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August 11, 2026 ·6:00 PM Final ·HYBRID MEETING (PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010); AGENDA REVISION 8.11.2026

Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 61 items

  1. 1 COUNTY COUNCIL
  2. 2 CALL TO ORDER ▶ jump to 1:03
  3. 3 ROLL CALL ▶ jump to 1:22
  4. 4 FLAG SALUTE ▶ jump to 1:47
  5. 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS ▶ jump to 2:11
  6. 6 COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT ▶ jump to 2:12
  7. 7 MINUTES CONSENT ▶ jump to 2:21
  8. 1. Committee of the Whole Executive Session for July 14, 2026 MIN2026-064 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:20
  9. 2. Committee of the Whole for July 14, 2026 MIN2026-065 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:20
  10. 3. Regular County Council for July 14, 2026 MIN2026-066 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:20
  11. 4. Committee of the Whole Executive Session for July 28, 2026 MIN2026-067 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:20
  12. 5. Regular County Council for July 28, 2026 MIN2026-068 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:20
  13. 13 PUBLIC HEARINGS ▶ jump to 2:53
  14. 1. Review final project performance on the 2025-2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Services grant and proposed activities for the 2026-2027 CDBG Public Services grant AB2026-499 PUBLIC HEARING HELD (file final) ▶ jump to 4:29
  15. 2. Ordinance declaring public necessity for and the authorization to acquire certain property rights by eminent domain for the Birch Bay Lynden Road and Blaine Road Intersection Improvements Project AB2026-518 FAILED Fail ▶ jump to 15:08
  16. 16 OPEN SESSION ▶ jump to 16:10
  17. 17 CONSENT AGENDA ▶ jump to 99:04
  18. 18 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee) ▶ jump to 99:06
  19. 1. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement between Whatcom County and the Administrative Office of the Courts for reimbursements of costs related to the Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem program, formerly the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, in the amount of $84,523 AB2026-585 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 99:05
  20. 2. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a cooperative reciprocal agreement between Whatcom Couny and Skagit County to provide for secure custody and confinement of juvenile offenders as needed AB2026-586 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 99:05
  21. 3. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement amendment between Whatcom County and San Juan County to fund the prevention of the use of cannabis and commercial tobacco products by youth for an additional year, in the amount of $36,000, for a total amended agreement amount of $71,000 AB2026-591 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 99:05
  22. 4. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and the Washington State Military Department to utilize State Homeland Security Grant Program funding to sustain and enhance Division of Emergency Management programs, in the amount of $58,010 AB2026-594 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 99:05
  23. 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 construction phase of the Birch Bay-Lynden Road and Blaine Road (SR-548) Intersection Improvements project, in the amount of $3,802,670 AB2026-595 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 99:05
  24. 6. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Ecology to provide a Washington Conservation Corps crew and supervisor, in the amount of $269,450 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2026-599 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 99:05
  25. 7. Request authorization for the County Executive to award bid #26-28 and enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Western Refinery Services for 2026 Swift Creek Channel Excavation in the amount of $277,341.62 AB2026-606 ▶ jump to 99:05
  26. 8. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Camis USA to provide reservation and point-of-sale software services, in the amount of $251,825 over five years AB2026-609 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 99:05
  27. 26 THIS ITEM WAS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY BELOW
  28. 9. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal grant agreement between Whatcom County and United States Natural Resource Conservation Service for matching funding for the Canyon Creek Forest Conservation Easement, in the amount of $845,141 AB2026-610 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 99:05
  29. 10. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal grant agreement between Whatcom County and United States Natural Resource Conservation Service for matching funding for the Jensen Agriculture Conservation Easement, in the amount of $750,000 AB2026-611 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 99:05
  30. 29 OTHER ITEMS ▶ jump to 102:58
  31. 30 (From Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee) ▶ jump to 102:59
  32. 30 CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDERED SEPARATELY ▶ jump to 99:04
  33. 1. Resolution renaming Canyon Lake Trail after local conservationist Rand Jack AB2026-616 APPROVED Pass ▶ jump to 103:23
  34. 7. Request authorization for the County Executive to award bid #26-28 and enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Western Refinery Services for 2026 Swift Creek Channel Excavation in the amount of $277,341.62 AB2026-606 AUTHORIZED Pass ▶ jump to 101:10
  35. 32 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee) ▶ jump to 104:03
  36. 2. Ordinance establishing the Criminal Justice Sales Tax Fund - RCW 82.14.345 and establishing an initial budget for the Criminal Justice Sales Tax Fund - RCW 82.14.345 AB2026-580 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 104:12
  37. 3. Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 11, in the amount of $3,658,280 AB2026-581 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 106:44
  38. 4. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and AidKit to subsidize child care costs and augment child care providers in Whatcom County, in the amount of $7,052,947 AB2026-590 AUTHORIZED Pass ▶ jump to 108:03
  39. 36 (From Council Public Works and Health Committee) ▶ jump to 110:21
  40. 5. Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 24.03, Food Service Rules and Regulations AB2026-559 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 110:27
  41. 38 (From Council Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee) ▶ jump to 110:59
  42. 6. Request for motion to accept the jail program and move forward with design and construction of the new jail AB2026-613 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 111:04
  43. 40 (From Council Planning and Development Committee) ▶ jump to 135:13
  44. 7. Resolution amending Resolution 2026-009 to docket an additional comprehensive plan and zoning amendment related to review of 4610 Lincoln Road for inclusion in the Birch Bay Urban Growth Area Reserve AB2026-621 HELD IN COMMITTEE Pass ▶ jump to 135:23
  45. 42 (From Council Committee of the Whole) ▶ jump to 146:38
  46. 8. Resolution temporarily changing the format of Council committee meetings for Council meeting days AB2026-623 APPROVED Pass ▶ jump to 147:03
  47. 43 Motion approved 5-2, with Rienstra and Stremler opposed, that the Council accepts the jail program as presented, and requests that the Executive continues to prioritize the inclusion of the Rapid Resource Center, second court room with workspaces, and family contact visitation space, without sacrificing housing capacity, and requests the Executive to move forward with design and preliminary construction activities.
  48. 44 (No Committee Assignment) ▶ jump to 160:41
  49. 9. Approval of 2027 meeting dates, including Health Board and additional Committee of the Whole meetings AB2026-605 APPROVED BY THE COUNCILMEMBERS Pass ▶ jump to 162:36
  50. 46 CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT ▶ jump to 163:09
  51. 1. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of James Marks as Director of Whatcom County Planning & Development Services, effective September 14, 2026 AB2026-625 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 163:32
  52. 48 ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION ▶ jump to 173:00
  53. 49 INTRODUCTION ITEMS ▶ jump to 173:02
  54. 1. Appointment to a vacancy on the Planning Commission, District 3 or 4, Applicant(s): Ramon Llanos AB2026-584 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 173:01
  55. 2. Resolution modifying the Public Works Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the years 2026-2031 AB2026-602 INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass ▶ jump to 173:01
  56. 3. Resolution modifying the 2026 Annual Road Program AB2026-603 INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass ▶ jump to 173:01
  57. 4. Ordinance closing the 23-Hour Crisis Relief Center Fund AB2026-617 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 173:01
  58. 5. Ordinance amending the project budget for the New Public Health, Safety and Justice Facility Fund, request no. 12 AB2026-618 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 173:01
  59. 6. Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 12, in the amount of $2,094,013 AB2026-619 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 173:01
  60. 56 COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES ▶ jump to 173:56
  61. 57 ADJOURN ▶ jump to 192:36