Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole - Executive Session

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** WHA-CON-CTW-EXS-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 in executive session on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026, from 8:46 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in a hybrid format. The session was closed to the public to discuss sensitive matters including collective bargaining negotiations, property acquisition, and pending litigation involving county staff. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Executive Session:** A closed meeting authorized by state law where elected officials can discuss certain sensitive topics away from public view, such as litigation strategy, personnel matters, and real estate negotiations. **Committee of the Whole:** A format where the entire county council meets as a committee rather than in formal session, typically used for discussion and deliberation before formal votes. **RCW (Revised Code of Washington):** State statutes that govern how public meetings must be conducted, including specific circumstances when executive sessions are permitted. **Collective Bargaining:** The process of negotiating wages, benefits, and working conditions between the county government and employee unions. **Civil Deputy Prosecutor:** An attorney employed by the county who handles civil legal matters (as opposed to criminal cases), including lawsuits against the county. **Indemnification:** The county's legal obligation to defend and pay legal costs for employees who are sued for actions taken in their official capacity. **Hybrid Meeting:** A meeting format that allows participation both in-person and remotely via technology like Zoom. **Agenda Bill (AB):** The county's numbering system for agenda items, formatted as AB-YEAR-sequential number. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kaylee Galloway | Council Chair | | Elizabeth Boyle | Council Member | | Barry Buchanan | Council Member | | Ben Elenbaas | Council Member | | Jessica Rienstra | Council Member | | Jon Scanlon | Council Member | | Mark Stremler | Council Member | | Cathy Halka | Clerk of the Council | | Kimberly Thulin | County Legal Counsel | | Jesse Corkern | Civil Deputy Prosecutor | | Tom Seguine | Chief Civil Deputy | | Elizabeth Kosa | Director, Public Works (subject of litigation) | | Tyler Schroeder | Former Deputy Executive (subject of litigation) | | Matt Johnson | Road Crew Leader (subject of litigation) | | Scott W. Hansen | Plaintiff in lawsuit against county | | Diane M. Hansen | Plaintiff in lawsuit against county | ### Background Context Executive sessions are a necessary but carefully regulated part of local government. Washington State law recognizes that certain discussions—particularly around legal strategy, personnel matters, and real estate negotiations—need to happen confidentially to protect the public interest. However, these sessions are strictly limited in scope and must be announced publicly with specific legal citations. The four topics discussed reflect common areas where counties face sensitive decisions. Collective bargaining affects county employees' compensation and working conditions, which ultimately impacts service delivery and taxpayer costs. Property acquisitions for public works projects require confidential negotiations to avoid inflating prices. Litigation discussions are particularly sensitive because public disclosure of legal strategy could harm the county's position in court and potentially cost taxpayers more in settlements or judgments. The fact that county staff are named as defendants in the Hansen lawsuit highlights how public employees can face personal legal exposure for decisions made in their official capacity, making the county's indemnification policies crucial for both employee protection and recruitment. ### What Happened — The Short Version The meeting began at 8:46 a.m. with all seven council members present. Chair Galloway read four agenda items into the record, each involving topics that require confidential discussion under state law. The council voted unanimously (7-0) to enter executive session, initially planned to end at 9:50 a.m. During the closed session, the council discussed collective bargaining strategy with union negotiations, a potential property acquisition involving Public Works, and two separate litigation matters with the county's civil prosecutors. One case involves "potential litigation" while the other is an active lawsuit (Hansen v. Whatcom County) where three county employees are named as defendants. The executive session ran longer than expected. At 9:48 a.m., Chair Galloway announced a 10-minute extension. The session finally concluded at 10:00 a.m., having lasted about 1 hour and 11 minutes total. No public actions were taken—executive sessions are for discussion only, with any formal decisions requiring a return to public session. ### What to Watch Next • Monitor future council agendas for public votes on any decisions emerging from these executive session discussions • Watch for updates on the Hansen v. Whatcom County lawsuit progress and any indemnification decisions • Look for public announcements about collective bargaining agreement outcomes with county employee unions ---