Whatcom County Council Action Taken for August 11, 2026 The Whatcom County Council adopted the following at its August 11, 2026 meeting: ORDINANCE (2026-044) ESTABLISHING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SALES TAX FUND – RCW 82.14.345 AND ESTABLISHING AN INITIAL BUDGET FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SALES TAX FUND – RCW 82.14.345 (AB2026-580): This ordinance establishes the Criminal Justice Sales Tax Fund – RCW 82.14.345 with an initial budget of $3,658,280 to track and account for revenues and expenditures in accordance with Whatcom County Code 3.27. Ordinance introduced July 28, 2026. ORDINANCE (2026-045) AMENDING THE 2026 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 11, IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,658,280 (AB2026-581): This ordinance amends the 2026 Whatcom County budget to record $3,658,280 in Non-Departmental of proceeds from the new Criminal Justice Sales Tax special revenue fund for jail food and medical operating expenditures. Ordinance introduced July 28, 2026. ORDINANCE (2026-046) AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 24.03, FOOD SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS (AB2026-559): This ordinance amends Whatcom County Code 24.03, Food Service Rules and Regulations to update references and definitions, remove outdated language, and amend permit suspension language to support a more educational and less punitive approach for retail food establishment regulation. Ordinance introduced July 28, 2026. Public Hearing Notices for September 15, 2026 The Whatcom County Council will hold a public hearing, consider adopting, and may amend the following at its 6 p.m. meeting on September 15, 2026 or at a later date: RESOLUTION MODIFYING THE PUBLIC WORKS SIX-YEAR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) FOR THE YEARS 2026-2031 (AB2026-602): This resolution modifies the 2026-2031 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to include $300,000 of newly awarded Federal Surface Transportation Block Grant program funding for the Preliminary Engineering phase of the Everson Goshen Rd & E. Smith Rd Intersection Improvement Project. Resolution introduced August 11, 2026. RESOLUTION MODIFYING THE 2026 ANNUAL ROAD PROGRAM (AB2026-603): This resolution modifies the 2026 Annual Road Program to include $300,000 of newly awarded Federal Surface Transportation Block Grant program funding for the Preliminary Engineering phase of the Everson Goshen Rd & E. Smith Rd Intersection Improvement Program. Resolution introduced August 11, 2026. Action Proposed (Introduced) for September 15, 2026 The Whatcom County Council will consider adopting and may amend the following at its 6 p.m. meeting on September 15, 2026 or at a later date: ORDINANCE CLOSING THE 23-HOUR CRISIS RELIEF CENTER FUND (AB2026-617): This ordinance closes the 23-Hour Crisis Relief Center Fund and returns remaining funds of $1,000,000 to the Behavioral Health Fund and $961,013 to the Opioid Settlement Fund. Ordinance introduced August 11, 2026. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR THE NEW PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND JUSTICE FACILITY FUND, REQUEST NO. 12 (AB2026-618): This ordinance appropriates $22,500,000 to fund the Justice Facility project to proceed from the Validation Phase into the Design Phase without interruption for a new total project budget of $45,858,524. Ordinance introduced August 11, 2026. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2026 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET, REQUEST NO. 12, IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,094,013 (AB2026-619): This ordinance amends the 2026 Whatcom County budget as follows: From the General Fund: appropriate $133,000 in Non-Departmental to fund the pass-through grant from CDBG Program. From the Behavioral Health Fund: appropriate $1,000,000 in Health to fund the Justice Facility Project (companion to supplemental #5500). From the Opioid Settlement Fund: appropriate $961,013 in Health to fund the Justice Facility Project (companion to supplemental #5500). Ordinance introduced August 11, 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. IPL0366650 Aug 23 2026