January 25 Whatcom County Council meeting roundup

The latest news from the January 25 Whatcom County Council meeting.

Alderson Road golf cart zone

Whatcom County Council voted 7-0 to establish a 25 mph speed limit on Alderson Road from east Loft Lane to Gemini Street in Birch Bay after a public hearing where no community members spoke on the issue.

The ordinance will effectively extend the golf cart zone on Alderson Road to Gemini Street, which leads to the Birch Bay Activity Center and Bay Horizon Park, according to the
memorandum. 

Ordinance 2018-023, which created Birch Bay’s golf cart zone, states golf carts are legal to drive on “all county roads posted 25 mph or less that lead to, and are contiguous with Birch Bay Drive.”

Inmate housing agreement

Council voted 7-0 to continue an interlocal agreement with Kittitas County for jail services when extra housing is needed for Whatcom County Jail inmates.

The agreement, which first began in January 2020, will continue to allow Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office to move offenders to the Kittitas facility when needed.

2022 Whatcom County budget amendment

Council voted 4-2-1 to amend the 2022 Whatcom County budget in the amount of $1,619,951 to pay for the county’s Covid-19 vaccination sites, hire a response system manager for the GRACE/LEAD programs and transfer in support of Geneva Bioretention Pilot Project, a proposed stormwater treatment project in the Lake Whatcom watershed. Councilmembers Ben Elenbaas and Tyler Byrd opposed and councilmember Kathy Kershner abstained.

The Ground-level Response And Coordinated Engagement (GRACE) program is a community-based effort to find solutions for individuals who frequently use the emergency and criminal justice systems, according to the county’s website. It offers help to individuals with complicated health care concerns, like behavioral health needs and unstable or no housing.

Cherry Point Ferndale Subarea Plan

Council voted 7-0 to introduce an ordinance for public comment that would repeal the Cherry Point Ferndale Subarea Plan and delete a reference to the subarea plan in the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan. 

The Cherry Point Ferndale Subarea Plan was adopted in 1981. Since then, the Growth Management Act was adopted in 1990, which allows subarea plans only if consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan. Some land-use plan designations in the subarea plan are not consistent with the comprehensive plan.