Whatcom County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Whatcom County Council approves jail program, moves to design phase

The Whatcom County Council on Aug. 11 approved the county jail program and directed the Executive to proceed with design and preliminary construction, prioritizing the Rapid Resource Center, second courtroom, and family visitation without sacrificing housing capacity. The vote was 5-2. The council also created a dedicated sales tax fund for criminal justice, amended the 2026 budget by $3,658,280 for jail health and food services, and authorized a $7,052,947 contract to subsidize child care. An ordinance to acquire property by eminent domain for the Birch Bay Lynden Road project failed unanimously after a settlement was reached.

Jail program and funding

The council voted 5-2 to accept the jail program and direct the Executive to proceed with design and preliminary construction. The project will prioritize the Rapid Resource Center, a second courtroom, and family visitation, while maintaining housing capacity.

Two related ordinances passed unanimously (7-0): one establishing the Criminal Justice Sales Tax Fund under RCW 82.14.345, and another amending the 2026 budget by $3,658,280 to fund jail health and food services.

Other council actions

The council authorized a $7,052,947 contract with AidKit to subsidize child care costs and augment providers, on a 5-2 vote. It also approved a $3,802,670 interlocal agreement with WSDOT for Birch Bay-Lynden Road and Blaine Road (SR-548) intersection improvements (7-0), and a $277,341.62 bid for Swift Creek Channel Excavation (7-0).

An ordinance to acquire property by eminent domain for the Birch Bay Lynden Road project failed unanimously (0-7) after a settlement was reached. The council confirmed James Marks as Planning & Development Services Director (7-0).

Committee meetings

The Council Committee of the Whole recommended approval of a resolution to temporarily change the format of committee meetings on council meeting days, voting 5-1 with one abstention. It also appointed councilmembers Boyle, Elenbaas, and Scanlon to negotiate hearing examiner services for 2027-2028 (7-0).

The council held an executive session on potential litigation; no decisions were made, and the session was procedural.

Several other committees met on Aug. 11, but their agendas were discussion-only and no minutes have been published. The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee discussed the jail program request. The Public Works & Health Committee discussed the 2027-2032 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program, a modification to the 2026-2031 TIP, the 2026 Annual Road Program, and food service rules. The Planning and Development Committee considered docketing a comprehensive plan and zoning amendment for 4610 Lincoln Road for the Birch Bay Urban Growth Area Reserve. The Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee heard presentations on water issues and parks policy, and discussed renaming Canyon Lake Trail after conservationist Rand Jack. The Finance and Administrative Services Committee reviewed the AidKit contract, the WSDOT interlocal, and budget amendments, including a $2,094,013 amendment.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days.

Council approves $25M for Lummi Island Ferry replacement

The Whatcom County Council approved a $25 million interlocal agreement for the Lummi Island Ferry replacement and modernization project at its July 28 meeting, along with establishing a new ferry district fund and adopting several land-use amendments.

Council actions (July 28)

The council voted 7-0 to authorize the $25,000,000 interlocal agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Lummi Island Ferry Replacement and System Modernization Project. It also approved a $5.7 million initial budget for the Whatcom County Ferry District (5-2) and established the Whatcom County Ferry District Fund (6-1).

In other action, the council adopted Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Code, and Zoning Map amendments (5-2), approved a non-exclusive telecommunications franchise for Forged Fiber 37, LLC (7-0), and authorized $725,761 for behavioral health services through the North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization (7-0). The council also approved its 2027 regular meeting dates (7-0) and voted 7-0 to hold the Lake Whatcom Forest Management Plan pending review by the Forest Advisory Committee.

Committee discussions (July 28)

Several council committees met the same day, with agendas that included:

• **Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee:** Presentations on the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force's 2026 annual report, the Justice for Families Project, and a preliminary analysis of staffing and operating costs for a new jail.
• **Finance and Administrative Services Committee:** Review of the $25 million ferry interlocal agreement, a $3,658,280 budget amendment (request no. 11), a $725,761 interlocal agreement with North Sound Behavioral Health ASO, a $300,530 amendment with Ferndale School District for mental health services, and a $138,894 contract with SCS Engineers for a solid and hazardous waste management plan update.
• **Public Works & Health Committee:** Discussion of proposed ordinance AB2026-504 amending county code Chapter 24.03 on food service rules and regulations.
• **Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee:** A presentation from Puget Sound Energy on wildfire season operational procedures (AB2026-430), an ordinance amending shellfish protection district code (AB2026-526), and a joint resolution with Bellingham City Council on the Lake Whatcom Forest Management Plan (AB2026-556).

The Council Committee of the Whole also met in executive session, approving a motion (7-0) to discuss potential litigation regarding human resources and employment issues. No public decisions were recorded.

Health Board and special committee (August 4)

On August 4, the Council as the Health Board met for informational updates, including a food safety program update and presentations from the Health Director, Health Officer, and Public Health Advisory Board Chair. No major decisions were listed on the agenda.

The Council Special Committee of the Whole held two meetings that day: one to discuss preliminary analysis of new jail staffing and operating costs, and another to review the Capital Improvement Program and council office procedures. Both were agenda-only, with no decisions recorded.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days.

Whatcom County Council approves $25 million Lummi Island Ferry agreement

The Whatcom County Council authorized a $25 million interlocal agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Lummi Island Ferry Replacement and System Modernization Project at its July 28 meeting, passing 7-0. The council also established a new Whatcom County Ferry District Fund with an initial budget of $5.7 million, approved 5-2, and created the fund itself on a 6-1 vote.

Ferry system modernization

The $25 million agreement was the largest dollar item on the council's agenda. The Ferry District Fund's initial $5.7 million budget and the fund's establishment passed on split votes, with the exact breakdown not specified beyond the tallies. The Finance and Administrative Services Committee had reviewed the same agreement earlier that day, alongside several other contracts and budget amendments.

Behavioral health and other funding

The council authorized $725,761 for behavioral health services through an interlocal agreement with North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization, passing 7-0. The Finance Committee agenda also listed a $300,530 interlocal agreement amendment with Ferndale School District for mental health services and a $138,894 contract with SCS Engineers for an updated Comprehensive Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Plan. Those items appeared on the committee agenda; minutes for that committee meeting have not yet been published.

Land use and zoning

The council adopted Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Code, and Zoning Map amendments on a 5-2 vote. It also approved a non-exclusive telecommunications franchise for Forged Fiber 37, LLC (7-0) and set the 2027 regular meeting dates (7-0).

The council voted 7-0 to hold the Lake Whatcom Forest Management Plan pending review by the Forest Advisory Committee. The Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee had discussed a joint resolution with the Bellingham City Council on the same plan, along with a shellfish protection district ordinance (AB2026-526) and a Puget Sound Energy presentation on wildfire season operational procedures. Minutes for that committee meeting are not yet published.

Jail staffing and public safety

The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee agenda included presentations on the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force 2026 Annual Report, the Justice for Families Project, and a preliminary analysis of staffing and operating costs for a new jail. Minutes are not yet published, so no committee actions are confirmed.

The full council's Committee of the Whole approved a motion 7-0 to enter a closed executive session to discuss potential litigation regarding Human Resources and employment issues. No public decisions or votes on the litigation were recorded.

Food service rules

The Public Works & Health Committee discussed AB2026-504, a proposed ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 24.03 covering food service rules and regulations, with a recommendation to the full council. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming up

• **Aug. 4 — Council Special Committee of the Whole:** Discussion of the Capital Improvement Program and council office procedures. No major decisions expected.
• **Aug. 4 — Council as the Health Board:** Update on the food safety program, plus presentations from the Health Director, Health Officer, and Public Health Advisory Board Chair.
• **Aug. 4 — Council Special Committee of the Whole:** Preliminary analysis of staffing and operating costs for a new jail. Hybrid meeting with in-person and remote participation.

Whatcom County Council enters executive session on potential litigation; committees review flood grants, ferry district budget, and fireworks rules

The Whatcom County Council's only recorded action from its July 14 meetings was a unanimous vote to enter executive session to discuss potential litigation. All other committee and council sessions that day remain in agenda-only status, with official minutes not yet published.

Executive session approved 7-0

The Council Committee of the Whole-Executive Session voted 7-0 to enter executive session to discuss agenda items 1 and 2, covering AB2026-545 and AB2026-531, both regarding potential litigation. No formal approvals, denials, or other actions were recorded during the session. This is the only meeting from July 14 with published official minutes.

Finance committee reviews $10 million flood grant and ferry district budget

The Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee was scheduled to review several funding items, including an interlocal grant agreement for Floodplains by Design funding in the amount of $10,000,000. The committee also had proposed initial budget levels for the Whatcom County Ferry District of either $4.2 million or $5.2 million on its agenda.

Other items listed for discussion included a grant agreement with the Washington Department of Commerce for flood mitigation in Sumas, Nooksack, and Everson totaling $207,400; a contract amendment with Status Electrical Corporation for security electronics at jail facilities for $69,442; and a contract with the Washington State Office of Public Defense for Indigent Defense Services in the amount of $435,995.

Minutes for this committee meeting have not yet been published, so no decisions can be confirmed.

Council agenda includes Comprehensive Plan hearings and ferry district resolution

The full Council meeting agenda listed combined public hearings on Comprehensive Plan and Foothills Subarea Plan amendments (AB2026-488), Zoning Code amendments (AB2026-489), and Zoning Map amendments (AB2026-490). The agenda also included a resolution establishing an initial budget level of $5.7 million for the Whatcom County Ferry District (AB2026-552), which differs from the $4.2 million or $5.2 million figures listed on the Finance Committee agenda.

Additional items on the Council agenda included the $10,000,000 Floodplains by Design interlocal grant agreement (AB2026-527), the $69,442 Status Electrical Corporation contract amendment (AB2026-496), and a grant agreement with the Washington Department of Ecology to restore Olympia oysters in North Chuckanut Bay for $50,000 (AB2026-503).

Minutes for the Council meeting have not yet been published.

Fireworks regulations discussed

The Council Committee of the Whole was scheduled to discuss two ordinances — AB2026-431 and AB2026-475 — both proposing to amend Whatcom County Code Chapter 5.20 to limit the days fireworks are allowed and prohibit their use during burn bans. Minutes are not yet published.

Public Works committee weighs eminent domain for road project

The Council Public Works & Health Committee agenda included AB2026-517, an ordinance involving declaring public necessity to acquire property rights via eminent domain for the Birch Bay Lynden Road and Blaine Road Intersection Improvements Project. Minutes are not yet published.

Other committee items

The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee was scheduled to hear informational reports from the Public Defender's Office (AB2026-336) and Superior Court Administration and Juvenile Court (AB2026-404). The Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee was set to receive a presentation on the Marine Resources Committee's 2025 annual report (AB2026-506) and discuss an ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 16.20 regarding shellfish protection districts (AB2026-547). Neither committee's minutes have been published.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Readers who want to confirm outcomes from the July 14 sessions should check the Whatcom County Council website for published minutes, as most items reported here reflect agenda items only and final actions have not yet been verified.