Council Committee of the Whole

Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers

Agenda — 19 items

1. 1 Call To Order
2. 2 Roll Call
3. 3 Announcements
4. 4 Special Presentation
5. 1. Presentation and progress report by the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force Justice Project Average Length of Stay Workgroup and Funding Split Workgroup AB2026-695 REPORTED
6. 2. Presentation from Whatcom County Housing Advisory Committee on affordable housing funding sources AB2026-678 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED
7. 3. Biannual update from Whatcom County Health and Community Services Homeless Housing Programs Team AB2026-677 PRESENTED
8. 7 MOTION 1 Motion approved 5-1, with Stremler opposed, that the Council and the Executive work together to advance the four recommendations in the Housing Advisory Committee's June 11, 2026 memo, and report back to Council with a work plan, timeline, and any resource needs for each recommendation. 1. Establish multi-year certainty for EDI-funded workforce housing. a. Council, Executive’s Office and EDI board to discuss and decide on how to proceed. b. Update Council by end of Q1 2027. 2. Strengthen coordination with affordable housing developers to identify and maintain a pipeline of projects and potential funding sources. a. Housing team to evaluate staff and/or funding sources to accelerate this work b. Update Council in two weeks so any funding needs can be incorporated in budget negotiations. 3. Advance exploration of new countywide housing resources. a. Council Workgroup and HAC to work together. b. Update Council by end of Q1 2027. 4. Evaluate the strategic use of bonding against existing revenues. a. Request that the Executive’s Office and the Treasurer work together to determine potential pathways. b. Update Council by end of Q1 2027
9. 4. Presentation from Planning and Development Services Department Staff regarding the Critical Areas Ordinance update AB2026-669 PRESENTED
10. 8 MOTION 2 Motion approved 6-0 to appoint Boyle, Scanlon, and Rienstra to their Council affordable housing workgroup.
11. 5. Presentation from Climate Action staff regarding the Climate Action Program Update AB2026-682 PRESENTED
12. 6. Presentation from the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission AB2026-698 PRESENTED
13. 11 Committee Discussion
14. 1. Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Section 3.08.060, Bids and Proposals Required, to exempt contracts for animal control and animal sheltering services AB2026-630 DISCUSSED
15. 2. Discussion regarding a proposed resolution granting a temporary easement to the State of Washington, Department of Transportation (Council acting as Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2026-680 DISCUSSED
16. 14 Items Added by Revision
17. 15 Councilmember Updates
18. 16 Other Business
19. 17 Adjournment

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