ACTION TAKEN The Whatcom County Council adopted the following at its September 9, 2025, meeting: ORDINANCE (2025-043) AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE TITLE 22 TO CLARIFY THE ROLES AND DUTIES OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE HEARING EXAMINER PROCESS (AB2025-537): This ordinance amends Whatcom County Code Title 22 to clarify roles and responsibilities of participants in the Hearing Examiner process. Ordinance introduced July 22, 2025. ORDINANCE (2025-044) AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE SECTION 2.11 TO CLARIFY THE AUTHORITY OF THE HEARING EXAMINER (AB2025-538): This ordinance amends Whatcom County Code Section 2.11 to clarify the powers and duties of the Hearing Examiner and account for disruptions of the administrative process. Ordinance introduced July 22, 2025. ORDINANCE (2025-045) AMENDING THE 2025 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 9, IN THE AMOUNT OF $956,986 (AB2025-558): This ordinance amends the 2025 Whatcom County budget as follows: From the General Fund: appropriate $182,310 in Health to fund On Site Sewage Systems Action Plan projects using grant funds. From the Election Reserve Fund: appropriate $40,000 in Auditor to fund local election security improvements using grant funds. From the Conservation Futures Fund: appropriate $332,000 in Planning & Development to fund previously approved easements for Jacoby property, partially using grant funds; appropriate $100,000 in Non-Departmental to fund demolition of two houses in Acme floodplain for RCO grant reimbursement. From the Whatcom County Jail Fund: appropriate $230,000 in Sheriff to fund healthcare services provided to detainees at the jail through St. Joseph Hospital. From the Emergency Management Fund: appropriate $41,258 in Sheriff to fund swift water rescue training and equipment; appropriate $31,418 in Sheriff to fund Incident Management Team equipment and training. Ordinance introduced August 6, 2025. ACTION PROPOSED (INTRODUCED) The Whatcom County Council will consider adopting and may amend the following at its 6 p.m. meeting on September 23, 2025, or at a later date: RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 2025 FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT AND SUBZONES BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 3, IN THE AMOUNT OF $105,000 (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2025-608): This resolution amends the 2025 Flood Control Zone District and Subzones Budget to appropriate $5,000 from Samish Watershed Subzone to Maintenance & Operations due to an increase in labor costs. It also appropriates $100,000 to Maintenance & Operations via DOE grants for Adjudication technical assistance, for a net Fund effect of $5,000. This resolution was introduced on September 9, 2025. ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PROJECT-BASED BUDGET FOR THE JAIL REENTRY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT (AB2025-614): This ordinance establishes the Jail Reentry Improvements project budget to account for costs related to enhanced video surveillance, WIFI infrastructure, and improved inmate medical and security monitoring with an initial budget of $710,000. This ordinance was introduced on September 9, 2025. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2025 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 10, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,820,416 (AB2025-628): This ordinance amends the 2025 Whatcom County Budget as follows: From the General Fund: appropriate $2,000 in Health to fund improvements to the FDA food safety program using grant funds; record $16,234 in Sheriff for the USDA forest service deputy program; appropriate $112,700 in Sheriff to fund the deputy wellness program using grant funds; appropriate $19,952 in Prosecuting Attorney to fund the paperless records program using grant funds; appropriate $62,961 in Prosecuting Attorney to fund child support enforcement cases from Skagit and San Juan Counties using grant funds; appropriate $500,000 in Superior Court Clerk to fund conflict assignments and overflow cases for indigent defense; appropriate $43,747 in Non-Departmental to fund 911 equipment purchases using grant funds; appropriate $130,000 in Non-Departmental to fund housing services using grant funds; appropriate $74,045 in Non-Departmental to fund communications and operations using grant funds; appropriate $10,000 in Non-Departmental to fund What-Comm dispatch fees for Sheriff calls. From the Election Reserve Fund: appropriate $15,590 in Auditor to fund improvements in the election center using grant funds. From the Countywide EMS Tax Fund: appropriate $178,000 in Non-Departmental to fund What-Comm dispatch fees for EMS calls; to appropriate $32,000 in Non-Departmental to fund retirement payout. From the Conservation Futures Fund: appropriate $200,000 in Non-Departmental to fund Stewart Mountain Phase II acquisition. From the Community Priorities Fund: appropriate $148,000 in Executive to fund an administrative change for four food insecurity contracts. From the Climate Action Fund: appropriate $250,000 in Public Works to fund State required climate planning activities using grant funds. From the Real Estate Excise Tax II Fund: appropriate $31,500 in Parks to fund accessibility improvements between Van Zandt Community Hall and a WTA bus stop using grant funds. From the Administrative Services Fund: appropriate $9,921 in Administrative Services – Facilities to fund security upgrades in District and Superior Court using grant funds. This ordinance was introduced on September 9, 2025. Public documents are available for review weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Council Office, 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 105, Bellingham, and at whatcomcounty.us/council. View meeting schedules, agendas, minutes, videos, documents and archives at whatcom.legistar.com. The Council is currently holding hybrid meetings, which can be attended either in person or remotely. Full Council meetings begin at 6 p.m. (unless otherwise announced) in the Council Chambers at 311 Grand Avenue. Instructions for remote participation can be found at www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil or by contacting the Council Office at 360-778-5010. The Council Chambers is handicapped accessible. People with special needs who will be attending Council meetings are asked to contact the Council Office (360-778-5010) at least 96 hours in advance. IPL0272107 Sep 14 2025