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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council Dec 1 2025Whatcom County Council (Special) COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste 0105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Minutes - Final Monday, December 1, 2025 6 PM Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers HYBRID MEETING (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 CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC Council (Special) Minutes - Final December 1, 2025 Call To Order Roll Call Council Chair Kaylee Galloway called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. in a hybrid meeting. Present: 7 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler Announcements Discussion and Action 1. AB2025-781 Resolution certifying amounts to be levied by Whatcom County taxing districts to the County Assessor Rebecca Xczar, County Assessor, thanked the Council for meeting on December 1 to meet the RCW requirement. She stated that two cemetery districts did not submit levy information, so their levy amounts are zero. She said that in the past, Council has recertified amounts. However, a review of Department of Revenue requirements indicates that recertification at a higher amount than originally certified may not be a legal levy. She added that one of the cemetery districts communicated that they will submit an amount but not by the deadline. She said the other district did not respond to communication. Galloway asked if Council staff could speak to correspondence received by the cemetery districts. Cathy Halka, Clerk of the Council, stated that it is her understanding the county legislative authority is required to certify these levy amounts to the assessor by December 1, and the subsequent consequences to taxing districts that did not comply with the deadline requirements would be, in her opinion, between the assessor and their attorney. Elenbaas stated that it looks to be Cemetery District 5 and Cemetery District 7 that did not report. He said his opinion would be that those cemetery districts all have elected commissioners that need to fulfill their duties, and if they do not meet a deadline, they should be held accountable by voters. He asked for more information about the districts that did not meet the deadline. Lisa Bruner, Council Office staff, stated that she reached out to Cemetery District 7, and they responded that they are meeting on December 8, so they will have their amounts after that meeting. Wha(eonr Coen(y Page ! Printed on 112612026 Council (Special) Minutes - Final December 1, 2025 Halka clarified that Cemetery District 7 is Enterprise Cemetery. Elenbaas stated that he has been communicating with them about the need to have a published budget. Donovan stated that Council should just move forward. Donovan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Resolution be APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler Nay: 0 Enactment No: RES 2025-041 Items Added by Revision Other Business Adjournment There were no agenda items added by revision. There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 6:09 p.m. The County Council approved these minutes on January 13, 2026. ATTEST: `00\ 11111W111t1// WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL `\1 °C 0��. WHATCOM COUNTY, WA H A Tc -; !� • 0• at y 1— l&, Coounti i:!Terk : _ Kayl e Galloway, Council Chair ° Gy STATE OFF ° •• NING °• •`.� Meeting Minufds pi•epared.byJenna Gernand Wlutcom County Page 2 Printed on 112612026