Whatcom County

Council

COUNTY COURTHOUSE

311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105

Bellingham, WA 98225-4038

(360) 778-5010

Meeting Agenda

Tuesday, April 14, 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

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

Committee of the Whole Executive Session for March 17, 2026

Council (Special) for March 17, 2026

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Special Committee of the Whole for March 17, 2026

Committee of the Whole Executive Session for March 24, 2026

Committee of the Whole for March 24, 2026

Regular County Council for March 24, 2026

Special Council for March 31, 2026

Special Committee of the Whole for March 31, 2026

Health Board for March 31, 2026

COMBINED PUBLIC HEARINGS ON TAX ORDINANCES

The following items will be combined into one public hearing. Members of the public will have 3 minutes

to speak once on all items on the Combined Public Hearing on Tax Ordinances (items 1-3).

1.

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

2.

3.

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

Ordinance submitting to the qualified voters of Whatcom County a proposition

authorizing a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) for criminal justice

purposes, as authorized by RCW 82.14.345

SEPARATE CONSIDERATION OF PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS

1.

2.

3.

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

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

Ordinance submitting to the qualified voters of Whatcom County a proposition

authorizing a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) for criminal justice

purposes, as authorized by RCW 82.14.345

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)

1.

2.

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

Whatcom County and BEA Environmental, LLC to develop and implement a Source

Control Business Inspection Program, in the amount of $89,950

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

between Whatcom County and Bellingham Food Bank to purchase and distribute

diapers, wipes, infant formula, and food to low-income families with children in the

amount of $636,305, for a total amended contract amount of $1,503,993

3.

4.

5.

6.

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

between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Ecology to

administer and enforce the well sealing, tagging, and decommissioning portions of the

water well construction regulations, in the estimated amount of $13,500 annually

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

Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to administer rental assistance to eligible

individuals who are involved in the criminal legal system and in recovery from a

substance use disorder, in the amount of $79,090

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

Whatcom County and the Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham to fund capital

expenses for the development of the Samish Commons Early Learning Center, in the

amount of $851,350

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

agreement between Whatcom County and the Department of Ecology to provide

funding to advance the planning work necessary to evaluate and implement flood

mitigation alternatives for the Lower Nooksack River and the Everson-Sumas

overflow corridor, in the amount of $2,738,000 (Council acting as the Whatcom

County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)

7.

8.

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

between Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Transportation

to execute a Federal Aid Project Prospectus to obligate federal Ferry Boat Program

funds for the Lummi Island Ferry operating costs, in the amount of $1,920,916

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

between Whatcom County and City of Bellingham for U.S. Department of Justice

Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant FY25, in the amount of $11,812

OTHER ITEMS

(From Council Committee of the Whole)

1.

Request confirmation of the County Executive’s appointment of Deborah Arthur as

Deputy Executive/Administrative Services Director effective April 13, 2026

(No Committee Assignment)

2.

3.

Resolution setting priorities for a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for

criminal justice purposes as authorized by RCW 82.14.345

Request for motion to select up to two councilmembers to participate in the

Executive’s medical examiner hiring process

COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS

1.

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

2.

3.

4.

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

Committee, criminal legal system user, applicant(s): Cesar Luna

Appointment to a vacancy on the Planning Commission, District 4 or 5, Applicants:

Lindsey Elenbaas, Gurdeep Bains, Jeremy Thompson

Appointment to a vacancy on the Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee,

alternate member, Applicant(s): Brett Vande Hoef (Council acting as the Flood

Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)

5.

6.

Appointment to a vacancy on the Lynden/Everson Flood Control Subzone Advisory

Committee, Applicant(s): Brett Vande Hoef (Council acting as the Flood Control

Zone District Board of Supervisors)

Appointment to a vacancy on Consolidated Drainage Improvement District 31 Board

of Supervisors, Applicant(s): Glen Oostema

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.

1.

2.

Ordinance amending the 2026 Whatcom County Budget, request no. 7, in the amount

of $23,290,457

Receipt of applications to vacancies on the Whatcom County Ferry Advisory

Committee, various positions, Applicant(s) Markis Dee Stidham, Corey Williams,

Virgil Thompson, and Jonathan King (Deadline for applications is 10:00 a.m. on

Tuesday, April 21, 2026)

3.

Ordinance to require the use of best management practices for stormwater pollution

prevention within the Whatcom County Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater

Permit area

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Resolution declaring Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District personal

property, a single-family house, as surplus and approve sale (Council acting as the

Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)

Resolution declaring Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District personal property

as surplus and approve sale (Council acting as Flood Control Zone District Board of

Supervisors)

Resolution declaring Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District personal property

as surplus and to approve sale (Council acting as the Flood Control Zone District

Board of Supervisors)

Ordinance submitting to the qualified voters of Whatcom County a nonbinding

advisory proposition concerning a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for

criminal justice purposes

Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Section 5.04.080 Emergency Medical

Services (EMS) Oversight Board and section 5.04.085 EMS Technical Advisory

Board to change the membership of the EMS Oversight Board and the EMS

Technical Advisory Board

9.

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

request no. 1, in the amount of $23,406 (Council acting as the Whatcom County

Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)

10.

Resolution authorizing the submission of three independent grant applications to the

Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board to restore fish passage at the Black Slough

and Homesteader culverts and to complete the final design and permitting of the

Tinling Creek culvert project (Council acting as the Whatcom County Flood Control

Zone District Board of Supervisors)

11.

12.

Receipt of application to a vacancy on the Public Health Advisory Board,

Applicant(s): Michelle Gillig (Deadline for applications to this position is 10:00 a.m.

on Tuesday, April 21, 2026)

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

Committee, Marine Trades position, Applicant(s): Rex Rhoades (Deadline for

applications to this position is 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2026)

COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES

ADJOURN