Whatcom County Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE ### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee met on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, to discuss a brief procedural matter regarding the Forest Resilience Task Force. The committee reviewed an ordinance that would formally repeal the task force code, allowing it to sunset as originally planned at the end of 2025. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Forest Resilience Task Force:** A temporary county body established by Whatcom County Code 2.170 with a sunset date at the end of 2025, tasked with developing a forest resilience plan for the county. **Sunset Date:** An expiration date built into legislation that automatically terminates a program, committee, or law unless renewed by further action. **Forest Advisory Committee (FAC):** An ongoing county advisory body that provides guidance on forest-related policies and will now oversee the implementation of the Forest Resilience Plan. **AB (Agenda Bill):** The county's numbering system for legislative items, with AB2025-750 being the discussion item and AB2025-749 being the formal introduction. **Ordinance Repeal:** The formal legislative process to remove existing county code from the books when it's no longer needed. **Committee Discussion Item:** An agenda item for information sharing and informal discussion, requiring no formal vote or motion. **Forest Resilience Plan:** A comprehensive planning document developed by the task force to address forest health and wildfire risks in Whatcom County. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kaylee Galloway | Committee Chair, County Council Member District 2 | | Mark Stremler | Committee Member, County Council Member | | Todd Donovan | Committee Member (absent), County Council Member | | Alexander Harris | Planning and Development Services Department, FAC Staff Facilitator | | Ben Elenbaas | County Council Member District 5, Forest Advisory Committee Rep | | Tyler Byrd | County Council Member District 1 | | Barry Buchanan | County Council Member | | Jon Scanlon | County Council Member | | Cathy Halka | Council Clerk | ### Background Context The Forest Resilience Task Force was created as a temporary body to develop strategies for improving forest health and wildfire preparedness in Whatcom County. Like many task forces, it was established with a built-in expiration date to ensure the work would be completed within a reasonable timeframe and prevent the creation of permanent bureaucratic structures without ongoing legislative oversight. The task force has completed its primary work by producing a draft Forest Resilience Plan. Rather than extend the task force's life, the County Council has decided to transfer ongoing oversight of the plan to the existing Forest Advisory Committee, which has the expertise and permanent structure to handle long-term implementation. This represents good government practice—creating temporary bodies for specific tasks, then transferring ongoing work to appropriate permanent structures. ### What Happened — The Short Version Committee Chair Kaylee Galloway explained that the meeting was purely procedural. The Forest Resilience Task Force is scheduled to expire at the end of 2025, and the county needs to formally repeal the ordinance that created it. This is standard housekeeping—when temporary bodies sunset, the code that established them should be removed from the books. No substantive policy decisions were made. Council Member Stremler asked about next steps for the Forest Resilience Plan itself. Alexander Harris from Planning and Development explained that the Forest Advisory Committee met the night before but spent most of their time on comprehensive plan updates rather than the resilience plan. They will focus on the plan's next steps at their December meeting. Council Member Elenbaas, who serves as the council representative to the Forest Advisory Committee, assured everyone that there's significant interest in moving the plan forward. ### What to Watch Next • **November 5 evening council meeting:** Introduction of AB2025-749 (the formal ordinance to repeal the task force code) • **November 18:** Final committee recommendation on the repeal ordinance • **Following council meeting:** Final council approval of the repeal • **December Forest Advisory Committee meeting:** Discussion of next steps for implementing the Forest Resilience Plan --- ## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Q:** What was the sole agenda item for this committee meeting? **A:** AB2025-750, discussion of an ordinance repealing Whatcom County Code 2.170, which established the Forest Resilience Task Force. **Q:** When is the Forest Resilience Task Force scheduled to sunset? **A:** At the end of 2025, as originally established in the county code that created it. **Q:** Who chaired this committee meeting? **A:** Kaylee Galloway, County Council Member District 2. **Q:** Which committee member was absent from the meeting? **A:** Todd Donovan. **Q:** What time did the meeting start and end? **A:** Started at 9:46 AM and adjourned at 9:51 AM (5 minutes, 33 seconds total). **Q:** Why does the county need to formally repeal the task force ordinance? **A:** As a matter of procedure, when temporary bodies sunset, the code that established them should be removed from the county books. **Q:** Who is Alexander Harris and what did he report? **A:** Staff facilitator for the Forest Advisory Committee who reported that the FAC didn't discuss the resilience plan at their recent meeting but will focus on it in December. **Q:** What body is now responsible for the Forest Resilience Plan? **A:** The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), after the County Council referred the draft plan back to them. **Q:** What did the Forest Advisory Committee spend most of their November 4 meeting discussing? **A:** Chapter 8 amendments to the comprehensive plan, which they'll present to the Planning Commission. **Q:** Which council member serves as the representative to the Forest Advisory Committee? **A:** Ben Elenbaas, County Council Member District 5. **Q:** What assurance did Council Member Elenbaas provide about the Forest Resilience Plan? **A:** That the FAC has significant interest in moving forward with aspects of the plan and won't let it "die on a shelf." **Q:** What is the difference between AB2025-750 and AB2025-749? **A:** AB2025-750 was the committee discussion item, while AB2025-749 is the formal ordinance introduction on the evening council agenda. **Q:** When will the Forest Advisory Committee focus on the resilience plan next steps? **A:** At their December meeting, according to Alexander Harris. **Q:** What type of meeting format was used? **A:** Hybrid format, allowing both in-person and remote participation. **Q:** Did this committee discussion require any formal motion or vote? **A:** No, it was purely a discussion item requiring no committee action. **Q:** What happens next with the repeal ordinance after today's discussion? **A:** Introduction at the November 5 evening council meeting, then final committee recommendation on November 18, followed by council approval. **Q:** What other council members were present besides the committee members? **A:** Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Ben Elenbaas, and Jon Scanlon attended the meeting. **Q:** What did Council Member Stremler ask about? **A:** He thanked the task force members for their work and asked about next steps for the plan implementation. --- ## MODULE S3: QUIZ WITH ANSWER KEY **Question 1: What was the primary purpose of this Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee meeting?** - A) To approve the Forest Resilience Plan - B) To discuss repealing the Forest Resilience Task Force ordinance - C) To extend the task force beyond 2025 - D) To create a new environmental committee **Question 2: When is the Forest Resilience Task Force scheduled to automatically expire?** - A) November 5, 2025 - B) December 2025 - C) End of 2025 - D) January 1, 2026 **Question 3: Who served as the committee chair for this meeting?** - A) Mark Stremler - B) Todd Donovan - C) Kaylee Galloway - D) Ben Elenbaas **Question 4: Which body is now responsible for overseeing the Forest Resilience Plan?** - A) Forest Resilience Task Force - B) Planning Commission - C) County Council directly - D) Forest Advisory Committee **Question 5: What did Alexander Harris report about the Forest Advisory Committee's November 4 meeting?** - A) They finalized the Forest Resilience Plan - B) They spent most time on comprehensive plan Chapter 8 amendments - C) They voted to disband - D) They requested more funding **Question 6: How long did this committee meeting last?** - A) Exactly 10 minutes - B) About 5 minutes and 33 seconds - C) 15 minutes - D) 30 minutes **Question 7: What is the agenda bill number for the committee discussion item?** - A) AB2025-749 - B) AB2025-750 - C) WCC 2.170 - D) CNR-2025-05 **Question 8: Which council member was absent from the meeting?** - A) Kaylee Galloway - B) Mark Stremler - C) Todd Donovan - D) Ben Elenbaas **Question 9: When will the Forest Advisory Committee focus their discussion on the Forest Resilience Plan next steps?** - A) Immediately - B) At their December meeting - C) In January 2026 - D) They haven't scheduled it yet **Question 10: What type of legislative action is required to formally end the task force?** - A) A resolution - B) An ordinance repeal - C) A budget amendment - D) No action is needed **Answer Key:** **1. B — The meeting was specifically called to discuss AB2025-750, an ordinance repealing the Forest Resilience Task Force code.** **2. C — Chair Galloway stated the task force "was established by this code with a sunset date for the end of this year."** **3. C — Kaylee Galloway chaired the meeting and called it to order at 9:46 AM.** **4. D — The Forest Advisory Committee now has jurisdiction over the plan after the County Council referred it back to them.** **5. B — Harris reported they "spent the majority of their meeting talking about the comp plan and those chapter eight amendments."** **6. B — The meeting began at 9:46 AM and adjourned at 9:51 AM, lasting 5 minutes and 33 seconds.** **7. B — AB2025-750 was the committee discussion item, while AB2025-749 is the formal ordinance introduction.** **8. C — The roll call shows Todd Donovan was absent from the meeting.** **9. B — Harris stated "They will be focusing their December meeting on the kind of procedural next steps."** **10. B — An ordinance repeal is needed to formally remove the county code that established the task force.** --- ## MODULE S4: Q&A — COMMON QUESTIONS **Q: Why does the county need to formally repeal an ordinance for something that's already set to expire?** A: This is standard government housekeeping. When temporary bodies like task forces sunset, the ordinances that created them should be formally repealed to remove outdated code from the county books. Chair Galloway described it as "a logistical process" to ensure the code is properly cleaned up. **Q: What happened to the Forest Resilience Plan that the task force was working on?** A: The County Council received the draft plan and referred it to the Forest Advisory Committee for further development and implementation. The plan isn't being abandoned—it's being transferred to a permanent body better suited for long-term oversight. **Q: Will there be any public input opportunity on this ordinance repeal?** A: Yes, this was introduced at the November 5 evening council meeting and will come back to committee on November 18 for final recommendation, followed by final council approval. The public can comment during regular council meeting public comment periods. **Q: Why was this such a short meeting?** A: This was purely a procedural matter requiring only brief discussion. The committee just needed to understand what the ordinance does and confirm there were no concerns before it moves through the formal legislative process. **Q: Who is taking over the forest resilience work now?** A: The Forest Advisory Committee, a permanent county advisory body with ongoing expertise in forest issues. Council Member Elenbaas, who serves as the council representative to that committee, confirmed they have significant interest in moving the plan forward. **Q: When will we see actual action on forest resilience recommendations?** A: The Forest Advisory Committee plans to focus their December meeting on next steps for the plan, including how to make edits and begin implementing recommendations. This should provide more clarity on timeline and priorities. **Q: What does it mean that the task force has a "sunset date"?** A: A sunset date is an automatic expiration built into legislation. It forces lawmakers to actively decide whether to continue a program rather than letting it exist indefinitely. The task force was always designed to be temporary. **Q: Could the county extend the task force instead of letting it expire?** A: Theoretically yes, but there's no indication anyone wants to do that. The work has been completed and transferred to the appropriate ongoing committee. Creating temporary bodies for specific tasks, then transitioning to permanent structures, is considered good government practice. **Q: How can I stay informed about the Forest Resilience Plan's progress?** A: Follow the Forest Advisory Committee meetings, which are public. You can also track any council agenda items related to forest resilience. The December FAC meeting should provide the next significant update. **Q: What other council members were involved in this decision?** A: While only committee members Galloway and Stremler were voting members, several other council members attended including Elenbaas, Byrd, Buchanan, and Scanlon, showing broad council interest in the topic.

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** WHA-CNR-2025-11-05 ### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee met on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, to discuss a brief procedural matter regarding the Forest Resilience Task Force. The committee reviewed an ordinance that would formally repeal the task force code, allowing it to sunset as originally planned at the end of 2025. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Forest Resilience Task Force:** A temporary county body established by Whatcom County Code 2.170 with a sunset date at the end of 2025, tasked with developing a forest resilience plan for the county. **Sunset Date:** An expiration date built into legislation that automatically terminates a program, committee, or law unless renewed by further action. **Forest Advisory Committee (FAC):** An ongoing county advisory body that provides guidance on forest-related policies and will now oversee the implementation of the Forest Resilience Plan. **AB (Agenda Bill):** The county's numbering system for legislative items, with AB2025-750 being the discussion item and AB2025-749 being the formal introduction. **Ordinance Repeal:** The formal legislative process to remove existing county code from the books when it's no longer needed. **Committee Discussion Item:** An agenda item for information sharing and informal discussion, requiring no formal vote or motion. **Forest Resilience Plan:** A comprehensive planning document developed by the task force to address forest health and wildfire risks in Whatcom County. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kaylee Galloway | Committee Chair, County Council Member District 2 | | Mark Stremler | Committee Member, County Council Member | | Todd Donovan | Committee Member (absent), County Council Member | | Alexander Harris | Planning and Development Services Department, FAC Staff Facilitator | | Ben Elenbaas | County Council Member District 5, Forest Advisory Committee Rep | | Tyler Byrd | County Council Member District 1 | | Barry Buchanan | County Council Member | | Jon Scanlon | County Council Member | | Cathy Halka | Council Clerk | ### Background Context The Forest Resilience Task Force was created as a temporary body to develop strategies for improving forest health and wildfire preparedness in Whatcom County. Like many task forces, it was established with a built-in expiration date to ensure the work would be completed within a reasonable timeframe and prevent the creation of permanent bureaucratic structures without ongoing legislative oversight. The task force has completed its primary work by producing a draft Forest Resilience Plan. Rather than extend the task force's life, the County Council has decided to transfer ongoing oversight of the plan to the existing Forest Advisory Committee, which has the expertise and permanent structure to handle long-term implementation. This represents good government practice—creating temporary bodies for specific tasks, then transferring ongoing work to appropriate permanent structures. ### What Happened — The Short Version Committee Chair Kaylee Galloway explained that the meeting was purely procedural. The Forest Resilience Task Force is scheduled to expire at the end of 2025, and the county needs to formally repeal the ordinance that created it. This is standard housekeeping—when temporary bodies sunset, the code that established them should be removed from the books. No substantive policy decisions were made. Council Member Stremler asked about next steps for the Forest Resilience Plan itself. Alexander Harris from Planning and Development explained that the Forest Advisory Committee met the night before but spent most of their time on comprehensive plan updates rather than the resilience plan. They will focus on the plan's next steps at their December meeting. Council Member Elenbaas, who serves as the council representative to the Forest Advisory Committee, assured everyone that there's significant interest in moving the plan forward. ### What to Watch Next • **November 5 evening council meeting:** Introduction of AB2025-749 (the formal ordinance to repeal the task force code) • **November 18:** Final committee recommendation on the repeal ordinance • **Following council meeting:** Final council approval of the repeal • **December Forest Advisory Committee meeting:** Discussion of next steps for implementing the Forest Resilience Plan ---

## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Meeting ID:** WHA-CNR-2025-11-05 **Q:** What was the sole agenda item for this committee meeting? **A:** AB2025-750, discussion of an ordinance repealing Whatcom County Code 2.170, which established the Forest Resilience Task Force. **Q:** When is the Forest Resilience Task Force scheduled to sunset? **A:** At the end of 2025, as originally established in the county code that created it. **Q:** Who chaired this committee meeting? **A:** Kaylee Galloway, County Council Member District 2. **Q:** Which committee member was absent from the meeting? **A:** Todd Donovan. **Q:** What time did the meeting start and end? **A:** Started at 9:46 AM and adjourned at 9:51 AM (5 minutes, 33 seconds total). **Q:** Why does the county need to formally repeal the task force ordinance? **A:** As a matter of procedure, when temporary bodies sunset, the code that established them should be removed from the county books. **Q:** Who is Alexander Harris and what did he report? **A:** Staff facilitator for the Forest Advisory Committee who reported that the FAC didn't discuss the resilience plan at their recent meeting but will focus on it in December. **Q:** What body is now responsible for the Forest Resilience Plan? **A:** The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), after the County Council referred the draft plan back to them. **Q:** What did the Forest Advisory Committee spend most of their November 4 meeting discussing? **A:** Chapter 8 amendments to the comprehensive plan, which they'll present to the Planning Commission. **Q:** Which council member serves as the representative to the Forest Advisory Committee? **A:** Ben Elenbaas, County Council Member District 5. **Q:** What assurance did Council Member Elenbaas provide about the Forest Resilience Plan? **A:** That the FAC has significant interest in moving forward with aspects of the plan and won't let it "die on a shelf." **Q:** What is the difference between AB2025-750 and AB2025-749? **A:** AB2025-750 was the committee discussion item, while AB2025-749 is the formal ordinance introduction on the evening council agenda. **Q:** When will the Forest Advisory Committee focus on the resilience plan next steps? **A:** At their December meeting, according to Alexander Harris. **Q:** What type of meeting format was used? **A:** Hybrid format, allowing both in-person and remote participation. **Q:** Did this committee discussion require any formal motion or vote? **A:** No, it was purely a discussion item requiring no committee action. **Q:** What happens next with the repeal ordinance after today's discussion? **A:** Introduction at the November 5 evening council meeting, then final committee recommendation on November 18, followed by council approval. **Q:** What other council members were present besides the committee members? **A:** Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Ben Elenbaas, and Jon Scanlon attended the meeting. **Q:** What did Council Member Stremler ask about? **A:** He thanked the task force members for their work and asked about next steps for the plan implementation. ---