City Council - Regular Meeting
City Council - Regular Meeting
Mon, December 15, 2025
Agenda items
Vote records
Discussion summary
Transcript
Meeting summary
Summary not yet available.
Agenda items (27)
Council Business
1Council BusinessLabor Relations: Review Contract Proposal for Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 (Danner, approx. 10 min.)
3Council BusinessOld/New Business
24785Council BusinessA Contract Award for the James Street Multimodal Improvements - Segments 3 and 4,
24786Council BusinessAn Agreement to Extend Sewer Service to 2496 Yew Street Road
24787Council BusinessAn Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Bellingham, Washington, Authorizing the Issuance of One or More Series of Limited Tax General Obligation and Refunding Bonds in the Aggregate Principal Amount of Not to Exceed $19,000,000 to Finance Costs Related to Designing, Constructing, Improving and Equipping a 911 Dispatch Facility, Refunding Certain Outstanding Limited Tax General Obligations of the City, and Paying the Costs of Issuance of the Bonds; Delegating Authority to Approve the Method of Sale and Final Terms of the Bonds; and Approving Other Matters Related
24788Council BusinessA Presentation of the City of Bellingham Strategic Communications and Engagement
24792Council BusinessAn Update on the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan
24794Council BusinessAn Approval of a Lease Agreement with Whatcom Sports and Recreation for the
24795Council BusinessA Resolution Authorizing the City to Apply for and Enter into Three Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board Grants for Fish Passage Barrier Improvements in Squalicum
24796Council BusinessA Resolution Declaring an Emergency and Waiving Competitive Bidding Requirements for Response to Damages from Recent Weather Event - ITEM ADDED 12/12/25
Procedural (3)
2ProceduralLanguage Access The Bellingham City Council provides Spanish interpretation at all regular evening meetings. Interpretation can be accessed by in-person attendees by utilizing the headsets located at the front of the room. Remote viewers can log on to cob.org/cczoom and click on the “Language” icon at the bottom of the screen to listen in Spanish.
4ProceduralBy mail addressed to: City Council, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225
5ProceduralElectronically: o For a public hearing: https://cob.org/publichearing o For general public comment: E-mail all Council Members at ccmail@cob.org.
Adjournment
27AdjournmentTues. 12 p.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday afternoon Committee meetings
28AdjournmentTues. 7 p.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday night regular meeting
29AdjournmentWed. 8 a.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday night regular meeting
30AdjournmentSat. 12 p.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday afternoon Committee meetings
31AdjournmentSat. 7 p.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday night regular meeting Online Streaming: The meetings are streamed live at https://cob.org/btv. Online viewers will see exactly what cable customers would see. Video: Video recordings of each meeting are available on the Internet at https://cob.org/meetings within five business days following each meeting.
Ordinance
24769OrdinanceAn Ordinance Amending the 2025 Budget Increasing Expenditures and Authorizing Interfund Loans of up to $1,100,000 from the General Fund to the Medic One Fund ($300,000), Workers Comp Fund ($200,000), and Health Benefits Fund ($600,000) -
24775OrdinanceAn Ordinance Adopting the 2025 City of Bellingham Comprehensive Plan, Including the Future Land Use Map
24781OrdinanceAn Ordinance Granting to Forged Fiber 37, LLC a Franchise to Install, Operate and Maintain Fiber Optic Broadband Network Components in City Rights-of-Way for the Provision of Wholesale Telecommunications Services to Resellers
Public Hearing
24782Public HearingA Public Hearing on a Resolution Authorizing the Relinquishment of Sewer Main Easements Located within 801 Harris Avenue that are Surplus to the City's Needs
24783Public HearingA Public Hearing on a Resolution Authorizing the Partial Relinquishment of a Public Utility Easement Located Within Vacated Alder Street that is Surplus to the City's
General Business
24784General BusinessMayor's Appointments to the Transportation Commission (Approval)
Consent Calendar
24789Consent CalendarAuthorization of A/P Transactions Issued November 28, 2025 through December 04, 2025
24790Consent CalendarAuthorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated November 1, 2025 to November 15, 2025
24791Consent CalendarAuthorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated November 16, 2025 to November 30, 2025
Additional votes recorded in minutes
Approve resolution authorizing relinquishment of sewer easements at 801 Harris Avenue
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve resolution authorizing partial relinquishment of public utility easement at 403 North State Street
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve mayoral appointment of Brad Johnson to Transportation Commission
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve mayoral appointment of Cindy Dennis to Transportation Commission
aye 1
voice voteaye
Adopt resolution declaring emergency and waiving competitive bidding for weather event damages (with Wburn Street amendment)
aye 1
voice voteaye
Award contract to Ram Construction for James Street Multimodal Improvements Segments 3 and 4
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve resolution authorizing grant applications for Brian Abbott Fish Passage Barrier Removal Board grants for Squallikum Creek
aye 1
voice voteaye
Authorize extension of sewer service to 2496 Ust Street Road
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve ordinance authorizing issuance of limited tax general obligation bonds up to $19 million for 911 dispatch facility and bond refunding
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve lease agreement with Watcom Sports and Recreation for Bellingham Sportsplex
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve consent calendar
aye 1
voice voteaye
Adopt ordinance granting franchise to Forge Fiber 37 LLC for fiber optic broadband network in city rights of way
aye 7
Dan Hammillaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Skip Williamsaye
Adopt ordinance amending 2025 budget (Amendment No. 3) authorizing interfund loans
aye 7
Dan Hammillaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Skip Williamsaye
Amend 2025 Comprehensive Plan to add faith-based uses to Community Well-Being Policy CW2
aye 1
voice voteaye
Adopt ordinance adopting the 2025 City of Bellingham Comprehensive Plan including Future Land Use Map (as amended)
aye 7
Dan Hammillaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Skip Williamsaye
Ratify collective bargaining agreement with Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees Local 1937 (2026-2027)
aye 1
voice voteaye
Verbatim transcript available
137 transcript segments indexed
[music] All right, welcome to the regular meeting of the Bellingham City Council this December 15, 2025. Go ahead and call this meeting to order. Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the state of Washington Open Meetings Act.
Before we begin, we acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional and unseated territory of the LMU, Nooksac, Samish, and Seamyu people who have cared for and tended this land since time immemorial.
Truth and acknowledgement are critical to building mutual respect and connection across all barriers of heritage and difference. We begin this effort to acknowledge what has been buried by honoring the truth.
We pay respect to their elders past and present. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that brings us together here today. And please join us in uncovering such truths at any and all public events.
Bellingham City Council provides Spanish interpretation at all regular evening meetings. Interpretation can be accessed by in-person attendees by utilizing the headsets located at the front of the room.
Remote viewers can log on to co.orgccoom and click on the language icon at the bottom of the screen to listen in Spanish. And I will go ahead and let our interpreter repeat that. Thank you. All right.
And up first, we have two public hearings. Oh, roll call. You know, I even circled roll call right there, so roll call, please. >> Hannah Stone, >> here. >> Dan Hamill, >> here. >> Skip Williams >> here.
>> Lisa Anderson, >> here. >> Michael Lilloquist, >> here. >> Jace Cotton, >> here. >> Holly Huffman >> here. >> All council members are present. >> All right. And now the two public hearings. First up is agenda bill 24782, a public hearing on a resolution authorizing the rel relinquishment of sewer main easements located within 801 Harris Avenue that are surplus to the city's needs.
The attached resolution provides for the relinquishment of two surplus sewer easements that encumber real property known as 801 Harris Avenue. The proposed relinquishments come to city council for decision upon application of the property owner to facilitate development.
Public works department has reviewed the request and determined that the easements that encumber the subject property are surplus to the city's needs and not needed for utility service. Accordingly, staff recommends that they be relinquished.
And here to present to us, we have Mike Wilson, assistant director of public works. >> Thank you. Again, [clears throat] my name is Mike Wilson, uh, assistant director of public works over the engineering group.
It's a pleasure to be with you tonight. Uh, tonight, pending, uh, public hearing input, we're recommending approval of an easement relinquishment. Uh, tonight's what the item before us first tonight is the uh, at 801 Harris Street.
It's on property owned by the Port of Bellingham. They're pursuing uh, storm water improvements on their site. There's no new buildings on this site proposed. It's just some cleanup relative to a storm water project that they've got going.
The city obtained two easements, one in 1926 and one in 1939. Um, and as we've reviewed this request, we've concluded that the easements aren't required and as required by law, the public hearing is required prior to taking action on this item.
And I'm happy to address any questions on it. >> All right. Thank you. Any clarifying questions before we uh Council Member Liquist, >> would these easements only be of use if our desire was to direct sewage into the water untreated?
>> Is that the original intent? It looks like they are. >> Yeah, it it's interesting that they would go right to the waterfront and um our our sewer systems build up in the public rights way here and these are just not not needed for any proposed or anticipated future utilities.
Okay. Anything else before we open up the public hearing? Okay. Do we have anybody signed up? >> There are no individuals signed up. >> Okay. We will go ahead and close the public hearing and I'll I'll take it back to council.
Council member Loquist. >> I move approval of the resolution authorizing relinishment of the sewer easements. As I said, they appear to be from a time when we wanted to put the sewage in the water and we don't do that.
>> Second. >> Motion by Motion by Council Liquist. Second by council member Cotton. Further discussion. Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70. All right.
Moving along to our second public hearing. We have agenda bill 24783, a public hearing on a resolution authorizing the partial partial relinquishment of a public utility easement located within vacated Alder Street that is surplus to the city's needs.
The attached resolution provides for the partial relinquishment of a surplus utility easement that encumbers real property known as 403 North State Street. The proposed relinquishment comes to city council for decision upon application of the property owner to facilitate development of private property.
The public works department has reviewed the request and determine that the portion of the easement that encumbers the subject property is surplus to the city's needs and not needed for utility service.
Accordingly, staff recommends that it be relinquished. And again, we have Mike Wilson. [clears throat] >> Mike Wilson, assistant director of public works over engineering. Uh again, pending the any input from the public hearing, we're recommending approval of this easement relinquishment as well.
This one is located at 403 North State Street. And the yellow highlighted area boxed in on this map is uh formerly Alder Street, and that was vacated by the city in 1955. And at that time, we re retained a utility easement.
Uh this property is being developed with some town homes. Uh they're making improvements on the frontage of State Street and also in the alley that's coming up off of Boulevard. So both sides of the the lot are being uh developed.
[clears throat] Nevertheless, as we've looked at the proposed development, the city and other utilities don't have any needs for an easement here and so nothing's required uh in terms of easement purposes.
So again, we would uh you know, pursuant to the public hearing, it's required to uh hold a public hearing prior to taking action on on this item. So happy to address any questions on this one. >> Right.
Thank you. Any uh clarifying questions from council? Okay, we'll go ahead and open up the public hearing. We have anybody signed up for this one? >> There are no individuals signed up. >> Okay. And we will close the public hearing.
Council. Council member Hamill. >> I move to approve the resolution in the packet. >> Second. >> Motion by council member Hamill. Second by council member Williams. Further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I.
>> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Wilson. >> We will move right along in our agenda uh with the mayor's report. Good evening, council. Good evening, staff and members of the community that are here this evening.
I have two appointments for council's approval tonight. Both are for appointments to the transportation commission. The first is I'm seeking to appoint Brad Johnson to a first full term. >> Move to approve.
>> Second. >> Motion by council member Hamilton, second by council member Williams. Further discussion council. Council member Stone. All right. I meant to ask earlier. I'd noted that in the um in the materials that were included under Brad Johnson's application, it noted the planning commission and not the transportation commission.
And so I just wanted to confirm that that was and I know that I mean those are moving targets and so if someone applies for a particular appointment, they may end up placed that another >> that's exactly what happened in that case.
>> I just wanted to confirm. Thank you. >> Good eye, council member. Any further discussion? Okay, seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70. >> Thank you. And my apologies on the confusion.
The second is I'm seeking to appoint Cindy Dennis to a second and final term. >> Move to approve. Second >> motion by council member Hamill, second by council member Williams. Further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I.
>> I. >> I. Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70. >> Thank you. I wanted to talk tonight about some of the impacts regarded um regarding the recent flooding in our community and our hearts are with the many families and communities across Wakom and Scadget counties impacted by last week's devastating flooding.
Many are facing long recovery efforts in the days, weeks, and indeed months ahead with more heavy rainfall expected this week. And while Bellingham avoided the most severe regional impacts, the storms created emergency conditions in multiple locations that required rapid city responses.
We received many service requests for issues including flooding, sewer backups, erosion, roadway impacts, and more. This morning, we provided a comprehensive update of local impacts during the committee of the whole discussion.
Tonight, council will further consider an emergency declaration authorizing immediate actions to protect public health, safety, and critical infrastructure. The good news is that in most cases, flood control infrastructure designed functioned as designed and reduced peak impacts.
For example, our new bridges at James Street and Meter Avenue and new restoration along Padden and Squallikum Creeks performed well during peak flood conditions. Issues that remain today include an indefinite closing of a section of the Hanigan Road due to a substantial culvert failure.
A section of Wurn Street remains closed as well while we repair localized roadway damage. Little Squallum Pier and the trail leading to it remain closed after high tides and rain saturated soils causing significant damage.
A localized sewer backup near and on G Street required immediate responses and follow up with the affected residents continues currently. In all, the storm tested multiple city systems. My sincere thanks to the many staff who responded quickly and across all hours to maintain essential services and protect public health and safety.
And last, it's important, I think, to note that tonight is the last city council meeting of this year, and it is also the night that the UDub men's soccer team took the college cup and their first national championship.
Go dogs. I'll take this opportunity to thank the 2025 city council president, Council Member Hman. It's been a joy to work alongside you this year and alongside of all of the council members and to council staff.
I am grateful for your collaboration in advancing our community's top priorities. You've heard me speak before about one city, which is our commitment to serving Bellingham as a unified team. As elected leaders, we are allies with a shared mission and we are interconnected in our important work on behalf of the community which we all love.
We approach this work with curiosity and with humility and we act together with purpose and with excellence. And together, I'm proud to say that we deliver consistent, highquality services that our community members get to experience, not as individual departments or branches of government, but as one city.
So, I wish each of you a very happy winter holiday season, and I'm looking forward to working alongside all of you in 2026. That's the end of Mayor's report tonight. >> Thank you so much, Mayor All right, not only is it the last meeting of the year, it's a nice short one for all of you, too.
So, um, we're we're up to, uh, committee reportouts. First up this morning was committee of the whole chaired by myself. We had two items. First up was a presentation of the city of Bellingham strategic communications and engagement plan for 2026 to 2028.
The city's communications team supports the work of the city by delivering effective, accurate, and engaging messages, and fostering meaningful community engagement. The team works to expand the reach of city information so that community members know about and trust our work, are aware of and take part in shaping decisions, and can easily access information about city programs and services.
The team is developing a strategic plan to guide communications and engagement priorities for the years ahead. Communications team members will present presented a summary of this work for city council information and discussion.
A final plan based on council and other feedback will be completed during the first quarter of 2026. And so um when I started on council at the very end of 2019, we had one communications person and now we have expanded to a whole team of I think six maybe people.
um and they have been working on really establishing the foundation of what a good communications team looks looks like and what um what a thorough communication with our community looks like as well.
And so, uh it's been really wonderful to have that team. I think our communications has improved drastically over the years and we'll continue to improve with the work that they're doing. Um so, it was great to get an update and look forward to more.
Uh again, this was for information and discussion only. No action was taken. Next up, we had agendable 24795. Nope, we did not. Let me get one of my other stacks of paper here. We had agenda bill 24796, resolution declaring an emergency and waving competitive bidding requirements for response to damages from recent weather event.
This item was added just a few days ago. So, the December 10th, 2025 weather event had significant impacts on city infrastructure. Approximately 10 residences had sewer backups into their basements due to the surrounding sewer main being at capacity, and a water mane broke, which was likely caused in part by the heavy precipitation impacting two residences.
Staff took immediate action to procure and dispatch a contractor to help remediate the damage resulting from the flooding. Baker Creek flooding caused the failure of a culvert and long-term road closure on Hanakin Road between Bakerview Road and Smith Road, resulting in the need to procure contractor services to reconstruct the roadway and drainage features.
Sink holes formed at the upper abutment to Little Squallum Pier necessitating repair and stabilization by a contractor. BMC 4.80.010 010 authorizes emergency contracts provided that the city council pass a resolution declaring that an emergency exists.
A proposed resolution uh was attached supporting the emergency actions of staff. Um and this afternoon or this morning in committee we also passed an amendment to the resolution that added um the work that also needs to be done on Wurn Street.
So, um, the committee unanimously re recommended approval and I so move. >> Second. >> Motion by the chair, second by council member Hamill. Any further discussion? Council member Stone. >> So, I just wanted to confirm from legal.
Did the changes and additions for Wburn need to be read into the record or >> they should be read in the record? Yes. So the the whereas statements or the >> three whereouses and then there's a a change to the second sentence of the body.
>> Okay. Okay. So I can read those. >> Thank you. >> All right. The amendment includes uh three whereas statements. Uh whereas flooding in Cemetery Creek caused damage to Wuburn Street between Lakeway Drive and Iowa Street that resulted in erosion that caused failure of the roadway prism requiring the closure of Wurn Wuburn Street to all traffic at the Cemetery Creek covert location.
And whereas the closure of Wilburn Street to vehicle traffic at this location has a significant impact on the regional transportation network with adverse effects to emergency service providers, the Bellingham School District, Watcom Transportation Authority, and the public in general.
And whereas contracts for services to design and construct repairs to the roadway and drainage features at Wburn and Cemetery Creek will be needed. estimated to cost approximately 100,000 to $200,000 and delays associated with usual public procurement and bidding process will [snorts] unnecessarily delay the reopening of the roadway to the public and emergency vehicles.
Um and then there is a an edit in the um now therefore section. I'll just read the whole thing. Having reviewed the facts described in the recital to this resolution and having heard from staff during the open public meeting on this matter, city council hereby finds that the critical roadway failures, the piercing holes and the sewer backup and water main break described in the recital of this resolution created emergency situations that require immediate design repair and reme remediation work without following normal competitive bidding procedures.
Okay. Further discussion. Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose or abstensions? That passes 70. >> Okay. Anything for old and new this evening? Council member Stone. So I had the opportunity to attend sort of the dedication of the new artwork that's at the Pacific Street Operations Center.
And so this is in phase two. This is attributed through the 1% for the arts and this piece is called Between the Ocean and the Sky. It's by Clayton Binkley. Um, and really actually phenomenal piece that fills that space very well.
And if you know this, um, this building faces on Pacific Street, but then the corner of Pacific and and Carolina. Um, but the glass face to this building [clears throat] is there on Pacific and at night as well as during the day.
It is visible to the entire community who may be driving or walking or um biking by. Um, and so just wanted to to highlight that for in your travels around town if you have an opportunity to to see that um exhibit and installation to to check it out.
Um that piece is was really inspired as well with the the NooKack and just the impact that it has as well here in our community and and its presence for you know for um since the the beginning of of Bellingham and sort of a um fortuitous time just at this time with the storms and everything else and obviously the flooding really yeah hit home.
And there's an also a little five minute video that BTV put together about just the the work the months of work and um bringing this this piece to fruition. So just encouraging members of the community to um to see that piece.
Thanks, Council Member Stone. Anything else for Old New? Okay, I will move on to the executive session report. We had one item for executive session. It was a labor relations matter with Danner. Staff provided information on the proposed 2026 to 2027 collective bargaining agreement between the city and the Guild of Pacific Northwest employees local 1937.
I'll now entertain a motion to ratify the agreement reached with the following general terms. Duration January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2027. Wages and compensation effective January 1st, 2026.
implement 2025 evergreen market study by one bringing all current bargaining unit employees up to the market average and two placing employees into the same step in the new salary schedule as they are at on the current pay scale.
Effective January 1st, 2026, 3% general wage adjustment. Effective January 1st, 2027, 2% general wage adjustment. Then for medical insurance, increase the city's contribution to the medical to medical health care by 6% each year.
>> Move approval. >> Second. >> Motion by council member Anderson. Second by council member Williams. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70.
All right. And next up this afternoon, we had public works and natural resources. And that was chaired by council member Stone. >> Thank you very much. I was joined this afternoon on the public works and natural resources committee by council members Anderson and Cotton.
We had three items before us. The first is agenda bill 24785. This is a contract award for the James Street multimodal improvements. This addresses segments three and four project ES565 bid number 55B-20225.
The James Street multimmoal improvements segments three and four project will install a multi-use path on the west side of James Street from Telegraph Road to King Avenue and sidewalks and bike lanes from King Avenue to Gooding Avenue.
The project includes street trees, storm water piping and treatment, illumination, city fiber communication connections, and a pavement overlay. The city publicly opened bids on November 20th, 2025. And Ram Construction is the responsible bidder who submitted the lowest responsive bid of 3,880,135 including sales tax.
The engineer's estimate for this project is 5,222,315 even. The project is subject to the apprenticeship program requirements of BMC 4.94. So due to the size of this project, there will be apprenticeship hours um tied to this this project as it goes forward.
Um we were joined this afternoon by Freeman Anthony who's the project engineer. And just wanting to note the discrepancy of you know close to 1.4 4 million between the um responsive bid or the from Ram Construction and the engineers estimate.
There was just some followup in committee this afternoon wanting to confirm um it was in our favor. Um so $1.4 million less than the engineers estimate. Just wanting to confirm that there were no questions regarding the scope of work and that we felt confident um that Ram Construction understood the scope of work and would be able to deliver on that that project.
indicated that the contractor um who helps with those engineers bids is based in Seattle and sometimes there are some cost differences there as well. But again, of the 10 bids, um Ram Construction received that bid, we're expecting that the work would commence in quarter 1 of this coming year.
Um and obviously some of that may be weather dependent. We're talking about with the current floods and the need for additional work, right? Some of the contractors may be delayed a little bit, but the work would definitely commence before the end of March.
So this afternoon, there was a unanimous recommendation from the committee to award the contract to Ram Construction and I so move. >> Second motion by the chair and second by council member Anderson.
Further discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Passes 70. The second item before the committee was agenda bill 24795. This is a resolution authorizing the city to apply for and enter into three Brian Abbott fish passage removal board grants for fish passage barrier improvements in Squallikum Creek.
So staff are preparing applications to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office for three separate grants um tied to the 2027 Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board grants program to help fund fish passage improvements in Squallum Creek.
The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office requires a council resolution to authorize the grant applications and to designate authority for administration of the grants. If the resolution is approved by council, it will be included with the grant applications.
Um, we were joined this afternoon by Anelise Burns, who's the habitat and restoration manager for the city, as well as Matteo Scoggins, who's the environmental coordinator. Um so again this is to move forward with three grant applications.
Um this is for work that would commence if approved in 2027. Um but again it is for three separate locations but all along Squallum Creek. So within the packet this afternoon there's a map that highlights where those where those projects um would be taking place.
And there was a unanimous recommendation from the committee to approve the resolution and I so move. >> Second motion by the chair, second by council member Anderson. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none.
All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70. >> Thank you very much. The last item before the committee was agenda bill 24786. This is an agreement to extend sewer service to 2496 Ust Street Road.
The Watcom County Health Department has informed the residents at 2496 Ust Street Road that the septic system serving their single family residents has failed. The property is within the city's urban growth area and abuts an existing sewer main.
The residents are requesting to enter into a contract with the city of Bellingham for retail sewer service as permitted under BMC, the Bellingham municipal code section 15.36. The BMC precludes the extension of new retail sewer service outside city limits except when such service is necessary to protect basic public health and safety and the environment.
The public works director has determined that the standard for service is met in this case. Therefore, staff recommends that the city council authorized the mayor to extend retail sewer service to the residents at 2496 UT Street Road pursuant to the attached agreement.
And we were joined this afternoon by Paul Reid, who's the development manager. And seeing that obviously the interest of public health and safety um regarding that sewer service, there was a unanimous recommendation from the committee to authorize the mayor to enter into the agreement and I so move.
>> Second >> motion by the chair, second by council member Williams. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70. >> And that was end of committee.
Thank you, Council Member Stone. Up next, we had budget and finance, and that was chaired by Council Member Anderson. >> Thank you. Um, today we had one item before us. Um, I was joined by Council Member Liquist and Council Member Hamill.
Um, bill number 24787, an ordinance of the city council of the city of Bellingham, Washington, authorizing the issuance of one or more series of limited tax general obligation and refunding bonds in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $19 million to finance costs related to designing, constructing, improving, and equipment.
a nine, excuse me, equipping a 911 dispatch facility, refunding certain outstanding limited tax general obligation of the city, and paying the cost of issuance of the bond, delegating authority to approve the method and sale and final terms of the bond, and approving other matters related there, too.
Um, the attached ordinance authorized the city of Bellingham to issue up to $19 million of general obligation bonds to construct a new Wattcom 911 dispatch building and refund the public facilities district debt remaining on the 2016 limited obligation bonds.
Um this was presented by our finance director Andy Esborson um who answered multiple questions regarding um the up to 19 million. The assumption um or the hope is that the total cost of um kind of refinancing the one bond and the cost of Wattcom will be about 16 million but we have a little buffer um because the um the bids have not come in yet.
So once we have the bids, the final amount will be determined and we will only take out the amount of bonds needed. We don't cap above and then hold the money. So um this just authorizes that amount that gives us a little headway until we know the full final costs and then could go out to the bond.
Um, for anyone who is familiar with where Wattcom is located, um, it's over off of Alabama and it's a kind of rehabbed, reutilized, um, old fire station and it seriously needs to be upgraded, um, not just for the health and safety and job function of very essential uh, public servants and our emergency dispatch, but looking towards the future of Bellingham and where we go, we should have a good facility that's going to be able to to meet the community needs and our employee needs well into the future and so this bond will help us get there.
So the committee voted approval and I so move >> second >> motion by the chair second by council member Lilquist. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions?
That passes 70. >> End of committee. >> Thank you council member Anderson. And finally this afternoon we had parks and recreation and that was chaired by council member Williams. Thank you, President Huffman.
Uh, today we had uh two items on our agenda. The first is agenda um agenda bill 24792, which is an update on the parks, recreation, and open space plan. A draft of the parks, recreation, and open space, which is commonly called the pros plan, will be published next month for final public review and comment.
Since the last update to the city council in February, parks and recreation staff have conducted an extensive outreach process to listen and learn about the community's desires and priorities for conservation and improvement of the city's parks, trails, open spaces, and recreation programs.
To that end, they have uh conducted 13 community events which have reached all parts of our community and uh have taken a pros plan community survey which generated 2005 responses garnering citizen information regarding the the priorities.
The public feedback that was received indicated that the priorities for for our parks program are um maintaining and uh developing our trail system and having a having an access to nature. completing features such as restrooms [laughter] and other other um parts in in some of our parks that don't have those and and accessibility for all.
Hosting special events in outdoors and sports programs and prioritizing aquatics and developing a community recreational center. Uh the group also highlighted parks and recreation accomplishments up to the present such as developing the little squall pier, uh finishing the 100 acre woods project and the sunset pond uh trail loop just to name a few items.
So the implementation timeline for the final passage of the pros plan by the council will be scheduled in May for uh I'm sorry March for final council approval. The presentation was for information and uh uh discussion only and no action was taken.
Our next item was an approval of a lease agreement, which is agenda bill 24794, which was an approval of a lease agreement with Watcom Sports and Recreation for the Bellingham Sportslex summer and for the Bellingham Sportslex, the city, and Watcom Sports and Recreation, which is commonly known as WSR have negotiated an amended and restated lease agreement for the continued operation of the Bellingham Sports Plex.
The updated lease as presented provides a clearer de uh delineation of maintenance responsibilities for maintaining the building envelope which in uh includes the structural exterior and interior features routine maintenance and overall facility management.
Under the terms of the amended lease, WSR will continue to remit monthly rent payments to the city until the city's debt obligation on on the facility bond is fully satisfied, which is projected to occur by the end of 2028.
Uh Nicole Oliver, parks and recreations director, provided a brief overview of the history of the sports plex. the city's commitments to this important recreational asset and how this lease fits into the larger civic athletic complex long-term planning.
Approval of this action will formalize the updated maintenance responsibilities and ensure stable ongoing operations of the facility. The parks and recreation staff um uh re requested that the city council approve execution of the amendment of of of the amended agreement.
The committee unanimously agreed and therefore I will make a motion to accept. >> Second. >> Motion by council member Williams, second by council member Hamill. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I.
>> I. Any opposed or abstensions? Passes 70. >> And as of that item, the meeting was adjourned. >> Thank you, Council Member Williams. Consent agenda. >> Move approve. >> Second. >> Motion by Council Member Hamill, second by Council Member Williams.
Further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I. I. >> I. Any opposed or abstensions? That passes. 70. Final consideration of ordinances >> in the bill 24781, an ordinance of the city of Bellingham, Washington, granting to Forge Fiber 37 LLC, a franchise to install, operate, and maintain fiber optic broadband network components and city rights of way for the provision of wholesale telecommunication services to resellers.
>> Move. Second. >> Motion by council member Hamilton, second by council member Liloquist. Further discussion? Roll call, please. >> Hannah Stone. >> Hi. >> Dan Hamill. >> Hi. >> Skip Williams. >> Hi.
>> Lisa Anderson. >> Hi. >> Michael Lilloquist. >> Hi. >> Jace Cotton. >> Hi. >> Holly Huffman. >> Hi. >> The motion passes 70. Next up, we have um agenda bill 24769, an ordinance amending the 2025 budget increasing expenditures and authorizing interfund loans of up to 1.1 million from the general fund to the medic one fund $300,000 workers comp fund $200,000 and health benefits fund $600,000 amendment number three.
>> A second motion by council member Hamill, second by council member Williams. Discussion. >> Roll call, please. >> Hannah Stone. >> Hi. >> Dan Hamill. >> Hi. >> Skip Williams. >> Hi. >> Lisa Anderson.
>> Hi. >> Michael Lilloquist. >> Hi. >> Jace Cotton. >> Hi. >> Holly Hman. >> Hi. >> The motion passes 70. >> And finally, we have uh agenda bill 24775, an ordinance adopting the 2025 city of Bellingham comprehensive plan, including the future land use map.
Move >> second. Motion by council member Hamill, second by council member Williams. Council member Loquist, >> I would move to amend the comp plan. Uh we had some uh comment letters on the community well-being chapter and one aspect of community well-being in addition to facilities that have to do with healthcare, child care, grocery storage, and education are faith-based institutions.
and the policy would uh advise that we reduce barriers to the creation of these community well-being facilities. Um in consultation uh with the planning director um he indicated that uh using the term faith-based uh is probably uh a very acceptable way to introduce these sort of facilities rather than say referring to churches or synagogues or anything particularly religious.
Um since this is an amendment on third and final would be needed to read into the record but it is only one change. Um, if the council agrees, it would amend um, committee well-being policy number CW2 on page 289 of the packet, page 128 of the draft plan to read, reduce barriers to establishing healthcare, child care, grocery stores, faith-based, and educational uses through permissive land use, and navigable permitting and review processes.
>> Your motion. >> That's a motion. Mot by council member Liiloquist, second by council member Hamill. >> Could you tell me the number that you would say? >> Yeah, it's a CW2. So in the community, it's one of the it's the second policy in the community well-being chapter.
So this has to do with their land use policies. Many of these um have been either um conditional uses or had come might have otherwise zoning barriers to their creation. Seeing as how these are facilities which actually promote community well-being, the policy says that we shouldn't erect uh zoning barriers, but we should find ways to uh permit these where appropriate.
>> Further discussion on the motion? Seeing none, [snorts] all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70. Okay. Further discussion on um the ordinance itself. Okay, seeing none.
Roll call, please. >> Hannah Stone. >> Hi. >> Dan Hamill. >> Hi. >> Skip Williams. >> Hi. >> Lisa Anderson. >> Hi. >> Michael Liilquist. >> Hi. >> Jace Cotton. >> Hi. [snorts] >> Hi Heman. >> Hi. >> Motion passes.
>> Okay. And that is it. >> [laughter] >> So, I'll just take this opportunity to say thank you for voting me in as your president this year. I've actually had a really great time doing it. I never thought I wanted to be president and so it's a bit of surprise to find out how much I actually enjoyed it.
Um, it was definitely a challenge. I like a good challenge, but um, it is a challenging position to be in and thank you for being a great council. I think we have a year that is um one we should be really proud of as a council.
There was a lot that was accomplished and of course thank you to the mayor and staff um for this year as well. We we got a lot done and I think we set the groundwork to get a lot more done next year as well.
So look forward to doing that with all of you next year too. Anything further before we close the regular meeting and go to public comment? Okay. This concludes regular business of the meeting and we will now move to the public comment period.
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