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February 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)

Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers

Agenda PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 67 items

  1. 1 COUNTY COUNCIL ▶ jump to 0:01
  2. 2 CALL TO ORDER ▶ jump to 0:55
  3. 3 ROLL CALL ▶ jump to 1:09
  4. 4 FLAG SALUTE ▶ jump to 1:33
  5. 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS ▶ jump to 1:56
  6. 6 COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT ▶ jump to 1:57
  7. 7 MINUTES CONSENT ▶ jump to 2:02
  8. 1. Committee of the Whole Executive Session for February 10, 2026 MIN2026-014 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:01
  9. 2. Committee of the Whole for February 10, 2026 MIN2026-015 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:01
  10. 3. Regular County Council for February 10, 2026 MIN2026-016 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:01
  11. 4. Health Board for February 3, 2026 MIN2026-017 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:01
  12. 12 OPEN SESSION ▶ jump to 2:31
  13. 13 CONSENT AGENDA ▶ jump to 81:08
  14. 14 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee) ▶ jump to 81:09
  15. 1. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a Collective Bargaining Agreement between Whatcom County and Professional and Technical Employees, Local 17 for the period January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028 AB2026-137 SUBSTITUTE AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 81:08
  16. 2. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a grant agreement between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Ecology for the 2025-2027 Biennial Stormwater Capacity Grant, in the amount of $120,000 AB2026-154 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 81:08
  17. 3. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement amendment between Whatcom County and North Whatcom Fire and Rescue to extend the current contract for fire investigation services by one year AB2026-156 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 81:08
  18. 4. 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 Lakeway Drive - City of Bellingham to Cable Street - Pavement Rehabilitation Project, County Road Project 925001, in the amount of $251,000 AB2026-160 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 81:08
  19. 5. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal grant agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Commerce to reimburse the 5% local match obligation required in the four FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) grants, in the amount of $1,500,000 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2026-162 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 81:08
  20. 6. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal cost reimbursement agreement between Whatcom County and the City of Lynden to support 30% design of Phase 1 of the Mouw Ditch early action project with pass-through funding from Floodplains through Design (FbD) 2023-25 grant, in the amount of $113,600 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2026-163 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 81:08
  21. 7. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group to increase the project management task budget to assist homeowners participating in the Hazard Mitigation Elevation Grant Program, in the amount of $80,000, for a total amount of $200,000 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2026-164 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 81:08
  22. 22 OTHER ITEMS ▶ jump to 82:47
  23. 23 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee) ▶ jump to 82:49
  24. 1. Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 4, in the amount of $1,804,963 AB2026-145 SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 83:16
  25. 2. Ordinance establishing the project budget for the Strawberry Point/Lake Whatcom Boulevard stormwater improvements, request no. 1 AB2026-114 HELD IN COMMITTEE Pass ▶ jump to 85:35
  26. 25 The ordinance adopted was the "Substitute Ordinance for 2.24.2026" with a reduced total amount of $319,393 (see also summary by fund and summary listing for 2.24.2026).
  27. 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 HELD IN COMMITTEE Pass ▶ jump to 87:06
  28. 4. Ordinance amending the project budget for the Courthouse Building Envelope Fund, request no. 7 AB2026-134 HELD IN COMMITTEE Pass ▶ jump to 88:48
  29. 27 Motion approved to postpone AB2026-114 to the March 24th Finance and Administrative Services Committee meeting.
  30. 5. Resolution to declare county-owned structures located at recently acquired property at South Fork Park as worthless AB2026-165 APPROVED Pass ▶ jump to 88:59
  31. 29 (From Council Public Works and Health Committee) ▶ jump to 114:01
  32. 29 Motion approved postpone AB2026-143 to the March 24th Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee meeting.
  33. 6. Resolution calling on the State Legislature to recognize public health as essential and to maintain Foundational Public Health Services funding (Council acting as the Health Board) AB2026-119 APPROVED Pass ▶ jump to 114:36
  34. 31 COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS ▶ jump to 116:38
  35. 31 Motion approved to postpone AB2026-134 to the March 24th Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee meeting.
  36. 1. Appointment to a vacancy on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, business/industry position, applicant(s): Troy Lautenbach AB2026-115 APPOINTED Pass ▶ jump to 117:20
  37. 2. Appointment to a vacancy on the Business and Commerce Advisory Committee, representing higher education, applicant(s): Patricia Newbold AB2026-128 APPOINTED Pass ▶ jump to 118:04
  38. 3. Appointment to a vacancy on the Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee, geographic area representative, Applicant(s): Brian Dykstra (Council acting as the Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2026-175 APPOINTED Pass ▶ jump to 130:00
  39. 35 CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS ▶ jump to 135:16
  40. 1. Request confirmation of the Executive’s appointment of Julie Bates to the Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Commission AB2026-167 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 136:20
  41. 2. Request confirmation of the Executive’s appointment of Douglas Bestle to the Whatcom County Veterans Advisory Board AB2026-168 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 137:08
  42. 3. Request confirmation of the Executive’s appointment of Nancy Whipple to the Whatcom County Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee AB2026-169 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 137:52
  43. 39 ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION ▶ jump to 139:38
  44. 39 Motion approved 6-1, with Stremler opposed, to accept late applications.
  45. 40 INTRODUCTION ITEMS ▶ jump to 139:39
  46. 40 Appointed Brian Dykstra and Samantha Doering.
  47. 1. Ordinance establishing Whatcom County Code Section 2.02.195 Performance Audits AB2026-040 ▶ jump to 139:39
  48. 2. Appointment to a vacancy on the Planning Commission, District 1 or 5, Applicants: Lindsey Elenbaas, Gurdeep Bains, Selena Knoblauch, Jeremy Thompson, Joseph L. Stine, Steven Cohen AB2026-172 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 139:39
  49. 3. Appointment to a vacancy on the Child and Family Well-Being Task Force, Applicant(s): Makela Alem AB2026-173 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 139:39
  50. 4. Receipt of report on emergency contracts executed pursuant to the December 9, 2025 proclamation of emergency AB2026-170 ▶ jump to 139:39
  51. 45 COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES PART 1 ▶ jump to 147:51
  52. 46 ADJOURN ▶ jump to 184:34
  53. 48 THIS ITEM WAS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY BELOW.
  54. 52 THIS ITEM WAS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY BELOW.
  55. 53 INTRODUCTION ITEMS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY ▶ jump to 139:39
  56. 1. Ordinance establishing Whatcom County Code Section 2.02.195 Performance Audits AB2026-040 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 140:39
  57. 55 Motion approved 7-0 to hold until the workgroup, comprised of councilmembers Scanlon, Rienstra, and Elenbaas, has an opportunity to meet and complete the work. The file was not introduced.
  58. 4. Receipt of report on emergency contracts executed pursuant to the December 9, 2025 proclamation of emergency AB2026-170 RECEIVED Pass ▶ jump to 146:30
  59. 57 ACTION TWO ON AB2026-170
  60. 4. Receipt of report on emergency contracts executed pursuant to the December 9, 2025 proclamation of emergency AB2026-170 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE Pass ▶ jump to 146:30
  61. 59 Motion approved 7-0 to refer to Finance and Administrative Services Committee.
  62. 61 OTHER ITEMS FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE EXECUTIVE SESSION
  63. 62 Discussion with Public Works staff regarding a potential property acquisition [Discussion of this item may take place in executive session (closed to the public) pursuant to RCW 42.30.110 (1)(b)] AB2026-153 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED
  64. 63 MOTION SUMMARY: 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.
  65. 64 Discussion of pending litigation with Civil Deputy Prosecutor, Jesse Corkern, regarding Scott W. Hansen and Diane M. Hansen vs. Whatcom County Public Works Department et al., Whatcom County Superior Court, Cause No. 26-2-00133-37. Defense and indemnification of Elizabeth Kosa, Director, Whatcom County Public Works, Tyler Schroeder, Former Deputy Executive, Whatcom County and Matt Johnson, Road Crew Leader, Whatcom County Public Works named as defendants. [Discussion of this item may take place in executive session (closed to the public) pursuant to RCW42.30.110 (1) (i)] AB2026-157 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED
  66. 65 MOTION SUMMARY: Motion approved 6-0, with Stremler abstaining, to approve defense and indemnification of Elizabeth Kosa, Director, Whatcom County Public Works, Tyler Schroeder, Former Deputy Executive, Whatcom County, Matt Johnson, Road Crew Leader, Whatcom County Public Works, named as defendants in Scott W. Hansen and Diane M. Hansen vs. Whatcom County Public Works Department et al., Whatcom County Superior Court, Cause No. 26-2-00133-37. Based on the following findings: A. Elizabeth Kosa, Tyler Schroeder, and Matt Johnson were acting in a matter in which the county had an interest; B. Elizabeth Kosa, Tyler Schroeder, and Matt Johnson were acting in the discharge of a duty imposed or authorized by law; C. Elizabeth Kosa, Tyler Schroeder, and Matt Johnson acted in good faith.
  67. 66 COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES PART 2 ▶ jump to 147:51