GA Advocate
Jan. 20, 2011, Issue

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
• UPCOMING MEETINGS
• WESTERN WASHINGTON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT MANUAL – Feb. 3 deadline

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

BELLINGHAM CITY COUNCIL
Monday, Jan. 23
Planning & Community Development Committee, 1:25-1:55 pm (this is also on the evening agenda):
• New City/County Interlocal Agreement concerning planning annexation and development review in Bellingham’s Urban Growth Area (AB19376). 
Committee of Whole executive (closed) session, 2 p.m., includes:
• Litigation: Futurewise, et al v. Whatcom County (Growth Board Appeal of County’s Rural Element Update)
• Litigation: Squalicum Ridge Road Appeals
• Litigation: City of Bellingham v. Whatcom County and Caitac USA Corporation
Regular meeting, 7 p.m., City Council Chambers
• Hearing: Ordinance to increase the watershed surcharge for Lake Whatcom Reservoir Watershed property acquisition and stormwater program, $5 to $12 a month (AB19235).
• Final consideration of AB19435, an ordinance amending Bellingham Municipal Code Sections 15.08.200 and 15.12.165 regarding the city's policies for abandoned water and sewer service outside the city's corporate limits but within the city's Urban Growth Area.

WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Tuesday, Jan. 24
Planning and Development Committee, 3 p.m. (this also is on the regular evening agenda):
• An ordinance amending the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan map and zoning map to remove a Mineral Resource Lands (MRL) zoning overlay from the existing Rural (R10) zone and change the MRL designation to Rural for approximately 90 acres on Aldrich Road south of King Tut Road. This was introduced 12-6-11 and taken off the agenda 1-10-12.  (AB2011-435)
Regular council meeting – 7 p.m.
Hearings:
• Ordinance imposing an interim moratorium on the acceptance of new applications for divisions of land resulting in lots smaller than five acres within the Lake Whatcom Watershed. The moratorium may be renewed for one or more six-month period. (AB2012-040)
A long consent agenda includes:
• Contract authorizations for with Windward Environmental Consultants, LLC for assistance with NPDES Phase II Stormwater Permit public education outreach and evaluation -- $59,995 (AB2012-048); with Wilson Engineering, LLC for assistance with NPDES Phase II Stormwater Permit compliance in stormwater asset management program development -- $129,068 (AB2012-049); and with Ecology to fund administrative and action projects for the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee including community education and outreach, and water quality monitoring -- $36,500 (AB2012-050).
Introductions include:
• Community Development Block Grant Closeout – Kulshan Community Land Trust Affordable Housing Grant (AB2012-064). A public hearing is tentatively set for Feb. 14. This CDGB General Purposes Grant of $500,000 was used to acquire land for Kulshan’s Home Ownership Opportunities Program.  2012 CDGB funding is available and the county executive is accepting proposals ; contact Jack Louws.

WHATCOM COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Thursday, Jan. 26, 6:30 p.m., Northwest Annex:
• Work session on Birch Bay LID Pilot Plan. To see the proposed Low Impact Development code chapter, click here. To see the management plan amendment to the Critical Areas Ordinance, click here.
Thursday, Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m.:
• Work session continues on Lake Whatcom Watershed stormwater and land-use proposal. Staff contact is Cathy Craver, 676-6907 or ccraver@co.whatcom.wa.us.

BELLINGHAM PLANNING COMMISSION
Jan. 19 agenda – postponed to Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.
• Discuss the schedule, specifically the first half of 2012 (Greg Aucutt)
February 23 at 7 p.m.:
• King Mountain Urban Village public hearing

NEXT GAC MEETING – 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 26
Consider GAC’s 2011 accomplishments and 2012 goals. The time has been moved back to 11:30 a.m. due to conflicts.
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WESTERN WASHINGTON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT MANUAL
Public comment closes Feb. 3 on Ecology’s Draft 2012 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington. Send comments to:  Carrie Graul at carrie.graul@ecy.wa.gov  or (360) 407-7221. The final manual is due out in summer 2012. To see the draft documents, click here.
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