GA Advocate
Nov. 4, 2011, Issue

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
• UPCOMING MEETINGS 
• ELECTION HELP 
• LAKE WHATCOM WATERSHED AMENDMENTS 
• WHITE PAPER PRIORITIES? 

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

BELLINGHAM CITY COUNCIL
Monday, Nov. 7 , regular meeting 7 p.m.
1:40-2:10 p.m. PLANNING/NEIGHBORHOODS & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
1. Staff will introduce a new draft CITY/COUNTY INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT concerning planning, annexation and development review in Bellingham’s Urban Growth Area. A hearing is scheduled for Nov. 21. After city approval, the county will conduct a similar review: AB19376 (major changes are listed on page 3).
http://www.cob.org/web/council.nsf/0/70C1B7C4AF332B6A8825793D0055AE17/$File/07nov2011_AB19376.pdf?OpenElement
2:10-4:10 p.m. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
2. Worksession on the 2012 preliminary budget: Presentations by Human Resources Dept., PUBLIC WORKS and PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
Monday, November 14:
• 10:00 AM in the Mayor's Boardroom –Council's Lake Whatcom Reservoir and Natural Resources Committee worksession to discuss a cost/benefit study of phosphorus reduction activities in the Lake Whatcom watershed.
• 1:00 PM in City Council Chambers – worksession on the 2012 Preliminary Budget to hear final department presentations and discussion of Council’s proposed budget amendments.
Tuesday, November 15:
• Noon in the Mayor's Boardroom – worksession of the Council’s Waterfront Development Committee to discuss policy application alternatives under consideration for waterfront development documents.
Monday, November 21:
• 7:00 PM in City Council Chambers – public hearing on the proposed 2012 Budget, and the proposed new city-county Interlocal Agreement.

TUESDAY, NOV. 8 – ELECTION DAY, no government meetings

WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Wednesday, Nov. 9:  
Committee of the Whole, 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Council Chambers
• Presentation by Eric Johnson, Washington State Association of Counties Executive Director, regarding the Voluntary Stewardship Program, AKA the RUCKLESHAUS Program (AB2011-279B).  http://www.whatcomcounty.us/council/meetings/council/packet/ab2011-279b.pdf
Also, contract with Berk & Associates to advise the Council on the advantages/disadvantages of opting in.
Planning & Development Committee (3:15 p.m.):
• Two ordinances on zoning and a development agreement for CAITAC.  (AB2011-345 and AB2011-346)
Committee of the Whole (6:30 p.m.):
• Two appeals filed by the City of Bellingham of the Hearing Examiner’s decision on a Motion to Dismiss regarding Caitac (APL2011-0011/SEP2010-0085/PLN2010-0024) (AB2011-277) and (APL2011-0012/SEP2010-0088/PLN2010-0025 (AB2011-278). Both discussions may take place in executive session.
Evening agenda (7 p.m.) includes
• Ruckleshaus contract and Caitac issues.
• Approval of a settlement agreement between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham related to Growth Management Hearings Board Case #11-2-0006 (AB2011-349).
http://www.whatcomcounty.us/council/meetings/council/packet/ab2011-349.pdf
• Several tax issues.

Next GAC meeting:  11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10
(no meeting on Thanksgiving)
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ELECTION HELP
Special thanks to Bill Henshaw, Dannon Traxler and Doug Campbell for coming in to volunteer their time making get-out-the-vote calls on Nov. 1.  We were able to get through about six pages of member phone numbers, encouraging people to turn in their ballots. Your help is greatly appreciated!
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LAKE WHATCOM WATERSHED AMENDMENTS
Amendments are proposed to Whatcom County Code Title 20 addressing stormwater and land use regulations for new development within the Lake Whatcom watershed to comply with the Washington state Department of Ecology's Lake Whatcom Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).  Two public meetings were held on this Nov. 1 and 2.  This will go to the Planning Commission on Nov. 17 and County Council at some point afterward.
To see the packet for these meetings, click here. The contact is Cathy Craver (360) 676-6907 or ccraver@co.whatcom.wa.us.
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WHITE PAPER PRIORITIES?
The BIAWC produced a "white paper” (informational piece) last month on Gateway Pacific Terminal, in an attempt to run down the facts and offer them to members who are tired of just hearing reports from one extreme or another.  What other topics would you like us to address? Send your ideas to Brian Evans at briane@biawc.com.  This is a service we can pursue that will help establish us as a go-to source for information on topics that touch on the homebuilding industry.
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