Council

Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers

Agenda — 62 items

1. 1 COUNTY COUNCIL
2. 2 CALL TO ORDER
3. 3 ROLL CALL
4. 4 FLAG SALUTE
5. 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS
6. 6 COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT
7. 7 MINUTES CONSENT
8. 1. Special Council - Lake Whatcom for April 1, 2026 MIN2026-051 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass
9. 2. Special Council - Justice Project Community Engagement Workshop for March 19, 2026 MIN2026-053 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass
10. 3. Special Committee of the Whole for June 2, 2026 MIN2026-054 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass
11. 4. Health Board and Public Health Advisory Board for June 2, 2026 MIN2026-055 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass
12. 5. Special Committee of the Whole for June 2, 2026 MIN2026-056 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass
13. 13 PUBLIC HEARINGS
14. 1. Ordinance imposing an interim moratorium on the acceptance or processing of applications and permits for the establishment of new or expansion of existing civil detention facilities AB2026-403 SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED Pass
15. 15 (Public hearings for AB2026-431 and AB2026-475 will be combined into one public hearing)
16. 2. Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Chapter 5.20, Fireworks, to strengthen fireworks regulations by limiting the days fireworks are allowed and prohibiting fireworks during burn bans AB2026-431
17. 3. Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Chapter 5.20, Fireworks, to strengthen fireworks regulations by limiting the days fireworks are allowed and prohibiting fireworks during burn bans AB2026-475
18. 18 OPEN SESSION
19. 18 PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY
20. 19 CONSENT AGENDA
21. 2. Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Chapter 5.20, Fireworks, to strengthen fireworks regulations by limiting the days fireworks are allowed and prohibiting fireworks during burn bans AB2026-431 HEARD PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND REFERRED TO COMMITTEE Pass
22. 20 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee)
23. 20 Motion approved to refer to Committee of the Whole for further discussion and study.
24. 1. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Transportation for a radio tower lease, in the amount of $0 AB2026-345 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
25. 3. Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Chapter 5.20, Fireworks, to strengthen fireworks regulations by limiting the days fireworks are allowed and prohibiting fireworks during burn bans AB2026-475 HEARD PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND REFERRED TO COMMITTEE Pass
26. 2. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a interlocal agreement amendment between Whatcom County and the Port of Bellingham to lower the loan principal amount to $844,961.62, which reflects the actual amount dispersed and results in a total contract amount of $2,899,813 AB2026-449 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
27. 22 Motion approved to refer to Committee of the Whole for further discussion.
28. 3. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission for a wellness grant, in the amount of $41,200 AB2026-462 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
29. 4. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Transportation for the renewal of youth zero fare policy, in the amount of $260,250 for a total of $363,000 AB2026-464 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
30. 5. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Transportation to move forward with the design phase of the Everson Goshen Road and East Smith Road Intersection Improvements project, in the amount of $300,000 AB2026-466 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
31. 6. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a cooperative agreement between Whatcom County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the Bylsma Levee on the Nooksack River, in the amount of $133,160 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2026-471 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
32. 7. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a cooperative agreement between Whatcom County and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to repair the Ritter Road levee along the left bank of the Nooksack River, in the amount of $116,100 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2026-474 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
33. 8. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to provide basic needs items to families with children ages 0-5 who qualify, in the amount of $40,131 for a total amended contract amount of $151,192 AB2026-477 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
34. 9. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Pioneer Human Services to deliver substance use disorder assessments and provide post-assessment treatment coordination as a component of re-entry for individuals released from jail, in the amount of $101,896 AB2026-481 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
35. 10. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Health Care Authority to decrease funding, due to state budget reductions, for the Alternative Response Team (ART) program grant, in the amount of $176,000, for a total amended agreement amount of $4,385,000 AB2026-482 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
36. 11. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Washington Initiative for Supported Employment (WISE) to provide training and consultation to the County and local agencies related to improving employment outcomes and the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in their communities, in the amount of $59,500 AB2026-483 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
37. 12. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a Collective Bargaining Agreement between Whatcom County and the union representing Lummi Island ferry operations workers in the Public Works Department covering 2026 to 2028 AB2026-484 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
38. 13. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) for funding for employment and community inclusion services for adults with developmental disabilities, child development services for children ages birth to three years, and community information and training, in the amount of $6,194,426 AB2026-485 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
39. 34 OTHER ITEMS
40. 35 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee)
41. 1. Ordinance amending the project budget for the 2015 Girard Street Building Improvement Fund, request no. 1 AB2026-442 ADOPTED Pass
42. 2. Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 9, in the amount of $7,941,775 AB2026-450 ADOPTED Pass
43. 38 (From Council Planning and Development Committee)
44. 3. Resolution approving a one-year extension for the Major Project Permit for the City of Bellingham AB2026-463 APPROVED Pass
45. 4. Resolution amending Resolution 2025-025 to update rules of the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner by approving clarifying changes promulgated by the Hearing Examiner AB2026-472 APPROVED Pass
46. 5. 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 AB2026-478 APPROVED Pass
47. 42 CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS
48. 1. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Cori Bryant to the Veteran’s Advisory Board AB2026-470 CONFIRMED Pass
49. 2. Request confirmation of the Executive’s appointment of Kelly Klem to the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board AB2026-492 CONFIRMED Pass
50. 45 ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION
51. 46 INTRODUCTION ITEMS
52. 1. Ordinance granting Forged Fiber 37, LLC a non-exclusive franchise for the purposes of offering and providing telecommunications services AB2026-461 INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass
53. 2. Ordinance adopting amendments to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and Foothills Subarea Plan for the Growth Management Act Periodic Review and Update (for concurrent review with other Comprehensive Plan amendment proposals) AB2026-488 SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass
54. 3. Ordinance adopting amendments to Whatcom County Code Title 20, Zoning, under the 2025-2026 periodic update of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations, pursuant to the Growth Management Act (for concurrent review with other Comprehensive Plan amendment proposals) AB2026-489 SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass
55. 4. Ordinance amending the official Whatcom County Zoning Map under the 2025-2026 Periodic Update of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan under the Growth Management Act (for concurrent review with other Comprehensive Plan amendment proposals) AB2026-490 SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass
56. 5. Appointment to a vacancy on the Business and Commerce Advisory Committee, childcare position, Applicant(s): Courtney Whitaker, Kristine Wilson AB2026-427 INTRODUCED Pass
57. 52 COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES
58. 53 ADJOURN
59. 58 REPORT FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE EXECUTIVE SESSION
60. 59 Discussion of a potential property acquisition with Senior Deputy Prosecutor Kimberly Thulin and Public Works staff [Discussion of this item may take place in executive session (closed to the public) pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(b)] AB2026-458 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED
61. 60 Motion approved 7-0 to authorize the County Executive, acting on behalf of the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District, to move forward with and complete the acquisition of the property as long as the purchase price of the property does not exceed the amount discussed in Executive Session.
62. 61 COMMITTEE REPORTS AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES CONTINUED

Watch Whatcom County

This is one agenda. Whatcom County publishes another every few weeks, and the thing you care about is rarely on the one you happened to find. Name it and we will email you when it appears.

Watch this

Free for 14 days, no card — and nothing charges itself: at day 14 the emails simply stop unless you choose to subscribe ($19 a month). One email when something matches, and nothing else. Unsubscribe from any of them. Searching stays free — it is public record.