ACTION TAKEN The Whatcom County Council adopted the following at its October 7, 2025, meeting: ORDINANCE (2025-048) AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 3.05, TORT AND DAMAGE CLAIMS, TO CREATE A RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND CLARIFY THE PROCESSING OF TORT CLAIMS (AB2025-575): This ordinance amends Whatcom County Code Chapter 3.05, Tort and Damage Claims, to add a councilmember to the Risk Management Working Group and to ensure ongoing legislative oversight of county risk management. Ordinance introduced September 23, 2025. RESOLUTION (2025-031) DECLARING WHATCOM COUNTY REAL PROPERTY AS SURPLUS AND APPROVE TRANSFER (AB2025-597): Per RCW 36.34.130 and Whatcom County Code 1.10.340, and on the recommendation of the Whatcom County Property Management Committee, this resolution declares as surplus and approves the transfer of Whatcom County real property, tax parcel 380419 006520 0000, located west of Jensen Road and north of Agate Bay Lane in Bellingham, WA, 98226, to the City of Bellingham for the appraised value of $15,000 and all related closing costs. Resolution introduced September 9, 2025. PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES The Whatcom County Council will hold a public hearing, consider adopting, and may amend the following at its 6 p.m. meeting on October 21, 2025, or at a later date: ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICIES, WHICH RESIDE IN WHATCOM COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN APPENDIX C (AB2025-637): This ordinance amends the Countywide Planning Policies, which are used for establishing a countywide framework from which County and city comprehensive plans are developed and adopted. The Countywide Planning Policy amendments relate to a number of topics including public involvement, urban growth areas, rural areas, housing, open space and greenbelt corridors, economic development and employment, transportation, public facilities, impact fees, intergovernmental cooperation, water quality and quantity, buildable lands, Tribal cultural resources, and climate change and community resilience. Ordinance introduced October 7, 2025. RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PUBLIC WORKS SIX-YEAR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) FOR THE YEARS 2026-2031 (AB2025-672): This resolution approves the Whatcom County Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program for the years 2026-2031, including the capital elements of the first six-years of the Fourteen-Year Ferry Capital Program. Resolution introduced October 7, 2025. RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2026 ANNUAL ROAD PROGRAM (AB2025-673): This resolution adopts the 2026 Annual Road Program consisting of the Annual Construction Program, an annual maintenance plan, and a road equipment purchase and major repair plan. Resolution introduced October 7, 2025. ACTION PROPOSED (INTRODUCED) The Whatcom County Council will consider adopting and may amend the following at its 6 p.m. meeting on October 21, 2025, or at a later date: ORDINANCE AMENDING THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR THE NEW PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND JUSTICE FACILITY, REQUEST NO. 9 (AB2025-678): This ordinance amends Ordinance 2013-003 by adding $2,960,000 of expenditure authority to the current amended project expenditure budget of $15,838,524, for a total amended project expenditure budget of $18,798,524. Ordinance introduced October 7, 2025. RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 2025 FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT AND SUBZONES BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 4, IN THE AMOUNT OF $49,400 (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2025-680): This resolution amends the 2025 Flood Control Zone District and Subzones Budget to appropriate $49,400 from Natural Resources to Maintenance and Operations to complete additional water quality program tasks for the Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) Program, for a net fund effect of $0. Resolution introduced October 7, 2025. ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SILVER LAKE LAGOON PROJECT FUND AND ESTABLISHING AN INITIAL BUDGET FOR THE SILVER LAKE LAGOON BRIDGE FUND (AB2025-682): This ordinance establishes a new Silver Lake Lagoon Bridge Fund with an initial project budget of $300,000 to facilitate removal of applicable structures and plan and construct a trail re-route to maintain internal park connectivity. Ordinance introduced October 7, 2025. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2025 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 11, IN THE AMOUNT OF $517,671 (AB2025-685): This ordinance amends the 2025 Whatcom County budget as follows: From the General Fund: appropriate $27,171 in District Court to fund interpreter services in District Court using grant funds from Administrative Office of the Courts; appropriate $50,000 in Superior Court to fund costs related to Uniform Guardianship Act compliance RCW 11.130; appropriate $15,000 in Superior Court to fund costs related to court interpreter program. From the Jail Fund: appropriate $125,500 in Sheriff – Corrections to fund purchase of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) using grant funds from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. From the Real Estate Excise Tax II Fund: appropriate $300,000 in Non-Departmental to fund an operational transfer for the creation of the Silver Lake Lagoon Bridge Fund – companion to supplemental #5169. Ordinance introduced October 7, 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. IPL0280330 Oct 12 2025