ADVISORY COMMITTEE INFORMATION

BBWARM has a Citizen Advisory Committee with five members appointed by the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Board of Supervisors (County Council) for four-year terms. The Advisory Committee represents the Birch Bay community to ensure its interests are represented in BBWARM activities. The committee is integrally involved in setting strategic goals and work plans, prioritizing capital improvement projects, and recommending budgets for the BBWARM stormwater program.

BBWARM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Bob Shanabarger

Bob worked in supplier management for 30 years at Boeing. He was motivated to join the BBWARM Advisory Committee because he wanted to be involved in the community and the Birch Bay area. He lives within a 15-minute walk from the beach and enjoys fishing, dog sports, dog shows, and spending time with his grandkids. Bob’s favorite thing to do in Birch Bay is to walk through Birch Bay State Park in the fall.

Sherrie Jarrett-Green

Sherrie is a seasoned professional with a diverse background spanning commercial fishing, land surveying, stormwater inspection, and wetland delineation. Birch Bay has been her home since 1970, and after a stint in Custer and 15 years on the San Juan Islands, she returned, drawn by the community's slower pace and natural beauty. Sherrie's commitment to Birch Bay led her to join the BBWARM Advisory Committee, where she hopes to help address local issues and support her neighbors. In her free time, Sherrie enjoys gardening, crafting, walks with her dog, and diving into a good book.

Rebecca Hardie

Rebecca is an experienced Environmental Field Technician, working at bp Cherry Point Refinery since 2007. Her role involves overseeing stormwater compliance, spill prevention, and land management programming. Additionally, Rebecca participates in beach assessment studies during summer low tides, working alongside a local marine biologist. She collaborates with NSEA on riparian area planting designs along Terrell Creek, which provides healthier waterways, better species habitat, and less deposition and water runoff to downstream waterways including Birch Bay. Her motivation for joining the BBWARM Advisory Committee was to support the community she works in, and Whatcom County as a whole. Rebecca's favorite aspects of Birch Bay are Point Whitehorn State Park and low tide walks on the beach. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dogs and working on home renovation projects on her 3+ acre property.

Jane Olson Mauk

(Vice Chair)

Jane was the past President of the Portland/Ulsan Sister City Association before retiring to Birch Bay in 2018. She grew up in Sumas on a large dairy farm and was the 1975 Whatcom County Dairy Princess. She graduated from Nooksack Valley High School and Western Washington University. Jane and her husband, Dan, have been dedicated BBWARM Mutt Mitt station volunteers for the past five years and maintain seven stations in Birch Bay. Jane looks forward to serving on the BBWARM Advisory Committee to help protect the beach, waterways, and salmon habitat. The Berm is one of Jane’s favorite things about Birch Bay, and in her free time, she enjoys crabbing, traveling, and reading.

Michael Allan

(Chair)

Michael is a lifelong resident of Whatcom County and moved to Birch Bay a little over a year ago. He joined the BBWARM Advisory Committee to learn about, and provide guidance on projects that will improve neighborhoods and the landscape of the community. Michael became aware of our community needs during the winter solstice storm of 2018, which caused significant damage to the area. He also followed the progress of the Berm project closely and enjoys hearing community member concerns and playing a small part in addressing those issues.

BBWARM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER REFERENCE INFORMATION

Click Here for Meeting Information

Meetings

Meetings are scheduled quarterly on the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6-8pm (usually in January, April, July and October). One of the quarterly meetings is typically hosted as a daytime annual retreat instead of an evening meeting. Other special work sessions or public meetings may be scheduled as needed. Meetings are open to the public and advertised. Staff create a draft agenda, review it with the committee chair, and finalize it one week prior to each meeting when it’s then posted on the website and emailed out. Please reach out to staff in advance if there are topics you would like added to the agenda. Each advisory committee member is responsible for attending and actively participating in at least four advisory committee meetings per year.

BBWARM meetings and records are subject to the Open Public Meetings Act (RCW 42.30) and Public Records Act (RCW 42.56).

Open Public Meetings Act Key Points:

Any BBWARM Advisory Committee discussion between three or more members (a quorum) needs to take place at a public meeting
Any discussion in person, by phone, or via email between three or more members should be postponed until it can be held at a public meeting
Meeting time, location, and agenda are advertised to the public in advance
No conditions on public attendance
No right of the public to comment or discuss
Special meetings and work sessions are also required to be public meetings
Open Public Meetings Act

Public Records Act Key Points:

All BBWARM related documents (including email) are considered public records and subject to retention requirements and public information requests
Email communication on personal computers is NOT exempt
Public Records Act

Committee Rules, Expectations, and Definitions:

Committee Establishment:

SHELLFISH PROTECTION DISTRICT

The area around the mouth of Terrell Creek was closed to shellfish harvest by the Washington State Department of Health in 2008 due to high fecal coliform levels in the creek. State law required the creation of the Birch Bay Shellfish Protection District in 2009 in response to the closure. Because the BBWARM District and Advisory Committee were already established and working on efforts to improve water quality in the Birch Bay Watershed, Whatcom County Council established the Birch Bay Shellfish Protection District with the same boundaries and shared advisory committee membership in 2009. The Birch Bay Shellfish Protection District Advisory Committee includes the five BBWARM members plus additional representation of tribal and shellfish interests (currently vacant). BBWARM’s stormwater program implements priority recommendations from the shellfish closure response strategy.

Shellfish Protection Reference Information: