WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL 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 June 23, 2026, or at a later date: ORDINANCE IMPOSING AN INTERIM MORATORIUM ON THE ACCEPTANCE OR PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS AND PERMITS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW OR EXPANSION OF EXISTING CIVIL DETENTION FACILITIES (AB2026-403): This ordinance prohibits on an interim basis the filing, acceptance, processing, or approval of any permit or application to establish, site, or expand civil or administrative detention facilities in all zoning designations within unincorporated Whatcom County, regardless of whether the use is permanent, temporary, primary, or accessory. This interim moratorium shall take effect and be in effect for one year from the effective date of this ordinance and shall automatically expire after a period of one year unless extended as provided by statute or until Council adopts amendments to Title 20 of the Whatcom County Code addressing the subject matter, whichever occurs first. Ordinance introduced June 9, 2026. ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 5.20, FIREWORKS, TO STRENGTHEN FIREWORKS REGULATIONS BY LIMITING THE DAYS FIREWORKS ARE ALLOWED AND PROHIBITING FIREWORKS DURING BURN BANS (AB2026-431): This ordinance amends Whatcom County Code Chapter 5.20, Fireworks, to strengthen fireworks regulations by limiting the days fireworks are allowed to July 4 between 6pm and midnight and between 6pm on December 31 and 1am on January 31 of the subsequent year; the ordinance also prohibits fireworks during burn bans. Ordinance introduced June 9, 2026. ORDINANCE AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 5.20, FIREWORKS, TO STRENGTHEN FIREWORKS REGULATIONS BY LIMITING THE DAYS FIREWORKS ARE ALLOWED AND PROHIBITING FIREWORKS DURING BURN BANS (AB2026-475): This ordinance amends Whatcom County Code Chapter 5.20, Fireworks, to strengthen fireworks regulations by limiting the days fireworks are allowed to July 4 between 6pm and midnight and between 6pm on December 31 and 1am on January 31 of the subsequent year, prohibiting consumer fireworks from being used or discharged within 100 feet of homes, buildings, or other structures at risk of fire, and prohibiting fireworks during a stage 2 burn ban. Ordinance introduced on June 9, 2026. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL ACTION PROPOSED (INTRODUCED) The Whatcom County Council will consider adopting and may amend the following at its 6 p.m. meeting on June 23, 2026, or at a later date: ORDINANCE AMENDING THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR THE 2015 GIRARD STREET BUILDING IMPROVEMENT FUND, REQUEST NO. 1 (AB2026-442): This ordinance amends Ordinance 2014-074 by reallocating $60,000 of expenditure authority to the current amended Girard Street Building Improvement project expenditure budget of $511,000 for the purpose of funding security improvements to the building, for a total amended project expenditure budget of $511,000. Ordinance introduced June 9, 2026. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2026 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 9, IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,941,775 (AB2026-450): This ordinance amends the 2026 Whatcom County budget as follows: From the General Fund: appropriate $500,000 in Public Defender to fund outside conflict attorneys and experts; appropriate $52,598 in County Clerk to fund specialty clerk and position reclass for water rights adjudication using grant funds; appropriate $226,478 in Superior Court to fund supplemental staff for water rights adjudication using grant funds. From the Conservation Futures Fund: appropriate $115,680 in Health to fund minor remodeling of the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center Kitchen. From the Jail Fund: appropriate $12,500 in Jail to fund purchase of a dump trailer for the Whatcom County Offender Forestry Work Crew using grant funds; appropriate $12,500 in Jail to fund purchase of a tilt trailer for the Whatcom County Offender Forestry Work Crew using grant funds; appropriate $38,100 in Jail to fund replacement of a Bobcat track loader for the Whatcom County Offender Forestry Work Crew using grant funds. From the Homeless Housing Fund: appropriate $4,522,119 in Health to fund housing services contract extensions using grant funds; appropriate $262,300 in Health to fund essential needs contract extensions using grant funds. From the Affordable Housing, Behavioral Health Facilities, and Related Services Fund: appropriate $500,000 in Health to fund affordable housing projects. From the Road Fund: appropriate $399,500 in Public Works to fund central shop stormwater improvements (companion to SBR 5408). Ordinance introduced June 9, 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. IPL0348939 Jun 14 2026