ACTION TAKEN The Whatcom County Council adopted the following at its March 24, 2026, meeting: ORDINANCE (2026-011) ESTABLISHING THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR THE STRAWBERRY POINT/LAKE WHATCOM BOULEVARD STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, REQUEST NO. 1 (AB2026-114): This ordinance establishes a new Strawberry Point/Lake Whatcom Boulevard Improvements Project Fund with an initial project budget of $335,000 to account for the revenues and expenditures associated with the installation of water quality treatment facilities to remove sediment and phosphorus from stormwater runoff entering Lake Whatcom. Ordinance introduced February 10, 2026. ORDINANCE (2026-012) AMENDING THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR THE COURTHOUSE BUILDING ENVELOPE FUND, REQUEST NO. 7 (AB2026-134): This ordinance appropriates $2,051,898 to fund the next phase of repairs to protect the Courthouse from water intrusion, which includes the design and construction of block 2 and block 3 roof sections, for an amended total project budget of $19,096,705. Ordinance introduced February 10, 2026. ORDINANCE (2026-013) ESTABLISHING THE FERNDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER IMPROVEMENTS FUND AND ESTABLISHING AN INITIAL BUDGET FOR THE FERNDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER IMPROVEMENTS FUND (AB2026- 143): This ordinance establishes the Ferndale Senior Activity Center Improvements Fund with an initial budget for $200,000 to account for revenues and expenditures related to needed improvements of the Ferndale Senior Activity Center, including building assessments for siding, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Ordinance introduced February 10, 2026. ORDINANCE (2026-014) AMENDING THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR THE EAGLERIDGE STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FUND, REQUEST NO. 1 (AB2026-181): This ordinance amends Ordinance 2024-009 to add $850,000 of expenditure authority to the current project budget for the Eagleridge Stormwater Improvements Fund of $325,000 for a total amended project budget of $1,175,000. Ordinance introduced March 10, 2026. ORDINANCE (2026-015) AMENDING THE PROJECT BASED BUDGET FOR THE SWIFT CREEK CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, REQUEST NO. 3 (AB2026-183): This ordinance amends Ordinance 2023-069 to add $4,000,000 of expenditure authority to the current Swift Creek Capital Projects Fund budget of $11,258,159 for a new total of $15,258,159. Ordinance introduced March 10, 2026. ORDINANCE (2026-016) CLOSING THE BELLINGHAM SENIOR CENTER HVAC REPLACEMENT FUND (AB2026-200): This ordinance closes the Bellingham Senior Center HVAC Replacement Fund and returns the remaining funds of $794,749.95 to the Real Estate Excise Tax Fund I. Ordinance introduced March 10, 2026. ORDINANCE (2026-017) AMENDING THE 2026 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 5, IN THE AMOUNT OF $741,113 (AB2026-204): This ordinance amends the 2026 Whatcom County Budget as follows: From the General Fund: appropriate $125,000 in Sheriff to fund firearms safety program using grant funds; appropriate $6,975 in Sheriff to fund purchase of equipment for school zone safety using grant funds; appropriate $13,842 in Sheriff to fund drug trafficking investigation overtime using grant funds; appropriate $97,597 in Health to fund additional National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) source control program requirements using grant funds. From the Emergency Management Fund: appropriate $10,044 in Sheriff to fund terrorism prevention and hazard preparation activities using grant funds. From the Real Estate Excise Tax II Fund: appropriate $55,000 in Parks & Recreation to fund VanZandt Community Hall Renovation. From the Public Utilities Improvement Fund: appropriate $12,820 in Parks & Recreation to fund HVAC replacement for Parks & Recreation headquarters. From the Administrative Services Fund: appropriate $419,835 in AS-Facilities to fund Clean Building Program energy audit consulting using grant funds. Ordinance introduced March 10, 2026. ORDINANCE (2026-018) AMENDING THE 2026 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 6, IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,920,278 (AB2026-206): This ordinance amends the 2026 Whatcom County Budget as follows: From the General Fund: appropriate $25,500 in Non-Departmental to fund purchase of PFAS-free personal protective clothing for firefighter/paramedics. From the Conservation Futures Fund: appropriate $314,000 in Planning & Development to fund previously approved easements for Jacoby property, partially using grant funds. From the Emergency Management Fund: appropriate $66,899 in Sheriff-DEM to fund equipment and training for the Incident Management Team; appropriate $45,411 in Sheriff-DEM to fund equipment and training for swift water incidents. From the Road Fund: appropriate $4,050 in Public Works to fund movement of ferry spring lines (companion to supplemental #5341). From the Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility Fund: appropriate $850,000 in Public Works to fund Eagleridge Stormwater improvements (companion to supplemental #5342). From the Real Estate Tax II Fund: appropriate $11,000 in Parks & Recreation to fund permitting for roof replacement at Maple Falls Park; appropriate $1,761,868 in Non-Departmental to fund the Courthouse Envelope project (companion to supplemental #5361). From the Real Estate Excise Tax I Fund: appropriate $55,620 in AS-Facilities to fund reappropriation for improvements to Prosecuting Attorney's office; appropriate $16,900 in AS-Facilities to fund reappropriation for improvements to Assessor's office; appropriate $200,000 in Non-Departmental to fund Ferndale Senior Activity Center Building Repairs (companion to supplemental #5347); appropriate $270,000 in AS-Facilities to fund renovation for 3rd floor courtroom 5C; appropriate $290,000 in AS-Facilities to fund the Courthouse Envelope project (companion to supplemental #5361). From the Ferry Fund: appropriate $9,000 in Public Works to fund movement of ferry spring lines (companion to supplemental #5342). 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 April 14, 2026, or at a later date: ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A SALES AND USE TAX OF ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PURPOSES AS AUTHORIZED BY RCW 82.14.345 AND ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 3.27 SALES AND USE TAX FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PURPOSES TO THE WHATCOM COUNTY CODE (AB2026-213): This ordinance authorizes a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for criminal justice purposes as authorized by RCW 82.14.345 and adds a new Chapter 3.27 Sales and Use Tax for Criminal Justice Purposes to the Whatcom County Code. Ordinance introduced March 10, 2026. ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A SALES AND USE TAX OF ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PURPOSES AS AUTHORIZED BY RCW 82.14.345 AND ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 3.27 SALES AND USE TAX FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PURPOSES TO THE WHATCOM COUNTY CODE (AB2026-255): This ordinance authorizes a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for criminal justice purposes (jail health and food services, lease payments for new Sheriff's Office, and support for labor costs necessary to maintain service levels across eligible departments and offices) as authorized by RCW 82.14.345 and adds a new Chapter 3.27 Sales and Use Tax for Criminal Justice Purposes to Whatcom County Code. This ordinance is an alternate to AB2026-213. Ordinance introduced March 24, 2026. ORDINANCE SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF WHATCOM COUNTY A PROPOSITION AUTHORIZING A SALES AND USE TAX OF ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT (0.1%) FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PURPOSES, AS AUTHORIZED BY RCW 82.14.345 (AB2026-259): This ordinance provides for submission of a proposition to the qualified electors of Whatcom County, pursuant to RCW 82.14.345, authorizing a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) for criminal justice purposes (support to the Sheriff's Office for jail health and food services, lease payments for new Sheriff's Office, and support for labor costs necessary to maintain levels of service across eligible County departments and offices). Ordinance introduced March 24, 2026. 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. IPL0326318 Mar 29 2026