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January 27, 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 REVISED 1.27.2026

Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers

Agenda PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 78 items

  1. 1 COUNTY COUNCIL
  2. 2 CALL TO ORDER ▶ jump to 1:46
  3. 3 ROLL CALL ▶ jump to 2:00
  4. 4 FLAG SALUTE ▶ jump to 2:20
  5. 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS ▶ jump to 2:43
  6. 6 COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT ▶ jump to 2:55
  7. 7 MINUTES CONSENT ▶ jump to 3:00
  8. 1. Special Council for December 30, 2025 MIN2026-008 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:59
  9. 9 PUBLIC HEARINGS ▶ jump to 3:37
  10. 1. Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Chapter 20.34 Rural Residential Island (RRI) to allow food preparation for off-site consumption when accessory to and located within an approved community center AB2026-016 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 10:53
  11. 11 OPEN SESSION ▶ jump to 12:29
  12. 12 CONSENT AGENDA ▶ jump to 74:54
  13. 13 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee) ▶ jump to 74:55
  14. 1. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center for Family Mediation Services, in the amount of $70,000 for a total amended contract amount of $135,000 AB2026-044 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 74:54
  15. 2. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham to amend the hourly rate of public safety radio repair from $125 to $150 AB2026-052 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 74:54
  16. 3. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a grant agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Ecology for Whatcom Marine Resources Committee (MRC) operations and projects, in the amount of $147,000 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2026-056 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 74:54
  17. 4. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Pacific Security to continue to provide Courthouse screening services, in the amount of $90,000 AB2026-057 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 74:54
  18. 5. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Birch Bay Water and Sewer District to coordinate the relocation of a segment of a water line and the construction road culvert, in the amount of $0 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2026-058 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 74:54
  19. 6. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Pacific Security to continue evening patrol services of outside county buildings, in the amount of $99,960 AB2026-059 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 74:54
  20. 7. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the Maple Falls Water Cooperative for water storage tank replacement, in the amount of $555,300 AB2026-067 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 74:54
  21. 8. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an amendment to an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham regarding the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence AB2026-070 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 74:54
  22. 9. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center for supervised visitation services, in the amount of $115,000, for a total amended contract amount of $226,000 AB2026-077 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 74:54
  23. 10. Request authorization for the County Executive to grant a utility easement to Puget Sound Energy across park property for underground electrical services to a private residence located off Blue Canyon Road in South Lake Whatcom AB2026-090 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 74:54
  24. 11. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a Collective Bargaining Agreement between Whatcom County and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Management Group for the period January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2027 AB2026-096 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 74:54
  25. 25 OTHER ITEMS ▶ jump to 76:03
  26. 26 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee) ▶ jump to 76:05
  27. 1. Resolution accepting the Treasurer’s list of petitions for property tax refunds AB2026-047 APPROVED Pass ▶ jump to 76:42
  28. 2. Resolution canceling uncollectible personal property taxes AB2026-050 APPROVED Pass ▶ jump to 77:22
  29. 3. Resolution updating the Whatcom County section of the 2022 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) project list appendix AB2026-066 SUBSTITUTE APPROVED Pass ▶ jump to 78:14
  30. 30 (From Council Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee) ▶ jump to 79:19
  31. 4. Request for motion on Behavioral Care Center model and location AB2026-038 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 79:20
  32. 32 COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS ▶ jump to 81:28
  33. 32 Motion approved 6-1, with Elenbaas opposed, that the Justice Project Behavioral Care Center be an out of custody model and a new build at the Division Street location.
  34. 1. Reconsideration of appointment to a position on the Justice Project Oversight and Planning Committee, Member: Richard Gleason AB2025-806 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 81:30
  35. 2. Reconsideration of appointment to a position on the Business and Commerce Advisory Committee, Member: Matthew Green AB2026-109 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 84:49
  36. 3. Appointments to vacancies on the Public Health Advisory Board, applicant(s): Mike Cohen, Christine Espina, Alison Fontaine, Carl Isom-McDaniel, Rachel McGarrity, Nathaline Nivens, Robyn Phillips-Madson, Deb Shawver, Markis Dee Stidham, Ashley Thomasson, Ben Twigg, Amelia Vader, Shu-Ling Zhao (Council acting as the Health Board) AB2026-034 APPOINTED ▶ jump to 86:21
  37. 35 Motion approved 7-0 to vacate Mr. Gleason's position on the Justice Project Oversight and Planning Committee and direct council staff to advertise the vacancy and collect qualified applications.
  38. 4. Appointments to vacancies on the Acme/VanZandt Flood Control Subzone Advisory Committee, applicant(s): Valerie Lloyd (Council acting as the Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2026-113 APPOINTED Pass ▶ jump to 101:36
  39. 37 CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS ▶ jump to 101:53
  40. 37 Motion approved 7-0 to vacate Mr. Green's position on the Business and Commerce Advisory Committee and direct council staff to advertise the vacancy and collect qualified applications.
  41. 1. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s reappointment of Andrea Vance to the Whatcom County Veteran’s Advisory Board AB2026-061 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 102:45
  42. 2. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of David Swanson to the Whatcom County Veteran’s Advisory Board AB2026-062 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 103:37
  43. 39 MOTION 1 Appointed all applicants.
  44. 3. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s reappointment of Stephen Gockley to the Whatcom County Behavioral Health Advisory Committee AB2026-063 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 104:06
  45. 40 MOTION 2 Appointed Alison Fontaine to the partial term ending January 31, 2027 with 4 votes.
  46. 4. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Dr. Shannon Boustead to the County Behavioral Health Advisory Committee AB2026-064 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 104:47
  47. 41 MOTION 3 Appointed Amelia Vader and Ben Twigg to the partial term ending January 31, 2028 with 7 votes each.
  48. 5. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Kenneth Johnson to the Whatcom County Behavioral Health Advisory Committee AB2026-065 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 105:34
  49. 6. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Sukhmanjit Kaur to the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence AB2026-072 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 106:18
  50. 7. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s reappointments of Jessyca Murphy, Rosemarie Tom, and Krista Touros to the Bellingham Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence AB2026-073 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 107:09
  51. 8. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s reappointment of McKale Jones to the Whatcom County Conservation Program Easement Oversight Committee AB2026-074 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 108:04
  52. 9. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s reappointment of Michael Bratt to the Whatcom County Development Standards Technical Advisory Committee AB2026-075 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 108:40
  53. 10. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s reappointment of Todd Lagestee to the Whatcom County Ethics Commission AB2026-076 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 109:29
  54. 11. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s reappointment of Dan Dunne, Von Ochoa, and Adrienne Renz to the Whatcom County Housing Advisory Committee AB2026-080 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 110:15
  55. 12. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Abby Neal to the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee AB2026-081 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 111:01
  56. 13. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s reappointment of Elizabeth Lorence and Kathryn Ketteridge to the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee AB2026-082 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 111:44
  57. 14. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s reappointment of Elizabeth Mason and Jared Oberhaus to the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee AB2026-083 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 112:35
  58. 15. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s reappointment of Franklin Boteler to the Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Commission AB2026-085 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 113:21
  59. 16. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of J. Riley Sweeney to the Whatcom County Library System Board, also known as the Rural Library Board AB2026-087 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 114:01
  60. 17. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Cathie Murphy to the North Sound Behavioral Organization Advisory Board AB2026-088 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 115:06
  61. 18. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Rhys-Thorvald Hansen to the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee AB2026-089 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 119:24
  62. 19. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Benny Spencer, Neesha Randeo, Sara O’Conner, and Sharayah Lane to the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission AB2026-091 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 122:53
  63. 57 ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION ▶ jump to 123:28
  64. 1. Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Section 5.40.010 to change the permit threshold for outdoor musical entertainment, amusements, and assemblies AB2026-118 INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass ▶ jump to 124:11
  65. 59 INTRODUCTION ITEMS ▶ jump to 128:03
  66. 59 (Original motion) Motion approved 6-1, with Stremler opposed, to confirm (see reconsideration below).
  67. 1. Ordinance closing the Northwest Annex Redevelopment Fund AB2026-094 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 128:02
  68. 2. Ordinance amending the project budget for the Hovander Park Building Improvements Project, request no. 4 AB2026-098 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 128:02
  69. 3. Ordinance establishing the Glacier Restroom Improvements Fund and establishing an initial budget for the Glacier Restroom Improvements Fund AB2026-100 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 128:02
  70. 62 Board name should read: North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization Advisory Board.
  71. 4. Ordinance amending the project budget for the New Public Health, Safety and Justice Facility, request no. 10 AB2026-102 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 128:02
  72. 5. Ordinance establishing the 32nd Street Property Acquisition Fund and establishing an initial budget for the 32nd Street Property Acquisition Fund AB2026-104 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 128:02
  73. 15. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s reappointment of Franklin Boteler to the Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Commission AB2026-085 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 121:55
  74. 6. Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 3, in the amount of $7,123,065 AB2026-110 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 128:02
  75. 65 Motion approved 7-0 to reconsider the first vote.
  76. 66 COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES ▶ jump to 129:33
  77. 66 Then motion approved 7-0 to confirm.
  78. 67 ADJOURN ▶ jump to 145:02