Whatcom County  
Council  
COUNTY COURTHOUSE  
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105  
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038  
(360) 778-5010  
Meeting Agenda  
Tuesday, June 9, 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  
MIN2026-047  
MIN2026-048  
MIN2026-049  
MIN2026-050  
Committee of the Whole Executive Session for May 26, 2026  
Committee of the Whole for May 26, 2026  
1.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
Regular County Council for May 26, 2026  
Special Committee of the Whole for May 19, 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)  
AB2026-421  
AB2026-423  
AB2026-424  
AB2026-425  
AB2026-428  
AB2026-429  
1.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
5.  
6.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement  
between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Health to cover  
tuberculosis medications for patients who are underinsured or uninsured, in the  
amount of $0  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between  
Whatcom County and Nel/Son Distributing, DBA Nelson Reisner, to provide for the  
purchase of fuel to be used in Whatcom County fleet vehicles, in the amount of  
$850,000  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment  
between Whatcom County and Cowden Brother’s Trucking, LLC for the disposal of  
waste produced by Maintenance and Operations vactor trucks and street sweepers,  
in the amount of $288,000  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement  
between Whatcom County and Birch Bay Water & Sewer District for water main  
relocation as part of the Drayton Harbor Road Landslide Repair Project, in the  
amount of $75,000  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement  
between Whatcom County and the City of Lynden for the Hannegan Levee  
Rehabilitation Project (NSK-03-26), in the amount of $64,280 (Council acting as the  
Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a cooperation agreement  
between Whatcom County and the United States Army Corps of Engineers for  
repairs to the Hannegan Levee along the left bank of the Nooksack River (Project  
No. NSK-03-26), in the amount of $64,280 (Council acting as the Whatcom County  
Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors)  
AB2026-433  
AB2026-435  
7.  
8.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement  
amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Health Care Authority  
for the Medication for Opioid/Alcohol Use Disorders (MOUD/MAUD) program  
grant, in the amount of $200,000  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement  
amendment between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Health  
to increase funding for the 2025-2027 Consolidated Contract, specifically the  
Maternal & Child Health Block Grant, in the amount of $47,392 for a total amended  
agreement amount of $11,334,197  
AB2026-436  
9.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment  
between Whatcom County and Clean Earth Environmental Solutions, Inc. to  
authorize a three-year extension of services, ensuring the uninterrupted transportation  
and disposal of moderate-risk waste from Whatcom County’s Disposal of Toxics  
Facility, in the amount of $367,500 annually, and for a total amended contract amount  
of $1,452,500  
AB2026-437  
AB2026-439  
10.  
11.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment  
between Whatcom County and Kulshan Supported Employment to extend the  
contract for one year, providing supported employment and community inclusion  
services to eligible individuals with developmental disabilities, in the amount of  
$1,889,779 for a total amended contract amount of $3,478,552  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment  
between Whatcom County and Max Higbee Center to extend the contract for one  
year, allowing the continuation of supported employment and community inclusion  
services for eligible individuals with developmental disabilities, in the amount of  
$69,603 for a total amended contract amount of $113,483  
AB2026-440  
AB2026-441  
12.  
13.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement  
amendment between Whatcom County and the U.S. Department of Agriculture  
Forest Service, for extra duty overtime patrols, in the amount of $35,000  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment  
between Whatcom County and Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services  
(DVSAS) to extend the contract for six months, allowing the continuation of funding  
for personnel and other costs necessary to operate and maintain three safe shelters in  
Whatcom County, including a 21-bed house for women with children and two other  
houses for single women, in the amount of $65,526 for a total amended contract  
amount of $353,448  
AB2026-445  
AB2026-446  
14.  
15.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to award Bid #26-30 and enter into a  
contract between Whatcom County and Everett Ship Repair for the Drydock Repair  
and Maintenance of the Whatcom Chief Ferry in the amount of $1,061,069.56  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an agreement between  
Whatcom County and the Washington State Department of Social and Health  
Services for reimbursement of a percentage of Superior Court Commissioner time  
when working civil court cases involving Child Support Title IV-D of the Social  
Security Act, not to exceed an amount set each year by award letter from the  
Department of Social and Health Services  
AB2026-452  
16.  
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between  
Whatcom County and Pacific Power Group to perform generator preventative  
maintenance, in the amount of $80,235  
OTHER ITEMS  
(From Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee)  
AB2026-408  
1.  
Request authorization for the Whatcom County Council to enter into a memorandum  
of understanding with the Whatcom County Executive for the adoption of Whatcom  
County Administrative and Personnel Policies for the Council Office  
AB2026-416  
AB2026-448  
2.  
3.  
Request for motion to approve the updated 2026-2027 Criminal Justice Treatment  
Account Plan  
Resolution requesting authorization to make an application and enter into a grant  
agreement with the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office for funding  
through the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Act Program for renovation of the Lagoon  
Bridge and other bike and pedestrian accessibility improvements at Silver Lake Park  
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.  
AB2026-414  
1.  
Request confirmation of the County Executive’s reappointments of Jana Finkbonner  
and Jodi Sipes to the Northwest Senior Services 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.  
AB2026-403  
1.  
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  
AB2026-413  
AB2026-431  
Receipt of Whatcom Clean Water Program annual report  
2.  
3.  
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  
AB2026-442  
AB2026-450  
4.  
5.  
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  
COMMITTEE REPORTS, OTHER ITEMS, AND COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES  
ADJOURN