Whatcom County  
Council  
COUNTY COURTHOUSE  
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105  
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038  
(360) 778-5010  
Meeting Agenda  
Tuesday, July 14, 2026  
6 PM  
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers  
HYBRID MEETING (PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN  
360.778.5010)  
COUNCILMEMBERS  
Elizabeth Boyle  
Barry Buchanan  
Ben Elenbaas  
Kaylee Galloway  
Jessica Rienstra  
Jon Scanlon  
Mark Stremler  
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL  
Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC  
COUNTY COUNCIL  
CALL TO ORDER  
ROLL CALL  
FLAG SALUTE  
ANNOUNCEMENTS  
Council meetings are held in a hybrid format with in-person and remote participation available. For  
If you require special assistance to participate, please contact the Council Office at 360-778-5010 at  
least 96 hours in advance. Assistive listening devices are available in Council Chambers, and live  
captions are available through Zoom for those participating remotely.  
Per RCW 42.17A.555, the use of public facilities to support or oppose candidates or ballot issues is  
prohibited.  
The County is accepting applications to fill vacancies on advisory groups for a range of local issues.  
360-778-5010.  
COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT  
MINUTES CONSENT  
Regular County Council for June 9, 2026  
Committee of the Whole for June 9, 2026  
Committee of the Whole Executive Session for June 23, 2026  
Committee of the Whole for June 23, 2026  
Regular County Council for June 23, 2026  
Special Committee of the Whole for June 16, 2026  
Special Council for June 30, 2026  
1.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
5.  
6.  
7.  
PUBLIC HEARINGS (COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PERIODIC UPDATE)  
Council offers in-person and remote participation in Public Hearings. If you are attending the  
meeting in person, Public Hearing sign-up sheets will be available in Council Chambers. To  
link by 4 p.m. the day of the meeting. Speakers are given three minutes to address the Council and  
are asked to state their name for the record. Those participating on-site in Council Chambers will  
speak first, followed by those who registered to speak remotely. Per RCW 42.17A.555, the use of  
public facilities to support or oppose candidates or ballot issues is prohibited.  
The following public hearing items regarding the comprehensive plan periodic update required by  
the Growth Management Act (Chapter 36.70A RCW) will be combined into one public hearing.  
Members of the public will have 3 minutes to speak once on all items on the combined public hearing  
on the comprehensive plan periodic update (items 1-3).  
Ordinance adopting amendments to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan  
and Foothills Subarea Plan for the Growth Management Act Periodic Review  
and Update (for concurrent review with other Comprehensive Plan amendment  
proposals)  
1.  
2.  
3.  
Ordinance adopting amendments to Whatcom County Code Title 20, Zoning,  
under the 2025-2026 periodic update of the Whatcom County Comprehensive  
Plan and Development Regulations, pursuant to the Growth Management Act  
(for concurrent review with other Comprehensive Plan amendment proposals)  
Ordinance amending the official Whatcom County Zoning Map under the  
2025-2026 Periodic Update of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan under  
the Growth Management Act (for concurrent review with other Comprehensive  
Plan amendment proposals)  
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PERIODIC UPDATE - CONCURRENT REVIEW  
Council will act concurrently on items 1-3 regarding the comprehensive plan periodic update  
required by the Growth Management Act (Chapter 36.70A RCW) .  
Ordinance adopting amendments to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan  
and Foothills Subarea Plan for the Growth Management Act Periodic Review  
and Update (for concurrent review with other Comprehensive Plan amendment  
proposals)  
1.  
2.  
3.  
Ordinance adopting amendments to Whatcom County Code Title 20, Zoning,  
under the 2025-2026 periodic update of the Whatcom County Comprehensive  
Plan and Development Regulations, pursuant to the Growth Management Act  
(for concurrent review with other Comprehensive Plan amendment proposals)  
Ordinance amending the official Whatcom County Zoning Map under the  
2025-2026 Periodic Update of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan under  
the Growth Management Act (for concurrent review with other Comprehensive  
Plan amendment proposals)  
OPEN SESSION  
Council offers in-person and remote participation in Open Session. If you are attending the meeting  
in person, Open Session sign-up sheets will be available in Council Chambers. To participate  
p.m. the day of the meeting. Open Session is an opportunity to address Council on issues not  
scheduled for a public hearing. Speakers are given three minutes to speak and are asked to state  
their name for the record. Those participating on-site in Council Chambers will speak first, followed  
by those who registered to speak remotely. Per RCW 42.17A.555, the use of public facilities to  
support or oppose candidates or ballot issues is prohibited.  
Per RCW 42.36.060, councilmembers are prohibited from engaging in ex parte communications in  
matters where the Council determines the legal rights, duties, or privileges of specific parties in a  
hearing or other contested case proceeding. Council serves in a quasi-judicial role as a  
decision-maker on major project permits, which cannot be discussed by members of the public at  
Council meetings. Examples of major project permits that cannot be discussed at Council meetings  
include LSS2024-00001 R and R Acres Long Subdivision and Development Agreement,  
LSS2022-00001 Red Mountain Long Subdivision and Development Agreement, and MPP2024-00002  
ALA Energy, Ferndale Terminal Existing and Planned Improvements.  
CONSENT AGENDA  
Consent agenda items may be considered in a single motion. Councilmembers have received  
background material on all items, and committee review has taken place as indicated. Any member  
of the public, administrative staff, or Council may ask that an item be considered separately.  
(From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee)  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal  
agreement between Whatcom County and City of Bellingham Police  
Department to maintain munitions inventory at the Whatcom County Central  
Shop, in the amount of $0  
1.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract  
amendment between Whatcom County and Status Electrical Corporation to  
provide technical support for the security electronics at the juvenile detention  
facility, main jail, jail work center, and facilities management, in the amount of  
$69,442 for a total amended contract amount of $253,615  
2.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal  
agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Military  
Department for reimbursement of expenses resulting from the winter weather in  
December 2025, in an amount to be determined  
3.  
4.  
5.  
6.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a grant agreement  
between Whatcom County and WA Department of Ecology to restore Olympia  
oysters in North Chuckanut Bay, in the amount of $50,000 (Council acting as  
the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal  
cooperative purchasing agreement with the Whatcom County Rural Library  
District (WCLS) to allow reciprocal utilization of competitively bid contracts,  
pursuant to RCW Chapter 39.34 Interlocal Cooperation Act  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a grant agreement  
between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Commerce  
to increase funding for flood mitigation planning in Sumas, Nooksack, and  
Everson, in the amount of $207,400 for a total amended amount of $1,517,400  
(Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of  
Supervisors)  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal grant  
agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of  
Ecology to provide Floodplains by Design funding to build upon existing  
Floodplain Integrated Planning efforts to reduce flood hazard, increase flood  
resiliency, and improve habitat, in the amount of $10,000,000 (Council acting as  
the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)  
7.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal  
agreement between Whatcom County and the University of Washington for  
completion of Phase 2 sediment work near Everson and evaluating alternatives  
proposed as part of the Widen the Corridor project, in the amount of $209,814  
(Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of  
Supervisors)  
8.  
9.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal  
agreement amendment between Whatcom County and United States Geological  
Survey (USGS) for the continued purpose of sediment modeling on the lower  
Nooksack River, in the amount of $60,000 for a total agreement amount of  
$295,050 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District  
Board of Supervisors)  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between  
Whatcom County and the Washington State Office of Public Defense regarding  
Chapter 10.101 RCW, Indigent Defense Services, in the amount of $435,995  
10.  
11.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement  
between Whatcom County and the Administrative Office of the Courts for  
reimbursements of costs related to the Uniform Guardianship Act, in the amount  
of $89,144  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement  
between Whatcom County and the Administrative Office of the Courts for  
reimbursements of costs related to the Family and Juvenile Court Improvement  
Program, in the amount of $122,250  
12.  
13.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal  
agreement between Whatcom County and the U.S. Department of Agriculture  
Forest Service for funding for a deputy to patrol Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie  
National Forest lands in the amount of $56,760  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement  
between Whatcom County and the Administrative Office of the Courts for  
reimbursement of costs related to BECCA programs, in the amount of $232,776  
14.  
15.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract  
amendment between Whatcom County and Mobile Mama Strategies Inc. to  
provide perinatal mental health services to vulnerable families through  
continuation of a mental health workforce pilot project, in the amount of  
$199,000 for a total amended contract amount of $496,335  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal  
agreement amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State  
Department of Health (DOH) to increase funding for the 2025-2027  
Consolidated Contract Grant, which supports the delivery and funding of  
various public health services in Whatcom County, in the amount of $3,521,984  
for a total amended agreement amount of $14,856,181  
16.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between  
Whatcom County and Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center to provide conflict  
resolution workshops for youth, in the amount of $35,000  
17.  
18.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal  
agreement between Whatcom County and Washington State Military for  
Operation Stonegarden FY25, in the amount of $170,625  
OTHER ITEMS  
(From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee)  
Resolution requiring additional public notice of proposed Whatcom County  
Council action to increase taxes  
1.  
2.  
Resolution regarding authorization for application to Public Works Board  
funding for the Lummi Island Ferry Replacement and System Modernization  
Project  
Resolution designating the revenue distribution from forest service payments  
3.  
COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS  
Appointment to a vacancy on the Business and Commerce Advisory  
Committee, childcare position, Applicant(s): Courtney Whitaker, Kristine  
Wilson  
1.  
ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION  
INTRODUCTION ITEMS  
Council action will not be taken. The council may accept these items for introduction (no action) in a  
single motion. Changes, in terms of committee assignment for example, may be made at this time.  
Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 24.03, Food Service Rules and  
Regulations (Council acting as the Health Board)  
1.  
2.  
Resolution amending the 2026 Flood Control Zone District and Subzones  
Budget, request no. 4, in the amount of $34,830 (Council acting as the  
Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)  
Ordinance declaring public necessity for and the authorization to acquire certain  
property rights by eminent domain for the Birch Bay Lynden Road and Blaine  
Road Intersection Improvements Project  
3.  
Resolution establishing a new Whatcom County Ferry District Fund (Council  
acting as the Whatcom County Ferry District Board of Supervisors)  
4.  
5.  
Resolution establishing an intial budget for the Whatcom County Ferry District  
in the amount of $5.2 million (Council acting as the Whatcom County Ferry  
District Board of Supervisors)  
Resolution establishing an initial budget level for the Whatcom County Ferry  
District in the amount of $4.2 million (Council acting as the Whatcom County  
Ferry District Board of Supervisors)  
6.  
Ordinance adding the Ferry District Funds and Board of Supervisors to  
Whatcom County Code 10.34 Ferry Rates  
7.  
8.  
Ordinance adding the Ferry District Funds and Board of Supervisors to  
Whatcom County Code 10.36.060, Ferry Multi-Ride Cards and Quarterly  
Passes, Replacement Appeal Procedure  
Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 16.20, Whatcom County Shellfish  
Protection Districts  
9.  
Ordinance closing the Central Plaza Tenant Improvement Fund  
10.  
11.  
Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 10, in the  
amount of $252,250  
COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES  
ADJOURN