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Real Briefings

Whatcom County Council

WHA-CON-2025-09-09 September 09, 2025 Whatcom County Council Regular Whatcom County 14 min
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The Whatcom County Council convened for their September 9, 2025 regular meeting, taking action on dozens of contracts and budget items while engaging in substantive debates about housing funding, hearing examiner procedures, and agricultural zoning. The evening's most significant decision was the approval of $1.3 million in Economic Development Investment (EDI) funding as a loan for the Opportunity Council's Bellis Fair Phase II senior housing project, following extensive debate about workforce housing definitions and funding sources. Executive Satpal Sidhu opened with updates on major county initiatives, including successful retention of a $25 million federal RAISE grant for the Lummi Island ferry, progress on the Justice Project design-build contract with emphasis on local workforce participation, and commemoration of former County Executive Shirley Van Zanten, who passed away recently. The Council also confirmed Champ Thomaskutty as the new Health and Community Services Director. The session featured four public hearings on hearing examiner procedures, with Hearing Examiner Rajeev Majumdar explaining proposed changes to clarify roles, duties, and authorities. All hearing examiner items passed unanimously after discussion about procedural improvements and cost-saving measures. The Council processed an extensive consent agenda of 17 contracts totaling millions in interlocal agreements for behavioral health, criminal justice, and social services programs. One item was pulled for separate consideration—the hearing examiner's contract renewal, which sparked debate about budget timing but ultimately passed 6-1.

**EDI Funding Decisions (AB2025-612):** The Council approved $5.3 million in EDI Board recommendations for five infrastructure and housing projects (7-0), then debated extensively whether to fund the Opportunity Council's Bellis Fair Phase II senior housing project. After considering various funding splits between EDI and affordable housing sales tax funds (HB 1590), the Council ultimately approved $1.3 million in EDI funding as a loan (5-2, with Stremler and Byrd opposed). **Hearing Examiner Contract (AB2025-582):** Following a failed motion to delay until October budget discussions (1-6), the Council approved a contract amendment for hearing examiner services through 2026, totaling $344,599.60 (6-1, with Byrd opposed). **Hearing Examiner Procedures:** T…

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**Workforce Housing Definition Debate:** The Bellis Fair project sparked extensive discussion about what constitutes "workforce housing" under EDI criteria. Council Member Byrd argued that true workforce housing should serve mid-tier professionals (80%+ AMI) that businesses need to attract, not minimum wage or senior housing. Others, led by Council Members Elenbaas and Donovan, countered that working seniors represent a legitimate workforce population, with 22% of residents aged 65-74 still in the workforce earning median incomes of $3,621/month. **Funding Source Strategy:** Deputy Executive Schott-Bresler outlined options between EDI funds and the affordable housing/behavioral health sales tax (HB 1590 funds), explaining that using all EDI funding would maximize total housing dollars available. The Council debated whether to prese…
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**Public Commenters on Blaine Annexation:** Sharman Burnam and Bruce Ansell from the Birch Bay Community Advisory Committee requested delays to Blaine's annexation proposal, citing concerns about water quality, transportation infrastructure, and jurisdictional impacts on the Birch Bay Urban Growth Area. **Housing Advocates:** Andrew Calkins (Bellingham/Whatcom County Housing Authority) and David Foreman (Opportunity Council) strongly supported EDI funding for affordable housing projects, emphasizing the workforce housing connection and economic benefits of construction jobs. **Agricultural Community:** Scott Bedlington spoke in favor of Counci…
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**Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, on Shirley Van Zanten's legacy:** "She was a member of the freeholders, and then she ran for the position of a council member... she prevailed and served 3 consecutive terms as the 2nd county executive for Whatcom County." **Council Member Elenbaas, on subsidized housing priorities:** "If we're gonna subsidize somebody, seniors is who I would wanna do because they don't have the ability to make that six figures in some of these instances." **Council Member B…
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**September 23, 2025:** Next regular County Council meeting, where the Birch Bay Community Advisory Committee plans to present a detailed analysis of the Blaine annexation proposal's impacts. **October 2, 2025:** WTA Board Composition Review meeting (9:30 AM) with Council Member Donovan representing Whatcom County. **October 23, 2025:** Screening interviews for Planning and Development Services Director candidates, with Council Membe…

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**EDI Housing Funding:** The Council established precedent by approving their first major housing project loan from EDI funds, expanding the program beyond traditional infrastructure into workforce housing with loan repayment expectations. **Hearing Examiner Authority:** Three new ordinances and resolutions clarify and strengthen the hearing examiner's authority to modify, condition, or remand development decisions, making the office's powers more legally defensible. **Agricultural Development Rights:** The Council docketed a comprehensive plan a…
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# Whatcom County Council Confronts Budget Pressures While Advancing Justice, Housing, and Development Initiatives Council Chair Kaylee Galloway called the Tuesday evening meeting to order at 6:03 PM in the packed Council Chambers, with all seven council members present and a full agenda stretching late into the night. What began as a routine September meeting evolved into a marathon session of consequential decisions on housing, development funding, and infrastructure investments that would shape the county's future well beyond 2025. ## Executive's Report: Financial Challenges and Historic Milestones County Executive Satpal Sidhu opened with a sobering assessment of the county's fiscal outlook alongside celebration of significant achievements. The executive announced successful retention of a critical $25 million federal RAISE grant for the Lummi Island ferry project, despite complications from scope changes that had threatened the funding. "Whenever there is change of scope, it has to be reapproved," Sidhu explained, crediting the collaborative efforts of public works staff, the executive's office, the ferry advisory committee, and island residents. "We've been able to obtain the word that we can retain our grant." The financial picture proved more challenging. Sidhu described facing "a stagnant economy" causing sales tax revenues to fall below projections while inflation drives expenses higher than anticipated. "We together as council and the executive branch have to make difficult financial budget decisions in the coming months," he warned, setting the stage for what would become a recurring theme throughout the evening. On the justice front, Sidhu reported progress on the long-awaited justice project, announcing selection of Clark and associates as the design-build contractor. In a victory for local economic development advocates, he emphasized that the chosen team "has an excellent plan to involve local jobs as well as local subcontractors" with opportunities for both union and non-union workers, prioritizing Whatcom County workforce and businesses within legal guidelines. The executive concluded with a moving tribute to former County Executive Shirley Van Zanten, who had recently passed away. Van Zanten served as Washington state's first female county executive and Whatcom County's second executive. "She was a member of the freeholders and then she ran for the position of a council member…
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### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council met on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 6:03 p.m. in a hybrid format, with all seven council members present. The meeting focused heavily on the county's budget challenges, hearing examiner procedural changes, affordable housing funding decisions, and several appointment processes. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Hearing Examiner:** A quasi-judicial officer who conducts hearings and makes decisions on land use applications and appeals on behalf of the County Council, acting with delegated legislative power. **Economic Development Investment (EDI) Fund:** County funding source for economic development and infrastructure projects, with a recent policy allowing 30% allocation for workforce housing projects. **1590 Fund (Affordable Housing and Behavioral Health Sales Tax):** A one-tenth of 1% sales tax revenue source dedicated to affordable housing and behavioral health programs, authorized by House Bill 1590. **Mid-Biennium Budget Adjustment:** Budget modifications made halfway through the two-year budget cycle to address revenue shortfalls or changing priorities. **RAISE Grant:** Federal grant program (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) providing $25 million for the Lummi Island ferry project. **Justice Project:** Whatcom County's planned new jail and behavioral health facility, currently in design-build phase. **LEAD Program:** Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program that connects people to services instead of traditional prosecution. **Growth Management Act (GMA):** Washington state law requiring comprehensive planning and public participation in land use decisions. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Satpal Sidhu | County Executive | | Kaylee Galloway | Council Chair | | Tyler Byrd | Council Member District 1 | | Todd Donovan | Council Member | | Ben Elenbaas | Council Member District 5 | | Jon Scanlon | Council Member | | Mark Stremler | Council Member | | Barry Buchanan | Council Member | | Rajeev Majumdar | Hearing Examiner | | David Foreman | Opportunity Council CFO | | Champ Thomaskutty | New Health & Communit…
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Housing Government Operations Economic Development HB 1590 Bellingham Housing Authority Birch Bay Community Advisory Committee City Of Blaine Economic Development Investment Board Opportunity Council Washington State Health Care Authority Whatcom Law Group Andrew Calkins Barry Buchanan Ben Elenbaas Champ Thomaskutty David Foreman Jon Scanlon Kayla Schott Bresler Kaylee Galloway Mark Stremler Rajeev Majumdar Satpal Sidhu Scott Bedlington Sharman Burnam Shirley Van Zanten Todd Donovan Tyler Byrd Affordable Housing Affordable Housing Loan Agricultural Policy Annexation Behavioral Health Budget Finance Criminal Justice Economic Development Edi Funding Growth Management Act Hearing Examiner Infrastructure Public Safety Water Rights Workforce Housing