City Council - Regular Meeting
City Council - Regular Meeting
Mon, September 14, 2026
Agenda items
Vote records
Discussion summary
Transcript
Meeting summaryAI-generated
City Council Regular Meeting — September 14, 2026
This was a regular City Council meeting chaired by Council President Hannah Stone. The session moved efficiently through a full agenda, with all items passing unanimously, and concluded at 8:23 p.m. Sixteen members of the public offered comment.
Public Comment
Sixteen individuals spoke during the 30-minute public comment period. The action summary does not detail the content of those comments.
Appointments
Planning Commission: The Council unanimously confirmed Mayor Lund's appointment of Ayla Warwick to the Planning Commission.
Vote: Williams / Huthman — 7-0.
Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District: The Council confirmed the Mayor's appointments of Ben Besley and Dunham Gooding to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District.
Vote: Huthman / Williams — 7-0.
Lake Whatcom Land Acquisition and Preservation Program Update
Staff provided an update on the ongoing Lake Whatcom Land Acquisition and Preservation Program. No action was taken; this was information and discussion only.
Samish Way Utility Replacements Project — Contract Award
The Council awarded a construction contract for the Samish Way Utility Replacements Project (EU197) to Premium Services, the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, at a contract price of $3,677,652.89 (including applicable Washington State Sales Tax). This project will replace utilities along Samish Way.
Vote: Lilliquist / Anderson — 7-0.
Samish Way Utility Replacements Project — Noise Variance
Because utility replacement work may require construction outside standard noise-allowed hours, the Council approved a noise variance to allow the project to proceed as needed.
Vote: Lilliquist / Cotton — 7-0.
Kratom Prohibition Ordinance (First & Second Reading)
The Council advanced an ordinance that would prohibit the preparation, distribution, and sale of kratom products within Bellingham, adding a new section to Chapter 10.08 of the Bellingham Municipal Code and prescribing penalties. This passed first and second reading unanimously and will return for final passage.
Vote: Hammill / Williams — 7-0.
Vehicle Impoundment Ordinance (First & Second Reading)
The Council advanced an ordinance amending the city's vehicle impoundment rules under Bellingham Municipal Code Chapters 2.56 and 11.18. The action summary does not detail the specific policy changes. The ordinance passed first and second reading and will return for final passage.
Vote: Hammill / Williams — 7-0.
Equity and Belonging Workplan Presentation
Staff presented the City's equity and belonging workplan. No action was taken; this was information and discussion only.
Washington Conservation Corps Interagency Agreement
The Council authorized the Mayor to enter into an interagency agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology to sponsor Washington Conservation Corps members for restoration and conservation work in Bellingham. This program places corps members in hands-on environmental restoration projects.
Vote: Williams / Hammill — 7-0.
Sister Cities Ordinance (First & Second Reading)
The Council advanced an ordinance recognizing the ongoing contributions of the Bellingham Sister Cities Association and repealing the existing Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 2.82 governing sister cities. The ordinance passed first and second reading and will return for final passage.
Vote: Stone / Williams — 7-0.
Executive Session — Litigation
The Council met in closed executive session to receive briefings on two litigation matters: *Blomeen v. City of Bellingham, et al* and *Whatcom Environmental Council v. City of Bellingham* (the latter added to the agenda on September 11, 2026). Staff provided information for discussion only; no action was taken on either matter.
Consent Calendar
The Council approved the full consent calendar in a single motion. Items included authorization of payroll labor costs for the period July 16–31, 2026; accounts payable transactions covering July 24 through August 27, 2026; and approval of minutes from five special City Council meetings and one regular meeting held between August 3 and August 21, 2026.
Vote: Hammill / Williams — 7-0.
Low-Income Housing Development Incentive Ordinance — Final Passage
The Council gave third and final reading to an ordinance creating a new chapter in the Bellingham Municipal Code (Chapter 20.29a) titled "Low-Income Housing Development Incentive." The ordinance removes and reduces zoning-based development regulations for low-income housing across all residential multi-family, urban village, and commercial zones. This is a significant land-use reform designed to reduce regulatory barriers for affordable housing development citywide. The ordinance was enacted as Ordinance #2026-09-023.
Vote: Hammill / Cotton — 7-0 (Ayes: Stone, Huthman, Hammill, Williams, Anderson, Lilliquist, Cotton; Nays: none).
2026 Budget Amendment No. 3 — Final Passage
The Council gave third and final reading to an ordinance amending the City's 2026 budget (Amendment No. 3). The action summary does not detail the specific budget changes included. The ordinance was enacted as Ordinance #2026-09-024.
Vote: Hammill / Williams — 7-0 (Ayes: Stone, Huthman, Hammill, Williams, Anderson, Lilliquist, Cotton; Nays: none).
Key Takeaways
Affordable housing deregulation: The low-income housing development incentive ordinance was enacted unanimously, removing or reducing zoning barriers for affordable housing in residential multi-family, urban village, and commercial zones citywide — a meaningful step toward increasing housing supply.
Kratom ban advancing: An ordinance to prohibit the sale and distribution of kratom in Bellingham passed first and second reading and will return for a final vote.
Samish Way utility work greenlit: A nearly $3.7 million contract was awarded to Premium Services for utility replacements on Samish Way, and a noise variance was approved to keep the project on schedule.
Conservation partnership approved: The City will sponsor Washington Conservation Corps members through an agreement with the state Department of Ecology for local environmental restoration work.
Two active lawsuits briefed in closed session: The Council received confidential updates on *Blomeen v. City of Bellingham* and *Whatcom Environmental Council v. City of Bellingham*, with no action taken.
AI-generated summary from voice-to-text transcript. Not the official record. Verify important details with the source documents linked above.
What happened at this meeting
An ordinance amending the 2026 budget - amendment no. 3
Daniel Hammill and Edwin H. 'Skip' Williams moved approval for third and final reading of an ordinance amending the 2026 budget (amendment no. 3). The ordinance passed 7-0 and was named Ordinance # 2026-09-024.
An ordinance relating to land use and planning, amending Title 20 of the Bellingham Municipal Code, creating a new chapter 20.29a "Low-Income Housing Development Incentive," removing and reducing zoning-based development regulations for low-income housing in all residential multi, urban village, and commercial zones
Daniel Hammill and Jace Cotton moved approval for third and final reading of an ordinance relating to land use and planning, creating a new chapter 20.29a for 'Low-Income Housing Development Incentive.' The ordinance passed 7-0 and was named Ordinance # 2026-09-023.
Confirmation of the Mayor's appointment to the Planning Commission
Council voted to confirm the Mayor's appointment of Ayla Warwick to the Planning Commission. Edwin H. 'Skip' Williams and Hollie Huthman moved the confirmation, which carried 7-0.
Confirmation of the Mayor's appointments to the Bellingham-Whatcom
Council voted to confirm the Mayor's appointments of Ben Besley and Dunham Gooding to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District. Hollie Huthman and Edwin H. 'Skip' Williams moved the confirmation, which carried 7-0.
An interagency agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology to sponsor Washington Conservation Corps members for restoration and conservation work
Edwin H. 'Skip' Williams and Daniel Hammill moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an interagency agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology to sponsor Washington Conservation Corps members. The motion carried 7-0.
Agenda items (33)
Procedural (17)
1ProceduralOnline: The sign-up form will be available at cob.org/ccsignup on the day of the meeting.
Residents can sign up to speak at the City Council meeting online through a form available at cob.org/ccsignup on the day of the meeting.
3ProceduralThe sign-up form closes when the meeting begins at 7 p.m. Once signed up, speakers may participate via the following options:
The sign-up to speak at the meeting closes when the meeting starts at 7 p.m., after which registered speakers can participate through in-person, Zoom, or phone options.
4ProceduralIn person: Meetings are held in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall.
City Council meetings are held in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall.
5ProceduralOnline: Join the Zoom meeting at cob.org/cczoom and follow staff instructions at time of the public hearing or public comment period.
Residents can join the City Council meeting online via Zoom by visiting cob.org/cczoom.
6ProceduralOver the phone: Call 253-215-8782, enter Meeting ID 871 5188 5205, and Password 9. Follow staff instructions at the time of the public hearing or public comment period.
Residents can call 253-215-8782 and enter Meeting ID 871 5188 5205 with Password 9 to participate in the City Council meeting by phone.
7ProceduralDuring public hearings, speakers who have signed up in advance will be called on first, followed by any additional speakers who wish to give testimony. Before or after a meeting: Written correspondence is always welcome before or after Council meetings. Send written input to:
During public hearings, pre-registered speakers are called first, followed by any additional speakers; written testimony can also be submitted before or after the meeting.
8ProceduralFor general public comment, e-mail all Council Members at ccmail@cob.org.
Residents can send general public comments to all City Council members by emailing ccmail@cob.org.
9ProceduralFor written public hearing testimony, visit cob.org/publichearing.
Written testimony for public hearings can be submitted through cob.org/publichearing.
10ProceduralBy mail addressed to: City Council, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225. Learn more about public comment and public hearings at cob.org/public-hearings-and-public- comment-periods.
Written input can be mailed to the City Council at 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225.
25035ProceduralConfirmation of the Mayor's appointment to the Planning Commission
The City Council will vote on whether to confirm the Mayor's appointment of someone to the Planning Commission.
What happened
Council voted to confirm the Mayor's appointment of Ayla Warwick to the Planning Commission. Edwin H. 'Skip' Williams and Hollie Huthman moved the confirmation, which carried 7-0.25036ProceduralApproval of the August 10, 2026 City Council committee and regular meeting minutes
The City Council will approve the official minutes from the regular and committee meetings held on August 10, 2026.
25037ProceduralConfirmation of the Mayor's appointments to the Bellingham-Whatcom
The City Council will vote on whether to confirm the Mayor's appointments to the Bellingham-Whatcom board or commission.
What happened
Council voted to confirm the Mayor's appointments of Ben Besley and Dunham Gooding to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District. Hollie Huthman and Edwin H. 'Skip' Williams moved the confirmation, which carried 7-0.25049ProceduralApproval of the August 3, 2026 special City Council meeting minutes
The City Council will approve the official minutes from the special meeting held on August 3, 2026.
25050ProceduralApproval of the August 7, 2026 special City Council meeting minutes
The City Council will approve the official minutes from the special meeting held on August 7, 2026.
25051ProceduralApproval of the August 10, 2026 special City Council meeting minutes
The City Council will approve the official minutes from the special meeting held on August 10, 2026.
25052ProceduralApproval of the August 19, 2026 special City Council meeting minutes
The City Council will approve the official minutes from the special meeting held on August 19, 2026.
25054ProceduralApproval of the August 21, 2026 special City Council meeting minutes
The City Council will approve the official minutes from the special meeting held on August 21, 2026.
Council Business
2Council BusinessOld or new business
Council members can raise any other old or new business items for discussion.
25039Council BusinessAn interagency agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology to sponsor Washington Conservation Corps members for restoration and conservation work
The City Council will vote to partner with the Washington State Department of Ecology to bring in Conservation Corps members for restoration and conservation projects in Bellingham.
What happened
Edwin H. 'Skip' Williams and Daniel Hammill moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an interagency agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology to sponsor Washington Conservation Corps members. The motion carried 7-0.25040Council BusinessAn ordinance regarding vehicle impoundment, amending Bellingham Municipal Code Chapters 2.56 and 11.18
The City Council will vote on changes to the city's vehicle impoundment rules and procedures.
What happened
Daniel Hammill and Edwin H. 'Skip' Williams moved for first and second reading of an ordinance regarding vehicle impoundment, amending Bellingham Municipal Code Chapters 2.56 and 11.18. The motion carried 7-0.25041Council BusinessA presentation on the City's equity and belonging workplan
City staff will present information about the city's plan to advance equity and belonging in Bellingham.
What happened
A presentation on the City's equity and belonging workplan was provided during the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity committee meeting. The item was for information and discussion only.25042Council BusinessAn update on the Lake Whatcom Land Acquisition and Preservation
The City Council will receive an update on the city's plans to acquire and preserve land around Lake Whatcom.
What happened
Michael Lilliquist presented an update on the Lake Whatcom Land Acquisition and Preservation Program during the Public Works and Natural Resources committee meeting. The item was for information and discussion only.25043Council BusinessA contract award for the Samish Way Utility Replacements Project (EU197), Bid No. 44B-2026
The City Council will award a contract for utility replacement work on Samish Way as part of project EU197.
What happened
Michael Lilliquist and Lisa Anderson moved to award contract No. 44B-2026 for the Samish Way Utility Replacements Project to Premium Services for $3,677,652.89. The motion carried 7-0.25044Council BusinessA noise variance for the Samish Way Utility Replacements Project (EU197) Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity 1 p.m.
The city is requesting permission to exceed normal noise limits during the Samish Way Utility Replacements Project (EU197).
What happened
Michael Lilliquist and Jace Cotton moved to approve a noise variance for the Samish Way Utility Replacements Project (EU197). The motion carried 7-0.25045Council BusinessAn ordinance relating to Bellingham sister cities, recognizing the ongoing contributions of the Bellingham Sister Cities Association, and repealing
The City Council will vote on an ordinance recognizing the Bellingham Sister Cities Association and the city's sister city relationships.
What happened
Hannah Stone and Edwin H. 'Skip' Williams moved for first and second reading of an ordinance relating to Bellingham sister cities, recognizing the contributions of the Bellingham Sister Cities Association. The motion carried 7-0.25055Council BusinessAn ordinance prohibiting the preparation, distribution, and sale of kratom products, adding a new section to chapter 10.08 of the Bellingham
The City Council will vote on an ordinance that would ban the preparation, distribution, and sale of kratom products in Bellingham.
What happened
Daniel Hammill and Edwin H. 'Skip' Williams moved for first and second reading of an ordinance prohibiting the preparation, distribution, and sale of kratom products. The motion carried 7-0.Ordinance
25015OrdinanceAn ordinance amending the 2026 budget - amendment no. 3
The City Council will vote on adjustments to the 2026 city budget through amendment number 3.
What happened
Daniel Hammill and Edwin H. 'Skip' Williams moved approval for third and final reading of an ordinance amending the 2026 budget (amendment no. 3). The ordinance passed 7-0 and was named Ordinance # 2026-09-024.25027OrdinanceAn ordinance relating to land use and planning, amending Title 20 of the Bellingham Municipal Code, creating a new chapter 20.29a "Low-Income Housing Development Incentive," removing and reducing zoning-based development regulations for low-income housing in all residential multi, urban village, and commercial zones
The City Council will vote on an ordinance that creates new incentives to encourage developers to build low-income housing by reducing zoning restrictions in residential, urban village, and commercial areas.
What happened
Daniel Hammill and Jace Cotton moved approval for third and final reading of an ordinance relating to land use and planning, creating a new chapter 20.29a for 'Low-Income Housing Development Incentive.' The ordinance passed 7-0 and was named Ordinance # 2026-09-023.Consent Calendar
25034Consent CalendarAuthorization of payroll labor cost payments dated July 16, 2026 to July 31, 2026
The City Council will authorize payroll payments to city employees for the period of July 16–31, 2026.
25046Consent CalendarAuthorization of AP transactions issued July 24, 2026 through July 30, 2026
The City Council will authorize payment of business expenses processed between July 24–30, 2026.
25047Consent CalendarAuthorization of AP transactions issued August 7, 2026 through August 13, 2026
The City Council will authorize payment of business expenses processed between August 7–13, 2026.
25048Consent CalendarAuthorization of AP transactions issued August 14, 2026 through August 20, 2026
The City Council will authorize payment of business expenses processed between August 14–20, 2026.
25053Consent CalendarAuthorization of AP transactions issued August 21, 2026 through August 27, 2026
The City Council will authorize payment of business expenses processed between August 21–27, 2026.
Additional votes recorded in minutes
Confirmation of Mayor's appointment to the Planning Commission
aye 7
Daniel Hammillaye
Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Confirmation of Mayor's appointments to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District
aye 7
Daniel Hammillaye
Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Contract award for Samish Way Utility Replacements Project
aye 7
Daniel Hammillaye
Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Noise variance for Samish Way Utility Replacements Project
aye 7
Daniel Hammillaye
Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
First and second reading of ordinance prohibiting kratom products
aye 7
Daniel Hammillaye
Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
First and second reading of ordinance regarding vehicle impoundment
aye 7
Daniel Hammillaye
Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Authorize interagency agreement with WA State Department of Ecology for Washington Conservation Corps
aye 7
Daniel Hammillaye
Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
First and second reading of ordinance relating to Bellingham sister cities
aye 7
Daniel Hammillaye
Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Approve consent agenda
aye 7
Daniel Hammillaye
Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Adopt Ordinance 2026-09-023 (Low-Income Housing Development Incentive)
aye 7
Daniel Hammillaye
Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Adopt Ordinance 2026-09-024 (2026 Budget Amendment No. 3)
aye 7
Daniel Hammillaye
Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Verbatim transcript available
297 transcript segments indexed
City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting action summary September 14, 2026, 7 p.m. Chair: Hannah Stone Phone: 360-778-8200 Members: Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Email: ccmail@cob.org Edwin H.
Good evening and welcome to the Bellingham City Council regular meeting. Today is Monday, September 14th, 2026. So, we're going to begin by calling the meeting to order. And we will start with roll call.
>> Dan Hamill >> here. >> Skip Williams >> here. >> Lisa Anderson >> here. >> Michaelist >> here. >> Jay Cotton >> here. >> Hannah Stone >> here. Holly Huffman >> here. All council members are present.
"Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Web: cob.org/council Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton Legislative Office Manager: Jackie Weller Disclaimer This document is provided as a courtesy follow-up of the City Council meeting.
Thank you very much. Um, so first as far as announcements, just making note that our next meeting will be held on September 28th, 2026. Currently, there are no um special public hearings or other items noted for that date.
This document is not to be considered the minutes from the meeting but rather a report of the action taken by Council. All information contained herein is subject to change upon further review of recordings of the proceedings and composure and approval of the meeting minutes.
Um, but we will begin this evening with public comment. Um, so we will now begin our public comment period. Jackie has randomized the signup list and will call names in groups of three or four. When you hear your name, if you're here in person, please line up at the microphone either here at the dis or there's also one upstairs in the balcony depending on what's most convenient for you.
Comments and suggestions are welcome. Regular meeting The following items are heard in the Regular Meeting only. Call to order and roll call The meeting was called to order by Council President Stone at 7 p.m.
If you're online, you will receive an invitation to be promoted to a panelist when you're next in line and you need to please accept that invitation and remain muted until it's your turn to speak. Jackie, how many people do we have signed up tonight?
Announcements and upcoming meetings 1. Next Council meeting 30-minute public comment period Summary: City Council heard public comments from 16 individuals. Appointments 25035 1. Confirmation of the Mayor's appointment to the Planning Commission p.
We have 22 people signed up. Okay. So, the comment period will begin when the first speaker is called and will close once all speakers have been heard or after a maximum of 30 minutes. So, since this evening we have more than 15 people signed up tonight, we will likely not get to everyone who signed up within the 30 minute period.
6 Action: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Hollie Huthman moved to confirm the Mayor's appointment of Ayla Warwick to the Planning Commission. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Page 1 of 6 25037 2. Confirmation of the Mayor's appointments to the Bellingham-Whatcom p.
Um after the comment period, I'll give some more alternate ways of reaching council members. Um but before we begin, I'll read some of the rules. So the detailed rules are displayed here in chambers on the screen.
14 Public Facilities District Action: Hollie Huthman / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to confirm the Mayor's appointments of Ben Besley and Dunham Gooding to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Mayor's report Standing time for briefings, updates, and reports to Council by the Mayor. Action: Information and discussion only. Council Member reports Standing time for Council Member briefings, updates, and reports, including from assigned committees, boards, and other groups.
Just a few reminders to please state your name before speaking. Um this helps also with council members to follow up with individuals who've shared comments. Each speaker is allotted two minutes. If interpretation is needed, the speaker will be allotted four minutes of time.
Only speakers who have signed up ahead of time will be called this evening. Speakers cannot donate their speaking time to another person, and speakers may not make remarks in favor of or against political candidates or ballot measures, which becomes more of an issue the closer we get to um the election in November.
Action: Information and discussion only. Committee meeting reports The following committee meetings are held during the day. Committee chairs will present a summary of each agenda item during the evening meeting, and further discussion or action may take place if needed.
Comments should align with community expectations displayed on the screen and should not include hateful or derogatory remarks. Please speak into the microphone. Comments are broadcasted and recorded via the mics.
Committee meetings are open to the public to attend, however committee agendas do not include public comment sessions. Public Works and Natural Resources 10:45 a.m. Michael Lilliquist, Chair Lisa Anderson, Jace Cotton 25042 1.
An update on the Lake Whatcom Land Acquisition and Preservation p. 24 Program Action: Information and discussion only. 25043 2. A contract award for the Samish Way Utility Replacements Project p. 45 (EU197), Bid No.
If you leave the microphone, um your comment time will end. Audience members, to ensure that everyone feels comfortable speaking, please do not clap or boo. So, we want everyone to feel comfortable sharing their comments this evening.
Um some of which you may or may not agree with. So, at this time, we can get started. Um and again, Jackie will call like three or four names at a time, and you can line up. And so the time will start when we begin.
44B-2026 Page 2 of 6 Action: Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to award contract No. 44B-2026 for the Samish Way Utility Replacements Project to Premium Services as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder and to authorize the Mayor to enter into a contract with them for the amount of their bid, which is $3,677,652.89 which includes any applicable WSST.
Thanks. >> Okay. The first three folks we have are all online. So we'll have Shannon Lee, Natalie Chavez, and Misty Brown. And Shannon, looks like you've you could should be able to turn on your camera and unmute.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 25044 3. A noise variance for the Samish Way Utility Replacements Project (EU197) p. 50 Action: Michael Lilliquist / Jace Cotton moved to approve the noise variance. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity 1 p.m. Daniel Hammill, Chair Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams 25055 1. An ordinance prohibiting the preparation, distribution, and sale of kratom p. 53 products, adding a new section to chapter 10.08 of the Bellingham Municipal Code, and prescribing penalties Action: Daniel Hammill / Edwin H.
>> Yes. Hi. Can you hear me? >> Yes. Go ahead. Hi, my name is Shannon [clears throat] and I'm here today to share my testimony regarding the vital role Natural Leafratom has played in my life and to urge you to consider regulation rather than a total ban.
I am a healthcare worker. In 2017, I suffered from chronic lower back pain. It was so severe that it led to ER and doctor's visits and many days out of work. Being a CNA, as many of you know, we are the backbone of the medical field.
"Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 25040 2. An ordinance regarding vehicle impoundment, amending Bellingham p. 64 Municipal Code Chapters 2.56 and 11.18 Action: Daniel Hammill / Edwin H.
Finding natural leaf cratom powder has been a total miracle for me and many others whom seek natural pain relief. It is terrifying if naturatum is banned. Many whom depend on this natural plant which has been around for centuries would be forced to turn to opioids.
"Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 25041 3. A presentation on the City's equity and belonging workplan p. 73 Action: Information and discussion only. Parks and Recreation 2:05 p.m.
[clears throat] Natural leaf cratom is not an opioid. Synthetic 70 is. It's dangerous. It's extremely addictive and should be totally banned. 70 is not the same as natural whole leaf cratom. Nature provides pain relief without the risk associated with synthetics or opioids like 70.
Page 3 of 6 Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Chair Daniel Hammill, Jace Cotton 25039 1. An interagency agreement with the Washington State Department of p. 74 Ecology to sponsor Washington Conservation Corps members for restoration and conservation work Action: Edwin H.
Even the FDA announced at the July 29th, 2025 press conference that they are not interested in and scheduling natural cratom, but rather banning synthetics like 70. I ask that you please take my testimony into account and the many others that have reached out.
"Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into the interagency agreement. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Committee Of The Whole 2:15 p.m. Hannah Stone, Chair Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H.
A total ban would be devastating to our state and our entire country and the many that rely on this natural plant for the quality of life. Please regulate natural leaf cratom to protect our access to natural pain relief and ban synthetic 708.
"Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton 25045 1. An ordinance relating to Bellingham sister cities, recognizing the ongoing p. 83 contributions of the Bellingham Sister Cities Association, and repealing Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 2.82 Action: Hannah Stone / Edwin H.
Thank you. >> Thank you Shannon. Okay, next we've got Misty. Well, Misty, you should Yep. Go ahead. >> Hi, good evening and thank you for having allowing me to speak. My name is Misty Brown and I'm asking you tonight to please do not ban crratom locally.
"Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 2. Old or new business Action: Information and discussion only. Executive session 2:45 p.m. Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only.
1. Litigation: Blomeen v. City of Bellingham, et al (Phillips, approx. 15 min.) Action: Staff provided information on a litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. Page 4 of 6 2.
I understand the concerns. I understand that there are products on the market that deserve scrutiny, especially highly concentrated and synthetic products. But banning is not the same thing as regulating it.
And I know that because I'm not speaking about this from a textbook. I'm speaking from lived experience. For 11 years, I was prescribed pain pills, benzoazipines, and muscle relaxers. What started as a dependency slowly became an addiction.
Litigation: Whatcom Environmental Council v. City of Bellingham (Erb, approx. 15 min.) - ITEM ADDED 9/11/2026 Action: Staff provided information on a litigation matter. For information and discussion.
In 2019, I lost access to those prescriptions, and my life spiraled. I was using cocaine while desperately trying to find another way. Then I found and I want you to remember one thing about my story.
No action taken. Consent agenda Consent Agenda items are considered routine and/or non-controversial and may be approved in a single motion. A member of the Council may ask that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately.
I bought it at a smoke shop. It was sitting behind the counter, locked in a glass case. I was carded. I made a legal purchase. That simple transaction changed my life. Holy cramm helped me step away from the cycle of prescription drugs and elicit substances.
25034 1. Authorization of payroll labor cost payments dated July 16, 2026 to July p. 88 31, 2026 25046 2. Authorization of AP transactions issued July 24, 2026 through July 30, p. 89 2026 25047 3. Authorization of AP transactions issued August 7, 2026 through August p.
I haven't gone back to pain management in more than seven years. Today I'm a mother, a grandmother, a taxpayer, and a productive member of my community. So if this council bans, I want you to ask yourselves, what happens to the person who walks into that same smoke shop tomorrow looking for the thing that might help them get off something far more dangerous?
90 13, 2026 25048 4. Authorization of AP transactions issued August 14, 2026 through August p. 91 20, 2026 25053 5. Authorization of AP transactions issued August 21, 2026 through August p. 92 27, 2026 25049 6.
Because you don't eliminate demand by passing a ban. You eliminate the regulated storefront. You push people toward the internet, the black market, and products you have who have even less ability to monitor.
Approval of the August 3, 2026 special City Council meeting minutes p. 93 25050 7. Approval of the August 7, 2026 special City Council meeting minutes p. 96 25051 8. Approval of the August 10, 2026 special City Council meeting minutes p.
If there are legitimate concerns, regulate them. Require age restrictions. Require testing. Require accurate labeling. Hold bag actors accountable. But don't take a plant that help people like me and throw the entire category into prohibition because some concentrated or synthetic products exist.
98 25036 9. Approval of the August 10, 2026 City Council committee and regular p. 100 meeting minutes 25052 10. Approval of the August 19, 2026 special City Council meeting minutes p. 117 25054 11. Approval of the August 21, 2026 special City Council meeting minutes p.
119 Page 5 of 6 Action: Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final consideration of ordinances 25027 1. An ordinance relating to land use and planning, amending Title 20 of the p.
I walked into a smoke shop in 2019 looking for a way out. I walked out with and eventually I got my life back. Please don't close that door for the next person. Regulate what needs regulating. Don't ban what may be someone's way out.
Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to speak. >> Thank you, Misty. >> Next, we will have Mary Gavin Ray and Joshua Levenson all in person. I'm so sorry. And we can go to Natalie before then, but go ahead and line up for those in person.
122 Bellingham Municipal Code, creating a new chapter 20.29a "Low-Income Housing Development Incentive," removing and reducing zoning-based development regulations for low-income housing in all residential multi, urban village, and commercial zones Action: Daniel Hammill / Jace Cotton moved approval for third and final reading.
Um, Natalie, you should be able to speak. Hello. I'm disheartened and disappointed that the time allotted to each public comment speaker has been decreased to two minutes per person. I've been making public comments consistently at these meetings since February 2021 and council members have tried multiple times to change or suspend the public commenting format for various reasons.
Upon motion, said bill was placed on final passage and approved by the following roll call vote: AYES: Stone, Huthman, Hammill, Williams, Anderson, Lilliquist, Cotton NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED 7-0 and was thereafter named Ordinance # 2026-09-023 25015 2.
An ordinance amending the 2026 budget - amendment no. 3 p. 134 Action: Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved approval for third and final reading. Upon motion, said bill was placed on final passage and approved by the following roll call vote: AYES: Stone, Huthman, Hammill, Williams, Anderson, Lilliquist, Cotton NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED 7-0 and was thereafter named Ordinance # 2026-09-024 Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
You finally did it. Congratulations. I hope that all of you feel good about your decision. Over the last five and a half years, public comments have been suspended at least two times, and at one point, quarterly town halls were put into place as a substitute, where community members were only allowed to make a public comment on the agenda topic specific to each town hall, which was a way for city council to censor community members from speaking about specific issues.
In my opinion, the Walom County Council has also tried to do something similar more than once. Their last attempt was this summer when council members Kaylee Galloway and John Scanman wrote a memo to county council dated July 30th, 2026.
In my opinion, city and county council members who have proposed or voted to approve to approve decreasing a loted time for community members to make public comments should not be on the council. It may be a good time to ask yourselves why are you here?
If you aren't here to serve and listen to your constituents about issues regarding homelessness, housing, public health, crime, LGBTQ, or other issues, then why are you here? Don't try to justify your decision by saying that you are now having periodic community conversation events in town.
You should be doing that anyway, in addition to listening to your constituents at regularly scheduled meetings. Many community members are disillusioned and disheartened. And we know that once we lose time that we'll never get it back and that next year or the year after it could decrease down to one minute.
Hopefully more community members will protest this inappropriate and irresponsible change. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Natalie. >> Go ahead, Mary. >> [clears throat] >> Good evening. My name is Mary.
I'm a 21-year resident of and homeowner in the York neighborhood. And I understand the comprehensive plan is done. And I understand that over the next period of time, 64,000 more people are expected to move to Watcom County, which is crazy given the water issues that we have.
Um, I also understand that Bellingham is probably on the hook for 8,000 more uh residential units. What I'm here tonight to speak about is [clears throat] the use of parking lots as potential sites for urban infill.
Bellisare Mall alone has a 50 acre parking lot. Above that parking lot is absolute dead airspace. So there's no reason why we need to go into old residential historic neighborhoods that provide so many benefits such as a canopy cover um [clears throat] battling climate change uh urban wildlife corridors etc.
when we have acres and acres and acres of parking lots in Bellingham that could be used for residential units colllocated next to transit centers, next to shopping malls, next to Trader Joe's and restaurants or whatever it is.
So, I really really encourage as we look towards infill infill with this next comprehensive plan that we look at this incredibly wasted space as potential residential space. Thank you. Thank you, Mary.
>> Hi, I'm Gavin Ray. When I was a kid, my parents would send me out to play with the phrase, "Watch for cars." But today, I tell my son, "Watch for emot." I know that you recently passed an ordinance allowing officers to impound illegal bikes from repeat offenders, and I applaud you for a job well done.
It's not enough. According to some kids that I spoke with just yesterday, a firsttime offender is nothing more than someone the cops have been ignoring until somebody like me calls in and complains, which wasn't easy, by the way.
Yeah, I called the cops and then I went up to the kids and I asked them about their bikes. They told me, "Yeah, they're illegal, but nobody cares." The cops don't care. Cops just wave. I didn't believe them.
These emotos were duct taped together, made out of parts they bought on Amazon. According to the kids, they could go 35 miles an hour. And I thought, there's no way an officer would just ignore this bike if they saw them.
But then the police officer that I had called showed up, waved, and drove away. The kid said to me, "See, they don't care. This is the kind of thing that puts good people into the hospital. It causes paralysis.
It causes death. And I'm not going to sit around until my kid gets hit before I say something. However, two minutes is not nearly enough time to express how discouraging this has been. Instead, I'll just leave you with my full statement.
>> Thank you, Gavin. And after Joshua, we'll have Jenny Hutchinson online, Soul online, and then Jesse Leman in person. >> So, I've attempted to email the council and the mayor's office a couple of times asking about smoking next to the playgrounds, and I've gotten a response back from parks and wreck.
I don't know if that was direct, but they basically said there's nothing they can do. So, um, when I call the police office, like a non-emergency line, um, they also say like they're not going to show up.
They don't care about it. Um, I would hope that somebody could email me back if I can donate the rest of my time to someone else. So, maybe there's extra time for somebody. Um, hopefully someone can respond about looking for something for Yeah, someone else to be able to avoid kids being around secondhand smoke.
>> Thank you, Joshua. Okay, we have a Jennifer Gills online. I'm not sure if that's the same as the Jenny Hutchinson who signed up. Um, but we'll go to soul. Promote soul. You want to go to soul right there.
So you go to more. >> Hello. >> And then promote. No soul. more improvement. >> Okay. So, go ahead. >> Hi. Are you able to hear me? >> We can go ahead. >> Okay. Thank you so much. Um, I am back. It's good to see you again, city council.
I am here today to speak on the impending 70 ban. I am 100% for it. I think that 70 is incredibly dangerous and it was incredibly negligent of it to go on so long. There's an ease of access to it. However, I implore the city council to be fully aware of what kind of things that this will cause, the infrastructure that will need to be in place in order to successfully do this.
I need not remind all of us the way that downtown is, the way that addicts are undersported in this community, the way that there is not enough resources to go around for people. And one of the things that I think might stand out the most to people is that people who are currently onratom look more similar to those who are housed than unhoused.
I don't think that Bellingham has the full infrastructure. I think that more widespread education needs to be shared around as to what this drug actually does and impacts. Um according to the National Institute for Health, this the withdrawal fromratom and 70 specifically does mimic that of opioid withdrawal.
It is treated the same way. You can naran somebody out of an overdose that way. So, I think it is so incredibly important for Bellingham City Council to do their research, figure out how to stagger the ban on the drug in a way that will allow our community members who are on it to come off of it safely or to find alternatives to it.
Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Soul. >> Okay, if we have um if we have Jenny Hutchinson, please raise your hand online. Um, but in the meantime, we'll go to Jesse Leman in person and then we'll go to Chad Spivvy and Michael Fano online.
Do we have Jesse Leman? Okay. Do you have Michael? Okay. Looks like the next one we see that's ready is Michael Fano. We're gonna go ahead and promote you to panelist. Okay, Mike, you should be able to um unmute and turn on your camera if you'd like.
Hello. Thank you for allowing me to speak. My name is M. Michael Fisano. I've been a cratom tea consumer for over 15 years on and off. I never had abuse issues. I never had health problems with it. I mostly consume it for chronic insomnia.
It also helps with my joint pains and in lower doses, it helps me focus because I suffer ADHD. Um I just want to echo what the others said. The DEA has taken action on synthetics. Um, so before the burden was almost on the states and the counties, the big thing was how do we differentiate what is what the DEA has officially taken that burden off.
So if anybody tries to sell in a store, that is the same as selling heroin. That's a controlled that's no longer civily. That's that's like controlling a schedule one substance. So, I I really hope we get rid of the synthetics and allow the natural botanical leaf to continue to be sold, to continue helping those that either need for harm reduction or for chronic pain accessibility.
Um, if you want to go a step further, I don't know how regulation works. I'm not a regulator. I know that sometimes some places they do where you require a license and for it to only be sold in a 21 and older store as opposed to just anywhere, any gas station.
and obviously the age restrictions. So I believe I strongly believe there can be a compromise where we go the route of regulation age restrictions uh where it's being sold in certain establishments and get rid of the synthetics because 70 and natural leaf cratom is not the same and I just want to uh thank you for letting me allowing me to speak today and hopefully we can come to a resolution.
Thank you. >> Thank you Mike. Okay, next person is Britney. Britney, you should receive a notification on your screen. Go ahead, Britney. >> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Yep. Go ahead, please. >> Okay. Hi.
Um, my name is Britney Suffton and I was injured in high school sports which led to a 15-year opiate addiction. Um, I three of those years was medication assisted treatment with methadone. Um, I ended up in jail and dated off with 215 milligrams of methadone daily.
Um on my way home I stopped at the gas or at the smoke shop and got uh Natural Leaf cratom and um July 12th was 6 years with no opiids, no prescription, anything. Um I also have five small children for 14 and younger and um the first four are all on the autism spectrum to varying degrees and um every day is hard here.
So, um, really allowed me to be a mother to these kids and, um, it helps me every day with my pain and, um, I really hope that you guys come to a resolution here where we can regulate natural freedom because it will save somebody's life.
Thank you. >> Thank you, Britney. Okay, next in person, we've got Brian Armstrong and Adam Bellinger. And then after that we'll have Allison Smith if they're here online. >> Good evening council. Um my name is Adam Bellinger.
I want to thank uh uh the council and and city staff for helping to put together this catratom ordinance. Um, talking about it with people has brought out multiple stories. Um, some who've died, somes who lives have taken a profound downward turn.
Um, due to the addiction to the substances uh, and there's various substances. Um, I talked to an ICU nurse who uh here in uh Bellingham who said that she wasn't sure if the ER even tests for this substance in their uh blood tests for um uh issues when they're going through diagnostics.
So, um I I find this um the the lack of uh regulatory uh position that we've had on this for quite a while to be problematic. Um and it's really created a situation where we've got a kind of a wild west u scenario here where pretty much everything goes.
Um and it's um we have to be careful about what banning it, but at the same time we can't do something that's not um uh we can't do nothing. It's obvious that there's a problem with the way that things are going because we're having these overdose issues.
We're having people's whose lives are being ruined. And um I I don't want to create a unfunded regulatory mandate by the city. the city is not in the position to be regulating this the way that the liquor control board and cannabis board could.
So, I think we'd need to take a hard stance here, uh, but then leave ourselves open in the future for the a more nuanced regulatory oversight of it, but in the current state of affairs, it's just too dangerous to be allowed the way it is.
Thank you. >> Thank you, Adam. And then after Brian, we're not seeing Allison online, so we'll go to Travis Turner in person. >> Brian Armstrong, you're hearing this comment at 1.5 times normal speed.
That is because tonight's public comment has been reduced from 3 minutes to two, cap to 30 minutes total and limited to 15 speakers selected at random if more sign up. I'm not someone who speaks fast enough to fit 3 minutes into two, so I'm using this recording as an accommodation.
The city provides extra time for translation, but does not extend that consideration to others who need more time. Capping speakers at 15 and selecting people at random does not encourage public engagement.
It stifles it. Public comment is one of the few mechanisms where government accountability happens in real time in public on the record. It is where community members hear each other, learn what concerns their neighbors, and hold their government accountable.
Providing that forum is not optional. It is the duty of elected officials to listen to their constituents, not to manage how much they can say. This matters because there is a consistent pattern here.
Over 1400 residents signed a petition against spending $4.9 million upgrading postpoint incinerators, and community members advocated at public meetings for more environmentally forward alternatives. The council voted unanimously to proceed.
Anyway, I asked at the last council meeting why residents should trust city leadership to honor voter intent, citing the greenways levy, the public safety tax, and the school district bond. I also sent a detailed email about the greenways levy to this council, the mayor, park staff, and both advisory boards.
At the time of this recording, that question remains unanswered, and the only response to my email was an automated reply from the mayor's office. As part of your stated communication strategy, you have introduced electronic signup, expanded social media, produced a video introducing a council member, and offered open office hours for some council members, all within months.
Yet, the request raised by myself and others before this council to have advisory board and committee meeting videos posted publicly has gone unmet. When it comes to shaping your message, things move quickly.
When it comes to providing actual public access to government proceedings, they do not. It is worth asking what that asymmetry says about where this council's priorities truly lie. Council members have acknowledged that this meeting is largely a report of what was decided in committee meetings held earlier in the day.
Moving public comment to the beginning is convenient for those who want to speak and leave, but its decisions are effectively finalized before this meeting convenes, and the council vote unanimously on the vast majority of business before it.
Public comment becomes more about optics than outcomes. Genuine transparency means giving the public access to government proceedings without barriers. Responding substantively when residents engage in detail and treating public engagement as something worth investing in rather than managing.
Social media posts, curated videos, and private office hours serve the city's message. Public comment serves the public. I would ask that this council to direct city staff to post meeting videos publicly and to consider what it truly means to serve the public rather than simply manage it.
Democracy requires that the public can speak to its government and his government listens. 2 minutes is not enough. Thank you for your time. >> Ridiculous, right? That's what this is. Two minutes is not enough.
And I think we need to expand to three minutes. It's great that you guys put it at the beginning, but honestly, like let's go back to 3 minutes. >> There's more people that need to speak. More than 15 people.
>> Okay. After Travis, we'll go online to or sorry, on the phone to Pablo E and then Elizabeth Nobles in person. >> Good evening, council members. My name is Travis Turner. I am here on behalf of the Americanratom Association, a consumer advocacy organization that works to protect safe access to the natural cratom leaf products and to advance science-based consumer protection standards as well as actively to pass active excuse me to actively work to pass appropriate consumer protection regulations at the state, federal, and local level.
We appreciate this city um for how difficult it is for a city to enforce complex product regulations without with limited resources. We also thank the council for one notable part of this ordinance. It doesn't direct penalties at consumers.
Criminalizing the people an ordinance is meant to protect would be wrong, and we thank you. Our concern is that it does not clearly distinguish between two very different products. The traditional product and the synthetics that are often incorrectly classified as such as concentrated 7 hydroxy metrogynine also known as 70.
The AKA agrees that the excuse me the AKA agrees that the synthetics should be taken off the shelves. The FDA and DEA now draw a very clear line here and I recommend that the council look at the FDA's web page hiding in plain sight regarding 70.
The federal government has began scheduling process for 70. The DEA and FDA have been very clear here. These actions target chemically concentrated version of the compound, not the natural leaf. Again, the AKA's mission is to protect consumers.
Millions of Americans safely use the terraom, excuse me, the traditional products without issue every single day. We believe it is imperative. >> Thank you, Travis. Your time is up. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Travis.
>> Pablo, we have you on the phone. You should be able to speak if you'd like. Pablo, are okay? Looks like you've unmuted. Go ahead. >> This is Natalie. That's not the correct number. I already spoke.
>> Sorry about that, Natalie. Pablo, are you able to speak now? >> Yeah. Hello. Can you Can you hear me? >> Yes. Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. Sorry. Go ahead. All right. Thank you. I appreciate it.
So, yeah, good evening. My name is Pablo Lee and I'm a Washington resident. Uh, I understand why the council is concerned youth access dependency misstable products, artificially elevated 7 and newly manufactured cratom related compounds are a real issue.
But those risk, I mean, every product called cratom should be treated the same. Uh, traditional cratom is not the same thing as highly concentrated or manufactured 70 products. Federal regulators themselves are drawing distinction between uh the cratom and more potent manufactured compounds.
Bellingham's another has another option besides doing nothing or banning everything. Regulate the actual risk. Require purchase to be 21 or older. Require independent lab testing. Require accurate labeling.
Require batch certificates of analysis. This is not weakness. This is precision. The responsibility of the government is not simply to choose a side. It is to distinguish. Uh please do not pass the broadest law because it's the easiest law to write.
Target the risk. Protect the public. Demand accountability. Conserve responsible adult choice. Uh thank you. I appreciate it. >> Thank you, Pablo. Go ahead, Elizabeth. My name's Elizabeth Nobles and I'd like to tell you I've never done this before and I'd like to tell you about my journey with a plant medicine cratom leaf.
I'm so grateful that I found it as my doctor stopped my pain management 13 years ago. I've always worked menial jobs and hurt. I've had 17 surgeries in my life and have chronic inflammation and pain. A good diet along with creatum has made my life bearable.
I'm able to stand up and do do daily activities all day long and I think the ' 07 and all that stuff should be banned and people need to use it responsibly. Like I think most of the deaths are because of mixing it with other stuff like most drug addicts do.
It won't mix with anything. I Yeah. No, it doesn't. Anyway, it saved my life along with many others. Oh, thank thanks for listening. >> Thank you, Elizabeth. Okay. Do we have Milo here? Hello. Okay. Um, good evening, city council.
My name is Milo and I would like to talk about my dad and the role that Tom addiction played in his suicide last August. My dad held a burning passion for environmental work. He traveled the world and spearheaded international conservation initiatives using compassion, love, and trust.
This ambition was likely what led him to. He wrote in his diary that it made him feel more productive and focused while making him feel numb to the depression he struggled with his entire life. The opioids present in all types ofratom can have extremely addictive effects on users.
Effects that theratom industry downplays and hides using the substance as legal ambiguity. In the final years of his life, my dad's addiction spiraled, which he went to great to great lengths to conceal from his family and friends.
By the height of his addiction, he was spending over $300 a month on naturalratom products. I was living with him at the time, and I did not know why my dad, a lifelong outdoorsman, was struggling to get out of bed.
While on a business trip, my dad recorded the extent of his withdrawal symptoms in his diary. He called it ugly and that it felt like being stabbed with pins and needles. The most heartbreaking part was when he said that even though the withdrawals were agonizing, he knew he would continue using because he could not function without it.
In his suicide note, he said that he was scared of the months of drug rehab that it would take to recover. He wasn't just my dad. He was my best friend and my favorite person in the entire world. I'm telling you story.
I'm telling you his story to convey the gravity that this decision holds. The kraton industry profits off of the lack of legislation surrounding the substance. It is an industry which has become known for the practice of rapidly creating and shutting down distributors, leaving no justice and no money behind for the victims who in increasing numbers are pursuing legal action.
This substance has no business being openly sold. So I urge you to follow the lead of several other Washington cities and ban the sale, distribution and preparation of Bellingham. Thank you. Thank you, Milo.
Okay. And lastly, we'll have Jennifer Gills. Hi. Yes, my name is Jennifer Gillis and I'm just want to thank you for the opportunity to speak today. I speak for the regular moms who can run errands. The grandmas who are able to play with their grandkids, the everyday people all across Bellingham community who are living a better quality of life because of not here to share their voice today.
Our voices matter. Many who rely on natural cratom, particularly those in the chronic pain community, may not even be aware to attend discussions like this or that they're even taking place. So I felt it's important to speak on behalf of those individuals and share my experience.
I have been a natural cratom consumer since 2019. Um I've been a chronic pain patient for 20 years. I struggled for many years and it truly gave me my life back. I think that a local sales ban onratom is not going to stop people from using it because so many do rely on it for just a better quality of life.
It's simply going to push consumers to purchase online where local regulations have less local regulators have less ability to ensure that vendors are held accountable to local health and safety standards.
They'll have no local regulations or oversight. Thank you so much for your time. I hope you'll make the decision to keep natural available, follow what the DEA is doing, and get the 70 products off the shelves.
Thank you. Thank you, Jennifer. Our 30 minute timer is up. >> Thank you, Jackie. So, I want to thank everyone who spoke at public comment this evening. Um, a couple of notes. I wanted to mention that next to Jackie at the um the desk there, there is a basket at the staff podium for copies of written comments or other print material to be distributed to um council members.
So, if you either weren't able to share all of the comments that you wanted to share, um, or if you weren't called on to speak this evening, um, you are welcome to leave written comments there. Um, in addition, you may email comments to ccmail@cob.org.
Leave written comments again with Jackie for distribution. Come to our next meeting on September 28th. And also wanted to note that some council members have now opened um office hours. So you can visit co.orgccopen office for details.
So there's a schedule with those open office hours where you can um meet with council members individually either in person here at city hall um or remotely. So encourage you to utilize those options as well.
But want to thank all of you for joining us this evening. So, we will now move forward with the appointments that Mayor Lond had and I know that Maryland is joining us remotely this evening herself. So, I will turn it over to you, Mayor.
Thank you, Council President Stone. I have two appointments to advisory bodies for your consideration and confirmation tonight. The first is an appointment to the planning commission and I'm excited to appoint um with your confirmation Isla Warwick to a first term on the planning commission of >> approval.
>> Second. So we have a motion from council member Williams and a second from council member Huffman. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor will say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none, that passes 70.
>> Thank you. The next are two appointments to the Bellingham Watcom Public Facilities District. And just as a reminder, these are positions that are jointly nominated by both the mayor and the Watcom County Executive.
And these same nominations will go before the county council at their regular meeting tomorrow, September 15th. And those members being appointed are Ben Beesley to a first term on the PFD and a reappointment of Dunham Gooding to a remarkable seventh term to the Bellingham Watcom Public Facilities District.
>> Move approval. >> Second. >> Motion was made by Council Member Husman and a second by Council Member Williams. Um, I did have one question before the the vote and I apologize I didn't bring this up previously.
In the um the applications that people fill out to serve on boards and commissions here, there's a recurring question about whether the applicant themsel or a spouse have any financial interests um or whether they are employees or have an office of any business or agency which does business with the city of Bellingham.
And routinely the answer is usually no. Um but noting that in Ben's [clears throat] case, you know, the answer was yes and the details of financial interests were disclosed indicating the company I work for, Talbot Services, has an application for land use approval.
Um and we'll go to the planning commission and hopefully to city council as well. Um, I was just wondering if the administration's able to speak at all to what I mean obviously we asked that question for a reason and so what the sort of review process or consideration is.
I my assumption is that we're just looking at conflicts of interest and based on the position right that they would be filling. Um, this is sort of a unique situation because it's with county obviously coming forward as a county recommendation as well.
Um, but just want to highlight obviously we asked that question for a reason and so if there's anything that could be shared about um what we what we consider when that comes up and I see um Deputy Keller also has her hand raised if you wanted to pass that off but >> go ahead Mayor Lond.
>> Okay, >> I'm happy to speak to that. Um but Deputy Keller or anyone else I would invite to jump in. Um I do think there's an important distinction about the scope of the work that is before um the public facilities district and um that is an entity that oversees our important cultural assets in including the light catcher museum and the Mount Baker Theater.
um before that group is a consideration to expand that scope to all of the Watcom Museum facilities and potentially other investments in the arts district. And that narrow scope of um kind of topic concern does I believe does not conflict with um Ben Beesley's work before the city where he represents the Barkley group.
Um, but I'm happy to let Deputy Administrator Keller expand on that response. Um, [clears throat] or anyone else. >> Janice Keller with the mayor's office. Um, Council President Stone, you said exactly what that question is for.
We're looking for potential conflicts of interest that applicants might not think of themselves. We have a range of boards and commissions with a range of topic areas and responsibilities. And so we just want that as a check to make sure that we don't appoint someone and then put them in a difficult um conflict of interest situation.
>> Great. Thank you very much. No, I appreciate the transparency and the fact that the questions asked and verb's disclosure. So um thank you. So we have a motion before us again from Council Member Hutman and a second by Council Member Williams to confirm the mayor's appointments to the Bellingham Watcom Public Facilities District.
There's nothing further. All in favor will say I. I >> I any opposed or abstensions? Okay, seeing none, that passes 70. Thank you very much, Mayor Lind. >> Thank you. >> Understand there um no further mayor's report this evening.
So, that will bring us to council member reports. Um again, just a reminder, this is standing time for council member briefings, updates, and reports, including from assigned committees, boards, or other groups.
It's also an opportunity for um other items for old and new business. So, I'll report out old new items that took place earlier today, but if there are any new items, those could come forward at this time.
Also, Council Member Hamill. >> Yeah, I just wanted to provide the public a heads up on a series of meetings here uh with different groups. So, I serve on the incarceration prevention and reduction task force for Wakom County.
I'm the assigned permanent member from the city of Bellingham. Tomorrow morning, we have a behavioral health committee meeting at 9:00 a.m. It's on Zoom. Public is welcome to attend. Um we're going to be covering a a number of topics including the sequential intercept model uh and some uh behavioral health legislative priorities uh for the task force.
Then on Wednesday the 16th um the EMS um community paramedic uh meeting uh or subcommittee meeting will happen at 10 a.m. Again, that's open to the public. It's a Zoom option for that one. Um, and the 17th, the justice just justice project oversight and planning committee meeting.
That's in reference to the jail facility and the behavioral care center. That'll be happening at 2 p.m. on Thursday the 17th. Again, online public is welcome to attend. >> Thank you very much, Council Member Williams.
>> Yes. Thank you. just to uh go over a number of things uh number of um events from my assignments. First, um, Council Member Huffman and I did a tour of the, uh, Baker View Meadows Park site, and, uh, we were joined by TW, uh, more than 26 community members from the King Mountain neighborhood and some of the other neighboring uh, neighborhoods.
And, uh, we got a rather indepth look at what that park is going to be looking like. and it's go even though the um the hiking trails are now mowed out of the pond. But we also took a tour in the wooded area where the um where the trails are going to be cut.
And my personal impression was it's going to be a really good balanced um park with not only playground um things, but a a uh uh trail route. as I was walking it with some of the other citizens there.
Um it just reminded me of the um some of the parts of um Watom Falls Park that are just cut out in the woods and it's beautiful. And then um at the parks and greenways advisory board meeting, we we got a very good summary of the U parks and recreation programs.
And I'm just going to briefly go over some of that. um at the uh at the uh for the summer recreational programs that generated 7,600 registrations citywide with uh events such as Elizabeth and Boulevard Park music events, the youth athletic day camps, kidfest at the civic stadium, and adult uh sports league.
colleagues. And that's just a few of the um items. We also got a a briefing on the on the usage of the Arine Hannah pool. 360 pool rentals during the summer used by the Belling all of all of the Bellingham High School swim teams, the Lummy Nation and the Bellingham Bay swim team [snorts] and 14,600 citizens used the pool last summer.
That's quite a bit uh on the civic athletic uh complex. Um uh we got a briefing on all of the um modernization of things, but the most um telling part was how much it is used by a broad uh scope of our uh community.
Bellingham Public Schools, all three high schools, that's their home field. Bellingham Parks and Wreck, the baseball teams, the Bells, the um Giants, the Mudcats, [laughter] and uh so forth. So, that is a wellused facility.
And um and finally, the fall playbook is out and uh it has been mailed to 31,000 households and it is available almost everywhere to pick up if you want to get one. So, and finally, um at the Lake Watcom Policy Group, we got a uh uh two presentations.
One was um something called a climate vulnerability assessment format which is relatively new uh presented by Morgan Ruff, our natural resources special project manager and Laura Clemens from the Watcom County Climate Management Program.
[snorts] and they were representing a team consisting of city of Bellingham, Watcom Natural Resources and uh climate and the Lake Watcom water and sewer district. Basically, it's it's it's a new evaluation format for for moni for monitoring the lake which was um added to the work plan in uh 2025.
But it uh um this new format was generated by a legislative mandate uh that the department of health develop requirements regarding uh surveying and uh monitoring the climate the water systems from the perspective of they are providing drinking water.
So that's where where the new uh requirement comes from. Um so after the presentations, the whole group welcomed this new new new new new new new new approach to um monitoring the lake. And I for one felt like it was the way it was presented gave us something as the governance representatives.
um something that we could actually look on and and be very specific about what it is that is going to be done and that which is something that I don't think we've had will help us a lot in making our policy recommendations to our governing bodies that are based on real data and situations rather than the lake and uh regard parting the lake and not perceptions about what's going on.
So, I think that's uh going to be a good thing. And finally, we got a presentation on the private boat launch permitting process and uh changes and basically that is now going to be applied to boats launching from private boat launches as as opposed to the just the public boat launches.
and we'll be getting that uh uh sometime next month to look at and adopt. So, the end of my report. >> Thank you very much, Council Member Williams. Any other council reports or updates? >> Okay. Um yeah, Council Member.
>> Yeah, just very briefly between now and the last meeting. Um, this has been the was the last month was the end of Overdose Awareness Month. And at the end of Overdose Awareness Month, there was a public event held at Maritime Heritage Park by a group of local nonprofits uh forming what's going to be called a recovery network uh people uh seeking to help people in recover from drug addiction.
And uh this was a memorial for those who had died uh from overdoses and drug addiction. And um I was there and asked to speak and so were some other elected officials from the county government. Uh, I just wanted to point that out to the community that there is a a grow growing group of nonprofits who are focusing on helping people in recovery from drug addiction.
>> Thank you very much. There are no further updates at this time. We will move forward with committee meeting report outs. So, these will be reports from the committee meetings that took place earlier today.
The first committee meeting was public works and natural resources and that committee is chaired by council member Liiloquist. So, I'll turn it over to him at this time for a report. >> Thank you, Anna.
Let me find the correct place in my package. Um, we had three items. The first of which will be somewhat difficult to summarize and I would ask you if you're interested in the content of it to go and watch that presentation.
Let me get to the summary statement. >> Sorry, where is that? Here we go. While you're looking for that, I was just going to mention that the presentation from Mike Perolkin um in public works, the map video that he showed of Lake Watcom was very impressive.
So that alone I think is reason to go back and watch the recording. But >> so it what we saw or we heard was an update on the Lake Watcom land acquisition and preservation program. This program started purchasing property in the wershed in the year 2001 to prevent further development in the Lake Watcom wershed which is the source of drinking water for over 1,00 120,000 residents in city and the county.
Development is the predominant cause of excess phosphorus and in Lake Watcom harming water quality which then leads to low dissolved oxygen and subsequent required actions by the city county and lake watcom water and sewer district enforced by state department of ecology to meet clean water standards.
Uh the presentation summarized the land acquisition program date, its budget, its program updates and program direction. U Mr. Perilskin, who's the manager of that program, um uh basically talked about the finances.
Um it's funded in part with a fee from your um water bills or similar charges to users outside of the city limits who still use city water. That money is used not only to buy up land for development, but to manage that property and pay for the staff.
Um, we won't overwhel the uh acquisition criteria basically but higher value on property which is near property we already manage because it's easier to manage larger parcels, contiguous parcels and anything that's near the water or near uh streams and lakes where that where pollution can enter the water most easily.
Um in addition there was a discussion of um the staff's general preference for buying property but also the discussion that sometimes we uh uh protect the property through conservation easements where basically we buy away the rights of the devel of the owner to further develop that for any other uses and manage it in a way which is consistent with water quality.
Um, as council president Stone mentioned, there was a video in the middle of the presentation with sort of a a synthetic fly over the Watcom uh watershed 35,000 acres showing how much of that is preserved either by the city through this program, by Watcom County through their government actions or by other private means.
Um, again, a very thorough uh program uh discussion and that was no action. That was just for our briefing. The next two items that we had in our committee uh do require action. The first of those was a proposed contract award for the Samishway utility replacement project EU197 bid number 44B-2026.
This project includes pavement restoration, water mane replacement, and sanitary sewer replacement. The city publicly opened bids on August 12th and Premium Services was the responsible bidder who submitted the lowest responsive bid of 3,677,652.89 which includes any applicable sales or use tax.
The engineer estimate was somewhat higher than that. $5,339,000 in change. We discussed that uh differential. Um the staff believes that a was just good competitive bidding came out in our favor and uh b there's been a a uh a different bidding environment in the past years where prices have been higher and that bidding environment has changed and uh the answer investment was based on the previous bidding environment and staff had no concerns about that that price coming in below the bid and saving us money.
Um due to the size of this project, it does include an apprenticeship hour requirement. Um this program actually has two components on Samish Way is the the main component, sanitary sewer and water as well as uh being replaced and then another work uh along uh along G Street which is includes um some rehabilitation of some sewer lines and replacing another one.
Um, the reason why I'm mentioning these two different areas is the next action only refers to the larger component along Lake Samish and not to the smaller component in the G Street area. Uh, the project again we was estimated to be around 3.6 it will be around $3.6 million.
About half of those funds are coming from the water fund paid for out of your utilities and the other out of the sewer fund again paid for out of your utilities to pay for the upkeep to the system. The committee unanimously recommended uh that we award the contract 44B-20226 for the sandwichway utility replacements project to premium services in the amount of 3,677,65289.
And I so move >> second. >> Motion's been made by council member Liiloquist and a second by council member Anderson. It was close. I think you were louder. Um any discussion? >> Okay, seeing none, all in favor will say I.
I. I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? >> Seeing none, that passes 70. >> Thank you. The next item is a noise variance for that same Samish Way utility replacement project. Uh again, it it involves replacing water manes and sanitary sewer along Samish Way between Bill McDonald Parkway and East Maple Street.
This is a very busy road. To reduce disruptions to adjacent businesses and the public that rely on this busy corridor, work in the area will need to be done at night when traffic is low. Staff is requesting a variance from the noise restrictions that are contained in Bellingham municipal code 10.24120 section C subsection 4 for a total of 130 calendar days during the project.
It was discussed how there will be public outreach to people affected by the night work and also working with the um the contractor on following best practices to minimize the noise that would occur at the night like backup lights for trucks or banging tailgates for dump trucks that will be minimized as much as possible.
Uh this afternoon the committee recommended to approve the noise variance and I so move. >> Second. Motion's been made by Council Member Liiloquist and a second by Council Member Cotton. Any discussion?
Seeing none, all in favor will say I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing none, that passes 70. >> Great. Thank you very much. Um the next committee that met met this afternoon that was public health, safety, justice, and equity.
And that committee is chaired by council member Hamill. So I'll turn it over to him for a report. >> Thank you, Council President. I was joined this afternoon by council members Huffman and Williams. We had three items before us today.
The first was an ordinance prohibiting the preparation, distribution, and sale of cratom products, adding a new section to chapter 1008 of the Bellingham Municipal Code, and uh describing or prescribing rather penalties.
uh presented for city council consideration today was an ordinance prohibiting the preparation, distribution, and sale of related product products including concentrated 70 within city limits. These psychoactive products are readily available at convenience stores, smoke shops, and other retail establishments, sometimes in the forms and flavors that may appeal to young people or without labeling that clearly communicates their potency and risks.
Federal health agencies have warned thatratom use has been associated with substance use disorder, seizures, liver toxicity and other serious adverse effects while concentrated 70 acts as a potent opioid and presents heightened risks of misuse and dependence.
The proposed ordinance is intended to reduce access to and use of these products and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community. After extensive discussion, the committee voted to approve and I so move.
Second. >> Motion's been made by Council Member Hamill and a second by Council Member Williams. Any discussion? Council member Liquist. >> Well, let me start by saying that we shouldn't be here and we wouldn't be here if the federal government and health officials had done their job.
City governments are not well suited to regulate drugs like this. Neither our expertise nor the enforcement of oversight mechanisms. Um, ideally the the federal government would have already uh created a system that oversees purity and correct labeling and gives recommendations on purity and content that makes distinctions between naturalratom leaf products and synthetic metrogenine.
all these things would have been worked out and they're maybe going to get there someday soon because some of these I think these products are now listed on the FDA as a schedule one but none of the rest of the regulatory scheme is in place and it's very clear that in some forms or derived synthetic products are a clear health risk and sometimes they're not and that's why you need a good regulatory regime which we can't do because the best way to do this is actually control the manufacture ufacture and testing of these at their origin and their distribution and sale and labeling and that is interstate commerce and according to the US constitution we cannot regulate interstate commerce.
We don't have the authority to do this properly. So instead we're doing it potentially in not the best way. What we're doing is not actually banning this the use or possession of credum. We're not making it illegal to consume these substances, but restricting their access by preventing their sale or or district construction or manufacturer or advertising here in the city limits.
It's a band-aid. It's not a good approach. And that gives me pause. Um, ideally, we'd have a system for testing when you have a natural leaf product and when you have highly concentrated synthetic metagenine.
We don't have that system. There is no way that anyone who wants to enforce this can go into a store and know. They could guess, they could be told, they could say on the package, but there's no guarantee that any of that is true because there no regulation.
So, we're in this never neverland where you don't have to be any age. You don't have to show any condition. You can buy any concentration and use it for any purpose you want. And sometimes that's okay and sometimes it's deadly.
So, we have a serious health problem. and we the city government are the least well positioned to deal with it. So I don't want to vote for this in the end. I think I will only because I hope that the state and federal government will come in very quickly and supersede us and usurp our regulations and put something better in place because that's what we really need.
I really appreciated what the representative from the American Cratum Association said. We need consumer protections and city government is not a consumer protection agency. And so we're stepping in to deal with an emergency situation where people are dying and are being hurt by some forms and by some uses and we know we're going to cast the net very wide and catch some other forms that aren't as dangerous and affect some people who are using them in ways which are not a threat to themselves or others.
And I can't distinguish the difference that neither can we. And unfortunately, we don't have the means to write those regulations, nor the means to test for them, nor the means to enforce them. So, I will vote for this and I will along with other people in the administration talk about putting this on our lobbying agenda uh both at the state level and the federal level.
For goodness sakes, could someone do their job? As I said, we shouldn't be here. >> Any other comments? Council Cotton, >> I just want to take a moment to um recognize that we heard a lot of stories today um and over the previous months, stories about um uh harm harm reduction, stories about um the impacts of problematic use and um stories about um really tragic outcomes.
And I just want to thank everyone for for sharing that with us. Um, and I will uh second uh comments that we really probably all prefer a a statewide approach and um if it's appropriate uh would love to make a motion after this to add that to our agenda.
Um and um yeah, I think we all recognize um there are distinctions between leaf product and synthetic substances. And as we discussed in this afternoon, we just don't feel like we have the capacity um right now to be able to distinguish between the two.
And also this is an emerging area where there is um just still a lot of emerging um study and um so I think we'll all be interested in reopening this conversation. Um the county council takes this issue up as um the state addresses it.
Um and so but I do I do support this as a measure today and I yeah want to thank um testifiers again today and and the administration and council for work on this. >> Council member Husman, >> I'll I support the sentiments of my fellow council members.
I think that it's uh not an ideal position for us to be uh deciding what um what kind of drugs can be for sale in our community. Uh that really should be the job of the federal government to create these regulations so that there can be safe use um and well-informed use and that um age appropriate use as well.
So I think that is of big concern. Um agreed. Thanks for everybody who has shared. I think we certainly uh hear the perspectives um and um and sympathize with the with the stories. I I see this as a bit of a a flag waving for the city to get the attention of our state and our federal representatives that um we recognize we're not in the best position to make decisions u about this drug in terms of uh the appropriate use and and since we don't have those tools in our community um we really need to take them off the shelves.
Again, this ordinance does not prohibit the possession um or purchasing of these drugs. It just prohibits the sale uh and um creation of the drugs within Bellingham. Of course, people can get the drugs online.
They can get them outside of the city limits. We are fully aware of that. Uh this again is is more of a a signal um that something we're requesting something to be some action to be taken on this. So um thanks for those who have have brought this ordinance to us.
>> So a brief announcement before we go forward. I understand there are technical difficulties with Zoom and so I believe those joining us on Zoom currently who may have signed up to speak earlier um are able to hear us but are not able to see the video.
So just wanted to make note that people who are currently on Zoom can switch to co.orgmeings org/meings um or go to our YouTube channel to watch the broadcast streamed live there. Um any other comments before we call the vote?
Okay, seeing none, um so there was a motion brought forward by council member Hamill with a second by council member Williams. It's to move to approve the ordinance prohibiting the preparation, distribution, and sale ofratom products, adding a new section to chapter 10.08 of the Bellingham Municipal Code, and prescribing penalties.
All in favor, we'll say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? >> Okay, seeing none, that passes 70. >> Our second item this afternoon was an ordinance regarding vehicle empoundment amending Bellingham Municipal Code Chapters 2.56 and 11.18.
This ordinance transfers jurisdiction of impound hearings from the hearing examiner to the municipal court. It also amends uh portions of chapter 11.18 of the municipal code to align with current state law for impounding vehicles that qualify as principal residences.
Finally, it repeals an obsolete administrative fee and codifies the city's procedures for disposing of unredeemed junk vehicles. This afternoon, the committee voted to approve and I so move. Second. >> Motion was made by Council Member Hamill and a second by Council Member Williams.
Any discussion? Council member Liquist. >> I just wanted to call attention and appreciate uh one of the changes which was to bring our rules in alignment with uh some recent rulings uh in state law, which is that people who live in their vehicles have special um oh, I'm losing the word now.
Household rights. There's another word for it. Homestead rights. they have certain homestead rights which means that their uh home cannot be taken from them and kept from them uh in as a way of compelling the payment of a debt even if that debt is legal fine.
And so we create a mechanism where people can get their homes back uh without having to pay the towing fee or the impound fee and that that in fact will be covered by uh city government as an expense.
It doesn't mean you can abandon your vehicle, okay? It just means that if it is towed, you can get it back if it's your home. Um, but that's an important protection I think for people who do find themselves living in in a vehicle.
>> Any other comments? Okay, seeing none, we have a motion again before us from Council Member Hamill and a second by Council Member Williams to move to approve the ordinance. All in favor, we'll say I.
>> I. Any opposed or abstensions? Okay, seeing none, that passes 70. >> Our third and final item this afternoon was a presentation on the city's equity and belonging work plan. City staff updated the city Bellingham City Council on work to foster an inclusive, welcoming and safe community where the rights and dignity of all residents are maintained and protected.
Uh the staff that were involved uh shared their highlights from the city's equity and belonging work plan, including priority initiatives underway this year that build uh upon years of previous uh policy commitments.
Uh for those who want to um find out a little bit more, there's information at the uh city's website. So that's co.org. org and then if you just type in protecting the rights and dignity of all um you can find more information.
I'll just buzz through some highlights really quick here. Um this is a multiple interdep departmental effort across the city that includes Bellingham Police Department, Waccom and virtually every other department within the city.
Um priority priority areas include impacts of federal immigration actions, compliance with the keep Washington working group, language access, LGBTQ plus protections, community well-being and community engagement.
Um they also uh the presenters today were um deputy administrator Janice Keller and uh D'vorah Benza, strategic initiatives manager for equity and belonging. Um they also highlighted a couple of imple implementation factors.
Uh flexible prioritization uh again federal actions in national context the one city approach and then also budget constraints. This was for information and discussion only. No action was taken and that concludes uh committee report.
>> Thank you very much council member Hamill. I was just going to note um Dborah also shared that October 12th will be the date for the indigenous people's day event that the city is planning and likely co-hosting.
So just to mark your calendars. The next committee this afternoon was Parks and Recreation. That committee is chaired by council member Williams. So I'll turn it over to him for a report. >> Okay. Thank you, President Stone.
We had I was joined by council members Hamill and Cotton who are the other two members of our committee. And we had one item on our agenda today which was an inter agency agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology to sponsor the Washington Conservation Corps members for uh doing some of our restoration and conser conservation work.
Uh, the inter agency agreement allows the city to continue to sponsor a Washington conservation core crew from October of this year to the end of September next year. The city of Bellingham Parks and Public Works Department is requesting approval of this annual contract uh for one Washington Conservation Corps crew.
And if anybody in the audience has been to any of those work parties, they do a pretty thorough job of uh doing this and they'll they'll help you do a thorough job of doing it as well. The uh crew works with the parks and recreation staff to cons to uh continue the city's long-term commitment to improving and protecting the water quality, salmon habitat, and open space of our community.
Um they serve the city through an inter agency agreement with the department of ecology where the department of ecology picked that up because the federal government uh cut the um cut the funding for this uh program.
So the state picked it up um and so on. So um the recommendation was to to approve the inter agency agreement. The committee conferred with uh conferred with that and um so I so move >> second. >> Motion was made by council member Williams and a second by council member Hamill.
Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor will say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none, that passes 70. >> And as I said, that was the only item on our agenda today, so I'm passing it back over.
>> Thank you very much. The next committee this afternoon was committee of the whole. Um, all council members were present. We had one item before us. This was agenda bill 255045. This is an ordinance relating to Bellingham Sister Cities recognizing the ongoing contributions of the Bellingham Sister Cities Association and repealing Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 2.82.
The proposed ordinance would repeal the municipal code chapter establishing a city- hosted sister cities advisory board while recognizing the continuing contributions of the independent Bellingham Sister Cities Association.
The change reflects current city practice, eliminating from the municipal code an advisory board that is no longer supported by city staff, facilities, or other resources due to budget and staffing constraints.
The proposed action does not end Bellingham's seven sister city relationships, which continue to thrive through the work of the association, dedicated volunteers, and community partners with city participation um as schedules and resources allow.
So this afternoon we were joined by Janice Keller, deputy city administrator. Um and noting that this really is a a housekeeping matter of sorts. Um this ordinance was initially passed so back in 1980 the Bellingham City Council approved Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 2.82 which established a sister cities advisory board with subsequent updates.
So that was 45 years ago. Um and since that time we have developed again those seven sister city relationships with the most recent being in 2011 when um in Mongolia. And so since that time you know the next 15 years the majority of the work and advocacy and really sort of serving as ambassadors has been covered by the Bellingham Sister Cities Association.
Um and we expect that work to continue, but the need for an ongoing advisory board um really has been um been minimal at best. And so the role still of the city, the administration, the mayor's office in particular will continue, right, to serve in that role as far as um you know, welcoming and following up with community members who may be traveling to some of our sister cities um and welcoming delegations that then travel here to Bellingham from our sister cities.
Um, so this item came before the committee this afternoon and there was a unanimous recommendation to move to approve the ordinance and I so move. >> Second. >> Motions been made by the chair and a second by council member Williams.
Any discussion? >> Okay, seeing none, all in favor will say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none, that passes 70. So, next this afternoon we had old and new business. Um there were a couple of items that came up.
So one was a motion from council member Hamill. Um council member Hamill made a motion to place an agenda item on a future public health safety, justice, and equity committee meeting um agenda regarding public and private use of flot cameras and similar technologies, data sharing agreements, and the use of AI pursuant to these technologies.
So that motion was passed um by the council and so that item will come before um that committee likely in late October or early November. Other items, just wanting to share an update related to the sister cities.
Um the 30th anniversary celebration of our sister city relationship with Puntoen um in Chile will be happening on September 20th, 2026 um from 5 to 7:00 p.m. at Bloell Donovan. So that is a free event open to the public.
And the other item was that our own Bellingham Public Library downtown, the central library building will be celebrating at 75th birthday. Um so welcoming the community to come out and celebrate on Tuesday, September 29th from 3:30 to 5:30.
It will be an open house type setup with tours. Um knowing that the the library is getting ready to go through sort of its final renovation. Um so with that then we had executive session this afternoon.
There were two items before the executive session. Um the first was a litigation matter. This is with Blomine versus City of Bellingham at all. We met with Phillips staff provided information on the litigation matter.
This was for information and discussion only and no action was taken. The second item was also a litigation matter. Watcom environmental council versus city of Bellingham. This item was with Herb. Staff provided again information on a litigation matter.
It was for information and discussion only and no action was taken. Next we have consent agenda. >> Move approval. Second. >> Motion's been made by council member Hamill and a second by council member Williams.
Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor will say I. >> I. I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none, that passes 70. That was a long consent agenda from all of our special meetings related to the special hearing.
So, um, longer than normal. Next, we have final consideration of ordinances. Okay. First, we have agenda bill 255027, an ordinance relating to land use and planning, amending title 20 of the Bellingham Municipal Code, creating a new chapter 20.29A lowincome housing development incentive, removing and reducing zoning based development regulations for low-income housing in all residential, multi- urban village, and commercial zones.
>> Third and final second. Motion's been made by Council Member Hamill and a second by Council Member Cotton. Any discussion? Council Member Liiloquist. >> Yeah, I'm just going to renew my concerns about this.
First of all, this is a well-meaning and beneficial ordinance that will help develop more affordable housing. However, in the name of removing barriers to housing, we're erecting a new barrier to solve the issue of income segregation.
We have programs that create segregation of housing by income. And the solution to that supported by city policy is to look for mixed income development. Yet this ordinance as written actually penalizes having mixed income development.
Says you have to be 100% affordable. You can't mix market rate with affordable housing. You won't get any of these supports or benefits. That's a policy mistake. I wish we could fix that. There was a commitment to revisit the issue in the future.
I really hope that happens because that would be better outcome for the community. I will be supporting it. however, because it will help those affordable housing projects. >> Any other discussion? Seeing none, roll call, please.
>> Skip Williams. >> Hi. >> Lisa Anderson. >> Hi. >> Michael. >> Hi. >> Jay Cotton. >> Hi. >> Hannah Stone. >> Hi. >> Holly Husman. >> Hi. >> Dan Hamill. >> Hi. >> Uh, motion carries 70. Then next we have agenda bill 255015, an ordinance amending the 2026 budget amend amendment number three.
>> Third and final second. >> Motion's been made by council member Hamill and a second by council member Liiloquist. Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call, please. >> Lisa Anderson. >> Hi. >> Michael Liquist.
>> Hi. >> Jace Cotton. Hi. >> Hannah Stone. >> Hi. >> Holly Huffman. >> Hi. >> Dan Hamill. >> Hi. >> Skip Williams. I >> motion carries 70. >> Thank you very much. Um so with the end of final consideration of ordinances that brings us to the close of this evening's meeting.
I want to thank you all for joining us tonight and just a reminder that our next meeting will be on September 28th and in the interim. You can also look for open um office hours with council members online through our website.