### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Planning and Development Committee met on April 15, 2025, for a brief 15-minute session to discuss commute trip reduction requirements for large employers. The committee reviewed proposed updates to county code and a new five-year plan aimed at reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips to work. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Commute Trip Reduction (CTR):** A state-mandated program requiring large employers to implement strategies that reduce employee single-occupancy vehicle trips to work, such as offering transit subsidies, flexible work schedules, or carpooling programs. **Whatcom County Code Chapter 16.24:** The local ordinance that implements state commute trip reduction requirements for employers in unincorporated Whatcom County with 100 or more employees at a single worksite. **Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG):** The regional planning organization that helps coordinate transportation planning across Whatcom County cities and the county government. **Scrivener's Error:** A minor clerical mistake in a legal document that can be corrected without changing the substantive meaning or requiring a formal amendment process. **Hybrid Meeting:** A meeting format that allows participants to attend either in-person or remotely via video conference or phone. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Ben Elenbaas | Committee Chair, County Council Member | | Todd Donovan | County Council Member | | Jon Scanlon | County Council Member | | Kaylee Galloway | County Council Member (observer) | | Cliff Strong | Planning and Development Services Department | | Emily Moran | Whatcom Council of Governments | | Cathy Halka | Council Clerk | ### Background Context State law requires local governments to implement commute trip reduction programs for large employers to help reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, and energy consumption. These programs become more important as the region grows and traffic increases on major corridors like I-5 and local arterials. The county must update its plan every five years to reflect changing transportation patterns and new strategies for encouraging alternatives to driving alone to work. The timing of this update is significant as the region continues to recover from pandemic-era changes to work patterns, including increased remote work and flexible schedules. The new plan needs to account for these shifts while maintaining progress toward state-mandated trip reduction goals. ### What Happened — The Short Version The committee received briefings from county staff and the regional planning organization about proposed updates to the county's commute trip reduction program. The main discussion centered on a new five-year plan and code amendments. Council Member Galloway identified a technical issue with an undefined acronym in the proposed code language, which staff agreed to fix as a minor correction. The item was discussed but no formal action was taken, as it will move to the full council for introduction. ### What to Watch Next • The ordinance will be introduced at a future full County Council meeting (referenced as AB2025-282) • Staff will correct the undefined acronym issue before the ordinance moves forward • The full council will need to hold a public hearing and vote on the final adoption of both the code amendments and the 2025-2029 plan ---