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Home My WebLink Aboutord2025-065Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Agenda Bill Master Report File Number: AB2025-779 File ID: AB2025-779 Version: 1 Status: Adopted File Created: 10/27/2025 Entered by: KSmith@co.whatcom.wa.us Department: Council Office File Type: Ordinance Assigned to: Council Committee of the Whole Agenda Date: 12/09/2025 Related Files: Primary Contact Email: jgernand@co.whatcom.wa.us TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM: Final Action: 12/09/2025 Enactment #: ORD 2025-065 Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 2.02, County Council, to change the membership and quorum requirements of all standing council committees SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: none HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To: 11/18/2025 Council INTRODUCED Council Committee of the Whole Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler Nay: 0 12/09/2025 Council Committee of the Whole RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION WITH PROPOSED AMENDMENT(S) Aye: 4 Buchanan, Donovan, Galloway, and Scanlon Nay: 3 Byrd, Elenbaas, and Stremler 12/09/2025 Council ADOPTED Aye: 4 Buchanan, Donovan, Galloway, and Scanlon Nay: 2 Elenbaas, and Stremler emp Absent: 1 Byrd Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 1211012025 Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2025-779) Attachments: Proposed Ordinance, Proposed Ordinance Amended in Committee 12.9.2025, Notice of Action Proposed on 11.18.2025 Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 1211012025 PROPOSED BY: GALLOWAY INTRODUCED: NOVEMBER 18, 2025 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-065 AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 2.02, COUNTY COUNCIL, TO CHANGE THE MEMBERSHIP AND QUORUM REQUIREMENTS OF ALL STANDING COUNCIL COMMITTEES WHEREAS, Whatcom County Code (WCC) 2.02.080, Standing Committees — Membership, states that there shall be three members of all standing council committees; and WHEREAS, WCC 2.02.040, Meetings —General Rules, states that a majority of a council committee (two members) shall be necessary for the transaction of a committee's business; and WHEREAS, all councilmembers typically attend every council committee meeting and participate in committee discussion; and WHEREAS, expanding council committees to include all councilmembers can increase representation, enhance engagement, offer broader knowledge and expertise, and provide for greater flexibility and collaboration. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that Whatcom County Code Chapter 2.02 is hereby amended as indicated in Exhibit A of this ordinance to change the membership on all standing council committees from three to seven and to change the quorum requirement for all standing council committees from two to four councilmembers. ADO�� t Ltd is '�daj y of December qj = 0 COUNTY ATTEST- )4- �IZJOIN! Cat y H- 9*a, Cl..k&-,gfjt� ouncil, ` v APPROVED AS TO FORM: Kimberly Thulin (by email 11/09/2025-ig) Civil Deputy Prosecutor 2025 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Kaylee Galloway, Council Chair WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON 94+444 Satpal Sidh , County Executive ( Approved ( ) Denied Date Signed: )?. • 1S -2 S EXHIBIT A 2.02.015 Council vacancies — Announcement. A. The council shall publicly announce any vacancy and shall provide a reasonable period for interested candidates to contact councilmembers and request that their name be considered for the vacant position. B. Such announcement shall be made at least 10 days before the vacancy is filled. (Ord. 2017-081 Exh. A; Ord. 2010-044 Exh. A; Ord. 2008-004 Exh. A). 2.02.020 Council vacancies — Qualifications. A. A vacancy on the county council shall be filled by a qualified registered voter and resident of the district they represent, meeting all of the qualifications of Section 4.20 of the Whatcom County Charter. B. Any information provided by a nominee may be checked to verify qualifications, and submission of a personal resume may be requested. (Ord. 2017-081 Exh. A; Ord. 2010-044 Exh. A; Ord. 2008-004 Exh. A). 2.02.025 Council vacancies — Nominations. A. Nominations to fill a vacancy on the county council shall be made by any councilmember by nominating an individual by name in a regular open meeting. No councilmember may nominate themselves. B. All names submitted may be referred to a committee of the whole for consideration. C. Nominees may be personally interviewed by a committee of the council, or any councilmember(s) chosen by the council to conduct such interviews. (Ord. 2017-081 Exh. A; Ord. 2010-044 Exh. A; Ord. 2008-004 Exh. A). 2.02.040 Meetings — General rules. F. A majority (four members) of the council shall be in attendance to constitute a quorum and shall be necessary for the transaction of the council's business. A majority of a council committee (four members) shall be necessary for the transaction of a committee's business. If a quorum is not present, the chair may call the meeting to order to establish that a meeting was held, but no official action may be taken. Agenda items that do not require official action may be dealt with, such as a minor discussion or report. At the conclusion of the meeting those in attendance will be named and they shall adjourn to a later time. 2.02.060 Meetings — Decorum of debate. A. Any councilmember desiring to speak shall first be recognized by the chair, and shall confine their remarks to the specific subject under consideration or to be considered. The councilmember who has proposed a motion or the committee member who has presented a report shall be allowed the first opportunity to explain the motion or report, and usually is allowed to speak last on it. No member or small group of members shall be permitted to monopolize the discussion on a question. If a member has already spoken and other members wish to speak, they should be recognized in preference to the member who has already spoken on a question. 2.02.065 Meetings — Powers of the chair. F. The presiding officer may move and debate from the chair, subject only to such limitations of debate as are by these rules imposed on all members, and shall not be deprived of any of the rights and privileges of a councilmember by reason of their acting as the presiding officer. (Ord. 2017-081 Exh. A; Ord. 2010-044 Exh. A; Ord. 2008-004 Exh. A). 2.02.080 Standing Committees — Membership. A. All seven councilmembers shall serve on all council standing committees. The committee members shall be responsible for election of a chairperson, up to two vice chairs, and its internal organization.