Council

Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers

Agenda — 56 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. Committee of the Whole Executive Session for April 15, 2025 MIN2025-022 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass
9. 2. Committee of the Whole for April 15, 2025 MIN2025-023 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass
10. 3. Regular County Council for April 15, 2025 MIN2025-024 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass
11. 4. Health Board and Public Health Advisory Board for April 1, 2025 MIN2025-025 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass
12. 5. Special Committee of the Whole for April 1, 2025 MIN2025-026 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass
13. 13 PUBLIC HEARINGS
14. 1. Ordinance adopting amendments to Whatcom County Code Chapter 16.24, Commute Trip Reduction, and adopting the 2025-2029 Commute Trip Reduction Plan for Whatcom County AB2025-282 ADOPTED Pass
15. 15 OPEN SESSION
16. 16 CONSENT AGENDA
17. 17 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee)
18. 1. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and AMS Print and Mail Specialists for the design, production, and distribution of primary and general election local voters’ pamphlets in the amount not to exceed $90,000 AB2025-322 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
19. 2. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a Federal Aid Project Prospectus and Local Agency Agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Transportation for the Martin Road/Anderson Creek Bridge No. 250 Replacement Project, in the amount of $512,000 AB2025-324 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
20. 3. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Herrera Environmental Consultants to continue supporting the Floodplain Integrated Planning (FLIP) Process, in the amount of $590,829 for a total contract amount of $2,998,369 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-325 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
21. 4. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the US Geological Survey (USGS) to develop and assess non-contact methods for measuring discharge in the Nooksack River during high-flow events, in the amount of $222,698 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-326 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
22. 5. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the University of Washington to assess the Nooksack River’s morphodynamic response to potential channel and floodplain modifications, in the amount of $114,000 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-327 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
23. 6. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the City of Ferndale to establish the responsibilities of the Flood Control Zone District and the City of Ferndale in designing the Ferndale Levee Improvement Project to a 90% level, acquiring right of way, and permitting, in the amount of $430,000 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-329 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
24. 7. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and the Northwest Natural Resource Group for development of a forest management plan in the Lake Whatcom Watershed, in the amount of $12,063 for a total amended contract amount of $145,123 AB2025-331 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
25. 8. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement amendment between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham for partnership in the development of a forest management plan in the Lake Whatcom watershed, in the amount of $12,063 for a total agreement amount of $53,358 AB2025-332 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
26. 9. Request approval for the County Executive to authorize all County departments to use Washington State Contract #22823 for as-needed equipment rentals through December 31, 2026, with the award to any one vendor in a fiscal year not to exceed $100,000 AB2025-335 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
27. 10. Request approval for the County Executive to enter into an Interlocal Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with the City of Seattle which will allow reciprocal utilization of competitively bid contracts, pursuant to RCW Chapter 39.34 Interlocal Cooperation Act AB2025-338 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
28. 11. Request approval for the County Executive to authorize the purchase of ClearCount 2.5 ScanStation and ClearAudit Admin Station bundles from Clear Ballot Group, Inc., the sole source for these products, in an amount not to exceed $50,347.10 AB2025-339 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass
29. 29 OTHER ITEMS
30. 30 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee)
31. 1. Ordinance amending the project based budget for the N. Fork Road/Kenney Creek Fish Passage fund, Request No. 2 AB2025-290 ADOPTED Pass
32. 2. Ordinance amending the project budget for the Courtroom Audio Visual Systems Upgrade, request no. 1 AB2025-293 ADOPTED Pass
33. 3. Resolution amending the 2025 Flood Control Zone District and Subzones Budget, request no. 1, in the amount of $14,400 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-302 APPROVED Pass
34. 4. Ordinance amending the project budget for the Lookout Mountain Road Repairs Project Fund, request no. 1 AB2025-310 ADOPTED Pass
35. 5. Ordinance amending the 2025 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 4, in the amount of $6,227,211 AB2025-314 ADOPTED Pass
36. 36 (From Council Committee of the Whole)
37. 6. Request for motion approving an Outdoor Musical Entertainment, Amusements, and Assemblies permit application for the Strings and Things Music Festival on July 12, 2025 at 713 Simondson Drive, Point Roberts, WA AB2025-285 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED
38. 38 (No Committee Assignment)
39. 38 Motion approved 7-0 to approve the permit subject to the condition of providing the surety bond (or cash of $5,000 pursuant to the RCW), as well as the Council finding the applicant in substantial compliance with RCW 70.108.100, which was issuing notice to residential households within 500 yards of the event location
40. 7. Request for motion to appoint two councilmembers to participate in the health director recruitment process [Council Acting as the Health Board] AB2025-345 APPOINTED
41. 40 CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
42. 1. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointments of Drew Smith, Andrew Calkins, and Marcus Warolin to the Whatcom County Economic Development Investment (EDI) Board AB2025-342 CONFIRMED Pass
43. 41 Motion approved 7-0 to appoint Scanlon and Elenbaas
44. 2. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Rebecca Boonstra to the Whatcom County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee AB2025-343 CONFIRMED Pass
45. 3. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Brian Estes to the North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization Advisory Board AB2025-344
46. 44 ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION
47. 45 COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES PART 1
48. 3. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Brian Estes to the North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization Advisory Board AB2025-344 CONFIRMED Pass
49. 46 ADJOURN
50. 48 Discussion of the annual allocation of Rural Sales Tax Fund AB2025-303 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED
51. 49 From AB2025-303 in Finance and Administrative Services Committee: Motion approved 7-0 to change the fund reserve and target investment allocations so they are as follows: Fund reserve at 15 percent, housing infrastructure projects at 30 percent, Whatcom County at 30 percent, and Government infrastructure projects at 40 percent.
52. 50 Discussion of pending litigation with Civil Deputy Prosecutor, Jesse Corkern: Gerald T. Osborn, Plaintiff, vs. Peacehealth, a Washington Nonprofit Corporation; Carol Austin, LMFT, DCR; Nate Reiss, PhD; N. Stender, MHP; H. Vogel, MHP; N. Saina, MD; Philip Frank, DO; Patrick Lackie, JD; and John Does and Jane Does, to be identified, Defendants. Skagit County Superior Court Case No. 24-2-00056-29. [Discussion of this item may take place in executive session (closed to the public) pursuant to RCW42.30.110 (1) (i)] AB2025-336 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED
53. 51 From AB2025-336 in Committee of the Whole Executive Session: Motion approved 7-0 to approve defense and indemnification of Patrick Lackie, named as defendant in Gerald T. Osborn v. Peacehealth et al. Based on the following findings: A. Patrick Lackie was acting in a matter in which the county had an interest; B. Patrick Lackie was acting in the discharge of a duty imposed or authorized by law; C. Patrick Lackie acted in good faith.
54. 52 COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES PART 1
55. 53 MOTION SUMMARY (NO AGENDA BILL FILE)
56. 54 Motion approved 7-0 that they schedule a Special Committee of the Whole meeting from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on June 3rd and starting at 9 a.m. on the remaining days they have this year for Board of Health meetings.

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