ACTION TAKEN The Whatcom County Council adopted the following at its April 14, 2026, meeting: ORDINANCE (2026-020) 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. 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 28, 2026, or at a later date: ORDINANCE ADOPTING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 16.38 SOURCE CONTROL OF EXISTING DEVELOPMENT TO REQUIRE THE USE OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION WITHIN THE WHATCOM COUNTY WASHINGTON PHASE II MUNICIPAL STORMWATER PERMIT AREA (AB2026-281): This ordinance, in compliance with provisions of the Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit Requirements, implements a source control program for existing development focused on addressing pollution from existing land use and activities that have the potential to release pollutants to the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). Ordinance introduced April 14, 2026. ACTION PROPOSED (INTRODUCED) The Whatcom County Council will consider adopting and may amend the following at its 6 p.m. meeting on April 28, 2026, or at a later date: ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2026 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 7, IN THE AMOUNT OF 23,290,457 (AB2026-209): This ordinance amends the 2026 Whatcom County budget as follows: From the General Fund: record $46,904 in Health to fund Trueblood Class Member Housing (companion to #5387); appropriate $1,319,142 in Health to fund a transfer of restricted balance to opioid special revenue fund (companion to #5414); appropriate $60,000 in WSU Extension to fund community outreach on opioid prevention (companion to #5426); appropriate $2,000 in Sheriff to fund radar purchase using grant funds; appropriate $25,135 in Sheriff to fund SKOR program using grant funds; appropriate $50,363 in Sheriff to fund an independent administrative investigation; appropriate $64,505 in Non-Departmental to fund Emergency Management activities. From the Election Reserve Fund: appropriate $72,712 in Auditor to fund election information security using grant funds; appropriate $10,000 in Auditor to fund election physical security using grant funds. From the Convention Center Fund: appropriate $90,140 in Non-Departmental to fund 2026 Tourism & Events Committee Awards using lodging taxes. From the Conservation Futures Fund: appropriate $862,906 in Public Works to fund agricultural easements for the Nooksack Riparian Resilience Project using grant funds; record $2,900,000 in Non-Departmental to fund cost recovery on Stewart Mountain and Acme Floodplains using grant funds. From the Community Priorities Fund: appropriate $25,000 in Non-Departmental to fund completion of PUD Point Roberts Broadband project; appropriate $190,000 in Health to fund childcare stabilization efforts; appropriate $4,212,800 in Health to fund four approved childcare capital projects. From the Emergency Management Fund: appropriate $64,505 in Sheriff-Emergency Management to fund public safety radio; appropriate $45,000 in Sheriff-Emergency Management to fund siren relocation using grant funds; appropriate $152,876 in Sheriff-Emergency management to fund FIFA World Cup security using grant funds. From the Behavioral Health Program Fund: appropriate $67,628 in Health to fund overdose prevention and response using grant funds; appropriate $3,384,844 in Health to fund Trueblood Class Member Housing (companion to #5388). From the Healthy Children's Fund: appropriate $1,747,440 in Health to fund early learning and care projects; appropriate $3,775,795 in Health to fund vulnerable children's contracts. From the Opioid Settlement Fund: record $1,319,142 in Health to accept transfer of restricted fund balance to opioid special reserve fund (companion to #5414); appropriate $60,000 in Health to fund community outreach on opioid prevention (companion to #5389). From the Real Estate Excise Tax II Fund: decrease appropriation of $38,447 in Parks & Recreation for Bay to Baker Billing in REET II (companion to #5405). From the Real Estate Excise Tax I Fund: appropriate $37,500 in AS-Facilities to fund roof repairs for Point Roberts Sheriff Office; appropriate $105,000 in AS-Facilities to fund courthouse boiler replacement. From the Public Utilities Fund: appropriate $2,296,777 in Non-Departmental to fund approved grant for Meridian/Birchwood Roundabout project; appropriate $3,000,000 in Non-Departmental to fund grant and loan disbursements for the Old Town Urban Village Improvement; appropriate $1,000,000 in Non-Departmental to fund grant payments for the Bear Creek Corridor Mitigation Bank project; appropriate $36,910 in Non-Departmental to fund grant payments for the Kulshan Land Trust Telegraph project; appropriate $54,226 in Non-Departmental to fund wastewater treatment contract with City of Lynden; appropriate $515,700 in Parks & Recreation to fund Bay to Baker Trail using grant funds (companion to #5427). This ordinance was introduced April 14, 2026. ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE SECTION 5.04.080 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) OVERSIGHT BOARD AND SECTION 5.04.085 EMS TECHNICAL ADVISORY BOARD TO CHANGE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE EMS OVERSIGHT BOARD AND THE EMS TECHNICAL ADVISORY BOARD (AB2026-291): This ordinance amends Whatcom County Code Section 5.04.080 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Oversight Board and Section 5.04.085 EMS Technical Advisory Board to change the membership of the EMS Oversight Board and the EMS Technical Advisory Board. Ordinance introduced April 14, 2026. RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 2026 FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT AND SUBZONES BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 1, IN THE AMOUNT OF $23,406 (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2026-292): This resolution amends the 2026 Flood Control Zone District and Subzones Budget to reduce personnel costs and appropriate $23,406 to the Conservation Futures Fund to execute the Nooksack Riparian Resilience Project – Agricultural Riparian Easements Program. Resolution introduced April 14, 2026. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF THREE INDEPENDENT GRANT APPLICATIONS TO THE BRIAN ABBOTT FISH BARRIER REMOVAL BOARD TO RESTORE FISH PASSAGE AT THE BLACK SLOUGH AND HOMESTEADER CULVERTS AND TO COMPLETE THE FINAL DESIGN AND PERMITTING OF THE TINLING CREEK CULVERT PROJECT (COUNCIL ACTING AS THE WHATCOM COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS) (AB2026-295): This resolution authorizes the submission of three grant applications to the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board to aid in financing Black Slough Fish Barrier Construction, Homesteader Fish Barrier Final Design and Construction, and Tinling Creek Final Design projects. Resolution introduced April 14, 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.