Committee of the Whole

Chair Kaylee Galloway emphasized moving through a "super packed agenda" efficiently, reflecting the urgency around comprehensive plan deadlines and 2026 budget approval requirements. The session demonstrated council's effort to provide clearer guidance to cities while navigating the complex intergovernmental coordination required for growth management planning. Council confirmed support for UGA proposals from Bellingham, Ferndale, and Lynden, while placing geographic restrictions on Blaine's expansion plans in the Birch Point area. The Bellingham UGA discussion revealed ongoing tension between community desires to include the South Yew Street area and the city's resource constraints, with three council members ultimately voting against confirming support. Climate planning discussions centered on Planning Commission amendments to the comprehensive plan's new climate chapter, including policies on electric vehicle infrastructure, renewable energy, and flood resilience. Budget discussions introduced several potential amendments, including strategic planning funds and food bank network support. The meeting concluded with legislative session planning, emphasizing coordination between county and state priorities around water adjudication and other regional issues.

**UGA Proposal Motions (8 total votes):** - **Blaine UGA:** Confirmed council support for proposals NOT including expansions in Birch Point south of Lincoln Road (7-0) - **Bellingham UGA:** Confirmed council support for proposal on Map UGA-2, page 9 (4-3), with Stremler, Byrd, Elenbaas voting no - **Ferndale UGA:** Confirmed council support for retaining 2016 map as proposed (7-0) - **Lynden UGA:** Confirmed council support for proposal on Map UGA-5 (7-0) All votes followed a pattern of first rescinding previous October 21 motions, then confirming support with clarified language. Staff recommendation aligned with all council actions. **Key Policy Discussion Items:** - **Climate Chapter:** Council reviewed 18 Planning Commission amendments, including new wetland mitigation bank policy and electric vehicle infrastructure modifications - **Budget Amendments:** Several potential amendments proposed, including $200,000 for strategic planning, $244,000 for Food Bank Network, $500,000 reallocation from Community Priorities Fund - **Lake Whatcom Watershed Protection:** Discussion of docketing additional comprehensive plan amendments to strengthen phosphorus controls

"The capacity to staff it is not there for our team, because we are doing all these other groups right now." **Council Member Donovan, on UGA expansion concerns:** "So now you're all of three. And if we think of the impact on BB warm and the traffic impacts on the roads that are getting there. It's still the same situation. All of that is is north of Lincoln Road, and all of that would potentially have some pretty serious capital liabilities for the county." **Chris Behee, on South Yew Street area:** "We just don't feel we can, in good conscience, say that we can serve both areas, and we don't want to set false expectations." **Council Member Elenbaas, on Bellingham's UGA service:** "I think the more Bellingham can can service their UGAs and accommodate a lot of the growth, the closer will be to Hitting the goals of the Growth Management Act, affordable housing, commute trip reductions, protecting resource lands, all of the above." **Kayla Schott-Bresler, on advisory boards:** "The county, I think, has over 54 advisory boards right now. It is a significant, a significant concern of our office that this, this sort of continues to be the framework we're we're working with." **Council Member Scanlon, on strategic planning needs:** "The executive and legislative branches shall engage in long-term strategic planning to establish organizational structure, priorities, and performance measurements."

# Real Briefings — Supplemental Content --- ## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE ### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole met on November 5, 2025, for a 3 hour and 27 minute packed session focusing on housing services, climate planning, and urban growth boundary discussions. The committee addressed new comprehensive plan requirements, cleaned up previous UGA decisions, and discussed budget and levy priorities for 2026. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Urban Growth Area (UGA):** Designated areas where cities can expand and provide urban services like water and sewer. Cities must show they need the capacity and can afford to serve these areas. **Comprehensive Plan:** A long-term planning document updated every 10 years that guides growth and development. State law requires it to include a new climate element this cycle. **Climate Element:** New mandatory chapter in comprehensive plans requiring counties to address greenhouse gas reduction and climate resilience, with implementation progress reports required in five years. **Committee of the Whole (CTW):** Full county council meeting in a work session format to discuss issues before formal votes at regular council meetings. **Land Capacity Analysis:** Technical study showing how much land a city has available for development and whether they need additional UGA expansion. **Five-Year Housing Plan:** Strategy document for housing and homeless services that incorporates community input, including voices of people with lived experience. **Growth Management Act (GMA):** State law directing how Washington counties and cities plan for growth, protect the environment, and provide adequate infrastructure. **Best Available Science:** Technical standard requiring climate planning to use the most current and reliable scientific data for projections and mapping. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kaylee Galloway | County Council Chair | | Todd Donovan | Council Member, District 3 | | Ann Beck | Health and Community Services Manager | | Chris D'Onofrio | Housing Program Supervisor | | Lauren Clemens | County Climate Action Manager | | Matt Aamot | Planning and Development Services | | Chris Behee | City of Bellingham Planning Director | | Aly Pennucci | Executive's Office | ### Background Context This meeting occurred during a critical period for regional planning. Counties statewide must adopt updated comprehensive plans by December 2025, including the first-ever climate elements. Whatcom County is balancing state requirements with local growth pressures, particularly around housing needs and urban expansion. The county has been working through a complex urban growth boundary process where cities propose expansion areas, but the county must approve them and ensure they're legally defensible. The housing discussion reflects ongoing challenges with homelessness services and the need to incorporate community voices, especially from people with lived experience, into program planning. Meanwhile, budget discussions reveal fiscal constraints as the county considers various levy options for 2026 while trying to maintain essential services. ### What Happened — The Short Version The meeting began with an update on housing and homeless services programs, focusing on how community voices are incorporated into a new five-year plan. Council Member Donovan proposed creating an advisory committee to provide independent feedback to council, though staff cited capacity concerns. Lauren Clemens presented Planning Commission recommendations for the new climate chapter, including changes to policies on cooling systems, renewable energy sources, and flood resilience. The commission removed some policies but added wetland mitigation banking support. The bulk of the meeting involved cleaning up previous UGA decisions. Council rescinded and re-voted on several motions to clarify they were signaling support rather than formal approval of city proposals. Key outcomes: Blaine cannot expand into Birch Point south of Lincoln Road, but areas north remain possible; Bellingham's proposal passed narrowly 4-3 despite concerns about excluding South Yew Street; Ferndale and Lynden proposals received unanimous support. Brief discussions covered Lake Whatcom watershed protections, various 2026 levy options, and legislative priorities. ### What to Watch Next - December 2: Final council action on 2026 budget and levy ordinances - November 18: Council motion on state legislative priorities - Planning Commission continues UGA deliberations with final recommendations coming - Bellingham City Council expected to finalize their comprehensive plan within weeks - State agencies will submit final comment letters on the climate element --- ## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Q:** What new chapter must be added to comprehensive plans this cycle? **A:** A climate element with two sub-elements: greenhouse gas reduction and resilience planning. This is the first time it's been required statewide. **Q:** How long did this Committee of the Whole meeting last? **A:** 3 hours and 27 minutes, from 1:03 PM to 4:30 PM. **Q:** What organization supervises the housing program discussed at the meeting? **A:** The Department of Health and Community Services, with Chris D'Onofrio as housing program supervisor. **Q:** How many survey respondents provided input for the five-year housing plan? **A:** 748 total respondents, including 80 individuals with lived experience of homelessness and another 100 with family/friends who had lived experience. **Q:** What happened to Blaine's Proposition 2025-07 regarding de-annexation? **A:** It passed with 65.77% voting yes to remove the Grandest Pond area from city limits. **Q:** Which council member is leaving and will only attend a couple more meetings? **A:** Todd Donovan, who mentioned being gone by January. **Q:** What was the vote on confirming support for Bellingham's UGA proposal? **A:** 4 in favor (Galloway, Scanlon, Buchanan, Donovan), 3 opposed (Stremler, Byrd, Elenbaas). **Q:** What sea level rise projection is used in the climate element maps? **A:** 0.8 feet, which represents probable forecasted impact within the 20-year comprehensive planning period. **Q:** What prevented the Planning Commission from mapping wildfire risk? **A:** The Department of Natural Resources is creating a statewide wildfire hazard map, but it won't be complete by the comprehensive plan due date. **Q:** How many advisory boards does Whatcom County currently have? **A:** Over 54 advisory boards, which the Executive's Office considers a significant resource burden. **Q:** What's the deadline for final action on the 2026 county budget? **A:** December 2, 2025. **Q:** How much would a strategic planning consultant cost according to Council Member Scanlon? **A:** About $200,000, potentially funded by reallocating from the $500,000 Community Priorities Fund. **Q:** What major infrastructure prevented South Yew Street inclusion in Bellingham's UGA proposal? **A:** The need for a Governor Road connector and a new water reservoir, plus ongoing operational costs like a new fire station. **Q:** What percentage of Bellingham's developable South Yew Street area was purchased with Greenways funds? **A:** About half, which reduced development capacity and changed the math for including the area. **Q:** What Charter requirement did Council Member Scanlon reference regarding strategic planning? **A:** Charter Section 1.51, which states executive and legislative branches shall engage in long-term strategic planning with organizational structure, priorities, and performance measurements. **Q:** How many council members voted to rescind the original Blaine UGA motion? **A:** Six voted yes, zero voted no, with one member out of the room (Buchanan). **Q:** What was Council Member Stremler's budget amendment proposal? **A:** Cut $244,000 from Parks extra help funding and redirect it to the Whatcom County Food Bank Network. **Q:** Which Lincoln Road feature became crucial in the Blaine UGA discussion? **A:** The Lincoln Road extended line, traditionally considered the dividing point between Birch Bay and potential Blaine expansion areas. **Q:** What did the city of Bellingham use Greenways funds to purchase? **A:** About half of the developable area in the South Yew Street region, creating a contiguous corridor connecting Padden and Whatcom Falls areas. **Q:** What concerns did Council Member Elenbaas raise about third-party facilitators? **A:** He wanted to eliminate funding for third-party facilitation of boards and commissions, having them use volunteer facilitators instead to avoid raising taxes. --- ## MODULE S3: QUIZ WITH ANSWER KEY **Question 1: What new element must be included in comprehensive plans this update cycle?** - A) Transportation element - B) Climate element - C) Economic development element - D) Parks and recreation element **Question 2: How many total survey respondents provided input for the housing five-year plan?** - A) 580 respondents - B) 648 respondents - C) 748 respondents - D) 848 respondents **Question 3: What was the outcome of Blaine's Proposition 2025-07 on de-annexation?** - A) Failed with 45% support - B) Passed with 58% support - C) Passed with 65.77% support - D) Failed due to low turnout **Question 4: What sea level rise projection is used in the climate element mapping?** - A) 0.5 feet - B) 0.8 feet - C) 1.2 feet - D) 3.3 feet **Question 5: What was the final vote on confirming support for Bellingham's UGA proposal?** - A) 7-0 unanimous - B) 6-1 in favor - C) 5-2 in favor - D) 4-3 in favor **Question 6: Which council member proposed creating an advisory committee for housing services feedback?** - A) Kaylee Galloway - B) Todd Donovan - C) Ben Elenbaas - D) Jon Scanlon **Question 7: What is the deadline for final action on the 2026 county budget?** - A) November 18, 2025 - B) December 2, 2025 - C) December 31, 2025 - D) January 15, 2026 **Question 8: How many advisory boards does Whatcom County currently operate?** - A) Over 34 - B) Over 44 - C) Over 54 - D) Over 64 **Question 9: What prevented South Yew Street's inclusion in Bellingham's UGA proposal according to city staff?** - A) Environmental concerns only - B) Community opposition - C) Insufficient infrastructure and operational costs - D) State regulatory restrictions **Question 10: What amount did Council Member Scanlon propose for strategic planning consultant costs?** - A) $150,000 - B) $200,000 - C) $250,000 - D) $300,000 **Answer Key:** **1. B — The climate element is a new state requirement focusing on greenhouse gas reduction and resilience planning.** **2. C — The housing plan received input from 748 survey respondents, including 80 with lived experience of homelessness.** **3. C — Blaine's de-annexation measure passed with 65.77% voting yes to remove the Grandest Pond area from city limits.** **4. B — The 0.8 feet projection represents probable sea level rise impact within the 20-year planning period.** **5. D — Bellingham's UGA proposal narrowly passed 4-3, with concerns raised about excluding South Yew Street.** **6. B — Todd Donovan proposed the advisory committee to provide independent feedback to council on housing services implementation.** **7. B — December 2, 2025 is the statutory deadline for final budget adoption.** **8. C — The Executive's Office cited over 54 advisory boards as a significant resource concern.** **9. C — City staff cited insufficient resources for infrastructure like the Governor Road connector, water reservoir, and fire station.** **10. B — Scanlon proposed $200,000 for strategic planning, potentially from Community Priorities Fund reallocation.** --- ## MODULE S4: Q&A — COMMON QUESTIONS **Q: Why did the council spend so much time "rescinding" and re-voting on the same issues?** A: The council needed to clean up the legal record from previous meetings. Their original motions were worded as if they were formally approving city UGA proposals, but they only wanted to signal support. The rescind-and-revote process clarified they were providing guidance to cities, not taking final action, since cities must first approve their own proposals. **Q: What's the difference between signaling support and approving a UGA proposal?** A: Signaling support means the county council is giving cities a "head nod" about whether they're likely to approve a proposal when it comes back in final form. Formal approval can only happen after cities adopt their own comprehensive plans and submit official UGA requests. This coordination helps prevent cities from adopting plans the county won't ultimately accept. **Q: Why are people upset about Bellingham not including South Yew Street in their UGA proposal?** A: Residents invested in infrastructure like Wade King Elementary School and sidewalks in that area based on expectations it would be developed. Some feel misled that the city is now focusing on northern areas instead. The city says they can't afford to serve both areas and the north is more developable, but critics think Bellingham should accommodate more growth to meet regional housing goals. **Q: What makes this climate element different from other comprehensive plan chapters?** A: It's the first time climate planning has been mandated statewide. Counties must address both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate impacts like flooding and sea level rise. Unlike other chapters, this one requires a progress report to the state in five years showing what actual regulatory changes were made to implement the policies. **Q: How does the new housing plan incorporate "lived experience" and what does that mean?** A: People with lived experience are those who have been homeless or used housing services themselves. The county surveyed 80 such individuals and includes them in advisory groups. The plan added two objectives specifically based on their input: expanding shelter capacity and developing more affordable housing. This approach recognizes that those who use services often have the best insights into what works and what doesn't. **Q: Why is there disagreement about advisory committees and boards?** A: Council Member Donovan wants to create a new advisory committee to get independent feedback on housing services, but staff say they don't have capacity to support another group. The Executive's Office notes the county already operates over 54 advisory boards, creating significant resource demands. The tension is between wanting community input and managing the administrative burden of facilitating all these groups. **Q: What are the budget pressures the county is facing in 2026?** A: The county is dealing with rising costs and limited revenue options. They're proposing various levy increases and considering a new public safety sales tax. If council rejects revenue increases, they'd need to cut about $7+ million, likely from public safety. Council members are also proposing competing priorities like food bank funding, strategic planning, and reducing administrative costs. **Q: What happens if cities and the county adopt conflicting comprehensive plans?** A: The plans must match since UGA boundaries affect both jurisdictions. Cities face tight deadlines to adopt their plans, but counties set the official UGA boundaries. If there's a mismatch, one government would need to amend their plan. This timing pressure is why cities want early signals from the county about what they'll support. **Q: Why did the Lincoln Road extended line become so important in the Blaine discussion?** A: This line has traditionally been considered the boundary between areas that would naturally flow toward Birch Bay versus toward potential Blaine expansion. Council members argued that development north of this line would drain away from Birch Bay, addressing some resident concerns about stormwater impacts. It became a compromise position allowing some Blaine growth while protecting the most sensitive Birch Bay areas. **Q: What's the significance of the wetland mitigation bank policy that was added?** A: This allows the county to create a centralized system where developers can pay into a fund for wetland restoration instead of doing mitigation on-site. It can be more environmentally effective and cost-efficient, supporting both public and private development projects. The Planning Commission felt this was important to include as development pressures increase.

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** WHA-CTW-2025-11-05 ### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole met on November 5, 2025, for a 3 hour and 27 minute packed session focusing on housing services, climate planning, and urban growth boundary discussions. The committee addressed new comprehensive plan requirements, cleaned up previous UGA decisions, and discussed budget and levy priorities for 2026. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Urban Growth Area (UGA):** Designated areas where cities can expand and provide urban services like water and sewer. Cities must show they need the capacity and can afford to serve these areas. **Comprehensive Plan:** A long-term planning document updated every 10 years that guides growth and development. State law requires it to include a new climate element this cycle. **Climate Element:** New mandatory chapter in comprehensive plans requiring counties to address greenhouse gas reduction and climate resilience, with implementation progress reports required in five years. **Committee of the Whole (CTW):** Full county council meeting in a work session format to discuss issues before formal votes at regular council meetings. **Land Capacity Analysis:** Technical study showing how much land a city has available for development and whether they need additional UGA expansion. **Five-Year Housing Plan:** Strategy document for housing and homeless services that incorporates community input, including voices of people with lived experience. **Growth Management Act (GMA):** State law directing how Washington counties and cities plan for growth, protect the environment, and provide adequate infrastructure. **Best Available Science:** Technical standard requiring climate planning to use the most current and reliable scientific data for projections and mapping. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kaylee Galloway | County Council Chair | | Todd Donovan | Council Member, District 3 | | Ann Beck | Health and Community Services Manager | | Chris D'Onofrio | Housing Program Supervisor | | Lauren Clemens | County Climate Action Manager | | Matt Aamot | Planning and Development Services | | Chris Behee | City of Bellingham Planning Director | | Aly Pennucci | Executive's Office | ### Background Context This meeting occurred during a critical period for regional planning. Counties statewide must adopt updated comprehensive plans by December 2025, including the first-ever climate elements. Whatcom County is balancing state requirements with local growth pressures, particularly around housing needs and urban expansion. The county has been working through a complex urban growth boundary process where cities propose expansion areas, but the county must approve them and ensure they're legally defensible. The housing discussion reflects ongoing challenges with homelessness services and the need to incorporate community voices, especially from people with lived experience, into program planning. Meanwhile, budget discussions reveal fiscal constraints as the county considers various levy options for 2026 while trying to maintain essential services. ### What Happened — The Short Version The meeting began with an update on housing and homeless services programs, focusing on how community voices are incorporated into a new five-year plan. Council Member Donovan proposed creating an advisory committee to provide independent feedback to council, though staff cited capacity concerns. Lauren Clemens presented Planning Commission recommendations for the new climate chapter, including changes to policies on cooling systems, renewable energy sources, and flood resilience. The commission removed some policies but added wetland mitigation banking support. The bulk of the meeting involved cleaning up previous UGA decisions. Council rescinded and re-voted on several motions to clarify they were signaling support rather than formal approval of city proposals. Key outcomes: Blaine cannot expand into Birch Point south of Lincoln Road, but areas north remain possible; Bellingham's proposal passed narrowly 4-3 despite concerns about excluding South Yew Street; Ferndale and Lynden proposals received unanimous support. Brief discussions covered Lake Whatcom watershed protections, various 2026 levy options, and legislative priorities. ### What to Watch Next - December 2: Final council action on 2026 budget and levy ordinances - November 18: Council motion on state legislative priorities - Planning Commission continues UGA deliberations with final recommendations coming - Bellingham City Council expected to finalize their comprehensive plan within weeks - State agencies will submit final comment letters on the climate element ---

## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Meeting ID:** WHA-CTW-2025-11-05 **Q:** What new chapter must be added to comprehensive plans this cycle? **A:** A climate element with two sub-elements: greenhouse gas reduction and resilience planning. This is the first time it's been required statewide. **Q:** How long did this Committee of the Whole meeting last? **A:** 3 hours and 27 minutes, from 1:03 PM to 4:30 PM. **Q:** What organization supervises the housing program discussed at the meeting? **A:** The Department of Health and Community Services, with Chris D'Onofrio as housing program supervisor. **Q:** How many survey respondents provided input for the five-year housing plan? **A:** 748 total respondents, including 80 individuals with lived experience of homelessness and another 100 with family/friends who had lived experience. **Q:** What happened to Blaine's Proposition 2025-07 regarding de-annexation? **A:** It passed with 65.77% voting yes to remove the Grandest Pond area from city limits. **Q:** Which council member is leaving and will only attend a couple more meetings? **A:** Todd Donovan, who mentioned being gone by January. **Q:** What was the vote on confirming support for Bellingham's UGA proposal? **A:** 4 in favor (Galloway, Scanlon, Buchanan, Donovan), 3 opposed (Stremler, Byrd, Elenbaas). **Q:** What sea level rise projection is used in the climate element maps? **A:** 0.8 feet, which represents probable forecasted impact within the 20-year comprehensive planning period. **Q:** What prevented the Planning Commission from mapping wildfire risk? **A:** The Department of Natural Resources is creating a statewide wildfire hazard map, but it won't be complete by the comprehensive plan due date. **Q:** How many advisory boards does Whatcom County currently have? **A:** Over 54 advisory boards, which the Executive's Office considers a significant resource burden. **Q:** What's the deadline for final action on the 2026 county budget? **A:** December 2, 2025. **Q:** How much would a strategic planning consultant cost according to Council Member Scanlon? **A:** About $200,000, potentially funded by reallocating from the $500,000 Community Priorities Fund. **Q:** What major infrastructure prevented South Yew Street inclusion in Bellingham's UGA proposal? **A:** The need for a Governor Road connector and a new water reservoir, plus ongoing operational costs like a new fire station. **Q:** What percentage of Bellingham's developable South Yew Street area was purchased with Greenways funds? **A:** About half, which reduced development capacity and changed the math for including the area. **Q:** What Charter requirement did Council Member Scanlon reference regarding strategic planning? **A:** Charter Section 1.51, which states executive and legislative branches shall engage in long-term strategic planning with organizational structure, priorities, and performance measurements. **Q:** How many council members voted to rescind the original Blaine UGA motion? **A:** Six voted yes, zero voted no, with one member out of the room (Buchanan). **Q:** What was Council Member Stremler's budget amendment proposal? **A:** Cut $244,000 from Parks extra help funding and redirect it to the Whatcom County Food Bank Network. **Q:** Which Lincoln Road feature became crucial in the Blaine UGA discussion? **A:** The Lincoln Road extended line, traditionally considered the dividing point between Birch Bay and potential Blaine expansion areas. **Q:** What did the city of Bellingham use Greenways funds to purchase? **A:** About half of the developable area in the South Yew Street region, creating a contiguous corridor connecting Padden and Whatcom Falls areas. **Q:** What concerns did Council Member Elenbaas raise about third-party facilitators? **A:** He wanted to eliminate funding for third-party facilitation of boards and commissions, having them use volunteer facilitators instead to avoid raising taxes. ---