Whatcom County Council December 7 meeting roundup

The latest news from the December 7 Whatcom County Council meeting.

Birch Bay Visitor Center funding

Whatcom County Council granted the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce $110,000 to pay for the operations of the Birch Bay Visitor Center for 2022. Council voted 7-0 to authorize funds.

According to the memorandum, funding will come out of the county’s Convention Center Fund as recommended by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Last year the chamber was granted $100,000.

Chamber event coordinator Sacha Sanguinetti said the majority of the funding will go toward the chamber’s three major events; Rollback Weekend, the Sand Sculpture Competition and Discover Birch Bay Days. “Hopefully, next year [those events] won’t be as scaled down as they’ve been recently,” he said. Due to the pandemic, Rollback Weekend and the Sand Sculpture Competition coincided with each other this year. The chamber puts on other events as well, like the recent, successful first-time trick-or-treat on the berm affair.

Sanguinetti said in order to get the funding the chamber has to put on three big two-day events each year. The rest of the chamber’s funding comes from donors and sponsorships, which he said the chamber could not get by without.

NW Annex Redevelopment Fund

Whatcom County Council voted 7-0 to establish the Northwest Annex Redevelopment Fund, which will be used to account for revenues and expenditures related to replacing the Northwest Annex building at the corner of Northwest Drive and Smith Road, according to the memorandum. The initial project budget is $5.1 million. 

According to the memorandum, the multi-year project gets its funding for its first phase from the county’s Real Estate Excise Tax I Fund, the Public Utilities Improvement Fund, and the sale of the Baker Creek and Forest Street buildings.

“The existing Northwest Annex facility is over 100 years old and in dire need of replacing,” the memorandum states.

Birch Bay library

Whatcom County Council voted 6-0-1 to request that the Whatcom County Auditor include the question of establishing a Birch Bay Library Capital Facility Area to finance a new library facility in Birch Bay. It will be on the ballot in the February 2022 special election. 

North Whatcom Fire and Rescue paramedic reimbursement

Whatcom County Council voted 5-1-1, with councilmember Ben Elenbaas opposed and councilmember Tyler Byrd absent, to reimburse North Whatcom Fire and Rescue (NWFR) in the amount of $120,275 for the wages and benefits of a paramedic student. 

Council approved budget authority for a 2022 paramedic training class, according to the memorandum, and students recommended from the Bellingham Fire Department, Fire Protection District #7 and NWFR could participate in the course through EMS Levy funding. 

Affordable childcare facility

Whatcom County Council voted 6-0-1 to enter into a $1 million contract with the Opportunity Council, which will develop a 5,000 square foot childcare space at the Laurel and Forest streets project site in Bellingham. 

According to the memorandum, the newly-constructed space will include three classrooms and the capacity to provide childcare services for up to 65 children. The American Rescue Plan Act provides the funding for the project.

Affordable housing facility

Whatcom County Council voted 6-0-1 to grant the Opportunity Council $3 million to develop 56 one-bedroom apartments at the Laurel and Forest streets project site in Bellingham to be used as affordable housing. 

The units will be offered to low-income individuals and families living in Whatcom County, according to the memorandum. The American Rescue Plan Act provides the funding for the project.

Alderson Road golf cart zone hearing

Whatcom County Council voted 6-0-1 to introduce an ordinance to establish a 25 mph speed limit on Alderson Road from East Loft Lane to Gemini Street in Birch Bay. 

This would effectively extend the golf cart zone on Alderson Road to Gemini Street, which leads to the Birch Bay Activity Center and Bay Horizon Park, according to the memorandum. Ordinance 2018-023, which created the golf cart zone, states “all county roads posted 25 mph or less that lead to, and are contiguous with Birch Bay Drive.”