HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Work Session Oct 17 2023Whatcom County
Council to Work Session
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Minutes - Final
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
10:30 AM
Civic Center Building Conference Room / Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING - (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN
INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcourity.us/joinvirtualcounc.ii, 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 Water Work Session Minutes - Final October 17, 2023
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 1.0:31 a.m. in a
hybrid meeting.
Present: 5 - Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Carol Frazey, Kaylee Galloway, and Todd
Donovan
Absent: 2 - Tyler Byrd, and Kathy Kershner
Announcements
Meeting Materials
AB2023-492 Meeting Materials for the Water Work Session October 17, 2023
Watershed Viewer
This agenda item was RECEIVED.
Kraig Olason, Public Works Department, introduced the presenter.
Holly Faulstich, Public Works Department, read from a presentation (on
file).
She and Olason answered questions about whether homeowners pay part of
the costs to connect to the existing storm drain system, whether the
percentage of future impervious surface (determined through the Birch
Point Sub -Watershed Drainage Study) was based on current zoning and
density, how the proposed drainage improvement capital projects may be
funded, whether people in the city limits of Blaine pay the Birch Bay
Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management (BBWARM) District fee,
and whether the City of Blaine has any power over the various homeowner
associations as it pertains to drainage.
Chris Elder, Public Works Department, presented on the Whatcom County
w Iatersned Portal online. Councilmembers asked whether he is training
County staff on how to use the portal, and whether it is linked into parcel
information through the Assessor's Office.
The following people updated the Councilmembers:
U lialcom County Page I Printed on 711012024
Council Water Work Session Minutes - Final October 17, 2023
Adjournment
• Chris Elder, Public Works Department
• Dan Eisses, Birch Bay Water and Sewer District and WRIA l
Planning Unit
• Alexander Harris, Land and Water Policy Manager at Re Sources and
WRIA 1 Planning Unit
They spoke about the upcoming Comprehensive Plan and the Planning
Unit's desire to tie land use to water supply, an event in which three wells
that went dry in the West Ferndale area, and the question that came from
that which was how we are going to supply water for expected growth, and
using the west of Ferndale and east of Cherry Point as a pilot project to find
out if rezoning and preserving agricultural areas from development may be
part of the solution. They answered Councilmembers' questions about the
pilot project area and how the idea takes agriculture irrigation water into
consideration.
Buchanan opened the floor for public comment and one person spoke
(name not stated). He asked about the Rogers Slough logs and whether
those logs could be used to prevent shoreline erosion. Kraig Olason
addressed his question.
The meeting adjourned at 11:42 a.m.
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Dana Brown -Davis; Council Clerk Barr yB anan, Council Chair
1
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
Wdotcoin County Page 2 Printed on 711012024