County council approves changes to PRCAC ordinance

In a 5-2 vote, Whatcom County Council approved changes to Ordinance 2010-008 that will affect the makeup and operating practices of the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC). The wrinkle? The changes won’t take effect until March 31, 2021. Council members Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey and Kathy Kershner voted in favor; Tyler Byrd and District 5 representative Ben Elenbaas voted against. The vote took place during council’s regular meeting on December 8.

The existing committee is made up of two at-large representatives and a representative each from the taxpayers’ and registered voters’ associations and the chamber of commerce. The two at-large representatives are appointed by the county executive; the number of at-large positions will increase to four in total to make a seven-person committee.

The revisions were sponsored by Rud Browne in order to increase community representation, which he said the committee was currently lacking. PRCAC would be obligated to provide at least one week’s notice of all meetings along with an agenda that clearly described any items intended for a vote. Minutes would need to be “sufficiently detailed to enable a reader to understand the topic discussed and the key points of any debate. All external communications made by the committee shall be in writing, approved by a majority vote with the names of the committee members and their votes attached.”

Stephen Falk, an at-large member and current PRCAC chair, addressed council via Zoom asking them to put off voting on the measure until the representatives of the constituent groups could seek input from their respective boards. He also suggested that some of the operational requirements being suggested would be more appropriately included as part of PRCAC’s bylaws that were in the final stages of review.

PRCAC members had discussed the proposed changes during a special meeting held December 2. Among other objections, taxpayer representative Steven Wolff took “particular umbrage” at the county’s description of the minutes taken by PRCAC secretaries and called for increased detail. Allison Calder from the voters’ association backed Wolff, saying, “Linda [Hughes] wrote short stories, Stephen Falk wrote novels.”

During council discussion, Byrd suggested a “friendly amendment” and said that he “loved this amendment but I don’t think we should single out just one committee – it should be applied to all of the committees.” Elenbaas wasn’t ready to vote, saying, “I tell my kids, don’t come here with problems, come here with solutions so I appreciate what council member Rud Browne has done. As District 5 representative, I wouldn’t mind giving the community enough time because I don’t feel like I’ve had enough input to make up my mind.”

The March 31 date of implementation would presumably skin the cat in two ways – the changes got approved by council and it would allow for the community to provide input. Whether that input would be acted on by council is an open question, however.