ACTION TAKEN The Whatcom County Council adopted the following at its October 21, 2025, meeting: ORDINANCE (2025-049) 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 (2025-033) 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 (2025-034) 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. ORDINANCE (2025-050) 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 (2025-035) 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 (2025-051) 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 (2025-052) 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 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 November 5, 2025, or at a later date: RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2026-2031 SIX-YEAR WATER RESOURCES IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (WRIP) (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2025-676): This resolution adopts the Six-Year Water Resources Improvement Program for the years 2026 through 2031 pursuant to RCW 86.15.110. Resolution introduced October 21, 2025. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2026 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 1IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,970,606 (AB2025-707): This ordinance amends the 2026 Whatcom County Budget to add appropriations to the following budgets: Assessor ($37,595); District Court Probation ($28,633); Executive ($52,527); Juvenile ($1,040,000); Non-Departmental ($5,778,508); Planning & Development Services ($197,495); Prosecuting Attorney ($156,085); Public Defender ($560,000); Superior Court ($329,722); Countywide Emergency Medical Services Fund ($312,000); Whatcom County Trial Court Improvement Fund ($60,000); Conservation Futures Fund ($42,820); Community Priorities Fund ($5,000,000); Whatcom County Jail Fund ($4,200,318); Emergency Management Fund ($9,110); Parks Special Revenue Fund ($145,000); Solid Waste Fund ($135,204); Healthy Children's Fund ($374,342); Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility Fund ($57,250); Real Estate Excise Tax II Fund ($514,000); Real Estate Excise Tax I Fund ($410,000); Public Utilities Improvement Fund ($6,956,785); Administrative Services Fund ($1,473,887); Equipment Rental & Revolving Fund ($973,000) for a total supplement of $20,970,606. To view the entire ordinance, contact the Council Office at (360)778-5010 or visit our Legislative Information Center at whatcom.legistar.com. Ordinance introduced October 21, 2025. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT FOR 2026 (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2025-709): This resolution, in accordance with RCW 68.15.160(3) authorizes an increase in the levy of taxes for the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District in 2026. The dollar amount of the increase shall be $65,151, which is a percentage increase of 1% from the previous year exclusive of additional revenue resulting from new construction, improvements to property, newly constructed wind turbines, solar, biomass, and geothermal facilities, and any increase in the value of state assessed property, any annexations that have occurred and refunds made. Resolution introduced October 21, 2025. RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2026 BUDGET FOR THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT AND SUBZONES (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2025-711): This resolution, in accordance with RCW 86.15.140, adopts the 2026 budget for the countywide district and the following subzones: Acme/Van Zandt Subzone; Lynden/Everson Subzone; Sumas/Nooksack/Everson Subzone; Samish Watershed Subzone; Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management District. Resolution introduced October 21, 2025. ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR CONSERVATION FUTURES PURPOSES FOR 2026 (AB2025-719): This ordinance, in accordance with Whatcom County Home Rule Charter Section 6.10, authorizes an increase in the levy of taxes for Conservation Futures purposes in 2026. The dollar amount of the increase over the actual levy amount from the previous year shall be $14,179, which is a percentage increase of 1% from the previous year exclusive of additional revenue resulting from new construction, improvements to property, newly constructed wind turbines, solar, biomass, and geothermal facilities, and any increase in the value of state assessed property, any annexations that have occurred and refunds made. Ordinance introduced October 21, 2025. ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR COUNTY ROAD PURPOSES FOR 2026 (AB2025-721): This ordinance, in accordance with Whatcom County Home Rule Charter Section 6.10, authorizes an increase in the levy of taxes for County Road purposes in 2026. The dollar amount of the increase over the actual levy amount from the previous year shall be $246,923, which is a percentage increase of 1% from the previous year exclusive of additional revenue resulting from new construction, improvements to property, newly constructed wind turbines, solar, biomass, and geothermal facilities, and any increase in the value of state assessed property, any annexations that have occurred and refunds made. Ordinance introduced October 21, 2025. ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR COUNTYWIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL PURPOSES FOR 2026 (AB2025-723): This ordinance authorizes an increase in the levy of taxes for countywide emergency medical purposes in 2026. The dollar amount of the increase over the actual levy amount from the previous year shall be $2,698,925, which is a percentage increase of 19.9% from the previous year exclusive of additional revenue resulting from new construction, improvements to property, newly constructed wind turbines, solar, biomass, and geothermal facilities, and any increase in the value of state assessed property, any annexations that have occurred and refunds made. Ordinance introduced October 21, 2025. ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR COUNTY AND STATE PURPOSES IN WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON FOR THE YEAR OF 2026 (AB2025-725): This ordinance authorizes an increase the County general levy to be collected in the 2026 tax year. The dollar amount of the increase over the actual levy amount from the previous year shall be $387,351, which is a percentage increase of 1% from the previous year exclusive of additional revenue resulting from new construction, improvements to property, newly constructed wind turbines, solar, biomass, and geothermal facilities, and any increase in the value of state assessed property, any annexations that have occurred and refunds made. Taxes levied against parcels of property within the Diking Districts, Drainage Districts, and Drainage Improvement Districts are to be credited to the individual maintenance funds for the year 2026, and the amounts to be apportioned to the original assessments for construction in said districts are per Exhibit A of the ordinance. Ordinance introduced October 21, 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. IPL0284432 Oct 26 2025