HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Feb 11 2025Whatcom County
Council
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Minutes - Final
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
6PM
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers
SECOND AGENDA REVISION 2.10.2025 - AGENDA REVISED 2.7.2025 - HYBRID
MEETING (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Kaylee Galloway
Jon Scanlon
Mark Stremler
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC
Council Minutes - Final February 11, 2025
COUNTY COUNCIL
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Kaylee Galloway called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. in a
hybrid meeting.
ROLL CALL
Present: 7 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway,
Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler
FLAG SALUTE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, Reported on the following:
• Updates on the jail construction management, the Rebuilding
American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant
for the Lummi Island Ferry project, the plantation range, and the NW
Annex project
• Federal funding uncertainty due to Federal executive orders
• Neighborhood impacts of the severe winter shelter
• Change in service provider for nursing services at the jail and work
center
• Appreciation for the discussion in committee on the procurement
process, modernization, and Council work efficiencies
MINUTES CONSENT
Buchanan moved to accept the minutes consent items. The motion was
seconded by Donovan (see votes on individual items below).
1. MIN2025-005 Committee of the Whole Executive Session for January 28, 2025
Buchanan moved and Donovan seconded that the Minutes Consent be
APPROVED BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
2. MIN2025-006 Committee of the Whole for January 28, 2025
Buchanan moved and Donovan seconded that the Minutes Consent be
APPROVED BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7- Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
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Nay: 0
3. MIN2025-007 Regular County Council for January 28, 2025
Buchanan moved and Donovan seconded that the Minutes Consent be
APPROVED BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
OPEN SESSION
The following people spoke:
• Adam Bellingar
• John Westerfield
• Austin Papritz
• Daniel Harm
• Amy Kenna
• Lyle Sorenson
• Ryan Bowman
• Natalie Chavez
• Mark Alan Tisland
• Cliff Langley
• Hannah O.
Hearing no one else, Galloway closed the Open Session.
CONSENT AGENDA
(From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee)
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved to approve Consent Agenda items one through nine.
Stremler stated he would like to consider Consent Agenda item number one
(AB2025-117) separately.
Donovan amended his motion and moved to approve Consent Agenda items
two through nine.
Councilmembers voted on those items (see votes on individual items
below).
1. AB2025-1 17 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
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Whatcom County and Lake Whatcom Residential & Treatment Center to provide
funding for HVAC system and window replacement at the Birchwood assisted living
and treatment facility, in the amount of $1,000,000
This item was considered separately below.
2. AB2025-133 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Rick Ackerman for the provision of evaluations and treatment
services to youth referred or sentenced under the Special Sex Offender Disposition
Alternative (SSODA) in Whatcom County Juvenile Court, in the amount of $22,000
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Contract be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
3. AB2025-134 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and L&L Counseling and Consultation for the provision of
evaluations and treatment services to youth referred or sentenced under the Special
Sex Offender Disposition Alternative (SSODA) in Whatcom County Juvenile Court,
in the amount of $30,000
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Contract be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
4. AB2025-136 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment
between Whatcom County and North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative
Services Organization to provide behavioral health services within the North Sound
Integrated Care Network in the amount of $104,295, for a total amended contract
amount of $3,025,135
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Contract be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
5. AB2025-150 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (WDRC) to provide
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for the administration of the family law mediation program, fee subsidy for low income
participants of mediation sessions and parenting seminars, and language interpretation
for participants, in the amount of $65,000
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Contract be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
6. AB2025-151 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
with Diking District No. 3 and landowners John and Rich Appel to provide flood
control/river improvement work on Cougar Creek for the Neveel Levee Cougar
Creek Fish Passage Project, which includes a cost -share contribution from the
landowners and an in -kind contribution from the Diking District, in the amount of
$350,927 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District
Board of Supervisors)
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Contract (FCZDBS) be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
7. AB2025-153 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement
between Whatcom County and the City of Ferndale for Correctional Services
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Interlocal be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
8. AB2025-158 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an Interlocal Agreement
between Whatcom County and the City of Everson for Correctional Services
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Interlocal be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
9. AB2025-161 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
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Whatcom County and the Washington State Military Department to utilize Emergency
Rapid Response Funds to aid in the recovery of qualified low-income
individuals/households affected by the November 2024 Bomb Cylone, in the amount
of $135,000
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Interlocal be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
CONSENT AGENDA ITEM CONSIDERED SEPARATELY
1. AB2025-117 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between
Whatcom County and Lake Whatcom Residential & Treatment Center to provide
funding for HVAC system and window replacement at the Birchwood assisted living
and treatment facility, in the amount of $1,000,000
Donovan reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee
and moved that the Contract be AUTHORIZED.
Stremler stated some citizens may have issue with $1 million of taxpayer
money and asked what the County's role is in using taxpayer money.
Elenbaas stated this $1 million comes from House Bill 1590 funds.
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, answered where the funds come
from, and stated this contract, as proposed, is funded by the affordable
housing sales tax which is a tax that the County Council has elected to use
to fund affordable housing. The statute that authorizes the collection of this
tax at the local level limits the use of the funds to affordable housing and
behavioral health services, so the money could not be used for other things.
She spoke about how the funds have to be used and stated this is the priority
project.
George Roche, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, spoke about the work of the
Lake Whatcom Center and stated it is a great resource in the community.
Councilmembers discussed how this project is consistent with Council
priorities.
Donovan's motion that the Contract be AUTHORIZED carried by the
following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
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Nay: 0
OTHER ITEMS
COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
1. AB2025-138 Appointment to vacancies on the Portage Bay Shellfish Protection District Advisory
Committee, Applicant(s): Fred Likkel, Albert deBoer (Council acting as the Flood
Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)
Scanlon moved and Elenbaas seconded that the Council Appointment be
APPOINTED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS,
COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
1. A B202 5-1 16 Request confirmation of the County Executive's appointments of Paul Pelot and
Robert Wilson to the Whatcom County Veterans Advisory Board
Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Executive Appointment be
CONFIRMED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
2. AB2025-155 Request confirmation of the County Executive's appointment of Colin Wahl and Paul
Meyer to the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee
Donovan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Executive Appointment be
CONFIRMED.
Councilmembers discussed the applicants.
Donovan's motion that the Executive Appointment be CONFIRMED carried
by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
3. AB2025-156 Request confirmation of the County Executive's appointment of Henry Bierlink, Paul
D'Agnolo, and Mike Finger to the Whatcom County Conservation Easement
Program Oversight Committee
Scanlon moved and Buchanan seconded that the Executive Appointment be
CONFIRMED. The motion carried by the following vote:
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Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION
1. AB2025-163 Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement between
Whatcom County and Sustainable Connections for the purpose of conducting a
feasibility study for the development of an Office of Healthy Housing in the amount of
$190,000
Scanlon moved and Buchanan seconded that the Contract be
AUTHORIZED.
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, gave background on the contract.
She stated the study explores what some sort of community office of
healthy housing would look like but it is not necessarily talking about or
researching the option of Whatcom County holding a new department or
office related to healthy housing. She answered why Whatcom County is
facilitating the money.
Councilmembers and Schott-Bresler discussed that this maybe came out of
community demand, that the idea is to see if there could be some type of
entity that would help to coordinate across the county and the different
cities to reduce the cost of housing and make it easier to rent out
properties, that Council approved accepting the grant in November, and
whether there is a need for this.
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, spoke about rental controls in the City of
Bellingham since the COVID-19 pandemic, and stated this is not only for
Whatcom County but has a bigger purpose and will affect other
communities as well.
Schott-Bresler answered whether Whatcom Housing Alliance is a part of
this, and stated they are a program of Sustainable Connections.
Councilmembers and Sidhu discussed whether this is a way to assert some
form of Bellingham's position on housing on everyone else, and whether it
would be reasonable to hold onto this and bring it back to the next meeting
so they could have further discussion on it.
Byrd moved to hold until the next meeting.
The motion was seconded by Elenbaas.
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Schott-Bresler stated this money has to be spent out by the end of June.
Councilmembers discussed the motion to hold.
The motion to hold failed by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Byrd, Elenbaas, and Stremler
Nay: 4 - Buchanan, Donovan, Galloway, and Scanlon
Scanlon's motion that the Contract be AUTHORIZED carried by the
following vote:
Aye: 4 - Buchanan, Donovan, Galloway, and Scanlon
Nay: 3 - Byrd, Elenbaas, and Stremler
INTRODUCTION ITEMS
Buchanan moved to introduce items one through ten. The motion was
seconded by Donovan (see votes on individual items below).
Cathy Halka, Clerk of the Council, stated she wanted to clarify that the
motion for AB2025-059 is for the "Revised Ordinance and Ex A for
2.11.2025" and that item number 10 (AB2025-164) has a substitute.
AB2025-030 Appointment to a vacancy on the Incarceration Prevention & Reduction Task Force,
health and social services provider, Applicant(s): Eve Smason-Marcus, Kristy
Backer, Rob Sullivan, Alexis Hahs, Shannon Prescott
Buchanan moved and Donovan seconded that the Council Appointment
Requiring Introduction be INTRODUCED. The motion carried by the
following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
2. AB2025-059 Ordinance adopting amendments to Whatcom County Code Titles 20 & 22 to enact
SSB 5290 regarding local project review
Buchanan moved and Donovan seconded that the Ordinance Requiring a
Public Hearing be INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
Introduced the "Revised Ordinance and Ex A for 2.11.2025"
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3. AB2025-120 Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 2.123, Forestry Advisory Committee,
to expand the committee's purpose and adjust member terms
Scanlon moved and Buchanan seconded that the Ordinance be
INTRODUCED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
4. AB2025-140 Resolution vacating a portion of Camp 2 Road
Buchanan moved and Donovan seconded that the Resolution Requiring a
Public Hearing be INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
5. AB2025-145 Ordinance authorizing a revision to the Unified Fee Schedule
Buchanan moved and Donovan seconded that the Ordinance Requiring a
Public Hearing be INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
6. AB2025-147 Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 2.27A, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
Buchanan moved and Donovan seconded that the Ordinance Requiring a
Public Hearing be INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
7. AB2025-149 Ordinance adopting amendments to Whatcom County Code 24.05, Onsite Sewage
System Regulations
Buchanan moved and Donovan seconded that the Ordinance be
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INTRODUCED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
8. AB2025-160 Ordinance closing the Shallow Shore Culvert Relocation Fund 3917
Buchanan moved and Donovan seconded that the Ordinance be
INTRODUCED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
9. AB2025-162 Ordinance amending the project budget for the new Public Health, Safety and Justice
Facility, request no. 7
Buchanan moved and Donovan seconded that the Ordinance be
INTRODUCED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
10. AB2025-164 Ordinance amending the 2025 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 2, in the amount
of $4,751,265
Buchanan moved and Donovan seconded that the SUBSTITUTE Ordinance
be INTRODUCED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES
Councilmembers gave committee reports and updates on recent activities
and upcoming events.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on March 11, 2025.
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Council ���}' (_' Minutes - Final February 11, 2025
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WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
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Cathy Halka, C9uneil Clerk Kayle Galloway, Councif Chair
Meeting Minutes prepared by Kristi Felbinger
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