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Water Resources Advisory Board

BEL-WRA-2026-01-27 January 27, 2026 City Council Regular Meeting City of Bellingham 57 min
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The Water Resources Advisory Board convened for its annual January meeting, where members elected new leadership and received a comprehensive overview of planned activities for 2026. Rick Eggerth was elected Chair and Bret Beaupain was elected Vice Chair in what appeared to be a routine transition, with Beaupain noting they were "flip flopping roles." The meeting's primary focus was a detailed presentation of the 2026 work plan by Deputy Public Works Director Mike Olinger, outlining an ambitious agenda covering water system planning, sewer infrastructure, environmental protection, and public accountability measures. The work plan spans seven major themes, from basic board orientation to complex regulatory compliance issues. Staff provided updates on several critical infrastructure projects, including the settlement of the Post Point Notice of Violation with Northwest Clean Air and ongoing work on the city's water system plan. The Post Point issue has been resolved with a compliance plan extending through 2030, requiring construction to begin in 2027 and an estimated cost of over $40 million. The board also heard about changes to the state's approach to nutrient reduction requirements, with the Department of Ecology abandoning the Puget Sound general nutrient permit in favor of incorporating requirements directly into individual facility permits. This shift creates uncertainty about future compliance costs and timeline. A notable moment came during public comment when Jerry, owner of RDS landfill, advocated for an alternative approach to biosolids management, proposing a $1.2 million device that could convert sewage sludge into material suitable for landfilling rather than incineration.

- **Chair and Vice Chair Election:** Rick Eggerth elected Chair, Bret Beaupain elected Vice Chair (unanimous vote) - **November 2025 Minutes Approval:** Approved with one abstention (Rick Eggerth, who was absent from that meetin…

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The meeting centered on water resources planning and infrastructure challenges facing Bellingham. The 2026 work plan reveals the complexity of managing municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater systems while meeting evolving regulatory requirements. **Water System Planning:** The city's water system plan remains delayed due to comments from the Department of Ecology regarding water adjudication. Olinger explained that Ecology is working to align the city's claimed water rights with their records, particularly concerning historical rights from the early 1900s Fairhaven Water acquisition. The city holds water rights "all over the place" including Lake Whatcom, Middle Fork Nooksack, Lake Padden, and various creeks, with "hundreds and hundreds of thousands of documents" requiring review. **Storage Strategy:** The city faces immediate needs for increased reservoir capacity on King Mountain, with staff already beginning contractor selection for design work. The approach may involve multiple smaller storage facilities rather than one large reservoir, with decisions affecting 20…
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**Mike Olinger (Deputy Public Works Director)** served as the primary presenter, emphasizing transparency and community engagement while acknowledging the complexity of balancing regulatory requirements with financial realities. He stressed that even "information only" items welcome board feedback. **Joel Pfundt (Public Works Director)** provided strategic context, particularly around decision-making processes and the need to balance competing priorities while maintaining accountability to the community. **Riley Grant** outlined plans for a new annual utility report to improve transparency about how rate increases translate into system improvements, responding to com…
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**Jerry, on his alternative biosolids proposal:** "I'm here to tell you folks that I believe we have a better solution than to emit PFAS into our community. There's no way our incinerators with all of the emissions controls we're gonna do that we're gonna prevent polluting our community." **Mike Olinger, on the regulatory uncertainty around nutrient reduction:** "Yeah, new day and we're still a little confused as to what the new day is." **Joel Pfundt, on balancing competing priorities:** "…
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**February 2026 Meeting:** Sewer comprehensive plan overview and timeline presentation expected, plus potential Lake Whatcom boat ordinance (AIS) code changes and initial utility annual report discussions. **March 2026:** Water system plan final review anticipated, pending resolution of Department of Ecology comments on water adjudication. **Q1 2026:** Lake Whatcom Climate Vulnerability Asse…

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The board elected new leadership with Rick Eggerth as Chair and Bret Beaupain as Vice Chair, representing a role swap from the previous year. The Post Point Notice of Violation moved from active enforcement to settled compliance plan with defined timeline and budget authority. The state's nutrient reduction approach shifted from a general permit process to individual fac…
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# Bellingham Water Resources Advisory Board: Leadership Changes and Looking Ahead to 2026 ## Meeting Overview The Bellingham Water Resources Advisory Board convened on January 27, 2026, at Pacific Street Operations, with a hybrid in-person and virtual format that has become standard since the pandemic. This was the board's annual January organizational meeting, when new leadership is elected and the year's work plan is set. Present were seven board members: Bret Beaupain, Carl Benson, Rick Eggerth, Fiona McNair, Kirsten McDade, John Peppel, and Francesca Harbeson. The meeting was staffed by Mike Olinger, Deputy Director of Public Works; Joel Pfundt, Public Works Director; and Riley Grant, staff liaison. The meeting reflected both routine governance and the complex technical challenges facing Bellingham's water systems in 2026 — from regulatory compliance to infrastructure investment to climate resilience. ## Annual Leadership Election: A Familiar Rotation Following Bellingham Municipal Code requirements, the board conducted its annual election of officers. In what Chair Bret Beaupain described as "flip flopping rolls," the leadership shifted with characteristic informality. Rick Eggerth, who had served as vice chair, moved into the chair position. "Let's move up the ladder if no one else wants to," Eggerth said, reflecting the board's collaborative culture. Beaupain stepped down to vice chair, noting "I'm fine handing you the helm." The transition was unanimous and uncontested — a sign of the board's stability and the working relationships that have developed over years of technical discussions about water supply, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management. "We memorize the complicated rules," Beaupain joked about the simple rotation, but the comment reflected deeper familiarity with both parliamentary procedure and the substantive issues the board addresses. ## A Public Voice on Waste Management Alternatives Before diving into the formal agenda, the board heard from Jerry, who identified himself as the owner of RDS, a local waste management company. His two-minute comment was technically about solid waste handling, but it connected to the broader challenges facing the city's Post Point wastewater treatment plant. "I learned or I own RDS, the local garbage place. I've been doing this for 27 years. I got into landfilling because I'm an environmental activist. I decided landfilling is the best thing we can do with our waste," Jerry began, es…
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### Meeting Overview The City of Bellingham Water Resources Advisory Board met on January 27, 2026, for its first meeting of the year. The board elected new officers, reviewed the 2026 work plan, and received updates on major utility projects including the Post Point wastewater treatment facility emissions upgrade and ongoing water system planning. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Water Resources Advisory Board (WRAB):** Nine-member citizen advisory board that provides input to the City Council on water, wastewater, and stormwater utility matters. **Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO):** When wastewater treatment systems become overwhelmed (typically during heavy rain), untreated sewage overflows into storm systems and eventually into the bay. Bellingham is allowed one CSO event per year on average. **GCCM (General Contractor Construction Management):** An alternative project delivery method where a contractor is brought in early to participate in design, helping reduce change orders and construction issues. **Nutrient Reduction Evaluation (NRE):** Process to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus discharged from wastewater treatment plants to protect Puget Sound water quality. **Water System Plan:** Comprehensive planning document that guides water system operations, infrastructure investments, and regulatory compliance. **Inflow and Infiltration (I&I):** Rainwater that enters the sewer system through pipe defects, illegal connections, or other pathways, reducing treatment capacity. **Department of Ecology (DOE):** State agency that regulates water quality, water rights, and wastewater discharge permits. **Lake Whatcom:** Primary drinking water source for Bellingham, requiring special protection due to its status as a municipal water supply. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Rick Eg…
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Government Operations Utilities Environmental Carollo Jacobs Department Ecology Northwest Clean Air Rds Landfill Bret Beaupain Jerry Rds Joel Pfundt Mike Olinger Rick Eggerth Riley Grant Aquatic Invasive Species Biosolids Management Combined Sewer Overflow Fish Passage Lake Whatcom Watershed Nutrient Reduction Post Point Emissions Sewer Comprehensive Plan Water Rights Water Storage Water System Plan