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September 23, 2025 ·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 — 53 items

  1. 1 COUNTY COUNCIL
  2. 2 CALL TO ORDER ▶ jump to 0:46
  3. 3 ROLL CALL ▶ jump to 1:06
  4. 4 FLAG SALUTE ▶ jump to 1:31
  5. 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS ▶ jump to 1:54
  6. 6 COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT ▶ jump to 1:57
  7. 7 MINUTES CONSENT ▶ jump to 2:02
  8. 1. Special Council for August 26, 2025 MIN2025-054 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:01
  9. 2. Committee of the Whole Executive Session for September 9, 2025 MIN2025-055 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:01
  10. 3. Committee of the Whole September 9, 2025 MIN2025-056 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:01
  11. 4. Regular County Council for September 9, 2025 MIN2025-057 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 2:01
  12. 12 OPEN SESSION ▶ jump to 2:31
  13. 13 CONSENT AGENDA ▶ jump to 52:18
  14. 14 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee) ▶ jump to 52:19
  15. 1. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham for the purpose of providing pass-through funding from the Washington State Military Department to the What-Comm 911 Communications Center, in the amount of $74,045 AB2025-595 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 52:19
  16. 2. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Ecology to collect and properly manage household hazardous waste at the Disposal of Toxics Facility, in the amount of $542,845 AB2025-647 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 52:19
  17. 3. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Ecology to enforce solid waste codes and monitor solid waste handling facilities for compliance, in the amount of $237,068 AB2025-648 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 52:19
  18. 4. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a grant agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Commerce for climate planning, in the amount of $283,000 AB2025-649 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 52:19
  19. 5. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a grant agreement between Whatcom County and the Puget Sound Partnership for coordination of the Whatcom Local Integrating Organization, in the amount of $443,750 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-650 ▶ jump to 52:19
  20. 6. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a joint funding agreement between Whatcom County and the United States Department of Interior Geological Survey for stream flow or water quality data collection at ten Nooksack watershed stream gages, in the amount of $127,940 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-651 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 52:19
  21. 20 This item was considered separately below.
  22. 7. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Ecology to perform vegetation maintenance at various riparian and wetland mitigation sites, in the amount of $109,340 AB2025-652 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 52:19
  23. 8. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and United States Geological Survey (USGS) for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the County’s 11 stream gages within the Nooksack River early warning system, Jones Creek, and the Sumas River, in the amount of $176,455 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-653 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 52:19
  24. 9. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Administrative Office of the Courts to support the Interpreter Reimbursement Program, in the amount of $102,171 AB2025-655 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 52:19
  25. 10. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Summit Food Service to provide commissary services in the Whatcom County Jail and Work Center, in the amount of $0 AB2025-658 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 52:19
  26. 11. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Harris Engineers for the purpose of Clean Building Performance Assurance Services for Whatcom County Facilities, in the amount of $449,882.29 AB2025-662 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 52:19
  27. 26 OTHER ITEMS ▶ jump to 54:47
  28. 27 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee) ▶ jump to 54:49
  29. 27 CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDERED SEPARATELY ▶ jump to 52:18
  30. 1. Resolution amending the 2025 Flood Control Zone District and Subzones Budget, Request no. 3, in the amount of $105,000 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-608 APPROVED Pass ▶ jump to 55:16
  31. 5. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a grant agreement between Whatcom County and the Puget Sound Partnership for coordination of the Whatcom Local Integrating Organization, in the amount of $443,750 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors) AB2025-650 AUTHORIZED Pass ▶ jump to 53:55
  32. 2. Ordinance establishing a project-based budget for the Jail Reentry Improvements project AB2025-614 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 56:04
  33. 3. Ordinance amending the 2025 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 10, in the amount of $1,820,416 AB2025-628 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 56:34
  34. 31 (From Council Public Works and Health Committee) ▶ jump to 60:36
  35. 4. Resolution relating to the 2025 Whatcom County Coordinated Water System Plan Update AB2025-640 SUBSTITUTE APPROVED AS AMENDED Pass ▶ jump to 84:25
  36. 33 (From Council Planning and Development Committee) ▶ jump to 84:46
  37. 5. Resolution approving a revision to the corporate boundaries of the City of Lynden to include a portion of Flynn Road right-of-way AB2025-579 APPROVED Pass ▶ jump to 85:17
  38. 35 (No Committee Assignment) ▶ jump to 86:14
  39. 6. Approval of special standing meeting dates for 2026 AB2025-585 APPROVED BY THE COUNCILMEMBERS AS AMENDED Pass ▶ jump to 86:38
  40. 36 Motion approved 6-0, with Donovan abstaining, to amend the substitute to add a final whereas statement as follows: Whereas, Whatcom County expressly recognizes that municipal water purveyors who hold municipal water rights beyond those identified in the CWSP may be available to serve potable water in the future in Whatcom County;
  41. 37 CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS ▶ jump to 114:17
  42. 37 Motion approved 6-0, with Donovan abstaining, to amend condition 2 under NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED so that it reads: 2) The existence of a water service area designation in the Coordinated Water System Plan shall not be interpreted as support for, or justification of, Urban Growth Area expansion. Such designations may be considered in a comprehensive planning context but only in conjunction with other mandatory Growth Management Act criteria, including population forecasts, land capacity, environmental constraints, Page 3 and capital facility planning.
  43. 1. Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Andrew Davis to the Whatcom County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) AB2025-659 CONFIRMED Pass ▶ jump to 114:42
  44. 39 ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION ▶ jump to 115:12
  45. 40 INTRODUCTION ITEMS ▶ jump to 115:14
  46. 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 INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass ▶ jump to 115:13
  47. 2. Receipt of final report of the independent study of the countywide fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system from Mission Critical Partners AB2025-639 RECEIVED Pass ▶ jump to 115:13
  48. 42 Motion approved 6-0, with Byrd abstaining, to amend to have the Special Committee of the Whole meetings from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  49. 3. Receipt of Harassment and Complaint Policies and Procedures Evaluation Final Report AB2025-664 RECEIVED Pass ▶ jump to 115:13
  50. 44 COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES ▶ jump to 117:10
  51. 45 ADJOURN ▶ jump to 149:49
  52. 48 The Revised Substitute (“Substitute Ordinance revised in committee 9.23.2025”) was introduced 7-0
  53. 52 Motion approved 5-1-1, with Scanlon opposed and Byrd abstaining, that Tyler Byrd is the only one that gives a councilmember update tonight and the rest of them wait for two weeks.