Whatcom County Council Special Committee of the Whole

Whatcom County Council held a special Committee of the Whole meeting to address three major items: the 2026 state legislative session priorities, comprehensive plan urban growth area proposals, and individual councilmember project updates. The meeting, chaired by Vice Chair Jon Scanlon due to Chair Galloway participating remotely from Olympia, lasted over three hours and featured substantive policy discussions on flood mitigation, housing development, and regional planning. The most significant action was the Council's unanimous support (7-0) for the county's $15 million state capital budget request for flood mitigation projects targeting Everson, Nooksack, and Sumas communities. This request comes in response to recent devastating floods and represents early action items from the flood plate integrated planning (FLIP) process, focusing on property acquisition, advanced design work, and infrastructure improvements over an 18-month timeline. The Council also engaged in detailed discussions about urban growth area proposals for Birch Bay, Columbia Valley, and rural/resource lands as part of the 2025 comprehensive plan update. These proposals are driven by new state requirements under House Bill 1220 that mandate accommodation of different income levels through varied housing types. The changes would allow duplex, triplex, and fourplex development in previously single-family-only zones to meet moderate-income housing needs. A notable debate emerged around Columbia Valley's commercial development potential, with Council Member Ben Elenbaas expressing frustration about the lack of accessible commercial opportunities for the isolated community. He characterized the current approach as "business as usual" that fails to serve residents who must travel significant distances for basic services like groceries and laundromats. This discussion highlighted ongoing tensions between zoning designations and practical development feasibility. The meeting also saw Council Member Elenbaas successfully propose adding Nooksack River shores to mineral resource lands designation for potential gravel extraction to aid flood mitigation efforts. The Council supported allowing duplex, triplex, and fourplex development in Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development (LAMIRDs), overriding the Planning Commission's more restrictive recommendation. The session concluded with councilmembers outlining individual project priorities, ranging from mental health access expansion to flood recovery, housing initiatives, and infrastructure improvements, setting the stage for strategic planning at their upcoming February 17 retreat.

**State Legislative Flood Mitigation Support (AB2026-037)** - Vote: 7-0 (unanimous approval) - Staff recommendation: Support request - Council action: Aligned with staff recommendation - Amount: $15 million capital budget request to state - Purpose: Flood hazard mitigation including property acquisition, advanced design work for berms, flood walls, emergency access improvements, and drainage projects **Nooksack River Mineral Resource Lands Amendment (AB2026-078)** - Vote: 6-0 (Council Member Galloway temporarily away) - Motion: Request Executive work with planning staff to explore adding Nooksack River shores to Mineral Resource Lands Special District - Purpose: Enable gravel extraction for flood management - Timeline: At earliest feasible time **Rural Housing Development Support (AB2026-078)** - Vote: 6-0 (Council Member Galloway temporarily away) - Staff recommendation: Allow duplex, triplex, fourplex in rural zones - Council action: Supported original PDS proposal over Planning Commission's more restrictive recommendation - Scope: Allows higher-density housing in all LAMIRDs, not just three communities as Planning Commission recommended **Urban Growth Area Proposals** - No formal votes taken - General consensus to proceed with Birch Bay and Columbia Valley proposals as presented - Concerns raised about Columbia Valley commercial development feasibility

**Ben Elenbaas, on Columbia Valley commercial development:** "This plan is business as usual. We're not changing anything to help that community have what all the other communities have. And it's just status quo. And so we're going to have 10 more years of the people in Kindle feeling like they're an afterthought still." **Ben Elenbaas, on development feasibility:** "Are we fooling ourselves by saying we have these areas where we could do this, but then when you put yourself on the ground, oh, well, we can't build here because, you know, that's like four old growth trees, and we can't do it here because there's 10 square feet of canary grass." **Jed Holmes, on flood project scope:** "We have probably close to half a billion dollars worth of projects that we're looking at. This ask was calculated based on what we thought we might be able to get from the State, and so we took $15 million and spread it across these project areas." **Mark Stremler, on flood mitigation approach:** "It's more like, to me, okay, let's say we get this money and we use it on what's outlined here, but then when it comes to execution of these things, like, are they going to say, well, we gave you X amount of dollars, like, you know, good luck. That's all we got." **Jon Scanlon, on housing diversity:** "These changes would just make duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes allowable; it would not disallow single family housing."

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE A structured study guide helping readers understand the meeting's content and context. ### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council held a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on February 3, 2026, to discuss three main items: updates on the 2026 State Legislative Session, urban growth area proposals for the comprehensive plan update, and councilmember project priorities. ### Key Terms and Concepts **FLIP (Flood Plate Integrated Planning):** A multi-jurisdictional planning process addressing flood mitigation in the Nooksack River watershed, involving county and partner agencies to develop coordinated flood response strategies. **Urban Growth Area (UGA):** Designated areas under the Growth Management Act where urban development is encouraged and where cities are expected to expand, with urban-level services like water and sewer systems. **UGA Reserve:** Areas designated for potential future inclusion in Urban Growth Areas when growth demands require expansion, but not immediately available for urban development. **LAMIRD (Limited Area of More Intensive Rural Development):** Special rural designations under the Growth Management Act for historic rural communities that allow slightly higher densities than typical rural areas. **House Bill 1220:** State legislation requiring counties to accommodate housing for different income levels, with duplex/triplex/fourplex housing considered "moderate income" options. **Land Capacity Analysis:** Technical planning study that calculates how much development can be accommodated within existing zoned areas, considering factors like critical areas and infrastructure. **Growth Management Act (GMA):** Washington State law requiring counties to direct growth to urban areas while protecting rural and resource lands. **Mineral Resource Lands (MRL):** Areas designated for long-term commercial mineral extraction, including gravel and sand operations. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jon Scanlon | Council Vice Chair, presiding over meeting | | Jed Holmes | County Executive's Office | | Matt Aamot | Planning and Development Services | | Mark Personius | Planning and Development Services Director | | Kaylee Galloway | Council Chair, attending remotely from Olympia | | Elizabeth Boyle | Councilmember | | Barry Buchanan | Councilmember | | Ben Elenbaas | Councilmember | | Jessica Rienstra | Councilmember | | Mark Stremler | Councilmember | ### Background Context This meeting occurred in the wake of devastating November 2021 floods that severely impacted Whatcom County communities, particularly Everson, Sumas, and Nooksack. The flood emergency has created urgency around infrastructure improvements and flood mitigation, driving the county's $15 million request to the state legislature. Simultaneously, the county is conducting its required 10-year comprehensive plan update under the Growth Management Act, with new state requirements (House Bill 1220) mandating accommodation of housing for different income levels. These dual pressures — flood recovery and growth accommodation — frame much of the policy discussion, as the county must balance development needs with natural hazard risks while complying with state mandates for both flood safety and housing provision. ### What Happened — The Short Version The council unanimously supported the county's $15 million flood mitigation funding request to the state legislature. This money would pay for property acquisition and advanced design work on projects like widening river corridors, building flood walls, and improving emergency access routes. Planning staff then presented proposals for urban growth areas, including allowing duplexes and fourplexes in more areas to meet new state housing requirements. The council made two significant decisions: they asked county staff to explore adding Nooksack River banks to mineral resource lands (for potential gravel extraction to help with flood control), and they supported allowing more housing types in rural historic communities. Finally, councilmembers shared their individual project priorities, including mental health services, housing, and flood recovery efforts. ### What to Watch Next - February 24 Council meeting for detailed flood operations briefing from River and Flood team - Upcoming zoning ordinance package implementing the comprehensive plan changes - Development of the docketed UGA reserve discussions for 2026-27 - State budget publication revealing actual flood mitigation funding decisions - Council strategic planning retreat on February 17 --- ## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Q:** What is the total amount Whatcom County is requesting from the state for flood mitigation projects? **A:** $15 million for acquisition of properties and easements, plus advanced design work on flood protection projects. **Q:** Which three communities are the primary focus of the county's flood mitigation efforts? **A:** Everson, Sumas, and Nooksack, which were severely impacted by the 2021 floods. **Q:** What does FLIP stand for and what is its purpose? **A:** Flood Plate Integrated Planning — a multi-jurisdictional process to coordinate flood mitigation projects across the Nooksack River watershed. **Q:** Why is the county proposing to allow duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes in more areas? **A:** To comply with House Bill 1220, which requires counties to accommodate housing for different income levels, with these housing types considered "moderate income" options. **Q:** What is a UGA Reserve and how does it differ from a UGA? **A:** UGA Reserve areas are designated for potential future inclusion in Urban Growth Areas but remain rural until needed, while UGAs allow immediate urban development with city services. **Q:** Who is presiding over this meeting and why? **A:** Council Vice Chair Jon Scanlon, because Council Chair Kaylee Galloway is attending remotely from Olympia and asked him to chair the meeting. **Q:** What motion did Council Member Ben Elenbaas make regarding mineral resource lands? **A:** To request the Executive work with Planning Staff to explore adding the shores of the Nooksack River to the Mineral Resource Lands Special District. **Q:** What is the estimated 2023 population living in rural and resource lands? **A:** Just under 71,000 people, representing about 30% of Whatcom County's total population. **Q:** How many Urban Growth Areas does Whatcom County currently have? **A:** Ten UGAs total, shown in yellow and purple on county planning maps. **Q:** What concern did Council Member Mark Stremler raise about the flood mitigation funding? **A:** He was concerned that money would go to advanced design work rather than actual construction and execution of flood projects. **Q:** What change is proposed for Birch Bay's urban residential zoning? **A:** Allow duplex, triplex, and fourplex development in addition to single-family homes, without increasing overall density limits. **Q:** How many acres of agricultural lands are designated in Whatcom County? **A:** More than 85,000 acres of designated agricultural lands. **Q:** What is the timeline for UGA Reserve discussions that were deferred? **A:** They will be docketed for consideration in 2026-27, after the current comprehensive plan update is completed. **Q:** What was Council Member Ben Elenbaas's concern about Columbia Valley commercial development? **A:** The area lacks basic services like grocery stores and laundromats, creating a "food desert" situation for residents who must drive long distances for necessities. **Q:** When is the next major flood mitigation briefing scheduled? **A:** February 24, when the River and Flood team will provide a detailed operations briefing to the Council. **Q:** What vote count supported both housing-related motions? **A:** Both motions passed 6-0, with Council Chair Galloway temporarily away during the votes. **Q:** How much general fund money does the county currently provide to the health department? **A:** Approximately $2 million, down from $3 million previously. **Q:** What is the purpose of changing some areas from R5A to R10A zoning? **A:** To preserve land for future urban development by preventing subdivision into smaller parcels that would be harder to redevelop later. **Q:** What did Council Member Barry Buchanan reveal about past Columbia Valley commercial development attempts? **A:** There was serious planning for a shopping center with anchor tenant research, but it failed due to water district infrastructure issues. **Q:** When is the Council's strategic planning retreat scheduled? **A:** February 17, 2026, where councilmembers will engage in comprehensive strategic planning discussions. --- ## MODULE S3: QUIZ WITH ANSWER KEY **Question 1:** How much funding is Whatcom County requesting from the state for flood mitigation projects? - A) $10 million - B) $15 million - C) $20 million - D) $25 million **Question 2:** Who is chairing this meeting and why? - A) Council Chair Kaylee Galloway in person - B) Council Vice Chair Jon Scanlon because Galloway is attending remotely - C) Council Member Mark Stremler as senior member - D) Council Member Elizabeth Boyle by rotation **Question 3:** What does the acronym FLIP stand for? - A) Flood Level Integrated Planning - B) Flood Plate Integrated Planning - C) Flood Prevention Implementation Plan - D) Flood Infrastructure Levy Program **Question 4:** Which state legislation is driving the county's proposal to allow more housing types in residential areas? - A) House Bill 1120 - B) House Bill 1220 - C) Senate Bill 1220 - D) Initiative 1220 **Question 5:** What was the vote count on supporting the state flood funding request? - A) 6-1 - B) 5-2 - C) 7-0 - D) 6-0 **Question 6:** How many Urban Growth Areas does Whatcom County currently have? - A) 8 - B) 10 - C) 12 - D) 15 **Question 7:** What is the estimated population of Whatcom County's rural and resource lands? - A) About 50,000 people - B) Just under 71,000 people - C) About 85,000 people - D) Over 100,000 people **Question 8:** When is the detailed flood operations briefing scheduled? - A) February 10, 2026 - B) February 17, 2026 - C) February 24, 2026 - D) March 3, 2026 **Question 9:** What motion did Council Member Ben Elenbaas make regarding the Nooksack River? - A) To fund immediate river dredging - B) To explore adding river shores to Mineral Resource Lands Special District - C) To create a new flood zone designation - D) To establish a river conservation district **Question 10:** What is a LAMIRD? - A) Limited Area of Municipal Infrastructure and Rural Development - B) Large Area Municipal Infrastructure Resource District - C) Limited Area of More Intensive Rural Development - D) Land Area Management for Infrastructure and Rural Development **Answer Key:** **1. B — $15 million** The county submitted a capital budget request for $15 million to fund flood hazard mitigation projects including property acquisition and advanced design work. **2. B — Council Vice Chair Jon Scanlon because Galloway is attending remotely** Chair Galloway asked Vice Chair Scanlon to preside because she was joining the meeting remotely from Olympia. **3. B — Flood Plate Integrated Planning** FLIP is the multi-jurisdictional planning process addressing flood mitigation in the Nooksack River watershed. **4. B — House Bill 1220** This state legislation requires counties to accommodate housing for different income levels, driving the proposal to allow duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. **5. C — 7-0** The motion to support the state flood funding request passed unanimously with all seven council members present. **6. B — 10** Whatcom County currently has a total of 10 Urban Growth Areas, shown in yellow and purple on planning maps. **7. B — Just under 71,000 people** This represents about 30% of Whatcom County's total population living in rural and resource lands. **8. C — February 24, 2026** The River and Flood team will provide a detailed operations briefing at the second February Council meeting. **9. B — To explore adding river shores to Mineral Resource Lands Special District** Elenbaas requested the Executive work with Planning Staff to explore this designation for potential gravel extraction. **10. C — Limited Area of More Intensive Rural Development** LAMIRDs are special rural designations under the Growth Management Act for historic rural communities. --- ## MODULE S4: Q&A — COMMON QUESTIONS **Q: Why is the county asking for $15 million from the state when they say there are half a billion dollars worth of projects needed?** A: The county calculated their request based on what they thought might be realistically obtainable from the state, then spread that across priority project areas. This is intended as a first phase focusing on property acquisition and advanced design work, not actual construction. As Congressman Larsen advised, the strategy is to "get in your initial request and then add to it if you need to." **Q: What exactly would this flood mitigation money pay for?** A: The funding would support two main activities: acquiring key properties and easements in flood-prone areas, and advancing design work on specific projects. This includes designing berms around Everson and Nooksack, flood walls, floodproofing critical infrastructure, relocating tide gates on Jordan Creek, and improving emergency access routes to tribal lands. It's preparation work, not construction. **Q: Why are they allowing duplexes and fourplexes in areas that were previously single-family only?** A: State House Bill 1220 now requires counties to accommodate housing for all income levels. The state guidance equates different housing types to income levels: single-family for higher incomes, duplex/triplex/fourplex for moderate incomes, and high-density multifamily for lower incomes. To meet the moderate income housing requirement, these housing types must be allowed in more areas. **Q: Will allowing duplexes and fourplexes eliminate single-family housing options?** A: No. The changes add options without removing single-family housing. For example, on a 10-acre site zoned for 4 units per acre, a developer could build 40 single-family homes, 10 fourplexes, or 20 duplexes. It's up to market forces and developer choice which option gets built. **Q: What happens to the UGA reserve discussions that were mentioned but not decided?** A: These discussions were deferred and will be docketed as a separate item for 2026-27. This includes potential expansion areas around Birch Bay Bible Church and other properties. The county wanted to complete the current comprehensive plan update first before taking on additional UGA boundary questions. **Q: Why did Council Member Ben Elenbaas want to add the Nooksack River banks to mineral resource lands?** A: Elenbaas believes gravel extraction from river banks could help with flood mitigation by removing sediment that constrains water flow. The motion was to explore this possibility, recognizing that such extraction would need to comply with shoreline management regulations and other environmental requirements. **Q: How does this decision-making process work — are they voting on final plans or just giving direction?** A: Most of this meeting was giving direction to staff rather than final approvals. The actual comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances will come back to Council later for formal adoption. The motions passed were either expressing support (for state funding) or directing staff to explore options (mineral resource lands, housing types). **Q: When will community members see actual changes from these decisions?** A: The zoning changes will come in a separate ordinance package after Planning Commission review. The flood mitigation projects depend on state budget decisions expected when the state budget is published. The comprehensive plan itself should be adopted later in 2026, with zoning updates following shortly after. **Q: Why is there concern about commercial development in Columbia Valley if it's zoned for commercial use?** A: Council members expressed frustration that while areas are zoned for commercial development, various regulations (wetlands, critical areas, infrastructure requirements) may make actual development difficult or impossible. They want staff to ensure that zoned commercial areas are genuinely developable, not just theoretical on paper. **Q: What's the significance of the 71,000 people living in rural areas?** A: This represents about 30% of the county's population living outside urban growth areas, highlighting the importance of rural policy decisions. The new state housing requirements apply to these areas too, requiring the county to accommodate different housing types even in rural historic communities (LAMIRDs).

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** WHA-CON-CTW-SPC-2026-02-03 A structured study guide helping readers understand the meeting's content and context. ### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council held a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on February 3, 2026, to discuss three main items: updates on the 2026 State Legislative Session, urban growth area proposals for the comprehensive plan update, and councilmember project priorities. ### Key Terms and Concepts **FLIP (Flood Plate Integrated Planning):** A multi-jurisdictional planning process addressing flood mitigation in the Nooksack River watershed, involving county and partner agencies to develop coordinated flood response strategies. **Urban Growth Area (UGA):** Designated areas under the Growth Management Act where urban development is encouraged and where cities are expected to expand, with urban-level services like water and sewer systems. **UGA Reserve:** Areas designated for potential future inclusion in Urban Growth Areas when growth demands require expansion, but not immediately available for urban development. **LAMIRD (Limited Area of More Intensive Rural Development):** Special rural designations under the Growth Management Act for historic rural communities that allow slightly higher densities than typical rural areas. **House Bill 1220:** State legislation requiring counties to accommodate housing for different income levels, with duplex/triplex/fourplex housing considered "moderate income" options. **Land Capacity Analysis:** Technical planning study that calculates how much development can be accommodated within existing zoned areas, considering factors like critical areas and infrastructure. **Growth Management Act (GMA):** Washington State law requiring counties to direct growth to urban areas while protecting rural and resource lands. **Mineral Resource Lands (MRL):** Areas designated for long-term commercial mineral extraction, including gravel and sand operations. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jon Scanlon | Council Vice Chair, presiding over meeting | | Jed Holmes | County Executive's Office | | Matt Aamot | Planning and Development Services | | Mark Personius | Planning and Development Services Director | | Kaylee Galloway | Council Chair, attending remotely from Olympia | | Elizabeth Boyle | Councilmember | | Barry Buchanan | Councilmember | | Ben Elenbaas | Councilmember | | Jessica Rienstra | Councilmember | | Mark Stremler | Councilmember | ### Background Context This meeting occurred in the wake of devastating November 2021 floods that severely impacted Whatcom County communities, particularly Everson, Sumas, and Nooksack. The flood emergency has created urgency around infrastructure improvements and flood mitigation, driving the county's $15 million request to the state legislature. Simultaneously, the county is conducting its required 10-year comprehensive plan update under the Growth Management Act, with new state requirements (House Bill 1220) mandating accommodation of housing for different income levels. These dual pressures — flood recovery and growth accommodation — frame much of the policy discussion, as the county must balance development needs with natural hazard risks while complying with state mandates for both flood safety and housing provision. ### What Happened — The Short Version The council unanimously supported the county's $15 million flood mitigation funding request to the state legislature. This money would pay for property acquisition and advanced design work on projects like widening river corridors, building flood walls, and improving emergency access routes. Planning staff then presented proposals for urban growth areas, including allowing duplexes and fourplexes in more areas to meet new state housing requirements. The council made two significant decisions: they asked county staff to explore adding Nooksack River banks to mineral resource lands (for potential gravel extraction to help with flood control), and they supported allowing more housing types in rural historic communities. Finally, councilmembers shared their individual project priorities, including mental health services, housing, and flood recovery efforts. ### What to Watch Next - February 24 Council meeting for detailed flood operations briefing from River and Flood team - Upcoming zoning ordinance package implementing the comprehensive plan changes - Development of the docketed UGA reserve discussions for 2026-27 - State budget publication revealing actual flood mitigation funding decisions - Council strategic planning retreat on February 17 ---

## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Meeting ID:** WHA-CON-CTW-SPC-2026-02-03 **Q:** What is the total amount Whatcom County is requesting from the state for flood mitigation projects? **A:** $15 million for acquisition of properties and easements, plus advanced design work on flood protection projects. **Q:** Which three communities are the primary focus of the county's flood mitigation efforts? **A:** Everson, Sumas, and Nooksack, which were severely impacted by the 2021 floods. **Q:** What does FLIP stand for and what is its purpose? **A:** Flood Plate Integrated Planning — a multi-jurisdictional process to coordinate flood mitigation projects across the Nooksack River watershed. **Q:** Why is the county proposing to allow duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes in more areas? **A:** To comply with House Bill 1220, which requires counties to accommodate housing for different income levels, with these housing types considered "moderate income" options. **Q:** What is a UGA Reserve and how does it differ from a UGA? **A:** UGA Reserve areas are designated for potential future inclusion in Urban Growth Areas but remain rural until needed, while UGAs allow immediate urban development with city services. **Q:** Who is presiding over this meeting and why? **A:** Council Vice Chair Jon Scanlon, because Council Chair Kaylee Galloway is attending remotely from Olympia and asked him to chair the meeting. **Q:** What motion did Council Member Ben Elenbaas make regarding mineral resource lands? **A:** To request the Executive work with Planning Staff to explore adding the shores of the Nooksack River to the Mineral Resource Lands Special District. **Q:** What is the estimated 2023 population living in rural and resource lands? **A:** Just under 71,000 people, representing about 30% of Whatcom County's total population. **Q:** How many Urban Growth Areas does Whatcom County currently have? **A:** Ten UGAs total, shown in yellow and purple on county planning maps. **Q:** What concern did Council Member Mark Stremler raise about the flood mitigation funding? **A:** He was concerned that money would go to advanced design work rather than actual construction and execution of flood projects. **Q:** What change is proposed for Birch Bay's urban residential zoning? **A:** Allow duplex, triplex, and fourplex development in addition to single-family homes, without increasing overall density limits. **Q:** How many acres of agricultural lands are designated in Whatcom County? **A:** More than 85,000 acres of designated agricultural lands. **Q:** What is the timeline for UGA Reserve discussions that were deferred? **A:** They will be docketed for consideration in 2026-27, after the current comprehensive plan update is completed. **Q:** What was Council Member Ben Elenbaas's concern about Columbia Valley commercial development? **A:** The area lacks basic services like grocery stores and laundromats, creating a "food desert" situation for residents who must drive long distances for necessities. **Q:** When is the next major flood mitigation briefing scheduled? **A:** February 24, when the River and Flood team will provide a detailed operations briefing to the Council. **Q:** What vote count supported both housing-related motions? **A:** Both motions passed 6-0, with Council Chair Galloway temporarily away during the votes. **Q:** How much general fund money does the county currently provide to the health department? **A:** Approximately $2 million, down from $3 million previously. **Q:** What is the purpose of changing some areas from R5A to R10A zoning? **A:** To preserve land for future urban development by preventing subdivision into smaller parcels that would be harder to redevelop later. **Q:** What did Council Member Barry Buchanan reveal about past Columbia Valley commercial development attempts? **A:** There was serious planning for a shopping center with anchor tenant research, but it failed due to water district infrastructure issues. **Q:** When is the Council's strategic planning retreat scheduled? **A:** February 17, 2026, where councilmembers will engage in comprehensive strategic planning discussions. ---