Agenda - Council - 6/23/2026

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

MIN2026-051

MIN2026-053

Special Council - Lake Whatcom for April 1, 2026

Special Council - Justice Project Community Engagement Workshop for March 19,

2026

MIN2026-054

MIN2026-055

MIN2026-056

Special Committee of the Whole for June 2, 2026

Health Board and Public Health Advisory Board for June 2, 2026

Special Committee of the Whole for June 2, 2026

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Council offers in-person and remote participation in Public Hearings. If you are attending the meeting in

person, Public Hearing 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. Speakers are given three minutes to address the Council 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.

AB2026-403

Ordinance imposing an interim moratorium on the acceptance or processing of

applications and permits for the establishment of new or expansion of existing civil

detention facilities

(Public hearings for AB2026-431 and AB2026-475 will be combined into one public hearing)

AB2026-431

AB2026-475

Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Chapter 5.20, Fireworks, to strengthen

fireworks regulations by limiting the days fireworks are allowed and prohibiting

fireworks during burn bans

Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Chapter 5.20, Fireworks, to strengthen

fireworks regulations by limiting the days fireworks are allowed and prohibiting

fireworks during burn bans

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)

AB2026-345

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

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

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

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

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

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

AB2026-484

11.

12.

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

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

AB2026-485

13.

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

OTHER ITEMS

(From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee)

AB2026-442

AB2026-450

Ordinance amending the project budget for the 2015 Girard Street Building

Improvement Fund, request no. 1

Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 9, in the amount

of $7,941,775

(From Council Planning and Development Committee)

AB2026-463

Resolution approving a one-year extension for the Major Project Permit for the City

of Bellingham

AB2026-472

Resolution amending Resolution 2025-025 to update rules of the Whatcom County

Hearing Examiner by approving clarifying changes promulgated by the Hearing

Examiner

AB2026-478

Resolution authorizing grant application submission and signing authority for

Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office Farmland Preservation grants

for the Steensma, Jensen, and Cloud Mountain Farm Center applications

CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS

Per Whatcom County Code 2.03.070(B), the council must confirm or reject executive appointments

within 30 days of submission to the council. County code deems the appointee confirmed if council does

not take action within this time.

AB2026-470

Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Cori Bryant to the

Veteran’s Advisory Board

AB2026-492

Request confirmation of the Executive’s appointment of Kelly Klem to the

Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board

ITEMS ADDED BY REVISION

INTRODUCTION ITEMS

Council action will not be taken. The council may accept these items for introduction (no action) in a

single motion. Changes, in terms of committee assignment for example, may be made at this time.

AB2026-461

Ordinance granting Forged Fiber 37, LLC a non-exclusive franchise for the purposes

of offering and providing telecommunications services

AB2026-488

Ordinance adopting Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan and Foothills Subarea

Plan amendments relating to Periodic Update and Urban Growth Area review

requirements under the Growth Management Act (for concurrent review with other

Comprehensive Plan amendment proposals)

AB2026-489

AB2026-490

AB2026-427

Ordinance adopting Whatcom County Code Title 20 development regulation

amendments relating to Periodic Update requirements under the Growth Management

Act (for concurrent review with other Comprehensive Plan amendment proposals)

Ordinance adopting Whatcom County Zoning Map amendments relating to Periodic

Update requirements under the Growth Management Act (for concurrent review with

other Comprehensive Plan amendment proposals)

Receipt of application to a vacancy on the Business and Commerce Advisory

Committee, childcare position, Applicant(s): Courtney Whitaker, Kristine Wilson

(Deadline for applications to this position is 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026)

ITEM TITLE REVISED 6.22.2026

COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES

ADJOURN