Whatcom County

Council

COUNTY COURTHOUSE

311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105

Bellingham, WA 98225-4038

(360) 778-5010

Minutes - Final

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

6 PM

Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers

HYBRID MEETING (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

COUNTY COUNCIL

CALL TO ORDER

Council Chair Kaylee Galloway called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. in a

hybrid meeting.

ROLL CALL

7 -

Present:

Elizabeth Boyle, Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jessica

Rienstra, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler

FLAG SALUTE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S REPORT

There was no report.

MINUTES CONSENT

Buchanan moved to accept the minutes consent items. The motion was

seconded by Scanlon (see votes on individual items below).

MIN2026-018 Special Council - Councilmember Retreat for February 17, 2026

Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Minutes Consent be

APPROVED BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

MIN2026-019 Committee of the Whole Executive Session for February 24, 2026

Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Minutes Consent be

APPROVED BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

MIN2026-020 Committee of the Whole for February 24, 2026

Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Minutes Consent be

APPROVED BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

MIN2026-021 Special Committee of the Whole for February 3, 2026

Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Minutes Consent be

APPROVED BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

MIN2026-022 Regular County Council for February 24, 2026

Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Minutes Consent be

APPROVED BY CONSENT. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

OPEN SESSION

The following people spoke:

Michelle Genovese

Jeremy Thompson

Peter Condyles

Helen Solem

Craig Zimmerman

David Parsons

Ignacio Cariaga

Stephanie Anderson

Bill Craven

Cynthia Sue Ripke-Kutsagoitz

Lisa Adam

Brian Heinrich

Lesley Cooke

Brian Gass

Ryan Bowman

Lyle Sorenson

Darcy Jones

Markis Dee

Natalie Chavez

Perry Eskridge

JoEll Snyder

Hearing no one else, Galloway closed the Open Session.

CONSENT AGENDA

Scanlon reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee

and moved to approve Consent Agenda items one through four.

Councilmembers voted on those items (see votes on individual items

below).

AB2026-174

Request authorization for the County Executive to award Bid #26-01 and enter into a

contract between Whatcom County and Lake Union Drydock Company for

drydocking, repair, and maintenance of the Whatcom Chief Ferry in the amount of

$891,918

Scanlon reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee and

moved that the Bid Award be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-190

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

Whatcom County and WSP USA, Inc to perform engineering and design services for

the Everson-Nooksack Berms Project, in the amount of $752,159.46 (Council acting

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

Scanlon reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee and

moved that the Contract (FCZDBS) be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The

motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-192

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

amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Health

to provide funding for various public health services in the amount of $101,475, for a

total amended agreement amount of $11,229,797

Scanlon reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee and

moved that the Interlocal be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-199

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

between Whatcom County and Public Utility District No. 1 of Whatcom County to

outline the terms and conditions related to the operation and maintenance of water

systems by the Public Utility District at the request of and as an agent for Whatcom

County

Scanlon reported for the Finance and Administrative Services Committee and

moved that the Interlocal be AUTHORIZED BY CONSENT. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

OTHER ITEMS

(From Council Planning and Development Committee)

AB2026-195

Resolution docketing Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulation amendments

Rienstra reported for the Planning and Development Committee and stated

that this item was forwarded to Council without a recommendation.

Elenbaas stated it is not perfect, and holding it will not make it perfect, and

they also have the ability to amend the docket at any time.

Rienstra moved and Scanlon seconded that the Resolution be APPROVED.

Councilmembers discussed if there was anything anyone wanted to add to

the docket, and a concern that the docket gets prioritized by staff so it

seems like a place where things go to die

Rienstra's motion that the Resolution be APPROVED carried by the

following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

Enactment No: RES 2026-009

COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS

AB2026-172

Appointment to a vacancy on the Planning Commission, District 1 or 5, Applicants:

Lindsey Elenbaas, Gurdeep Bains, Selena Knoblauch, Jeremy Thompson, Joseph L.

Stine, Steven Cohen

Elenbaas spoke about why he would not recuse himself this time. He stated

he does not believe there are any legal issues with his wife being an

applicant.

Galloway stated they will vote and the first applicant to get four votes will

be appointed.

Scanlon moved and Buchanan seconded to consider all with a vote of one.

Elenbaas received three votes, Knoblauch received three votes, and

Thompson received one vote as follows:

Elenbaas: Elenbaas

Galloway: Thompson

Rienstra: Knoblauch

Scanlon: Knoblauch

Stremler: Elenbaas

Buchanan: Elenbaas

Boyle: Knoblauch

After the first vote, Galloway stated she would change her vote to

Knoblauch. So, Knoblauch was appointed with four votes.

This agenda item was APPOINTED.

Appointed Selena Knoblauch with 4 votes.

AB2026-173

Appointment to a vacancy on the Child and Family Well-Being Task Force,

Applicant(s): Makela Alem

Scanlon moved and Rienstra seconded that the Council Appointment

Requiring Introduction be APPOINTED.

Elenbaas stated he would like to know more about the applicant's

empathy-based education which they do in the schools.

Scanlon's motion that the Council Appointment Requiring Introduction be

APPOINTED carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS

AB2026-179

Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Steven Price to the

Whatcom County Housing Authority Board

Boyle moved and Rienstra seconded that the Executive Appointment be

CONFIRMED. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-202

Request confirmation of the County Executive's appointment of JoEll Snyder to the

Whatcom County Conservation Easement Program Oversight Committee

Boyle moved and Scanlon seconded that the Executive Appointment be

CONFIRMED. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

Nay:

ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION

There were no agenda items added by revision.

INTRODUCTION ITEMS

Buchanan moved to introduce items one through eight. The motion was

seconded by Scanlon (see votes on individual items below).

Galloway stated that Introduction item number 3 (AB2026-183) is a

substitute.

AB2026-178

Appointment to a vacancy on the Justice Project Oversight and Planning (JPOP)

Committee, Behavioral Health Provider position, Applicant(s): Keren Gott, Margery

Dunkle, Jennifer Zander, Ajreea Johnson

Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Council Appointment

Requiring Introduction be INTRODUCED. The motion carried by the

following vote:

6 - Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

1 - Elenbaas

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-181

Ordinance amending the project budget for the Eagleridge Stormwater Improvements

Project Fund, request no. 1

Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Ordinance be

INTRODUCED. The motion carried by the following vote:

6 - Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

1 - Elenbaas

Aye:

Nay:

Enactment No: ORD 2026-014

AB2026-183

Ordinance amending the project based budget for the Swift Creek Capital Projects

Fund, request no. 3

Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the SUBSTITUTE Ordinance be

INTRODUCED. The motion carried by the following vote:

6 - Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

1 - Elenbaas

Aye:

Nay:

Enactment No: ORD 2026-015

AB2026-193

Receipt of the 2025 Whatcom County Contractor Apprenticeship Program Annual

Report

Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the document(s) be RECEIVED.

The motion carried by the following vote:

6 - Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

1 - Elenbaas

Aye:

Nay:

AB2026-200

Ordinance closing the Bellingham Senior Center HVAC Replacement Fund

Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Ordinance be

INTRODUCED. The motion carried by the following vote:

6 - Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

Aye:

1 - Elenbaas

Nay:

Enactment No: ORD 2026-016

AB2026-204

Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 5, in the amount

of $741,113

Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Ordinance be

INTRODUCED. The motion carried by the following vote:

6 - Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

1 - Elenbaas

Aye:

Nay:

Enactment No: ORD 2026-017

AB2026-206

Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 6, in the amount

of $3,920,278

Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Ordinance be

INTRODUCED. The motion carried by the following vote:

6 - Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

1 - Elenbaas

Aye:

Nay:

Enactment No: ORD 2026-018

AB2026-213

Ordinance authorizing a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for criminal

justice purposes as authorized by RCW 82.14.345 and adding a new Chapter 3.27

Sales and Use Tax for Criminal Justice Purposes to the Whatcom County Code

Buchanan moved and Scanlon seconded that the Ordinance Requiring a

Public Hearing be INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING. The motion

carried by the following vote:

6 - Boyle, Buchanan, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler

1 - Elenbaas

Aye:

Nay:

COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES

Galloway moved to enter into an executive session to have further

discussion on the pending litigation that was discussed earlier today

pursuant to RCW 42.30.110 (1)(i). The attorney present will be Kimberly

Thulin. The council will be in executive session until 7:32 p.m. If the

meeting extends beyond the stated conclusion time, she will make a public

announcement.

Clerk's note: the RCW citation was cited incorrectly and then later

corrected by the chair to what is noted above.

The motion was seconded by Elenbaas.

The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 7 - Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and

Stremler

Nay: 0

Councilmembers entered into executive session at 7:17 p.m.

At 7:33 p.m., the Council chair announced that the executive session would

extend to no later than 7:43 p.m. and she restated the correct RCW citation

as noted above.

The executive session adjourned at 7:44 p.m.

Council took a short recess and the meeting reconvened at 7:51 p.m.

Councilmembers gave committee reports and updates on recent activities

and upcoming events.

Motion approved 7-0 to enter into an executive session to have further discussion on the pending litigation that was

discussed earlier today pursuant to RCW 42.30.110 (1)(i).

ADJOURN

The meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m.

The County Council approved these minutes on March 24, 2026.

ATTEST:

WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL

WHATCOM COUNTY, WA

______________________________

Cathy Halka, Council Clerk

___________________________

Kaylee Galloway, Council Chair

Meeting Minutes prepared by Kristi Felbinger