HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2025-054Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2025-749
File ID: AB2025-749 Version: 1 Status: Adopted
File Created: 10/21/2025 Entered by: JGernand@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Council Office File Type: Ordinance
Assigned to: Council Final Action: 11/18/2025
Agenda Date: 11/18/2025 Enactment #: ORD 2025-054
Related Files:
Primary Contact Email: jgernand@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Ordinance repealing Whatcom County Code 2.170, Forest Resilience Task Force
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
none
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To:
11/05/2025 Council INTRODUCED Council
Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
11/18/2025 Council ADOPTED
Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler
Nay: 0
Attachments: Proposed Ordinance, Notice of Action Proposed
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 1111912025
PROPOSED BY: GALLOWAY
INTRODUCED: NOVEMBER 5, 2025
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-054
REPEALING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 2.170, FOREST RESILIENCE TASK FORCE
WHEREAS, on October 10, 2023, the Whatcom County Council adopted Ordinance
2023-058, establishing the Forest Resilience Task Force to develop a comprehensive forest
resilience plan for Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2023-058 charged the Forest Resilience Task Force with
reviewing county policies, engaging relevant stakeholders, incorporating community values,
and engaging science and evidence -based strategies to achieve the following priorities:
• Sustaining a prosperous timber economy,
• Restoring healthy forest ecosystems for fish and wildlife,
• Improving watershed health,
• Addressing the stream high and low flow issues,
• Enhancing carbon sequestration and storage,
• Improving wildfire, pest, and disease resilience, and
• Increasing the overall resilience of Whatcom County forests to climate
impacts; and
WHEREAS, a multi -departmental, multidisciplinary Task Force convened and met 16
times from July 2024 to September 2025, with numerous subcommittee meetings throughout
that period, to develop a comprehensive forest resilience plan for Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Resilience Task Force voted to approve the draft Whatcom
County Forest Resilience Plan at their final meeting on September 15, 2025 and submitted the
plan to Council on September 25, 2025; and
WHEREAS, on October 7, 2025, the Whatcom County Council approved Resolution
2025-032, receiving the Forest Resilience Plan submitted by the Task Force as an initial draft;
and
WHEREAS, Resolution 2025-032 tasks the Forest Advisory Committee, as outlined in
Whatcom County Code 2.123, with recommending actions to support implementation of
ongoing work as outlined in the Forest Resilience Task Force's draft Forest Resilience Plan and
continuing development of a Whatcom County Forest Resilience Plan for consideration and
formal adoption by the County; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Resilience Task Force was established for a limited duration and
tasked solely with drafting a Forest Resilience Plan and, having accomplished this work, the
Task Force will sunset December 31, 2025 per Ordinance 2023-058.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that
Ordinance 2023-058 is hereby repealed, effective December 31, 2025,
ADOPTED this 18th day of November, 2025
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ATTEST:TLiLl L�
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Cathy Halka, Clerk of` the C nciI
A x F .
APPROVED ASTO FORM: ,
Kimberly Thulin (via e'6'd10/20/2025-jg)
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
K yle alloway, Council rhair
( ) Approved ( ) Denied
Date Signed: V 1 ?1+ IE5