### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Public Works & Health Committee met on October 7, 2025, for 51 minutes to hear an annual report from the Child and Family Well-Being Task Force and discuss transportation and water resources improvement programs for 2026-2031. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Child and Family Well-Being Task Force:** A county task force that provides input on family-focused policies and oversees Healthy Children's Fund implementation, with co-chairs Tilda Doughty and Colton Kaltenfeldt. **TIP (Transportation Improvement Program):** A six-year planning document that outlines the county's transportation infrastructure projects and funding strategies, covering 2026-2031. **WRIP (Water Resources Improvement Program):** A six-year plan for stormwater and flood control projects serving Lake Whatcom and Birch Bay watersheds through utility districts. **Road Fund Structural Imbalance:** A significant budget challenge where the county's transportation spending consistently exceeds revenue, requiring deficit spending cuts and project deferrals. **Banked Capacity:** Previously unused borrowing capacity that was activated in November to help balance the road fund but proved insufficient to solve the structural deficit. **FEMA Projects:** Federal Emergency Management Agency-funded infrastructure repairs, often delayed by extensive environmental and historical review processes. **Ferry District:** A proposed countywide funding mechanism being explored to finance the $54 million Lummi Island Ferry replacement project. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jon Scanlon | Committee Chair | | Tilda Doughty | Child and Family Well-Being Task Force Co-Chair | | Colton Kaltenfeldt | Child and Family Well-Being Task Force Co-Chair | | Elizabeth Kosa | Public Works Director | | Doug Ranney | Public Works Engineer | | Ann Beck | Health and Community Services Manager | | Cody Swan | Stormwater Program Manager | | Julie Anderson | River and Flood Manager | ### Background Context This meeting occurred during a critical period for Whatcom County's infrastructure funding. The road fund faces a severe structural imbalance requiring a 65% reduction in capital projects, forcing the county to push most transportation improvements to outer years (2029-2031). Simultaneously, the county is planning major investments through specialized utility districts for stormwater management and preparing for significant ferry infrastructure replacement. The Child and Family Well-Being Task Force has identified justice system reform as a new focus area, particularly ensuring that jail planning considers impacts on children visiting incarcerated family members. ### What Happened — The Short Version The Child and Family Well-Being Task Force presented their annual report highlighting community engagement efforts and a new focus on supporting families affected by incarceration. Public Works presented dramatically scaled-back transportation and infrastructure plans due to road fund deficits, with most capital projects pushed to 2029-2031. The six-year TIP shows no deficit spending in years 1-3, but years 4-6 contain $35+ million in unfunded needs. Ferry replacement planning continues with $54 million needed, awaiting federal funding and potential creation of a county ferry district. Stormwater and flood control projects proceed on schedule through dedicated utility districts. ### What to Watch Next - Introduction of the TIP and WRIP resolutions at the October 7 evening Council meeting - Federal funding decisions for the $54 million ferry replacement project - State legislation enabling county ferry district creation - Annual budget discussions addressing the road fund structural imbalance ---