HomeMy WebLinkAboutPacket Special Council AM Nov 12 2024CLERK OF THE COUNCIL �G�M CO COUNCILMEMBERS
Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC ASP tia Barry Buchanan
�� < Tyler Byrd
COUNTY COURTHOUSE Todd Donovan
311 Grand Avenue, Suite #105 Ben Elenbaas
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 Kaylee Galloway
(360) 778 5010 'if a000 Jon Scanlon
Mark Stremler
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
AGENDA REVISION NOTICE FOR NOVEMBER 12, 2024
TO PARTICIPATE, SEE INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil
OR CALL 360.778.5010. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE
LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION CENTER AT whatcom.legistar.com
THE 9:00 A.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED.
NOTE: AB2024-510 HAS MOVED TO THE 1:00 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING - SEE BELOW.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE 1:00 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
AGENDA:
ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION
1. AB2024-774 Discussion of an ordinance adopting amendments to WCC Titles 20 and 22
to enact SSB 5290 regarding local project review
ADDED 11.8.2024
2. AB2024-510 Discussion regarding membership of Council standing committees and other
potential changes to meeting logistics
ADDED 11.8.2024
Whatcom County
Council (Special)
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
9AM
Hybrid Meeting - Council Conference Room
MEETING CANCELED
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 10:10 A.M. -(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
Council (Special) Meeting Agenda November 12, 2024
THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED
AB2024-510 HAS MOVED TO THE 1:00 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
Call To Order
Roll Call
Announcements
Individuals who require special assistance to participate in the Council's meetings are asked to contact
the Council Office at 360.778.5010 at least 96 hours in advance. This committee meeting is also noticed
as a meeting of the Whatcom County Council, with the agenda limited to committee business.
Discussion and Action
AB2024-510 Discussion regarding membership of Council standing committees and other potential
changes to meeting logistics
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adjournment
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 51112025
Whatcom County
• Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2024-510
File ID:
AB2024-510 Version: 1
File Created:
07/25/2024 Entered by: CHalka@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department:
Council Office File Type: Discussion
Assigned to:
Council Committee of the Whole
Agenda Date:
11/12/2024
Primary Contact Email: chalka@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Status: Discussed and
Motion(s) Approved
Final Action: 11/12/2024
Enactment #:
Discussion regarding membership of Council standing committees and other potential changes to
meeting logistics
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Discussion regarding membership of Council standing committees and other potential changes to
meeting logistics
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To:
08/15/2024 Council (Special)
09/24/2024 Council Committee of the Whole
11/12/2024 Council (Special)
Attachments: Staff Memo
DISCUSSED
DISCUSSED
DISCUSSED AND
MOTION(S) APPROVED
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 5/1/2025
COUNTY COURTHOUSE �4G0
M Cop
311 Grand Avenue, Suite #105 �'1'�
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038_
(360) 778-5010
11�71�lsp f, N jGi+
MEMORANDUM
TO: WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
FROM: CATHY HALKA, CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
DATE: SEPTEMBER 23, 2024
RE: COUNCIL MEETING LOGISTICS DISCUSSION (AB2024-510)
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Cathy Halka, AICP, CIVIC
During Council discussion on A132024-420, an ordinance to make all council committees 7 members (instead of 3),
councilmembers asked about other meeting logistics changes to achieve their goals. A discussion of
councilmember goals was held on August 15, 2024 (AB2024-510), including the following:
- Be more efficient
- Have more meeting time to consider complicated issues
- Create avenues for councilmembers to work collaboratively
- More regular discussion opportunities
- More scrutiny on what goes on an agenda
- Edit agendas before they are published to make sure there is enough time to deal with issues
- Have a single vote during the day on things that are not controversial
- Vote once instead of repeating votes (in day and then again at night)
- Find efficiencies with presentations
Note: some of the aforementioned goals may conflict with each other)
In consideration of the aforementioned goals, the following ideas are offered as a starting place for Council
consideration:
1. 7-member Committees
o For all committees OR only select committees
o Reduces quorum issues, allows for collaboration outside of a public meeting
o Could increase number of times an item is discussed. 7-member committees make a recommendation
to the Council (of 7)
2. Final action in 1 or more committee/s, e.g. Finance and Administrative Services Committee
o If 7-member committee, final action in committee could work
o Public notice of final action to be taken in committee
o RCW requires public comment at all meetings where final action is taken. Note: public comment could
extend time needed for committee.
o Ordinance to establish final action in committee
o May shorten evening meeting time
3. Add 6 Committee of the Whole meetings
o Held alongside 6 scheduled Health Board meetings
o Provides additional council discussion time
o Schedule may be 9-10am Committee of the Whole before a 10am-12pm Health Board meeting
o 1-hour Committee of the Whole could accommodate 2-3 presentations/discussions
4. Reduce the number of committees (from 5 to fewer)
o Whatcom County Code 2.02.075 specifies 5 standing committees. A code change by ordinance or a
council motion to refer all items from one committee to another may be appropriate.
o Fewer committees could make it difficult for presenters to accurately estimate time to show up for
committee agenda items and for members of the public to watch a specific agenda item
5. Eliminate Water Work Session meetings and move agenda items to Climate Action and Natural Resources
Committee or Public Works and Health as appropriate
o Consolidates 10 Water Work Session meetings into the Council's regular meeting schedule
o Holds important topic items on a regular and more prominent Council meeting day
6. Follow intended path of ordinance.
o Path of ordinance is to introduce, then 2-weeks later discussion in committee and action in Council on
same day. After substantive changes item may need to be re -introduced at a subsequent meeting
o Reduces extra discussions in committee for ordinances
o Provides predictability for staff and the public of when an ordinance will be considered
o Public hearing items are introduced, then 2 weeks later the hearing and Council action take place in
Council on the same day
7. Time limits on councilmember updates, e.g. 3 minutes each
o More efficient with evening meeting time
8. Time limits on presentations and reports
o Limit all presentation times to 20 minutes or less
o Exceptions approved by the Clerk/Chair
o Hold all CM questions till the end of the presentation
9. Agenda review/approval by Committee Chair
o Limit presentation time
o Remove items to achieve desired committee time