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July 22, 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 — 66 items

  1. 1 COUNTY COUNCIL ▶ jump to 0:01
  2. 2 CALL TO ORDER ▶ jump to 0:44
  3. 3 ROLL CALL ▶ jump to 0:56
  4. 4 FLAG SALUTE ▶ jump to 1:09
  5. 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS ▶ jump to 1:29
  6. 6 COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT ▶ jump to 1:38
  7. 7 MINUTES CONSENT ▶ jump to 1:39
  8. 1. Special Committee of the Whole for June 3, 2025 MIN2025-041 APPROVED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 1:51
  9. 9 PUBLIC HEARINGS ▶ jump to 2:06
  10. 1. Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code section 10.04.095 to establish 20 mph school speed zones on Bennett Drive and Alderwood Avenue for Alderwood Elementary School AB2025-482 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 3:29
  11. 11 OPEN SESSION ▶ jump to 7:39
  12. 12 CONSENT AGENDA ▶ jump to 37:06
  13. 13 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee) ▶ jump to 37:08
  14. 1. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Tacoma Pierce County Health Department to support the Provider Resources Website as a shared service between local health jurisdictions, in the amount of $0 AB2025-511 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 37:08
  15. 2. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement amendment between Whatcom County and Lookout Mountain Holdings LLC to extend the performance period of the radio tower lease for an additional five years at a cost of $57,084.73, for a total amended contract amount of $111,084.73 AB2025-519 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 37:08
  16. 3. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement between Whatcom County and Akin for services related to the Parents for Parents (P4P) program, in the amount of $112,757 AB2025-520 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 37:08
  17. 4. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and RE Sources to improve and expand the commercial recycling infrastructure in Whatcom County, in the amount of $92,059 AB2025-521 ▶ jump to 37:08
  18. 5. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and San Juan Cruises to provide temporary passenger ferry service to and from Lummi Island during the 2026 dry dock period, in the amount of $118,809.60 AB2025-522 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 37:08
  19. 18 THIS ITEM WAS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY BELOW
  20. 6. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement amendment between Whatcom County and the Mount Baker School District to extend the performance period of a radio tower lease for an additional five years at a cost of $0, for a total amended contract amount of $0 AB2025-523 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 37:08
  21. 7. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an Interlocal Agreement between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Transportation, for the Whatcom County Ferry with a Youth Zero Fare Policy, in the amount of $68,500 AB2025-525 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 37:08
  22. 8. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an Interlocal Agreement between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Transportation, renewing the operating deficit agreement for the Whatcom County Ferry AB2025-526 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 37:08
  23. 9. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Commerce to provide resources to fund homelessness crisis response systems, in the amount of $18,819,091 AB2025-527 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 37:08
  24. 10. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization to provide behavioral health services within the North Sound Integrated Care Network in the amount of $469,534, for a total amended contract amount of $3,494,669 AB2025-528 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 37:08
  25. 11. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the Blaine Birch Bay Park and Recreation District No. 2 for usage of the gymnasium at Bay Horizon Park for recreational programming AB2025-530 AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT Pass ▶ jump to 37:08
  26. 25 OTHER ITEMS ▶ jump to 39:19
  27. 26 (From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee) ▶ jump to 39:20
  28. 26 CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDERED SEPARATELY ▶ jump to 37:06
  29. 1. Ordinance amending the project budget for the Birch Bay-Lynden Road and Blaine Road Intersection Improvements Fund; CRP #906001, request no. 1 AB2025-488 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 39:39
  30. 4. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and RE Sources to improve and expand the commercial recycling infrastructure in Whatcom County, in the amount of $92,059 AB2025-521 AUTHORIZED Pass ▶ jump to 38:33
  31. 2. Ordinance amending the project budget for the E. Smith/Hannegan Road Intersection Improvements Fund, request no. 4 AB2025-492 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 40:12
  32. 3. Ordinance amending the project budget for the Lummi Island Ferry Replacement and System Modernization Fund, request no. 1 AB2025-494 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 40:55
  33. 4. Ordinance amending the project budget for the New Public Health, Safety and Justice Facility, request no. 8 AB2025-498 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 41:30
  34. 5. Ordinance amending the 2025 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 8, in the amount of $3,548,146 AB2025-502 ADOPTED Pass ▶ jump to 42:08
  35. 32 (From Council Planning and Development Committee) ▶ jump to 43:19
  36. 6. Resolution amending Resolution 2024-021 to update Business Rules of the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner to approve clarifying changes promulgated by the Hearing Examiner AB2025-539 HELD IN COUNCIL Pass ▶ jump to 43:41
  37. 34 (No Committee Assignment) ▶ jump to 46:56
  38. 7. Receipt of the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission’s proposed amendments to Whatcom County voters and submittal to the Auditor AB2025-507 DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED ▶ jump to 46:58
  39. 36 COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES ▶ jump to 65:47
  40. 1. Appointment of pro and con committees to write statements for the local voters’ pamphlet on charter amendments proposed by the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission AB2025-515 APPOINTED ▶ jump to 65:48
  41. 37 Motion approved 7-0 to hold the substitute resolution (in Council) until September 9 for a public hearing.
  42. 38 ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION ▶ jump to 105:12
  43. 39 INTRODUCTION ITEMS ▶ jump to 105:13
  44. 1. Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Title 22 to clarify the roles and duties of participants in the Hearing Examiner process AB2025-537 SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass ▶ jump to 107:00
  45. 40 Motion carried 7-0 to approve receiving and submitting to the Auditor the Charter Review Amendments as described in AB2025-507.
  46. 2. Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Section 2.11 to clarify the authority of the Hearing Examiner AB2025-538 SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Pass ▶ jump to 107:53
  47. 3. Appointment to a vacancy on the Forest Advisory Committee, position for a forest product manufacturer representing a sawmill that receives wood from Whatcom County, Applicant(s): Adam Ellsworth AB2025-518 INTRODUCED Pass ▶ jump to 110:24
  48. 43 COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES ▶ jump to 111:20
  49. 43 SEE VOTING SHEET ATTACHED TO THE ACTION SUMMARY
  50. 44 ADJOURN ▶ jump to 139:34
  51. 44 Motion approved 5-1, with Stremler opposed and Elenbaas abstaining, to accept late applications.
  52. 45 PROPOSITION 1: The Council appointed Andrew Reding, Lindsey Elenbaas, and Hannah Ordos to the pro statement committee and Jon Mutchler to the con statement committee.
  53. 46 PROPOSITION 2: The Council appointed Brian Estes, Colton Kaltenfeldt, and JG Sandy Phillips to the pro statement committee and Lindsey Elenbaas, Ashley Butenschoen, and Hannah Ordos to the con statement committee.
  54. 47 PROPOSITION 3: The Council appointed Colton Kaltenfeldt, Joel Pitts-Jordan, and Jessica Rienstra to the pro statement committee and there were no applicants for the con statement committee.
  55. 48 PROPOSITION 4: The Council appointed Lane Davis Coury to the pro statement committee and there were no applicants for the con statement committee.
  56. 49 PROPOSITION 5: The Council appointed Lane Davis Coury, Joel Pitts-Jordan, and Eamonn Collins to the pro statement committee and there were no applicants for the con statement committee.
  57. 50 PROPOSITION 6: The Council appointed Greg Thames to the pro statement committee and Andrew Reding to the con statement committee.
  58. 51 PROPOSITION 7: The Council appointed JG Sandy Phillips, Lindsey Elenbaas, Ashley Butenschoen to the pro statement committee and Ray Deck III, Anne Marie Faiola, and Emily O’Connor to the con statement committee.
  59. 52 PROPOSITION 8: The Council appointed Joel Pitts-Jordan, Lindsey Elenbaas, and Eamonn Collins to the pro statement committee and there were no applicants for the con statement committee.
  60. 53 PROPOSITION 9: The Council appointed Joel Pitts-Jordan, Lindsey Elenbaas, and Hannah Ordos to the pro statement committee and there were no applicants for the con statement committee.
  61. 54 PROPOSITION 10: The Council appointed Jon Mutchler, Greg Thames, and Lane Davis Coury to the pro statement committee and there were no applicants for the con statement committee.
  62. 55 PROPOSITION 11: The Council appointed JG Sandy Phillips to the pro statement committee and Ashley Butenschoen and Hannah Ordos to the con statement committee.
  63. 56 PROPOSITION 12: The Council appointed Brian Estes, Lindsey Elenbaas, and R. Perry Eskridge to the pro statement committee and there were no applicants for the con statement committee.
  64. 60 MOTION SUMMARY: Motion approved 7-0 to introduce the substitute ordinance and schedule the item for a public hearing on September 9th.
  65. 62 MOTION SUMMARY: Motion approved 7-0 to introduce the substitute ordinance and schedule the item for a public hearing on September 9th.
  66. 65 MOTION SUMMARY: Motion approved 7-0 to request that the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force provide Council with recommendations to inform both short- and long-term decisions about jail capacity, diversion, and system investments.