DRAYTON HARBOR SHELLFISH PROTECTION DISTRICT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA

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AGENDA

MEETING ATTENDANCE

DOCUMENTS DISTRIBUTED

• Agenda
• 12/19/01 IFA Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection District Advisory Committee (AC) Meeting Summary

MEETING CONTENTS

1. Public Comment Period

There was no public comment.

2. Review Agenda and Previous Meeting Summary

Review Agenda
Geoff Menzies reviewed the agenda.

Review Meeting Summary
The committee reviewed the meeting summary.

• Action: Distribute the 12/19/01 IFA Meeting Summary as final.

Action Items from the 12/19/01 Meeting
Geoff Menzies received permission from the Port to raise money for the Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF) at the open house. The PSRF will have t-shirts for sale at the event.

Geoff Menzies drafted a letter of recognition commending the Blaine City Public Works for their exceptional work during a recent flood event. Grant Stewart and Deter Scott responded to the letter.

In 1999 the County included Drayton Harbor, as well as Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish in a special stormwater district. The County based the decision to establish a stormwater special district on recommendations in the 1995 Watershed Plan. At the 12/19/01 meeting, Ami Stillings brought a copy of the staff report from Whatcom County Planning & Development Services that recommended the exemption of Drayton Harbor from the stormwater special district requirements. Requirements are that any development with 500 sq. ft. or greater of impervious surfaces on lots in a special stormwater district need to install on-site stormwater BMPs (detention and infiltration). Development with greater than 5000 sq. ft. of impervious surface would require an engineered stormwater design. The County established the special district, but the county currently has no adopted stormwater BMPs to accompany the designation and its requirements. Geoff Menzies attended the Planning Department Meeting to discuss the exemption. Geoff Menzies informed the committee that the Planning Commission chose not to recommend adoption of the amendment to the requirements for the Drayton Harbor Stormwater Special District, which would have exempted parcels within that district from on-site stormwater detention and infiltration requirements. Instead, the Planning Department would have a 5 month deadline to develop guidelines and policies for the special district. Different watersheds require different guidelines. In Drayton Harbor, where the shellfish beds are closed to harvesting, the main concern is fecal coliform contamination. The Advisory Committee (AC) felt that stormwater policies should reflect that priority.

One member felt that the situation of the stormwater special district highlights a lack of communication between governmental agencies concerning the Drayton Harbor Watershed. The committee discussed inviting the County Planning Department to attend a committee meeting.

• Action: Ami Stillings will request that a County Planning representative present at a future committee meeting.

3. 1/26/02 Drayton Harbor Open House Agenda

Blau Oysters has donated 50 dozen oysters for the event. The Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association is donating 60lbs. of mussels. Ami Stillings passed out flyers for the event for distribution. AC members will post the flyers at the Blaine Public Library, City Hall, in Semiahmoo, and in Birch Bay, as well as in local businesses. Additional advertising will include two ads in the Northern Light and one in the Take Five section of the Bellingham Herald. Press releases have also been sent to the papers.

The open house will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Port Conference Room in Blaine. Geoff asked that AC members arrive around 10:30 to help with preparations.

4. Integration of the Citizen's Advisory and the Implementing Agencies Meetings

At the November Drayton Harbor Shellfish District retreat attendees discussed integrating the AC and the Implementing Agencies Committee. The retreat attendees agreed that the decision of whether to integrate the two committees should be left to the AC.

The AC discussed integrating the two committees. In the past, the Implementing Agencies and AC meetings were split to help make meetings more productive. AC members agreed that separate meetings are no longer necessary. One member questioned whether representatives of the Implementing Agencies would have time to attend monthly meetings.

One member suggested that the AC invite representatives from various Implementing Agencies as issues arise. In order to track progress of the Closure Response Strategy, substantial presentations from the Implementing Agencies are critical.

• Action: AC members will think about ways to integrate the AC and Implementing Agencies Committee. The AC will discuss this agenda item at the next meeting.

One member suggested inviting Don Lennartson from the State DOH to present the DOH classification system, the history of the harbor, and the latest data. Other suggestions for presenters included the Conservation District and a lecture on the biology of E. coli.

5. Advisory Committee Budget

At the December AC meeting, one member wondered whether an AC budget exists for literature searches and events such as the open house. Ami Stillings investigated the County shellfish projects budget.

The County Division of Water Resources has a $20 - 30,000 budget for shellfish projects. The budget is for one fiscal year. The money is earmarked for projects related to shellfish issues.

• Action: Ami will check the funding cycle and whether some of the funds can be used as an operational budget for the AC.

6. New Business

Letter of Support for the Regional Sewer Treatment Plant
One member asked the AC to state a position on the regional sewer treatment plant. The AC discussed the proposal to link the Blaine and Birch Bay Sewer systems. A regional sewer would replace many septic systems, but would also support higher density development around the harbor. A regional sewer also makes water reclamation projects a possibility in North Whatcom County.

The project would cost in the neighborhood of $30 million. The City of Blaine is lobbying for Federal funds, but will need to secure State funding as well.

The committee agreed to support the regional sewer system proposal if it is combined with a commitment to smart growth around the harbor.

• Action: Geoff Menzies will draft a letter of support for the regional sewer that acknowledges land use concerns.

Blaine Seafood Processors NPDES Permit Update
Mark Henderson from the DOE Bellingham Field Office gave an update on the NPDES permit. The processors have hired CHS engineering to size a pump for the processor outfall line. The engineer will have the pump sized and ordered by 1/31/02.

The permit also stipulates that the processors need to install a disinfection system for the effluent. In the meantime, the processors must continue to sample their waste stream. In addition, the permit requires a local engineering firm to study burying the outfall line.

Action: Mark Henderson will send the AC information about the timing of improvements in the NPDES.

7. Next Meeting Agenda (2/20/02)

• Ideas for ways to integrate the AC and Implementing Agencies meetings
• Presentation from the State DOH (Don Lennartson)
• AC Budget Cycle/Operational Budget
• Department of Ecology - Update on fish processors' status