ACTION TAKEN The Whatcom County Council adopted the following at its November 18, 2025, meeting: RESOLUTION (2025-039) DECLARING THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT'S INTENTION TO LEASE PROPERTY ON RIVER ROAD (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2025-713): This resolution will allow the property on River Road (Tax Parcel 400236 190361 0000; Government Lot 6 of Section 36, Township 40 North, Range 2 East, Willamette Meridian, Whatcom County, Washington) to be leased for agricultural purposes for a minimum of $4,180 per year, plus leasehold tax, subject to the conditions described in Exhibit B of the resolution. It authorizes the lease of this property by sealed bid at a location and time to be determined by the Whatcom County Finance Department to the highest responsible bidder that can demonstrate their ability to comply with the conditions contained in Exhibit B of the resolution. Resolution introduced October 21, 2025. RESOLUTION (2025-040) DECLARING THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT'S INTENTION TO LEASE PROPERTY ON EAST MAIN STREET (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2025-715): This resolution declares the Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors' intentions to lease for a minimum of $3,656 (fair market value), plus leasehold tax and subject to the conditions described in Exhibit B of the resolution, the following properties on East Main Street for agricultural purposes: 1) Tax Parcel 400431 419516 0000; A tract of land situated in the Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of Section 31, Township 40 North, Range 4 East of W.M., more particularly described as follows, to-wit: Beginning at the intersection of the South line of the County Road (Main Street of the Town of Everson, extended) with the East line of the Northwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of Section 31, said Township and Range; thence West along Southern edge of road 100 feet to the True Point of Beginning; thence continuing West 150 feet; thence South 140 feet; thence East 150 feet; thence North 140 feet to the True Point of Beginning; except Main Street along the Northerly boundary thereof. 2) Tax Parcel 400431 405515 0000; a tract lying in the Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of Section 31, Township 40 North, Range 4 East of W.M., said tract being more particularly described as follows: Beginning at a point 250 feet west of the intersection of the South line of the road commonly known as Main Street and the East line of the Northwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of said Section 31; thence South, a distance of 140 feet; thence west, a distance of 110 feet; thence North, a distance of 140 feet; thence East, a distance of 110 feet to the True Point of Beginning. 3) Tax Parcel 400431 400486 0000; Lot B, ad delineated on Velthuizen Short Plat, according to the Plat thereof, recorded in Volume 13 of Short Plats, Page 68, under Auditor's File No. 1538902, records of Whatcom County, Washington. 4) Tax Parcel 400431 470497 0000; the East half of the Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of Section 31, Township 40 North, Range 4 East of W.M., except the South 655 feet thereof, and except that right-of-way commonly referred to as Main Street, lying along the Northerly line thereof. The resolution authorizes the lease of the property by sealed bid at a location and time to be determined by the Whatcom County Finance Department to the highest responsible bidder that can demonstrate their ability to comply with the conditions contained in Exhibit B of the resolution. Resolution introduced October 21, 2025. ORDINANCE (2025-054) REPEALING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 2.170, FOREST RESILIENCE TASK FORCE (AB2025-749): This ordinance repeals Whatcom County Code 2.170, Forest Resilience Task Force, effective December 31, 2025. Ordinance introduced November 5, 2025. ORDINANCE (2025-053) ESTABLISHING THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND AND ESTABLISHING A BUDGET FOR THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND (AB2025-756): This ordinance establishes the Opioid Settlement Fund effective January 1, 2026 to account for revenues and expenditures in accordance with the One Washington Memorandum of Understanding between Washington municipalities with an initial budget of $438, 494. Ordinance introduced November 5, 2025. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON DECEMBER 2, 2025 The Whatcom County Council will hold a public hearing, consider adopting, and may amend the following at its 6 p.m. meeting on December 2, 2025, or at a later date: ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2026 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 1 IN 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. 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. 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 COUNTY ROAD PURPOSES FOR 2026 (AB2025-783): This ordinance, in accordance with Whatcom County Home Rule Charter Section 6.10, limits the levy of taxes for County Road purposes in 2026 to the amount of 2025 taxes. The dollar amount of the increase over the actual levy amount from the previous year shall be $0, which is a percentage increase of 0% 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 November 5, 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) (AB2025-784): This resolution, in accordance with RCW 68.15.160(3) limits the levy of taxes for the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District in 2026 to the amount of 2025 taxes. The dollar amount of the increase shall be $0, which is a percentage increase of 0% 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 November 5, 2025. ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR COUNTY AND STATE PURPOSES IN WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON FOR THE YEAR OF 2026 (AB2025-788): This ordinance limits the County general levy to be collected in the 2026 tax year to the amount of 2025 taxes. The dollar amount of the increase over the actual levy amount from the previous year shall be $0, which is a percentage increase of 0% 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 November 5, 2025. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON DECEMBER 9, 2025 The Whatcom County Council will hold a public hearing, consider adopting, and may amend the following at its 6 p.m. meeting on December 9, 2025, or at a later date: ORDINANCE ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO WHATCOM COUNTY CODE TITLE 20, ZONING, TO COMPLY WITH PREEMPTIVE STATE REGULATIONS FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND CO-LIVING STANDARDS (AB2025-812): This ordinance adopts amendments to Whatcom County Code Title 20 (Zoning) to comply with state regulations for accessory dwelling units and co-living standards affecting residential zoning districts in urban growth areas per RCW 36.70A.680/.681 and RCW 36.70A.535; alternate version of AB2025-838. Ordinance introduced November 18, 2025. ORDINANCE ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO WHATCOM COUNTY CODE TITLE 20 (ZONING) TO COMPLY WITH PREEMPTIVE STATE REGULATIONS FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND CO-LIVING STANDARDS (AB2025-838): This ordinance amends Whatcom County Code Title 20 (Zoning) to comply with state regulations for accessory dwelling units and co-living standards affecting residential zoning districts in urban growth areas per RCW 36.70A.680/.681 and RCW 36.70A.535; alternate version of AB2025-812. Ordinance introduced November 18, 2025. ACTION PROPOSED (INTRODUCED) The Whatcom County Council will consider adopting and may amend the following at its 6 p.m. meeting on December 9, 2025, or at a later date: ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 2.02, COUNTY COUNCIL, TO CHANGE MEMBERSHIP AND QUORUM REQUIREMENTS OF ALL STANDING COUNCIL COMMITTEES (AB2025-779): This ordinance changes the membership on all standing council committees from three to seven and changes the quorum requirement for all standing council committees from two to four councilmembers. Ordinance introduced November 18, 2025. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2026 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 2, IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,120,000 (AB2025-794): This ordinance amends the 2026 Whatcom County Budget to appropriate $12,120,000 from the Road Fund to fund the Annual Construction Program. Ordinance introduced November 18, 2025. ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE WHATCOM COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FUND AND ESTABLISHING AN INITIAL BUDGET FOR THE WHATCOM COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FUND (AB2025-796): This ordinance establishes the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Leasehold Improvements Project Fund with an initial budget of $1,500,000 to account for revenues and expenditures of necessary tenant improvements for the relocation of the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office to 4600 Ryzex Way. Ordinance introduced November 18, 2025. ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE BIRCH BAY BEACH PARK PROJECT FUND AND ESTABLISHING AN INITIAL BUDGET FOR THE BIRCH BAY BEACH PARK PROJECT FUND (AB2025-798): This ordinance establishes the Birch Bay Beach Park Project Fund with an initial budget of $2,771,675 to account for the revenues and expenditures for the permitting and development of Birch Bay Beach Park. Ordinance introduced November 18, 2025. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2025 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 12, IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,565,060 (AB2025-816): This ordinance amends the 2025 Whatcom County Budget as follows: From the General Fund: appropriate $100,000 in Clerk to fund outside conflict attorneys and experts; appropriate $1,664 in Health to fund the onsite septic program implementation using grant funds. From the Jail Fund: appropriate $850,000 in Sheriff–Corrections to fund additional overtime expenses for the Corrections Bureau of the Sheriff's Office; appropriate $130,000 in Sheriff–Corrections to fund extraordinary costs for the Corrections Bureau of the Sheriff's Office. From the Solid Waste Fund: appropriate $138,000 in Health to fund additional toxic waste disposal costs. From the Real Estate Excise Tax I (REET I) Fund: appropriate $1,500,000 in Sheriff to fund a transfer from REET I to establish a project fund for leasehold improvements for the new Sheriff's Office (companion to supplemental 5290); appropriate $17,000 in Facilities to fund emergency elevator repairs for the courthouse. From the Administrative Services Fund: appropriate $753,396 in AS-Human Resources to fund L&I claims; appropriate $75,000 in AS-Human Resources to fund fulfillment of the County's obligation to engage in collective bargaining per RCW 41.56 and Whatcom County Code 2.08.010. Ordinance introduced November 18, 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. IPL0292365 Nov 23 2025