HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Feb 25 2025Whatcom County
Council Public Works & Health Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste ##105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
11:30 AM
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers
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COUNCILMEMBERS
Ben Elenbaas
Jon Scanlon
Mark Stren ler
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC
Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final February 25, 2025
Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Jon Scanlon called the meeting to order at 11:35 a.m. in a
hybrid meeting.
Present: 3 - Jon Scanlon, Mark Stremler, and Ben Elenbaas
Also Present: Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, and Kaylee Galloway
Announcements
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council
AB2025-149 Ordinance adopting amendments to Whatcom County Code 24.05, Onsite Sewage
System Regulations
Scanlon introduced the item discussion and stated they got a presentation
from Health and Community Services two weeks ago. There were questions
posed at that time about the impact on the cost of housing so he asked for
an analysis of that. It was sent to Councilmembers yesterday and is in the
agenda packet online. He stated the ordinance is on this evening's Council
agenda.
Hayli Hruza, Health and Community Services, briefed the Councilmembers
on the process they followed for determining the proposed code
amendments and on the new "Substitute Summary of Significant Code
Changes" (on file) which shows the benefit and cost estimate of each of the
proposed changes. She answered questions about the cost implications of
the State requirement for a nitrogen reduction device for septic systems to
address nitrogen in ground water.
Councilmembers, Hruza, and Cathy Halka, Clerk of the Council, discussed
whether this should have a public hearing, what items require them, and
when it could be scheduled for one.
Elenbaas moved to recommend to the full Council to have a public hearing
at their earliest availability, while hitting all the legal requirements on
AB2025-149.
Councilmembers discussed the motion and discussed with Hruza whether a
public hearing on March 11 would impact the timing to comply with the
State, and that the ordinance went out to septic installers with registered
email addresses for their input.
*%alcom County Pape I
Council Public Works & Health Committee Minutes - Final February 25, 2025
Committee
Elenbaas stated his motion stipulated the earliest availability for a hearing
but he hopes that would be March 11.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Scanlon, Elenbaas, and Stremler
Nay: 0
Councilmembers expressed gratitude for staffs work on the ordinance and
the process they followed in drafting it.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED.
Motion approved to recommend to the full Council to have a public hearing at their earliest availability, while hitting
all the legal requirements on AB2025-149.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adjournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meetingadjotiified ;it 12:02 p.m.
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Cathy-Halka, Coh�� l Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Jon Scanlon -via email 3/4/2025
Jon Scanlon, Committee Chair
Meeting Minutes prepared by Kristi Felbinger
"alcom County Page 2