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Whatcom County resilience task force halts meeting after public‑notice lapse
Summary
The Whatcom County Resilience Task Force paused work on a draft resilience plan on March 10 after staff discovered the meeting had not been properly posted under the Open Public Meetings Act. The group discussed a review process for plan sections and requested a consolidated comment document due March 15.
The Whatcom County Resilience Task Force adjourned its March 10, 2025 meeting after staff discovered the session had not been properly posted under the Open Public Meetings Act, task force member Chris Elder said.
Task force members had been discussing how to review sections of a draft resilience plan, how to submit comments and who should serve on a small review committee. Melanie, a consultant with Triangle, told members the consulting team asked for a single consolidated document that incorporates the task force’s comments and requested that the review committee submit that document by March 15.
The review committee named in meeting discussion included Tom, Brandy Reed, Noah, Steve and Oliver. Committee members debated format: several members asked for a line‑numbered source document and a comment/response matrix to make it easier to reference specific passages. Melanie said Triangle can provide a version with numbered lines and will reissue the file after the meeting.
Members also raised file‑sharing constraints under the Open Public Meetings Act. Melanie and other staff said the law prevents sending a shared-working link to the full task force, so the full group must receive the plan as an attachment; one member noted the review committee may convert an attachment into a collaborative Google Doc for its own use.
Oliver asked when the results of the community survey would be shared. Melanie said the consultants will circulate the survey results in a follow‑up email and add the item to the agenda for the next meeting.
The task force took one formal action before the meeting was halted: Alan moved to approve the February meeting summary as written; another member seconded. Several members responded “aye” on the voice vote. Chris Elder and Brandy Reed said they would abstain because they were not present at the February meeting. The motion was approved by voice vote.
After the voting item, Elder said the meeting had not been posted on the county council website and that the group was therefore in violation of the Open Public Meetings Act. "So we are unfortunately gonna have to adjourn this meeting, post case and reconvene at our next, scheduled meeting," Elder said. Staff said they will follow up by email to reschedule and to circulate updated materials and the line‑numbered plan document.
The meeting had been scheduled to continue with a review of objectives and other plan sections; staff and consultants said they will resume substantive review at the next lawfully noticed meeting and will provide the consolidated comment instructions and survey results in the interim.
