📋 Committee Meeting
Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole
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Meeting Summary
The Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole met for 2 hours and 29 minutes on February 24, 2026, covering five major items with significant decisions on urban growth planning, legislative priorities, and potential new revenue sources. The meeting began with an extensive presentation on the complex Water Resources Inventory Area 1 (WRIA 1) water rights adjudication process, which has already engaged approximately 1,200 landowners through county-led outreach efforts. The presentation sparked pointed questions from Council Member Ben Elenbaas about the unusual nature of the Department of Ecology both filing the lawsuit and helping defendants complete their paperwork.
The centerpiece discussion involved the City of Nooksack's urban growth area (UGA) expansion proposal, ultimately resulting in preliminary council support for the city's supplemental proposal including controversial mitigative measures for flood-prone areas. After an initial motion to exclude areas 6, 7, and 8 failed by a 3-4 vote, a second motion to support the full proposal with stipulated elevation requirements and other safeguards passed 4-2 with one abstention. Council Member Jon Scanlon expressed frustration about making these decisions without final flood control infrastructure designs, while Council Member Elenbaas argued that local officials should have primary accountability for development decisions in their jurisdiction.
The council also addressed legislative session updates, with positive news on crisis center funding flexibility and adjudication court staffing, but cuts to behavioral health programs. They unanimously added Senate Bill 6343 providing tax relief for flood victims to their legislative agenda. A proposed performance audits ordinance was deferred to a three-member workgroup rather than rushed introduction. The meeting concluded with extensive discussion of a potential public safety sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.450 that could generate approximately $7 million annually, though no formal action was taken on this complex revenue proposal that would require significant sheriff's office compliance work.
Study Guide
## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE
**Meeting ID:** WHA-CON-CTW-2026-02-24
A structured study guide helping readers understand the meeting's content and context.
Written for a general civic audience — assume no prior knowledge of the issues.
### Meeting Overview
The Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole met on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, for 2 hours and 29 minutes in a hybrid format. The meeting focused primarily on two major issues: a comprehensive presentation about the ongoing water rights adjudication affecting thousands of county residents, and urban growth area proposals for the city of Nooksack's comprehensive plan update.
### Key Terms and Concepts
**Water Rights Adjudication:** A superior court process to review all water use in a specific area and clarify who has legal rights to use water. In this case, it covers Water Resources Inventory Area 1 (WRIA 1), which includes most of western Whatcom County.
**Urban Growth Area (UGA):** Areas designated under state Growth Management Act where urban development is encouraged and where cities can extend utilities and eventually annex land. These areas receive higher-density zoning and urban services.
**UGA Reserve:** Areas set aside for potential future addition to urban growth areas but cannot currently be annexed by cities. They maintain agricultural zoning until potentially redesignated.
**FEMA Flood Maps:** Federal Emergency Management Agency maps showing areas at risk of flooding, used for insurance and development regulations. The county is working with both current and draft updated maps.
**Committee of the Whole:** A meeting format where all council members participate but operating procedures are more informal than regular council meetings, typically used for presentations and preliminary discussions.
**Mitigative Measures:** Specific requirements or conditions designed to reduce potential negative impacts from development, such as building elevation requirements or infrastructure standards.
### Key People at This Meeting
| Name | Role / Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Kaylee Galloway | Council Chair, presiding |
| Elizabeth Boyle | Council Member |
| Barry Buchanan | Council Member |
| Ben Elenbaas | Council Member |
| Jessica Rienstra | Council Member |
| Jon Scanlon | Council Member |
| Mark Stremler | Council Member |
| Gary Stoyka | Whatcom County Public Works, Natural Resources Manager |
| Kara Coleman | Geosyntec Consultants |
| Raylene King | Superior Court Clerk |
| Jamie Baxter | Whatcom County Public Works Program Specialist |
| Matt Aamot | Planning and Development Services |
| Rollin Harper | City of Nooksack Attorney |
| Kevin Hester | Mayor, City of Nooksack |
| Jed Holmes | Executive's Office |
### Background Context
The water rights adjudication represents an unprecedented legal process affecting an estimated 30,000-40,000 Whatcom County residents who use water for homes, farms, or businesses. The state Department of Ecology filed this lawsuit in 2024 after decades of failed negotiations and settlement attempts in the Nooksack River basin. Property owners must file claims by May 1, 2026, to protect their water rights, but only about 2,000 people have filed so far. This creates significant concern about people losing water rights through inaction.
The Nooksack urban growth area discussion reflects ongoing tensions between promoting economic development and protecting communities from flood risks. Recent major flooding events have heightened concerns about developing in potentially vulnerable areas, while small cities like Nooksack need space to grow economically. The state requires cities to plan for population and job growth, creating pressure to expand urban boundaries while also ensuring public safety.
### What Happened — The Short Version
County staff and consultants gave a detailed presentation about the water rights adjudication, explaining the legal process and outreach efforts to help residents file their claims. Several council members expressed concern about the unusual nature of the process, where the state agency filing the lawsuit is also helping defendants prepare their paperwork.
The council then debated Nooksack's request to expand its urban growth area, particularly three areas that could potentially be affected by future flood control infrastructure. After initially rejecting a motion to exclude those areas, the council ultimately approved Nooksack's full proposal with flood-safety conditions included.
Other business included legislative updates, forming a workgroup on performance audits, and discussing a potential public safety tax that could generate $7 million annually.
### What to Watch Next
- The May 1, 2026 deadline for water rights adjudication claims is approaching rapidly
- Public Works is expected to have flood control berm designs within three months, which could affect future development decisions
- The council will consider a public safety sales tax in coming meetings
- A performance audit ordinance workgroup will meet and report back by summer 2026
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