Search toggle
Donate
Search toggle
Donate
What are you looking for?

What's our vision?

When she reached the first hills of the Italic Mountains, she had a last view back on the skyline of her hometown.

What kind of facilities do we have?

When she reached the first hills of the Italic Mountains, she had a last view back on the skyline of her hometown.

What's our working hours?

When she reached the first hills of the Italic Mountains, she had a last view back on the skyline of her hometown.

Real Briefings

Whatcom County Council Public Works and Health Committee

WHA-CON-PWH-2026-05-12 May 12, 2026 Public Works Committee Whatcom County 19 min
← Back to All Briefings
May
Month
12
Day
19
Min
Published
Status

Whatcom County's Public Works Department delivered a comprehensive quarterly update to the Council's Public Works and Health Committee during a brief 19-minute meeting on May 12, 2026. Director Costa presented updates across seven major divisions, covering flood mitigation efforts, salmon recovery programs, infrastructure projects, and operational challenges. The department continues managing significant post-flood recovery work from December's flooding while advancing major capital projects including the $2.3 million Drayton Harbor Road reconstruction and ongoing Lummi Island ferry replacement planning. Notable progress includes completing fish passage projects, advancing flood planning studies, and maintaining critical infrastructure despite budget constraints. Budget challenges emerged as a recurring theme, with reduced chip seal coverage from 75-80 miles annually to 65 miles, expired funding for water rights adjudication support, and 11 positions frozen under the county's hiring freeze. Despite constraints, the department highlighted safety improvements, including a 50% reduction in ferry-related vehicle accidents through new policies and training. The ferry replacement project continues progressing toward the 2029 service date, with propulsion integrator bids under review and design work concluding in the third quarter. However, a local funding gap remains unresolved, and the aging current vessel experienced recent steering failures requiring emergency repairs.

No formal votes were taken during this committee meeting. The session was purely informational, with AB2026-328 reported as "REPORTED" status. Director Costa presented updates across all Public Works divisions without requesting …

About 49% shown — sign up free to read the rest Sign up free →
**Flood Recovery and Mitigation:** The department continues extensive flood-related work, having acquired two properties and three easements this year while maintaining an acquisition interest list of 82 additional properties. The Flood Plains Integrated Planning (FLIP) program is developing strategies for the $13 million state allocation, including concepts to widen river corridors downstream from Everson. **Infrastructure Investment and Budget Constraints:** Budget reductions have forced operational adjustments, including reducing annual chip seal coverage and maintaining 11 frozen positions. The department is piloting new cost-effective repair methods, …
About 50% shown — sign up free to read the rest Sign up free →
**Director Costa** emphasized the department's broad scope while acknowledging budget constraints, noting "we're on that reduced budget" when discussing chip seal reductions from 75-80 miles to 65 miles annually. **Gary Stoica (Public Works)** reported no progress on federal acquisition grant funding despite regular communication with Representative …
About 49% shown — sign up free to read the rest Sign up free →
**Director Costa, on presentation scope:** "I just want to caveat, probably going to be talking fast with a big department with a lot of stuff, and I apologize to my employees that I didn't put their highlights, but it was started about it like 20 pages and I got it down to seven." **Director Costa, on flood damage repairs:** "Most of the roadway shoulder damage from the December flooding has been repaired and flood debris has been removed from the roadways and most of the ditches." **Direct…
About 50% shown — sign up free to read the rest Sign up free →

The Sumas flood resiliency planning study is expected to go before council this month. A second HMGP elevation grant agreement should come to council at the next meeting. Ferry district ordinance work session is planned for June 2026. Propulsion integrator bid awards are anticipated this month for the ferry project, with design work concluding in Q3 2026. Construction bidding is planned for late 2026, with construction beginning in 2027…

About 50% shown — sign up free to read the rest Sign up free →
The department completed construction on the Neville Levee Cougar Creek Fish Passage project and Acme Woody Revetment Repair Project. The Ferndale Levee Improvement Project reached 75% design status with right-of-way negotiations beginning. Asset management operations were modernized with the launch of AssetWorks M5 system in December 2025, replacing the previously archaic RTA system. The department successfully filled two road maintenance worker vacancies with employees beginning in May. Safety training ini…
About 49% shown — sign up free to read the rest Sign up free →
# Comprehensive Public Works Update Reveals County's Infrastructure Challenges and Successes ## Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Public Works and Health Committee convened Tuesday afternoon, May 12, 2026, for a comprehensive update from Public Works Director Costa on the sprawling department's operations across natural resources, engineering, maintenance, ferries, and administration. All seven committee members — Elizabeth Boyle (chair), Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jessica Rienstra, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler — were present for what proved to be a rapid-fire briefing covering everything from flood mitigation successes to ferry reliability concerns. Meeting in hybrid format at 1:32 PM, the session was structured around a single agenda item: AB2026-328, the Public Works Department's quarterly report. Director Costa opened with an apology for the pace he would need to maintain, having condensed what started as a 20-page report down to seven pages. The breadth of topics covered reflected the massive scope of Public Works' responsibilities — from salmon recovery and stormwater management to bridge repairs and ferry operations. The meeting highlighted both the department's achievements and ongoing challenges, particularly around funding constraints, staffing shortages, and aging infrastructure. Costa's presentation painted a picture of a department juggling immediate operational needs with long-term strategic planning, all while navigating budget reductions and federal funding uncertainties. ## Natural Resources Division: Flood Mitigation and Recovery Progress Costa began with updates from the Natural Resources Division, where flood planning remains a top priority following December's devastating flooding. The Everson and Nooksack berm feasibility and preliminary engineering study is underway, while the Sumas flood resiliency planning study is expected to come before the full council this month. The Flood Plains Integrated Planning (FLIP) program continues its complex coordination work, with the technical team developing concepts to widen river corridors downstream from Everson. Meanwhile, the FLIP Steering Committee is preparing a draft schedule and funding strategy for the $13 million allocated from the state supplemental budget. "Staff also continue to work with the Executive's Office on regional decision-making agreement involving counties, cities, tribes, and other partners," Costa reported, highlighting the multi-ju…
About 14% shown — sign up free to read the rest Sign up free →
### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Public Works and Health Committee met on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 1:32 PM in hybrid format. Director Costa provided a comprehensive update on Public Works Department activities across all divisions, covering flood planning, infrastructure projects, ferry operations, and budget impacts. ### Key Terms and Concepts **FLIP (Flood Plains Integrated Planning):** A comprehensive program developing strategies to widen river corridors and manage flood risks, with $13 million in state funding allocated for implementation. **HMGP (Hazard Mitigation Grant Program):** Federal FEMA grants that fund property elevation and acquisition projects to reduce flood damage risks in vulnerable areas. **Environmental DNA (eDNA):** A scientific monitoring method used to detect fish species presence in waterways by analyzing genetic material in water samples, used here to evaluate juvenile chinook salmon habitat use. **NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System):** Federal permit system regulating stormwater discharge to protect water quality, requiring specific infrastructure improvements like detention ponds. **Water Rights Adjudication:** Legal process determining water rights claims throughout Whatcom County, with a June 1st deadline for submissions and state-funded public assistance ending in June. **Chip Seal:** Road maintenance technique applying a layer of asphalt and aggregate chips to preserve pavement surface and extend road life. **RAISE Grant:** Federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity funding, providing $25 million for the Lummi Island ferry replacement project. **Asset Management System:** Digital platform (AssetWorks M5) replacing outdated systems to track county equipment, vehicles, and infrastructure maintenance needs. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Director Costa | Public Works Department Directo…
About 49% shown — premium members only Upgrade to premium →

Share This Briefing

Tags & Connections

Transportation & Infrastructure Environmental Budget & Finance Government Operations AB 2026 328 Fema Nooksack Indian Tribe Washington Department Fish Wildlife Whatcom Conservation District Whatcom County Public Works Director Costa Elizabeth Boyle Gary Stoica Budget Finance Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Investment Public Safety Salmon Recovery Transportation Policy Water Resources