HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole AM February 21 20171
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee of the Whole
February 21, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Ken Mann, Satpal Sidhu, Carl Weimer, Todd
Donovan, Rud Browne and Barry Buchanan.
Absent: None.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. CONTINUATION OF COUNCIL'S REVIEW OF THE 2016 CRITICAL AREAS
ORDINANCE UPDATE — TOPIC SCHEDULED FOR DISCUSSION: ARTICLE 3 —
GEOHAZARDS (AB2016 -276C)
Cliff Strong, Planning and Development Services Department, submitted and read a
presentation (on file).
Cynthia Gardner, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cascade Volcano
Observatory(CVO), continued the presentation on the 1995 USGS Mount Baker Hazard
Assessment. She answered questions on estimating historic events in the geologic record
without geologic evidence of the event, the difference between lahars and debris flows, the
volcano alert level system and amount of time before a volcanic event, how long a volcano
can be active, when the model can be fine -tuned to know if certain land uses and are within
the lahar hazard areas, and whether lahar debris flows will be similar to a 100 -year flood.
Seth Moran, U.S. Geological Survey Cascade Volcano Observatory, continued the
presentation on the national risk assessment, national and local observatories, and Mount
Baker unrest versus eruption. He answered questions on whether seismic activity can be
monitored by other technology, such as satellites.
John Thompson, Public Works Department, continued the presentation on improved
geologic hazard characterization and risk assessment progress since June 2014.
Andy Wiser, Planning and Development Services Department, continued the
presentation on the quantitative risk assessment (QRA). He answered questions on how
long it will take to refine the data and risk analysis; who determines the appropriate risk
levels and how risk analysis is applied today; impacts of land use decisions on future
generations; and creating and using F -N diagrams on all types of geo- hazards.
John Gargett, Sheriff's Office Division of Emergency Management, continued the
presentation on risk -based emergency planning, which is viewing the whole community as
part of an ecosystem. He answered questions about when they'll have the data to do good
Special Committee of the Whole - Critical Areas Ordinance, 2/21/2017, Page 1
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land use planning in lahar areas, whether clear decision points and action plans exist if
there is an event on Mount Baker, increasing the number of sensors on the mountain,
improving the emergency response plan, and warning levels for lahars and debris flows.
Staff and presenters continued to answer questions on an ongoing operating system
cost for additional warning systems and the lack of warning for small lahars.
Strong and Wiser continued the presentation on the legal framework and the critical
areas ordinance (CAO) review process and the three options:
• Option 1: A lahar code based on the Tsunami Code.
• Option 2: Planning Commission recommendation
• Option 3: A lahar code based on the existing lahar code
Strong concluded the presentation with the summary. He answered questions about
the source of the occupancy numbers; using the travel time analysis in the evacuation plan;
inviting Dr. Don Easterbrook and Dan McShane to present at a Public Works Committee
meeting; other possible options for the CAO; whether all three options are more permissive
than the existing code; additional costs; lahar calculations being a function of the
government, not a landowner; landowners preparing evacuation plans for their individual
property; focusing on protecting people rather than accessory structures; giving the public
more time to review this information; and whether marijuana processing facilities would be
allowed under option 3.
Councilmembers and staff discussed proposed changes to the CAO and next steps.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The me in ourned at 12:08 p.m.
The Co0np' . 6 #pNN d, these minutes on March 21, 2017.
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Dana Brdwn- Davis, ou�Ierk ,
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Ba uchanan, Council Chair ---
Special Committee of the Whole - Critical Areas Ordinance, 2/21/2017, Page 2