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March 24, 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 3.20.2026

Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 65 items

  1. 1 COUNTY COUNCIL ▶ jump to 0:01
  2. 2 CALL TO ORDER ▶ jump to 2:07
  3. 3 ROLL CALL ▶ jump to 2:25
  4. 4 FLAG SALUTE ▶ jump to 2:41
  5. 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS ▶ jump to 3:08
  6. 6 COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT ▶ jump to 3:10
  7. 7 MINUTES CONSENT ▶ jump to 8:08
  8. 1. Special Committee of the Whole for March 3, 2026 MIN2026-023 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 8:07
  9. 2. Committee of the Whole Executive Session for March 10, 2026 MIN2026-024 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 8:07
  10. 3. Regular County Council for March 10, 2026 MIN2026-025 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 8:07
  11. 4. Committee of the Whole for March 10, 2026 MIN2026-026 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 8:07
  12. 12 PUBLIC HEARINGS ▶ jump to 8:38
  13. 1. Ordinance authorizing a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for criminal justice purposes as authorized by RCW 82.14.345 and adding a new Chapter 3.27 Sales and Use Tax for Criminal Justice Purposes to the Whatcom County Code AB2026-213 HEARD PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND HELD IN COUNCIL Pass ▶ jump to 37:30
  14. 14 OPEN SESSION ▶ jump to 90:28
  15. 14 Held in Council and public hearing held open until April 7th or 14th (see motion on AB2026-255 below).
  16. 15 CONSENT AGENDA ▶ jump to 160:40
  17. 16 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee) ▶ jump to 160:42
  18. 1. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an amended interlocal between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Transportation to increase the grant in the amount of $34,250 AB2026-214 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 160:41
  19. 2. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Puget Sound Partnership to provide grant funding for the development of a source control business inpection program that complies with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), in the amount of $100,817 AB2026-220 ▶ jump to 160:41
  20. 3. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham for the County to provide administrative oversight to the City concerning Domestic Violence Perpetrator Opportunity for Treatment Services (DVPOTS) for a total amount of $150,000 AB2026-222 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 160:41
  21. 4. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and the Washington State Military Department to relocate an All Hazards Alert Broadcast siren in the amount of $45,000 for a total amended contract amount of $45,000 AB2026-225 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 160:41
  22. 20 THIS ITEM WAS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY BELOW
  23. 5. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to purchase and distribute basic needs items to low-income families with children ages 0-5 in the amount of $17,250 for a total amended contract amount of $111,061 AB2026-226 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 160:41
  24. 6. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Whatcom Center for Early Learning to expand mental health support services to low-income children in the amount of $289,854 for a total amended contract amount of $688,563 AB2026-227 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 160:41
  25. 7. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Bellingham Food Bank to support operations for procuring/purchasing, warehousing and distributing food and other essentials to low and very low income families in the amount of $500,000 for a total amended contract amount of $1,945,000 AB2026-228 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 160:41
  26. 8. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to expand services to eligible families through a Case Manager Position in the Single Entry Access to Services Program in the amount of $46,000 for a total amended contract amount of $86,000 AB2026-229 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 160:41
  27. 9. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Transportation to execute a Federal Aid Project Prospectus for the design phase of the Birch Bay-Lynden Road and Kickerville Road Intersection Improvements project in the amount of $260,000 AB2026-230 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 160:41
  28. 10. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Lutheran Community Services Northwest to lease a facility intended for use as a severe weather shelter in the amount of $32,000 for a total amended contract amount of $98,455 AB2026-236 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 160:41
  29. 11. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Skagit County to Skagit County’s servers, in the amount of $5,000 AB2026-241 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 160:41
  30. 28 OTHER ITEMS ▶ jump to 163:16
  31. 29 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee) ▶ jump to 163:18
  32. 1. Ordinance establishing the project budget for the Strawberry Point/Lake Whatcom Boulevard stormwater improvements, request no. 1 AB2026-114 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 163:33
  33. 30 CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDERED SEPARATELY ▶ jump to 160:40
  34. 2. Ordinance amending the project budget for the Courthouse Building Envelope Fund, request no. 7 AB2026-134 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 165:04
  35. 2. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Puget Sound Partnership to provide grant funding for the development of a source control business inpection program that complies with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), in the amount of $100,817 AB2026-220 AUTHORIZED Pass ▶ jump to 161:55
  36. 3. Ordinance establishing the Ferndale Senior Activity Center Improvements Fund and establishing an initial budget for the Ferndale Senior Activity Center Improvements Fund AB2026-143 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 165:30
  37. 4. Ordinance amending the project budget for the Eagleridge Stormwater Improvements Project Fund, request no. 1 AB2026-181 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 166:14
  38. 5. Ordinance amending the project based budget for the Swift Creek Capital Projects Fund, request no. 3 AB2026-183 SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 167:01
  39. 6. Ordinance closing the Bellingham Senior Center HVAC Replacement Fund AB2026-200 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 167:32
  40. 7. Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 5, in the amount of $741,113 AB2026-204 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 168:15
  41. 8. Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 6, in the amount of $3,920,278 AB2026-206 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 169:32
  42. 9. Resolution updating the appendix of the 2022 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) project list AB2026-238 SUBSTITUTE APPROVED Pass ▶ jump to 171:59
  43. 39 (No Committee Assignment) ▶ jump to 174:38
  44. 10. Request for motion to approve a letter to Representative Rick Larsen thanking him for his work to secure the release of federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency AB2026-242 APPROVED REQUEST Pass ▶ jump to 175:04
  45. 11. Assignment of a councilmember to serve on the Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Committee AB2026-243 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 176:10
  46. 12. Request for motion to approve a letter of support for a grant application to the Washington State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Grant Program for improvements around Alderwood Elementary School AB2026-244 APPROVED REQUEST Pass ▶ jump to 177:56
  47. 43 ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION ▶ jump to 179:20
  48. 1. Ordinance authorizing a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for criminal justice purposes as authorized by RCW 82.14.345 and adding a new Chapter 3.27 Sales and Use Tax for Criminal Justice Purposes to the Whatcom County Code AB2026-255 INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass ▶ jump to 180:18
  49. 45 INTRODUCTION ITEMS ▶ jump to 184:59
  50. 1. Appointment to a vacancy on the Justice Project Oversight and Planning (JPOP) Committee, criminal legal system user, applicant(s): Cesar Luna AB2026-221 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 184:58
  51. 46 Motion approved 7-0 that they appoint Councilmember Boyle to serve on the Americans with Disabilities Act compliance committee.
  52. 2. Appointment to a vacancy on the Planning Commission, District 4 or 5, Applicants: Lindsey Elenbaas, Gurdeep Bains, Jeremy Thompson AB2026-232 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 184:58
  53. 3. Receipt of Whatcom County Council strategic planning workshop meeting report AB2026-239 RECEIVED Pass ▶ jump to 184:58
  54. 49 COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES ▶ jump to 240:40
  55. 50 ADJOURN ▶ jump to 246:08
  56. 50 Motion approved 7-0 to introduce and set a public hearing for April 7th or 14th at the discretion of the chair to coincide with the other agenda items dealing with the same topic.
  57. 55 INTRODUCTION ITEM ADDED ▶ jump to 184:59
  58. 1. Ordinance submitting to the qualified voters of Whatcom County a proposition authorizing a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) for criminal justice purposes, as authorized by RCW 82.14.345 AB2026-259 INTRODUCED AS AMENDED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass ▶ jump to 189:39
  59. 57 MOTION 1 Motion approved 6-1, with Galloway opposed, to introduce AB2026-259 Ordinance submitting to the qualified voters of Whatcom County a proposition authorizing a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) for criminal justice purposes, as authorized by RCW 82.14.345 as amended, and to hold a joint public hearing on April 14th.
  60. 58 MOTION 2 Motion approved 7-0 to amend Section 1. Submission to voters to change special election to primary or general so that it reads: Section 1. Submission to Voters Pursuant to RCW 82.14.345, there shall be submitted to the qualified voters of Whatcom County, at the next primary or general election as determined by the County Auditor, a proposition authorizing the County to impose a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) for criminal justice purposes.
  61. 59 MOTION 3 Motion approved 6-1, with Stremler opposed, to amend the ordinance to add a new whereas clause after the fifth whereas clause which reads: WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council intends that revenues from the new Sales and Use tax for criminal justice purposes be prioritized in the 2027-28 biennial budget for support to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office for jail health and food services, support to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office for lease payments for the new Sheriff's office, and support for labor costs necessary to maintain levels of service across County departments and offices eligible to use revenues under RCW 82.14.345; and
  62. 61 (Motion from Committee of the Whole Executive Session)
  63. 62 Discussion of pending litigation with Chief Civil Deputy Prosecutor Thomas Seguine concerning opioid settlements and Whatcom County’s participation in the “Six Remnant Defendants” Opioid Settlement Agreement [Discussion of this item may take place in executive session (closed to the public) pursuant to RCW 42.30.110. (1)(i)] AB2026-237 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED
  64. 63 Motion approved 7-0 to authorize executive Satpal Sidhu to sign the Six Remnant Defendants Combined Participation form on behalf of Whatcom County as discussed in Executive Session.
  65. 64 Motion approved 7-0 to delegate authority to the executive to execute and sign participation forms related to future opioid settlements on behalf of the county, without further approval of the council.