Whatcom County Council roundup ...

The latest from Whatcom County Council … 

Council announces plan to combat fentanyl

In an effort to combat the highly addictive opioid fentanyl, Whatcom County Council, acting as the health board during a March 26 hearing, unanimously approved a resolution for the county executive to issue an executive order activating a wide-ranging plan to loosen the drug’s grip on the region. 

The resolution brought to executive Satpal Sidhu’s desk will request both federal and state emergency declarations be made to expand efforts and free up more resources, while also declaring a countywide emergency for fentanyl in lock step with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.

The resolution would also call for much more aggressive policing and judicial strategies to combat the drug, requesting “the full force of the law” to address major crimes, and asking the courts to “impose the strictest sentences available” while also asking it to offer treatment and recovery options, “to persuade people to choose treatment over punishment.”

The county, along with dozens of other local, tribal, state and federal governments, have worked together for the past several years to combat the growing drug crisis yet there were still 132 opioid overdose deaths in Whatcom County in 2023, a figure that has increased every year since 2018. 

Council will allow public comment on the resolution before councilmembers formally vote on it again and it goes into effect at the next meeting, set for Tuesday, April 9. Comments can be sent to council@co.whatcom.wa.us.

County prepares to change  electoral precinct boundaries

Whatcom County Council has proposed an ordinance be introduced for public hearing that would amend the borders of multiple voting precincts, and create two new precincts for the upcoming 2024 elections in August and November. 

Multiple precincts are impacted, including local precincts 108 (east Blaine south of H Street Road), 113 (east of Birch Bay between Bay and Brown road), 122 (east Blaine), 303 (east Blaine north of H Street Road), and 306 (north of Dakota Creek, west of I-5). 

Per state law, all electoral precincts must reside wholly within a single congressional, legislative and county voting district, and precincts are limited to 1,500 registered voters.

Council unanimously approved the motion for a public hearing, and notices will be sent out to all residents whose voting precinct may change. 

To view the current precinct map, visit the Whatcom County website at bit.ly/41DLpOz.

Lummi Island ferry rates to increase

Whatcom County Council unanimously approved a resolution increasing fares for the Lummi Island ferry in response to an anticipated deficit during its March 19 meeting. 

The resolution also allowed the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to be used for the aging ferry system, to the tune of $358,000, according to county documents. Council asked Sidhu to institute a “smaller and more predictable annual fare increase to ensure the long-term sustainability of the ferry fund over time.”

Days later, Sidhu issued a memorandum enacting the fare increases, which now ask for $132 for the “multi-ride” – or 20 round trips – tier. That’s up from $113 for 25 round trips in 2023.

The ticket increases will go into effect starting May 1.

County discusses expanding internet access

Councilmembers discussed the county’s role in expanding internet access for the people of Whatcom County, a topic that council has been juggling with for the past several years, during their March 19 committee of the whole meeting. 

Expansion of internet access, especially to “rural and already unserved and underserved communities,” as a draft resolution puts it, would require collaboration between the county government, the Port of Bellingham and Public Utility District No. 1 to efficiently identify areas in need and expand broadband access across the county, according to county documents. 

The draft resolution, which was discussed but not acted upon by the committee, would also recognize internet services as a utility, akin to water or sewage, “in all relevant policy, planning, regulatory, and permitting documents and processes.”