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### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council held a Special Meeting Committee of the Whole on January 14, 2025, for their annual reorganization. All seven council members were present to select new leadership positions and assign committee memberships for 2025. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Committee of the Whole:** A meeting format where all council members meet as a committee to discuss matters informally before formal action. **Executive Pro Tempore:** A council officer who serves as a backup to the chair and vice chair, but who cannot serve on the Council of Governments (COG). **Standing Committees:** Permanent council committees that handle specific areas of county business, including Criminal Justice & Public Safety, Finance & Administrative Services, Planning & Development, Public Works & Health, and Climate Action & Natural Resources. **Council of Governments (COG):** A regional body where multiple jurisdictions coordinate on shared issues; the Executive Pro Tempore is prohibited from serving on this body. **WSAC:** Washington State Association of Counties - an organization representing all 39 counties in Washington State on legislative and policy issues. **Lake Whatcom Policy Group:** A special committee focused on protecting Lake Whatcom, the region's primary drinking water source. **Swiss (Snohomish, Whatcom, Island, Skagit, San Juan):** A regional partnership between five northwestern Washington counties. **Reorganization:** The annual process where the council selects leadership positions and assigns committee memberships for the coming year. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Barry Buchanan | Outgoing Council Chair (2024), At-Large A | | Kaylee Galloway | Newly elected Council Chair (2025), District 1 | | Jon Scanlon | Newly elected Council Vice-Chair, At-Large B | | Todd Donovan | Newly elected Executive Pro Tempore, District 2 …