City Council - Public Works and Natural Resources Committee

City Council – Public Works and Natural Resources Committee — June 1, 2026

This was a regular committee meeting chaired by Councilmember Michael Lilliquist, with Councilmembers Jace Cotton and Lisa Anderson also serving on the committee. Two of the three originally scheduled items were heard; the third (an update on the Comprehensive Sewer Plan and Post Point solids handling technology) was removed from the agenda and rescheduled to a future meeting.

Tremont Lift Station Contract Award (Project EU193)

The committee considered awarding a construction contract to build a new lift station at the corner of Meridian Street and Tremont Avenue in North Bellingham, along with a new sewer force main connecting northward to the existing system between Horton Road and Van Wyck Road.

Assistant City Engineer Mike Wilson and Project Engineer Kyle Carlson provided background. They explained that the Meridian Street gravity sewer line recently completed ends near the Walmart at Van Wyck Road. North of that, the terrain crests a small hill and drops into a separate basin that cannot gravity-flow into the sewer system — hence the need for a lift station and force main to pump sewage back to the existing network. Once complete, the project will allow existing city properties on the west side of Meridian to connect to sewer, and will lay the groundwork for future connections serving properties to the east and north, including areas contemplated under the long-discussed Meridian Kline/Kelly annexation area and the "Kay-Tech" properties up toward Larson Road — all consistent with the city's Comprehensive Plan.

The new lift station will include two pumps with physical space reserved for a third to accommodate future growth. The force main consists of six-inch and eight-inch lines, sized to meet Comprehensive Plan capacity projections. The project also includes a new fiber line to support SCADA (remote monitoring) systems and off-site environmental mitigation work at the Baker Creek open space site off Northwest Drive.

The city received five bids; Tiger Construction Ltd. submitted the lowest responsive bid at $3,058,400.30 including sales tax, coming in below the engineer's estimate of approximately $3.3 million. The project includes an apprenticeship hour requirement. Construction is expected to run from July 2026 through approximately April 2027.

Councilmember Anderson asked about potential traffic impacts during construction, particularly given the high traffic volume on Meridian Street and proximity to summer events like the Linen Fair. Staff indicated that most of the work will be concentrated at the lift station site itself, with only one roadway crossing at Tremont for the force main, and that detailed scheduling will be worked out with the contractor. Staff acknowledged that road work would likely occur later in the construction timeline, which Anderson noted she hoped would mean after peak summer traffic.

Councilmember Lilliquist asked whether the force main piping was sized to handle a potential third pump if capacity needs increase. Staff confirmed the design meets all Comprehensive Plan projections for the area.

Vote: Anderson moved approval; Cotton seconded (implied by unanimous "aye" vote). The motion passed unanimously (3–0) and will be forwarded to the full council with a positive recommendation.

Pine Street Crossing Grant Agreement with WSDOT (Project WF023)

The committee considered authorizing the mayor to enter into a Local Agency Agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to formalize federal grant funding for the Pine Street railroad crossing project. The project will upgrade the crossing to quiet zone standards (which would allow trains to pass without sounding horns), add a multi-use trail crossing, upgrade utilities, and improve the Pine Street and Cornwall Avenue intersection.

Engineering Manager Freeman Anthony explained that the city secured two federal funding sources: Section 130 railway safety grant funding and recently unobligated regional carbon reduction funds. The availability of the carbon reduction funding prompted the city to "federalize" the project process now — rather than waiting until the construction phase — to take advantage of the opportunity. The Local Agency Agreement is a standard procedural requirement to receive and administer federal transportation funds through WSDOT.

Total project cost is estimated at $2,765,200. The federal grant award is $950,000. The remaining funding — approximately $1.4 million from local Real Estate Excise Tax funds and $465,000 from the local transportation fund — is already budgeted and requires no budget amendment.

Councilmember Anderson offered no questions but expressed enthusiasm, noting she can hear train horns from her home on the far side of Sehome Hill and is eager to see quiet zone designation move forward.

Vote: Anderson moved approval; the motion passed unanimously (3–0) and will be forwarded to full council with a positive recommendation.

Key Takeaways