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, June 23, 2026  
9:50 AM  
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers  
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 11:40 A.M.(PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON, SEE  
REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR  
CALL 360.778.5010); AGENDA REVISION 6.22.2026  
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  
AB2026-345  
1.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement  
between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Transportation  
for a radio tower lease, in the amount of $0  
AB2026-449  
2.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a interlocal agreement  
amendment between Whatcom County and the Port of Bellingham to lower the loan  
principal amount to $844,961.62, which reflects the actual amount dispersed and  
results in a total contract amount of $2,899,813  
AB2026-462  
AB2026-464  
3.  
4.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement  
between Whatcom County and the Washington State Criminal Justice Training  
Commission for a wellness grant, in the amount of $41,200  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement  
amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of  
Transportation for the renewal of youth zero fare policy, in the amount of $260,250  
for a total of $363,000  
AB2026-466  
AB2026-471  
AB2026-474  
5.  
6.  
7.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement  
between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Transportation  
to move forward with the design phase of the Everson Goshen Road and East Smith  
Road Intersection Improvements project, in the amount of $300,000  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a cooperative agreement  
between Whatcom County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the  
Bylsma Levee on the Nooksack River, in the amount of $133,160 (Council acting as  
the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a cooperative agreement  
between Whatcom County and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to repair  
the Ritter Road levee along the left bank of the Nooksack River, in the amount of  
$116,100 (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District  
Board of Supervisors)  
AB2026-477  
AB2026-481  
AB2026-482  
8.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment  
between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to provide basic needs items to  
families with children ages 0-5 who qualify, in the amount of $40,131 for a total  
amended contract amount of $151,192  
9.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between  
Whatcom County and Pioneer Human Services to deliver substance use disorder  
assessments and provide post-assessment treatment coordination as a component of  
re-entry for individuals released from jail, in the amount of $101,896  
10.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement  
amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Health Care Authority  
to decrease funding, due to state budget reductions, for the Alternative Response  
Team (ART) program grant, in the amount of $176,000, for a total amended  
agreement amount of $4,385,000  
AB2026-483  
11.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between  
Whatcom County and Washington Initiative for Supported Employment (WISE) to  
provide training and consultation to the County and local agencies related to  
improving employment outcomes and the inclusion of people with developmental  
disabilities in their communities, in the amount of $59,500  
AB2026-484  
AB2026-485  
12.  
13.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a Collective Bargaining  
Agreement between Whatcom County and the union representing Lummi Island ferry  
operations workers in the Public Works Department covering 2026 to 2028  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement  
between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Social and Health  
Services (DSHS) for funding for employment and community inclusion services for  
adults with developmental disabilities, child development services for children ages  
birth to three years, and community information and training, in the amount of  
$6,194,426  
Special Presentation  
AB2026-444  
1.  
Presentation from the Port of Bellingham on economic development activities in  
Whatcom County  
AB2026-469  
AB2026-487  
Report from the Superior Court Clerk’s Office  
2.  
3.  
Presentation by the Finance Division and Executive’s Office on the 2027-2028  
biennium budget process  
ITEM REMOVED 6.22.2026  
AB2026-495  
Update from Director Melissa Keeley on the Human Resources division  
4.  
Committee Discussion  
AB2026-459  
AB2026-479  
Discussion of the procurement process for hearing examiner services  
1.  
2.  
Discussion of a draft resolution requiring additional public notice of proposed  
Whatcom County Council action to increase taxes  
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council  
AB2026-442  
1.  
Ordinance amending the project budget for the 2015 Girard Street Building  
Improvement Fund, request no. 1  
AB2026-450  
2.  
Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 9, in the amount  
of $7,941,775  
Items Added by Revision  
Other Business  
Adjournment