Foundation for Action
May 2015
This resource, Foundation for Action is designed to help League Leaders make effective use of our local
League positions. It is a compilation of the positions taken by the League of Women Voters® of
Bellingham/Whatcom County.
A League Position is a defined statement of support derived after thorough research and study of a
topic. The position is used for advocating either for or against issue(s) in government and in our
community. League positions can be taken at the local, state, and national levels of League. A local
League may use positions from all levels to advocate. A State League may use their State positions and
National positions, but not local League positions. And the National League may only use National
positions for advocacy. If a local League would like their position to be adopted at a higher level, they
would usually (but not always) seek support of the position from the State League, and then take it to
National.
Principles of the League of Women Voters ®
The League of Women Voters® believes that democratic government depends upon the informed and
active participation of its citizens and requires that governmental bodies protect the citizen’s right to
know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records
accessible.
The League of Women Voters® believes in representative government and in the individual liberties
established in the Constitution of the United States. The League of Women Voters® believes that every
citizen should be protected in the right to vote; that every person should have access to free public
education which provides equal opportunity for all; and that no person or group should suffer legal,
economic or administrative discrimination.
The League of Women Voters® believes that responsible government should be responsive to the will
of the people, that government should maintain an equitable and flexible system of taxation, promote
the conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest, share in the solution of
economic and social problems which affect the general welfare, promote a sound economy and adopt
domestic policies which facilitate the solution of international problems. The League of Women
Voters® believes that cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to world
problems and that the development of international organization and international law is imperative in
the promotion of world peace. These principles are concepts of government adopted by the national
convention of the League of Women Voters®.
These principles are concepts of government adopted by the
2010 National Convention of the League of Women Voters®.
Table of Contents
Environment
Position: Land Use – Environmental Quality ................................................................................. 3
Position: Solid Waste Disposal in Whatcom County - Environmental Protection ......................... 3-4
Government
Position: Citizen Participation ...................................................................................................... 4
Position: Local Representative Government .............................................................................. 4-5
Ports
Position: Deep Water Ports .......................................................................................................... 5
Position: Public Port Districts .................................................................................................... 5-6
Resource Management
Position: Energy .......................................................................................................................... 6
Social Services
Position: Meeting Basic Human Needs ...................................................................................... 6-7
Position: Women’s Economic Security .......................................................................................... 7
2
Environment
Implementation of the plan by stringent subdivision
regulations to prevent scatteration; such regulations
to contain provisions for utilities, open space and
aesthetics. (1969)
Position: Land Use –Environmental Qualityadopted 1971-1980
Support the updating, revising and amplifying of the
Comprehensive Plans of the incorporated and
unincorporated areas of Whatcom County and
further support the adoption of land ordinances as a
means of implementing the plans: Work to ensure
that the ordinances provide for public participation
in planning, for cooperation of all government
agencies concerned with the development of the
entire County, for efficient administration and
enforcement procedures and for periodic review and
updating.
Regulation of land in the rural classification to hold
that land in reserve for development after infilling
on the suburban area; development (homes,
business, industry, agriculture) permitted only on
the basis of best use of the land, compatibility with
surrounding land use, preservation of agricultural
land, availability of water, adequate sewers, location
of power lines, buffer zones where needed, and
accessibility of roads. Encouragement of orderly and
desirable development through financial incentives
to the subdivider for building in suburban areas in
order to prevent premature development in the
rural classification. Long range plans to provide for
sewering (both ground and surface), to provide for
sewering (including installing connector pipes to
future planned sewers), acquisition of land for open
space and public use. (1971)
Outlook for Work: Observe and evaluate land use
planning in incorporated and unincorporated areas
of Whatcom County. Encourage intergovernmental
cooperation in planning, through planning
commissions, council committees and departments.
Support and encourage updating of comprehensive
plans and adoptions of land use ordinances to
implement those plans.
The League sees two major requirements for land
use ordinances for the incorporated and
unincorporated areas of Whatcom County:
1) Preserving and protecting the unique land
and other natural resources of the area, as
well as, its scenic, historic, aesthetic and
ecological quality.
2) Providing for human needs, allowing all
suitable and necessary activities while
maintaining desirable physical and social
environment with reasonable economic
activity. (1975-1980)
A land use comprehensive plan which provides for:
preservation of the agricultural area as an economic
base for present and future production of food:
protection of the agricultural area from intrusion of
incompatible uses, reimbursement of farmers for
retaining their land for agriculture rather than selling
it for development, preservation of “open space”
land for aesthetic quality, control of “urban sprawl”
by requiring proper utilities (sewer, septic tanks on
large lots), procedures for making wise and just
changes in the plan when such changes are
necessary.
Position: Environmental Protection - Solid
Waste Disposal in Whatcom County- adopted
- 1972
Support of solid waste management in Whatcom
County to control it by positive means, such as
economic incentives, recycling education, and
encouraging positive attitudes toward solid
waste.
3
Outlook for Work: Continued support of
recycling proposals in Bellingham and Whatcom
County. Actively promote separation of
recyclables for recycling when solid waste pickup
occurs. Do update on recycling program in
Bellingham.
Maintaining a website, publicizing vacancies,
encouraging people to apply, having open houses
and traveling displays, and getting media to give
more public recognition of advisory boards’ actions.
Position: Local Representative Government
Government
adopted 1974
We support local governments in Whatcom County
which incorporate the following standards:
Position: Citizen Participation -adopted 2004
The League of Women Voters of Bellingham/
Whatcom County believes that Citizen Advisory
Committees perform a valuable service in
representing citizens’ views to governmental bodies
and communicating information to the general
public.
We believe that the following characteristics lead to
successful citizen advisory committees:





Clear definition of purpose/mission
statement
 Set terms of office
 Term limits
 Regularly scheduled meetings
 Fair selection process
 Diversity with balanced representation of the
community
 Two-way communication between the
committee and the parent organization
 Agendas and minutes accessible to the
general public.
 Where appropriate, appoint committees for
specific projects with limited duration.
To increase the effectiveness of CAC’s it is very
important for agencies to provide new member
orientation so that members have a clear
understanding of their duties and responsibilities.
Procedures which would ensure increased
accountability
Effective utilization of time, services and
facilities
Identification by elected officials with and
for their constituents
Reliable and broad based information should
be available and assimilated
Definitions:



Suggestions to agencies to encourage more citizens
to serve on boards and committees and increase the
effectiveness of their involvement include:

4
Accountable: accurate recording of all
meetings and that these records are readily
available to the public and press
Effective: Avoid duplication of services
where possible through inter-departmental
and inter-governmental cooperation,
improved facilities services, better public
telephone communication to county
government, install a central data bank.
Representative: Districting and the size of
the constituency must allow adequate
representation by elected officials; appointed
citizen boards should be broadly based and
terms should be limited; criteria should be
established in advance for appointing boards
in order to ensure a wide representation.
Informed: Government officials should have
adequate sources of information pertaining
to inter and intra county affairs; a county
wide information center; training and
information on the responsibilities of the job,
especially for elected positions.
and the overall communal stewardship of these vital
community resources through:


History: A “Know Your County” study was required
in 1970. A survey of county departments and
services was conducted and used as a basis of the
first year’s study. In 1974 a study was adopted to
develop criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of
and for county government, and the above
consensus was reached in April 1974. In the spring of
1981 an updated “Know Your County” brochure was
published.



Outlook for Work: Observe local governmental
bodies in action and report to League Board.
Monitor review of Whatcom County Charter. Study
and Publish “Know Your City” for the City of
Bellingham.

Port
Minimizing damage to and interference
with feeder bluffs and littoral drift
Enacting and enforcing the most
stringent pollution controls with regard
to development and activities
Limitation on types of cargo;
commodities with high risk to harm the
environment or health should not be
allowed
Limitation on the types and number of
vessels
Controlled vessel movement to avoid
groundings and collision incidents by the
best available means, including the use of
radar and other electronic position tracking
technology
The protection and improvement of public
access for study, enjoyment and
appreciation of the natural beauty and
features of the shoreline
Position: Deep Water Ports -adopted 6/16/98
Proposed Action: Support efforts to retain Puget
Sound and Georgia Strait as a multi-use natural
resource and continue to monitor proposed
development at Cherry Point.
When the need is proven for another deep water
port on the West Coast, and Cherry Point is
determined to be the best location, then we support
development of no more than one additional pier at
Cherry Point. The pier should be multi-purpose and
multi-user; first consideration should be given to the
expansion and/or revitalization of existing structures
to achieve minimal impact on the ecosystem. Cherry
Point’s availability is not a reason to destroy or alter
the ecosystem. The potential for saving the wild
salmon through protection of eel grass and
migration routes highlights the importance of
protecting the marine food chain system: the herring
spawning area, crab nursery, and other larval forms.
To this end we support protection of the ecosystem
Position: Public Port Districts - adopted
6/16/98
Environmental protection and cleanup, recreation,
public access, and citizen involvement should be the
highest priority for Port Districts; these factors are
compatible with, and enhance, economic
development and activities. We support:
 Coordination, not competition, among ports
and/or regional port authorities
5





Coordination with other governmental
bodies, private development, and other
constituencies, such as environmental and
labor groups
Active pursuit of expertise and input from a
wide variety of local and regional
organizations
The use of citizen advisory committees
Emphasis on public use of and access to
waterfront Emphasis on preservation of
existing scenic views
Adherence to performance standards of
permits
Resource Management
Position: Energy –adopted (date unknown)

Conservation measures must be continued and
expanded upon.
 Alternative forms of energy must be explored,
such as solar, wind power, geothermal,
synthetic fuel, etc.
 A moratorium on new nuclear plants until a
study and a solution for the problems of
nuclear waste and disposal are resolved.
Outlook for Work:
Because of the gravity of the energy situation and
the continuing changes in the energy field, members
of the League should be made aware of these
changes.
Position: We recognize Puget Sound and Georgia
Strait as an important resource with multiple uses.
It is a unique resource and probably the least spoiled
estuary in the United States. With its excellent water
quality, Puget Sound and Georgia Strait are capable
of providing food and recreation important to the
economy of Whatcom County and the nation. These
uses should not be supplanted or eroded by
shoreline development of a single purpose nature.
The surface of the water belongs to the people of
the State. Piers, as well as, vessel traffic lanes take
up space, reducing its use by boaters and fishers
(both commercial and pleasure) and degrade
important habitat for species such as herring. We
recognize that fossil fuel quantities are finite and
reliance on these should not be increased, but
preferably reduced. Transport of fossil fuel should
not be accepted as a reason to expand use of Puget
Sound.
Social Services
Position: Meeting Basic Human Needs –
adopted 1988
The League of Women Voters® of BellinghamWhatcom County supports the right to basic human
needs and development, i.e. – a decent life. We
advocate access to adequate food, housing and
health care. Opportunity should be provided for
education and/or training for those jobs that are
available in the community which pay a wage that
provides the basics. Primary responsibility for
meeting basic human needs should be from the
public funding sector with a preference for
administration at the local level.
We believe that the acknowledgement of basic
human need requires re-education of our whole
society; systematic steps should be taken to achieve
these goals. We realize this will be a prolonged
process but believe that beginnings are long
overdue.
Policies and standards should be enacted
emphasizing the wise management of natural
resources in the public interest and which promote
an environment beneficial to life. These policies and
standards should recognize the interrelationships of
air quality, energy land use, waste management and
water resources.
Outlook for Work:
6








these goals, government will need additional
revenues. Specifically LWVBWC supports increased
progressive taxes in order to avoid cutting essential
services.
Encourage commercial and private donations
to food banks and/or support measures that
make food available to people in need
Promote and lobby for a wide spectrum of
housing, i.e. low cost, transitional and
emergency
Advocate basic health care
Support establishment of a wage that
provides basic needs
Support job-specific/training education for
jobs available in the community
Support prioritization of tax uses to
encourage funding of adequate assistance at
all levels.
Promote general public awareness of
assistance needs through education.
Promote legislation for mandatory crosseducation programs for professionals, i.e.
judges, legislators, attorneys, prosecutors,
teachers, police, counselors, doctors, social
workers, etc….especially in children services
area.
LWVBWC acknowledges that this requires the
engagement of all of Whatcom County. Community
education and discussion are essential to addressing
the challenges that face women of all ages in
Whatcom County as they strive to improve their lives
and the future lives of the children who depend on
them. When women are empowered, communities
are improved. This is not just a woman’s issue; it is
‘everybody’s business.’
LWVBWC supports policies that provide:





Position: Women’s Economic Security in
Whatcom County – adopted 5/7/2015


The League of Women Voters® of Bellingham/
Whatcom County (LWVBWC) agrees that when
women achieve economic security, the communities
in which they live rise to new heights of prosperity
and health. We support the right of every woman to
have access to a path that permits her to attain
economic security for her-self and her children who
may depend on her.


LWVBWC further agrees that government bears the
primary responsibility for addressing issues which
inhibit women's ability to attain economic security.
LWVBWC acknowledges that in order to implement

7
Living wage jobs, equal pay for equal work,
benefits that include, but are not limited to,
paid sick leave.
Quality affordable child care.
Affordable, safe and healthy housing.
Increased, enhanced, affordable access to
the legal system.
Expanded daily public transportation services
throughout the county, particularly to outer
county locations.
Access to affordable college education.
Expansion of educational opportunities for
life skills.
Impetus to young girls and women to stay in
school and complete their education prior to
starting a family.
Quality early learning opportunities that are
available/accessible for all young children in
order to provide a foundation for future
economic security.
Schools with the capability to serve as a
social safety net to support children.