Whatcom County  
Council Committee of the Whole  
COUNTY COURTHOUSE  
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105  
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038  
(360) 778-5010  
Meeting Agenda  
Tuesday, August 11, 2026  
2:30 PM  
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers  
HYBRID MEETING - MAY BEGIN EARLY/LATE - ADJOURNS BY 4:30 P.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.  
Committee Discussion  
AB2026-589  
AB2026-604  
AB2026-587  
AB2026-625  
Discussion of Council priorities from Council’s 2026 strategic planning exercise  
1.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
Discussion of a proposal for hearing examiner services for 2027-2028  
Discussion of Council Office procedures, meeting logistics, and efficiency measures  
Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of James Marks as  
Director of Whatcom County Planning & Development Services, effective September  
14, 2026  
DISCUSSION ONLY; SCHEDULED ON COUNCIL AGENDA FOR  
COUNCIL ACTION  
Committee Discussion and Recommendation to Council  
AB2026-623  
1.  
Resolution temporarily changing the format of Council committee meetings for Council  
meeting days  
Items Added by Revision  
Other Business  
Adjournment