City Council - Regular Meeting
City Council - Regular Meeting
Mon, February 23, 2026
Agenda items
Vote records
Discussion summary
Transcript
Meeting summaryAI-generated
Bellingham City Council — Regular Meeting, February 23, 2026
All seven council members were present for this regular meeting, which included a public hearing on landmark tree protections, a State of the City video address from Mayor Kim Lund, committee reports covering transportation grants, a major county justice facility update, and a resolution on immigrant and civil rights.
Public Hearing: Landmark Tree Interim Ordinance Extension (Agenda Bill 24843)
The council held a public hearing on whether to extend — for the fourth time — the interim development regulations protecting landmark trees throughout Bellingham. The original emergency ordinance was adopted in May 2024. Planning and Community Development Director Blake Lion explained that while the city has begun the formal Type 6 legislative process with the Planning Commission, more time is needed to complete it. He also noted that House Bill 2266, which would have directed the state Department of Commerce to create a model tree ordinance, failed to pass out of the House Appropriations Committee, removing one reason for delay — though staff still want additional time to refine the ordinance before making it permanent.
Lion highlighted what is working well: landmark trees are being protected, an inventory and public GIS map exist, and interdepartmental coordination has improved. Concerns include front-end costs and time burdens for developers, a need to clarify what constitutes "reasonable use" of property near protected trees, and edge cases such as a homeowner whose 50-inch tree has lifted his home's foundation — a scenario the current ordinance doesn't address. In 2025, 13 clearing permits were issued for landmark tree removal; six have been issued so far in 2026. Staff are also exploring tree banks and in-lieu fees as mitigation tools.
Public comment drew five speakers with a range of views:
Adam Bellinger warned that the ordinance may inadvertently incentivize preemptive clear-cutting of wooded lots before trees reach the 36-inch diameter threshold, citing his parents' property in the Samish neighborhood as an example.
Yoshi Rall (also known as Douglas) spoke emotionally in support of the extension, describing trees as living beings and sharing personal experience with how time in nature helped him through depression.
John (a certified arborist of 25 years) supported the ordinance but raised two concerns: the 36-inch diameter threshold doesn't fit all species, and the current maximum fine of $2,400 per violation is far too low relative to the appraised value of landmark trees.
Brian Gas expressed frustration with what he called a lack of a cohesive plan, arguing the ordinance conflicts with affordable housing goals and that the city "can't have it all."
Perry Esridge, representing the Whatcom County Association of Realtors and the Building Industry Association, supported the six-month extension and praised Director Lion's responsiveness, while noting some problems could have been avoided with a more robust initial process.
Council members discussed refining the critical root zone calculation (currently one foot of radius per inch of trunk diameter), the need for escalated fines when trees are removed in defiance of a prior hearing examiner ruling, and whether arborist reports and permit records are accessible to the public via the city's eTRACKiT system.
Before passing the ordinance, the council adopted a technical amendment correcting an internal date reference (substituting February 23, 2026 for the outdated August 11, 2025 date in Section 13).
Vote on date amendment: Moved by Council President Stone, seconded by Council Member Lilliquist. Passed 7–0.
Vote on ordinance as amended: Moved by Council Member Hammill, seconded by Council Member Williams. Passed 7–0.
The extension runs from March 26 through September 26, 2026.
Mayor's Report: State of the City
Mayor Kim Lund presented a new video-format State of the City address in lieu of the traditional in-chambers speech. Highlights included: managing a $10 million budget shortfall leading into 2026; acquiring over 1,000 acres in the Lake Whatcom watershed; opening the Little Squalicum Pier; progress on downtown activation; the North Haven Tiny Home Village opening; and upcoming priorities including central library renovation, a new indoor recreation center, Bellingham Bay environmental cleanup, and ongoing housing reform. The mayor also noted the city is evaluating new sustainable funding sources for police, fire, and EMS.
Committee Reports: Public Works and Natural Resources
Samish Way and Maple Street Overlay Project Grant (Agenda Bill 24837): The city accepted a $2.3 million WSDOT grant — covering 100% of project costs — for pavement resurfacing and street lighting improvements along the corridor between Bill McDonald Parkway and Ellis Street. Design begins this year; construction is expected in 2026–2027. A related sewer project will be completed before paving begins.
Vote: Moved by Lilliquist, seconded by Huthman. Passed 7–0.
Electric Avenue Bridge Reconstruction Grant (Agenda Bill 24838): The city accepted a $10.46 million WSDOT grant toward an estimated $11.8 million bridge reconstruction project. The rebuilt bridge will include pedestrian and bicycle facilities and be forward-compatible with future active transportation networks. Design runs through end of 2026; construction is not expected to begin until 2028. The city's share is approximately $1.4 million.
Vote: Moved by Lilliquist, seconded by Anderson. Passed 7–0.
Interlocal Agreement with Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District (Agenda Bill 24842): The city will temporarily supply water to the district while it maintains an existing reservoir and constructs a new one. The district will pay an estimated $250,000 into the city's water fund.
Vote: Moved by Lilliquist, seconded by Williams. Passed 7–0.
Committee Reports: Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity
Whatcom County Justice and Behavioral Care Center Update (Agenda Bill 24844): Deputy County Executive Kayla Schott-Bresler presented on the status of the largest capital project in Whatcom County history — a new jail, behavioral care center, and 23-hour center funded by a two-tenths of 1% sales tax projected to generate $12.5 million annually and support roughly $200 million in bonds. Council Member Hammill reported that 2025 sales tax receipts came in $1 million (9%) below 2023 projections, and combined with rising construction costs, some of the more ambitious program elements are now financially out of reach. Several budget scenarios were presented; the county executive is seeking direction by end of April. Hammill strongly encouraged the public to watch the county's recent meeting recordings on whatcomcounty.us for full context. No action was taken by city council on this item.
Interlocal Agreement: Whatcom Racial Equity Commission Funding (Agenda Bill 24835): The city renewed its financial commitment to the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission (WREC), shifting from a three-year to an annual budget cycle. The city's contribution is $100,000 per year.
Vote: Moved by Hammill, seconded by Williams. Passed 7–0.
Resolution Reaffirming Immigrant and Civil Rights (Agenda Bill 24841): The council considered a resolution reaffirming Bellingham's commitment to constitutional rights — including due process, free speech, peaceful assembly, and freedom from warrantless searches — and denouncing federal immigration enforcement actions it described as endangering public safety.
Discussion was substantive and lengthy. Council Member Lilliquist spoke about the constitutional basis for his support, citing court rulings from multiple federal judges who found federal agents had misrepresented the law or acted unlawfully. Council Member Williams said community members had directly asked what the city is doing, and that the resolution reflects the city's history of standing up for civil and human rights. Council Member Cotton, noting her background as an immigration attorney, emphasized that enforcing immigration law and protecting due process are not mutually exclusive, and cautioned that some language in the resolution makes broad commitments the city may be tested to deliver on; she also highlighted several state bills the city is tracking. Council Member Anderson said the resolution marks a historical moment and documents where the council stands. Council Member Huthman described resolutions as valuable snapshots in time. Mayor Lund proposed adding a recital recognizing city-supported cultural events that elevate immigrant stories (including exhibits at the Whatcom Museum and library programming).
Amendments adopted (all 7–0):
1. Added a "whereas" recital recognizing city investments in arts, culture, and community events that elevate diverse and immigrant voices — moved by Anderson, seconded by Williams.
2. Replaced "American streets" and "American neighborhoods" with "streets and neighborhoods here in the United States" to avoid excluding people from other parts of the Americas — moved by Huthman, seconded by Anderson.
3. Replaced the word "lawless" with "unlawful" to reflect that courts have made legal findings about the actions in question — moved by Lilliquist, seconded by Cotton.
Final vote on resolution as amended: Moved by Hammill, seconded by Huthman. Passed 7–0.
Committee of the Whole: Bellingham Plan Access Presentation (Agenda Bill 24839)
Long-range Planning Manager Chris Beehey presented how to navigate the recently adopted Bellingham Plan on the city's website, including interactive maps allowing parcel-level zoning lookups, embedded links to definitions and related documents, and screen-reader-accessible versions. No action was taken; the presentation was for information only.
Consent Agenda
The following routine items were approved together without discussion: AP transaction authorizations (January 16 – February 5, 2026); payroll authorization (January 1–15, 2026); January 26, 2026 meeting minutes; a 2026 paramedic training interlocal agreement amendment; and a memorandum of understanding between the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office and Bellingham Police Department for explosive magazine storage.
Vote: Moved by Lilliquist, seconded by Hammill. Passed 7–0.
Final Ordinance: Four-Year Commute Trip Reduction Plan (Agenda Bill 24829)
The council adopted an ordinance approving the city's Commute Trip Reduction Plan for 2025–2029, as required by state law (RCW 70A.15.4000).
Vote (roll call): All seven members voted aye. Passed 7–0.
Executive Session: Potential Property Acquisitions
The council reviewed two potential property acquisitions in closed session — one identified as "Longman" and one as "Rosenblatt," described as a potential Lake Whatcom watershed acquisition. Both were for information and discussion only; no action was taken.
Key Takeaways
Landmark tree ordinance extended again: The interim regulations protecting landmark trees were extended through September 26, 2026, to allow staff to complete a formal public legislative process. Key refinements under consideration include the critical root zone formula, fines for willful violations, and which tree species are covered.
Three transportation grants approved: The council accepted $2.3 million for Samish Way/Maple Street repaving (100% grant-funded) and $10.46 million for Electric Avenue Bridge reconstruction ($1.4 million city match required), and authorized a $250,000 temporary water supply agreement with Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District.
County justice center faces budget pressure: The Whatcom County Justice and Behavioral Care Center — the largest capital project in county history — is under financial strain due to lower-than-projected sales tax receipts and rising construction costs; key decisions are expected by end of April.
Immigrant rights resolution passed unanimously: After substantive debate and three amendments, the council adopted a resolution reaffirming constitutional rights and denouncing what it characterized as unlawful federal immigration enforcement actions, with council members explicitly citing court rulings against federal agents.
Whatcom Racial Equity Commission funding renewed: The city committed $100,000 annually to support the county-wide WREC, shifting to a year-by-year funding model.
AI-generated summary from voice-to-text transcript. Not the official record. Verify important details with the source documents linked above.
What happened at this meeting
An ordinance adopting a four-year Commute Trip Reduction Plan for 2025-2029 and implementing measures as required by RCW 70A.15.4000
Council conducted final consideration of an ordinance adopting a four-year Commute Trip Reduction Plan for 2025-2029 and implementing measures as required by RCW 70A.15.4400. A motion was made by Council Member Anderson and seconded by Council Member Huffman. The roll call vote resulted in all seven council members voting in favor (Anderson, Hamill, Williams, Anderson, Lilloquist, Cotton, and Stone), with the motion passing 7-0.
An interlocal agreement with Whatcom County providing funding for the
Staff presented an interlocal agreement with Whatcom County for continued funding of the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission (WREC), which addresses racial inequity and assists local governments. The city's annual contribution is $100,000, moving from a three-year to annual budget model. Council Member Hamill highlighted the city's commitment beyond financial investment, acknowledging the time and energy from Mayor Lund, Council Member Williams, and Deborah Beneza (strategic initiatives manager for equity and belonging). The motion passed 7-0 with no opposition or abstentions.
Acceptance of a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation for the Samish Way and Maple Street Overlay Project (ES593)
# Summary: Acceptance of WSDOT Grant for Samish Way and Maple Street Project
The City Council unanimously approved (7-0) acceptance of a $2.3 million grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation for the Samish Way and Maple Street overlay project between Bill McDonald Parkway and Ellis, which covers 100% of project costs. Council Member Liloquist moved the motion, seconded by Council Member Huthman, recommending approval of the required local agency agreement. The project includes pavement resurfacing and street lighting improvements, with design work proceeding this year and construction beginning next year. The city will coordinate timing to ensure a separate sewer project in the same corridor is completed before paving work begins, and intersection improvements at the 45-degree turn from Maple to Ellis will be made prior to final project completion.
The City Council unanimously approved (7-0) acceptance of a $2.3 million grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation for the Samish Way and Maple Street overlay project between Bill McDonald Parkway and Ellis, which covers 100% of project costs. Council Member Liloquist moved the motion, seconded by Council Member Huthman, recommending approval of the required local agency agreement. The project includes pavement resurfacing and street lighting improvements, with design work proceeding this year and construction beginning next year. The city will coordinate timing to ensure a separate sewer project in the same corridor is completed before paving work begins, and intersection improvements at the 45-degree turn from Maple to Ellis will be made prior to final project completion.
Acceptance of a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation for the Electric Avenue Bridge Reconstruction Project (ER019)
The City Council considered acceptance of a $10.46 million grant from WSDOT for the Electric Avenue Bridge Reconstruction Project, estimated at $11.8 million total. The reconstructed bridge will include safe facilities for pedestrians and cyclists with forward compatibility for future bicycle and pedestrian networks. Design will continue through the end of the year with construction potentially beginning in 2028; the grant covers more than 80% of costs with the city contributing approximately $1.4 million. Council member Liiloquist moved and Council member Anderson seconded; the motion passed 7-0.
Presentation on how to access the Bellingham Plan and related resources
The Committee of the Whole received a presentation on how to access the Bellingham Plan and related resources, presented by Chris Beehey, long range planning manager. The presentation demonstrated various access methods including downloadable PDFs, interactive online versions with active links to definitions and cross-references, screen reader versions for accessibility, and interactive maps allowing users to zoom to street and house level to determine zoning. Staff was commended for completing the comprehensive plan at the end of the previous year and creating a living document that can be updated and maintained electronically as the city collects new data.
Agenda items (26)
Procedural (10)
1ProceduralIn-person: Headsets are available to attendees in Council Chambers.
Headsets will be available for in-person attendees in Council Chambers to hear meeting proceedings.
3ProceduralOnline: A sign-up form is available at cob.org/ccsignup on the day of the meeting.
Residents wishing to speak during the meeting can sign up online at cob.org/ccsignup on the day of the meeting.
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 the evening of the meeting.
5ProceduralSign up, both online and in person, closes at 7 p.m. Once signed up, speakers may participate via the following options:
Both online and in-person sign-ups for public comment close at 7 p.m., after which speakers can participate through multiple options.
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 the Zoom meeting online at cob.org/cczoom to participate in the hearing or offer public comment.
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 with Meeting ID 871 5188 5205 and Password 9 to participate by phone during the hearing or public comment period; written comments can also be submitted 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 before or after a meeting.
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 for public hearings at cob.org/publichearing or send general public comments to all Council Members at ccmail@cob.org.
24834ProceduralApproval of the January 26, 2026 City Council committee and regular meeting minutes
The council will approve the official minutes from the January 26, 2026 committee and regular meeting.
Council Business
2Council BusinessOld or new business
Council members can raise any additional old or new business not already on the agenda.
24835Council BusinessAn interlocal agreement with Whatcom County providing funding for the
The council will approve an agreement with Whatcom County that provides funding for an unspecified city project.
What happened
Staff presented an interlocal agreement with Whatcom County for continued funding of the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission (WREC), which addresses racial inequity and assists local governments. The city's annual contribution is $100,000, moving from a three-year to annual budget model. Council Member Hamill highlighted the city's commitment beyond financial investment, acknowledging the time and energy from Mayor Lund, Council Member Williams, and Deborah Beneza (strategic initiatives manager for equity and belonging). The motion passed 7-0 with no opposition or abstentions.24837Council BusinessAcceptance of a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation for the Samish Way and Maple Street Overlay Project (ES593)
The city is accepting a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation to fund the Samish Way and Maple Street Overlay Project.
What happened
# Summary: Acceptance of WSDOT Grant for Samish Way and Maple Street ProjectThe City Council unanimously approved (7-0) acceptance of a $2.3 million grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation for the Samish Way and Maple Street overlay project between Bill McDonald Parkway and Ellis, which covers 100% of project costs. Council Member Liloquist moved the motion, seconded by Council Member Huthman, recommending approval of the required local agency agreement. The project includes pavement resurfacing and street lighting improvements, with design work proceeding this year and construction beginning next year. The city will coordinate timing to ensure a separate sewer project in the same corridor is completed before paving work begins, and intersection improvements at the 45-degree turn from Maple to Ellis will be made prior to final project completion.
24838Council BusinessAcceptance of a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation for the Electric Avenue Bridge Reconstruction Project (ER019)
The city is accepting a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation to fund the Electric Avenue Bridge Reconstruction Project.
What happened
The City Council considered acceptance of a $10.46 million grant from WSDOT for the Electric Avenue Bridge Reconstruction Project, estimated at $11.8 million total. The reconstructed bridge will include safe facilities for pedestrians and cyclists with forward compatibility for future bicycle and pedestrian networks. Design will continue through the end of the year with construction potentially beginning in 2028; the grant covers more than 80% of costs with the city contributing approximately $1.4 million. Council member Liiloquist moved and Council member Anderson seconded; the motion passed 7-0.24839Council BusinessPresentation on how to access the Bellingham Plan and related resources
City staff will present information on how residents and businesses can access the Bellingham Plan and related planning resources.
What happened
The Committee of the Whole received a presentation on how to access the Bellingham Plan and related resources, presented by Chris Beehey, long range planning manager. The presentation demonstrated various access methods including downloadable PDFs, interactive online versions with active links to definitions and cross-references, screen reader versions for accessibility, and interactive maps allowing users to zoom to street and house level to determine zoning. Staff was commended for completing the comprehensive plan at the end of the previous year and creating a living document that can be updated and maintained electronically as the city collects new data.24841Council BusinessA resolution reaffirming the City's commitment to immigrant rights and civil rights and denouncing federal immigration enforcement actions that endanger public safety and violate individuals’ constitutional rights in
The council will vote on a resolution reaffirming its support for immigrant and civil rights while opposing federal immigration enforcement actions that endanger public safety.
What happened
# Summary: Resolution on Immigrant Rights and Civil RightsCity Council unanimously approved a resolution reaffirming the city's commitment to immigrant rights and civil rights while denouncing federal immigration enforcement actions that endanger public safety and violate constitutional protections including free speech, peaceful assembly, due process, and freedom from warrantless searches. Council Member Lilquist successfully amended the resolution to add language highlighting the city's commitment to elevating immigrant voices through cultural initiatives like museum exhibits and library events, and further amended the language to replace "lawless" with "unlawful" and "American" with "United States" for greater clarity and accuracy. Council Members Williams, Hudson, Anderson, and Cotton expressed support, noting the resolution reflects the city's 15-20 year history of supporting civil rights, serves as an important point-in-time declaration of values, and complements related state legislative work protecting immigrant workers. Council Member Hamill moved final approval, which passed 7-0 with no opposition.
24842Council BusinessAn interlocal agreement with Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District for temporary water supply Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity 1:15 p.m.
The council will approve an agreement with Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District to provide temporary water supply to the city.
What happened
The City Council considered an interlocal agreement with Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District for temporary water supply to allow for maintenance of an existing reservoir and construction of a new one. The City of Bellingham has existing metered water interconnection infrastructure in good condition and sufficient capacity to provide the temporary supply. The water and sewer district will pay an estimated $250,000 into the water fund for this service. Council member Liiloquist moved and Council member Williams seconded; the motion passed 7-0.24844Council BusinessUpdate on planning for the Whatcom County Justice and Behavioral Care
The council will receive an update on planning efforts for a new Whatcom County Justice and Behavioral Care facility.
What happened
# SummaryCouncil member Hamill presented an update on the Whatcom County Justice and Behavioral Care Center, Whatcom County's largest capital project, which is funded by a two-tenths of 1% sales tax projected to generate $12.5 million annually for approximately $200 million in bonding. However, sales receipts fell $1 million (9%) short of 2023 projections, and rising construction costs have made ambitious facility components unaffordable. Deputy Executive Kayla Shot Brussler presented scenarios showing only the first two options are financially viable, though they require sacrificing key facility components. The three primary facilities—a jail, behavioral care center, and 23-hour center—remain theoretically within reach, with the behavioral care center receiving separate voter-approved funding support from 2023. The county executive is requesting final decisions by end of April, and council member Hamill recommended that interested parties review the full presentation video and related task force meetings from February 12th and 19th.
Ordinance
24829OrdinanceAn ordinance adopting a four-year Commute Trip Reduction Plan for 2025-2029 and implementing measures as required by RCW 70A.15.4000
The council will adopt a four-year plan (2025-2029) to reduce commute trips and implement required measures under state law to decrease vehicle traffic.
What happened
Council conducted final consideration of an ordinance adopting a four-year Commute Trip Reduction Plan for 2025-2029 and implementing measures as required by RCW 70A.15.4400. A motion was made by Council Member Anderson and seconded by Council Member Huffman. The roll call vote resulted in all seven council members voting in favor (Anderson, Hamill, Williams, Anderson, Lilloquist, Cotton, and Stone), with the motion passing 7-0.Consent Calendar
24830Consent CalendarAuthorization of AP transactions issued January 16, 2026 through
The council will authorize payment of accounts payable transactions issued between January 16 and a specified date in 2026.
24831Consent CalendarAuthorization of payroll labor cost payments dated January 1, 2026 to
The council will authorize payment of payroll and labor costs dated between January 1 and a specified date in 2026.
24832Consent CalendarAuthorization of AP transactions issued January 23, 2026 through
The council will authorize payment of accounts payable transactions issued between January 23 and a specified date in 2026.
24833Consent CalendarAuthorization of AP transactions issued January 30, 2026 through
The council will authorize payment of accounts payable transactions issued between January 30 and a specified date in 2026.
24836Consent CalendarAmendment to 2026 interlocal agreement for paramedic training
The council will approve an amendment to the 2026 agreement with Whatcom County for paramedic training.
24840Consent CalendarMemorandum of understanding between Whatcom County Sheriff's Office and Bellingham Police Department for explosive magazine storage
The council will approve an agreement between the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office and Bellingham Police Department for storing explosive materials.
Public Hearing
24843Public HearingA public hearing for an ordinance relating to the preservation of landmark trees and extending the interim development regulations with respect to landmark trees throughout the city
The council will hold a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to protect landmark trees throughout the city and extend temporary building regulations related to tree preservation.
What happened
# Summary: Public Hearing on Landmark Tree Preservation OrdinanceBlake Lion, Planning and Community Development Director, presented a public hearing for an ordinance relating to the preservation of landmark trees, recommending a six-month extension of interim development regulations since House Bill 2266 did not pass. Staff outlined plans to engage the public and industry stakeholders through a Type Six legislative process before returning with final provisions. Multiple public commenters raised concerns about the 36-inch diameter threshold for landmark tree designation, with certified arborist John from Moonlight Tree Service arguing it was too restrictive for valuable smaller tree species, while others like Adam Bellinger worried it could incentivize clear-cutting of wooded lots. Council members discussed refinements needed to the tree protection zone definition, enforcement penalties, and the accessibility of permit documentation in the eTrack system. After unanimously amending the ordinance to update the effective date from August 11, 2025 to February 23, 2026, the Council passed the ordinance 7-0, establishing a six-month extension running through September 26, 2026.
Additional votes recorded in minutes
Amend ordinance to correct date in Section 13 (substitute February 23, 2026 for August 11, 2025)
aye 1
voice voteaye
Pass ordinance extending interim landmark tree regulations with amendment
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve interlocal agreement for Samish Way and Maple Street overlay project grant
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve interlocal agreement for Electric Avenue Bridge Reconstruction Project grant
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve interlocal agreement with Whatcom Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District for temporary water supply
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve interlocal agreement with Whatcom County funding Whatcom Racial Equity Commission
aye 1
voice voteaye
Amend immigrant rights resolution to add recital regarding city commitment to elevating diverse voices
aye 1
voice voteaye
Amend immigrant rights resolution to strike 'American' and insert 'in the United States'
aye 1
voice voteaye
Amend immigrant rights resolution to replace 'lawless' with 'unlawful'
aye 1
voice voteaye
Adopt resolution reaffirming city commitment to immigrant rights and civil rights
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve consent agenda
aye 1
voice voteaye
Adopt ordinance for 4-year commute trip reduction plan 2025-2029
aye 7
Dan Hammillaye
Edwin Williamsaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Verbatim transcript available
418 transcript segments indexed
City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting minutes February 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.
Good evening and welcome to the Bellingham City Council regular meeting. Today is Monday, February 23rd, 2026. I'm going to call the meeting to order and we will begin this evening first with roll call.
>> Holly Hman >> here. >> Dan Hamill >> here. >> Skip Williams >> here. >> Lisa Anderson >> here. >> Michael Lilliloquist >> here. >> J Scott Cotton here. >> Hannah Stone >> here. All council members are present.
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.
>> Thank you very much. So, beginning this evening with announcements and upcoming meetings. First, wanted to share that 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 Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Jace Cotton, At-Large Announcements and upcoming meetings The Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the State of Washington Open Public Meetings Act.
And next, we have the land acknowledgement. Is there a council member who would like to read the land acknowledgement? Council member Anderson. I remembered my reading glasses tonight. Okay. Um before we begin, we acknowledge that we are gathered on traditional and unseated territory of the Lummy, Noosack, Samish, and Semiamu people who have cared for and tended this land since time immemorial.
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.
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.
Truth and acknowledgement are critical to building mutual respect and connection across all barriers of heritage and difference. We begin this effort to acknowledge that what has been buried by honoring the truth.
We pay respect to our elders past and present. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that brings us together here today. And please join us in uncovering such truths at any and all public events.
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.
Thank you very much. The next item is regarding language access. The Bellingham City Council provides Spanish Spanish interpretation at all regular evening meetings. Interpretation can be accessed in person by attendees utilizing the headsets that are located at the front of the room.
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 9 headsets located at the front of the room.
Remote viewers can log on to co.orgccoom org/cczoom and click on the language icon at the bottom of the screen to listen in Spanish. Zoom. interpret. So the next council meeting after this evening just highlighting that that meeting will be held on March 9th, 2026.
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. Next Council meeting The next City Council meeting will be held on March 9, 2026.
So this evening we're going to start first with a public hearing. This is a public hearing um which is included under agenda bill 24843. So this is a public hearing for an ordinance relating to the preservation of landmark trees and extending the interim or development regulations with respect to landmark trees throughout the city.
Public hearing 24843 1. A public hearing for an ordinance relating to the preservation of landmark p. 6 trees and extending the interim development regulations with respect to landmark trees throughout the city Summary: Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, presented the interim ordinance relating to the preservation of landmark trees and extending the interim development regulations throughout the City.
Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Summary: Council President Stone opened the public hearing. Council heard testimony from six individuals. Council President Stone closed the public hearing.
Back on May 20th, 2024, the city council adopted an emergency ordinance at that time relating to the preservation of landmark trees and established interim development regulations with respect to landmark trees throughout the city.
Action: Hannah Stone / Michael Lilliquist moved to amend the ordinance, “Sec. 13. Public Hearing Required. The City Council held a public hearing on this ordinance which extends the interim regulations for landmark trees on August 11, 2025 February 23, 2026.” MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
The council has extended the interim ordinance for an additional six months six-month increments on three previous occasions. On February 19th, so that's this past Thursday, staff presented the interim ordinance to the planning commission for the start of the type six process legislative process.
Action: Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading as amended. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Mayor's report Standing time for briefings, updates, and reports to Council by the Mayor.
However, additional time is needed to complete that process. Furthermore, additional time is needed to fully evaluate the potential implications of proposed House Bill 2267, which is currently in this year's legislative session.
Page 2 of 9 Mayor Lund shared her State of the City address, available at cob.org/mayor-kim-lund- reflects-on-the-state-of-the-city. Council assignment reports Standing time for Council Member reports from assigned committees, boards, and other groups.
As a result, the council will hold a public evening a public hearing this evening to consider another possible six-month extension. Um, so for this item, I'm first going to turn to Blake Lion, who's the planning and communicate um community development director.
>> Thank you, and good evening, council, mayor, and members of the public. Again, my name is Blake Lion. I'm have the pleasure of serving as the uh director for planning and community development. I won't take a lot of time this evening, but I did want to share with you a little bit of of the fact that House Bill 2266, which was a direction that would have asked uh the Department of Commerce to create a model uh ordinance that did not pass out of the originating chamber.
Summary: Council Member Williams shared there are discussions to consolidate the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and Greenways Committee. Discussions will begin later this spring. Council Member Williams attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for Storybrook Park on February 13th to celebrate the new Birchwood neighborhood park.
So, at the time of writing this report, uh we didn't know that information finally, but it did make it through the House Committee on Local Government, but did not uh pass out of House Appropriations Committee.
He also recognized, the Landscape Architect, Jonathan Schilk's retirement. Council Member Williams encouraged the community to attend the upcoming celebration for the new Sunset Pond loop on a February 27th at 3pm.
Council Member Williams shared efforts by the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission (WREC) to support immigrant community members. The WREC and Connect Ferndale are hosting a community forum on March 17th.
So, as it stands right now, we're not we don't have any need to wait uh further for that particular item. We did have the opportunity, as the staff report mentions, to go in front of the planning commission and give them a little bit of overview.
We took the opportunity to walk them through a little bit of the work that the city's done previously on the urban forestry plan. Uh then talked about the origination of this through the emergency ordinance and the conversion then into an interim ordinance.
Council Member Lilliquist recapped participation in several meetings including: • Whatcom County Business and Commerce meeting that focused on proposals to reconfigure the Whatcom County Health Board.
• Whatcom Transportation Authority purchased the former Base Camp property and will be redeveloping the site as a transit center with potential for housing. • Justice Project Facilities and Finance Advisory Board meeting with several other Council Members in attendance.
We did take a little bit of time to walk them through how the uh interim ordinance is structured. And for your purposes this evening, there are no changes other than the effective date. So it would be just fully a six-month uh extension.
But to give you a little bit of context about what will guide the um type six legislative process, not only do we want to have an opportunity to engage with the public um both from members of the community, but also those that might be in the uh tree industry or our design industry.
Council Member Hammill will provide context for the meeting in his Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity committee report. Council President Stone provided legislative updates from the lobbying workgroup: • There are 17 days remaining in the legislative session.
• February 25th is next cutoff for bills to continue advancing in the session. • Planning and Community Development Director Blake Lyon testified on HB 2266, SB 6026 related to STEP housing. • Assistant Director of Transportation Tim Hohmann testified in support of SB 5581, which increases local decision-making for multimodal improvement projects.
So, we want an opportunity to do that and then we'll go through the public hearing with the planning commission, get their recommendation before you and then ultimately come back to you with um a provision as well.
• The City signed in support of SB 2304, which expands the types of condominiums that can use an express warranty, and SB 6110, which clarifies that electric motorcycles (E-motos) are not E-bikes. Page 3 of 9 Committee meeting reports The following committee meetings are held during the day.
I wanted to take a couple minutes and kind of walk through a little bit of the comments that I gave to the planning commission about what's working well, what um presents a little bit of concerns right now, uh some of the needs for refinement, and a few other topics that we're looking at.
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.
None of which you have to make any decisions on tonight, but just to give you the context of where we're kind of kicking off some of this um legislative process. So, uh, the ordinance over the last, uh, period of interim pieces has provided quite a bit of protection for the existing trees, landmark trees that were out there.
Public Works and Natural Resources 1 p.m. Michael Lilliquist, Chair Lisa Anderson, Jace Cotton 24837 1. Acceptance of a grant from the Washington State Department of p. 23 Transportation for the Samish Way and Maple Street Overlay Project (ES593) Summary: Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering, presented a Washington State Department of Transportation grant that the City was awarded for the Samish Way and Maple Street Overlay Project.
And as you may recall, there's an ability to nominate additional trees. So, we feel like the protection of those trees is is meeting the desired impact. Um, and it ordinance also gives us the ability to establish that inventory.
And you may recall and for those of in the public that are not familiar with it on the city's website, we actually have a GIS map that shows those location of the landmark trees throughout the city. Um and then it really has started to improve and enhance our coordination interdep departmentally with in particular between planning uh parks and recreation and public works.
The project includes pavement resurfacing and improving streetlighting along the corridor between Bill McDonald Parkway and Ellis Street. Council Members discussed the grant and asked questions. Action: Michael Lilliquist / Hollie Huthman moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the local agency agreement and any related amendments with WSDOT for the Samish Way and Maple Street Overlay Project.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24838 2. Acceptance of a grant from the Washington State Department of p. 37 Transportation for the Electric Avenue Bridge Reconstruction Project (ER019) Summary: Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering, presented a Washington State Department of Transportation grant that the City was awarded for the Electric Avenue Bridge Reconstruction Project.
Uh as far as the um tree committee is concerned, the landmark tree committee is concerned. So there's a a heightened coordination effort there. Some of the concerns that we're continuing to work through is that um this process has really provided a heavy kind of front-end uh effort not only by staff but also by kind of our design community.
The project reconstructs the bridge and includes accommodations for pedestrians and bicycles. Council Members discussed the grant and asked questions. Action: Page 4 of 9 Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the local agency agreement and any related amendments with WSDOT for the Electric Ave Bridge Reconstruction Project.
Uh there's a lot of work that needs to go in to determine whether or not a project is feasible uh not only through a tree survey component initially, but also then through potentially some preliminary uh engineering work to determine whether or not they can move forward on that project.
And so there's some upfront both time and costs that are are notable and we should we should continue to consider that as we move forward. Um I think there's there's also cost associated with that and we can go into that.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24842 3. An interlocal agreement with Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District for p. 51 temporary water supply Summary: Michael Olinger, Public Works Deputy Director, presented the interlocal agreement (ILA) with Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District, which allows for temporary water supply to accommodate upcoming maintenance and improvement projects.
Council Members discussed the ILA and asked questions. Action: Michael Lilliquist / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the interlocal agreement with the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District.
There's also a question you may recall in the landmark tree ordinance uh where we exempted out cottonwood trees and there's a question about whether that was entirely uh in the best interest and we've been looking at a couple and getting recommendations from arborist about a couple other species of trees that um really may be even more appropriate.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity 1:15 p.m. Daniel Hammill, Chair Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams 24844 1. Update on planning for the Whatcom County Justice and Behavioral Care p.
So, we'll look at that a little bit further um and make sure we have an obligation through the mayor's executive order and through some of the state legislative stuff to make sure we're meeting project timelines.
And so, we want to make sure that we're developing a final ordinance that really takes into consideration our commitments and that front and work through um some of those things. So, those are some of the concerns.
60 Center Summary: Mayor Kim Lund and Kayla Schott-Bresler, Whatcom County Deputy Executive, presented an update on planning for the Whatcom County Justice and Behavioral Care Center, which has been impacted by declining sales tax revenue.
Council Members discussed the project and asked questions. The presentation is available here. 24835 2. An interlocal agreement with Whatcom County providing funding for the p. 97 Whatcom Racial Equity Commission Summary: Janice Keller, Deputy Administrator, presented the interlocal agreement (ILA) with Whatcom County to provide funding for the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission (WREC).
A few of the areas where we feel like that we need a little bit more refinement. Um there's some language in the interim ordinance that talks about reasonleness and it specifically references the fact that um a property owner shall have reasonable use of their property uh as long as they can demonstrate that they've shown reasonable attempts to develop within the confines of that.
Council Members discussed the ILA and asked questions. Page 5 of 9 Action: Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to authorize the Mayor to execute the interlocal agreement with Whatcom County regarding the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission.
And so giving a little bit more specificity, a little bit more clarity and predictability about what we determine reasonable to be. And so we've been working on an uh a memo. Uh the ordinance gives the director the opportunity to provide additional rules and promulgations of those.
So we want to try to give a little bit more clarity and certainty around that piece of it. Uh and then be a little bit clear the process at least in the interim is a little bit clunky in terms of um kind of the landmark tree removal uh process.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24841 3. A resolution reaffirming the City's commitment to immigrant rights and p. 108 civil rights and denouncing federal immigration enforcement actions that endanger public safety and violate individuals’ constitutional rights in Bellingham and nationwide Summary: Council Member Hammill and Council Member Williams presented an updated resolution affirming the City's commitment to immigrant rights and civil rights and denouncing federal immigration enforcement actions that endanger public safety and violate individuals’ constitutional rights in Bellingham and nationwide.
I had an opportunity to connect with uh council member Lilquist earlier today just to kind of give you an order of magnitude. We had about um we processed the applications for landmark tree removals through what we call a clearing permit.
Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. Action: Daniel Hammill / Hollie Huthman moved final approval of Resolution #2026-02 as amended. Action: Lisa Anderson / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to amend the resolution to include, "WHEREAS, the City of Bellingham remains committed to elevating diverse voices and immigrant stories, as reflected in our recent museum exhibits, library events, community convenings, and investments in art and culture." AMENDMENT CARRIED 7-0.
Action: Hollie Huthman / Lisa Anderson moved to amend the resolution to read, "WHEREAS, the City of Bellingham has joined local governments as amicus curiae in lawsuits against the Trump administration in relation to immigrant rights and deployment of federal troops and agents on American streets and in American neighborhoods here in the United States; and" AMENDMENT CARRIED 7-0.
Uh we issued about 13 clearing permits in 2025 for the removal of landmark trees because they were either uh dead, diseased or dying or uh were impacting a development project. And so we were able to through the interim ordinance issue those.
We've had about six so far this calendar year. Um and again those are just the ones that are being removed that those numbers don't account for the number of general inquiries that we get uh through the planning staff and project consultations where we're able to retain the trees.
Action: Page 6 of 9 Michael Lilliquist / Jace Cotton moved to amend the resolution to read, "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council calls for an end to ICE and CBP’s lawless unlawful surges in cities across the country that are undermining public safety; and AMENDMENT CARRIED 7-0.
So it doesn't reflect those numbers. These are just the ones that have been removed over the last year and a half or so. Um, a couple other things that we're working on or considering as we go through this.
AMENDED MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Committee Of The Whole 2:55 p.m. Hannah Stone, Chair Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton 24839 1. Presentation on how to access the Bellingham Plan and related resources p.
There are different um, ordinances out there that think about tree banks. Uh, you all have been familiar with how we've done the wetland mitigation bank where you have some opportunities to do that. Uh we're looking at the possibility of tree bank fund uh opportunities or also the payment of enloff fees where uh replacement plantings on site really aren't functional given the potential development of the property and the limited space.
114 Summary: Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, presented on how to access the Bellingham Plan and related resources on cob.org/comprehensive-plan. Council Members discussed the plan and asked questions.
2. Old or new business Summary: There were no discussion items for Old/new business. Executive session 3:35 p.m. 1. Potential Property Acquisition (Longman, approx. 10 min.) Summary: Staff provided information on a potential property acquisition.
Uh so is there opportunities to do some things there? So, we'll continue to evaluate those, coordinate with our design community, with the general public, and then run some of those ideas through the planning commission, then ultimately bring it back to you.
For information and discussion. No action taken. 2. Potential Property Acquisition (Rosenblatt, approx. 3 min.) Summary: Staff provided information on a potential Lake Whatcom watershed property acquisition.
So, with that, I'll stop my comments for this evening. Unless you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them and certainly want to hear from the public if they have any concerns about the interim extension.
>> Any clarifying questions from council before we open the hearing? Seeing none, we will open the public hearing and the clerk can call the names of those who signed up. All right, we had five individuals signed up.
For information and discussion. No action taken. Consent agenda Page 7 of 9 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.
24830 1. Authorization of AP transactions issued January 16, 2026 through p. 116 January 22, 2026 24831 2. Authorization of payroll labor cost payments dated January 1, 2026 to p. 117 January 15, 2026 24832 3.
Uh, first we have Adam Bellinger, Yoshi Revel, and John Evening council. My name is Adam Bellinger. Um I tonight I wanted to kind of talk about what I think are potential unintended consequences or incentivization of the tree ordinance.
Authorization of AP transactions issued January 23, 2026 through p. 118 January 29, 2026 24833 4. Authorization of AP transactions issued January 30, 2026 through p. 119 February 5, 2026 24834 5. Approval of the January 26, 2026 City Council committee and regular p.
Um uh part of it has to do with the um you know the just the sheer number of uh wooded lots we have in our community. Um, and in particular in my neighborhood, the Samish neighborhood, um, there's just a lot of almost every lot, you know, that you look at has, uh, pretty large trees on it.
Um, I would say the potential for, you know, the most of them being um, land landmark trees is pretty high. For example, my parents have been living in the Samish neighborhood for 50 years um on the same spot.
120 meeting minutes 24836 6. Amendment to 2026 interlocal agreement for paramedic training p. 136 24840 7. Memorandum of understanding between Whatcom County Sheriff's Office p. 143 and Bellingham Police Department for explosive magazine storage Action: Michael Lilliquist / Daniel Hammill moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final consideration of ordinances 24829 1. An ordinance adopting a four-year Commute Trip Reduction Plan for p. 146 2025-2029 and implementing measures as required by RCW 70A.15.4000 Action: Lisa Anderson / Hollie Huthman moved approval for third and final reading.
uh their house is surrounded by a number of lots that um they uh own that are wooded. Um the average diameter is probably around two or so feet. Um so they're potentially right at the cusp of becoming uh landmark trees at the 366 in diameter mark.
Upon motion, said bill was placed on final passage and approved by the following roll call vote: AYES: Stone, Huthman, Hammill, Williams, Anderson, Lilliquist, Cotton NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) Page 8 of 9 MOTION CARRIED 7-0 and was thereafter named Ordinance #2026-02-004.
And financially speaking, that incentivizes them to basically clear cut that all those lots. um in order to maintain the uh viability of them as being buildable. So that doesn't seem to meet the intended desire of of the city and the council and everybody to try and uh keep forested neighborhoods.
Public comment period City Council heard public comments from four individuals. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:23 p.m. Hannah Stone, Council President ATTEST: Kelley Goetz, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 3/23/2026 Page 9 of 9
I I personally love the lots uh wooded the way they are, but I've got two brothers that might have a different opinion about that. Um, and it might make sense for if we're, you know, when my parents pass on that they, uh, sell.
So, uh, I would just like to point that out because I I don't think that is what is intended and but that's mechanically what could happen. Um the other thing I would also point out um is uh we've had uh in the Sen Valley area neighborhood um uh outside of Bellingham, of course, there's been essentially like a ban on uh you know, tree removal for decades now.
Um it's enforced through their uh uh covenants and and uh property uh um uh neighborhood association type thing. And um I I think you can note that there's been a lot of issues with like you know basically overgrowth of trees where there actually like I've had friends that have had a tree limb go right through their house right over their toilet.
I mean it speared right through. Um, and so I I caution you to, you know, just kind of think about some of these things as we're looking at the tree ordinance. You know, I really enjoyed growing up in the woods.
It was a pretty magical thing, but um, we also have to think about, you know, kind of the long term. Thank you. Bye. >> Thank you, Adam. Thank you uh members of the audience and staff, those watching at home, members of the city council, madame mayor.
Um appreciate you participating in this process. My name is Yoshi Rall. My given name is Douglas. My nickname is Yoshi. And uh I support the six-month extension. Uh I support saving trees, period. Um, trees are fellow beings.
They're alive like we are. They communicate. We can hear sounds somewhere between 20 hertz and 20,000. Trees communicate at somewhere around 100,000 cycles. So, we don't think they're communicating because we can't hear it.
But they've shown they have instruments where they can measure trees communicate. is somewhere around 100 to 120,000 uh cycles. They're living beings that talk with each other. They're living beings that have been shown to care for their offspring through their root system.
They recognize their own offspring and will care for their offspring. These are living beings like you are. You and I are living beings caring for our offspring. And karma applies. When we treat trees willy-nilly and destroy them without thinking a second thought about it, that comes back to us.
Karma applies. We get back what we do. Measure we give is the measure we give back. Trees are living beings. It has been th shown through studies that people who are able to see and interact with nature are healthier than those who can't.
They literally studied people who could see a picture of nature. They were healthier than people whose window looked out on a brick wall. So saving trees is also about healthcare. We evolved with trees.
They're a part of us and and and we are a part of them. Oneness truly is how this functions. All of creation is one process. And if we if we damage one part of it willy-nilly, we are damaging ourselves.
It does come back to us. There's no escaping this. This is the way this is the way creation works. If we damage creation, if we abuse creation, including trees, we abuse ourselves. That's the way it is.
There's no getting there's no escaping that. Believe me, I've tried. There is no escaping that. Um I in I have suffered with serious depression, including suicidal depression. And I used to walk in nature because the trees are my friends.
They gave me a comfort that I couldn't feel from human beings because I was so traumatized. And I've literally cried walking through the forest because I could feel the the calm presence of the trees that they gave me and I could release some of my trauma pain through through crying.
Thank you for allowing me to talk. >> Thank you, Yoshi. >> All right, then after John, we have uh Brian Gas and then we'll go online to R. Perry Escridge. >> Um my name is John. Uh, I've been a longtime Bellingham resident, 1970.
Um, and a longtime Happy Valley resident and, um, I, uh, I've had, um, I've been a cert, I was a certified arborous for 25 years. I still have a Moonlight Tree Service business. And um I was kind of stunned when this ordinance first uh passed just before like a week or two before I saw some very large trees go down.
Perfectly healthy trees that didn't have to be removed. Well, I think that was because people freaked out and oh, all hell's going to break loose. But anyway, um I this is a good ordinance. Um although I have a couple issues.
Uh my first main issue is that I think that um the 36 in DBH is um doesn't fit all. Um there are um some wonderful trees on private property and city rightway that will never get to 3 feet in diameter.
um or if they do, they'll be ancient trees. Um if you look at um the late John West Link's uh 50 favorite trees in Bellingham, you'll find several of those that aren't three 36 inch DBH. So, that's something to take into consideration.
I think, you know, you're going to have to work that one out uh with different species and stuff. Um and and my second issue I that I really uh bugs me is uh if someone were to take down a heritage or landmark tree u whether it's on city right away or on private property but penalty is a joke.
Uh I uh $2,400 uh not to exceed $2,400 for each violation. Minimum penalty $800. Well, you know, you have to look at the trees, too. It pass this assessment certified arborist. You get you can get into tree assessment and uh it's crazy how much trees are worth.
They don't just take into account, you know, lumber, timber value. It's everything that trees do for us. And also, you brought up uh tree u bank. The closer trees are to you, the better it is for your health, mental and physical.
So, you know, tree bank, you know, halfway across the county is one thing, but in your neighborhood, you know, they do you the best uh for your well-being. >> Thank you, John. Your time is up. >> Three minutes.
Dang. >> Anyway, thank you for the opportunity. >> Thank you. >> Hello everyone. I guess here with living here Bellingham. Um the thing about the tree ordinance that I have an issue with is I feel like there's no real coh cohesive plan on when you guys are picking what you want to have done or and I want you to remember there's consequences to all these actions.
So when you shrink the city and you still have your greenways and you buy enough property over in the wet in the watershed and you are at the same time trying to protect trees that you can't really say where they're at.
You know what's the consequences of those trees to be there or removed like you can't have it all. And I feel like nobody ever talks about the things like of course the tree ordinance was extended because it's ridiculous on its face without a proper process to kind of mitigate what it is.
You you just willy-nilly say, "Oh, it's a big tree, so we're just not going to let you develop your property." Well, that's a consequence for somebody, right? And I I God bless the guy that says trees are alive.
They can start paying rent or paying they can they can uh you know, can you get rent from a tree, right? I mean, there's got to be Now, these trees can also be rebuilt and and moved, same as wetlands.
So, I just feel as if Bellingham's just all over the place doing everything it can to not provide any kind of affordable housing or affordable housing plan or project that's not based in fantasy like the other things we'll talk about that the comp plan that's off by $130 million a year for their lowincome housing.
Um, maybe you just build tree forts and everybody can just live in big tree forts and that that'll solve the problem. Um, also feel like is anybody do people really have a diff of opinion on the tree?
Like when you guys vote, I'm wondering why we even have seven council members. We should just have one or two because I believe every time I'm here, you guys all vote the same. There's like no difference of opinion that I see.
There's no conflict or discussion on how things are going. that maybe could be you guys working it in the back in the background. But I'd really like to see if these tree ordinance really is something that's worth doing when you have a problem when your comp plan is is literally $130 million short on providing the low-income housing which is going to require you know its own issues.
So I feel like you want to you don't want to go all in. You want to make it a lot more I guess you'd say like exceptions and and so if you're going to cut a tree down it's like with the wetlands, right?
They just fill it in and they just use it mitigate it somewhere else. Like you can cut a tree do like plant 10 other trees somewhere else and when you cut one down and and do take advantage of of of uh uh the fact we need land to develop and you can't put your six plexes on a tiny little lot without clearing out some trees.
So you can't have it you can't have your you can't have it all. I just feel like there needs to be more discussion. Thank you. >> Thank you, Brian. Perry, you should be able to Yeah. turn on your camera and unmute.
>> Good evening, council members. This is Perry Esridge representing the Wom County Association of Realtors and the Building Industry Association of Walcomm County. Um, at this point in time, um, we're asking that you support the sixmonth extension on the interim ordinance so that the type 4 process can get underway and hopefully we can resolve all of these questions.
We've now been through quite a bit of experience with this ordinance and um, I do want to say at the outset that many of the issues that have been discussed were anticipated early on and could have been resolved that there was a more robust process before adopting an emergency ordinance.
But others admittedly have come from experience in trying to work with the ordinance and could not have been anticipated. Through this entire process though, I do have to say that the associations really appreciate Director Lion's work on all of this stuff.
Um he's been very attentive. He's listened very closely to our concerns and um we're really looking forward to working with him uh through the process. I can also report that our members have spoken very highly of staff working together to try to try and navigate this this ordinance and um have been also attentive and and listening to concerns that have been brought up, trying to resolve those at all possible and if they can't be resolved, taking down notes so that we can address them in the future.
In any event, again, please pass the ordinance on for another six months as an interim ordinance and uh we hope to proceed with the type six process with all due haste. Thank you. >> Thank you, Perry.
>> So, that concludes the sign up. Anyone else present in chambers this evening who wanted to speak to this item? So again, the public hearing regarding the ordinance to preserve landmark trees. Seeing none, we'll close the public hearing and bring it back to council.
Council member Liiloquist, >> I will be voting to extend for the obvious reasons that were stated. I I would like to see this ordinance uh improved. Uh Director Lines, you said there's room for refinement.
One area I'd like to look at has to do with the definition of the tree protection zone, which is a multiple of the diameter of the tree. Uh it creates a minimum of a 72 inch diameter circle of protection, which I'm not sure if that actually makes biological sense in many cases.
I've been told that in many cases the drip line of the tree is a good rough measure of the influence zone for the roots for some species, maybe not all, but it just seems like that's one of these one-sizefits-all things that maybe should be looked at.
You >> Yeah, the way that the ordinance currently works is you have um the critical root zone is for every inch of the tree, it's one foot. So if you have a 40inch tree for example, it would be a 40 foot critical root zone area >> radius >> radius.
And and so one of the things that we've been contemplating um either in a revision to the ordinance or in that reasonable memo is looking at how much of that critical root zone can be impacted without creating detrimental harm to the tree.
Now it often times we want to give some clarity but then there's also case by case evaluations because there may be things like a slightly steeper lot where critical root zone is paramount to you know uh slope stability and other things like that where that may be an opportunity.
We want to look at different construction techniques uh like a post and beam technique that might be able to minimize impact. We don't want necessarily root pruning where you're shaving off the roots on one side and undermining the overall stability of the tree.
So there there are things like that where we agree with you. We want to give a little bit of clarity allow for some reasonable and appropriate encroachments where necessary. oftentimes where we have found at least in this interim process where we can do that is if it's a corner of a building coming into a small portion of that critical root zone and not cutting off you know an entire side of it and is there a particular percentage that works better and so we've been kind of evaluating those different alternatives and agree with you that we can get some refinement in those areas.
>> Council member Anderson, >> thank you. um you kind of answered one of the questions I was going to have but not fully. So um I'll ask my question um framing some of the information. So I wanted to know how many trees because this interim ordinance we've we started this process a while ago completely recognize and um acknowledge why we have to delay.
We want to do good work. Plus, there's a a tremendous amount of work that um staff were working on for the last year, but with 13 um clearing permits, and you said some of them were in order to be able to provide building um and then some were perhaps due to the assessment of the trees.
I'm wondering, do you know how many were healthwise versus building and is that information living anywhere that is accessible to the public? >> Yes. So, we um I don't have it committed to memory, so I don't I can get you an answer, but I don't have one readily available off the top of my head, but we track uh we track them through our uh permit tracking system.
So the public does have access through our ET trackit uh platform uh through our permit center and so we can we can demonstrate when a U clearing permit has been issued. Um I don't have the breakout of those 13 but as I was alluding to earlier um some of those are standalone trees that were not affiliated with a particular project.
In other words, an expansion of a home or a redevelopment scenario. It was just the tree in and of itself that was benefiting from that um permit process. But some of them were project related. I should also take a moment to mention there's a gentleman that uh is in this community.
I won't mention by name but um the way that the tree ordinance is currently written is written for the preservation of the tree and the potential that that tree is uh it gets a rating on whether it's a hazard uh to something around there and it does not contemplate the tree creating uh negative considerations.
So, this particular gentleman has a 50-in landmark tree that has lifted the foundation of his home and offset his house enough that he can't close his windows any further. Uh, and so those are kind of scenarios where we want to say, okay, that's creating a, you know, a damage to to real property.
U, we didn't anticipate that uh in the interim ordinance. So, we want to look at those particular things and be able to to to address those types of situations. And so, that's something we want to refine a little bit further as well.
>> Thank you. I have a couple so keep looking towards you. um of those trees that were cleared, one of the things that I've spoken to multiple times is that in my neighborhood, there was um a tree that the hearing examiner had identified as being um in the city right away and had made note not to damage or remove the tree and the person adjacent to that rightway decided to anyway.
And um by the way, the trees they had to plant, I don't know if we go monitor, but one of those trees has not survived. So hopefully we'll I'll talk to you later about going and looking at it. Um I'm wondering though um well two parts.
Do we know of any additional circumstance or situations where trees have been removed without a permit in the last year and a half? Um and then a side comment to that. Um when we look at the fines, um I'm interested and we'll bring it up if it's not part of the plan.
an escalated fine that if the um person who is removing the tree is aware whether through the hearing examiner or prior notification that they're not allowed to remove it and they choose to do so anyway.
I don't see that as just kind of a standard level um violation. I kind of see it as being pretty extreme and I think there should be consideration for that type of action. >> I can speak to both of those.
One probably a little bit more effectively than the other. I may have to uh defer a little bit to our attorneys. Uh but with respect to the uh enforcement effort, we saw an initial uptake when we did the emergency ordinance where uh and you heard testify or testimony tonight that talked about, you know, people kind of preemptively removing which was what part of why the emergency ordinance was necessary because we were trying to to stop that behavior and people preemptively removing them.
There were a few early in our adoption process where we did have code enforcement action uh against property owners for um the emergency ordinance went into effect immediately and they were following on.
Um thankfully that has not persisted and so we have not seen a big repeat of that particular effort. Um and so we feel like that's had some benefits. That's why my comments earlier about what's working well is that the protections are are seen there.
Um the second question about the the fines and I'm you'll have to forgive me because I'm going off of memory and that can be dangerous at times but um my recollection was that part of the um reason we went with the dollar amounts was the level of um enforcement action whether it was a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor or you know and so there's fines amounts that are associated with those different actions and and the uh certainly the attorney may mariner can probably speak to that or maybe others in the room but um I can get a more specific and detail answer but that's where my recollection lies Anderson >> your recollection is correct it is the the level to not keep it into a more higher uh court situation but I'm just hoping that perhaps there is a violation of the hearing examiner or planning department rule and so it would be I don't know if there's like double jeopardy type of situation but you're violating one thing and then the tree is another.
So I kind of see it as two different fines and we can talk with legal to see if they would see it the same way. Um but I have another question Michael >> Lopez >> actually councelor Anderson sparked some some thoughts I wanted to pursue.
Uh you said that uh a lot of the documentation about applications for removal have been submitted. Maybe the arborist reports uh for the removal maybe the mitigation plan. Is that all on the etracket system?
I just tried to go on to it but it makes me make an account. I don't have one. I don't know how user friendly that is if I got any further. Do I just enter a tree and I might find it? Um they're property specific.
Uh so each parcel has an identifier and then you would go in and and look at the permit history for that particular parcel and we would have a clearing permit associated with that. And then oftentimes when you're in etracket there are opportunities to have attachments associated with that.
So if there was an arborist report submitted along with that application and consideration then we would have that potentially a you know a tree survey if there was a development project associated with that there would be plans associated with that that would show those level of detail.
>> When you say parcel uh do you mean like the assessor's parial number or do you mean like address >> address typically? >> Okay. Because if I I see a street, I can have a guess the address. >> Yeah.
So, it will be address specific. When you're on that system, again, there may be a wide range of permits associated with that address over, you know, quite a few number of years. So, it it does take a little bit of soouththing to kind of drill into that piece, but there is an opportunity to, you know, to look at that and to find where there are associated or related permits.
Council member Anderson. >> Thank you. I just kind of chuckle when I look at the um abbreviation of BLTC. I keep wanting to say A because of avocado with our sandwiches, but um so the Bellingham Landmark Tree Committee, I'm just kind of curious because I haven't asked this and I was going to ask you earlier, but I didn't see you earlier today.
Um it states that there would be several members appointed. I think an arborist and then the planning um park and then public works would appoint someone. Um are those like long term? Is it based on position or by individual or is do we know I mean you know who they are but I don't know who they are.
>> Um so the is >> that public? >> Um yes and no. So the obviously the department heads the directors are um certainly publicly known. Um unfortunately we've had some turnover in staffing. Uh that's that happens inevitably.
Uh the planning staff is typically one of a couple of our environmental planners that are uh particularly involved and then both parks and public works staff have arborists on staff. One of the things that we have been um evaluating because of the amount of resources needed to do some of these reviews is we've been trying to think about ways to be a little bit more efficient with some of that time.
And yes, it does still go into the um landmark tree committee, but we have tried to divide and conquer a little bit. We still want that internal arborist report and evaluation of the private arborist.
Um, but it really depends on the severity of what is coming out of the of the private professional arborist recommendation. If the recommendation is fairly simple and straightforward and we just need a pair of city staff eyes to confirm that and we agree kind of with that general direction, then oftent times we just utilize one of the two arborists, either the parks arborist or the public works arborist to make that recommendation because it's a little more efficient with staff time.
If the involvement is of a greater significance or concern or there's a bigger question, then having those additional eyes may warrant that additional investment of staff time and resources. But given where we are with our various different budget scenarios and staff resources, we've been trying to fine-tune that and make that as efficient as we can.
So that's kind of the approach we've been gravitating towards. >> Just a comment. Yeah, I didn't want to put our um non-director staff on blast by stating their names, but it's good to know what their position areas are within those departments so we know what type of expertise is being used.
I could have framed my question a little bit better to not make you nervous. So, thank you. >> There questions from council members. I just had one um I don't know if it needs to be a formal motion on page 21 under the public hearing requirement which is section 13.
It states that the city council held a public hearing on this ordinance which extends the interim regulations for landmark trees and it includes right now the prior August 11th 2025 date. So I was just going to move to put tonight's date in that place.
So February 23rd, 2026. >> Thank you for catching that. I don't know if that should be a formal motion. >> I would make a formal motion to amend the ordinance. >> So I'd move to make that amendment basically substituting the August 11th, 2025 date for February 23rd, 2026 in section 13.
>> Sorry. Second. >> Okay. So a motion by the chair and a second by council member Liiloquist. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none, that passes 70.
>> Council member Hamill, >> I'd move to pass the ordinance with that amendment. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Council Member Hamill and a second by Council Member Williams. >> Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor, we'll say I.
>> I. I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing none, that passes 70. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> All right. So that concludes the public hearing. Um and just noting that on um that item again that extension for 6 months just confirming that that 6 months actually begins March 26, 2026 which is next month and will continue until September 26th 2026.
Okay. Um, with that item, we will go back to our agenda. And the next item on the agenda this evening is the mayor's report. Good evening to council and members of the community and staff that are gathered here tonight.
Um there are no appointments for council this evening. So we're going to jump in to the mayor's report tonight and tonight it'll be a little bit different in that um a few meetings ago I made mention that we were working this year to try a different approach to um producing a state of the city address.
And historically, state of the city addresses have been given inside of these chambers or at uh gatherings such as a chamber lunchon or breakfast. And our intention this year was to bring my state of the city address um to life in a new way that was more engaging ideally.
That was one of our goals and more sharable. And I the intention was for it to be much more accessible than the way we've traditionally given a state of the city update. So with that said, this is what we created for a reflection on 2025 and also a look ahead to the city's top priorities for this year.
Hello Bellingham. I'm Mayor Kim Lond. As we begin 2026, I want to share the city's accomplishments of the past year and talk about where we're headed as we build a community that works for everyone. If we are doing our job well, you don't always notice us, but behind the scenes every day, we are hard at work united in building and serving the city that we love.
We are committed to stewarding what matters most and keeping the essential services you depend on running smoothly. Perhaps most importantly, we take our duty to be careful stewards of your tax dollars as one of the most important ways we can demonstrate great local government.
Facing a $10 million budget shortfall last year, we worked hard to create a budget for 2026 that is more sustainable and more balanced, yet firmly rooted in our community's values. Limited resources mean tough choices, cutting services in some areas and balancing those cuts with new revenue to maintain our essential public safety responses and critical infrastructure.
Even in a lean budget year, stewardship means we need to commit to doing the projects we have been putting off sometimes for decades. In 2025, we committed to tackling long deferred maintenance like upgrades to the Post Point wastewater treatment plant and other water system improvements.
These aren't the flashy projects, but they're critical. They help ensure you and the future generations of Belling hamsters continue to have clean drinking water and a reliable, resilient system to safely treat waste water.
We're also thinking upstream quite literally in our ongoing effort to protect our drinking water source. We nearly doubled the city owned land in the Lake Wacom wershed last year, acquiring over a thousand acres of forest.
And we've strengthened our capacity to actively manage and protect these forests by adding staff and expertise. By preserving and caring for the surrounding land, we're reducing pollution runoff and keeping the lake healthy for generations to come.
On a day-to-day level, city staff are making sure you can get from point A to point B safely and easily. New flashing beacons across town are making our neighborhoods safer and more walkable. Our new community streets program allows neighborhoods to participate directly alongside staff to get their most needed transportation improvements prioritized.
We're also improving safety by building new roundabouts, repaving worn roads, and acting immediately when flooding damaged key arterial streets. These are essential transportation projects that make our community both safer and more connected.
But the city's work isn't only stewarding what we have. It's also about creating experiences and building public spaces that bring people together so we can strengthen our connections to each other and celebrate what makes Bellingham Bellingham.
Downtown is our social, economic, and cultural heart. And this year, we saw it come alive in new ways. From alleyway galleries to symphony in the streets, from bike cops to parades, our investments in downtown are drawing people to the heart of our city.
We are excited to continue the momentum in new programs and activations in the year ahead. Because when downtown thrives, the whole community benefits. On the north side of Bellingham, we opened the Little Squal Pier.
The longest pier from White Rock, BC to Pacifica, California. For the first time in a century, the pier has given Bellingham a space to enjoy the bay from an entirely new perspective. And we made progress towards even more recreation goals.
We acquired more land for future trails on Samish Crest, began building a new loop trail at Sunset Pond, purchased property, and kicked off plans for a covered skate park on the waterfront, and engaged thousands of residents in planning for the future of sports and recreation within the civic complex.
All of the work we do at the city is in service to you. You are what makes this community great. And in 2025, we advanced our work to listen, serve, and act on your behalf. We passed an ordinance affirming that Bellingham is a place where everyone belongs.
We deepened our relationships with our tribal partners and we formed new relationships to make sure new voices and ideas are heard. Through our Keep Washington Working Act advisory group, we've hosted courageous conversations, inviting community input that will better guide our work to uphold state laws that protect immigrant community members and their families.
At the same time, we are responding to national challenges with local action, joining other communities, taking legal steps to protect our residents and preserve critical federal funding for basic needs.
We also set new ambitious goals about how we grow sustainably over the next 20 years and how we engage you in this important work that belongs to all of us. 2025 was a year of housing action. As mayor, I see every day how the lack of housing supply holds us back from being a thriving community.
We know that we need more homes of all shapes and sizes for all of our neighbors. So, we've been at work on solutions called for in my housing executive order, modernizing our development rules and working as a team across city departments to get to yes, faster on key housing projects.
These are people focused solutions that will in the long run create more housing choices for every income and household type. We were also thrilled in 2025 to celebrate the opening of the new North Haven Tiny Home Village, a partnership between the city and Homes Now that provides a safe step towards permanent housing for people without it.
As we start 2026, we're building on this momentum. We'll keep investing in the future of housing, growing partnerships, and funding projects to build a Bellingham for everyone. We are driven to deliver great outcomes for the people who live here today and those yet to come.
We'll begin renovations on our aging central library, modernizing the 70-year-old community hub with a focus on new spaces and programs for kids and families, and making the building more resilient for our changing climate future.
We'll advance plans for a new indoor community recreation center and continue to invite your input on this muchneeded and long awaited community priority. We'll keep up the important work of restoring the health of Bellingham Bay as we undertake a massive environmental cleanup on the waterfront.
In 2026, we are laying the groundwork to turn the site of a former landfill and toxic industrial facility into a new waterfront park, a gem that will be three times the size of our beloved Boulevard Park in 2026.
We are also evaluating how to maintain our high levels of essential public safety services, including police, fire, and emergency medical services. These critical frontline responses alongside investments in municipal court and alternative response programs need new sustainable sources of funding.
and we'll continue to manage our budget responsibly, advocating for Bellingham in Olympia and DC and staying connected to the values that guide us as a city. I'm proud of what the city team has accomplished together and truly excited for what's ahead.
Across city government, we are approaching our work with curiosity and humility and acting with purpose and excellence. We are passionate about going to work each day to create a more affordable, more connected, and thriving Bellingham.
Together, we are striving to deliver consistent, highquality services, not as individual departments or branches of government, but as a one city team serving this place that we love. So that is the state of the city video and I'm incredibly grateful to the city team behind the scenes that supported me in bringing this vision to life and hopefully it paints a much more understandable 360deree view of the many good things that happens at the city across the span of any given year.
And I'm grateful to council to showcase uh how you support so much of the work that goes on and certainly to shine a light on the hard work that staff does when they go to work in service to this community every day.
And so that is the end of mayor's report tonight. >> Thank you very much, Mayor Lind. Um the next item on the agenda this evening is council assignment reports. So, this is the standing time for council member reports from assigned committees, boards, and other groups.
>> Do you have one? >> All right, Council Member Williams. >> I've got a couple of things to mention. Um, last week or the last couple of weeks, we've had our park parks and recreation committee and our greenways committee meetings.
And the big item on the agenda was to begin discussions about consolidation of the two committees. The goal of that process is to discuss the potential of merging the two advisory boards so that there's a more comprehensive and effective approach to managing these very important recreational programs.
At this time, both of the committees formed a subcommittee comprised of the committee chairs and one committee member to begin planning discussions to to begin the first phase which which which could take the better part of a year.
Now I just want to point out that the concept is not to eliminate one but to consolidate so that whatever topics that they're going to raise it's one area it's one program that's going it's one committee that's going to discuss both.
So that's the goal. Um, and the committee's discussions, I think, like I said, will probably begin in April to give the planning committee time to plan out the discussion phase of this. Couple of other things that I want to point out is uh I went to the ribbon cutting ceremony at Story Brook Park.
It happened on Friday the 13th. Friday the 12th it was nice and sunny and Friday the 13th it was raining but that being said a large number of people showed up and it's one more park uh development for the north for the north side of the city particularly Birwood and it also recognized a retirement of one of our staff members Jonathan Schil Milk who was our landscape architect of which this was his last major project and it was dynamite.
The the next ribbon cutting ceremony will be on February 27th at uh Sunset Pond at 3:00. So uh one other thing I wanted uh to mention uh has to do with the racial equity commission. Uh the commission held a community forum at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship in November and the purpose of that uh forum was to learn about the ongoing issues that are being faced by immigrants in our community to share the participants feelings, concerns, and fears about the current situation that that we are facing and to act in ways that are lawful.
ful and as safe as we can make them to support our immigrant neighbors. There will be a second community forum um which which will be held in Ferndale which is co-hosted by the wreck and connect Ferndale on on March 17th.
Just because you live in Bellingham doesn't mean you can't go. But um there is a pre-registration and for that you would have to contact either the racial equity commission at info at watcomracial equity.org or connect ferndale at connect ferndalegmail.com.
Um, and that's will close my activity report for the last month and a half. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Council Member Williams. Council member Liquist. >> I'm just going to mention uh three meetings and mention one item in each uh because it might be of public interest and I probably most council members already know a bit about them.
One is I attend the Walk County Business and Commerce Committee meeting. Uh the large topic of conversation there was a possible proposal by the Watkin County Council to reconfigure the the county health board and there was some disagreement about where the problem lies and what the membership of that health board should be whether it should be all elected officials or include community members say with medical backgrounds or uh community experiences.
So that's something you may want to know about. Um, also there was the uh Watcom County, sorry, Watcom Transportation Authority meeting and the thing of interest there might be the fact that uh the former base station what used to be uh tube tube time.
What was it called when my kid went there? Anyway, the building is now owned by Wal Transportation Authority. It may be several years before that's redeveloped as a new transit center hopefully with housing above it.
And so WTA is hoping to activate that with active tenants uh very soon. uh WTA is picking a uh a management uh concern which will help uh run the teny there. And the third thing I wanted to mention is that um I attended the uh Watcom County's Justice Projects Facilities and Finance um FFA facilities finance advisory board and uh several council members were there in attendance.
And if you want to know what we talked about, it will be reported uh in a few moments by council member Hamill when he gives a report on the Watcom County Justice Project. What was the briefing was had in that committee this afternoon.
So what we suggest in the FAB is what exactly what Mr. Hamill will be going over. So those are three things of community interest >> items. I'll take a turn just to give a legislative update for the um just some recent developments.
One to highlight that there are only 17 days left in this legislative session. So again, this is a short session this year going by very quickly. Um but February 17th was the cutoff for bills to be voted out of their house of origin.
So with that um deadline passing numerous bills we were tracking some failed to make it through this deadline. Um that includes you know both bills that we were supportive of and hoping to see move forward as well as bills that we had some concerns about.
So as is the case it's usually a mixed a mixed bag of what happens but Wednesday is the next cutoff for bills to be voted out of the opposite house policy committee. So policy committee is now in the opposite house are reviewing those bills that passed out of um the opposite house.
And so since the last update, the city has engaged in a variety of lobbying activities. Um operating capital and transportation budget bills are being introduced this week. Um, and those will be so Nick and Luke are currently those are our lobbyists down in Olympia are currently digging into these and we'll provide the city with relevant updates over the next couple of days.
So again, this will be moving quickly, but those updates will continue to come forward. Just wanted to highlight a couple of um opportunities for testimony that the city um participated in. So, Director Lion um testified on House Bill 2266.
This was concerning step housing. Um, so for members of the public, you know, Washington state refers to step housing as a framework of shelter, transitional housing, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing.
Um, in addition, Director Lion testified in support of Senate Bill 6026. This is concerning residential development and commercial and mixed s mixed use zones. His testimony continues to call for refinements for both of these bills.
Um, Director Lion did double duty on these bills, testifying in two different committees within minutes of each other and then today waiting a long time to then not have an opportunity to testify. So, um, providing testimony in Olympia is very time consuming and oftentimes you only get a very small window, you know, 60 seconds sometimes less to, um, to speak your piece.
So, one of the things I just wanted to highlight that the lobby team has really been emphasizing this year and been able to do, I think, um, because of, you know, the work that has been taken on with in coordination with our lobbyists is the ability to really focus on sort of fine-tuning, you know, bills that are are pending before the legislature.
So rather than just signing in, you know, pro or con or for or against a particular bill, really being able to take that time to communicate with um, you know, whoever the sponsors are of the bill, whoever's in the committee that's hearing the bill to really highlight sometimes what might seem like very small nuances that need to be addressed um otherwise they could have pretty broad impacts um for our community here in Bellingham.
So grateful for the team taking on um those assignments and that and committing that time. Tim Hman also with public works testified in support of Senate Bill 5581. This bill would allow more local decision-making for multimmodal improvements.
he was able to provide an example, a firsthand example of multimmodal street improvements here in Bellingham on Meridian Street that would have been even better if we'd had more local control about design and placement.
So, some of this even might reflect on, you know, past projects that we've um already completed, but we know that, you know, if those projects were coming forward today, what the impact of, you know, that proposed legislation would be and able to speak to that.
But I think it's pretty influential when we're able to especially provide very personal, you know, detailed examples from our our community here. So, in addition, there were some signins. The city also signed in PRO on House Bill 2304, which expands the types of condominiums that can use an express warranty.
So, this bill supports our priority of making condos a more viable and affordable home ownership option for members of our community. We also signed in pro for Senate bill 6110 which clarifies that e-motos or electric motorcycles are not ebikes.
Um so there's some legislation being taken on in Olympia to um provide that clarification and then subsequent regulation um accordingly. So as a reminder you can view our legislative agenda on the city state government relations page through the co.org website.
Um there are also some items specifically related to immigration but thought might wait to to highlight those during another agenda item this evening. So that is the report from the lobby team unless anyone else has anything to add to that.
Any other committee assignment reports? Okay, seeing none we will move forward with our committee report outs. So this afternoon we started the afternoon with public works and natural resources. That committee is chaired by council member Liiloquist.
So we'll turn to him for a report. >> Thank you very much, Council President Stone. We have three items in public works. The first of those items, make sure I get the right one, is acceptance of a grant from the state of Washington Department of Transportation to the city of Bellingham for the Samish Way and Maple Street overlay project.
We've been awarded this grant which includes for work that includes pavement resurfacing and improving street lighting along the corridor between Bill McDonald Parkway and then it bends on Maple Street until it hits Ellis.
Uh the local agency agreement is a a local agency agreement which was in front of us is required as part of the process to receive the grant funding from the WS do and so that is what we're doing uh in discussion.
There was a couple things that were mentioned. Uh the design for that project will be going ahead this year. Um and the work will begin sometime next year. Uh there is a separate uh sewer project that's be taking place along the same corridor and the city will make sure that that below ground work is finished prior to doing the above ground paving work.
Um, also under as council Anderson brought out requests, there's actually some improvements going on to the intersection of that 45 degree turn from Maple to Ellis and those improvements will also be made prior to the final project.
So, in other words, we're kind of doing the right order so we don't have to tear the pavement up again. Uh, this afternoon, the committee recommended approving the interlocal agreement so we can receive the grant.
And I so move second. Motion was made by council member Liiloquist and a second by council member Huthman. Any discussion? Council member, >> I forgot to mention it's a $2.3 million grant and in this case it actually covers 100% of the project.
>> Great. Any other discussion or questions? >> Seeing none, all in favor will say I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none, that passes 70. >> Uh the next one is very similar. It is also acceptance of a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation.
this time for the Electric Avenue Bridge Reconstruction Project, a much larger project estimated to be somewhere around 11.8 million project. And the grant is also larger, $10.46 million. Um, again, the reconstructed bridge will include uh safe and comfortable facilities for people and walking as well as redoing the bridge itself.
And again, a local agency agreement is required as part of the process for receiving the grant from the WSDOT. And this afternoon the committee Oh, let me do a few more facts. Um, this uh project will include what is called forward compatibility for future bicycle and pedestrian networks that in the area that don't yet exist, but the bridge will be able to accommodate them.
The design will go through the end of this year. It's a much longer process for design, so construction may not actually begin till 2028. Because the project doesn't start right away, we were not eligible for a 100% grant, but this will cover easily 80% uh or more of the project, mostly more than 80%.
Um the city will have to put in a mass of about $1.4 million to complete the project. Uh this afternoon, the committee recommended approval of the agreement and I so move. >> Second. >> Motion was made by council member Liiloquist and a second by council member Anderson.
Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor will say I. I. >> I. Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none, that passes 70. >> And the last item was an interlocal agreement with Watcom Lake Watcom Water and Sewer District for temporary water supply.
The water and sewer district is seeking enter into an interlocal agreement with the city of Bellingham for temporary supply of water to allow for maintenance of an existing water reservoir of theirs and construction of a new reservoir within the district's portable water system.
The city of Bellingham already has an existing metered water intert. It was recently uh um maintained and proven upgraded, so it's in fine condition. as well as the city has capacity to provide the district with this temporary water supply to allow for their maintenance and construction of the water system.
Uh the water sewer district will be paying an estimated $250,000 which will go into the water fund to pay for this temporary water supply service this afternoon. The committee recommended approval of the interlocal agreement and I so move.
>> Second. >> Motion was made by council member Liiloquist and a second by council member Williams. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor will say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none, that passes 70.
>> And there are no more items for the committee. >> Thank you very much for the report. The next committee this afternoon was public health, safety, justice, and equity. That committee is chaired by council member Hamill, and I'll turn to him for a report.
>> Uh, thank you, Council President. I was joined this afternoon by uh council members Williams and Huffman. We had three items this afternoon. The first was an update on planning for the Wakom County Justice and Behavioral Care Center.
Uh this afternoon we were joined by Kayla Shot Brussler who is the deputy executive uh over in over at Wakom County um along with the mayor. Thank you for the presentation. It's largely um Kayla Kayla Shot Brussler who provided a a PowerPoint presentation.
I really um was trying to figure out how to uh distill this down into something um that is a enormous body of work. Consider the fact that this is the largest capital project in the history of Wakom County.
There's that piece. Um voters rejected this twice. Once in 2015 and once in 2017 and then passed it again uh more or passed it uh recently. Um it's a two tons of 1% sales tax um generating projected $12.5 million a year which would then theoretically allow us to bond about 200 million roughly speaking.
That's that was the plan. Um so the reality is is that last year um sales receipts were down $1 million or 9% from the 2023 projections which was the year that all of this the plan was developed. Um so combining that with um the increase in construction costs um it's becoming more and more clear that some of the more aspirational um morally ambitious um things that we wanted to accomp accomplish are just going to be more challenging to try to figure out.
And so the um the deputy executive presented a number of different scenarios. Um I think the first two are what can be afforded. They don't provide what the um what I would regard are are key components and um or or they make it more challenging to provide those those components um within this um within this facility.
What I would I'm going to just pause there for a second. I what I would recommend to anyone who is interested in this topic um I would recommend watching the video from today. Um there was a a very good uh PowerPoint presentation.
I would also recommend watching the meeting from this morning of the incarceration prevention and reduction task force that started at 9:00 this morning. Um there was a very um good discussion around uh size of the facility, cost of the facility, how many beds, um how does that all work in terms of uh providing for um folks that need to be categorized and put into a different part of the facility for various reasons including u mental health or substance use disorder.
I'd also encourage folks to watch the uh finance and facilities advisory board meeting from February 12th of which um Michael Illoquist and Mayor Lond uh serve on. Um also a very illuminating discussion that happened there.
Also recommend watching the justice project oversight and planning um meeting from February 19th. These are all available on wakomcount. us. Um that's the Wakom County's uh government site. And the reason I'm recommending watching these meetings is because the the amount of work that went into this body of work is enormous.
Um, and for me to try to distill everything here in just a few moments is just I'm not going to do it justice. So, I I would recommend if you are serious about where your money's going, if you're serious about um diversion, um intervention, incarceration, um accountability, um please watch those those videos or at least watch the one from today, which will be up, I believe, tomorrow or in the in the next day or so.
Um we are on a bit of a fast track to try to get this um to get some decisions made. end of April is what the executive the county executive is asking for. Um so we we have some some we have a body of work to continue to get to that to to that point.
I'm reading here from the county executives um memorandum that's in the packet here today. Um based on the initial work from the design build team and the um the contractors, it's apparent that the design considerations listed in the implementation plan are outside the scope of the current budget or our current current budget realities situation is leading to competing priorities among the overarching goals defined in the implementation plan.
Um the three primary facilities envisioned in the plan are the jail, the behavioral care center, and the 23-hour center. Um and define them as well within reach. So that's good news. Um the behavioral care center is a sort of separate entity when it comes to some parts of the funding.
um that that was uh loud and clear from voters um when they ended up supporting this measure um in 2023. So, I'm going to end there. That's kind of long-winded. Um I think there's I think um reviewing those videos are going to be the key thing.
So, I'm going to end with end that item right there unless there's further questions or discussion from council. Okay, I'll move on to the next item. This was an interlocal agreement with Wakom County providing funding for the Wacom racial equity uh commission.
Just give me a moment here to get to the um the Wacom uh Wacom Racial Equity Commission or Wreck was founded as a county advisory group through Wacom County code 2.107. The commission is tasked with addressing racial inequity and assisting lo local governments with their commitment to support a welcome, inclusive, and safe community for everyone.
The proposal or the proposed interlocal agreement memorializes the city and Wakom County's shared support for the purpose and goals of the wreck and our shared commitment to continue joint funding for the commission's work in 2026.
Um the impact uh city of Bellingham is $100,000 uh per year. We're moving to a annual budget from a three-year budget. Um this afternoon the motion was to approve um this and I so move >> second. >> Motion was made by council member Hamill and a second by council member Williams.
Any discussion? So, I just wanted to, I guess, take a moment to highlight one the commitment from the city to continue to support the racial equity commission. And I think um Mayor Lund also, you know, highlighted this afternoon just beyond this financial investment which helps support the operations of that advisory board, you know, the work by Council Member Williams as well as Mayor Lond and um Dborah Beneza, our um strategic initiatives manager um for equity and belonging.
I always have to look up that that title. That's what I was trying to make sure I get that right. Um, but just wanting to to highlight that beyond just that financial investment, the the time and energy and commitment from the city is is greatly appreciated.
So, thank you. >> Okay. >> And was there a vote? >> No, not yet. Any other discussion? >> No. Okay. All in favor? So, again, that motion was made by Council Member Hamill and a second by Council Member Williams.
All in favor say I. I >> I any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing none, that passes 70. >> Okay. The last item was a resolution re reaffirming the city's commitment to immigrant rights and civil rights and denouncing federal immigration enforcement actions that endanger public safety and violate individuals constitutional rights in Bellingham and nationwide.
Uh for all residents of Bellingham, the Bellingham City Council reaffirms the city's commitment to the basic rights and freedom set forth in the Constitution of the United States. These include the right to free speech, peaceful assembly, due process, and freedom from warrantless searches.
We bring this reaffirmation forward in light of the recent unprecedented and unlawful actions by the federal government in the context of immigration enforcement. Uh this afternoon the committee recommended approval and I so move.
>> Second. >> Motion was made by council member Hamill and a second by council member Huthman. Any discussion? >> Council member H. >> Yeah. My understanding is that there there may be um at least one amendment from the administration and my understanding is that council members may want to weigh in as well.
>> Thank you very much. Um council member Lilquist. I'd like to hear the amendment first, then we can discuss things. Marilyn, >> on reflection, I would suggest for council's consideration the addition of a recital.
Uh the wording something along the lines as whereas the city of Bellingham remains committed to elevating diverse voices and immigrant stories as reflected in our recent museum exhibits, library events, community convenings, and investments in arts and culture.
and some of the local um examples that I think highlight that important um reflection of one of the ways that we're showing up in the community as it relates to this resolution right now includes the Maryanne Peters exhibit at the light catcher museum and telling the stories of the diaspora um of the Middle East including Isabelle Wilkerson's talk at the Mount Baker Theater, the Wacom Reed selection um by Javier Zam um Zamora for Solito.
I think all of these are reflective of ways that um city departments are showing up um in important ways right now as it relates to this topic. So for council's consideration, >> do any of the any council members have that in writing?
>> No. No. >> Able to >> Okay. Um, is there any action for my council member to want to >> Can we get it in writing? >> Okay. >> Um, just to be able to read that into the record and then share that with the um, clerk as well.
>> We're doing that right now. >> Thank you, >> Council Member Anderson. Did you >> I would move approval to add the recital as stated from Marilyn. >> Second. >> So I just want to confirm we have a motion to consider the um resolution.
>> I move to amend. >> Okay. >> To add the recital as stated by Maryland. >> Okay. So, we have a motion to amend from Council Member Anderson and a second by Council Member Williams. I will see if that will come in.
I don't have Is it sent by email? >> You have got it. Yeah. Would you like me to read it? >> Could you just read it one more time? Whereas the city of Bellingham remains committed to elevating diverse voices and immigrant stories as reflected on our recent museum exhibits, library events, community convenings, and investments in art and culture.
We have a motion by Council Member Anderson and a second by Council Member Williams. Any further discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all in favor will say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions?
Okay. Seeing none, that passes 70. Council member Loquist, >> I will be supporting this resolution for a number of reasons. One, because it's constant with the values and how we treat members of our own community, but for an additional reason, something that's been weighing very heavily on me.
Um, so I took an oath of office. That oath of office is not just to discharge the duties of city council member and to, you know, do my job well and serve my community well. My oath also includes upholding the Constitution of the United States, which is a surprise to me.
I when you run for office, I didn't know that that's part of my responsibility. Um, and in the description of this resolution, it refers to the constitution as the reason why we might need to be concerned about federal actions.
Um, our constitutional rights include free speech, peaceful assembly, due process, and freedom from warrantless searches. Um, what I am seeing and reading is credible information about abusive legal threats and financial extortion directed against those who are exercising free speech in the name of federal policy.
That's wrong. What I'm seeing is the right to peacefully protest and to observe and to criticize her own government is under attack. And federal agents themselves have often initiated and inflicted violence.
then lied about it and misrepresented it, failed to investigate it or even covered it up. And that these this deception was then revealed in courts of law when the evidence contradicted federal testimony.
That attack on protesters is wrong and it's unconstitutional. There are due process rights and they're being violated. These aren't actions taken against just people who have committed crimes or violated immigration laws.
These are often people with valid work permits, valid visas, permanent residents, even citizens who are also facing enforcement actions, sometimes held for weeks and then released without charges, their due process rights, their constitutional rights violated.
That's wrong. That shouldn't stand. I want to make a distinction between what I see locally, which is a high commitment to ethical professional conduct by our law enforcement, which is why it's so particularly frightening when I hear pronouncements made by members of the justice community about what federal agents are doing.
Judge Roy Dalton Jr., you're a US district court judge in Florida in a decision where he rebuked federal agents for misrepresenting the law and trying to say they were enforcing the law which did not apply and would not apply and could not apply.
He said in his official opinion in this country we do not enforce the law by breaking the law and that's the problem I'm seeing. Uh, Judge Ellison, Illinois said that federal actions were so lawless and untrue in their testimony that it shocked the conscience.
These are statements by judges when they sit in evidence over what federal agents are doing. That concerns me. That's one reason I'm supporting this resolution is I think there's something seriously mistaken and misguided and illegal and immoral about the way the federal policies are being pursued.
It's a separate statement from from those federal policies themselves. The very manner in which they're being pursued is itself, I think, threatening to our individual constitutional rights. And I think that deserves at least resolution from the city of Bellingham.
Williams. When when this first came up, I um had a number of reasons why I felt this was important to pursue. And um considering the current affairs that my colleague over here has just spoken to, I have been at meetings where people have asked me, "What is the city doing?
what is the city doing to deal with this? And part of my thinking was um we have a history of doing things like this that goes back 15, 20 years or more. And our history as a council is standing up and supporting human and civil rights in our community.
highlighting actions that we've taken in the past and maybe setting an example for our other municipal colleagues to take similar actions because as Michael has said this is something I would well no you didn't say this but this is something I thought I would never see in my lifetime this kind of behavior and these kinds of actions And I wanted this to reflect our history, the steps that we are taking now so that the broader Bellingham community and our other municipal partners and the county can see what we stand for and what we'd be willing to do to give our community that reassurance that we are looking at covering the back of our immigrant communities and like I said, hopefully encouraging our other municipal colleagues to take similar steps.
Not exactly the same, but those conversations should happen and go on the record as taking some action to stand up. That's why this resolution is coming forward and I think this resolution as opposed to some others in the past have some real solid action steps that we as the city can take and they're not specific.
They're not we're going to do X, we're going to do Y. We're going to do what we have been doing the last few months. Situation comes up and we're going to have a sit down and figure out how we're going to deal with it.
And that to me is very very important so that we're all rowing in the same direction. That's why this resolution is important. Council member Hudson. Well, thanks to Council Member Hamill and Council Member Williams for doing the work to bring this forward and as well as the work that staff has done on this.
Uh over the years, I've had mixed feelings about resolutions. I think we sometimes get criticized for spending time on resolutions because they often don't contain specific actionable items, but I think one of the things that I've come to appreciate um over the years as well with resolutions is that it is a snapshot in time that helps us communicate to the general public um in a concise way showing where we have been um where we are at present time and where we hope to see uh see the city continue into the future.
Um I think that it's it's a vehicle not only to communicate with the the current general public but also to our future future counsels in the future uh city. So um sometimes we do very broad resolutions um and sometimes we do really specific timely uh resolutions.
And so I I I appreciate that that the work was put into doing this and um I will be supporting >> member Anderson. >> Thank you. Um I'm also supporting this. At first though, I'll be honest. When I heard there would be a resolution coming forward on this, my first thought was why?
because we just spent a lot of time and effort, council member Stone, last year on um basically passing the resolution 2025 um which affirmed the city of Bellingham as a welcoming city that we all have the right to live free of discrimination, violence, and systematic barriers that threaten their safety, well-being, and human rights.
And the resolution has action steps. It was done well. It was a reflection of what we have, what we could do better. But it also has in there things for us to move on um in order to make that statement more whole.
Um but then after reading this it it is a snapshot but I see the resolution as something that is really an internal like what are we doing? Um it's a reflection inside. It's um basically it becomes law for the city.
Um and we're accountable for it. words of resolution. This particular one, it really is examining a lot of the stuff that's external. Um I along with many people I know are just beyond um heartbreak is what first comes to mind.
What um community members, neighbors, citizens, and even guests. I think of um a a tourist on a valid visa from Germany being held um for no good specific reason and then just released after a period of time.
We know what the actions of the federal government has done to tourism and commerce but what it has done to civil liberties and um the violation of the constitution. I appreciate this resolution as far as looking and identifying those things and marking a time in history that um we as council are not supporting the violation of uh civil rights, human rights, and the constitution.
So, um I'm not a huge fan of resolutions, but I I do appreciate this one um for what, um it is marking time so that people can look back at this time period and and kind of know not only as a council, but I believe a greater community stands regarding um some of the the actions that have been taken place um over the last year.
So, thank you. Council member Cotton. >> Yeah. Thank you, Council Member um uh HL and Williams for bringing this forward. Um I just also wanted to note some of the work that we've been doing in our legislative work group um including supporting um bills this year that expand protections for immigrant workers um uh and regulate activities by federal law enforcement.
And so, uh, there's several bills with even hearings this week, including House Bill 21105 and, um, Senate Bill 5855. So, members of the public are interested, that's another place to consider plugging in.
>> Do you want to since you addressed it, I don't know if you have the correspondence from Iris. Do you just want to go through that list of >> Yeah, and I have that in front of me as well. Okay. Um, sure.
So, there's five bills that we're tracking this week. Um, House Bill 21105, uh, which concerns immigrant worker protections, um, and, uh, is in regards to advanced, uh, employer notices to employees of, um, uh, federal um, I-9 audits.
Um so significant um for our community um and recent employment based enforcement actions. Um House Bill 2411 uh modifies shared leave provisions to authorize shared leave for victims of hate crimes um and those whose absence is due to immigration enforcement actions.
Um, Senate Bill 5855, um, concerns the use of face coverings by law enforcement officers, including federal, um, immigration enforcement. Uh, SB5906 um, establishes data and personal safety protections um within areas of public accommodation for Washington residents.
And um Senate Bill 602 um concerns driver privacy protections um including regulating ALPR and the city has been tracking these closely and um where appropriate communicating areas of improvement and also um uh support um on several.
So um check those out. So, I guess in response to the resolution, similar to Council Member Anderson's comments, um, just initially thinking about the the why behind this, right, and wanting to make sure that something that's very important for me pragmatically, also as, you know, an an immigration attorney is thinking about the enforcement of our laws and wanting to be clear that at least from my perspective, you know, a resolution like this is not um taking issue with the enforcement of our our laws, right?
But things aren't mutually exclusive like the enforcement of our immigration laws and the enforcement of due process laws and civil rights and constitutional rights are not mutually exclusive and that we should be enforcing all of our laws and um making sure that that's done so right in in the way that um yeah, we've been accustomed in this country of having that due process and and seeing those types of of violations has been um concerning just because it is um you see the broad right ripple effect and impact across the entire community.
Um in addition thinking about federal enforcement and federal laws of which we do not have jurisdiction over that I think is also right challenging for me with respect to a resolution like this and thinking about when you know council member Williams is saying oh you know what are we going to do and that these are actions we're going to take and so needing to recognize the limitations and so sometimes I have apprehension also um as an immigration attorney and thinking about advocating on behalf of members of the immigrant community and not wanting something to seem as though right it's it's providing more assurance and more um security than than maybe we can um can deliver on and so but recognizing that there are enforcement actions that have taken place within our city and will continue to take place in our city.
Um, but what are the things that as a local municipality and as council members, as the mayor, as community members, right? What are those things that we're able to to do and where are we able to um to lean in and provide support?
And so right now feeling like it is important to have as council member Husman was stating, you know, sort of this point in time declaration for, you know, where we're at and sort of just bearing witness to what's happening and and taking a stand and um and speaking to that.
So appreciation to council members um Hamill and and Williams for for bringing this forward. I think there are important things to highlight. I wanted to extend appreciation to Chief Mertzig and um for you know joining me in a meeting recently.
Again it was a a Zoom meeting because members of the community sometimes not feeling um safe and again it's not even directly related to immigration status. I I speak to members of the community who are you know naturalized citizens maybe dual citizens who also are feeling um a lot of trepidation just about um yeah safety in in our community.
And so, um, Chief Mertzik had joined me on a a call with, I think we were saying there were near 90, you know, families on on this call, um, Spanish speaking families in our community to just speak to, yeah, how the police department operates and, um, how the city operates and, you know, and what we are are able to do.
And there was great appreciation just for showing up and sharing right that space and being clear about if you know if there's a crime and you need help to call to call 911. Um because that really is also thinking about the budgetary restrictions right now and you know sometimes people are taking issue with Bellingham stance of saying oh we're not going to you know um assist federal agents in immigration enforcement specifically.
I think about that one, wanting to make sure that we are able to deliver, right, on the public safety um concerns and services that we need to to provide as a municipality to members of our community.
And when we do have limited funds um and resources, it makes sense to be expending those resources as best we can to support our community. And so I think, you know, criminal activity, violent crime in our community is where we need to be focusing those those resources.
Um, and so those little things that you can do to, you know, to show up and and be present in our community and really wanting to take the opportunity to to celebrate the, you know, the contributions and um, members of our community that come from very different walks of life and, you know, have um, different cultural backgrounds and just acknowledging sort of the richness of that and how that contributes to to Bellingham.
thinking about the international market that takes place in, you know, the Birchwood neighborhood. Again, the events that the library and museum have um, you know, have participated in and elevated here in our community.
So, it's also wanting something like this, wanting to make sure that we're taking the opportunity to um to celebrate as well because I feel like a lot of what the actions um that have been taken by the federal administration recently have done is really, you know, sort of silenced and had a chilling effect.
Not even specifically related to immigration status or enforcement, but just in, you know, people being able to fully engage and celebrate who they are in our community. So, wanting to make sure that we're um mindful of of that.
There was a couple things I wanted to mention or present to at least the drafters for consideration. So one is on page 111 it's the third whereas from the bottom I guess but in that last section it's talking about federal troops and agents on American streets and in American neighborhoods.
And for me that's one of the things sort of similar to the use of the word citizen that unless it for me citizen has a legal um a legal meaning as well. Um and for here American I people may have different um opinions about this.
When I think about um clients and community members from different parts of whether that's North America, Central America, South America often think of themselves in their own context and in their own countries as Americans.
And so that always gives me me pause. Um but I also can appreciate where members of the United States, you know, that word American can also have um a lot of meaning to yeah, individuals who are here as well.
But I felt like it was something especially if it's related to immigration um to at least highlight. And I don't I guess my consideration was whether in keeping that whereas to address federal troops and agents um on the streets and in neighborhoods um on streets and in neighborhoods here in the United States or I don't know.
It depends on what you're wanting to accomplish. Um but I can appreciate if you feel like that is not the same. Um, but so I don't know if there's any feedback or or thoughts on that. I know. Council Anderson, >> you keep looking at me because we've been discussing the pledge.
Um, I would be fine if you're making a motion to change that. I would just the way it rolls. If you're thinking of um on our streets and in our neighborhoods is our inclusive because versus uh >> in in United States at the end I just think of you need another word there to define before street but I don't want to define it in a way that excludes anyone by saying are >> council Elizabeth, >> I thought about inserting R and I don't think it it works because first of all, what do you mean R?
Like Bellingham R. No, I think the statement is a national statement and so I think the language would be better to just strike the two words American and just say federal troops agents on uh on streets and in the neighborhoods here in the US.
I I I think that gives the national focus which I think is the intent of that because there have been numerous troop deployments and the the brief has national scope and you know national jurisdiction.
So I think I think our doesn't catch that but in in the United States does >> your concern was that the word American was too exclusive or that it wasn't inclusive enough I think it's wanting to just wanting to be clear about the the pl you're saying this is a time and a a place, right?
And and declaring that and just wanting to acknowledge that um when we say and with current events and in other parts of of even North America, Central America and Latin America as a whole right now. Perhaps these statements will be true in a broader sense of the the region.
Um, but at this time I think we're speaking to right to the to what's happening here in the United States. And so for me there's a a differentiation there. But but I wanted to bring it up for you too as as drafters and that if there was you know if you're wanting to if you feel strong about keeping that language then I would defer to to you two as the drafters.
Council member Ham. >> Uh, sure. I I think that um to your earlier point that you were getting at um in relation to immigrant rights and deployment of federal troops and agents on streets and in neighborhoods here in the United States would cover.
It's it's all factual, but it eliminates the the the words American uh streets or American and American in relation to streets and neighborhoods. If that addresses your concern, >> change it from America to United States.
>> Strike American in both instances. And third to the to the last whereas clause on page 111 and um insert here in the United States at the tail end of that sentence. Are you clear on that? Um, did you put your hands up?
>> Yeah, I was just gonna make two points. Uh, thank you to Bad Bunny for reminding us that America comprises of many more countries than just our own. Uh, and thank you for for bringing this up. I think it's a really good point, Hannah.
Uh, and yeah, I think that is this is a a really it's an edit that makes sense. So, I don't know if anybody's made a motion yet, but I'll make the motion um for for this section, federal troops and agents on streets and neighborhoods in the United States, striking the words American.
>> Second. >> Motion was made by Council Member Hudman and a second by Council Member Anderson. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor will say I. >> I. Any opposed or abstensions? Okay, seeing none, that passes 70.
Um the other piece. So I guess the other piece I just wanted to speak to briefly is that in the therefore right the therefore be it resolve sections. That's where we're thinking about you know taking that that action.
Um and so just wanting to be mindful that there are actions potentially that may be coming forward as council member Cotton highlighted through the state legislature. Um so that may create some um changes here locally.
In addition, the keep Washington working group will be bringing forward recommendations hopefully in April um or thereabouts to the the council and so wanting to take those recommendations into consideration.
also um and so when there are you know statements of continue to stand with right and protect the rights of community members um or in talking about taking concrete actions to assist members of our community or using all tools in our disposal disposal to ensure the city of Bellingham right is never complicit.
Some of those feel like very right sort of broad absolute statements of things that I don't know if we can clearly deliver on or not but I appreciate the right the sentiment there um and what's behind that from from I believe the two of you as as drafters and so I'm not you know proposing any um particular changes but just wanting to to highlight that moving forward there will be requests right from the community.
Um, and so reflecting on the words that are being included in this resolution now that there will likely be a time coming forward when we'll be called on, right, to to act on on those. And um I think that's been demonstrated as well through the um the legal action, right, that the city has signed on to.
Um and in other, you know, little ways where we're able to we're making sure to to support that. But just wanting to um yeah to highlight that I feel like there are some community members who will read that and question that feels like you know some big words that I don't know that the the city is going to um deliver on and just wanting to also I feel like I would be remiss right without mentioning I mean we have had struggles as a as a council and as a city with the immigration advisory board and right calls for an immigrant resource center.
And I mean there are things right that it's not always easy and it's and so I appreciate wanting to um right to make this statement. It's just I take the words very seriously and so I'm wanting to make sure that you know we're mindful of of how we're able to to really actually show up and deliver on that going forward.
Um, Councilman Williams, >> I too think that we all take the words seriously and the way this is written in my history with this council, I haven't seen a statement in a resolution like that in my time here.
What it is is meant to speak to was The weapons are the possibility of things that we can do to um align ourselves to take the right positions. other issues. Um, we we we should sit down and confirm or decide we're going to do this or not.
But to think that somebody's well, I guess somebody will read this and say, "How come you didn't do this?" But it speaks to the weapons and the opportunities that we have that are within our that are within our lane that we can do and but it's it's not specific because like I have said to many many people is this is something totally new that we are dealing with number one.
Number two, you don't know what's coming at you until it happens. At least that's the way things are happening now. But at least we sit down and figure out how we're going to deal with it as as a governing body, as a as a city governance that is committed to these values.
But we didn't make that specific like we're going to do X, we're going to do Y, we're going to do Z. It's we will sit down and evaluate the situation and come up with a a plan to deal with it, but we don't know what those are going to look like yet in some ways.
So that was the purpose of that statement is that we are going to sit down and talk about how we're going to respond. >> I just wanted to clarify because you'd mentioned weapons a couple times. I think you're speaking of the reference to tools >> tools >> and our at our disposal.
Okay. Y any other comments? Council member Lquist. >> Um, I'd like to make one more amendment. I will think we need to be careful the choice of words. There's one word in here, I think, that that goes where we don't want it to go.
Uh, on page 112, the second further be it resolved. It calls ISIS and CPB's surge in the cities lawless. They weren't actually lawless, but they were unlawful, meaning they had a legal basis. But several courts have ruled that they broke the law in their action.
So I think it's better I would move that we strike the word lawless and replace it with the word unlawful because I think that has been actually a factual determination by courts of law. >> Second motion was made by council member Liilquist and a second by council member Cotton.
>> Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor will say I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none, that passes 70. Any other further discussion? Um, I guess the only other question I'd had was in the whereas it said since December 2024, immigration agents have shot several individuals and there were some mentioned there.
I was just curious. I mean, there could be different names included. I was just curious if there was a um how I guess you came up with those or if there was any um yeah it's hard because I mean it is a moment in in time and so I guess it's saying since December 2024 it's like at what right what point and where we're wanting to to highlight those.
I know there were some that um obviously received lots of um of media attention and and others. And so the purpose of that that section I guess in in listing individual names if just the thought behind behind that and picking specific names to to list.
I mean I I appreciate the importance of of sharing names but >> Council H. >> Are you asking? >> Yeah. Okay. Um, so that so this resolution was primarily written um in between the killings of um um Renee Good and Alex Prey.
It was it happened almost right in the middle of those those two events and then the other um individuals that are named here um were included after a consultation with the with our legal department. Um to your point, this is a snapshot in time.
this will change. I this in two months it'll be something different. Um but at that time that's what was happening. Um Council Member Williams referred I believe to an unprecedented I've never seen this in my life or I didn't believe I was going to see this in my lifetime.
That's what we were working on during that time. And so that's what that whereas clause is pursuant to. >> Thank you. And yes, those are a snapshot in time, but it expresses our concern that we don't want this to keep happening.
>> I believe we have a motion before us. Um, the motion was made by Council Member Hamill and a second by Council Member Huffman to move forward the resolution. And that would be with the minor amendments that have been adopted by the by the council.
Any further discussion at this time changes? Okay. Seeing none, all in favor will say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? >> Okay. Seeing none, that passes 70. >> And a committee report. >> Thank you very much.
So the next committee this afternoon was committee of the whole. Um, all council members were present. We had one item before us. This was agenda bill 24839. This was a presentation on how to access the Bellingham plan and related resources.
So, a presentation demonstrating to city council and the public how the recently adopted plan can be accessed on the city's website and how to find and use related resources and tools. Um, was presented by Chris Beehey, long range planning manager for the city of Bellingham.
um and that presentation similarly he walked through in great detail on the website um information about how you can access the plan. So I would say if individuals are interested in that to um definitely watch that presentation wanting to highlight the the plan the the copies that we received today um during the meeting and that on the city's website there is the option to you know download a PDF of this document on your computer.
You could also interact with the Bellingham plan online. Um, so there are active links within the plan that allow you to, you know, link to words that are underlined that have then definitions in the glossery as well as to link to different sections of um, of the plan itself and different, you know, reports and documents that are being referenced um, within the plan.
So very, very interactive, which is how it was able to be slimmed down to this very sleek um, printed format. In addition, there is the um the ability to um so print a copy, a hard copy if anybody wanted a a printed copy specifically.
Um and in addition, there are um screen reader versions that don't have the pictures but just have the the language itself if um individuals need need that access. So, um, just wanting to highlight great appreciation to staff for all of the work that went into getting the plan, um, completed at the end of last year and just recognizing that this is a living document that members of the community are able to again interact with as needed to, you know, answer questions.
Um and I guess one other piece wanted to highlight is so within each section right you have a main idea and then the goal and the policies. So these are other resources that you're able to right link to throughout the plan in different different sections but that there are also maps that are very interactive.
So for the land use map, right, being able to click on the map and then um focus down even to the street and and house level to look at different properties and determine where you know what zoning applies to that particular location in the city.
Um, and that the I guess one of the wonderful things about the electronic versions also is the ability for things to be, you know, updated and and maintained um, as far as the um, you know, maps and data that the city's collecting.
So again, great appreciation to staff for that presentation and all of the work behind the scenes. Um and that presentation again if you want to watch that um the recording that um Chris did a great job just walking through sort of step by step how to access that information.
So that was for information and discussion only during committee and that was again the only item before the committee of the whole this afternoon. Um after that we had old and new business. Any items for old and new this evening?
No. Okay, there were no items for old and new. We did have executive session this afternoon. There were two items before us. So, in executive session, there was a potential property acquisition. The first one was with Longman.
Um staff provided information on a potential property acquisition. Again, it was for information and discussion only this afternoon and no action was taken. There was a second property potential property acquisition.
This was with Rosenblat. Staff provided information on a potential Lake Watcom watershed property acquisition. This item was for information and discussion only this afternoon and no action was taken.
So that concludes the executive session report. Next we have consent agenda >> approval. Second >> motion by council member Liiloquist and a second by council member Hamill. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor will say I.
>> I >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing none, that passes 70. Then we have final consideration of ordinances. Agenda Bill 24829, an ordinance adopting a 4-year commute trip reduction plan for 2025 to 2029 and implementing measures as required by RCW70A.15.4.
400 0. >> Move. Third and final. >> Second. >> Motion was made by council member Anderson and a count and a second by council member Huthman. >> Okay. Any discussion on that? Seeing none. Roll call, please.
Hman. >> Hi. >> Dan Hamill. >> Hi. >> Skip Williams. Hi. >> Lisa Anderson. Hi. >> Michael Lilloquist. Hi. >> Jay Cotton. Hi. Hannah Stone. Hi. >> The motion passes 70. Thank you very much. Um, so our next meeting will be Monday, March 9th.
Um, so that concludes the regular business of the meeting and we will now move to the public comment period. If you're watching live online or on BTV, the broadcast will now end. However, you can continue watching via Zoom at co.orgcc.
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