City Council - Regular Meeting
City Council - Regular Meeting
Mon, September 15, 2025
Agenda items
Vote records
Discussion summary
Transcript
Meeting summary
Summary not yet available.
Agenda items (28)
Council Business
1Council BusinessPotential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 3 min.) ITEM ADDED 9.11.25
3Council BusinessOld/New Business
24651Council BusinessContract Award for RG Haley Site Cleanup, Cornwall Landfill Landfill Cleanup, and Salish Landing Park Phase 1 (EC018) Bid #19B-2025
24652Council BusinessA Resolution Adopting the Bellingham Public Library Facilities Master Plan
24653Council BusinessOrdinance Imposing an Additional Sales and Use Tax of One-tenth of One Percent for Criminal Justice Purposes as Authorized in Section 201, Chapter 350, Laws of Washington 2025; Adding a New Chapter 4.79 to the Bellingham Municipal Code
24666Council BusinessNoise Variance for Padden Creek at 12th and 14th Streets Fish Passage Improvement
Procedural (4)
2ProceduralLanguage Access The Bellingham City Council provides Spanish interpretation at all regular evening meetings. Interpretation can be accessed by in-person attendees by utilizing the headsets located at the front of the room. Remote viewers can log on to cob.org/cczoom and click on the “Language” icon at the bottom of the screen to listen in Spanish.
4ProceduralBy mail addressed to: City Council, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225
5ProceduralElectronically: o For a public hearing: https://cob.org/publichearing o For general public comment: E-mail all Council Members at ccmail@cob.org.
24655ProceduralApproval of the 8/25/2025 City Council Committee and Regular Meeting Minutes
Adjournment
29AdjournmentTues. 12 p.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday afternoon Committee meetings
30AdjournmentTues. 7 p.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday night regular meeting
31AdjournmentWed. 8 a.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday night regular meeting
32AdjournmentSat. 12 p.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday afternoon Committee meetings
33AdjournmentSat. 7 p.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday night regular meeting Online Streaming: The meetings are streamed live at https://cob.org/btv. Online viewers will see exactly what cable customers would see. Video: Video recordings of each meeting are available on the Internet at https://cob.org/meetings within five business days following each meeting.
Ordinance
24635OrdinanceAn Ordinance Amending Bellingham Municipal Chapter 20.15 (Temporary Shelters) to Delete Shelter Guest Maximums, Extend Permit Duration for all Shelter Types, Modify Permit Renewal Requirements, and Clarify Operational and Infrastructure
24641OrdinanceAn Ordinance Relating to the Vacation of the Donovan Avenue Right of Way, Except the Southerly 42.5 Feet (Approx) West of the Easterly Boundary of the Alley, Located Between 35th and 36th Streets and within the City of Bellingham
General Business
24654General BusinessA Closed Record Hearing to Consider an Ordinance Relating to the Vacation of Rimland Drive Between Woburn Street and Barkley Boulevard
24664General BusinessMayor's reappointment to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (Information)
24665General BusinessMayor's reappointment to the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission (Information) City Council Special Meeting 1:00 PM
Consent Calendar
24656Consent CalendarResolution Designating Cascadia Daily News as the City's Official Newspaper of
24657Consent CalendarInterlocal Agreement with United States Geologic Survey for Water Resource
24658Consent CalendarAuthorization of A/P Transactions Issued August 15, 2025 through August 21, 2025
24659Consent CalendarAuthorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated August 1, 2025 to August 15, 2025
24660Consent CalendarAuthorization of A/P Transactions Issued August 22, 2025 through August 28, 2025
24661Consent CalendarAuthorization of A/P Transactions Issued August 29, 2025 through September 04, 2025
24662Consent CalendarInteragency Agreement with Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) to sponsor Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) Members for Restoration and
24663Consent CalendarSubrecipient Agreement between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham (What-Comm Communications).
Additional votes recorded in minutes
Approve vacation of Rimland Drive between Wuburn Street and Barkley Boulevard
aye 1
voice voteaye
Award contract to IMCO General Construction for RG Haley Cornwall Landfill Salish Landing Park Phase 1
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve noise variance for Padden Creek at 12th and 14th Streets fish passage improvement project
aye 1
voice voteaye
Adopt resolution adopting the Bellingham Public Library facilities master plan
aye 1
voice voteaye
Adopt ordinance imposing 0.1% sales and use tax for criminal justice purposes (first/second reading)
aye 1
voice voteaye
Motion to reconsider August 25th decision to deny Britain Road Northern Heights annexation
aye 5 · nay 2
Dan Hammillaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmannay
Jace Cottonnay
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Skip Williamsaye
Amend motion to deny annexation to direct staff to bring back Britain Road Northern Heights annexation proposal in late 2026 or early 2027
aye 5 · nay 2
Dan Hammillaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmannay
Jace Cottonnay
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Skip Williamsaye
Send letters to Evergreen Supportive Living and SEIU 775 encouraging fair contract agreement
aye 1
voice voteaye
Authorize mayor to close real estate transaction for Lake Whatcom watershed property from Vernon Hardle for $256,000
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve consent agenda
aye 1
voice voteaye
Adopt ordinance amending BMC Chapter 20.15 temporary shelters (Agenda Bill 24635)
aye 7
Dan Hammillaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Skip Williamsaye
Adopt ordinance vacating Donovan Avenue right-of-way (Agenda Bill 24641)
aye 7
Dan Hammillaye
Hannah Stoneaye
Hollie Huthmanaye
Jace Cottonaye
Lisa Andersonaye
Michael Lilliquistaye
Skip Williamsaye
Verbatim transcript available
82 transcript segments indexed
[Music] go ahead and call this meeting to order. Welcome to the uh regular meeting of the Bellingham City Council this September 15, 2025. The Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the State of Washington Open Meetings Act.
Before we begin, we acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional and unseated territory of the Lummy, Nooksac, Samish, and Simyamu people who have cared for and tended this land since time immemorial.
Truth and acknowledgement are critical to building mutual respect and connection across all barriers of heritage and difference. We begin this effort to acknowledge what has been buried by honoring the truth.
We pay respect to their elders, past and present. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that bring us together here today. And please join us in uncovering such truths at any and all public events.
The Bellingham City Council provides Spanish interpretation at all regular evening meetings. Interpretation can be accessed by in-person attendees by utilizing the headsets located at the front of the room.
Remote viewers can log on to co.org/cczoom /cczoom and click on the language icon at the bottom of the screen to listen in Spanish. And I'll go ahead and let our interpreter repeat that. language. >> Thank you.
The council will hold a public hearing on September 29th, 2025 to hear public comment on a proposed ordinance authorizing the relinquishment of a surplus utility easement encumbering 427 Ohio Street. Further details can be found at meetings.co.org 5 days prior to the hearing.
Roll call, please. >> Recording in progress. Hannah Stone >> here. >> Dan Hamill >> here. >> Skip Williams >> here. >> Lisa Anderson >> here. >> Michael Lilloquiz >> here. >> Jay Scott Cotton >> here.
>> Holly Huffman >> here. >> All council members are present. >> Thank you. And we start first with the mayor's report. >> Good evening, council, staff, and members of the community that are here tonight.
Leading off with mayor's report, I have two appointments that I wanted to share for your information. The first is that I'm reappointing Scott Patchner to a first full term on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and also I'm happily reappointing Colin Beasley to his second term as the York Neighborhood Representative.
Council had productive conversation during committee of the whole this afternoon about a proposed public safety tax we are asking them to consider enacting and I wanted to take a minute this evening to place that proposal in the context of the larger budget issues we face as a city.
The city, like other municipalities and local governments throughout the state, are coming to terms with years of increased demand for public services, for increased costs to deliver those services, and a coupling of flat or even declining revenues.
We are in our second year of seeking to address the structural imbalance. And this work is ongoing. At its core, a budget is a values document, a reflection of the city's legal requirements, the community's priorities, and the core services that we endeavor to provide.
Much of our work is ours alone to do. No one else is going to provide the vital services that we provide for Bellingham. the frontline responses to public safety and emergencies, the long-term planning of how and where we grow, consideration of how we travel throughout our city, both today and in the future, and delivering clean water and sewer along with so many other essential key city services.
We are working incredibly hard to bring a 2026 budget that is responsive, responsible, and sustainable. One that fills an estimated $10 million general fund shortfall. And we know that council joins us in this commitment.
The public safety tax we presented for consideration this afternoon is essential to simply maintaining our core public safety services into 2026. Examples of services potentially at risk without using this new funding mechanism includes our popular and effective downtown bicycle patrols and the officers that we have dedicated to rejoining the drug task force.
I encourage anyone who's interested in more information to view the video of today's committee of the whole discussion. I intend to present my proposed 2026 budget at the September 29th council meeting and I will deliver my budget message to all staff in advance of that.
We have work sessions planned with council throughout October and November and we anticipate that we will be well positioned for council to adopt a final budget in December. Throughout this process, we are committed to working with our labor leaders and all employees, the council, our key city partners, and alongside the broader community to arrive at a final budget that supports our core services and values while addressing the key structural imbalances in the city's general fund.
And that concludes mayor's report tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor. This might be a fairly quick one for everybody. Um so for report outs today up first this afternoon we had a special meeting.
It was a closed record hearing to consider an ordinance relating to the vacation of Rimland Drive between Wuburn Street and Barkley Boulevard. The petitioner Talbot Real Estate LLC petitioned the city to vacate Rimland Drive between Wurn Street and Barkley Boulevard.
The hearing examiner held a public hearing on the petition on April 11th, 2012 and recommended approval of the vacation with conditions. The hearing examiner's findings of fact, conclusions, and recommendation are provided in exhibit C of uh the attached ordinance which you can find in our our packet online.
Uh today the uh council recommended a vote to approve and I so move. >> Second. >> Motion by the chair and a second by council member Hamill. Further discussion? >> Seeing none. All in favor say I. >> I.
>> Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70. >> Council member Liquist has a good question. the compensation aspect. Do we need to specify that? >> No, you did this afternoon and that was a just the equivalent of a regular meeting was just a special meeting.
>> Okay, fantastic. Thank you. >> All right. And then for our committee reports up next this afternoon, we had public works and natural resources and that was chaired by council member Stone. >> Thank you very much.
This afternoon the public works on the public works and natural resources committee. I was joined by council members Anderson and Cotton. We had two items before us. The first is agenda bill 24651. This is a contract award for the RG Haley site cleanup, Cornwall landfall landfill cleanup and Salish Landing Park phase 1 EC018.
This is bid number 19B-2025. The RG Haley Cornwall Landfill Salish Landing Park phase 1 project will remediate the contamination at the RG Haley and Cornwall landfill cleanup sites. Once cleanup work is complete, the first phase of the Salish Landing Park, including a small parking area and trails, will be constructed.
The city received five bids which were publicly open on August 20th, 2025. IMCO General Construction was the responsible bidder who submitted the lowest responsive bid of 48,779,160.34 including any applicable Washington state sales or use tax.
The engineer's estimate was 60,710,443.95. Due to the size and scale of this project, the project is subject to the apprenticeship program requirements of BMC 4.94. Um, this I just wanted to make note of the funding sources for this project.
So, the remedial action grant as well as environmental remediation fund which is special fund 136, public works trust fund loan, greenways fund which is 173 and potential bonding. So this afternoon we heard from Mike Wilson who's the assistant director for engineering at the public works department as well as Craig Mueller who's the engineer for this project.
Um so moving forward with the cleanup just wanting to highlight that this is estimated to be a three-year project just for phase one of the park. Um but excited to have this work um moving forward. So this afternoon there was a unanimous recommendation to award the contract to MCO general construction and I so move.
>> Second >> motion by the chair and a second by council member Anderson. Further discussion. >> Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70. >> The next item before the public works committee was agenda bill 24666.
This is a noise variance for Paddent Creek at 12th and 14th Streets fish passage improvement project. It's project EN056. The Paddent Creek at 12th and 14th Streets fish passage project will remove partial fish passage barriers at two inner urban trail creek crossings.
The project is required to be completed below the ordinary high water mark by September 30th, 2025 due to the regulatory fish window and was delayed due to the recent diesel spill. In order to facilitate the required timeline, the project envisions allowing the con the contractor to work 24 hours a day if needed.
Staff is requesting a variance from the noise restrictions contained in BMC 10.24. 24.120C4 for the duration of the fish window. The variance may continue into midocctober if the fish window is extended by the department of ecology.
Um this afternoon we were joined by Joel Fint, public works director as well as Mike Wilson um assistant director for engineering and Craig Mueller who's again an engineer um on this project. So just wanting to highlight that at this time the contractor is not expecting to need the noise variance.
Um the expectation is that the work will be able to be completed within the normal workday. Um however due to the time constraints um and the need to complete this project in compliance with the fish window just wanting to make sure that that variance is in place in case it is needed.
Um if it were to be required during the project, there is an expectation that the community especially in the immediate surrounding area will be notified. Some of the possible means of communication could be um emails to the neighborhood association, business associations as well as you know next door online postings in addition to door door hangers at the residences closest um to the to the impacted um work taking place.
So at this time it's more of a precautionary measure but there was a unanimous recommendation from the committee to approve the noise variance and I so move >> second >> motion by the chair second by council member Anderson.
Any further discussion? >> Seeing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70. >> Great. And that was end of committee. Thank you council member Stone. And then up next we had committee of the whole.
All council members were present for that committee today. We had two agenda items. The first was a resolution agenda bill 24652, a resolution adopting the Bellingham Public Library facilities master plan.
The Bellingham Public Library completed a facilities master plan in 2022 and share the results with city council at that time. Later this year, planning and community development staff will bring forward the draft comprehensive plan, which will incorporate the libraries facilities master plan by reference.
To prepare this step, city council is now asked to formally adopt the 2022 library facilities master plan. Library director Rebecca Jud provided an overview of the plan and shared an update on recent progress.
The committee recommended uh unanimously unanimously recommended approval and I so move >> second >> motion by the chair second by council member Hamill. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I.
>> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70. Next up, we had agenda bill 245, no was an ordinance imposing an additional sales and use tax on onetenth of 1% for criminal justice purposes as authorized in section 20150 laws of Washington 2025 adding a new chapter 4.79 to the Bellingham Municipal Code.
This ordinance imposes a onetenth of 1% sales tax for criminal justice purposes within the city of Bellingham. The revenue raised by this new sales and use tax will lessen the impacts of the city's projected $10 million general fund budget deficit by 2026 by 3.9 million.
If this tax is not adopted, the city will have to balance the budget entirely with reduced expenditures. To implement the tax by January 1st, 2026, the city must deliver to the Department of Revenue by October 17, 2025 an ordinance imposing the tax and assisting and attesting that the city's police department meets the requirements of the legislation establishing the tax.
The police department will be in full compliance with the requirements of the legislation prior to third and final reading of this ordinance. And so as the mayor had mentioned, there was quite a good discussion um about this tax um proposal and um and I think one point to be reiterated is that that we are voting on this twice today and we will have one more vote at a later date um though in time for that October 17th uh deadline.
And so if there are further questions, comments, anything else uh that you would like the council to hear, feel free to email uh call as we get public comment. Um the final decision will be made um at a at a later meeting.
So, um the the uh committee unanimously recommended approval and I so move. >> Second. >> Motion by the chair, second by council member Williams. Further discussion. Council member Stone. >> There was an amendment brought forward by council member Cotton.
I don't know if that needs to be read into the agenda at this time. It was with respect to section 050, the reporting requirements. As it states at this time, the report would be made to the Association of Washington Cities.
Um, and there was an amendment to add a line where the report would also be submitted to the city council. Cover it, Mr. Mayor, or do do we need to add that to the the motion or >> No, I I think just reading that uh Council Member uh Stone is sufficient.
>> Fantastic. Thanks, Council Member. Council member Loquist, >> there was some discussion about uh delaying this first vote until the next meeting. And um one of the main reasons why that might have been a good idea.
Procedurally doesn't really matter one way or the other is that that's when we'll hear see the mayor's budget and that's when we're going to see what presumably will be some serious hard choices that we're facing that the mayor and departments had been facing.
that is in terms of cuts to uh services and programs and spending and I think that gives a really important context to any contemplated tax increase that this is not the first place uh that the city is reaching as a matter of fact the administration has already reached more than once uh for cost-saving measures.
So I just wanted to add that there will be more context coming at the next meeting. >> Thank you. Any further discussion? Okay, seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70.
And then today during old and new, we also had two motions, and I believe we don't have to vote a second time on them, but please correct me if I'm wrong. Um, presented by Council Member Hamill. The first was a motion to reconsider city council's August 25th decision to deny the annexation proposal known as the Britain Road Northern Heights annexation.
Uh that motion passed on a 5 to2 vote. The And am I correct that we don't need to vote a second time, Mr. Mariner? >> Um you know I I think you should just redo those votes. Okay. >> In the regular meeting.
>> Sure. Okay. Well then, uh, again, the motion passed on a five to2 decision. Um, and I so move. >> Second. >> Motion by the chair, second by council member Williams. Further discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor say I.
>> I. >> I. Any opposed or no? >> And abstensions. That passes five to two. And then the second motion was uh a motion to uh to amend the original motion to deny the annex annexation proposal to a motion directing staff to bring back the annexation proposal for city council consideration in late 2026 or early 2027 after the city completes its annexation plan.
That also passed with a recommendation on a five to two vote and I so move. >> Second. >> Motion by the chair, second by council member Hamill. Further discussion. Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I.
>> Opposed. >> No. Abstensions. That passes 5 to uh zero. Okay. Again on that one, if there uh if you are interested in the further conversation uh meetings.cco.org And that video will be there um for the committee of the whole meeting and otherwise old and new.
Further old and new. Council member McCotton. >> This afternoon I brought forward a letter to um Evergreen supported um supported living um where workers are bargaining their first contract. Appreciated the feedback um this afternoon.
There are now two letters before you. one to SEIU775 and another to Evergreen Supportive Living. And um I would be grateful for a motion to send these. Um and maybe I'll make the motion. Uh I move to send these letters.
Is >> what are the letters about? um send um these letters to Evergreen Supported Living and SEIU775 um to encourage um uh reaching a fair and equitable agreement that prioritizes the health and safety of Evergreen supported living's clients and employees and addresses the rising cost of living in Bellingham and Walking County.
Second >> motion by council member Cotton and a second by council member Williams. Further discussion. >> Seeing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70. Thank you.
Council member Cotton. Anything further for Olden. Okay, we can move on. Next up, we had an executive session. It was a potential property acquisition with stamps. Staff briefed council on the city's pending agreement to purchase a 5-acre property from Vernon Hardle.
The property is located in the Lake Wacom watershed and is identified by at the by assessor's parcel number 38041860370. The purchase price is $256,000. Closing is set to occur on or before September 26, 2025, subject to council approval.
The property will be acquired through the city's Lake Watcom watershed land acquisition and preservation program using restricted funds dedicated to that purpose. The program is funded by city water customers through a watershed watershed sir charge on their utility bill.
Luckily, it wasn't a fish passage watershed charge. Uh, I will now entertain a motion to authorize the mayor to close the real estate transaction described in the city's executed purchase and sale agreement with the property owner, Vernon Hardle, with the purchase price of $256,000.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by council member Williams and a second by council member Liiloquist. Further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? That passes 70.
>> Consent agenda. Approval. >> Second. >> Motion by council member. Motion by council member Liiloquist. Second by council member Hamill. Council member Stone. >> I just wanted to highlight within the consent agenda um agenda bill 24656 is a resolution designating Cascadia Daily News as the city's official newspaper of record.
Um so I recognize that people receive their city news in different um different ways and so it may be a select group that is referring to the printed paper. Um, but I was hoping to request, I don't know where that would be directed to administration or to council staff, but to provide a notice if it wasn't already going to be done, um, perhaps in the Herald since that has been the paper of record for a long time, just to alert the public of this of this change.
But, um, I'm excited for the change. Council member, >> just in case the public might be wondering why there is a change, um an RFP was put out and uh the Cascade Daily was the only one that responded to it.
So, it's wasn't necessarily just a decision made by administration. There was due process and so um the the one paper to submit something was the one that was awarded. Um, it's not necessarily a contract, but the the privilege of receiving our notices directly.
Thank you. Any further discussion on the consent agenda? Right. Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Passes 70. Final consideration of ordinances. Agenda Bill 24635, an ordinance amending Bellingham Municipal Chapter 20.15, temporary shelters to delete shelter guest maximums, extend permit duration for all shelter types, modify permit renewal requirements, and clarify operational and infrastructure requirements.
>> Motion by council member Hamill, second by council member Anderson. Roll call, please. >> Hannah Stone, >> hi. >> Dan Hamill, >> hi. >> Skip Williams. I >> Lisa Anderson. >> Hi, >> Michael Liiloquiz.
>> Hi, >> Jace Cotton. >> Hi, >> Holly Huffman. >> I >> motion passes. [Music] Next up, we have agenda bill 24641, an ordinance relating to the vacation of the Donovan Avenue ride ofway except the southerntherly 42.5 ft approximately west of the easterly boundary of the alley located between 35th and 36th streets and within the city of Bellingham.
>> Second. >> Second >> motion by council member Hamill, second by council member will Anderson. Further discussion roll call, please. Anna Stone. >> Hi >> Dan Hamill. >> Hi >> Skip Williams. >> Hi >> Lisa Anderson.
>> Hi >> Michael Liiloquist. >> Hi >> Jay Cotton. Hi >> Holly Huffman. >> Hi. >> The motion passes 70. >> All right. Thank you. I I really was not trying to set any records with this meeting but >> that uh concludes the regular business of the meeting and we will now move to the public comment session.
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