Whatcom County  
Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee  
COUNTY COURTHOUSE  
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105  
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038  
(360) 778-5010  
Meeting Agenda  
Tuesday, April 14, 2026  
8:45 AM  
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers  
HYBRID MEETING - MAY BEGIN LATE - ADJOURNS BY 9:45 A.M.  
(PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT  
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 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  
Call To Order  
Roll Call  
Announcements  
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. This committee meeting is  
also noticed as a meeting of the Whatcom County Council, with the agenda limited to committee  
business.  
Council "Consent Agenda" Items  
AB2026-253  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between  
Whatcom County and BEA Environmental, LLC to develop and implement a  
Source Control Business Inspection Program, in the amount of $89,950  
1.  
AB2026-256  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract  
amendment between Whatcom County and Bellingham Food Bank to purchase  
and distribute diapers, wipes, infant formula, and food to low-income families  
with children in the amount of $636,305, for a total amended contract amount of  
$1,503,993  
2.  
AB2026-260  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal  
agreement between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of  
Ecology to administer and enforce the well sealing, tagging, and  
decommissioning portions of the water well construction regulations, in the  
estimated amount of $13,500 annually  
3.  
AB2026-269  
AB2026-270  
AB2026-277  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between  
Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to administer rental assistance to  
eligible individuals who are involved in the criminal legal system and in  
recovery from a substance use disorder, in the amount of $79,090  
4.  
5.  
6.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between  
Whatcom County and the Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham to fund  
capital expenses for the development of the Samish Commons Early Learning  
Center, in the amount of $851,350  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal grant  
agreement between Whatcom County and the Department of Ecology to provide  
funding to advance the planning work necessary to evaluate and implement  
flood mitigation alternatives for the Lower Nooksack River and the  
Everson-Sumas overflow corridor, in the amount of $2,738,000 (Council acting  
as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)  
AB2026-294  
AB2026-299  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal  
agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of  
Transportation to execute a Federal Aid Project Prospectus to obligate federal  
Ferry Boat Program funds for the Lummi Island Ferry operating costs, in the  
amount of $1,920,916  
7.  
8.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal  
agreement between Whatcom County and City of Bellingham for U.S.  
Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant FY25,  
in the amount of $11,812  
Committee Discussion  
AB2026-278  
Discussion regarding options and budget implications for a proposed sales and  
use tax of one-tenth of one percent for criminal justice purposes  
1.  
RELATED FILES ON COUNCIL AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION  
(PUBLIC HEARING, OTHER ITEMS AND INTRODUCTION)  
AB2026-210  
AB2026-283  
Discussion regarding an ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County  
Budget, request no. 7, in the amount of $23,290,457  
2.  
3.  
ON COUNCIL AGENDA FOR INTRODUCTION (SEE AB2026-209)  
Discussion regarding a proposed resolution to declare Whatcom County Flood  
Control Zone District personal property, a single family house, as surplus and  
approve sale (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone  
District Board of Supervisors)  
ON COUNCIL AGENDA FOR INTRODUCTION (SEE AB2026-282)  
AB2026-285  
AB2026-287  
AB2026-293  
AB2026-296  
Discussion regarding a proposed resolution declaring Whatcom County Flood  
Control Zone District personal property as surplus and approve sale (Council  
acting as Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)  
4.  
5.  
6.  
7.  
ON COUNCIL AGENDA FOR INTRODUCTION (SEE AB2026-284)  
Discussion regarding a proposed resolution declaring Whatcom County Flood  
Control Zone District personal property as surplus and approve sale (Council  
acting as Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors  
ON COUNCIL AGENDA FOR INTRODUCTION (SEE AB2026-286)  
Discussion regarding a resolution amending the 2026 Flood Control Zone  
District and Subzones Budget, request no. 1, in the amount of $23,406 (Council  
acting as Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)  
ON COUNCIL AGENDA FOR INTRODUCTION (SEE AB2026-292)  
Discussion regarding a resolution authorizing the submission of three  
independent grant applications to the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board  
to restore fish passage at the Black Slough and Homesteader culverts and to  
complete the final design and permitting of the Tinling Creek culvert project  
(Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of  
Supervisors)  
ON COUNCIL AGENDA FOR INTRODUCTION (SEE AB2026-295)  
Items Added by Revision  
Other Business  
Adjournment