Personal Property vs. Social Consciousness

If there's not enough rancor for you watching the arguments on TV about the health care bill, come to the meetings about pollution in Birch Bay.

Last Saturday morning, 11.21, the Whatcom County Planning Department held an open house to explain the Birch Bay Watershed Action Plan, a yearlong study of the causes of pollution affecting the bay.

In addition to the usual attendees of meetings of the Birch Bay Steering Committee who come smiling, there were the strangers with sullen faces. As one woman explained, while looking at a large map of the watershed, “Those of us who live in this area have nothing in common with you folks in Birch Bay.” She was pointing to the basin that drains into Terrell Lake. The lake for fishing and bird hunting was formed by damming Terrell Creek. The spillover flows into the creek and on to Birch Bay.  Apparently this woman doesn't bring visiting relatives to the bay to dig for clams.

Pollution is one sacred subject that unites most everyone who lives within walking distance of the bay. Many folks who live out in the county don't recognize – or don't want to recognize – that water from their properties, fouled by pesticides, animal waste and faulty septic tanks, is a problem. So they're angry about the tax, passed by the County Council last year, to fund BBWARM, the special Birch Bay Watershed Aquatic and Resource District.  They're looking for opportunities to protest, including the recent election where several of the “seven dwarfs” were replaced by insurgents who said they would defend “property rights.”

"The study that was discussed Saturday isn't costing any Whatcom County taxpayer money. It is funded by a Federal EPA grant, perhaps to create a model for how water pollution issues can be handled. Margaret Clancy, a consultant from FSA  Adolfson and Peter Gill of the county planning department, are managers of the study who explained that their objectives are two-fold. One objective is to develop better maps of the watershed, and the other is to help developers with problem areas. One such action is offering “cap and trade” solutions to problems such as impervious surfaces and mitigation of wetlands.

Mention of wetlands caused one irate man to tell how he bought property from the county without disclosure. He said he's been required to spend thousands of dollars on changes to his small lot that he didn't know was wetland. He ranted against the treatment by a county planning department member who, he says, offers only sarcasm.

David Stalheim, director of the planning department, identified himself, and after an exchange that caused some to fear for David's well-being, the two adjourned to another room. David came back without apparent harm; the angry property owner didn't.

Ms. Clancy’s presentation was devoid of any horror stories or emotional appeals. It was left to Bob Hendricks, a Bay Keeper, to rise and explain perils to the bay, which was closed for a period this past summer because of pollution.

Ms. Clancy reiterated the fact-finding nature of the mission, explaining that there would be three more meetings during the winter, spring and summer with recommendations going to the County Council in the fall.

One of the critics said, “We don't need more presentations; you need to come and talk to us.” Ms. Clancy suggested a focus group.

That may be a step in a good direction.

AK

Cell phones and cancer

On "The Dr. Oz Show", ABC network, November 17, Dr. Oz discussed a study showing a connection between long term cell phone use and some cancers. While he feels more research needs to be done, he suggests these five ways to minimize your risk:

1. Put it on speaker. Because your exposure drops exponentially as you move the phone away from your head, you don’t have to keep the phone very far away to reduce your exposure by 1,000 to 10,000 times.
2. Go wired. In crowded, noisy areas, use a wired headset instead. If you must use a wireless headset, turn it off when you’re not using it.
3. Store it. Unless you’re on it, stow the phone in your purse or bag. If you keep it on your waist, keep it turned off. Studies have shown that keeping a cell phone in your pocket can decrease sperm count.
4. Save it for a strong signal. When reception is bad (such as in a rural areas or when you’re driving) use your phone for emergencies only. The weaker the signal, the more the radio frequency has to boost itself to get connected, increasing your exposure.
5. Protect the kids. Do not let children use cell phones next to their heads. For older kids, it shouldn’t take much encouragement to get them to text more than they chat.
   

Dr. Mehmet Oz is vice-chair and professor of surgery at Columbia University. He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. He is a research and practising heart surgeon, performing over 300 heart operations annually.

As a former x-ray technician, I know that distance is your friend here. Even a small separation between you and the phone is effective in reducing the potential danger from the radiofrequency radiation.

This warning is given under "precautionary principle". That is a policy applied when there is a need to take action without awaiting the results of scientific research when the potential hazard is known.

For the complete story, see www.doctoroz.com/videos/link-between-cell-phones-and-cancer

rah

Will Pete Kremen's endorsement of Michelle Luke enable the insurgents to defeat Carl Weimer?

The “insurgents” in our Whatcom County lexicon are the folks protesting the restructuring to meet the requirements of the Washington state Growth Management Act, particularly the LAMIRD rural zoning. In a July letter to the county planning commission and the planning department, Bill Henshaw, a Republican activist wrote,”This is the most flagrant land grab perpetrated on the citizens of Whatcom County that I have witnessed in 35 years following land use regulations.”

          “The changes in permissible uses of commercial properties,” he went on, “in effect a down zone making literally hundreds of properties non-confirming is not good public policy and certainly will have a significant impact on the economic viability of Whatcom County. Additionally, it would cause a significant re-distribution of the real estate tax burden to others in the county.”

          On Grandview Road coming west from I-5, the insurgents are represented by the signs proclaiming “We the People” (from the preamble to the Constitution). Some others in yellow and black say, ”Property Rights ATTACKED! By County Government,” and most are accompanied by signs for County Council candidates Kershner, Knutzen, Luke and Teigrob. In some quarters, these insurgents are called the, “Gang of Four.”

          At the annual dinner meeting of the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce last Tuesday, Oct. 20, one-on-one, I asked County Executive Kremen why he let his picture be on a mailer for Michelle Luke's campaign. He said he has known her for some time and  he thinks she is a thoughtful person who can represent ordinary people. He added that she is only one of two people he has endorsed in 25 years in public office – and he couldn't remember the name of the other.

          But this is not about Michelle Luke. It is about Carl Weimer, her opponent. Weimer, who is probably the most popular council member among Birch Bay progressives, is a political science teacher's example of the kind of person who should be in public office. He has a long list of accomplishments in public life, always standing tall on right side of environmental issues.

          Kremen thinks Weimer is preparing to run for County Executive in two years. While claiming that he does not want to run for a fourth term, Kremen resents that Weimer is not collaborating with him on important issues. “I am a Democrat, a moderate Democrat,” said Kremen suggesting that there is no reason for Weimer to go his own way. Laurie Caskey-Schreiber, another of the four endorsed by Whatcom Democrats, is one member of the Council he mentioned by name as collaborative.

          That led to a discussion of the reductions to the size of the Birch Bay UGA that some folks view as too radical. Earlier that day, Lisa Guthrie, knowing that the County Council would be receiving recommendations on UGA revisions from the Planning Commission, had sent a memo to Council members and the planning department with a copy to Kremen. Guthrie, president of the chamber,  who heads development planning for Homestead Northwest, Birch Bay's most significant builder, is lobbying to keep the Double R Ranch in the UGA as well as Homestead property at the east end of the golf course. 
 
         Five minutes after clicking “send” her phone rang and it was Kremen. (Photo of Pete Kremen talking with Lisa Guthrie at the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Dinner. Photo by Tiffani Stauffer)

          In our discussion, Kremen said that he thinks the planning department and the County Council went too far in reducing some UGAs, suggesting he wants to cut back.

                                                                                   

          On another front, an analysis of “record breaking dollars” raised by County Council candidates published by the Herald last Wednesday found that all of the “insurgents” backed by Republicans have more dollars to spend than their opponents. Michelle Luke raised over $47 thousand versus Weimer's $28 thousand.

          Generally, the dollars that have gone to the “Gang” are attributed to real estate interests who want to see more building in the county, on land the insurgents don't want to see “grabbed.” In a detailed scrutiny of the campaign literature of Luke and Weimer, Sam Taylor in his current Herald blog, finds Luke is criticizing Weimer's policies as detrimental to the county economy.

         Mr. Taylor concludes that, if three of the four win, the county's politics could change dramatically.

                                                                  

         Let us hope not.

                                                         

ak

A non-candidate’s answers to our questions:

10.6845

Editor's note: Frustrated that none of the “Gang of Four” –  Kathy Kersher, Bill Knutzen, Michelle Luke and Mary Beth Teigrob – responded to our questions, we asked our friend Alowishes Anonymous, to represent their views.

A.A., a long-term libertarian and a backer of Ron Paul in Whatcom County, takes credit for thinking up the, “We the People” campaign. His girl friend, Betsy, claims to have designed flag signs, and A.A. says he composed most of Ms. Teigrob's note cards that she uses in debate.

1) With growth inevitable, do you distinguish between desirable and undesirable development?

The market decides. You have marvelous examples in Birch Bay. When the Bay Crest communities were built, the goody goods complained there were no parks and playgrounds, but the low cost housing attracted many people who take good care of their homes. Now the communities look great. (Kids enjoy playing in the wide streets.) And in the D.B. Johnson sections they are still building and selling homes.

On the other hand you have the the Bovencamp project, Semihmoo Something, that the goodies loved, with big lots, marvelous views and “rain gardens.” The last time I looked there were only two buildings – the sales office and one demo home.

2) Building a berm to protect the beach and enhance walking, cycling, etc. for residents and visitors is a primary objective of leaders of the Birch Bay community. What would you do to help the community achieve this objective?

Nothing. When developers, like Bill Grant think a berm is needed, they will build it.

  3) With the goal of increasing infill, would you vote to prevent the fire district from charging mitigation fees for homes and other structures built within the 2031-revised Birch Bay UGA boundaries?

Yes, great question. Our motto is: FEWER, NOT MORE TAXES. Make those fire commissioners learn to economize. (“A penny saved is a penny earned!”) Let them start by selling off redundant fire stations. One is in the center of Lynden's industrial area; the city has its own fire department. The little used Semiahmoo station would be an ideal location for a restaurant.

4) Those who want Birch Bay to become a city are frustrated. Two years ago, the county invested $100,000 in a study that found incorporation would be financially feasible. Now, with the economic recession, some of the premises of the study may not be valid. Would you favor a select committee of county officials and knowledgeable community representatives being charged with updating the 2008 recommendations?

Who's frustrated? Bet if you took a poll, you would find that most of the homeowners want to live by our motto and keep taxes and services as they are. Establish a fund with volunteer contributions to keep Kathy Berg and Doralee Booth on the job pestering the county for “Birch Bay's Fair Share.”

If you really want Birch Bay to become a city, start by gerrymandering the UGA boundry in a corridor out the Birch Bay-Lynden Road beyond I-5. With control of the County Council, my Four could help Birch Bay with that. The addition would include Birch Bay Square and other commercial properties – Bill Henshaw says the total is 140,000 square feet.

Property owners, irate over LAMRIND, would gladly fund a study to demonstrate feasibility. With those additions, your tax base would be expanded quickly and offer the opportunity to create more. Every Monday the Seattle Time reports on startup tech companies. Some of those could be lured by low-rent and the Birch Bay environment. Bill Grant and angel investors, bored playing bridge on rainy days in Semiahmoo, could fund incubators to nourish more startups.      

A.A.

                                                

A huge relief

One of the  great pleasures of attending class at Western Washington University is the opportunity to walk the Sehome Hill Arboretum trails. A recent robbery prompted a warning from Western Washington University police to avoid the trails until the perpetrator was apprehended.

Last week, Detective Ferguson of the Bellingham Police Department, cooperating with the Western Washington University police, said they had many tips and were working the case, but they did not have anyone in custody.

To my great relief, yesterday the Bellingham Herald reported that two suspects have been arrested. See WWU student arrested in Sehome Arboretum robbery - http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=12B83FD7A300AD98&p_docnum=2

Now I can go back to the trail - thank you.

rah

Questions for Laurie Caskey-Schreiber, Candidate for County Council, Council At- Large Position

1) With growth inevitable, do you distinguish between desirable and undesirable development?

I think desirable growth is growth  that adds some value to the community as a whole. Provides needed housing, creates a pedestrian way of life, provides amenities such as parks or commercial businesses that provide a needed service to citizens of the community and creates job opportunities. Growth that is undesirable to me is housing where everyone has to use their car to do anything (even walking their dog safely), and sprawl that consumes farmland or threatens our natural resources. To me that's damaging growth.

2) Building a berm to protect the beach and enhance walking, cycling, etc. for residents and visitors is a primary objective of leaders of the Birch Bay community. What would you do to help the community achieve this objective?

I think the community would greatly benefit from the berm being established and I would support any efforts to make this project a reality. One way that we could make that happen would be to award a rural sales tax funded grant. One could make a very strong argument that this would make Birch Bay more attractive on many fronts, which in turn would enhance their tourism business and, environmentally speaking,it would be a win/win scenario.

With the goal of increasing infill, would you vote to prevent the fire district from charging mitigation fees for homes and other structures built within the 2031-revised Birch Bay UGA boundaries?

I assisted in crafting the school impact fee ordinance, so I believe in the concept of impact fees. If the fire district is allowed to collect impact fees by the State, I would support their ability to do so.

4) Those who want Birch Bay to become a city are frustrated. Two years ago the county invested $100,000 in a study that found incorporation would be financially feasible. Now with the economic recession, some of the premises of the study may not be valid. Would you favor a select committee of county officials and knowledgeable community representatives being charged with updating the 2008 recommendations?

I think this is a very complex issue that will constantly need public participation and assessment of changing market conditions. For Birch Bay to become a city, it has to make financial sense and not place a huge burden on the community to proceed or not to proceed. We all need to help Burch Bay find their way. That's why I supported funding the incorporation study in the first place. The force to become a city has to come from the citizens of Birch Bay. The county could facilitate some public process to vet this out more, but Birch Bay really needs to weigh the pros and cons, and then eventually conduct a public vote on the matter. Whatever they decide, I'll still work hard to serve the community, and support them in whatever direction they feel is best for the area.

Ms. Caskie-Schreiber has served on the Whatcom County Council since 2001, two years as council chair. She is a graduate of WWU and is administrative service manager of the university's sociology department.

ak

Comments are not only welcome, but are also encouraged. 

Questions for Ken Mann, Candidate for County Council District No. 2, Position A

1) With growth inevitable, do you distinguish between desirable and undesirable development?

Undesirable development is a pattern of residential and commercial growth that doesn’t pay for itself, destroys our rural and resource lands, and degrades our quality of life. It is generally low-density, car dependent, overly expensive, and destroys our rural and resource lands. The cost of roads, police and fire protection, and basic utilities in those areas is astronomical when compared with providing these same services in existing urban areas. Our quality of life, as measured by traffic, environmental quality and recreational opportunities, is continually degraded by our current development patterns. Our job base in agricultural, forestry, and industrial lands are threatened.

Desirable development means that we realign our incentives to make sure that developers will build in existing urban areas so that people can be near jobs and services without carving up more agricultural lands or watersheds. We must utilize our existing urban land supply to provide housing and commercial activity. Efficient and compact development will be more affordable, livable, and conserve resources for future generations.

2) Building a berm to protect the beach and enhance walking, cycling, etc. for residents and visitors is a primary objective of leaders of the Birch Bay community. What would you do to help the community achieve this objective?

I support the community’s objective of a berm, and would be happy to help. I think the most important thing to do, is lay the groundwork for design and permitting, so when the berm becomes a financial reality, the process can be as streamlined as possible. 

3) With the goal of increasing infill, would you vote to prevent the fire district from charging mitigation fees for homes and other structures built within the 2031-revised Birch Bay UGA boundaries?

This is a complex topic that is difficult to address in isolation. The Fire District has a capital facilities plan that is currently underfunded for the level of service desired by the people. It would be irresponsible to intervene without having an extensive dialogue with the people of Birch Bay and the fire officials. In general, I support impact fees so that development pays its own way. I agree the incentives are backwards in Whatcom County, with cities charging impact fees and deterring development, while the County has ZERO impact fees which attracts development. This topic could be a central part of any comprehensive countywide review of impact fees.

4) Those who want Birch Bay to become a city are frustrated. Two years ago the county invested $100,000 in a study that found incorporation would be financially feasible. Now with the economic recession, some of the premises of the study may not be valid. Would you favor a select committee of county officials and knowledgeable community representatives being charged with updating the 2008 recommendations?

I will support Birch Bay’s efforts to determine their own future. The county generally does not want to be in the business of providing urban levels of services within densely populated areas. Birch Bay has grown to the point where it would be a viable option to incorporate. I think we absolutely need to revisit some of the underlying assumptions and data of the study, and confirm or reject the initial conclusions. The people of Birch Bay have worked very long and hard on their plan, and we need to honor their efforts by seriously considering it, but ultimately allowing them people to decide for themselves.

According to the voter pamphlet, Ken Mann is a member and past chairman of the Whatcom County Planning Commission. He earned a degree in political science from Tulane University and in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. He is owner of Caspian Management Corporation that has renovated and managed older commercial and residential buildings since 2004.

ak 

Comments are not only encouraged, but are sought.

What about our libraries?

‘Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future,” said Ray Bradbury, American author best known for writing Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles.

He added, "Libraries raised me. I don’t believe in colleges and universities. I believe in libraries because most students don’t have any money. When I graduated from high school, it was during the Depression and we had no money. I couldn’t go to college, so I went to the library three days a week for 10 years,"

While we don’t agree with Bradbury’s beliefs about colleges and universities, we do applaud his opinion of libraries (found in colleges and universities in addition to city and county locations).

The Whatcom County Library System, along with many other library systems in the state and county, is facing insufficient funding to support the current level of service. Without approval of the levy lift measure on the November 3 ballot, we may lose much of what we know as our library.

Birch Bay’s bookmobile service and the Blaine’s branch library are among the sites threatened with reduced hours of operation and reduced staff. Library service users could face increased fines and fees.

“The variety of opportunities offered by the library is amazing!” Debbie Farmer, Blaine Branch Manager, said.  “The public library is truly a thriving hub in the community!”

Events at the Blaine branch include Wii nights, art classes, book discussion groups, a chess club, and story times.

Circulation at that branch increased 9.3 precent this year over last, from 192,028 materials checked out in 2008 to 132,083 checked out through August 2009.

The Birch Bay bookmobile saw circulation rise an astounding 56 percent from 4,891 in 2008 to 4,845 through August 2009.

Washington libraries get their funding though a levy based on assessed property values. The last levy increase was 29 years ago. The current rate is $0.338; the requested level is $0.44. That figures out to an annual increase of $15.30 on a $150,000 property - less than a dinner out. Washington State law allows for $0.50 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, so the measure requests an amount well below the maximum.

Without our libraries, where would we be? Vote YES on on the library levy lift November 3.

Please comment - in agreement or not.

rah

All communities lose as Whatcom County works to comply with the state Growth Management Act; Bill Grant won some back -- will he get more?

The few smiles in the rotunda of the county building last Thursday evening, 9.17, were the result of changes County Executive Pete Kremen recommended for Birch Bay, reinstating the town center node at the intersection of Blaine and Alderson roads. The main beneficiary of this change is Bill Grant, Birch Bay's biggest builder, who owns property there and has a multi-use plan. *

Lisa Guthrie was not smiling. She is the public face of Homestead Northwest that would lose zoning for more than 200 family homes at the eastern end of the Sea Links property. Proposed zoning is one home to five acres; Ms. Guthrie says that would mean only three houses could be built there.

Inside, the chamber was packed for a joint hearing – actually listening – by the county council and the planning commission. After Whatcom County Planning Director David Stalheim briefed the council and commission members on the highlights of Mr. Kremen's revised recommendations, representatives of the county's communities, starting with Mayor Pike of Bellingham, spoke. Most are unhappy with the lack of significant changes from Mr. Kremen's original proposal.

But Kathy Berg, who serves as chair of the Birch Bay Steering Committee, was thankful for Mr. Kremen's change from his first recommendation that she called “draconian”, cutting the heart out of the Birch Bay Community Plan. She was the only representative to recognize the need for the UGA revisions: “Lack of compliance cuts the county off from funding sources that are needed to address pressing issues in Birch Bay.” (Like The Berm.) For her full presentation and more Birch Bay information, see www.birchbayinfo.org.

Blaine, according to an earlier memo from Mayor Onyon to Mr. Kremen, would like to keep 400 acres in its west side that Trillium wants to develop. However, neither Ms. Onyon or anyone else from Blaine was at this hearing.

Representatives from Columbia Valley and Everson supported Mr. Kremen's general recommendations, but suggested improvements relating to their borders.

Dennis Rhodes, Ferndale's planner who formerly was on the county planning staff, spoke vigorously about the county not recognizing his city's need for commercial development space. (Is Ferndale preparing to sue?)

Amy Haskel, who is popular with the county staff, represented the city of Lynden. During the public period, she was followed by a handful of other speakers beginning with Mayor Jack Louws. Each of these speakers, council members, planning commissioner, city administrator, and city attorney, presented a different argument portraying Lynden as a model city. Included was a letter from prominent farmers stating that the land the county plan reserves for agriculture is not good for growing crops.

After two hours, when all of the council members and commissioners still appeared to be paying attention, we left. (Jared Paben of the Herald reported that 58 people spoke for over four hours.)

*A bigger challenge is coming for Mr. Grant Tuesday night, 9.22, when the county planning commission takes up “LAMIRDS” issues. These include the “land grab” near Birch Bay Square.  Mr. Grant's Gold Star Resorts owns undeveloped land where Birch Bay–Lynden Road meets I-5, which would lose considerable value if downzoned.

ak

We enthusiastically welcome comments.

Now a Trench

First it was pot-holes, all over the beach at low tide. Now it is a trench, threatening to exceed the Mariana Trench dimensions.
Please, clammers, fill in your holes.

Apart from making an unsightly moon-scape of the beach, the holes are walking hazards.

But most importantly, marine life is disturbed by clamming activity and the best you can do to minimize that impact is to return the material as close as possible to its original state.

Residents, visitors and future clammers thank you.


rah

Reason Prevails

At the end of last week the fire district published a revised Capital Facilities Plan with marked down mitigation fees reducing the total revenue projection to $11,446,217 from a previous $23,903,505. [This reduced request is also based on growth Alternative Y that anticipates 17 thousand more people in the fire district by 2031.] This new amount would finance the cost of two new fire stations and two new fire engines and aid cars. The figures below represent discounting to nearly 48 percent of the original requests.

Adjusted Concurrency Mitigation Fees by Land Use

Land Use	Dec. 31, 2008 Concurrency Mitigation Fee Per Unit of Development	Unit of Development	Adjusted Concurrency Mitigation Fee per Unit of Development
Residential
Singe Family and Duplex	$2,078.45	Per dwelling unit	$995.27
Multi-Family	$2,983.70	Per dwelling unit	$1,428.75
Non-Residential
Hotel/Motel/Resort	$7.68	Per square foot	$3.68
Medical
Nursing Home	$28.67	Per square foot	$13.73
Medical-Dental	$12.41	Per square foot	$5.94
Commercial
Office	$3.79	Per square foot	$1.81
Retail	$2.95	Per square foot	$1.41
Leisure Failicites	$1.66	Per square foot	$0.79
Restaurant/Lounge	$3.75	Per square foot	$1.80
Industrial/Manufacturing	$0.89	Per square foot	$0.43
Institutions
Churches/Non-Profit	$1.21	Per square foot	$0.58
Education	$2.07	Per square foot	$0.99
Special Public Facilities	$4.23	Per square foot	$2.03

Adapted from Table 41 of NWFRS Capital Facilities Plan

The district also reduced the amount of a bond issue required to finance upgrading existing stations from $4.050 million to $3.400 million

The purpose of this exercise is to gain the approval of Whatcom County as part of the county's updated Growth Management Plan. In that regard the district's plan ends with a statement of financial feasibility of interest Birch Bay residents:

The probable sources of revenue described above indicate that it is financially feasible to build and operate two new stations {with engines and aid vehicles} during the period 2008-2031 if Whatcom County implements the district's Concurrency Mitigation Fee Program. If Whatcom County does not implement the Concurrency Mitigation Fee Program it would not be financially feasible for the district to pay for capital needs to build and operate two new stations {with engines and aid vehicles} during the period 2008-2031 necessary to serve urban growth in the Birch Bay UGA. [Emphasis added.]

Of course, with developers now struggling to survive, this Projection Y stuff is yammer. But the state's Growth Management Act requires a plan, so plan we must.

ak