The advisory committee is an integral part of the operations and management of the flood control zone district and is charged with the following duties and responsibilities:
A. 
Provide advice on flood hazard management and other water resources plan development and implementation;
B. 
Discuss and recommend budget appropriations and supplemental budget appropriations from the funds of the district;
C. 
Advise the board of supervisors on issues the board may refer to it from time to time;
D. 
Act as a liaison between the board of supervisors and the public, and as requested, have hearings or public meetings on behalf of the board of supervisors.
(Formerly 2.92.020; Res. 92-015 (part); Res. 2001-046; Res. 2009-027 Exh. A; Res. 2010-039 Exh. A)
The advisory committee will consist of 15 voting members and one ex officio nonvoting member, each of whom resides in Whatcom County, to be appointed by the board of supervisors, as follows:
A. 
Two members representing special districts, such as drainage and diking districts or flood control district subzones;
B. 
Two members representing cities impacted by flooding;
C. 
Two members, one member representing each of the two federally recognized Indian Tribes, after consideration of the recommendation of the Nooksack Tribe and Lummi Nation governing bodies;
D. 
Nine members who collectively represent a diversity of flood control zone district stakeholder interests and geographic areas throughout the county, whenever possible;
E. 
One nonvoting ex officio member to be selected by the board of supervisors from its own members.
(Formerly 2.92.030; Res. 92-015 (part); Res. 92-029 (part); Res. 2001-046; Res. 2009-027 Exh. A; Res. 2010-039 Exh. A)
A. 
The term of office for the nine members representing stakeholder interests and geographic areas within Whatcom County shall be four years. A member may be appointed to serve up to two consecutive four-year terms, regardless of whether that member has served a first term of less than four years.
B. 
The members appointed to represent special districts, the cities, the ex officio member and the Indian Tribes shall each serve for a one-year term. These representatives may serve consecutive terms.
C. 
No member representing stakeholder interests or a geographic area shall serve more than two consecutive full terms; however, after serving two consecutive full terms, a citizen may become eligible for reappointment after a one-year period of separation from the advisory committee.
D. 
The terms of all appointments shall expire on January 31st of the specified year.
(Formerly 2.92.040; Res. 92-015 (part); Res. 92-029 (part); Res. 94-001; Res. 2001-046; Res. 2009-027 Exh. A; Res. 2010-039 Exh. A)
The advisory committee shall meet once monthly or as its members shall determine, but not less frequently than once every three months. A majority of the appointed voting members of the advisory committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Any actions taken by the advisory committee must be passed by a majority of the appointed voting members.
(Formerly 2.92.050; Res. 92-015 (part); Res. 98-032; Res. 2001-046; Res. 2009-027 Exh. A; Res. 2010-039 Exh. A)
Pursuant to the terms of an interlocal agreement, Whatcom County will provide limited staffing for the advisory committee, recording and producing minutes and providing agendas and other technical support as requested and available.
(Formerly 2.92.060; Res. 92-015 (part); Res. 2001-046; Res. 2009-027 Exh. A; Res. 2010-039 Exh. A)
At its initial meeting each year, the advisory committee will elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson. The chairman shall preside over each meeting of the advisory committee. The vice-chairperson shall have the power to perform all duties of the chairperson in his or her absence. The advisory committee may adopt bylaws to govern the conduct of their meetings, but any such bylaws shall be consistent with this chapter.
(Formerly 2.92.070; Res. 92-015 (part); Res. 2001-046; Res. 2009-027 Exh. A; Res. 2010-039 Exh. A)
When a vacancy occurs as the result of a completed term, or due to the death, resignation, or unexcused absence from two consecutive regular meetings of the advisory committee, or if for any other reason a member is unable to fulfill the duties of membership, the vacancy will be filled by appointment of the Whatcom County flood control zone district board of supervisors.
Any person interested in serving on the advisory committee may be appointed by the board of supervisors to a list of alternate members for a period of six years. Alternate members shall be notified of each meeting of the advisory committee and encouraged to attend when possible.
When a mid-term vacancy occurs, the board may choose to solicit additional applications, or it may decide to fill the vacancy from the alternate list without soliciting additional applications if it determines that an alternate can fill the vacancy while maintaining the desired geographic and stakeholder diversity or the appropriate governmental representation on the committee.
When a vacancy occurs following a completed term, the board will solicit applications for the vacancy from the community as well as considering appointment from the alternate list.
The Whatcom County flood control zone district board of supervisors shall advertise a vacancy and include an application deadline of 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday of the week prior to the regularly scheduled council meeting at which nominations and possible vote to appoint are scheduled to occur. Board members shall make nominations from the list of applicants and list of alternate members at this same regularly scheduled meeting. Appointment of the nominees shall occur by an affirmative roll-call vote by a majority of the entire board. In the case of only one applicant/alternate member for a given vacancy, nomination and appointment by general consent may occur.
(Formerly 2.92.080; Res. 92-029 (part); Res. 2001-046; Res. 2009-027 Exh. A; Res. 2010-039 Exh. A; Res. 2014-034 Exh. A)
Written notice of the time and place of any meeting shall be sent to each member of the committee and each appointee to the alternate list at least five days prior to each meeting.
The board of supervisors intends that the advisory committee shall give public notice of its meetings consistent with the Washington Open Public Meetings Act, hold meetings open to the public, and record the proceedings of any meeting, including those instances in which the Open Public Meetings Act itself may not apply. The advisory committee shall not take any action or make any recommendation to the flood control zone district board of supervisors except through recorded decisions made at properly noticed public meetings.
Records of the advisory committee shall be retained by the river and flood division of the Whatcom County public works department, unless otherwise provided for by agreement between Whatcom County and the Whatcom County flood control zone district.
(Res. 2009-027 Exh. A; Res. 2010-039 Exh. A)
The rules relating to membership and vacancies shall apply to vacancies and appointments that occur on or after April 14, 2009, allowing members seated at that time to complete their terms. All other provisions shall become effective upon signature of the chair of the board of supervisors following adoption by the board of supervisors or 10 days after adoption by the board of supervisors, whichever occurs first.
(Res. 2009-027 Exh. A; Res. 2010-039 Exh. A)