HomeMy WebLinkAboutCriminal Justice Feb 10 2026Whatcom County
Council Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Committee Minutes - Final
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
11:50 AM
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers
HYBRID MEETING - MAY BEGIN EARLY/LATE - ADJOURNS BY 12:05 P.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 Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final February 10, 2026
Safety Committee
Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 11:35 a.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
Present: 7 - Elizabeth Boyle, Bang Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jessica
Rienstra, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler
Announcements
Special Presentation
1. AB2026-043 Presentation from Superior Court Presiding Judge on the status of the court
David Freeman, Superior Court Presiding Judge, read from a presentation
(on file) about the structure of the Court and what the Court does, an
increase in caseloads and trials over the last couple years (partly due to
water rights adjudication) and changes in practices to accommodate that,
improvements and challenges in pre-trial services, adult recovery court, and
Juvenile Court, how the court is handling the WRIA 1 adjudication and
staffing challenges it presents, community outreach and events such as
adoption day, court expansion, and challenges the court is facing. He spoke
about the likely need for another FTE for detention staffing.
Buchanan spoke about his experience with adoption day.
Elenbaas stated he has received a lot of positive feedback about Judge
Freeman and he asked if there is an avenue in which he can speak to the
judge about an adjudication policy framework.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
Items Added by Revision
Other Business
Adjournment
There were no agenda items added by revision.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.
Whafcom County page l
Council Criminal Justice and Public Committee Minutes - Final
Safety Committee
ATTEST:
e
(Y Cp
COUNTY O� e _
Cathy Halka,'6t'in'c} elbr •
February 10, 2026
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WA
Barry Buchanan -via email 2/23/2026
Meeting Minutes prepared by Kristi Felbinger
Whatcoin County Page 2
Barry Buchanan, Committee Chair