On a crisp November morning, the Whatcom County Council's Planning and Development Committee convened for what would prove to be a brief but substantive discussion about balancing conservation goals with public access requirements. Committee Chair Ben Elenbaas called the hybrid meeting to order at 10:33 a.m., with only two of the three committee members present — himself and Council Member Jon Scanlon. Todd Donovan was absent, though several other council members joined as observers, including Tyler Byrd, Kaylee Galloway, Barry Buchanan, and Mark Stremler.