Chapter 2.170
FOREST RESILIENCE TASK FORCE
Sections:
2.170.070 Organization – Meetings.
2.170.080 Committee staffing and funding support.
2.170.010 Established.
There is hereby established the forest resilience task force. (Ord. 2023-058 Exh. A).
2.170.015 Sunset.
This task force will sunset on December 31, 2025, unless otherwise extended by the Whatcom County council. All members’ terms will end when the task force sunsets. (Ord. 2023-058 Exh. A).
2.170.020 Purpose.
The task force is created to develop a comprehensive Whatcom County forest resilience plan, which will include a framework for engagement with local, state, federal, and tribal governments and relevant stakeholders on issues relating to forest management and resilience. The task force will report to the Whatcom County council and executive. (Ord. 2023-058 Exh. A).
2.170.030 Function.
The task force will consider input from diverse experts, stakeholders, and community members to develop a comprehensive forest resilience plan with science- and evidence-based strategies and actions towards sustaining a thriving timber economy, restoring healthy forest ecosystems for fish and wildlife, addressing stream high and low flow issues, enhancing carbon sequestration and storage, promoting robust recreation opportunities, improving watershed health (including Lake Whatcom), improving wildfire, pest, and disease resistance, and increasing the overall resilience of Whatcom County’s forests to climate impacts. The plan will include a framework for engagement and coordination with local, state, federal, and tribal governments and relevant stakeholders on forestry issues. The plan will also include community values and desired outcomes to inform forest management plans for publicly owned forest lands. The task force will also review relevant county policies, programs, organizational structure, and staff capacity, and include its findings and recommendations in the plan. (Ord. 2023-058 Exh. A).
2.170.040 Permanent members.
The task force will include 11 permanent members. The following representatives will be appointed by their designated department, agency, council, committee or commission:
A. One representative from Whatcom County, appointed by the executive;
B. One representative from Lummi Nation;
C. One representative from Nooksack Indian Tribe;
D. One representative from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources;
E. One representative from the United States Forest Service;
F. Two representatives from the forestry advisory committee;
G. One representative from the climate impact advisory committee;
H. One representative from the wildlife advisory committee;
I. One representative from the planning commission; and
J. One representative from the parks and recreation commission. (Ord. 2023-058 Exh. A).
2.170.050 Appointed members.
In addition to the permanent members designated above, the task force will include eight community members, appointed by the Whatcom County council:
A. One community member with expertise in forest management and/or wood products industry;
B. One community member with expertise in owning and/or managing forest lands for conservation purposes;
C. One community member with expertise in climate, salmon recovery, and natural resources policy;
D. One community member with expertise in watershed management (including Lake Whatcom) and/or land use planning;
E. Two community members with expertise in relevant science disciplines; and
F. Two representatives from trust land beneficiaries. (Ord. 2023-058 Exh. A).
2.170.060 Term of office.
Permanent and appointed members are eligible to serve the entire duration of the task force as established in WCC 2.170.015. Should the task force duration be extended, members will serve no more than four years, in accordance with the Whatcom County Charter Section 3.23. (Ord. 2023-058 Exh. A).
2.170.070 Organization – Meetings.
Meetings of the task force will be open and accessible to the public and will be subject to the Open Public Meetings Act. The task force will determine its own meeting schedule. Written records of meetings, research, findings and recommendations will be kept and made available to the public. The task force will adopt its own rules and procedures for the conduct of business. (Ord. 2023-058 Exh. A).
2.170.080 Committee staffing and funding support.
The task force will have full support from the Whatcom County council, and will coordinate with the executive’s office and relevant department staff. The council may provide, through the budget process, funding for locally delivered paid consultant assistance to conduct and complete its tasks in an efficient and effective manner. (Ord. 2023-058 Exh. A).
2.170.090 Reporting.
The task force will submit to the Whatcom County council and executive the Whatcom County forest resilience plan no later than September 30, 2025. The task force will provide at least two progress reports to the council before a final presentation and submission of the plan. (Ord. 2023-058 Exh. A).