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October 7, 2025 ·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 10.6.2025

Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers

Agenda PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 70 items

  1. 1 COUNTY COUNCIL
  2. 2 CALL TO ORDER ▶ jump to 0:38
  3. 3 ROLL CALL ▶ jump to 0:51
  4. 4 FLAG SALUTE ▶ jump to 1:07
  5. 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS ▶ jump to 1:27
  6. 6 COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT ▶ jump to 1:30
  7. 7 MINUTES CONSENT ▶ jump to 6:18
  8. 1. Special Council and Planning Commission for September 16, 2025 MIN2025-058 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 6:18
  9. 2. Special Committee of the Whole for September 16, 2025 MIN2025-059 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 6:18
  10. 3. Health Board and Public Health Advisory Board for September 16, 2025 MIN2025-060 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 6:18
  11. 4. Committee of the Whole Executive Session for September 23, 2025 MIN2025-061 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 6:18
  12. 5. Committee of the Whole for September 23, 2025 MIN2025-062 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 6:18
  13. 6. Regular County Council for September 23, 2025 MIN2025-063 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 6:18
  14. 14 PUBLIC HEARINGS ▶ jump to 7:04
  15. 1. Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Chapter 3.05, Tort and Damage Claims, to create a risk management committee and clarify the processing of tort claims AB2025-575 SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 10:01
  16. 2. Resolution declaring Whatcom County real property as surplus and approving transfer AB2025-597 APPROVED Pass ▶ jump to 13:32
  17. 16 Adopted Substitute Ordinance 10.7.2025
  18. 17 OPEN SESSION ▶ jump to 14:03
  19. 18 CONSENT AGENDA ▶ jump to 42:23
  20. 19 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee) ▶ jump to 42:24
  21. 1. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families to administer the Nurse Family Partnership Program, in the amount of $393,195 AB2025-669 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 42:24
  22. 2. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Lutheran Community Services Northwest to lease a facility intended for use as a severe weather shelter, in the amount of $66,455 AB2025-670 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 42:24
  23. 3. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. to provide adjudication technical assistance, in the amount of $105,000 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-671 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 42:24
  24. 4. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and GeoTest Services, Inc. in the amount of $50,000 for a total amended contract amount of $250,000 AB2025-675 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 42:24
  25. 5. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a lease agreement between Whatcom County and Squalicum Mountain Holdings LLC to lease space on a radio tower on Squalicum Mountain, in the amount of $135,841 AB2025-683 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 42:24
  26. 6. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Northwest Educational Services District 189 to participate in the Youth Cannabis and Commercial Tobacco Prevention Program, in the amount of $12,000 AB2025-686 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 42:24
  27. 7. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Snohomish County to participate in the Youth Cannabis and Commercial Tobacco Prevention Program, in the amount of $45,000 AB2025-687 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 42:24
  28. 8. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and San Juan County to participate in the Youth Cannabis and Commercial Tobacco Prevention Program, in the amount of $29,000 AB2025-689 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 42:24
  29. 9. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a lease agreement amendment between Whatcom County and Lookout Mountain Holdings LLC to add equipment to the radio tower lease, in the amount of $36,269 AB2025-690 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 42:24
  30. 10. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement between Whatcom County and the Whatcom Land Trust to provide funding from the Conservation Futures Fund to fulfill requirements of the Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Whatcom Land Trust to acquire Phase 2 of the Stewart Mountain Community Forest, in the amount of $200,000 AB2025-691 ▶ jump to 42:24
  31. 11. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a lease agreement amendment between Whatcom County and SpectraSite Communications, LLC to add equipment to the radio tower lease, in the amount of $24,969 AB2025-692 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 42:24
  32. 12. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Washington Traffic Safety Commission for high visibility enforcement (HVE) traffic safety emphasis overtime patrols, in the amount of $28,000 AB2025-695 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 42:24
  33. 31 This item was considered separately below.
  34. 13. Resolution amending Resolution 2025-021 to designate the Chair of the Council Finance Committee as an Alternate Director to the Risk Pool Board of Directors AB2025-697 ▶ jump to 42:24
  35. 14. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Communications NorthWest to configure, install and provide point to point microwave network installations, in the amount of $159,224 AB2025-698 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 42:24
  36. 34 OTHER ITEMS ▶ jump to 46:25
  37. 35 (From Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee) ▶ jump to 47:12
  38. 35 This item was considered separately below.
  39. 1. Resolution receiving the Forest Resilience Plan submitted by the Forest Resilience Task Force AB2025-603 SUBSTITUTE APPROVED AS AMENDED Pass ▶ jump to 47:27
  40. 37 (No Committee Assignment) ▶ jump to 76:28
  41. 37 CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY ▶ jump to 42:23
  42. 2. Request for motion to appoint three Councilmembers to Joint Advisory Workgroup for Justice Project planning purposes AB2025-699 APPOINTED ▶ jump to 76:30
  43. 10. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement between Whatcom County and the Whatcom Land Trust to provide funding from the Conservation Futures Fund to fulfill requirements of the Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Whatcom Land Trust to acquire Phase 2 of the Stewart Mountain Community Forest, in the amount of $200,000 AB2025-691 AUTHORIZED Pass ▶ jump to 43:50
  44. 39 COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS ▶ jump to 93:29
  45. 13. Resolution amending Resolution 2025-021 to designate the Chair of the Council Finance Committee as an Alternate Director to the Risk Pool Board of Directors AB2025-697 TABLED Pass ▶ jump to 44:43
  46. 1. Appointment to a vacancy on the Forest Advisory Committee, harvester or silviculturist, Applicant(s): Shelby Beam AB2025-641 APPOINTED Pass ▶ jump to 94:19
  47. 41 CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS ▶ jump to 104:10
  48. 1. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Deon Wolfenbarger to the Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Commission AB2025-681 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 104:48
  49. 43 ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION ▶ jump to 114:42
  50. 43 Motion approved 7-0 to amend the third clause on page three to strike “including” and replace with “which may include” so that it reads: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that the Council receives Exhibit A, the Forest Resilience Plan, as submitted by the Forest Resilience Task Force as an initial draft, and commits to supporting ongoing work related to forest resilience in Whatcom County, which may include the provision of sufficient county staff support; and
  51. 1. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Ferndale Community Services to operate a severe weather shelter in Ferndale, in the amount of $145,993 AB2025-704 AUTHORIZED Pass ▶ jump to 115:15
  52. 44 Motion approved 7-0 to amend to accept the edits as proposed by legal (to the substitute version as amended in committee)
  53. 45 INTRODUCTION ITEMS ▶ jump to 115:52
  54. 45 Motion approved 7-0 to amend the main motion to add “Draft” to the Forest Resilience Plan document, to the legislative record, and to the Forest Resilience Task Force website
  55. 1. Ordinance amending the Countywide Planning Policies, which reside in Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Appendix C AB2025-637 INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass ▶ jump to 115:52
  56. 2. Resolution approving the Public Works Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the years 2026-2031 AB2025-672 INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass ▶ jump to 115:52
  57. 3. Resolution adopting the 2026 Annual Road Program AB2025-673 INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass ▶ jump to 115:52
  58. 48 Appointed Buchanan (7 votes), Galloway (7 votes), and Elenbaas (4 votes)
  59. 4. Receipt of report from Public Works Director AB2025-674 RECEIVED Pass ▶ jump to 115:52
  60. 5. Resolution adopting the 2026-2031 Six-Year Water Resources Improvement Program (WRIP) (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-676 ▶ jump to 115:52
  61. 6. Ordinance amending the project budget for the New Public Health, Safety and Justice Facility, request no. 9 AB2025-678 SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 115:52
  62. 7. Resolution amending the 2025 Flood Control Zone District and Subzones Budget, request no. 4, in the amount of $49,400 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-680 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 115:52
  63. 8. Ordinance establishing the Silver Lake Lagoon Project Fund and establishing an initial budget for the Silver Lake Lagoon Bridge Fund AB2025-682 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 115:52
  64. 9. Ordinance amending the 2025 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 11, in the amount of $517,671 AB2025-685 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 115:52
  65. 55 COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES ▶ jump to 121:44
  66. 56 ADJOURN ▶ jump to 154:17
  67. 61 This item was considered separately below.
  68. 66 INTRODUCTION ITEMS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY ▶ jump to 115:52
  69. 5. Resolution adopting the 2026-2031 Six-Year Water Resources Improvement Program (WRIP) (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-676 WITHDRAWN Pass ▶ jump to 119:15
  70. 68 This item was withdrawn from Introduction and will be scheduled for introduction at a future meeting.