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Home My WebLink Aboutres2026-027�GOM Co �'9SH1N�y'f�� File ID: AB2026-478 File Created: 06/10/2026 Department: Planning and Development Services Department Whatcom County Agenda Bill Master Report File Number: AB2026-478 COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360)778-5010 Version: 1 Status: Approved Entered by: LTemplet@co.whatcom.wa.us File Type: Resolution Assigned to: Council Planning and Development Committee Final Action: 06/23/2026 Agenda Date: 06/23/2026 Enactment #: RES 2026-027 Related Files: Primary Contact Email: Itemplet@co.whatcom.wa.us TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM: Resolution authorizing grant application submission and signing authority for Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office Farmland Preservation grants for the Steensma, Jensen, and Cloud Mountain Farm Center applications SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: See attachments HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To: 06/23/2026 Council Planning and Development RECOMMENDED FOR Committee APPROVAL Aye: 7 Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler Nay: 0 06/23/2026 Council APPROVED Aye: 7 Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler Nay: 0 Attachments: Staff Memo, Proposed Resolution Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 6/24/2026 Agenda Sill Master Report Continued (AB2026-478) - Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 6/24/2026 PROPOSED BY: PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INTRODUCED: JUNE 23, 2026 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-027 AUTHORIZING GRANT APPLICATION SUBMISSION AND SIGNING AUTHORITY FOR WASHINGTON STATE RECREATION AND CONSERVATION OFFICE WASHINGTON WILDLIFE AND RECREATION PROGRAM - FARMLAND PRESERVATION GRANTS FOR THE STEENSMA, JENSEN, AND CLOUD MOUNTAIN FARM CENTER APPLICATIONS Proiects 26-1633A - Steensma Farm Conservation Easement 26-1684A - Jensen Farm Conservation Easement 26-1723A - Cloud Mountain Farm Center Conservation Easement WHEREAS, this resolution/authorization authorizes the person(s) identified below (in Section 2) to act as the authorized representative/agent on behalf of Whatcom County and the Whatcom County Conservation Easement Program (hereinafter "Our Organization") and to legally bind Our Organization with respect to the above Project(s) for which we seek grant funding assistance managed through the Recreation and Conservation Office (Office). WHEREAS, grant assistance is requested by Our Organization to aid in financing the cost of the Project(s)referenced above; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Our Organization has applied for or intends to apply for funding assistance managed by the Office for the above Project(s); and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Our Organization authorizes the following persons or persons holding specified titles/positions (and subsequent holders of those titles/positions) to execute the following documents binding Our Organization on the above projects: The Conservation Easement Program Administrator is authorized to sign for (1) grant application (submission thereof) and (2) project contact (day-to-day administering of the grant and communicating with the RCO). Whatcom County Executive is authorized to sign for (1) RCO Grant Agreement; (2) Agreement Amendments; and (3) Authorizing property and real estate documents (Notice of Grant, Deed of Right or Assignment of Rights if applicable). These are items that are typically recorded on the property with the county. The above persons are considered an "authorized rep resentative(s)/agent(s)" for purposes of the documents indicated. Our Organization shall comply with a request from the RCO to provide documentation of persons who may be authorized to execute documents related to the grant.; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Our Organization have reviewed the sample RCO Grant Agreement on the Recreation and Conservation Office's WEB SITE at: https://rco.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/SampleProjAgreement.pdf. We understand and acknowledge that if offered an agreement to sign in the future, it will contain an indemnification and legal venue stipulation and other terms and conditions substantially in the form contained in the sample Agreement and that such terms and conditions of any signed Agreement shall be legally binding on the sponsor if our representative/agent enters into an Agreement on our behalf. The Office reserves the right to revise the Agreement prior to execution.; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Our Organization acknowledges and warrants, after conferring with its legal counsel, that its authorized representative(s)/agent(s) have full legal authority to act and sign on behalf of Our Organization for their assigned role/document.; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Grant assistance is contingent on a signed Agreement. Entering into any Agreement with the Office is purely voluntary on our part; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Our Organization understands that grant policies and requirements vary depending on the grant program applied to, the grant program and source of funding in the Agreement, the characteristics of the project, and the characteristics of our organization.; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Our Organization further understands that prior to our authorized rep resentative(s)/agent(s) executing any of the documents listed above, the RCO may make revisions to its sample Agreement and that such revisions could include the indemnification and the legal venue stipulation. Our Organization accepts the legal obligation that we shall, prior to execution of the Agreement(s), confer with our authorized representative(s)/agent(s) as to any revisions to the project Agreement from that of the sample Agreement. We also acknowledge and accept that if our authorized representative(s)/agent(s) executes the Agreement(s) with any such revisions, all terms and conditions of the executed Agreement shall be conclusively deemed to be executed with our authorization.; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Any grant assistance received will be used for only direct eligible and allowable costs that are reasonable and necessary to implement the project(s) referenced above.; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Our Organization acknowledges that if it receives grant funds managed by the Office, the Office will pay us on only a reimbursement basis. We understand reimbursement basis means that we will only request payment from the Office after we incur grant eligible and allowable costs and pay them. The Office may also determine an amount of retainage and hold that amount until all project deliverables, grant reports, or other responsibilities are complete; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Our Organization acknowledges that any property acquired with grant assistance must be dedicated for the purposes of the grant in perpetuity unless otherwise agreed to in writing by our organization and the Office. We agree to dedicate the property in a signed "Deed of Right" for fee acquisitions, or an "Assignment of Rights" for other than fee acquisitions (which documents will be based upon the Office's standard versions of those documents), to be recorded on the title of the property with the county auditor. Our Organization acknowledges that any property acquired in fee title must be immediately made available to the public unless otherwise provided for in policy, the Agreement, or authorized in writing by the Office Director.; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that this resolution/authorization is deemed to be part of the formal grant application to the Office; and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that Our Organization warrants and certifies that this resolution/authorization was properly and lawfully adopted following the requirements of our organization and applicable laws and policies and that our organization has full legal authority to commit our organization to the warranties, certifications, promises and obligations set forth herein. APPROVED this 23rd day of June WHATCOM� %Cb GY JdVmC�IL ATTEST. a AT C fl CaOi' H 4ka, COrl ofthe Counci-", Ov APPROVED A�`TOVrjggFUy 40 , a /s/ Thomas Greenan-6/11/2026 Civil Deputy`Pros9cutor `•'' ON WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON KayleIyalloway, Council Ch it