This at a public meeting sponsored by Whatcom County Public Works to discuss the draft funding plan for BBWARM, the Birch Bay Watershed Aquatic Resources Management district. The County Council approved formation of the district in 2006, and the funding plan will soon go to the Council for approval. The plan in the first year will generate over seven hundred thousand dollars to combat increased flooding, erosion, declining water quality and loss of aquatic habitat in the bay.
The Council has the power to establish a fee – without citizen vote – that will be collected with property and other taxes beginning in 2009. For most homeowners the monthly charge will range from $5.02 to $8.72 depending on the amount of impervious surface on their property. Fees for commercial enterprises are related to the size of their individual impervious surfaces. Every property owner in the Birch Bay watershed is included. Some whose mailing address is Ferndale didn’t know they are part of the watershed.
John Ghilarducci, the lead consultant at FCS Group in Redmond that created the funding plan, was only halfway through his power point presentation when the eruption started. From the back sanctuary of the Birch Bay Bible Community Church a woman in a red dress called out. “This is just gibberish.” Kraig Olason, the public works manager who is shepherding the plan, decided it was time to take comment.
A man from Latitude 49 described their superior ditch system. Birch Bay Village argued that three developments – one from Blaine – feed water into their Roger's Slough.
A man from Point Whitehorn, site of many recently-built large homes said, “Charge the developers.”
“The thousands of people who come to Birch Bay from throughout the state should pay,” said one woman.
On and on it went.
A woman, who runs a storage business with many low buildings and paved areas, said the fee would be three percent of her revenues. No one suggested her customers should be willing to pay a higher rate.
There was virtually no rebuttal from Olason or Ghilarducci. Both were models of composure. (For more information: www.co.whatcom.wa.us/publicworks/birchbay)
Toward the end of the meeting, Jerry Larson, a vigorous protector of water quality in the bay, passed out a detailed report on the situation first published a year ago.
The picture above is from an orientation on October 1, 2005 by Bill Derry, the lead consultant of CH2M Hill, who researched storm water problems and developed the abatement plan, shown with Roland Middleton, Whatcom County Planning Department.
At several points Mr. Ghilarducci made the case for the greater good – that everyone would benefit from clean water and edible seafood. But an angry woman countered with, “The whole thing sucks.”
Carl Weimer, president of the County Council, did not rise. Long-time members of the Storm Water implementation subcommittee of the Birch Bay Steering Committee, who have been working for this cause for years, were relaxed. They can be confident the measure will pass the County Council.
But what does this say about the irrationals? In this context we define “irrational” as those who disregard civic responsibility. Do they not care if clams are no longer dug on the beach? If crabs are no longer edible? If parents fear allowing their children to go into the water? If visitors stop coming, what will that do for their property values? Do they expect such perils are far off – no cause for their concern? (Two days after the meeting, the Whatcom County Health Department closed Birch Bay to clam digging.)
What does this say about the potential for self-government? Yes, some of the irrationals are from outside the community. But others are within sight and walking distance of the bay. Do they care for nothing but their money?
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