City Council - Regular Meeting
City Council - Regular Meeting
Mon, March 23, 2026
Agenda items
Vote records
Discussion summary
Transcript
Meeting summaryAI-generated
Bellingham City Council — Regular Meeting, March 23, 2026
This was a regular evening meeting of the Bellingham City Council. Six of seven members were present; Councilmember Lillquist was excused. The session covered a public hearing, board appointments, several committee reports with action items, executive session matters, and public comment.
Procedural Notes
Council President Stone announced an upcoming Annual Lake Whatcom Joint Meeting on April 1, 2026, at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers (also available via Zoom), where staff from the city, Whatcom County Council, and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District will review the 2025 Lake Whatcom Management Program activities and present the Institute for Watershed Studies monitoring report. The next regular Council meeting is April 13, 2026.
Mayor Lund provided a brief report on the I-5 northbound closure caused by a landslide south of Bellingham the previous Friday. As of the meeting, no reopening date had been established. The closure is funneling approximately 50,000 vehicles per day, including semi-trucks, through city streets — particularly at the Samish Way interchange and the Chuckanut Drive/Fairhaven area. The city is monitoring conditions and adjusting signal timing, but acknowledged the city's street system cannot fully absorb that traffic volume. Residents were asked to adjust travel plans and allow extra time. The Mayor also reported on a community "Ask Us Anything" event at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal attended by more than 200 residents.
Public Hearing: Partial Relinquishment of Public Utility Easement — 524 South State Street
Public Works Assistant Director Mike Wilson explained that a developer is planning to build four townhomes on a lot at the intersection of State Street and Bayview Drive (near Bayview Drive and 10th/11th Streets). The city holds a utility easement over a portion of vacated Bayview Drive that encumbers this property. Public Works reviewed the easement and determined it is surplus to the city's needs. The relinquishment also involves coordinated easements for water, stormwater, and Cascade Natural Gas lines, and the city is acquiring a small piece of right-of-way at one corner.
One member of the public, Brian Gass, spoke remotely. He expressed uncertainty about which structure had been torn down (he said he saw a house still standing when he drove by), questioned whether development restrictions from the original easement sale were being honored, and raised concern about visibility and access around that corner. City staff clarified that the structure on that specific parcel has been cleared and mulched, and described the planned sidewalk restoration and driveway changes. Councilmember Anderson asked whether the city received fair market value for the easement; staff noted there is no monetary component — this is simply a relinquishment of a surplus easement over vacated right-of-way.
Vote: Moved by Councilmember Hammill, seconded by Councilmember Williams. Passed 6–0 (Lillquist excused).
Board and Commission Appointments
Mayor Lund presented the following appointments requiring Council confirmation:
Planning Commission: Claire Swingle (first term) and Jed Bellue (second term, reappointment). Moved by Williams, seconded by Huffman. Passed 6–0.
Whatcom Museum Foundation Board of Trustees: Rafika Cloakey (third term, reappointment). Moved by Anderson, seconded by Williams. Passed 6–0.
Design Review Board: Erica De La Rosa (first term). Moved by Williams, seconded by Huffman. Passed 6–0.
The following appointments were presented for information only (no Council confirmation required):
Allison Gallant to the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission (lettered streets representative, first term)
Michaela Vendiola to the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence (first term)
Stephen Gockley reappointed to the Housing Authorities Board of Commissioners (second term); the Mayor also noted support for Whatcom County Executive's appointment of Stephen Price to fill a partial term on the same board
Kevin Coleman and Matt Lisicki each reappointed to the Tourism Commission (second terms)
Committee Report — Little Squalicum Water Quality Retrofits Bid Rejection
The Public Works and Natural Resources Committee (chaired today by Councilmember Anderson, filling in for the absent Lillquist) recommended rejecting all six bids received on March 4, 2026 for the Little Squalicum Creek water quality retrofit project in the Birchwood neighborhood. The project would have installed bio-pods and enhanced stormwater treatment infrastructure. Due to an administrative irregularity in the city's bid process, it is not possible to determine the low bidder, requiring a complete rebid.
Vote: Moved by Anderson, seconded by Hammill. Passed 6–0.
Committee Report — Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan
The Parks and Recreation Committee heard a presentation on the Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan, a long-range planning document developed since 2022 through extensive public engagement including surveys, open houses, and a consortium of user groups. The plan reimagines the complex as a community "campus" (rather than a sports-only facility), incorporating potential future uses such as a disc golf course, expanded indoor recreation and aquatics, a possible relocated elementary school, outdoor education space, and protection of forest canopy. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommended approval; the committee concurred.
Vote: Moved by Williams, seconded by Hammill. Passed 6–0.
Committee Report — Temporary Alley Closures Ordinance
The Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee brought forward an ordinance granting the Public Works Director authority to temporarily close alleys, upon recommendation of the Chief of Police, to address concentrated criminal activity.
Council members described the targeted area as approximately three contiguous blocks of alley between Railroad and Cornwall, from Chestnut to Champion — a known location for drug dealing. Cited statistics from 2025 included 108 incidents of violence, 342 drug-related calls, and over 89 overdoses in that three-block section. The city spends roughly $185,000 per year on daily and weekly cleaning of the two most active alleys.
Multiple council members emphasized that this is an experimental, temporary measure — not a criminalization of homelessness or drug use. Councilmember Hammill described having walked those alleys with outreach workers, police, community paramedics, alternative response teams, and street medicine program staff. Deputy City Administrator Forrest Longman clarified that the misdemeanor penalty in the ordinance (up to $1,000 fine or 90 days imprisonment) is standard language and that officers will exercise discretion — the primary intent is education and removing people from closed spaces, not arrest. The closure is expected to last approximately 30 days initially, with flexibility; staff will evaluate conditions every two weeks. Environmental improvements to the alleys (lighting, trash consolidation) are also planned during closure.
Councilmember Anderson noted that the city is simultaneously investing in services: a newly secured $1 million-plus grant will fund a downtown-adjacent day shelter; DVS operates a mobile medical unit nearby; and the Way Center provides additional support.
Councilmember Huffman noted Seattle has used similar alley closures with "relatively positive results," including being able to remove fencing in some areas following improvements.
Vote: Moved by Hammill, seconded by Williams. Passed 6–0.
Committee Report — Rental Registration Fee Schedule Amendment
The Budget and Finance Committee reviewed an ordinance adjusting the fee schedule for the Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program. The changes do not increase fees overall but standardize *when* late fees are assessed — extending the initial late fee trigger from 1–15 days to 30 days (so landlords have time to receive and respond to notices), with escalating fees at 30, and 90 days. Rather than sending overdue accounts to collections, the city will rely on permit revocation as an enforcement mechanism.
Vote: Moved by Anderson, seconded by Hammill. Passed 6–0.
Committee Report — New Public Records Officer
The Committee of the Whole approved the appointment of Deputy City Clerk Kelly Getz as the city's new Public Records Officer, replacing Senior Assistant City Attorney Sara Chaplin (who will continue as legal advisor on public disclosure matters). The transition reflects a shift of records processing from the City Attorney's Office to the City Clerk's Office, driven by a sharp increase in records requests — from roughly 1,200 per year to approximately 5,000 most recently.
Vote: Moved by Stone, seconded by Williams. Passed 6–0.
Committee Report — Digital Services Accessibility Update
Staff presented an update on the city's effort to meet a federal ADA Title II / Department of Justice web accessibility compliance deadline in April 2026. The assessment covers the city website, mobile and third-party applications, Council meeting broadcasts, and PDF documents. A particular challenge is ensuring images, graphs, and scanned documents are screen-reader accessible. This item was for information and discussion only; no action was taken.
Committee Report — Public Safety Level of Service Needs Assessment and Regional Fire Authority Planning
Staff presented findings from a public safety level of service needs assessment evaluating gaps in fire and police services and potential funding sources. The discussion focused primarily on fire department costs. Options discussed included: an ambulance utility (council vote only), a fire benefit charge (60% public vote), a property tax levy (majority vote), and a regional fire authority — which would require a majority ballot vote but could potentially free up approximately $24 million in the city's general fund.
The Committee of the Whole moved to initiate a regional fire authority planning committee, which would consist of three City of Bellingham representatives and three Whatcom County Fire District 8 commissioners. Councilmember Anderson abstained, stating she would have preferred more time and data to evaluate all funding options equally before selecting a particular path forward — specifically noting she wanted cost comparisons to understand whether a property tax or other mechanism might be more cost-effective.
Vote: Moved by Stone, seconded by Williams. Passed 5–0, with Anderson abstaining and Lillquist excused.
Executive Session — Potential Litigation
Three litigation matters were discussed in executive session this afternoon.
Chaplin matter: Information and discussion only; no action taken.
Phillips matter (Claim No. 2025-36): Council authorized the Mayor to enter into a settlement agreement with Troy and Adrian Hascal for $425,000, to be paid from the city's water fund (not the general fund).
Vote: Moved by Williams, seconded by Huffman. Passed 6–0.
Stamps matter: Information and discussion only; no action taken.
Consent Agenda
The following routine items were approved together without discussion:
Resolution setting a public hearing on a street vacation petition for the eastern half of Fir Street abutting 3702 Silver Beach Avenue
Approval of February 23, 2026 City Council meeting minutes
Authorization of payroll labor cost payments (February 1–15, 2026)
Authorization of accounts payable transactions (February 20 – March 5, 2026)
Vote: Moved by Hammill, seconded by Huffman. Passed 6–0.
Key Takeaways
Alley closure ordinance passed 6–0, giving the city a new tool to temporarily close drug-activity-concentrated alleys in downtown Bellingham; the first closures are expected to target a three-block area near Railroad/Cornwall and will be monitored with a roughly 30-day initial window.
Regional fire authority planning is now underway: Council voted 5–0 (Anderson abstaining) to form a joint planning committee with Fire District 8 — the first step toward a potential ballot measure that could free up ~$24 million in the general fund.
$425,000 settlement approved for Claim No. 2025-36 (Phillips/Hascal), funded from the water fund.
The city secured over $1 million from the state legislature to fund a new day shelter, one of several public safety and human services wins from the 2026 legislative session.
I-5 closure from last Friday's landslide is significantly impacting city streets; no reopening date has been set, and residents are urged to plan accordingly.
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
In-person: Headsets are available to attendees in Council Chambers.
An executive session item regarding potential litigation with Chaplin was discussed. Staff provided information on the potential litigation matter for information and discussion purposes only, with no action taken.
Online: Join the Zoom meeting at cob.org/cczoom, then select the interpretation channel at the bottom of the screen. Those wishing to offer public comment in Spanish will be able to do so and their comments will be interpreted into English. Meeting records: Video recordings of each meeting are available online at cob.org/meetings within five business days following each meeting.
A potential litigation matter regarding Claim No. 2025-36 with Phillips was discussed. Staff provided information on the claim, and a motion was made to authorize the mayor to enter into a settlement agreement with Troy and Adrian Hascal for $425,000 in damages. Council members confirmed the payment would come from the water fund rather than the general fund. The motion passed 6-0 with Council member Lilquist excused.
Online: A sign-up form is available at cob.org/ccsignup on the day of the meeting.
A potential litigation matter with Stamps was discussed during executive session. Staff provided information on the potential litigation matter for information and discussion only, with no action taken.
An ordinance amending the fee schedule for the Rental Registration and
The Finance Committee reviewed an ordinance amending the fee schedule for the rental registration and safety inspection program. Julia Burns (rental protection program specialist) and Blake Lyon (Planning and Community Development Director) presented changes that align late fees for inspections with registration fees, extending the late fee period from 1-15 days to 30 days to give landlords adequate time to respond after notification. The ordinance also creates an escalation structure (50 to 125 to 250 dollars at 30, 60, and 90 days overdue) and allows permit revocation rather than sending accounts to collections. Councilmember Anderson moved approval, seconded by Councilmember Hamel, and the motion passed 6-0 with one excused.
Mayor's appointment to the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission (information)
Mayor Lund announced for council information the appointment of Allison Gallant to a first term on the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission as a lettered streets representative. This was presented as informational only and did not require council confirmation or discussion.
Agenda items (30)
Procedural (11)
1ProceduralIn-person: Headsets are available to attendees in Council Chambers.
Headsets will be available for in-person attendees in Council Chambers to assist with hearing the meeting.
What happened
An executive session item regarding potential litigation with Chaplin was discussed. Staff provided information on the potential litigation matter for information and discussion purposes only, with no action taken.2ProceduralOnline: Join the Zoom meeting at cob.org/cczoom, then select the interpretation channel at the bottom of the screen. Those wishing to offer public comment in Spanish will be able to do so and their comments will be interpreted into English. Meeting records: Video recordings of each meeting are available online at cob.org/meetings within five business days following each meeting.
Online participants can join via Zoom and access Spanish interpretation, and video recordings of meetings will be posted online within five business days.
What happened
A potential litigation matter regarding Claim No. 2025-36 with Phillips was discussed. Staff provided information on the claim, and a motion was made to authorize the mayor to enter into a settlement agreement with Troy and Adrian Hascal for $425,000 in damages. Council members confirmed the payment would come from the water fund rather than the general fund. The motion passed 6-0 with Council member Lilquist excused.3ProceduralOnline: A sign-up form is available at cob.org/ccsignup on the day of the meeting.
A sign-up form for public comment will be available online at cob.org/ccsignup on the day of the meeting.
What happened
A potential litigation matter with Stamps was discussed during executive session. Staff provided information on the potential litigation matter for information and discussion only, with no action taken.4ProceduralIn person: Sign-up sheets are available outside the Council Chambers doors starting at 6:30 p.m. the evening of the meeting.
Sign-up sheets for public comment will be available outside Council Chambers starting at 6:30 p.m. on meeting nights.
5ProceduralSign up, both online and in person, closes at 7 p.m. Once signed up, speakers may participate via the following options:
Registration for public comment closes at 7 p.m., and speakers can then participate in person, online, or by phone.
6ProceduralIn person: Meetings are held in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall.
City Council meetings are held in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall.
7ProceduralOnline: Join the Zoom meeting at cob.org/cczoom and follow staff instructions at time of the hearing or public comment period.
Residents can join meetings online via Zoom at cob.org/cczoom and participate in public comment periods.
8ProceduralOver the phone: Call 253-215-8782, enter Meeting ID 871 5188 5205, and Password 9. Follow staff instructions at the time of the hearing or public comment period. Before or after a meeting: The City of Bellingham meets the Open Public Meetings Act by accepting written public comment in advance of City Council meetings. Send written input before or after a meeting.
Residents can call 253-215-8782 to join meetings and participate in hearings or public comment by phone, or submit written comments before or after meetings.
9ProceduralBy mail addressed to: City Council, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225.
Written public comments can be mailed to City Council at 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225.
10ProceduralOnline: o For a public hearing: cob.org/publichearing. o For general public comment: E-mail all Council Members at ccmail@cob.org.
Residents can submit written comments online for public hearings at cob.org/publichearing or email all Council Members at ccmail@cob.org for general public comment.
24863ProceduralApproval of the February 23, 2026 City Council committee and regular meeting minutes
The council will approve the minutes from its February 23, 2026 committee and regular meetings.
Consent Calendar
24850Consent CalendarAuthorization of payroll labor cost payments dated February 1, 2026 to
The council will authorize payment of payroll labor costs dated February 1, 2026.
24857Consent CalendarA resolution fixing the time for a hybrid public hearing to consider a street vacation petition for the eastern one-half of Fir Street abutting the western 110-feet of lot 13, Silver Heights add to Whatcom, generally located at 3702 Silver Beach Avenue in Bellingham
The council will schedule a public hearing on whether to vacate the eastern half of Fir Street at 3702 Silver Beach Avenue.
24869Consent CalendarAuthorization of AP transactions issued February 20, 2026 through
The council will authorize payment of accounts payable transactions issued between February 20 and late February 2026.
24870Consent CalendarAuthorization of AP transactions issued February 27, 2026 through March 5, 2026
The council will authorize payment of accounts payable transactions issued between February 27 and March 5, 2026.
Council Business
24854Council BusinessAn ordinance amending the fee schedule for the Rental Registration and
The council will vote on an ordinance that changes fees related to the Rental Registration program.
What happened
The Finance Committee reviewed an ordinance amending the fee schedule for the rental registration and safety inspection program. Julia Burns (rental protection program specialist) and Blake Lyon (Planning and Community Development Director) presented changes that align late fees for inspections with registration fees, extending the late fee period from 1-15 days to 30 days to give landlords adequate time to respond after notification. The ordinance also creates an escalation structure (50 to 125 to 250 dollars at 30, 60, and 90 days overdue) and allows permit revocation rather than sending accounts to collections. Councilmember Anderson moved approval, seconded by Councilmember Hamel, and the motion passed 6-0 with one excused.24865Council BusinessAppointment of a new public records officer for the City of Bellingham
The council will appoint a new public records officer for the City of Bellingham.
What happened
# Summary: Appointment of Kelly Getz as Public Records OfficerThe Committee of the Whole unanimously recommended and the Council voted 6-0 (with one excused) to appoint Kelly Getz, Deputy City Clerk, as the new Public Records Officer, replacing Senior Assistant City Attorney Sara Chaplin who has held the position since 2021. Staff explained that the transition from the City Attorney's Office to the City Clerk's Office was necessary due to a dramatic increase in public records requests from approximately 1,200 annually to over 5,000 in the most recent year. Ms. Getz will lead the operational public records responsibilities with her team of Evan Reynolds, Sabrina Gibbons, and Rhiannon Finster, while Ms. Chaplin will continue providing legal advice on public disclosure matters. The Committee Chair praised Getz's professionalism, passion, and commitment to protecting and preserving the city's records and archives, citing these qualities as supporting the reorganization to improve standardization and efficiency.
24866Council BusinessAn update on City efforts to improve digital services accessibility
City staff will update the council on efforts to improve digital services accessibility for residents.
What happened
City staff provided an update on comprehensive efforts to improve digital services accessibility across the city's website, mobile applications, and other platforms to meet a federal compliance deadline in April 2026. Melissa Moran (Communications and Community Relations Director) and Holly Peterson (ADA Coordinator) highlighted that significant work involves making PDF documents accessible and ensuring photographs, graphs, and images are properly described for users with limitations. The chair encouraged community members to watch the presentation, noting this is a heavy lift covering all public-facing city services and third-party applications. The item was presented for information and discussion only with no action taken.24867Council BusinessAn ordinance regarding temporary alley closures for public health and safety
The council will vote on an ordinance allowing temporary closures of alleys for public health and safety reasons.
What happened
# Summary: Ordinance on Temporary Alley Closures for Public Health and SafetyStaff presented an ordinance granting the Public Works Director authority to close alleys on recommendation of the Chief of Police to address severe conditions in a concentrated downtown area, where 2025 statistics showed 108 incidents of violence, 342 drug-related calls, and over 89 overdoses. Councilmember Hamel noted this is a temporary, experimental action similar to methods used in Seattle, and the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee voted to approve and move it forward. A councilmember raised concerns about the misdemeanor penalty provision, and Deputy City Administrator Forrest Longman clarified that officer discretion will prioritize education and voluntary departure, with arrest as a last resort. Staff indicated the closure is intended to last approximately six months with conditions monitored every couple weeks, accompanied by environmental improvements like trash consolidation and lighting upgrades, while the city coordinates with service providers including DVS and the Way Center day shelter to assist vulnerable individuals.
24868Council BusinessA presentation on the Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity 1:00 p.m.
City staff will present the Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan to the council.
What happened
Staff presented the Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan, which reimagines the current complex as an exceptional community campus serving generations to come with strategic improvements and new facilities. The planning effort began in 2022 and included extensive public engagement through user group consortiums, surveys, open houses, and videos over three to four years. The plan incorporates potential for a relocated elementary school, expanded indoor recreation and aquatics, and a future community center, with conceptual elements including forest canopy protection, disc golf, sports plex expansion, and outdoor education. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Parks and Recreation Committee, chaired by Councilmember Williams, recommended approval, and the full Council voted 6-0 with one excused to approve.24871Council BusinessA presentation of the Public Safety Level of Service Needs Assessment
City staff will present a Public Safety Level of Service Needs Assessment to the council.
What happened
# SummaryDeputy Administrator Forrest Longman presented a public safety level of service needs assessment evaluating current fire and police services, identifying gaps, and examining four funding options: an ambulance utility, a fire benefit charge, a property tax levy, and a regional fire authority (which could potentially free up $24 million in the general fund). Council members raised concerns about the presentation timing and requested additional cost comparison data before proceeding, with one member questioning whether a property tax might be cheaper than a regional fire authority for certain businesses like Costco. Despite these reservations, a motion passed to establish a planning committee with three City of Bellingham representatives and three District 8 commissioners to explore the regional fire authority option further, though Councilmember Anderson expressed a desire to review all options comprehensively before asking the community for additional taxation.
24872Council BusinessRecommendation to reject all bids on Little Squalicum Water Quality Retrofits Phase 2 (EV-177) Project, Bid No. 6B-2026
The council will consider rejecting all bids received for the Little Squalicum Water Quality Retrofits Phase 2 project.
What happened
Staff recommended rejecting all bids on the Little Squalicum Water Quality Retrofits Phase 2 (EV-177) project due to an irregularity in the city's bid administration process that made it impossible to determine the low bidder. The project would have improved water quality in Little Squalicum Creek through installation of bio pods and enhanced stormwater treatments in the Birchwood neighborhood. The Public Works and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Councilmember Anderson and attended by Councilmembers Cotton and Hamel, voted 3-0 to support the recommendation so staff could rebid the project. The full Council voted 6-0 with one excused to approve the motion to reject all bids.Public Hearing
24855Public HearingMayor's appointment to the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission (information)
The Mayor's appointment to the Neighborhood Advisory Commission will be presented for information.
What happened
Mayor Lund announced for council information the appointment of Allison Gallant to a first term on the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission as a lettered streets representative. This was presented as informational only and did not require council confirmation or discussion.24856Public HearingA public hearing on a resolution authorizing the partial relinquishment of a public utility easement located within vacated Bayview Drive that is surplus to the City's needs
The council will hold a public hearing on whether to give up the City's rights to a utility easement along the vacated Bayview Drive that the City no longer needs.
What happened
# SummaryStaff presented a resolution to authorize partial relinquishment of a public utility easement at 524 South State Street (on the vacated Bay View Drive right-of-way) to facilitate construction of four townhomes. Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Public Works, identified three utilities involved: a water line easement, a storm drain easement, and a Cascade Natural Gas easement that will be subordinated to the city. Public commenter Brian Gass raised concerns about whether a corner structure had been demolished, whether the relinquishment would restrict views and access, and whether restrictions on permanent structures were being changed. Staff confirmed the structure had been demolished and explained the new development would include a driveway and basement-level parking with no monetary payment required for the easement relinquishment. Councilmember Hammel moved to approve, seconded by Councilmember Williams, and the motion passed.
24858Public HearingConfirmation of the Mayor's appointments to the Planning Commission
The council will hold a public hearing and vote on confirming the Mayor's appointments to the Planning Commission.
What happened
Mayor Lund sought council confirmation to appoint Claire Swingle to a first term and reappoint Jed Bellue to a second term on the Bellingham Planning Commission. A motion was made by Councilmember Williams and seconded by Councilmember Huffman. No discussion was raised by council members, and the appointments passed 6-0 with one excused.24859Public HearingConfirmation of the Mayor's reappointment to the Whatcom Museum
The council will hold a public hearing and vote on confirming the Mayor's reappointment to the Whatcom Museum.
What happened
Mayor Lund sought council confirmation to appoint Rafika Cloakey to a third term on the Whatcom Museum Foundation Board of Trustees. A motion was made by Councilmember Anderson and seconded by Councilmember Williams. No discussion was raised, and the appointment passed 6-0 with one excused.24860Public HearingMayor's appointment to the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on
The council will hold a public hearing on the Mayor's appointment to the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission.
What happened
Mayor Lund announced for council information the appointment of Michaela Vendiola to a first term on the Bellingham Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence. This was presented as informational only and did not require council confirmation or discussion.24861Public HearingMayor's appointments to the Bellingham & Whatcom County Housing
The council will hold a public hearing on the Mayor's appointments to the Bellingham & Whatcom County Housing board.
What happened
Mayor Lund announced for council information the reappointment of Stephen Gockley to a second term on the Bellingham and Whatcom County Housing Authorities Board of Commissioners. Mayor Lund also noted support for the Whatcom County Executive's appointment of Stephen Price to fill a partial term on the Housing Authorities Board. These were presented as informational items.24862Public HearingConfirmation of the Mayor's appointment to the Design Review Board
The council will hold a public hearing and vote on confirming the Mayor's appointment to the Design Review Board.
What happened
Mayor Lund sought council confirmation to appoint Erica De La Rosa to a first term on the Design Review Board. A motion was made by Councilmember Williams and seconded by Councilmember Huffman. No discussion was raised by council members, and the appointment passed 6-0 with one excused.24864Public HearingMayor's reappointments to the Tourism Commission (information)
The Mayor's reappointments to the Tourism Commission will be presented for information.
What happened
Mayor Lund announced for council information the reappointment of Kevin Coleman and Matt Lisicki each to their second terms on the Tourism Commission. This was presented as informational only and did not require council confirmation or discussion.Additional votes recorded in minutes
Approve resolution authorizing partial relinquishment of public utility easement within vacated Bayview Drive
aye 1
voice voteaye
Confirm appointment of Claire Swingle and reappointment of Jed Bellue to Bellingham Planning Commission
aye 1
voice voteaye
Confirm appointment of Rafika Cloakey to Whatcom Museum Foundation Board of Trustees
aye 1
voice voteaye
Confirm appointment of Erica De La Rosa to Design Review Board
aye 1
voice voteaye
Reject all bids on Little Squalicum Water Quality Retrofit Phase Two project (Agenda Bill 24872)
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve ordinance authorizing temporary alley closures for public health and safety
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve ordinance amending fee schedule for rental registration and safety inspection program (Agenda Bill 24854)
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve appointment of Kelly Getz as city's designated public records officer (Agenda Bill 24865)
aye 1
voice voteaye
Initiate regional fire authority planning committee (Agenda Bill 24871)
aye 5 · abstain 1 · absent 1
Dan Hammillaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonabstain
Michael Lilliquistabsent
Skip Williamsaye
Authorize mayor to enter into settlement agreement regarding claim number 2025-36 (Phillips) for $425,000
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve consent agenda
aye 1
voice voteaye
Verbatim transcript available
280 transcript segments indexed
Good evening and welcome to the Bellingham City Council regular meeting. Today is Monday, March 23rd, 2026. So, I'll call the meeting to order and we will begin with roll call. Ali Huffman Here. Dan Hamill Here.
City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting minutes March 23, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Chair: Hannah Stone Phone: 360-778-8200 Members: Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Email: ccmail@cob.org Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Web: cob.org/council Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton 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 7:00 p.m. Present: Council President Hannah Stone, First Ward Council Member Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Council Member Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Council Member Edwin H.
Skip Williams Here. Lisa Anderson Here. Jace Cotton Here. Hannah Stone Here. Uh six council members are present with council member Lilquist excused. Thank you very much. The Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the state of Washington Open Public Meetings Act.
"Skip" Williams, Fourth Ward Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Member Jace Cotton, At-Large Excused: Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Announcements and upcoming meetings The Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the State of Washington Open Public Meetings Act.
We'll first begin with the land acknowledgement statement. Are there any council members who would like to read that this evening? I will. Councilmember Williams First, let me find Oh, there it is. Uh before we begin, we we acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional and unceded territory of the Lummi, Nooksack, Samish, and Semiahmoo people who have cared for and tended this land since time immemorial.
Truth and acknowledgement are critical to building mutual respect and connection across all the barriers of heritage and difference. We begin this effort to acknowledge what has been buried by honoring the truth and we pay and we pay respect to their elders past and present.
1. Land acknowledgement statement Before we begin, we acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional and unceded territory of the Lummi, Nooksack, Samish and Semiahmoo People who have cared for and tended this land since time immemorial.
Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that bring us together here today, and please join us in uncovering such truths at any and all of our public events.
Truth and acknowledgment are critical to building mutual respect and connection across all barriers of heritage and difference. We begin this effort to acknowledge what has been buried by honoring the truth.
Thank you very much. The Bellingham City Council provides Spanish interpretation at all regular evening meetings. Interpretation can be accessed in person by attendees utilizing the headsets that are available at the front of the room.
We pay respect to their elders past and present. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that bring us together here today. And please join us in uncovering such truths at any and all public events.
2. Language access The Bellingham City Council provides Spanish interpretation at all regular evening meetings. Interpretation can be accessed by in-person attendees by utilizing the Page 1 of 10 headsets located at the front of the room.
Remote viewers can log on to cob.org/cczoom and click on the language icon at the bottom of the screen to listen in Spanish. So, we have an upcoming special joint meeting on April 1st, 2026. The City Council will join the Whatcom County Council and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Board of Commissioners for the annual Lake Whatcom joint meeting.
At this annual joint legislative meeting of the Lake Whatcom Management Program, staff will review Lake Whatcom Management Program activities completed this past year in 2025 and also projects that are underway in 2026 to reduce phosphorus and other threats to Lake Whatcom.
Remote viewers can log on to cob.org/cczoom and click on the “Language” icon at the bottom of the screen to listen in Spanish. 3. Upcoming special joint meeting On April 1, 2026, the City Council will join the Whatcom County Council and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Board of Commissioners for the annual Lake Whatcom Joint Meeting.
Participants will also be briefed on the results of the Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project report from the Institute of Watershed Studies at Western Washington University. The meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m.
At this annual joint legislative meeting of the Lake Whatcom Management Program, staff will review Lake Whatcom Management Program activities completed in 2025 and underway in 2026 to reduce phosphorus and other threats to Lake Whatcom.
Participants will also be briefed on the results of the Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project Report from the Institute for Watershed Studies at Western Washington University. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m.
right here in City Council Chambers with [snorts] an option to watch via Zoom. Our next regular council meeting after this evening will be held on April 13th. We begin this evening with a public hearing.
in City Council chambers with an option to watch via Zoom. 4. Next Council meeting The next City Council meeting will be held on April 13, 2026. Public hearing 24856 1. A public hearing on a resolution authorizing the partial relinquishment of a p.
So, this is a public hearing on a resolution authorizing the partial relinquishment of a public utility easement located within vacated Bayview Drive that is surplus to the city's needs. So, this is agenda bill 24856.
7 public utility easement located within vacated Bayview Drive that is surplus to the City's needs Summary: Michael Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering, presented the resolution, which authorizes the partial relinquishment of a public utility easement located within vacated Bayview Drive that is surplus to the City's needs.
The attached resolution, which was included in the packet, provides for the relinquishment of a surplus utility easement that encumbers real property known as 524 South State Street adjacent to a vacated portion of Bayview Drive.
Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. Summary: Council President Stone opened the public hearing. Council heard testimony from one individual. Council President Stone closed the public hearing.
The proposed relinquishment comes to City Council for decision upon application of the property owner to facilitate development of private property. The Public Works Department has reviewed the request and determined that this portion of the easement that encumbers the subject property is surplus to the city's needs and not needed for utility service.
Accordingly, staff recommends that this um parcel be relinquished. This evening, we will first hear from Michael Wilson, Public Works Assistant Director for Engineering. Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to be with you tonight.
Action: Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved final approval of Resolution #2026-03. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Page 2 of 10 Appointments 24858 1. Confirmation of the Mayor's appointments to the Planning Commission p.
Again, it's Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Public Works over engineering and and the city engineer. The uh tonight, pending the public input, we're recommending that this easement be uh relinquished.
36 Action: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Hollie Huthman moved to confirm Mayor Lund's appointments to the Planning Commission: • Appointed Claire Swingle to a first term on the Planning Commission, expiring on March 23, 2030.
• Reappointed Jed Ballew to a second term on the Planning Commission, expiring on March 24, 2030. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24859 2. Confirmation of the Mayor's reappointment to the Whatcom Museum p. 45 Foundation Board of Trustees Action: Lisa Anderson / Edwin H.
Um the property in play is at 524 South State Street and it's at the intersection of State Street, Bayview Drive, 10th Street, and 11th Street, that that intersection there. And [clears throat] you can see the uh the yellow depicts the easement relinquishment.
There are three um utilities that we are transacting an easement at the same time. So, uh if you can see the cursor, there's a small triangle here for a water line easement and then there's a a stretch along here for storm drain.
"Skip" Williams moved to confirm Mayor Lund's reappointment of Rafeeka Kloke to a third term on the Whatcom Museum Foundation Board of Trustees, expiring on May 18, 2029. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24862 3. Confirmation of the Mayor's appointment to the Design Review Board p.
53 Action: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Hollie Huthman moved to confirm Mayor's Lunds appointment of Erika De la Rosa to a first term on the Design Review Board expiring on March 23, 2030. MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
And then we've got a little piece of right-of-way that we're acquiring back at this uh corner here. And then in addition to that, Cascade Natural Gas has a gas line that uh we've coordinated getting an easement uh for them and then them subordinating that easement to the to the city so that we have the standing as a city that we desire.
So, [snorts] that the if you've driven by there, the existing homes have been uh torn down uh and there's plans for new town [clears throat] homes in the area. So, we're um required by law to have a public hearing and then have the City Council consider this for approval.
24855 4. Mayor's appointment to the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission p. 58 (information) Action: Mayor Lund appointed Alison Gallant to a first term on the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission as the Lettered Streets representative, expiring on March 23, 2028.
Page 3 of 10 24860 5. Mayor's appointment to the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on p. 62 Sexual & Domestic Violence (information) Action: Mayor Lund appointed Michaela Vendiola to a first term on the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence expiring on January 31, 2030.
That's why we're here uh tonight and recommend approval. Thank you. Thank you very much. Any clarifying questions from Council before we open the public hearing? Okay. Seeing none, we will open the public hearing.
24861 6. Mayor's appointments to the Bellingham & Whatcom County Housing p. 67 Authorities Board of Commissioners (information) Action: Mayor Lund reappointed Stephen Gockley to a second term on the Bellingham and Whatcom County Housing Authorities Board of Commissioners, expiring on April 18, 2031.
Do we have anyone signed up this evening? Yeah, we had one individual signed up um and they'll be online. It's Brian Gass. And Brian, you should be able to unmute and turn on your camera if you I sound like one of those people that you can hear me, you can hear me.
Mayor Lund supports the Whatcom County Executive's appointment of Steven Price to fill a partial term on the Bellingham and Whatcom County Housing Authorities Board of Commissioners, expiring on April 18, 2029.
We can hear you. I appreciate you re-coming. You know, what's funny is it's crazy when they talk about this and you don't say, "Hey, it's on your way to the park, right?" That little corner piece on its way down.
24864 7. Mayor's reappointments to the Tourism Commission (information) p. 78 Action: Mayor Lund reappointed Kevin Coleman to a second term on the Tourism Commission, expiring on April 3, 2029 and Matt Lesinski to a second term on the Tourism Commission, expiring on April 3, 2029.
And I wasn't sure if that building was actually torn down yet cuz I drove by today and I still see someone living there. So, I don't know what what property we're talking about if it's on the corner there of Bayview Street as you're going down to um going down to uh the park there, but that house is still there.
Mayor's report Standing time for briefings, updates, and reports to Council by the Mayor. Summary: Mayor Lund highlighted the I-5 North closure after a landslide on Friday evening. The Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Patrol, and other community partners continue to communicate and monitor the impacts of this incident.
So, I'm curious as to what house they're talking about that's on the corner there that's been torn down. I know there's some issues going on too with the purchase of the property and the easement that got sold, I think back way back when on there.
Uh but what what's interesting is that a majority of this whole property is the retained um is the easement. And I guess I'd just be remiss if I didn't say that uh wouldn't say that the um utilities or not the utilities, but the um the relinquishment of the easement does kind of wreck people's views and as you're driving in there.
The City is experiencing increased congestion due to detouring traffic on Samish Way and in the Fairhaven area near Chuckanut Drive. Mayor Lund asked for the community’s continued patience and acknowledged the Public Works team, who are monitoring this situation.
Stuff that you do about people own property, they own property. But I just felt like it's a little kind of disingenuous that they act like the house has been torn down. It's not. It's a house that's still there.
Mayor Lund highlighted the recent “Ask Us Anything: City of Bellingham Meet and Greet” event on March 18th, where 200+ community members attended. She thanked the Fairhaven Association for hosting the event and Chris Roselli, Director of Community Relations at Western Washington University, for facilitating.
More “Ask Me Anything” events will be announced soon. Page 4 of 10 Council assignment reports Standing time for Council Member reports from assigned committees, boards, and other groups. Summary: Council Member Williams shared recent activity updates including: • Attended Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting, which focused on reviewing the PROS Plan and Civic Athletic Complex Plan.
And um I would like everyone to recognize that just cuz you have an easement, it's for the city, but I just hope that they don't uh cut off their nose to spite their face on this deal and uh end up with a big old blocked area that no one can get around that corner.
• Attended ribbon cutting at Sunset Pond. • Attended a meeting with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and other City leadership to discuss their timber harvesting practices around Lake Whatcom.
I know that part of that easement when they sold it was to uh retain the uh you couldn't have a structure built on it. So, I'm just curious if they're changing out how they're going to handle those easements cuz the original when they sold that easement back to the city or away uh uh sold it to the city, uh they did put in that restriction that they couldn't build any um permanent structures on that easement.
So, I would look into that. Uh the documents that you put in your uh in the um handout there does clearly state that it can't be built on. So, I'm curious if the plans that these people are going to be using is going to be just basically building right up to the edge there.
• Attended a second forum on immigration hosted by the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission and Connect Ferndale. • Toured a West Coast Homes tiny home on wheels. Council President Stone provided a lobbying update on the final week of the state session: • The City was able to secure around $1 million for the day shelter.
She thanked Jason Korneliussen, Health and Human Services Strategic Initiatives Manager, and Representative Joe Timmons for their advocacy. • Planning and Community Development Director Blake Lyon successfully advocated for changes to Senate Bill 6026 regarding residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones.
Thank you. Thank you, Brian. So, there's no one else signed up. Okay. So, we'll close the public hearing unless there's anyone here in chambers this evening that wants to speak to this particular item specifically.
This means the City retains flexibility on whether to require commercial spaces on ground floor of commercial and mixed- use areas. • Other legislation that the City successfully supported included: SB 6110, which clarifies that e-motos or electric motorcycles are not the same as e-bicycles and House Bill 2532, which prohibits the sale of nitrous oxide to the general public.
Seeing none, we'll close the hearing and bring it back to council for consideration. Any questions from council members? Or discussion? Councilmember Anderson. Yeah, I'm a little confused cuz I thought the building was torn down when I drove by there.
• At the April 13, 2026 council meeting, City lobbyists, Nick Federicci and Luke Esser, will provide a final update on the legislative session. Committee meeting reports The following committee meetings are held during the day.
Um, but that was a few weeks ago and I didn't know this was coming forward and I was like, "Wow, that's too bad. I loved that house there." Um, but I understand, but um, I'm trying to remember cuz I didn't have a chance to go out and look this weekend, but we have a sidewalk all the way around that.
Correct? There is um, on both sides a sidewalk or is it just on the one side? I'm trying to see from this. Or um, cuz we can retain easements when it comes to for transportation, which would be pedestrian also.
Committee chairs will present a summary of each agenda item during the evening meeting, and further discussion or action may take place if needed. Committee meetings are open to the public to attend, however committee agendas do not include public comment sessions.
Public Works and Natural Resources 10:30 a.m. Michael Lilliquist, Chair Lisa Anderson, Jace Cotton Page 5 of 10 24872 1. Recommendation to reject all bids on Little Squalicum Water Quality p. 86 Retrofits Phase 2 (EV-177) Project, Bid No.
So, yeah, a couple comments. Uh, I was out there Saturday and this structure right here is the one that uh, has been torn down. It's it's no longer there and there was a garage on this uh, on Bay View here and that's been removed as well.
So, that the lot's been uh, cleared and grabbed and there's mulch uh, over the entirety of the lot. There's an existing driveway right in here if you can see my cursor. That'll be done away with and sidewalk will be restored there.
6B-2026 Summary: Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering, and Freeman Anthony, Engineering Manager, presented the contract award for the Little Squalicum Water Quality Retrofits Phase 2 (EV-177) Project, Bid No.
So, sidewalk will come here and then uh, wrap around to where this old existing driveway is, but it will no longer be a driveway there either. So, there'll be a little pullout uh, here. There's no Beyond that, there's not any sidewalk on that side of Bay View going down the hill.
6B-2026. The project improves water quality in Little Squalicum Creek through the installation of Biopods and other enhanced stormwater treatments in the Birchwood neighborhood. Due to an error, the City is requesting a rejection of all bids so the project may be rebid.
The sidewalk and the pedestrian access for the park is on this opposite side of the street and goes around that way. So, people walking along State Street would cross in the crosswalk here uh, on Bay View and State and then cross on 10th and Bay View and to get down to the park.
Council Members discussed the project and asked questions. Action: Lisa Anderson / Daniel Hammill moved to reject all bids for the Little Squalicum Water Quality Retrofits Phase 2 (EV-177) Project, Bid No.
That would be the pedestrian route. In terms of access to the lot, there's in the same kind of orientation as the existing home was, there's four townhomes going in and there'll be a new driveway that comes in where the old garage was and the parking for the homes will be on the basement level of the the new townhomes.
6B-2026. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Parks and Recreation 10:40 a.m. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Chair Daniel Hammill, Jace Cotton 24868 1. A presentation on the Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan p. 95 Summary: Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation Director, and Brice Maryman Founding Principal at MxM Landscape Architecture, presented the Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan.
The plan provides a strategic blueprint for improvements, upgrades, and new facilities at the Civic Athletic Complex. Council Members discussed the plan and asked questions. Action: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend adoption of the Civic Athletic Center Master Plan.
So, that's what's gives you a glimpse of what the proposed development looks like. Councilmember Anderson. Do we have any sidewalks on that side of the street down to the railroad crossing? I memory serves me it's all driveways going up Correct.
>> units, so Correct. No no sidewalk on that what I'll call the easterly side. So, I assume that's why we weren't looking at retaining that to put a sidewalk in is cuz there's no opportunity for contiguous sidewalks along that section.
MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity 1:00 p.m. Daniel Hammill, Chair Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams Page 6 of 10 24867 1. An ordinance regarding temporary alley closures for public health and p.
89 safety Summary: Forrest Longman, Deputy Administrator, presented the ordinance, which allows the public works director to temporarily close alleys at the recommendation of the chief of police to disrupt criminal activity.
Correct. There there will be just a brief sidewalk across this stretch right here, but it's really just for the pullout there to get people back up to the crosswalk. >> [snorts] >> Councilmember Hammel.
Council Members discussed and asked questions. Action: Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Budget and Finance 1:30 p.m. Lisa Anderson, Chair Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist 24854 1.
I'm going to move to approve. Second. We have a motion from Councilmember Hammel and a second by Councilmember Williams. Councilmember Anderson. For the record, could you state what fair market value is that they'll be paying for this um, property or are they?
Uh, there's it's there's not a monetary component to the transaction. It's just we're relinquishing the easement um, over a vacated right-of-way that was vacated in 2019. Okay. Additional questions from council?
An ordinance amending the fee schedule for the Rental Registration and p. 169 Safety Inspection Program Summary: Julia Burns, Rental Protection Program Specialist, and Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, presented the ordinance, which amends the fee schedule for the Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program.
Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Action: Lisa Anderson / Daniel Hammill moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Committee Of The Whole 1:50 p.m. Hannah Stone, Chair Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H.
Seeing none, we have a motion before us to approve the resolution um, which again is authorizing the partial relinquishment of public utility easement located within vacated Bay View Drive. Um, there's no further discussion.
"Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton 24865 1. Appointment of a new public records officer for the City of Bellingham p. 174 Summary: Sarah Chaplin, Senior Assistant City Attorney, and Kelley Goetz, Deputy City Clerk, provided an update on the transition of public disclosure operations from the legal Page 7 of 10 department to the finance department.
I'll call the question. All in favor will say I. I. >> I. Any opposed or abstentions? Okay, seeing none that passes um, 6-0 with one excused. Thank you very much. So, next this evening we have a number of appointments.
Um, some that are for information only and some that require confirmation from the council. So, I will turn that over to Mayor Lund. Thank you, Council President. Good evening. Good evening, councils, staff, and members of the community that are here tonight.
Council Members discussed the presentation and asked questions. Action: Hannah Stone / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the appointment of Kelley Goetz, Deputy City Clerk, as the City's designated public records officer.
MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24866 2. An update on City efforts to improve digital services accessibility p. 182 Summary: Melissa Morin, Communications and Community Relations Director, and Holly Pederson, ADA Coordinator, provided an update on citywide efforts to improve digital services and develop a sustainable strategy to meet federal accessibility deadlines in April 2026.
Uh, there are a slew of appointments this evening. Uh, several for council's confirmation. To begin, I am seeking council's approval to appoint Claire Swingle to a first term on the Bellingham Planning Commission and reappointing Jed Bellue to a second term on the Bellingham Planning Commission.
>> Move approval. >> Second. Motion was made by Councilmember Williams and a second by Councilmember Huffman. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor will say I. I. Any opposed or abstentions? Okay, seeing none that passes 6-0 with one excused.
Council Members discussed the presentation and asked questions. 24871 3. A presentation of the Public Safety Level of Service Needs Assessment p. 184 Summary: Forrest Longman, Deputy Administrator, presented on the Public Safety Level of Service Needs Assessment, which identified current service gaps, resources needed to fill those gaps, and evaluated the possibility of additional funding sources.
Council Members discussed the assessment and asked questions. Action: Hannah Stone / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to direct the administration form the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) planning committee.
Thank you. The second appointment for council's confirmation tonight is seeking to appoint Rafika Cloakey to a third term on the Whatcom Museum Foundation Board of Trustees. Move approval. Second. Motion was made by Councilmember Anderson and a second by Councilmember Williams.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0. ABSTAINED: Lisa Anderson. 4. Old or new business Summary: There were no discussion items for old/new business. Executive session 3:20 p.m. 1. Potential litigation (Chaplin, approx.
Any discussion? Okay, seeing none all in favor will say I. I. Any opposed or abstentions? Seeing none that passes 6-0 with one excused. Also for council's confirmation this evening is an appointment to the Design Review Board.
20 min.) Page 8 of 10 Summary: Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. 2. Potential Litigation, Claim No. 2025-36 (Phillips, approx.
I'm seeking to appoint Erica De La Rosa to a first term on that board. Move approval. Second. Motion was made by Councilmember Williams and a second by Councilmember Huffman. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor will say I.
I. I. Any opposed or abstentions? Seeing none that passes 6-0 with one excused. Thank you. For council's information this evening, I'm seek appointing Allison Gallant to a first term on the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission as a lettered streets representative.
5 min.) Summary: Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. Action: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Hollie Huthman moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into a settlement agreement with Troy and Adrienne Haskell with the following terms: Resolution of Claim No.
I'm also appointing Michaela Vendiola to a first term on the Bellingham Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence. For information, I am reappointing Stephen Gockley to a second term on the Bellingham and Whatcom County Housing Authorities Board of Commissioners.
2025-36 for the payment of $425,000.00 to the claimants for damages related to this claim. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 3. Potential Litigation (Stamps, approx. 10 min.) - ITEM ADDED 3.20.2026 Summary: Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter.
For information and discussion. 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.
And I also wanted to note for the council and public, I am supporting the Whatcom County Executive's appointment of Stephen Price to fill a partial term on the Housing Authorities Board. Also tonight, I'm announcing that I'm reappointing Kevin Coleman and Matt Lisic ski each to their second terms on the Tourism Commission.
24857 1. A resolution fixing the time for a hybrid public hearing to consider a street p. 272 vacation petition for the eastern one-half of Fir Street abutting the western 110-feet of lot 13, Silver Heights add to Whatcom, generally located at 3702 Silver Beach Avenue in Bellingham Action: Became known as Resolution #2026-04.
And I believe that's the end of the appointments for tonight. Thank you very much and then we'll move forward with Mayor's report. Great. What Tonight, one of the things that's dominating our community's um, attention is the freeway closure.
24863 2. Approval of the February 23, 2026 City Council committee and regular p. 276 meeting minutes Page 9 of 10 24850 3. Authorization of payroll labor cost payments dated February 1, 2026 to p. 292 February 15, 2026 24869 4.
The northbound lanes of Interstate 5 just south of Bellingham remain fully closed after a landslide last Friday causing significant traffic impacts on our city streets, especially on the south side. As we gather here tonight, a reopening date for I-5 has not yet been established.
Authorization of AP transactions issued February 20, 2026 through p. 293 February 26, 2026 24870 5. Authorization of AP transactions issued February 27, 2026 through March p. 294 5, 2026 Action: Daniel Hammill / Hollie Huthman moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety.
Our teams have been and they remain to be in regular communication with the Washington State Department of Transportation, the state patrol, other local law enforcement partners, and other community partners since the slide has occurred.
MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Public comment period City Council heard public comments from 17 individuals. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:11p.m. Hannah Stone, Council President ATTEST: Kelley Goetz, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 4/13/2026 Page 10 of 10
The primary impacts that we're observing on city streets include the Samish Way interchange where much of the detour route funnels freeway traffic. We also see impacts in the Fairhaven area, especially where Chuckanut Drive connects with 12th Street and on to Old Fairhaven Parkway.
As was mentioned earlier today, it is incredibly difficult for us to absorb 50,000 cars per day including semi truck truck truck traffic into the city's transportation system. We are continually monitoring our conditions, adjusting our signaling, and doing what we can to address these impacts, but we acknowledge that there are impacts that we just cannot fix.
Additional favors at signaling at Samish Way, for example, cause backups onto Bill McDonald Parkway and there are unintended consequences and ripple impacts as we seek to navigate and ameliorate some of these impacts.
The slide serves as an important reminder of just how essential and how interconnected our transportation system in is and we are all in this together. I will ask for our community's continued patience during this closure.
We recommend that when possible you adjust your trips to avoid those areas and if you cannot, leave plenty of time for your travel that is required. My sincere thanks go out to the public works crew and the team for their continued monitoring and response.
I also wanted to share tonight in the mayor's report that last week more than 200 community members joined myself, the city's departmental leaders, and other key staff at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal for our first ask us anything meet and greet for 2026.
Special thanks are due to the Fairhaven Association for their support of the event including welcoming the community, helping with setup, and donating the refreshments that evening. And my sincere appreciation goes out to Western Washington University's Chris Roselli for facilitating our warm-up and Q&A portions of the evening.
We answered community's questions ranging from how new development gets approved, how the city can be more supportive of struggling local businesses, to how we monitor our drinking water quality, and how we support traffic safety in our local residential neighborhoods.
Thank you to everyone in the community who joined us and stay tuned for more events later this year. And that concludes mayor's report tonight. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor Linville. Next item on the agenda this evening is our council assignment reports.
Any council members have reports from their assignments? Council member Williams? Well, I'm I'm just going to say um I I I attended the uh Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting and the basic gist of the meeting was to um review the uh Pros Plan and to discuss the Civic Athletic uh complex uh plan which we heard a little little bit about in our session today.
I also went to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Sunset Pond that was attended by a lot of folks and it's beautiful down there although I somehow overlooked the message and parked at the wrong end. >> [laughter] >> So, I had to walk back and then walk back again.
So, but anyway, it was a wonderful wonderful event. Um last week, I believe I think it was last week, Council member Anderson, Michael Peraleskin, Public Works Superintendent, and myself met with the um staff from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources where we discussed uh DNR practices and procedures regarding timber harvesting, their timber harvesting around Lake Whatcom.
And as a result of that meeting council Council member Anderson and I got a lot of background information emailed to us which was maps of uh of uh the Climate Commitment Act properties around the lake, maps of other property that has a current moratorium on the lake waiting for a decision from uh DNR about harvesting, maps of units that show the division of DNR harvesting harvest harvest units, and the habitat conservation plan which was quite lengthy.
So, that's going to be my reading for a while. But anyway, getting this information will give us some some significant background and guidance regarding DNR's timber harvesting practice seeing as how Councilman Anderson and I are serving on the Lake Whatcom Policy group this year.
I have a couple more. Um I was able to attend a second forum sponsored by the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission and Connect Ferndale on immigration issues and once again it was to learn about the ongoing issues facing our immigrant neighbors, to share the participants' feelings and concerns, and to act in ways or or to discuss ways that um our our citizens can act to um to support our immigrant neighbors when they are in need.
The the panel at the meeting consisted of elected officials from Whatcom County, Ferndale, community activist, the Ferndale Police Chief, the Ferndale School District Director of Mental and Behavioral Health, and my colleague Anna Stoops.
And um so the overall plan for these sessions is to host eight to 10 forums around the county to begin discussions about these issues and how they manifest themselves out there. And last but not least, I was able to tour a um I made a um trip with my colleague Jace Cotton and Dan Hamill as well as others to West Coast Homes basically to see um the possibilities of using these housing units.
What are they called, Jace? The the ones on wheels? Tiny homes on wheels that can be utilized down the road to help us meet our our alternative housing goals. So, that's the end of my report. Thank you very much.
Any other reports from council members? I have one update regarding our lobbying efforts. Um as many of you know, the legislative session ended on March 12th and the City of Bellingham had several wins during this last um this last session.
So, the city was able to secure over just over $1 million to help support much-needed day shelter here in Bellingham. With special thanks to Jason Cron Nielsen, the city's Health and Human Services Strategic Initiatives Manager, and to Representative Joe Timmons who was instrumental in keeping the day shelter in the final budget prior to passage.
Um we also had success amending bills that we felt needed to be improved. One example is Senate Bill concerning residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones. So, this bill was intended to prevent cities from excluding residential development in commercial or mixed-use zones and originally prohibited cities from requiring ground floor commercial for any residential developments in commercial areas.
Thanks to testimony from Director Lyon, our Public Works and Community um Development Director, in both the House and Senate Committee meetings, the final bill allows the city the flexibility to require commercial on the ground floor in 40% of the commercial and mixed-use areas of the city, which is more than sufficient for our needs.
But in thinking about in particular um the urban urban villages throughout the city and our goals to have sort of that mixed-use with commercial on the bottom and residential on top. So, that was a a key change that benefited our community here at home.
A number of other bills we supported this year also passed. While we engaged deeply in a few bills, we regularly signaled our support for bills by signing in pro. Examples include Senate Bill 6110 which clarifies that e-motos or electric motorcycles are not the same as e-bikes.
So, that legislation was looking to regulate that um that distinction. And House Bill 2532 which prohibits the sale of nitrous oxide to the general public. Another public health and safety concern. This year, as we know, was a short session so we packed a lot of lobbying into just 60 days.
We maintained a positive and strong relationship with our legislators for both the 40th and 42nd legislative districts this year and went to Olympia to advocate also in person. To wrap up the session, we have one more weekly lobbying meeting scheduled this week, this coming Friday, where we will debrief and reflect on what went well and where there might be room for improvement or adjustment during the next legislative session.
So, at our next council meeting on April 13th, our lobbyists, so Nick Federici and Luke Esser, are scheduled to come and give a final update regarding the session to the council and to the public. So, please tune in our next meeting on April 13th for those updates.
Um if there are no other reports from council members, we will move to our committee meeting reports. So, we started this morning with Public Works and Natural Resources. As noted, Councilmember Lillquist is absent today so Councilmember Anderson was filling in for him as chair of that committee.
So, I will turn to her for a report. Thank you, Councilmember Stone. Um joining me today was um Councilmember Cotton and Councilmember Hamel, and our one item was agenda bill 24872, a recommendation to reject all bids on Little Squalicum Water Water uh water quality retrofit phase two EV-177 project bid number 6B-2026.
This project provide This project would have provided for the improvement of water quality in Little Squalicum Creek through the installation of bio pods and other enhanced storm water treatments in the Birchwood neighborhood.
The city publicly opened six bids on March 4th, 2026. Due to an irregularity in the city's administration of the bid process, it is not possible to determine the low bidder. Therefore, staff recommend that the city council rejects all bids so that the staff may rebid the project.
And so, committee today voted three to support the recommendation to reject all bids, and I so move. >> Second. Motion was made by Councilmember Anderson and a second by Councilmember Hamel. Any discussion on the motion?
Seeing none. Okay. Seeing none, all in favor will say I. I. >> I. Any opposed or abstentions? Okay, seeing none, that passes 6-0 with one excused. And that was our only item, so I turn it back to you, Council President.
Thank you very much. The next meeting this morning was Parks and Recreation, and that is chaired by Councilmember Williams. So, I'll turn to him for a report. Okay, we had one item on our agenda as well.
And that was a presentation regarding the Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan. The Civic Complex Master Master Plan for reimagines the Civic the current Civic Athletic Complex as an exceptional community space that will serve generations to come and provide a strategic blueprint for needed improvements of upgrades and new facilities.
But, the overall The overarching feel of this project is to basically shift it from the concept of a complex to a campus which opens it up to more of our citizens to just come and and enjoy and have a a diversity of uses for the area.
The planning effort began in 2022, which I believe was my first year on the council. And uh the process had an extensive public engagement component. Um such as establishing a consortium of user groups, public surveys, open houses, videos, a very extensive public outreach plan for this over over the course of three to four years.
The plan incorporates the future potential for a relocated elementary school if all goes well. And uh creates opportunities for expanded indoor recreation, aquatics, and a future community center. This long-term planning document will guard all of the investments, uses, and improvements to recreational and other assets through this complex for the next 20 years.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommended recommended approval. And um s- and our committee concurred. But, some of the things that are being planned for this, just conceptually, are um um protection of the forest canopy, a disc golf course, perhaps.
Expansion of the sports of the current sports plex. Some may be element of outdoor education if the elementary school gets moved. And um so forth. So, it's a major major project that will give us a major asset that we can all be proud of.
So, our committee concurred with the recommendation to approve, and I will make that motion. Motion was made by Councilmember Williams and a second by Councilmember Hamel. Any discussion or comments? >> [snorts] >> Seeing none.
All in favor will say I. I. Any opposed or abstentions? Okay, seeing none, that passes 6-0 with one excused. And that was the only item on our agenda, so we uh pass it back to you. Perfect. Thank you very much.
The next committee that met today met in the afternoon. That was the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee. That committee is chaired by Councilmember Hamel. So, I'll turn it over to him.
Thank you, Council President. I was joined this afternoon by Councilmembers um Huffman and Williams. We had one item before us. This was an ordinance regarding temporary alley closures for public health and safety.
This ordinance would grant the Public Works Director the authority to close alleys on the recommendation of the Chief of Police to prevent criminal activity. Some alleys present challenges for enforcement actions against criminal activity because they're narrow, have limited access, and have various impediments to line of sight.
This ordinance will provide an additional tool to disrupt the drug dealing and other illegal activity that has become entrenched in some alleys. After discussion among Councilmembers uh this afternoon with the administration, the uh committee moved to approve, and I so move.
Second. Motion made by Councilmember Hamel and a second by Councilmember Williams. Any discussion or questions from Councilmembers? Council- Yes, Councilmember Huffman. Um since we did get some public uh comment on this one, and um majority of uh the discussion on on an item like this happens during the committee meeting, of course.
So, if you're particularly interested in this one, I would recommend going back and watching that video cuz there's a lot more information um than you'll hear uh at this meeting tonight since this conversation's already happened.
But, um I think a couple a couple notes um that that I found particularly uh notable, this this is cons- considered to be a temporary and experimental action. Um this is something that has been a method that's been used in Seattle with what we can tell relatively positive results.
Um where they've even been able to take fencing down um because of the improvements that have happened in those areas. I think that um from what staff has told us, uh going into this with eyes wide open, knowing that there could be um displacement of activities.
Um there could be unintended consequences that weren't anticipated. Um you know, seeing this as this is an experimental action, um there'll be a lot of attention paid to how things are going. Um checking in with businesses and employees around there.
Checking in with service providers. Um to to get a gauge on on the temperature of of what's happening. And And we can adjust. Um this is a relatively low-cost action. You look at the larger scheme of things of things that the city spends money on.
Um and And in fact, right now, it's interesting to find out that I believe it was last last year, about $185,000 was spent just on cleaning um the two most active alleys. Um and that cleaning happens daily by Public Works um with a weekly deep clean.
Um and so, while there is some cost to doing this, ultimately, it could it turn out to be cost neutral or even cost savings in the end when it when it comes to cleaning up those those alleys. Um and you know, what we have heard as as Councilmembers ourselves and the staff has heard is is that as and I've heard um firsthand from employees that work in that area, from the food and beverage and the retail uh businesses that are down there, is is that they're dealing with some pretty egregious activity and experiences that um the businesses, the employees in that area are getting a little bit more than their fair share of challenges.
Um weapons, aggressive behavior, having to deal with biohazard issues. And this will just offer some, if nothing else, some reprieve to those employees that are working in those businesses um and in those alleys, taking out the trash, um receiving deliveries, those sorts of things.
And so, for me, um I think that that is a great reason to try this out and see and see how that works. And again, really what is being targeted here is that illegal activity, the drug dealing. As somebody that has walked around downtown regularly for 25 years, there are some alleys that have always been a problem.
And uh but now those problems have really escalated into some behaviors that are unpredictable, um scary, and just more than more than uncomfortable, I think. Um and so I'll be supporting this this motion.
Um and I look forward to hearing more about how the things are going and um getting some reports back to see how effective or not effective this is. Councilmember Anderson. Thank you. Um for me it kind of comes down to numbers and safety.
When you look at this ordinance, um it states just in 2025 we had 108 incidents of violence, 342 drug-related calls, and over 89 overdoses in a three-block section. Um I know a couple of the business owners in this area and they're looking at when their leases are up or leaving.
And we want a vibrant, safe downtown, but we want it vibrant and safe for everyone. And when we have a small section in Bellingham that is the known location for people countywide or outside of county can go get drugs and buy them and um it's it's just not okay.
Um yes, people will go elsewhere, but it's so concentrated. Um people for the first time going to fentanyl can go there. So the hope is there will be disruption in the activity that is preying upon vulnerable members of our community.
And those 108 incidents of violence um those are sometimes you know, put upon our most vulnerable community members. And um we are spending a lot of resources um to try to scaffold services. Um we have a great partnership with DVS, who is providing um just a couple blocks away assistance to help people with um with addiction and um we now have the Way Center.
We are um we just got a grant to, as Councilmember Hetman had pointed out earlier, we just got a grant of over a million dollars so that we can open up a day shelter. Um working with WTA so we can get people there.
It's it's just outside it's not in the downtown core, but it is close enough that um people will be able to um access it easily. And so the city is putting resources in trying to provide this assistance.
And this will not fix the issue, but the hope is there'll be a reprieve. We'll be working with our service providers to try to assist individuals who may be um accessing that area. But um I personally don't want a three-block section next year to be reported that we've had you know, 90 overdoses.
Um it's it is a lot to put on those community members and it's a lot to put into the downtown community. Um so hopefully um we'll be able to do a good assessment, see how well this works, and also put in some of the environmental design um to reduce crime um in the meantime and um make downtown safer for everyone.
And I mean everyone. Um the people who are having this violence put upon and preyed upon by um individuals out there doing not the users, but the people who are selling and fencing material and then giving bad drugs to individuals without a lot of repercussion.
We have to interrupt that. And um I'm hoping that will be the main accomplishment with this. Um and I I'm putting trust that our social services and our support network will be out there helping these individuals in the meantime.
Um hopefully um connect to those services that are available. Councilmember Hamel. Uh yeah, thank you. Um yeah, I just wanted to um mention some of the things that I talked about this afternoon just so they're kind of part of the the folks that are here tonight, but also for the folks that are watching here.
So I I've walked those alleys with outreach workers. I'm trying to think how many times. I I've kind of lost track at this point. And a lot of it was pursuant to the DVS mobile medical units that are it's parked at Unity and Flora Streets.
So if you can just kind of picture that where that's at, next to the Recovery Cafe. Um that mobile medical unit um sees between 20 and 40 people uh 20 daily dosing and then 40 come in for either a monthly or weekly shot or just want to come in for sense of community um and belonging.
The >> [clears throat] >> the DVS clinic uh administers Suboxone and Methadone um and helps treat people that have opiate use disorder. When we walk the the alleys, um some people decided to avail themselves of those services and some people did not.
Um and that that's their choice to [clears throat] do that. I've also gone through the the alleys with the um with Bellingham Police Department uh the bicycle uh team. And uh witnessed a lot of the very similar things where the police officers would try to hand out a little business card that has the contact information for DVS to try to encourage folks to to go to those to uh use that resource.
And would also um make sure that people knew about the Way Station, which is a few blocks the other way on uh State Street. And Way Station [clears throat] is operated in part by the Opportunity Council and the Unity uh Care folks.
And their numbers are they're pretty high. Uh it's well used uh facility. Um I've also been through those alleys with the community uh paramedic program. Um very similar things as well. So some people um are ready to um be in a place where they want to um accept some some options and others uh don't.
Um I've also been through there with the alternative response team. Um and our street medicine program uh the county's street medicine program has gone through there. Program for assertive uh community treatment and the mobile crisis outreach teams have all been up and down those alleys um many times.
And so I guess for folks who are trying to visualize where that might be, it'd be approximately from Chestnut uh between uh Railroad and Cornwall, between Chestnut all the way down to uh Champion. So it's three contiguous blocks of alley um that are it is a place where people go to um to find the the things that they want.
Um so I just wanted to make sure that that folks know that this this is not the vote tonight is not operated or or executed in in a in a vacuum. It's done through because um many, many people have gone through there and are trying their level [clears throat] best to uh to help the people that are that are there.
Um and I think that that is reflective of the the community at large. Um so I'll I'll I'll stop there. Councilmember [clears throat] Cotton. So um again, would reiterate to the public to to go back and watch that committee meeting earlier today.
Although we're waxing quite eloquently tonight as well, but um just to to say that I think the administration described it quite well as a access intervention and that no one is going to be um criminalized as a result of this.
This is really um uh an effort to offer some reprieve for downtown business owners and um especially employees that are um bearing a brunt of some disparate impacts that we wish we had easy root cause solutions for.
Um but um unfortunately ending um homelessness or uh drug abuse costs a lot more than $10,000. And um so um just to um address some of the comments we received. Um and then uh I I guess a question for the administration is I know there's going to be um day-by-day um uh you know, analysis and and outreach to determine impacts, but when could maybe the council or the public expect to um uh get updates?
I think that's a great question. Uh in advance of this conversation today, we had um we've had several conversations with our colleagues across the street at the County Health Department team. We convened a meeting of more than 40 direct service providers who regularly do outreach and um provide services in the alleys.
So we will be in close communication with that group. We'll be hearing feedback. We'll be listening to downtown residents, downtown business owners, employees, and especially um our bicycle cops to see what they're observing and um I would imagine that Jason Corneliuson will be um um along with um some of the communications team putting out some regular feedback to what we're observing and especially if we're making any change in strategy and what we're observing, we would communicate at that decision point.
I think about potential changes. Um I do It did not come up in the committee meeting conversation earlier, but our intention is to try to give it 30 days. We know that there'll be some initial disruption.
We would like to give it enough of a runway to see if we can um what the new normative looks like um and for that new baseline to establish. Um but if there is um as we discussed earlier today unintended consequences that are worse than the status quo, then we would be taking action before that time.
Thank you, Mayor. Councilmember Williams. If you watch the afternoon meeting, the people that are here to um that are are concerned about this process. Um I mentioned in the afternoon meeting I've had to deal with people um affected by these drugs in my family.
And the one thing that I've learned from that experience is that in order to help them realize they need help and need assistance there has to be a consistent consistent actions that let them know that this is not okay and they need to make a choice.
Um and this is just one minor tool that the city has to interrupt the behavior that's happening and and hopefully lead those affected people to the services they need from all of the agencies and all of the help teams and all of the everything that we have to get them the help that they need.
And this is just a tool. It's not a a sweep. It's not arresting anyone. It's just saying we need to do something to emphasize the need to get help and to also take care of our community. So that being said that is the whole purpose, believe me, of everything that we that we consider in this and um so I think it's time to vote.
Okay, I have one um comment myself just wanting to draw attention to the fact that so the Revised Code of Washington, right? RCW 35.22.280 includes the power to regulate and control streets and alleys um and the use thereof, but the Bellingham Municipal Code um does not currently contain a provision specifically addressing the closure of alleys for public safety reasons.
And so the purpose of this specific ordinance is to then basically by reference um allow the um city right, to have that as the Mayor had stated, sort of a a tool that the city could use um when necessary, again focusing on public safety safety reasons.
Um so there has been fair amount of discussion about just the concerns for community members who also are in the alleyways and um the violent crime that's been taking place. Um and so with this it would provide, my understanding from, you know, the memo that would come forward from the chief of police or from the police department requesting a a closure based on um data demonstrating the need for the closure would go to public works and then the public works team would post signage and or fencing as necessary to secure um to secure that area.
I know there had been some question and concern about, right criminalization of homelessness and or um members of the community who are suffering from addiction. And just with transparency, I mean wanting to make note that this ordinance does reference, right, a potential penalty which is a um misdemeanor.
Says punishable um by a fine in any sum not to exceed a thousand dollars or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days. And I don't know if um anyone from enforcement or from the administration is comfortable, you know, speaking to you know, the inclusion of that and how the city expects to you know, to potentially utilize that when we're wanting to say that really we're hoping there's, you know, discretionary options to encourage people to to seek treatment or services or things, but obviously just wanting to recognize that that is a component of of this ordinance.
Are you able to speak to that? Yeah, absolutely. Forrest Longman, Deputy City Administrator. So um just first of all that uh that fine and imprisonment um piece there, that's a standard misdemeanor language.
So if you look up the definition of a misdemeanor in our code that's the base if it's otherwise undefined, so we just default to that um but put it in this uh specific code just so it's clear so they don't have to look to a separate section of the code.
Um it can be different than that, but that's the standard definition. Um um it is [clears throat] it will be the discretion of the officers whether they make a warning of that or they pursue that. We have discussed extensively with our our police staff that the intent here is to educate and to get people out of these spaces and that is just a tool, so if there are people who are insistent on not leaving these spaces that the officers have some provision to get them out of there and make that arrest if they cannot convince them otherwise, but they will be um we are intending to do gating um and signage, so it will be very clear um and people will need to make an effort to get into there um and we think that once the um the draw, if you will, of the that drug activity is is dispersed that we don't anticipate and what we've seen in Seattle is that people are not trying to get into these spaces.
I guess one other clarifying question was with respect to the ordinance makes reference to, right, a temporary alley closures. And the memo that seems to um be needed to basically take action under this this ordinance.
Um it indicates that it would include um the reason for the request and supporting data demonstrating the need. I was curious if that memo would speak to the the term of closure or if that's something that was going to just when we're thinking about temporary, is this an indefinite temporary or are there any um I guess specific parameters with respect to time that we're we're thinking about?
The intent for this is to be flexible um but it is intended to be temporary. Uh I think we are going to be monitoring these conditions on a regular basis. Um our project team is planning to meet every couple weeks to check in, to review the data, to review um what we're hearing from both outreach partners and our and and business representatives down there and from the uh the police department.
So we intend to be flexible. We we didn't want to set a certain time frame in case we felt that it needed to be shorter or it needed to be slightly longer. Uh we wanted to leave some flexibility there.
Um but I I can tell you that right now we're thinking, you know, somewhere around a six-month time frame is sort of the intent. Mayor Lin. I think the memo speaks to some of the outcomes and goals that we hope to achieve during the closure um in terms of environmental changes in the alleyway.
We mentioned trash consolidation as a project that we are hoping to actively pursue, lighting improvements um general physical improvements to the alleyway is part of the objective and I think an important part of the conversation that we had earlier um that was touched on is that that idea of the respite.
For the employees [clears throat] that go to work along that alleyway each day, the impacts of years of this um you know, entrenched criminal activity um and the predatory drug dealing that is occurring adjacent to their workplaces has taken a real toll and so we are hearing from some of downtown's We're hearing from businesses that have been there decades.
They are committed to downtown, it's their place to be service to this community, that they are at a tipping point. And this break is essential for them to remain committed to providing their services in the location downtown.
Um they have borne the disproportionate brunt of some of these impacts and challenges for many years. And this respite is providing, um you know, an an important opportunity for them to come up and catch their breath and remain committed to being open for business downtown.
Thank you. So, we have um motion before us from Councilmember Hamel and a second by Councilmember Williams. Um the motion is to approve the ordinance. Any final comments or questions? Seeing none, I'll call the question.
All in favor will say aye. Aye. Any opposed or abstentions? Okay. Seeing none, that passes 6-0 with one excused. The next committee that met this afternoon was Budget and Finance, and that is chaired chaired by Councilmember Anderson.
I'll turn it over to you for comment. Thank you. So, um in front of the Finance Committee, we had one item, item number 24854. It's an ordinance amending the fee schedule for the rental registration and safety inspection program.
Um joining me today was Councilmember Cotton and Councilmember Hamel. And we heard from Julia Burns, our rental protection program specialist, and Blake Lyon, our Planning and Community Development Director.
Um in 2023, the city identified several improvements to the rental registration and safety inspection program, including updating fees to support additional efforts under the program that were approved by council.
This ordinance amends the existing fee schedule to make billing for rental registration and safety inspections more practical. The ordinance changes late fees for inspections to match to match registration fees to minimize the confusion to the public, simplify billing and clarify how and when late fees are assessed.
So, basically what this does is doesn't necessarily change how much is being charged, it's just when. Um we're aligning to make sure that things are consistent. Um previously, the registration late fee was um they would get charged um anywhere from 1 to 15 days, it's being moved to 30 so that it's better aligned.
By the time notification would go out and people would receive that, often they just didn't have time in order to pay. Most uh standard late fees kind of give a 30-day period in order to address it. Um it still has an escalation that um after 30 days um basically goes from 50, it goes up to 125, and then at 90 day overdue, it goes up to 250.
Also, a change is not necessarily sending them to um collections because um that's a lot of time and money, but um in order like it complies with one of our rules that um if they are that far late, then their permits um can be pulled.
So, there's actually uh potentially worse outcome than actually being sent to collection as a motivator to pay on time. So, um this is just kind of streamlining our process to make it consistent and predictable because sometimes the same landlords have both, and we have different messaging depending on which one it is.
So, um we're just kind of moving this to consistency and predictability for them. So, um the committee voted to approve, and I so move. Second. Motion is made by Councilmember Anderson and a second by Councilmember Hamel.
Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor will say aye. Aye. Any opposed or abstentions? Seeing none, that passes 6-0 with one excused. Thank you. And that was all we had in front of the committee, so I'll turn it back to you, Council President.
Thank you very much. So, the next committee this afternoon was Committee of the Whole. We had three items before us this afternoon. Um the first was agenda bill 24865. This is an appointment of a new public records officer for the City of Bellingham.
According to RCW 42.56.580, each state and local agency shall appoint and publicly identify a public records officer whose responsibility is to serve as a point of contact for members of the public in requesting disclosure of public records and to oversee the agency's compliance with the Public Records Act.
Since 2021, Senior Assistant City Attorney Sara Chaplin has served as the city's public records officer. The city has recently transitioned public records processing duties from the City Attorney's Office to the City Clerk's Office.
Ms. Chaplin will continue to provide legal advice and representation regarding public disclosure matters. And Deputy City Clerk Kelly Getz will replace Ms. Chaplin as the City Public Records Officer. We received a brief presentation this afternoon which highlighted the rationale behind the change and provided council with an update on activities by the City Clerk team.
So, just wanting to highlight that previously, um as the Public Records Officer, Ms. Chaplin was again doing sort of that double duty with the public records, serving as public records legal advisor as well as the public records officer.
Um prior to Ms. Chaplin, um Mr. Erb, James Erb, served in that role for approximately 10 years. Um but we've seen the number of records requests grow. Um you know, looking at an average around 1,200 most years, and now this um most recent year seeing upwards of 5,000 records requests.
Some which can be quite quite lengthy. Um but within the clerk's office, there's already, you know, a a mission really to to protect and preserve records for the entire city and to respond to the public.
And so, it seems like a a natural fit to have that work um sort of live in in that office and the ability to work to standardize, you know, operational and organizational structure to to help us um most efficiently meet those requests for for records.
Just wanting to highlight, so Kelly Getz is with us this evening as our clerk. Um and the team working with her in that department on the records, so Evan Reynolds, Sabrina Gibbons, um and Rhiannon um Finster.
So, just wanting to make note that that transition isn't going to fall solely on the the shoulders of Ms. Getz, but extremely grateful for again the professionalism and really um just passion and commitment to um again protecting and and preserving the records of of the city and really helping to preserve that archive um as well for for the city.
Um so, there was a unanimous recommendation this afternoon to move to approve the appointment of Kelly Getz, Deputy City Clerk, as the city's designated public records officer, and I so move. Second. There's a motion by the chair and a second by Councilmember Williams.
Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor will say aye. Aye. Any opposed or abstentions? Okay. Seeing none, that passes 6-0 with one excused. The next item before the committee was agenda bill 24866. This is an update on city efforts to improve digital services accessibility.
So, city staff have undertaken a comprehensive assessment to identify gaps in digital services accessibility, addressing all online services such as the city's website, mobile and other third-party applications, City Council meeting broadcasting, and more.
This effort supports the development of a sustained strategy to meet a federal accessibility compliance deadline in April of this year, 2026, as well as enhance equitable access to city services for all community members.
City staff provided an update on this project, including plans to continue monitoring and improving digital services accessibility as part of all city operations. This afternoon, we were joined by Melissa Moran, who's the Communications and Community Relations Director for the City of Bellingham, and Holly Peterson, who's the ADA Coordinator for the city.
Um I would encourage members of the community who are interested in this transition in this work, again with accessibility, um to watch the the presentation. A lot of good work being done in a a heavy lift, again to review all of the um just all of the the public-facing points um within city work that that need to be accessible um to members of the public.
So, one of the the heaviest lifts is with respect to PDF documents and the ability to make those again readable to um members of the community who um may have limitations. So, making sure again when there are photographs or um or graphs or other um images that those are clearly articulated um with words or the ability again for those to be um read in other um using other programming or software again to make that as accessible as possible.
So, that includes covering our website as well as what was highlighted third-party applications um to ensure that there's equal access to to information. Um so, that that work is going forward now and hoping to have everything in compliance by again that April deadline.
Um but, that work will will continue going forward. So, this work is in connection with ADA title two and a Department of Justice decision when a final rule was passed um regarding this web accessibility.
So, really focused on our our website um and and that platform. So, that work will continue going forward. This item was brought forward this afternoon for information and discussion only. So, there was no action taken.
And the final item before the Committee of the Whole was agenda bill 24871. >> [clears throat] >> This is a presentation of the public safety level of service needs assessment. So, in response to increasing public safety costs, the city recently completed a public safety level of service needs assessment.
This project evaluated current levels of service for the fire and police departments, identified service gaps, outlined the resources needed to fill those gaps, and examined potential new funding sources.
Staff presented the results of the assessment. >> [clears throat] >> So, during this item we heard from Deputy Administrator Forrest Longman. And a number of options were highlighted in considering um how to address the increased, you know, staffing costs and staffing model for the fire department and the police department focusing focusing on the fire department in particular.
Um there was discussion about the really the the few options that are available to the city. Looking at an ambulance utility um which could be accomplished through a council vote. Second is a fire benefit charge.
Um this would require a 60% public vote um on a ballot. A property tax levy. This would um the city has some levy capacity there, but it would require also a majority um public vote and renewal continued renewal necessary.
There was extensive discussion about a regional fire authority and exploring that option further. Um a regional fire authority would require a majority vote on the ballot um by the the voters and would free up potentially up to $24 million in the general fund for the city of Bellingham.
So, the first step in just investigating whether a regional fire authority, if this would be um an appropriate time for the city to consider that that work, the first step is to form a planning committee.
Um that committee would be made up of three city of Bellingham members or representatives and three District 8 commissioners. Um there was a motion this afternoon not to, you know, make any assignment of membership to that committee, but at this time to move forward with the um the initiation of that planning committee.
And I so move. Second. There's a motion by the chair and a second by Council member Williams. Any discussion on this item? Council member Anderson. So, in all my years on council, I've never done um abst- to abstain, but I'm not supporting it and I'm not not supporting it, which is a awkward position.
Um this was presented to us today and I had kind of hoped we'd have another meeting cuz I had a lot of questions and part of that is I want to make sure that we're looking at all options. Basically, we're going to go to the community and ask them to tax themselves.
Um and it would be a vote and I just want to make sure that um we're pursuing the right lane. I had questions whether a property tax for a business the size of Costco would be perhaps cheaper than a um regional fire authority.
So, I wanted some data and numbers on what the cost was for these options. Um through the discussion we were told that they would look at all of it, but um I kind of feel um when we're really specifically looking at the regional fire authority as an option, whether it's a good time or not, I'm concerned there would be equal weight at all options.
Um I don't deny that um the cost of public safety is a a huge um constraint on our budget and um we can't always give equal services. Um we do our best, but um there's a lot of places we can put additional funding.
Um but I kind of wanted another meeting so we could go over more data and know whether or not this was the right lane to pick. Um I spoke about it earlier, but um I support our uh emergency services. I just really would have appreciated an opportunity to ask some specific questions and gain some data before we decided to go further and pick a lane to to do the assessment.
Any other comments or questions from Council? If not, I will call the question. All in favor will say I. I. I. Any opposed? Any abstentions? You can abstain. Sorry. Um so, that passes five um 5-0 with one abstention.
And we have Council member Lilquist excused. Okay. Thank you very much. Um Now, we have old and new business. Any items for old and new? Okay. Seeing none, we had an executive session this afternoon. So, for the executive session we had three items before us.
The first was a potential litigation matter with Chaplin. Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. This was for information and discussion only and there was no action taken. The second item was also a potential litigation matter.
This is regarding claim number 2025-36. This was with Phillips. Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. The action coming forward is to entertain a motion to authorize the mayor to enter into a settlement agreement with Troy and Adrian Hascal with the following terms.
Resolution of claim number 2025-36 for the payment of $425,000 to the claimants for damages related to this claim. Move approval. Second. Motion was made by Council member Williams and a second by Council member Huffman.
Just going to note there was um also some discussion just confirming that it was the um water fund that this $425,000 would be um coming from. So, not the general fund, but from the water fund. Any other discussion or questions?
Okay. Seeing none, all in favor will say I. I. I. Any opposed or abstentions? Okay. Seeing none, that passes 6-0 with Council member Lilquist excused. The third item was also a potential litigation matter.
This was with Stamps. Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. It was for information and discussion only and there was no action taken. Next, we have consent agenda. Move approval.
Second. Motion by Council member Hamel and a second by Council member Huffman. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor will say I. I. I. Any opposed or abstentions? Okay. Seeing none, that passes 6-0 with one excused.
And we have no final consideration of ordinances this evening. Um so, at this time, that concludes our regular business and our next meeting will be on April 13th. And as we transition to um public comment, which will take place on a different platform, I will highlight how members of the public can um can join the Zoom meeting because the feed from this meeting will end.
Um in order to join the meeting, you can join the Zoom meeting at cob.org/cczoom and follow these instructions. So, the ID number is 871-518-852-05 and you can select password nine. Alternatively, you're able to call by dialing 253-215-8782.