BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Whatcom County Council decided on Tuesday, September 5th, to stand behind Satpal Sidhu’s veto of an ordinance that would increase Lummi Island ferry fare rates.

Sidhu exercised his first veto as County Executive last month when he argued that the fare changes passed by the council in July were made without input from the Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee.

The committee currently has four vacancies on its board of seven members and lacks a quorum to hold meetings.

The county council held a special meeting on Tuesday in which they agreed to sustain Sidhu’s veto.

A new engagement plan by councilmember Kaylee Galloway outlines a timeline to decide on the ferry fare changes while getting necessary input from the Lummi community.

The updated timeline will start by appointing members to fill the vacancies on the Ferry Advisory Committee next month.

New fare rates are projected to be introduced by February and would go into effect in April under the proposed timeline.