COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Members of our community who require special assistance to participate in our
meetings are asked to contact our office at least 96 hours in advance.

As a courtesy to all meeting attendees,
cellular phone use is prohibited in the Council Chambers.

Accessible parking is available near the Courthouse south entrance.

Regular Council meetings are televised on BTV10, Comcast Channel 10,
at 7:00 p.m. on the two Wednesdays following each
Tuesday evening County Council meeting.

Please visit us at www.whatcomcounty.us for the following:
Regular Evening Council Meeting Audio
Council Office Email Policy
Current Council Agenda
Current Council Packet
Public Notices
1979 - Current Ordinances
1979 - Current Resolutions
1979 - Current Committee Minutes
1979 - Current Council Minutes

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS:

May 27, 2013
Holiday – Office Closed

June 3, 2013
Joint Lake Whatcom Policy Group
9:30 A.M., Municipal Court Fireplace Room, 625 Halleck Street, Bellingham

June 4, 2013
Regular Council and Committee Meetings
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham

June 11, 2013
Health Board Meeting
10:30 A.M., Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham

June 18, 2013
Regular Council and Committee Meetings
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham

COUNCIL COMMITTEE SCHEDULES

NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Members: Carl Weimer - Chair, Sam Crawford, Bill Knutzen
9:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham

Committee Discussion

1. Update on proposed Whatcom County Code Chapter 20.51 Lake Whatcom Watershed Overlay District; PLN2011-00015 (AB2013-102)
   

Other Business

COUNCIL FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE
Members: Ken Mann - Chair, Carl Weimer, Sam Crawford
11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham

Committee Discussion

1. Annual update from the Commission Against Domestic Violence (AB2013-168)
2. Annual presentation from the Washington Counties Risk Pool (AB2013-183)

Committee Discussion and Recommndations to Council

1. Ordinance amending the 2013 Whatcom County budget, sixth request, in the amount of $702,109 (AB2013-178)
2. Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 81-06, authorizing the Treasurer to establish a fund to be known as the Whatcom County Community Development Fund (AB2013-179)
3. Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2011-030, establishing a project based budget to fund Civic Center exterior repairs (AB2013-176)
4. Request authorization for the County Executive to award Bid No. 13-33 to the low bidder, Trimaxx Construction, Inc. for the Lower Canyon Creek Phase 2 Restoration Project, in the amount of $2,268,758.60 (AB2013-184) (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control District Board of Supervisors)

Council "Consent Agenda" Items

1. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and the Opportunity Council to provide rental assistance and administration of the Whatcom County Homeless Service Center, in the amount of $175,391, for a total amended contract in the amount of $1,958,096 (AB2013-185)

Other Business

SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
1:00 to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham

Committee Discussion

1. Discussion with Senior Deputy Prosecutor Karen Frakes regarding a draft ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Title 20, the official Whatcom County zoning maps, and the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and maps to implement changes related to rural land use planning (AB2013-180)
   [Discussion of this item will take place in executive session (closed to the public) pursuant to RCW42.30.110 (1) (i)]

Other Business

SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
1:30 to 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham

Committee Discussion

1. Discussion regarding a draft ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Title 20, the official Whatcom County zoning maps, and the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and maps to implement changes related to rural land use planning (AB2013-180) (initial hearing schedule for this evening)
   

Other Business

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Members: Barbara Brenner, Bill Knutzen - Chair, Ken Mann
3:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham

Committee Discussion

1. Discussion regarding a proposed ordinance amending the Whatcom County Code to allow packinghouses in the Agriculture Zoning District (AB2012-300B)
2. Discussion of Agriculture Strategic Plan implementation – agriculture area amendments (AB2013-128)

Other Business

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham

Committee Discussion

1. Strategy planning discussion and positions to be taken regarding collective bargaining (AB2013-018)
   [Discussion of this item may take place in executive session (closed to the public) pursuant to RCW42.30.140 (4) (a)]
   

Other Business

COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA and ACTION TAKEN

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
7:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham

CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL:

Councilmembers Present: Weimer, Knutzen, Mann, Kershner, Brenner, Kremen, Crawford
Absent: None

FLAG SALUTE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you will be handing out paperwork to councilmembers, please give one copy to the clerk for our office files. Thank you.

MINUTES CONSENT

1. Regular County Council for April 23, 2013 - Approved 7-0
2. Regular County Council for May 7, 2013 - Approved 7-0

SPECIAL PRESENTATION

1. County Executive Jack Louws to present the “State of the County” address (AB2013-018)
   Presented
2. County Executive Jack Louws to read a proclamation regarding Public Works Week (AB2013-018)
   Proclaimed
3. Annual and quarterly report to County Council on the local Behavioral Health Program Fund (formerly known as the Chemical Dependency and Mental Health Program Fund) (AB2013-186)
   Reported

PUBLIC HEARINGS
Audience membe/rs who wish to address the council during a public hearing are asked to sign up at the back of the room before the meeting begins. The council chair will ask those who have signed up to form a line at the podium. Each speaker should state his or her name for the record and will be given three minutes to address the council. Council staff will keep track of time limits and inform speakers when they have thirty seconds left to conclude their comments. When a large group of individuals supports the same position on an issue, we encourage the selection of one or two representatives to speak on behalf of the entire group.

1. Initial public hearing on a draft ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Title 20, the official Whatcom County zoning maps, and the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and maps to implement changes related to rural land use planning (AB2013-180)
   Public hearing held, ordinance amended and referred to Committee of the Whole on June 4, 2013. Written record open until 4:30 p.m. on May 31.

OPEN SESSION (20 MINUTES)
During open session, audience members can speak to the council on any issue not scheduled for public hearing or related to the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal project (GPT). Each speaker should state his or her name for the record and will be given three minutes to address the council. Council staff will keep track of time limits and inform speakers when they have thirty seconds left to conclude their comments.

CONSENT AGENDA
Items under this section of the agenda may be considered in a single motion. Councilmembers have received and studied background material on all items. Committee review has taken place on these items, as indicated. Any member of the public, administrative staff, or council may ask that an item be considered separately.

1. Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and the Opportunity Council to provide rental assistance and administration of the Whatcom County Homeless Service Center, in the amount of $175,391, for a total amended contract in the amount of $1,958,096 (AB2013-185)
   Approved Consent 7-0