HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2025-023Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2025-565
File ID: AB2025-565 Version: 1 Status: Approved
File Created: 07/24/2025
Department: Planning and
Development Services
Department
Entered by: aharris@co.whatcom.wa.us
File Type: Resolution
Assigned to: Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee Final Action: 08/06/2025
Agenda Date: 08/06/2025 Enactment #: RES 2025-023
Related Files:
Primary Contact Email: aharris@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Resolution authorizing the Whatcom County Conservation Easement Program staff and Whatcom
County Executive to proceed with the acquisition of conservation easements on four properties
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Conservation Easement Program staff and chair of the CEP Oversight Committee would like to provide
an update on the program and request approval to proceed with the acquisition of conservation
easements on four properties.
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
08/06/2025 Council Climate Action and Natural
Resources Committee
Aye: 2
Nay: 0
Absent: 1
Action: Sent To:
RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL
Galloway, and Stremler
Donovan
08/06/2025 Council APPROVED
Aye: 4 Buchanan, Donovan, Galloway, and Scanlon
Nay: 3 Byrd, Elenbaas, and Stremler
Whatcom County Page t Printed on 81812025
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2025-565)
Attachments: Staff Memo, Proposed Resolution, Map, Presentation
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 81812025
SPONSORED BY:
PROPOSED BY: PDS
INTRODUCTION DATE:
RESOLUTION # 2025-023
AUTHORIZING WHATCOM COUNTY CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM
STAFF AND WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO PROCEED WITH THE
ACQUISITION OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON FOUR PROPERTIES
WHEREAS, Whatcom County government recognizes agriculture and forestry as major
contributors to the local economy and a high quality of life for Whatcom County citizens; and
WHEREAS, The Growth Management Act and the County Comprehensive Plan support the
retention of agricultural and forestry lands of long term commercial significance and encourage
the use of innovative techniques to do so; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #92-002 enacted a property tax levy known as the Conservation Futures
Tax as authorized by RCW 84.34.230 to provide a funding source to assist in acquiring "open
space land, farm and agricultural land, and timber land, and a significant Conservation Futures
fund balance is available for additional farm land protection efforts"; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #2002-054 adopted Whatcom County Code Title 3.25A that authorized
the creation of a Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program that offers voluntary fann
agreements that include the purchase of agricultural conservation easements on fannable land
within Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #2002-054 and WCC 3.25A established a Purchase of Development
Rights Oversight Committee to provide review and assistance to PDR staff, and
WHEREAS, The Whatcom County Council adopted the PDR Guidelines through Resolution
#2002-040 which includes specific direction for program administration and conservation
easement acquisitions; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #2018-065 amended Whatcom County Code Title 3.25A to direct the
PDR Program to also offer voluntary agreements to purchase forestry and ecological
conservations easements on working forestlands and important ecosystem areas within Whatcom
County; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance #2021-037 amended Whatcom County Code Title 3.25A to change the
program name to be the Whatcom County Conservation Easement Program (CEP); and
WHEREAS, Council, pursuant to Conservation Easement Program Guidelines, must affirm or
modify the properties as submitted by the CEP Oversight Committee; and
WHEREAS, Council has reviewed the applications and background materials at a public
meeting, with input by County staff and CEP Oversight Committee members; and
WHEREAS, Council has determined the proposed conservation easements are in accordance
with their policy priorities and the requirements of Title 3.25A and the Conservation Easement
Program Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has approved matching funds
to support the acquisition of easements on the Taylor property and Sanfi Acres Canyon Creek
property; and
WHEREAS, The US Forest Service has approved matching funds through its Forest Legacy
Program to support the acquisition of working forest easements on the Sanfi Acres Maple Falls
property and the Koblitz Red Mountain property; and
WHEREAS, The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) has approved
matching funds to support the acquisition of the agricultural conservation easements on the Sanfi
Acres Canyon Creek property and the Sanfi Acres Maple Falls property; and
WHEREAS, The CEP Oversight Committee voted on January 30, 2025 to update their business
rules, allowing staff to secure approval from CEPOC on specific properties before funding is
secured; however, approval is conditioned upon staff lining up matching funding before
requesting approval for purchase from Whatcom County Council; and
WHEREAS, The CEP Oversight Committee met on January 30, 2025 and approved easement
purchases on the Sanfi Acres Canyon Creek property, the Sanfi Acres Maple Falls property, and
the Koblitz Red Mountain property, contingent upon matching grant funding being secured; and
WHEREAS, The CEP Oversight Committee met on February 20, 2025 and approved the Taylor
property contingent upon matching grant funding being secured.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that:
1. The Conservation Easement Program proceed with the acquisition of four (4)
conservation easements on the following properties pursuant to the process outlined in
the CEP Guidelines:
a. Sanfi Acres Canyon Creek property (FCE2024-02)
b. Sanfi Acres Maple Falls property (FCE2024-01)
c. Koblitz Red Mountain property (FCE2024-04)
d. Taylor property (ECE2020-01)
2. The Executive is authorized to enter into a Purchase and Sale Agreement for easements
on these four properties, provided:
a. Appraisals are completed and conservation easements are drafted which meet the
requirements of the Whatcom County Conservation Easement Program, and
b. Landowners have agreed to the offer price and conservation easement conditions,
and
c. Budget authority has been adopted by the Whatcom County Council.
3. Expenditures of Conservation Futures Funds, within budget authority, are authorized to
cover expenses associated with purchase of conservation easement, including title search
and insurance, appraisal services, easement monitoring, and enforcement fees.
APPROVED t day of Augutst, 2025
0
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
AT T ®° , \,A A i' c w WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
E
Cathy Halka, C nc &rk Kayle alloway, Council Chair
!� TNTE OFF ,
APM'6VE15-a p "
Approve` ovia emaili n 07/11/;,5by Kellen Kooistra
Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney