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Council Special Committee of the Whole

May 19, 2026 ·9:00 AM Final ·HYBRID MEETING - RECESS FOR LUNCH FROM 12:00 P.M. TO 1:00 P.M. - ADJOURNS BY 4:30 P.M. (PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil OR CALL 360.778.5010)

Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 53 items

  1. 1 Call To Order ▶ jump to 0:02
  2. 2 Roll Call ▶ jump to 0:12
  3. 3 Announcements ▶ jump to 0:28
  4. 4 Public Comment (Comprehensive Plan) ▶ jump to 0:41
  5. 1. Public comments on all chapters of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan AB2026-395 RECEIVED ▶ jump to 0:43
  6. 6 Committee Discussion ▶ jump to 15:10
  7. 1. Discussion and preliminary Council direction on the Preface to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan AB2026-273 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 15:23
  8. 2. Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 2, Land Use AB2026-186 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 21:00
  9. 8 MOTION 1: Motion approved to approve the alternate Labor Acknowledgement (Item 5 in the Chart of Proposed Council Changes for 5.19.2026).
  10. 3. Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 8, Resource Lands AB2026-250 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 130:10
  11. 9 MOTION 2: Motion approved to request staff prepare the Preface – Preliminary Council Draft as amended – for inclusion in a future agenda bill file for Council introduction and public hearing.
  12. 4. Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 10, Environment AB2026-261 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 142:59
  13. 5. Resolution regarding greenhouse gas reduction sub-element voluntary review as part of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan periodic update under the Washington State Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.096) AB2026-390 DISCUSSED ▶ jump to 256:57
  14. 11 MOTION 1: Motion approved to begin review of Chapter 2 using the Preliminary Council Draft dated 5.19.2026, which is the current version of the chapter with Planning Commission recommendations from January 2026 and additional edits proposed by councilmembers as listed in the Chart of Proposed Council Changes for 5.19.2026.
  15. 6. Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 12, Climate AB2026-262 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 271:31
  16. 12 MOTION 2: Motion approved to go into executive session until no later than 10:00 a.m. to discuss potential litigation risk related to the Comprehensive Plan Update pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) as announced by the Council Chair.
  17. 7. Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Appendices (Appendix A: Glossary, Appendix B: Acronyms, Appendix D: Bibliography, Appendix E: 20-Year Capital Facilities Plan, Appendix G: Airport Overlay Zones, Appendix H: Airport Imaginary Surfaces, Appendix I: Housing Needs Analysis, Appendix J: Subsidized Housing Needs and Funding) and Foothills Subarea Plan Amendments AB2026-263 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 283:19
  18. 13 MOTION 3: Motion approved to support option three as presented in the Memo from PDS on the Dakota Creek UGA for 5.19.2026, which reads as follows: Retain a Portion of the Lots within the Area, with Development Potential, in the UGA. a.WCPDS has attached an aerial of the UGA, with annotations showing where development potential exists, up to an additional 11 dwelling units as the subject area already contains five single-family residences. The yellow area represents the portion of the UGA with development potential.
  19. 14 Committee Discussion (Final Coordination) ▶ jump to 330:25
  20. 14 MOTION 4: Motion approved that Council supports including the parcels as outlined in red on the Birch Bay Properties map (on screen) for inclusion in the UGAR study that has been docketed.
  21. 1. Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 1, Introduction and Growth Projections AB2026-185 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 330:24
  22. 15 MOTION 5: Motion approved to hold open Chapter 2 until the June 2 Special Committee of the Whole meeting.
  23. 2. Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3, Housing AB2026-188 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 330:24
  24. 3. Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 4, Capital Facilities AB2026-216 DISCUSSED ▶ jump to 330:24
  25. 17 MOTION 1: Motion approved to begin review of Chapter 8 using the Preliminary Council Draft dated 4.28.2026, which is the current version of the chapter with Planning Commission recommendations from January 2026 and additional edits proposed by councilmembers as listed in the Chart of Proposed Council Changes for 4.28.2026.
  26. 4. Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 5, Utilities AB2026-217 DISCUSSED ▶ jump to 330:24
  27. 18 MOTION 2: Motion approved to strike the edits highlighted in yellow in the Preliminary Council Draft for 4.28.2026 and listed in the Chart of Proposed Council Changes (Items 91, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98).
  28. 5. Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 6, Transportation AB2026-218 DISCUSSED ▶ jump to 330:24
  29. 19 MOTION 3: Motion approved to hold Elenbaas' proposed amendment to Chapter 8 Resource Lands until the June 2 Special Committee of the Whole meeting.
  30. 6. Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 7, Economic Development AB2026-231 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 330:24
  31. 20 MOTION 4: Motion approved to hold Chapter 8 open until June 2.
  32. 7. Discussion and preliminary Council direction on Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 9, Parks and Recreation AB2026-251 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 330:24
  33. 22 Committee Discussion (Schedule) ▶ jump to 361:56
  34. 22 MOTION 1: Motion approved to begin review of Chapter 10 Environment using the Preliminary Council Draft dated 5.19.2026, which is the current version of the chapter with Planning Commission recommendations from January 2026 and additional edits proposed by councilmembers as listed in the Chart of Proposed Council Changes for 5.19.2026.
  35. 1. Discussion regarding schedule for Council review of the comprehensive plan update AB2026-249 DISCUSSED ▶ jump to 361:57
  36. 23 MOTION 2: Motion approved to hold Item 70 (in the Chart of Proposed Council Changes for 5.19.2026) as amended until after lunch.
  37. 24 Items Added by Revision ▶ jump to 374:30
  38. 24 MOTION 3: Motion approved to strike Item 71 (as presented in the Chart of Proposed Council Changes for 5.19.2026).
  39. 25 Other Business ▶ jump to 374:31
  40. 25 MOTION 4: Motion approved to amend Item 78 (from the Chart of Proposed Council Changes for 5.19.2026) so that it reads as follows: Ensure the design and development of land avoids or minimizes disturbance to rivers, streams, floodplains, and functioning riparian areas as outlined in Chapter 11 Shorelines.
  41. 26 Adjournment ▶ jump to 374:33
  42. 26 MOTION 5: Motion approved to amend Item 80 (in the Chart of Proposed Council Changes for 5.19.2026) to read as follows: Shoreline armoring falls under the Shoreline Management Program (SMP) and is allowed in very limited circumstances. New hard armoring should be consistent with Chapter 11 and the SMP and encourage soft shore techniques or other less impactful solutions or new development and when armor is degraded and in need of replacement.
  43. 27 MOTION 6: Motion approved to hold Chapter 10 open until June 2.
  44. 30 MOTION 1: Motion approved to begin review of Chapter 12 using the Preliminary Council Draft dated 4.28.2026, which is the current version of the chapter with Planning Commission recommendations from January 2026 and additional edits proposed by councilmembers as listed in the Chart of Proposed Council Changes.
  45. 31 MOTION 2: Motion approved to request staff prepare Chapter 12 - Preliminary Council Draft as amended for inclusion in a future agenda bill file for Council introduction and public hearing.
  46. 33 MOTION 1: Motion approved to begin review of the Appendices, which is the current version of the Appendices with Planning Commission recommendations from January 2026 and additional edits proposed by councilmembers as listed in the Chart of Proposed Council Changes for 5.19.2026.
  47. 34 MOTION 2: Motion approved to include the 2080 Climate Scenario in Appendix A (as stated in Item 3 of the Chart of Proposed Council Changes for 5.19.2026).
  48. 35 MOTION 3: Motion approved to request that staff prepare the Appendices A, B, D, E, G, H, I, J, and the Foothills Subarea Plan as amended for inclusion in a future agenda bill file for Council introduction and public hearing.
  49. 38 MOTION 1: Motion approved to accept Item 1 (in Technical Amendments for 5.19.2026), which amends Table 5 in Chapter 1 on page 1-12.
  50. 40 MOTION 1: Motion approved to strike Policy 3K-10.
  51. 41 MOTION 2: Motion approved to accept Item 5 (in Technical Amendments for 5.19.2026) amending Policy 3B-4.
  52. 46 MOTION 1: Motion approved to accept Item 2 (in Technical Amendments for 5.19.2026), which amends Policy 7D-12.
  53. 48 MOTION 1: Motion approved to strike Policy 9A-14.