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Council Public Works & Health Committee

WHA-PWH-2025-10-21 October 21, 2025 Public Works Committee Whatcom County 13 min
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The Whatcom County Council Public Works & Health Committee held a brief 14-minute meeting to review revisions to the Six-Year Water Resources Improvement Program (WRIP) for 2026-2031. The item had been withdrawn from consideration two weeks earlier due to funding source discrepancies, particularly conflicts between Road Fund and Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) allocations for 2026 projects. Public Works Director Elizabeth Kosa presented the corrected version, which addresses funding discrepancies and incorporates current fiscal constraints. The primary changes involved shifting funding sources from REET to Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility (LWSU) for several stormwater projects, deferring some projects to later years, and spreading others across multiple years to manage cash flow. Council Member Todd Donovan raised significant concerns about the funding strategy, questioning whether the utility was providing additional capacity as intended or simply supplanting existing funding sources. He also highlighted potential infrastructure cost implications if the City of Blaine expands its Urban Growth Area around Birch Point, noting tens of millions in unfunded stormwater projects that could worsen with upstream development. The discussion revealed broader challenges around capital project prioritization and funding constraints facing the county, with staff indicating that funding strategies will evolve based on resolution of other major capital facilities under consideration this year.

**AB2025-677 - Six-Year Water Resources Improvement Program 2026-2031** - Action: DISCUSSED (no formal vote) - Staff Recommendation: Approve revised resolution addressing funding discrepancies - Council Action: Discussion only; item sched…

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**Water Resources Improvement Program Funding Strategy** The committee reviewed substantial revisions to the WRIP funding plan, driven by discrepancies identified in the original October 7th proposal. Director Kosa outlined ten specific changes, primarily involving shifts from REET funding to Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility funding for multiple projects including Eagle Ridge Stormwater Improvements, Austin Court Stormwater Improvements, and Strawberry Point Lake Whatcom Boulevard Stormwater Improvements. Council Member Donovan expressed concern about the funding philosophy, questioning whether the stormwater utility was fulfilling its intended purpose of providing additional capacity rather than supplanting existing funding sources. He noted that previously, flood control zone funds were used for Lake Whatcom area projects, but these no longer appear in the funding mix. Staff indicated that flood control zone funding will be examined for the next biennium, and that REET funding will return in ou…
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**Elizabeth Kosa, Public Works Director:** Emphasized that revisions address both funding discrepancies and current fiscal constraints. Advocated for the adjusted timeline and funding source changes as necessary adaptations to financial realities. **Council Member Todd Donovan:** Raised concerns about funding philosophy and regional development impacts. Questioned whether stormwater utility is providing intended additional capacity or supplanting existing sources. Highlighted po…
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**Elizabeth Kosa, on funding changes:** "The updated RIP that you see today has been modified. It addresses those discrepancies and it also incorporates the fiscal restraints and the financial climate that we're facing today." **Todd Donovan, on stormwater utility purpose:** "Because this is one worry I think some of us set up the utility is it would somehow then just, we'd be treading water to be supplanted, we'd be moving the funds that we were previously using rather than having additional…
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**Immediate Actions:** - AB2025-677 scheduled for introduction at October 21st evening council meeting - No additional committee review planned before council consideration **Upcoming Considerations:** - Flood control zone funding analysis for next biennium - Capital project prioritization process for next biennium - Review of funding mix based on…

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**Funding Source Modifications:** - Eagle Ridge, Austin Court, and Strawberry Point stormwater projects shifted from REET to Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility funding - Lower Lane Drainage project funding changed from Road Fund to REIT - Sudden Valley and Shirelle Terrace projects deferred to 2027 - Semiahmu Drive project spread between 2026-2027 - Pollender Levee Repair updated with current cost estimates **Process Changes:** - Item move…
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# WHA-PWH-2025-10-21 | Briefing Summary **Title:** Six-Year Water Resources Improvement Program Update **Date:** Tuesday, October 21, 2025 **Time:** 11:30 AM - 11:43 AM **Duration:** 13m 49s **Committee:** Council Public Works and Health Committee **Location:** Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers ## Summary The Public Works and Health Committee reviewed revisions to the Six-Year Water Resources Improvement Program (WRIP) for 2026-2031, with Director Elizabeth Kosa explaining funding source changes made after the resolution was withdrawn two weeks earlier to address discrepancies. Key discussions centered on funding strategy for Lake Whatcom stormwater projects and concerns about Blaine's potential urban growth area expansion near Birch Point. --- **Meeting Identification** - - **Title:** Six-Year Water Resources Improvement Program Update - **Jurisdiction:** Whatcom County - **Body:** Council Public Works and Health Committee - **Date:** Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - **Start Time:** 11:30 AM - **End Time:** 11:43 AM - **Duration:** 13m 49s **Attendance** - **Committee Chair:** Jon Scanlon - **Committee Members Present:** Mark Stremler, Ben Elenbaas - **Other Council Members Present:** Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Kaylee Galloway - **Staff Present:** Elizabeth Kosa (Public Works Director), Kraig Olason (Public Works), Aly Pennucci (Executive's Office) **Meeting Format** - **Type:** Hybrid Committee Meeting - **Location:** Council Chambers, County Courthouse - **Access:** In-person, virtual, or phone participation - **Recording Status:** Recorded session --- **Official Agenda Structure** **Call to Order & Roll Call** - Committee chair opened meeting at 11:30 AM - Attendance verification of committee and council members - Standard hybrid meeting protocols **Committee Discussion Items** **Primary Item:** - AB2025-677: Discussion of resolution to adopt Six-Year Water Resources Improvement Program (WRIP) for 2026-2031 - Status: Scheduled for Council intr…
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### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Public Works and Health Committee met on October 21, 2025, to discuss revisions to the Six-Year Water Resources Improvement Program (WRIP) for 2026-2031. The committee reviewed funding changes made to address discrepancies and financial constraints, with particular focus on stormwater projects around Lake Whatcom. ### Key Terms and Concepts **WRIP (Water Resources Improvement Program):** A six-year capital improvement plan that identifies and schedules water resource infrastructure projects, including stormwater management systems throughout Whatcom County. **REET (Real Estate Excise Tax):** A county tax on real estate transactions that provides funding for capital projects, particularly infrastructure improvements. **LWSU (Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility):** A funding mechanism established to generate revenue specifically for stormwater management projects around Lake Whatcom through utility fees. **BB Warm System:** A stormwater drainage system serving the Birch Bay and surrounding areas, which includes multiple projects totaling tens of millions of dollars in needed improvements. **UGA (Urban Growth Area):** Designated areas around cities where future urban development is planned, which can affect infrastructure responsibilities between counties and municipalities. **Road Fund:** County funding source primarily for road maintenance and improvements, which the county is trying to preserve by using alternative funding sources for some projects. **Flood Control Zone Fund:** A funding source that can be used for stormwater projects under state law, though not utilized in this particular plan revision. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jon Scanlon | Committee Chair | | Mark Stremler | Committee Member | | Ben Elenbaas | Committee Member | | Todd Donovan | Council Member | | Elizabeth Kosa | Public Works Department Director | | Kraig Olason | Public Works Department Staff | | Aly Pennucci | Exe…
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Transportation & Infrastructure Budget & Finance Environmental Government Operations City Of Blaine Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility Public Works Department Whatcom County Council Aly Pennucci Ben Elenbaas Craig Olason Elizabeth Kosa Jon Scanlon Mark Stremler Todd Donovan Annexation Budget Finance Capital Projects Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Investment Lake Whatcom Watershed Stormwater Management Water Resources