HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole Jan 13 2026Whatcom County
Council Special Committee of the Whole
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
9:15 AM
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 10:15 A.M. (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON,
SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil,
OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Elizabeth Boyle
Barry Buchanan
Ben Elenbaas
Kaylee Galloway
Jessica Rienstra
Jon Scanlon
Mark Stremler
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC
Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
Call To Order
Roll Call
Council Chair Kaylee Galloway called the meeting to order at 9:17 a.m. in a
hybrid meeting.
Present: 7 - Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jon Scanlon, Mark Stremler,
Elizabeth Boyle, and Jessica Rienstra
Announcements
Special Order of Business
1. AB2026-003 Reorganization of the Whatcom County Council for 2026
Galloway stated they would be organizing their standing committees in each
of the committee meetings today so they would be skipping that section for
now (since the committees are now all seven members and they will only be
deciding chairs).
Clerk's note: One appointment (Health Board) was held (via a vote below)
until the Health Board meeting on February 3rd.
Council Chairperson (Acts as Chair of Council acting in other capacities,
Law Library Board, SWISS Exec. Committee, County Finance Committee)
Buchanan moved and Rienstra seconded to appoint Galloway as chair of
the Council for 2026.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and
Stremler
Nay: 0
Council Vice -Chairperson
Stremler moved and Buchanan seconded to appoint Scanlon.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, and
Boyle
Nay: 0
Whalcom County Page
Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
Executive Pro-Temaore (Cannot be on COG)
Scanlon withdrew from consideration.
Scanlon moved and Rienstra seconded to nominate Buchanan and Stremler
and vote for one.
Buchanan was appointed with five votes as follows:
Buchanan: 5 - Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Boyle, and Buchanan
Stremler: 2 - Stremler and Elenbaas
Standing Committee Chairs (per ORD2025-065 / 7-member committees, 1
chair - 2 vice chairs)
See note above that the chairs were decided in each of the respective
committee meetings.
Other Committee Assignments
Lake Whatcom Policy Group
Scanlon moved and Boyle seconded to appoint Galloway and Rienstra.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, and
Elenbaas
Nay: 0
Galloway asked if councilmembers would be interested in also appointing
an alternate for each of the committees. Councilmembers discussed the
suggestion and whether bylaws for the committees allow alternates. They
appointed alternates for most committees.
Behavioral Health Advisory Committee
Rienstra withdrew from consideration for the lead and amended to be the
alternate.
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
Scanlon moved and Boyle seconded to appoint Buchanan as the lead and
Rienstra as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, and
Galloway
Nay: 0
Bellingham International Airport Advisory
Scanlon moved and Rienstra seconded to appoint Stremler (no alternate).
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, and
Rienstra
Nay: 0
Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce
Rienstra withdrew from consideration and Stremler stated he could serve as
an alternate.
Scanlon moved and Rienstra seconded to appoint Boyle as the
representative and Stremler as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, and
Scanlon
Nay: 0
Business and Commerce Advisory Committee (non -voting)
Scanlon stated he could be the alternate.
Rienstra moved and Buchanan seconded to appoint Stremler as the lead and
Scanlon as the alternate.
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes- Final January 13, 2026
Aye: 7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and
Stremler
Nay: 0
Child and Family Well -Being Task Force
Rienstra stated she could be the alternate.
Scanlon moved and Stremler seconded to appoint Boyle as the lead and
Rienstra as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, and
Boyle
Nay: 0
Climate Impact Advisory Committee Appoint ONE -Non -Voting (**3-year
term) AB2022-021
Scanlon moved and Boyle seconded to appoint Galloway (no alternate).
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, and
Buchanan
Nay: 0
Council of Governments (COG) Appoint TWO members to serve on the
Full Council (cannot be Exec Pro-Tem)
Galloway withdrew from consideration.
Stremler moved and Boyle seconded to appoint Rienstra and Scanlon.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, and
Elenbaas
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
Nay: 0
Council of Governments (COG) Appoint ONE of the above two members to
also serve on Transportation Policy Board (cannot be Exec Pro-Tem)
Galloway withdrew from consideration as alternate.
Scanlon stated he could be the alternate.
Scanlon moved and Boyle seconded to appoint Rienstra as the lead and
Scanlon as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, and
Galloway
Nay: 0
Developmental Disabilities Board
Rienstra moved and Buchanan seconded to appoint Boyle (no alternate).
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, and
Rienstra
Nay: 0
Drayton Harbor & Portage Bay Shellfish Protection Districts
Elenbaas stated it would be better for him to be an alternate and Scanlon
stated he could be the lead.
Boyle moved and Rienstra seconded to appoint Scanlon as the lead and
Elenbaas as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, and
Scanlon
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
Nay: 0
EDI Board (changed to I CM per AB2024-870)
Boyle stated she could serve as the alternate.
Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded to appoint Stremler as the lead and
Boyle as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and
Stremler
Nay: 0
EMS Oversight Board Representative
Galloway stated they would consider this and the EMS Oversight Board
Alternate Representative position together.
Rienstra withdrew from consideration and Elenbaas stated he would like to
stay involved with this committee but is OK with being the alternate.
Rienstra moved and Scanlon seconded to appoint Galloway as the lead
representative and Elenbaas as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, and
Boyle
Nay: 0
EMS Oversight Board Alternate Representative
See vote on this item above.
Flood Control Zone Committee (Ex Officio)
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
Elenbaas withdrew from consideration and Stremler stated he could be the
alternate.
Boyle moved and Scanlon seconded to appoint Rienstra as the lead and
Stremler as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, and
Buchanan
Nay: 0
Forest Advisory Committee (non -voting Ur AB2025-120)
Elenbaas stated he would like be on this committee and Galloway stated she
could be the alternate.
Boyle moved and Buchanan seconded to appoint Elenbaas as the lead and
Galloway as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, and
Elenbaas
Nay: 0
Health Board Chair
Councilmembers discussed whether a vice chair is in the Health Board
bylaws or in County Code and Elenbaas stated he could be the vice chair.
Scanlon stated he thinks they should take the vote as the Health Board and
moved to hold this appointment (for chair and vice chair) until the first
Health Board meeting (on February 3rd).
The motion was seconded by Boyle.
Scanlon stated he would look into the procedures for potentially appointing
a vice chair.
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
The motion to hold carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, and
Galloway
Nay: 0
Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force (And Appoint one
alternate
Boyle stated she could be considered as an alternate and Elenbaas withdrew
from consideration.
Rienstra moved and Scanlon seconded to appoint Buchanan as lead and
Boyle as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, and
Rienstra
Nay: 0
Intergovernmental Tribal Relations Committee (Appt. TWO)
Elenbaas spoke about why he would like to continue to be on this
committee.
Scanlon stated this is an area in which they need some leadership from the
Executive's Office.
Galloway stated San Juan County developed a framework for
government -to -government relations with their tribes and that might be a
starting point to develop something more formal.
Boyle withdrew from consideration.
Boyle moved and Scanlon seconded to nominate Elenbaas, Rienstra, and
Scanlon and vote for two.
Rienstra and Scanlon were appointed as follows:
Scanlon: 6 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, and Scanlon
Rienstra: 5 - Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, and Rienstra
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
Elenbaas: 3 - Stremler, Elenbaas, and Scanlon
No alternate was appointed.
Justice Project Oversight and Planning Committee (JPOP)
Boyle stated she would like to be considered for the alternate.
Scanlon moved and Rienstra seconded to appoint Buchanan as the lead and
Boyle as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and
Stremler
Nay: 0
Justice Proiect Finance and Facility Advisory Board
Rienstra moved and Scanlon seconded to appoint Buchanan (no alternate).
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, and
Boyle
Nay: 0
Joint Advisory Work -group for Justice Project planning_ purposes
(AB2025-699)
Buchanan stated the request from the Executive's Office is that there be
three councilmembers for this committee.
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Executive's Office, stated that was true. She spoke
about the current members and answered questions about the schedule for
the committee.
Galloway added herself for consideration, Boyle withdrew from
consideration, and Elenbaas stated he could be an alternate.
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
Rienstra moved and Boyle seconded to appoint Buchanan, Galloway, and
Stremler.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, and
Buchanan
Nay: 0
LEOFF Board
Boyle moved and Stremler seconded to appoint Buchanan (no alternate).
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, and
Elenbaas
Nay: 0
Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPQ
Elenbaas and Rienstra spoke about why they would like to be on this
committee and Rienstra stated she could be the alternate.
Scanlon moved and Boyle seconded to appoint Elenbaas as the lead and
Rienstra as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, and
Galloway
Nay: 0
Whatcom County Ferry Advisory Committee - Appoint ONE non -voting_
attendee
Elenbaas stated he would be fine being an alternate.
Scanlon spoke about a new County ferry caucus for counties that run their
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
own ferries and advocacy in the State and Federal Legislature.
Rienstra moved and Scanlon seconded to appoint Scanlon as the lead and
Elenbaas as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, and
Rienstra
Nay: 0
Marine Resources Committee
Galloway nominated herself.
Boyle moved and Rienstra seconded to appoint Galloway (no alternate).
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, and
Scanlon
Nay: 0
Multi -Agency Coordination (MAC) (AB2023-194)
Rienstra withdrew from consideration.
Boyle moved and Scanlon seconded to appoint Buchanan (no alternate).
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and
Stremler
Nay: 0
North Sound Behavioral Health Exec. Committee
Rienstra stated she could be an alternate.
Scanlon moved and Boyle seconded to appoint Buchanan as the lead and
Rienstra as the alternate.
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, and
Boyle
Nay: 0
Northwest Clean Air Agency
Stremler withdrew from consideration.
Elenbaas spoke about why he would like to be the lead serving on the
committee.
Scanlon stated appointing Elenbaas gives him pause because he is regulated
by the agency in his work.
Rienstra moved and Scanlon seconded to nominate Galloway and Elenbaas
with a vote of one.
Galloway was appointed by the following vote:
Galloway: 4 - Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Boyle
Elenbaas: 3 - Elenbaas, Stremler, and Buchanan
Northwest Regional Council (NWRQ
Boyle moved and Scanlon seconded to appoint Stremler.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, and
Elenbaas
Nay: 0
Opportunity Council - Appointment not subject to Council annual re-org_
(Kaylee Galloway serves on this committee until 1/2028)
Galloway stated she currently serves on this committee and was recently
reappointed so her term runs through January of 2028. No other
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
appointment was made.
Public Defense Advisory
Boyle stated she would like to be considered as an alternate.
Scanlon moved and Rienstra seconded to appoint Elenbaas as the lead and
Boyle as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, and
Galloway
Nay: 0
Public Health Advisory Board
Boyle moved and Rienstra seconded to appoint Scanlon.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, and
Rienstra
Nay: 0
Racial Equity Commission Appoint ONE -non -voting (** 2 year term)
AB2022-590
Stremler moved and Scanlon seconded to appoint Galloway as lead and
Rienstra as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, and
Scanlon
Nay: 0
Solid Waste Advisory
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
Scanlon moved and Rienstra seconded to appoint Stremler.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and
Stremler
Nay: 0
SWISS Alternate Committee Member. Council Chair serves on Exec.
Committee
Councilmembers discussed their and other commissioner's involvement on
this committee and that more of them could attend.
Boyle moved and Scanlon seconded to appoint Scanlon.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, and
Boyle
Nay: 0
WSAC Alternate Board Member (,The Executive is the active representative,
Councilmember is alternate)
Galloway stated she would like to continue as the alternate.
Rienstra stated she could serve as the WSAC Optional Alternate Board
Member (see next appointment on the list).
Boyle moved and Scanlon seconded to appoint Galloway to as the WSAC
Alternate Board Member (this item) and Rienstra as the WSAC Optional
Alternate Board Member (next item).
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, and
Buchanan
Nay: 0
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Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
WSAC Optional Alternate Board Member (Res2019-008)
This item was voted on in the previous motion above.
WSAC Legislative Steering Committee
Galloway stated she would like to continue as lead and Rienstra has
requested to the be alternate.
Scanlon moved and Stremler seconded to appoint Galloway as the lead and
Rienstra as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, and
Elenbaas
Nay: 0
WSAC Timber Counties Caucus - Optional
Galloway stated she would like to continue as the lead.
Scanlon stated he would be interested in being the alternate.
Stremler moved and Rienstra seconded to appoint Galloway as the lead and
Scanlon as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Rienstra, Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, and
Galloway
Nay: 0
WSAC Coastal Counties Caucus - Optional
Boyle moved and Rienstra seconded to appoint Galloway (no alternate).
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Scanlon, Stremler, Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, and
Whafcom County page 15
Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final January 13, 2026
Rienstra
Nay: 0
Whatcom Transeortation Authority (appoint 2 councilmembers per bylaw)
Boyle moved and Scanlon seconded to nominate Buchanan, Boyle, Rienstra,
and Stremler and vote for two.
Buchanan and Rienstra were appointed by the following vote:
Buchanan: 5 - Stremler, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, and Scanlon
Rienstra: 4 - Boyle, Galloway, Rienstra, and Scanlon
Stremler: 3 - Stremler, Buchanan, and Elenbaas
Boyle: 2 - Boyle and Rienstra
Whatcom County Tourism Board (AB2023-194)
Boyle stated she could be the alternate.
Buchanan moved and Boyle seconded to appoint Galloway as the lead and
Boyle as the alternate.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and
Stremler
Nay: 0
This agenda item was NOMINATED AND APPOINTED.
Motion approved to hold on the appointment of Health Board Chair and Vice Chair until the first Health Board
meeting on February 3.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adjournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 10:33 a.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on February 10, 2026.
Whatcom County Page 16
Council Special Committee of the Whole Committee Minutes - Final
1111H Illp///Iff
ATTESTS,\' '
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Cathy Halle4, Q%T
January 13, 2026
W14ATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
W14ATCOM COUNTY, WA
Kayleealloway, Council C6air
Meeting Minutes prepared by Kristi Felbinger
K%alcom County page 17