at 9:47 a.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 2 - Ben Elenbaas, and Kaylee Galloway
Absent: 1 - Todd Donovan
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, and Carol Frazey
Announcements
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2023-690 Appointment of one councilmember to serve as liaison for the Climate Vulnerability
Assessment (CVA) Project
Sue Sullivan, Health and Community Services, read from a presentation (on
file) and answered what days the steering committee meetings will meet.
She stated that was not determined yet.
Galloway and Elenbaas both stated it is something they would be interested
in doing and Donovan had previously expressed interest.
Councilmembers concurred that they would not make a formal
recommendation from committee and would wait to make a decision
tonight so that there car. be deliberation with the fall Council.
This agenda item was FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITHOUT A
RECOMMENDATION.
Special Presentation
1. AB2023 µ7 19 Report from Washington State University Extension
Cheryl Lovato Niles, Washington State University Extension water
resources educator, read from a presentation (on file) about natural
resources programs and courses. She answered what their work with the
Whatcom Marine Resource Committee looks like and whether there is
collaboration with that group. She stated they do connect and collaborate
with that committee.
This agenda item was REPORTED.
2. AB2023-685 Presentation from Public Works Staff and the Whatcom Water Alliance regarding the
Enhanced Whatcom Water Alliance (EW WA) Program
Whatcom County Page I
Council Climate Action and Natural Committee Minutes - Final November 8, 2023
Resources Committee
The following people spoke and read from a presentation (on file):
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department
Justin Clary, Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District and Whatcom
Water Alliance Chair
Aneka Sweeney, Whatcom Conservation District
They spoke about the background of the program, accomplishments over the
last three years, and how the alliance can continue to partner with the
County in enhancing water conservation efforts throughout the county.
Buchanan spoke about a resource when he was in grade school called the
Conservation Center that was out at Lake Whatcom. Kids took field trips
there and learned about the water and also about how to identify trees and
other vegetation. He asked whether there are any "out in the wild" resources
like that for elementary students and Sweeney stated the Whatcom County
Coalition of Environmental Educators is providing environmental education
in all sorts of ways. She described some of the learning programs.
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.acjpurned at 10:37 a.m.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
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Kaylee Galloway -via email 11/9/2023
Dana Brown43avl's; Council Clerk Kaylee Galloway, Committee Chair
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
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