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Real Briefings

Whatcom County Council Public Works & Health Committee

WHA-PWH-2025-09-23 September 23, 2025 Public Works Committee Whatcom County 15 min
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The Whatcom County Council Public Works & Health Committee held a brief 15-minute meeting to review the final draft of the 2025 Whatcom County Coordinated Water System Plan. The committee ultimately recommended approval of a substitute resolution that significantly modifies how water service areas relate to urban growth area (UGA) expansions under the Growth Management Act. The meeting centered on AB2025-640, a resolution that would complete an 18-month process to update the county's water system plan before sending it to the State Department of Health for final approval. However, what began as a routine administrative approval became a substantive policy discussion about the relationship between water infrastructure and land use planning. Council Member Ben Elenbaas raised concerns about overly restrictive language that would prohibit using water service areas as justification for UGA expansions. Council Member Kaylee Galloway then presented extensive amendments that reframe the resolution within Growth Management Act principles and soften the prohibition to allow water service as one of several factors in UGA decisions. The committee unanimously approved Galloway's substitute version, which includes six new "whereas" clauses connecting the water plan to GMA requirements and changes the key restriction from "shall not be utilized" to "shall not be the only factor" in UGA expansion decisions.

**AB2025-640 - Substitute Resolution (Galloway) Relating to 2025 Whatcom County Coordinated Water System Plan Update** - **Vote:** 3-0 (Scanlon, Stremler, Elenbaas - Yes) - **Staff Recommendation:** Original resolution as presented - **Council Action:** Approved substitute version with significant amendments - **Key Changes:** Added six G…

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**Water System Plan and Growth Management Integration** The primary policy discussion focused on how the county's water infrastructure planning should align with Growth Management Act requirements for urban development. Council Member Donovan referenced prior discussions about ensuring water service availability aligns with proposed UGA expansions, particularly in areas like High Notes Corner and other unincorporated areas being considered for residential development. Sue Sullivan explained this represents the final phase of an 18-month process to update the Coordinated Water System Plan, with the Water Utility Coordinating Committee having reviewed public comments earlier in September. The plan incorporates climate-related changes and additional data points based on Public Works feedback. **Original vs. Substitute Resolution Language** The original resolution included restrictive language stating that "a city's designation of a water service area that extends outside of an Urban Growth Area sh…
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**Sue Sullivan, Environmental Health Manager:** Presented the final water system plan update as administrative completion of an 18-month process, noting incorporation of climate-related public comments and data additions. Supported moving forward to meet state approval timeline. **Council Member Ben Elenbaas:** Objected to absolute prohibition on considering water service in UGA decisions, arguing it would be counterproductive to exclude available infrastructure from planning considerations. Preferred "shall not be utilized solely" language. **Council Member Kaylee Galloway:** Advocated for comprehensive amendments to align the resolution with Growth Management Act principles. Presented six additional wher…
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**Sue Sullivan, on the approval timeline:** "If moved from committee to Council tonight, and the resolution is approved, that is the last step in sending this to the State Department of Health for their approval. So they take 90 days to approve. And so we were hoping to have this approved by the end of the calendar year." **Council Member Elenbaas, on infrastructure considerations:** "I would think that, like, infrastructure would be helpful if it was already in place, but obviously it wouldn…
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- Council consideration of AB2025-640 substitute resolution scheduled for Tuesday evening, September 23, 2025 - If approved by Council, resolution will be transmitted to Washington State Department of Health for 90-day review and approval process - Target completion of state approval by end of calendar year 2025 - Council sta…

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After this meeting, the committee advanced a significantly modified version of the water system plan resolution rather than the original staff proposal. The substitute resolution now includes six new whereas clauses that explicitly connect water planning to Growth Management Act requirements and fundamentally changes the restriction on using water service areas in UGA decisions from an absolute prohibition to allowing it as one factor among many. The evening council agenda now includes Galloway's substitute language that positions the resol…
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# Real Briefings — Module 1: Essential Meeting Information **Meeting Duration:** 15m 17s **Real Briefings:** realhousingreform.org | A project of the Real Housing Reform Initiative --- ## Basic Meeting Information **Meeting Type:** Council Public Works and Health Committee Meeting **Date:** Tuesday, September 23, 2025 **Time:** 9:55 AM - 10:10 AM (15 minutes, 17 seconds) **Location:** Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers, Whatcom County Courthouse **Committee Chair:** Jon Scanlon **Committee Members Present:** - Jon Scanlon (Chair) - Mark Stremler - Ben Elenbaas **Other Council Members Present:** - Barry Buchanan - Tyler Byrd - Todd Donovan - Kaylee Galloway **Staff Present:** - Sue Sullivan, Environmental Health Manager, Health and Community Services - Aly Pennucci, Deputy Executive ## Primary Agenda Items **Main Item:** - AB2025-640: Resolution relating to the 2025 Whatcom County Coordinated Water System Plan Update ## Key Decisions Made **Committee Recommendation:** - **PASSED (3-0):** Committee recommended approval of a substitute resolution with amendments proposed by Council Member Galloway regarding the 2025 Whatcom County Coordinated Water System Plan Update **Vote Breakdown:** - **Yes:** Scanlon, Stremler, Elenbaas (3) - **No:** None (0) ## Notable Context This brief meeting focused on a single technical item - approving the final phase of an 18-month update process for the county's Coordinated Water System Plan before it goes to the State Department of Health for approval. The discussion became more substantive when Council Members raised concerns about how water service areas should relate to future urban growth area expansions, leading to amendments that soften restrictive language in the original resolution. The committee had limited time and moved quickly through the discussion, with most detailed deliberation deferred to the full Council meeting later that evening. --- # Real Briefings — Module 2: Detailed Issue Analysis ## Issue Deep-Dive: Water System Plan and Urban Growth Area Coordination ### The Core Issue Whatcom County was finalizing its 18-month update to the Coordinated Water System Plan, which requires state approval. However, the resolution contained language that could significantly restrict how municipalities consider water infrastructure when planning future urban growth area (UGA) expansions. ### Background Context - The Water Utility Coordinating Committee had already reviewed public comments…
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### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Public Works & Health Committee met on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, to review and recommend approval of a resolution related to the 2025 Whatcom County Coordinated Water System Plan update. The committee ultimately recommended approval of a substitute resolution with amendments that clarify how water service areas should be considered in urban growth area expansion decisions. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Coordinated Water System Plan:** A comprehensive planning document that coordinates water service among multiple water utilities in Whatcom County. This plan requires state approval and is updated periodically to ensure adequate water service for current and future development. **Urban Growth Area (UGA):** Geographic areas designated under Washington's Growth Management Act where urban development is intended to be concentrated over a 20-year period. These areas are meant to promote compact development while protecting rural areas. **Growth Management Act (GMA):** Washington state law that requires certain counties and cities to plan for orderly growth, protect natural resources, and ensure efficient use of public infrastructure including water systems. **Water Service Area:** Geographic areas where a municipality or water district provides water service. These boundaries may extend beyond urban growth areas in some cases. **Water Utility Coordinating Committee:** A committee that reviews public comments and changes to the Coordinated Water System Plan before it goes to the County Council for approval. **State Department of Health:** The state agency that must approve the Coordinated Water System Plan after County Council adoption. They have 90 days for their review process. **AB 2025-640:** The agenda bill number for the resolution relating to the water system plan update. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jon Scanlon | Committee Chair | | Ben Elenbaas | Committee Member | | Mark Stremler | Committee Member | | Todd Donovan | Council Member (also present) | | Kaylee Galloway | Council Member (also present) | | Sue Sullivan | Environmental Health Manager, Health and Commun…
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Utilities Land Use & Planning Government Operations AB 2025 640 Health Community Services Planning Development Services State Department Health Water Utility Coordinating Committee Whatcom County Council Whatcom County Health Services Aly Pennucci Ben Elenbaas Jon Scanlon Kaylee Galloway Mark Stremler Sue Sullivan Todd Donovan Comprehensive Plan Government Operations Growth Management Act Infrastructure Land Use Policy Urban Growth Areas Water System Planning