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

instructions on remote participation, visit www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil.

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. For

more information, visit www.whatcomcounty.us/1585 or contact the Council Office at 360-778-5010.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT

MINUTES CONSENT

Special Council for May 5, 2026

Special Committee of the Whole for May 5, 2026

Committee of Whole for May 12, 2026

Regular County Council for May 12, 2026

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 remotely,

please visit www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil and register for a Zoom link by 4 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)

AB2026-368

AB2026-381

AB2026-382

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between

Whatcom County and EKS Evaluation Consulting to develop a comprehensive

evaluation plan for the five key Response Systems Division programs within Whatcom

County Health and Community Services, in the amount of $83,150

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement

between Whatcom County and Bellingham Police Department for a commitment of

funding from the Bellingham Police Department to maintain operations of the

Alternative Response Team Program, in the amount of $688,760

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement

amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of

Commerce to increase funding for the Consolidated Homeless Grant, which supports

the priorities outlined in the Whatcom County Plan to End Homelessness, in the

amount of $1,546,981 for a total amended agreement amount of $20,366,072

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment

between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Health to provide

funding for various public health programs, in the amount of $57,008 for a total

amended contract amount of $11,286,805

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between

Whatcom County and Kulshan Community Land Trust to provide eighteen units of

permanently affordable homeownership units for households earning less than 80%

Area Median Income, in the amount of $394,012.06

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between

Whatcom County and Shea, Carr & Jewell, Inc. dba SCJ Alliance to provide flood

mitigation planning for the City of Sumas, in the amount of $274,981.33 (Council

acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a grant agreement

between Whatcom County and the Washington State Military Department for the

elevation of sixteen structures in flood-prone areas, in the amount of $4,156,725

(Council acting as the Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment

between Whatcom County and Herrera Environmental Consultants to support the

next phase of Lower Nooksack River Floodplain Integrated Planning, in the amount

of $1,250,229 for a total contract amount of $4,248,598 (Council acting as the

Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)

AB2026-393

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between

Whatcom County and Lake Whatcom Residential Treatment Center to support the

development of 37 units of affordable rentals for adults with behavioral health needs,

including 11 units dedicated to Trueblood Class Members, in the amount of

$3,087,940

10.

11.

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Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an amended agreement

between Whatcom County and the Administrative Office of the Courts for

reimbursement of costs related to water adjudication, in the amended amount of

$2,538,200

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement

between Whatcom County and the Washington State Military Department to enhance

security and preparedness for the 2026 International Federation of Association

Football (FIFA) World Cup events, in the amount of $62,963

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between

Whatcom County and the SeattleFWC26 to enhance security and preparedness for

the 2026 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup events,

in the amount of $97,556

Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment

between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham to clarify eligible construction

reimbursement methods for the Bear Creek Corridor Mitigation Bank Project in the

amount of $0, for a total amended contract amount of $1,000,000

OTHER ITEMS

(From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee)

Ordinance increasing the Petty Cash Revolving Fund for the Parks and Recreation

Department, in the amount of $500

Ordinance amending the project budget for the Austin Court Stormwater

Improvement Project Fund, request no. 1

Ordinance amending the project budget for the North Commercial Street Acquisition,

request no. 1

Ordinance amending the project budget for the New Public Health, Safety and Justice

Facility, request no. 11

Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 8, in the amount

of $8,914,924

Resolution amending the 2026 Flood Control Zone District and Subzones Budget,

request no. 3, in the amount of $34,964 (Council acting as the Whatcom County

Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)

AB2026-374

AB2026-379

Ordinance amending the project based budget for the Lummi Nation Ferry Lease

Fund-3901, request no. 1

Ordinance amending the project budget for the Central Shop National Pollutant

Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Improvements Project Fund,

request no. 2

AB2026-402

Resolution appointing the County Treasurer and Finance Director as the county

representatives authorized to designate certain expenditures for reimbursement from

future tax-exempt obligations

(From Council Public Works and Health Committee)

AB2026-389

10.

Resolution establishing the existing Whatcom County Ferry Advisory Committee as

the Ferry Advisory Committee for the Ferry District [Council acting as the Whatcom

County Ferry District Board of Supervisors]

(From Council Committee of the Whole)

AB2026-390

11.

Resolution regarding greenhouse gas reduction sub-element voluntary review as part

of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan periodic update under the Washington

State Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.096)

ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION

AB2026-418

Request for motion to support modifying the Flood District Fund reserve policy to

allow for levee repairs

ITEM ADDED 5.22.2026

COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES

ADJOURN