Whatcom County Council Public Works & Health Committee

### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Public Works & Health Committee met on July 8, 2025, to discuss a proposed ordinance establishing 20 mph school speed zones on Bennett Drive and Alderwood Avenue for Alderwood Elementary School. The committee reviewed expansion of existing school zone safety measures in response to coordination with the school district. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Speed Zone:** A designated area where vehicles must travel at a specific reduced speed limit, in this case 20 mph near schools for safety. **Retroreflective Material:** Special yellow material wrapped around posts that reflects light back to drivers, making crosswalks more visible especially in low light conditions. **Safe Routes to School Grant:** State funding specifically designated for infrastructure improvements that make walking and biking to school safer, including sidewalks, crosswalks, and flashing beacons. **Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacon (RRFB):** Flashing lights at crosswalks that activate when pedestrians press a button, alerting drivers to people crossing. **Urban Growth Area (UGA):** Land designated for future urban development that may eventually be annexed by cities but is currently under county jurisdiction. **Transportation Improvement Program (TIP):** A multi-year plan identifying transportation projects and their funding sources. **ADA Accessible Ramps:** Curb cuts and pathways that comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for wheelchair and mobility device access. **Annexation:** The process by which a city extends its boundaries to include previously unincorporated county areas. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jon Scanlon | Committee Chair | | Mark Stremler | Committee Member | | Ben Elenbaas | Committee Member | | Todd Donovan | Council Member (non-committee) | | Barry Buchanan | Council Member (non-committee) | | Kaylee Galloway | Council Member (non-committee) | | Ryan Morrison | Engineering Manager, Traffic Division | | Elizabeth Kosa | Public Works Department Director | ### Background Context Alderwood Elementary School is located in unincorporated Whatcom County in an area that lacks urban infrastructure like sidewalks, despite being designated for future urban development. The school district and county have been working together to address safety concerns for students walking to school along roads that currently only have roadside shoulders rather than proper pedestrian facilities. This speed zone expansion represents an immediate, low-cost safety improvement while longer-term infrastructure solutions are pursued through state grant funding. The broader policy question involves whether this area will eventually be annexed by the City of Bellingham or remain under county jurisdiction permanently, which affects who bears responsibility for providing urban-level services like sidewalks and stormwater management. ### What Happened — The Short Version Public Works staff presented a proposal to expand the existing 20 mph school speed zone from Redwood Drive and Hollywood Avenue to include Bennett Drive and Alderwood Avenue near Alderwood Elementary. The expansion would add speed limit signs and wrap crosswalk posts in reflective yellow material as an immediate safety improvement before the new school year. County staff confirmed they have support letters from the school district, sheriff's department, and Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Council members discussed broader infrastructure questions about providing sidewalks and urban services in this unincorporated area, with some noting that the City of Bellingham previously expressed interest in annexing the area but those discussions appear stalled. No formal vote was taken as this was a discussion item before the ordinance's introduction to the full council. ### What to Watch Next - July 22nd: Public hearing scheduled on the speed zone ordinance if introduced - Ongoing coordination with school district on Safe Routes to School grant applications - Future Transportation Improvement Program discussions about Alderwood area improvements - Comprehensive Plan update conversations about zoning and potential city annexation of the area ---