There is hereby established the Whatcom County ferry advisory committee.
(Ord. 2012-005 Exh. A; Ord. 2023-057 Exh. A)
The Whatcom County ferry advisory committee provides review and recommendations to the Whatcom County council and executive on issues that affect the ongoing operations and infrastructure of ferry service to Lummi Island. The committee also provides a forum for those who depend upon Lummi Island ferry service to voice their ideas and concerns about the ferry service.
(Ord. 2012-005 Exh. A; Ord. 2023-057 Exh. A)
A. 
The committee function is solely to advise the county council or the executive on the following functions:
1. 
Review and provide recommendations on proposed changes to ferry operations and fares; and
2. 
Review at least annually ferry revenue and expenditures, ferry fund balance, and actual versus targeted fare return; and
3. 
Assist the county in collecting information from ferry riders on actual and desired ferry services, concerns, and ideas for improved service; and
4. 
Analyze and develop recommendations to continue and improve the cost-effective operation of ferry service to Lummi Island; and
5. 
Review and make recommendations on proposed changes to:
a. 
Chapter 10.34 WCC, Ferry Rates;
b. 
Chapter 10.36 WCC, Ferry Multi-Ride Cards and Quarterly Passes;
c. 
The Lummi Island ferry service action plan as approved in County Resolution 2018-026 regarding ferry vessel, terminal, and operations.
B. 
The committee may advise the county council or the executive by developing recommendations that are approved by a majority of the committee as defined in WCC § 2.145.050(E).
C. 
If a recommendation is approved by less than a unanimous vote, one or more members may submit a dissenting statement with the recommendations.
D. 
The county council and the county executive may consider the committee's recommendations and advice when making ferry-related decisions. The county council and/or county executive will make the final decisions on all ferry-related matters.
(Ord. 2012-005 Exh. A; Ord. 2023-057 Exh. A)
A. 
The committee shall consist of nine voting members.
1. 
Five members who live on the island,
2. 
Four members who do not live or own property on Lummi Island, with priority given to one Lummi Nation representative when possible:
a. 
Two members who live in unincorporated Whatcom County, not including Lummi Island.
b. 
Two members who live anywhere in Whatcom County except Lummi Island.
3. 
One county councilmember will be an ad hoc nonvoting member.
B. 
The county council shall appoint the committee members. Member terms will be three years; provided, that the terms of members first appointed will be staggered so that three of the committee members shall be appointed for two years. Members of the committee shall serve without compensation.
(Ord. 2012-005 Exh. A; Ord. 2023-057 Exh. A; Ord. 2024-013 Exh. A)
A. 
Meetings of the committee shall be open and accessible to the public and shall be subject to the Open Public Meetings Act. There will be a good faith effort to host meetings both on and off island.
B. 
A public comment session will be scheduled at all regular meetings. Public comment is not required at special meetings. Public comment can be provided orally at a regular meeting or in writing prior to or at a regular meeting
C. 
Written records of meetings, resolutions, research, findings and recommendations shall be kept and such records shall be submitted to county council staff and shall be made public, including posting on the county website.
D. 
The committee shall adopt its own rules and procedures for the conduct of business, except the number of members required for a quorum to meet and take action.
E. 
The number of members required for a quorum in order to meet and take action is five voting members, which is a majority of all positions regardless of whether or not any positions are vacant.
F. 
The committee shall elect a chairperson from among its members who shall preside at its meetings.
G. 
The committee shall annually, at the first meeting in January, review the most current county council and county executive expectations for boards and commissions. The most current version will be posted on the committee website.
H. 
The committee shall determine its meeting schedule and agenda, but shall meet at least quarterly.
I. 
The committee may form and appoint ad hoc committees to work on specific issues, so long as at least two committee members are also members of each ad hoc committee.
J. 
The committee shall comply with Chapter 2.03 WCC, Boards and Commissions.
(Ord. 2012-005 Exh. A; Ord. 2023-057 Exh. A)
A. 
All members shall be trained on and comply with the Open Public Meetings Act, and training shall be done and updated per the state Open Government Training Act and RCW 42.30.205.
B. 
All members shall comply with the most current version of the county council and county executive expectations for boards and commissions.
(Ord. 2023-057 Exh. A)
The committee is encouraged to operate and hold its meetings as independent of county staffing and resources as possible, including but not limited to developing its own agendas and minutes.
Ongoing administrative support to the committee shall be provided by the county public works department to ensure the committee complies with county code requirements, the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), and the Public Records Act, including but not limited to:
A. 
Entering into agreements for and paying the cost of meeting rental venues;
B. 
Ensuring meeting agendas and minutes and other required meeting information are posted to the county website per OPMA and county code requirements;
C. 
Responding to public records requests and maintaining committee's records.
Additional staffing and other resources for the committee shall be requested through the county executive's office.
All staff time and county resources expended in support of the committee, including meeting venue rental fees and costs for providing remote meeting access, will be considered ferry operation expenses. The committee is authorized to request from the executive's office information from administrative departments as necessary.
(Ord. 2012-005 Exh. A; Ord. 2023-057 Exh. A)