[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6213948,"mediaKeyId","3671452-b6e0867a08c54a25864048c84b5e99c5","parentId",3671452,"title","Committee recommends against amendment 11 after debate in author’s absence","audioSeconds",552,"startMs",10810000,"endMs",11362000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3671452-b6e0867a08c54a25864048c84b5e99c5&start=10810&end=11362","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3671452-b6e0867a08c54a25864048c84b5e99c5/thumbnail_10810000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6213948/Whatcom-County/Washington/Committee-recommends-against-amendment-11-after-debate-in-authors-absence","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213948-82462bb2a45c1f3b19bc8efc80384289/orig.mp4?Expires=1770699620&Signature=O35YLwZF5VpzEpo~8cWvHDOomTo-sjzIGe6D5TjaXKe3-wgCliv-mft7hJ4nz4~sY5ZwtZXdyKsfkJlGhh9G425VscYDOYNO0OpgFO3P1tPDhhYCMocKU5xA3FYJpzhX3JqFoifGr4UuMdE9iOaxW6hEETinIYC5Ca0I-y3jJCvt2cSl2xjvPh~-zdWPx2ZMnG4mPNoTj4tQAMu1isugXM8DetKNB9doRi~hKnitPo5UXKrczoDw3aNYb3WjHRiovfyILAqRw90f4qQDQYSq4HIQebJYr5vDAgA-unSQNUJael-jq-V15jeAKvYz43BERt7O77KKaQ9S5H5jDIBGlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Whatcom County, WA","date","2025-06-04T17:29:23Z","article","The committee of the whole recommended that the full Charter Review Commission not support amendment 11 after discussion in which the amendment’s author was absent. The motion that the committee recommend non‑support to the commission passed 8–6 with one member excused.

Commissioners framed the procedural context: the author had asked for the item to be postponed earlier, and commissioners said debating a proposal while its sponsor was absent was ‘’deeply unfair’’ but proceeded after discussion. One commissioner said the proposed item was “way too complex” for the ballot and invoked the plain‑language principle that ballot measures must be comprehensible to voters. Another commissioner said the sponsor could bring the amendment back at a later meeting if desired.

On roll call, the committee voted 8 in favor of recommending non‑support, 6 opposed. With that committee recommendation, the full commission will receive the committee’s direction and may take up the amendment on its own schedule.

Votes at a glance
Amendment 11 (recommend non‑support): committee recommendation vote — 8 yes, 6 no, 1 excused (motion passed).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Whatcom County Charter Review Commission Special Meeting 6.3.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee voted 8–6 (one excused) to recommend that the full commission not support amendment 11. The amendment’s author was not present at the committee meeting.","taxTitle","Whatcom County, Washington","taxId",2976,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6213953,"Commission committee backs salary‑limit amendment to give voters guardrails on elected pay",2103,7887000,9990000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3671452-b6e0867a08c54a25864048c84b5e99c5&start=7887&end=9990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3671452-b6e0867a08c54a25864048c84b5e99c5/thumbnail_7887000.jpg","/articles/6213953/Whatcom-County/Washington/Commission-committee-backs-salarylimit-amendment-to-give-voters-guardrails-on-elected-pay","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213953-323b644e87b6d374c45ce7fa9b93735c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770699620&Signature=gSsEWdXwG6vmrZ9V0laHVp~Fea157YDMoDAA2xuuQ4j5YTYHcV9xy0Z7qd7WgxiQo~Qh05VQjnq01F4u9zhA1rS7Ptb~dfJSt8LWJgNGbnxqvIPyIPG1PfQkoRX8sXf9Jyp9wfOO0yFzJr2hULwa8WbJSx4m~Sx3zY9uyBkoZiQRpXaPgZlVgBoPBOb1QvxDkarQjvi4XsRTvPjj~8T8RMK7Kwi9GCbtB3x6oKTQPeYhBs-ooJZ2Xo87jm~MEjXw0jFwlGvPOkMGKXfGSUPbsNj~Kmf95TCQFH0jX1wIy5Ra9KsqmBYpTBtgKFfvS8G--83m--KMq2cpMqnpTO7mfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Charter Review Commission’s committee of the whole voted to recommend that the full commission forward an amendment to the public that would set charter language placing limits and guidelines on salaries for elected county officials, the committee decided by a 10–3 vote with one abstention and one excused.

Commissioner Andrew Redding, who presented the amendment, said the language is intended to place “guardrails” on how the salary commission determines pay and to avoid Whatcom County paying elected officials more than comparably larger counties where workloads may be greater. Redding said the proposal preserves the independent salary commission’s role while setting upper bounds tied to published salaries in comparable counties and clarifying that certain positions will not be automatically increased if the state discontinues partial reimbursement.

Several commissioners and members of the public pressed for clarity about how salary commissioners are appointed and how benefits (health care and pensions) affect total cost. Commissioner John Muschler provided a written statement for the record that estimated annual savings of roughly $200,000–$250,000 if some elected positions were reduced; others cautioned that the salary commission needs independence and warned against stripping its discretion.

Legal counsel said he had not reviewed the amendment in detail and could not identify a ready legal challenge. Commissioners discussed procedural protections such as longer terms for salary commission members and better public outreach to those panels; the amendment language presented to the committee leaves the salary commission in place but adds explicit comparators and a ceiling that the commission could not exceed without explicit additional action.

After discussion, a motion that the committee recommend approval of the amendment to the full commission passed on a roll call of 10 yes, 3 no, 1 abstention and 1 excused. The commission will consider the recommendation at its next meeting and may edit the final ballot language before it is sent to voters.

Votes at a glance
Amendment 10 (salary guardrails for elected officials): committee recommendation vote — 10 yes, 3 no, 1 abstention, 1 excused (motion passed).","The committee voted to recommend that the full commission forward an amendment setting maximum salary guardrails for elected county officials and directing the salary commission on comparators. The committee vote to recommend passed 10–3 with one abstention and one excused.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6213958,"Whatcom County panel deadlocks on removing two at‑large council seats; public divided",6383,511000,6894000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3671452-b6e0867a08c54a25864048c84b5e99c5&start=511&end=6894","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3671452-b6e0867a08c54a25864048c84b5e99c5/thumbnail_511000.jpg","/articles/6213958/Whatcom-County/Washington/Whatcom-County-panel-deadlocks-on-removing-two-atlarge-council-seats-public-divided","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213958-afea60f573797013108c5f7468ce9ecf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770699620&Signature=nsGQgYBd-lqFCdkLFEduRxnmMt46ZlwvHrSlFhjW2kieZ6PTV7QfETyKBRitz3hM0Mdq-S0jZjo5oAqRfqYz~PrM5j9yIFp979gm6wwEGh1T8XWmkhwv6QH~45b5~nunLh26E~faBQkp2mAeOFO2iQQ5lAriLOF-XQOX7iMkffOmVbHahAb05jhPs15FPvwxCDWZBsW5S31b1~pzSY5QTMawjlWlsBhPx5U6~9ZPYW~-SugRbGN-tqwoJnJMiNs~JToKt8wy~HSY4JmMADI5leRMsdMI1ajtWBD9smtqUwHf5lV46uPr5oeqdzu71Id9H4~Jdkh6JIruGKyoPjGnBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Whatcom County Charter Review Commission’s committee of the whole debated whether to eliminate the county’s two at‑large council seats and reduce the county council from seven members to five, but the group split 7–7 on a recommendation to send that change to the voters.

The amendment’s author presented the history behind the proposal and public commenters urged both support and opposition. Proponents said eliminating the at‑large seats would save money and produce fairer geographic representation outside Bellingham; opponents said at‑large seats help countywide cohesion and protect minority voters’ interests.

The proposal matters because it would change how county residents select their council members and could shift which voters determine council majorities. Supporters framed the change as a return to “one representative per district” and a cost‑saving measure; opponents said it risks leaving significant portions of the county without effective voice on countywide issues.

Commissioners and members of the public debated multiple arguments over more than an hour. Resident Eric Gordon urged broader structural change, saying the county’s current seat structure functions “like a board game” that frustrates voters. Natalie Chavez, who identified herself as a lifelong Democrat during public comment, urged rejection of ranked‑choice voting and argued for elimination of at‑large seats only if the change would increase conservative representation in the county. Mark Stremler, a longtime resident, told commissioners: “I would ask you to set aside parties… and think about what is fair. Five districts, five council members.”

Opponents included Rachel Newgen, who told the panel she was “in opposition to amendment 9” and said that at‑large seats encourage council members to reach across neighborhoods. Alan McConkie, representing FairVote locals, urged commissioners to consider proportional systems and ranked‑choice voting as an alternative to simple removal of at‑large seats.

Commissioners pressed legal, demographic and process questions. Several members discussed whether alternative configurations — for example, converting the two at‑large seats into regionally drawn at‑large positions (north/south) or expanding to seven single‑member districts — would be legally and practically feasible under state redistricting rules. County legal counsel present said he had not reviewed the amendment in detail and could not opine on potential challenges.

At the end of the discussion Commissioner [maker not specified in transcript] moved that the committee recommend to the commission sending the amendment to voters. The motion was seconded. A roll‑call vote resulted in 7 members voting yes and 7 voting no with one member excused; therefore the committee did not carry a recommendation to the full commission.

The commission also heard background from former commissioners and from Commissioner John Muschler, whose written statement (provided for the record) argued for the change on efficiency and parity grounds and estimated annual savings in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars. Another witness, who identified himself as Joe Ellenbos, said he supports the proposal; other commissioners urged exploring proportional voting alternatives instead of a straight reduction in seats.

With no recommendation from the committee, the full Charter Review Commission will next consider whether to place amendment 9 on the ballot in its upcoming meeting cycle. Commissioners said they remain open to compromise options that would try to preserve countywide representation while addressing concerns raised by rural and unincorporated voters.

Votes at a glance
Amendment 9 (remove two at‑large county council seats; reduce council to five): committee recommendation vote — 7 yes, 7 no, 1 excused (motion failed to carry).","The Charter Review Commission’s committee of the whole debated a proposed amendment to eliminate two at‑large county council seats and reduce the council from seven to five members. Public comment and commissioners were split; the committee’s recommendation to the full commission tied 7–7 and did not carry.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee recommends against amendment 11 after debate in author’s absence

Commission committee backs salary‑limit amendment to give voters guardrails on elected pay

Whatcom County panel deadlocks on removing two at‑large council seats; public divided