HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Nov 21 2023Whatcom County
Council Public Works & Health Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
1:30 PM
Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 2:15 P.M. (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE
REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR
CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Carol Frazey
Kaylee Galloway
Kathy Kershner
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final November 21, 2023
Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Kathy Kershner called the meeting to order at 1:31 p.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Carol Frazey, Kaylee Galloway, and Kathy Kershner
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan, and Ben Elenbaas
Announcements
Committee Discussion
1. AB2023-735 Discussion of proposed ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 3.72 to align
with RCW 39.04.320
The following people discussed the item with Councilmembers:
• Elizabeth Kosa, Public Works Department Director
• Samantha Murdoch, Public Works Department
They answered questions about the State's tiered approach that was not
included in the proposed ordinance, whether the changes to Whatcom
County Code 3.72.020 (Minimum apprentice labor hours required for
public work) changed from what the Council originally passed, whether
these changes have a material effect on when the apprenticeship
requirements kick in, and whether the start date is being extended so we
would not start January first but would start later after two pilot projects to
be in alignment with the State.
Galloway thanked the presenters and stated that being able to set up these
two pilot projects is a good middle ground to show they are committed to
the program while they delay it a year.
The presenters answered whether the two pilot projects will start in January,
whether they will turn around fast enough to be in place by July, and whether
every jurisdiction will have a similar program when this goes into effect
statewide.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
1. AB2023-776 Resolution requesting that the Whatcom County Executive and staff pursue public
Whatcom County Page I
Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final November 21, 2023
Committee
access opportunities for trails on all county -owned land and easements
Frazey briefed the Councilmembers on the resolution. She stated she would
like the Executive and staff to look at what trails and public access the
County can give the community as we build things like levies for flood
mitigation and buy land in those areas, or on every County property or
easement acquisition for any purpose.
Galloway moved that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL.
Elizabeth Kosa, Public Works Department Director, and Frazey answered
questions. They answered whether there are places where Public Works
would have a concern for allowing access and whether this is mandating
they create access, whether there are times we can leverage situations
where someone has put their land in some conservation status and has an
agreement in place that public access would be allowed, whether they
should expand on this resolution and get an inventory of those types of
agreements that are in place, whether "other county facilities" in the first
bullet of the NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED statement of the
resolution include county owned forest lands, and whether the intent of the
fourth bullet ("potential recreational and nonmotorized trail opportunities")
is read as non -motorized overall and not motorized.
Galloway's motion that the Resolution be RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adjournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 1:53 p.m.
Whatcone County Page 2
Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final !November 21, 2023
Committee
67191i
ATTEST:00lill�
�'1 f
r t;C3®
Dana Bromvr�vis�r%il Clerk
SO
eq®mg,°
Kristi Felhinger, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Kathy Kershner-via email 12/11/2023
Kershner, Committee Chair
97�atcorrz County Page 3