Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee

**Department Staffing and Capacity Crisis** Director Personius provided stark context for PDS operations: the department serves a county that has grown by 55,000 residents over 20 years while maintaining virtually identical staffing levels (54 FTE in 2006 vs. 53 today). This has forced fundamental operational changes, including the SKEP program allowing career advancement without new positions and extensive cross-training to handle the reality that 10-20% of staff are unavailable on any given day due to medical leave, family leave, and other absences. The efficiency pressures manifest in customer service challenges. While staff handle nearly 1,000 calls monthly during peak season and maintain next-day building inspections across three geographic zones, Council Member Elenbaas raised concerns about documented community complaints regarding missed calls and delayed responses that contradict the department's positive statistics. **State Mandates vs. Local Priorities** Personius emphasized that state legislative changes create constantly shifting regulatory ground, with new land use, building, or environmental laws adopted annually. This forces continuous staff retraining, code updates, and public education efforts. He cited a recent failed bill that would have required automatic approval of architect or engineer-stamped drawings, noting it died due to professional liability concerns from the architects and engineers themselves rather than local government opposition. The Growth Management Act drives much of the…

**Mark Personius (PDS Director):** Emphasized operational constraints and prioritization necessity. Supported efficiency measures like SKEP and cross-training but highlighted fundamental capacity limitations. Advocated for UGA reserve overlay approach rather than individual expansion requests to provide future growth signals while maintaining GMA compliance. **Kelly Chamberlain (Communication Specialist):** Presented positive customer service metrics, highlighting 4-staff triage system handling nearly 1,000 calls monthly during peak periods with minimal missed calls or voicemails. Emphasized web resources and self-service tools to reduce call volume. **Lucas Clark (Planning Staff):** Provided technical overview of docket items, including detailed analysis of privately-initiated Birch Bay UGA expansion request, noting wetlands, flood zone, and utility service constraints. **Council Member Jessica Rienstra (Chair):** Focused on capacit…

**Mark Personius, on staffing challenges:** "In 2006, PDS had 54 budgeted FTE positions. Today, 20 years later, we have 53. So in the last 20 years, the county population grew by more than 55,000 people. And our workforce has actually shrunk." **Mark Personius, on daily operational reality:** "Between 10 and 20% of our staff are are not available. They're on leave. They're on increasingly on medical leave. The youngers are adding to their families and the elders are replacing their knees and …

**Department Operational Understanding:** The committee gained comprehensive insight into PDS capacity constraints, with specific metrics on call volume (nearly 1,000 monthly during peak), inspection rates (700+ monthly), and staffing stability challenges (10-20% unavailable daily). **Docket Process Clarity:** The 2026 work program scope became defined with 15 proposed items, though capacity limitations mean not all can be completed in one year. Clear prioritization established: state mandates and legal compliance first, followed by school district impact fees. **UGA Expansion Approach:** Director's recommendation emerged for UGA reserve overlay rather than designation, providing growth signals to utilities and communities…

### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee met on March 10, 2026, to receive a departmental status report and consider the annual docket of proposed planning amendments. The meeting focused on PDS's operational challenges and the 15 new items proposed for the 2026 work program. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Annual Docket:** A legally required list of proposed amendments to the comprehensive plan and development regulations that PDS maintains and presents to council each year. The Growth Management Act requires this process to provide transparency about what planning changes are being considered. **Growth Management Act (GMA):** State legislation that requires counties like Whatcom to manage growth through comprehensive planning, critical area protection, and coordinated development patterns. Many of PDS's mandated tasks stem from GMA requirements. **Urban Growth Area (UGA):** Designated areas where cities can accommodate growth and eventually annex. These boundaries are carefully managed and can only be expanded when there's demonstrated need and adequate infrastructure capacity. **Critical Areas Ordinance:** County regulations protecting environmentally sensitive areas like wetlands, fish habitat, and steep slopes. PDS must update these within six months of adopting the comprehensive plan. **Pre-application Meeting:** An early consultation between developers and PDS staff to identify potential issues before formal permit submission. The volume of these meetings indicates future development activity. **Site Plan Review:** The process where PDS evaluates proposed development locations relative to critical areas, buffers, and stormwater requirements. This often involves multiple iterations as projects are refined. **SKEP Program:** Skills Enhancement Training Program that allows PDS staff to advance from Planner I to Planner II to Planner III without waiting for vacant positions, addressing the reality that staffing hasn't grown despite population increases. **Impact Fees:** Charges on new development to help fund the infrastructure (like schools) needed to serve growth. Both Lynden and Ferndale school districts have requested the county implement these fees. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jessica Rienstra | Committee Chair | | Elizabeth Boyle | Council Member | | Barry Buchanan | Council Member | | Ben Elenbaas | Council Member | | Kaylee Galloway | Council Member | | Jon Scanlon | Council Member | | Mark Stremler | Council Member | | Mark Personius | PDS Director | | Kelly Chamberlain | PDS Communication Specialist | | Lucas Clark | PDS Planner (presented remotely) | ### Background Context Whatcom County's Planning and Development Services department operates at the intersection of state mandates and local needs, managing everything from single-family home permit…