Name: Bellingham City Council - Special Meeting meeting, Aug 3, 2026
Start: 2026-08-03
End: 2026-08-03
Location: City of Bellingham

City Council - Special Meeting

Mon, August 3, 2026

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF Watch Video

Agenda items

Vote records

Discussion summary

Transcript

Meeting summaryAI-generated

City Council Special Meeting — August 3, 2026

This was a brief special meeting called for a single purpose: to convene, adjourn into closed executive session to discuss a potential litigation matter, and then return to open session to take action. All seven council members were initially present; Jace Cotton (At-Large) was unable to return to chambers after the executive session. Interim Deputy City Attorney Amy Cram was also present.

Closed Executive Session — Potential Litigation (Kraham/Cram Matter)

The Council immediately adjourned into executive session to receive a confidential briefing from staff on a potential litigation matter. The session was expected to last approximately 15 minutes, and Council President Hannah Stone noted in advance that no final action would be taken during the closed session itself — any action would occur upon reconvening in open session.

Authorization to Retain Outside Legal Counsel — Woods at Viewcrest / Protect Mud Bay Cliffs Appeal

Upon returning to open session, the Council acted on the matter briefed in executive session. The item before the Council was a motion to authorize retaining Carmichael Clark as outside legal counsel to advise the City Council in its administration of an appeal filed by the group Protect Mud Bay Cliffs concerning the Woods at Viewcrest development.

The nature of the underlying appeal — what stage of the development process it concerns and what Protect Mud Bay Cliffs is challenging — was not described in open session, as details were discussed in closed session. The use of outside counsel (separate from the City Attorney's office) suggests the Council wanted independent legal advice, potentially because the appeal involves the Council itself in an administrative or quasi-judicial role.

No public comment period was held, consistent with the limited scope of the special meeting.

Vote: Moved by Council Member Dan Hammill, seconded by Council Member Skip Williams. Passed 6–0, with Council Member Jace Cotton excused (unable to return to chambers after the executive session).

Key Takeaways

The Council voted 6–0 to hire outside law firm Carmichael Clark to advise it on an appeal by Protect Mud Bay Cliffs challenging the Woods at Viewcrest development.

The decision to retain outside counsel — rather than rely solely on the City Attorney's office — suggests the Council may be acting in a quasi-judicial or administrative capacity on this appeal, requiring independent legal guidance.

Council Member Jace Cotton was absent for the vote but was present at the start of the meeting; his absence was noted as excused.

No other business was conducted. The next regular Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 10, 2026.

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

Potential litigation (Kraham, approx. 15 mins.)

Staff presented information on a potential litigation matter regarding an appeal filed by Protect Mud Bay Cliffs concerning the Woods at Viewcrest development. The City Council discussed the matter in executive session with interim deputy city attorney Amy Cram for approximately 15 minutes. Council member Hamel moved and council member Williams seconded a motion to authorize the city council to retain Carmichael Clark as outside legal counsel to advise the city council in its administration of the appeal. The motion passed 6-0 with one excused (council member Cotton).

Agenda items (1)

Closed Session

1Closed SessionPotential litigation (Kraham, approx. 15 mins.)

The city council will meet in a closed session to discuss a potential lawsuit involving someone or something named Kraham, expected to take about 15 minutes.

What happened

Additional votes recorded in minutes

Authorize city council to retain Carmichael Clark as outside legal counsel

aye 6 · absent 1

Dan Hammillaye

Hannah Stoneaye

Hollie Huthmanaye

Jace Cottonabsent

Lisa Andersonaye

Michael Lilliquistaye

Skip Williamsaye

Verbatim transcript available

15 transcript segments indexed

City of Bellingham City Council Special Meeting minutes August 3, 2026, 11:30 AM 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 Call to order and roll call Council President Stone called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m.

Good morning. Welcome to the Bellingham City Council special meeting. Um So, this special meeting of the Bellingham City Council has been called for limited purpose. I just want to make note that all council members are present here in chambers.

Present: Council President Hannah Stone, First Ward Council Member Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Council Member Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Council Member Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Fourth Ward Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Jace Cotton, At-Large Executive session 1.

Um and we are joined by um interim deputy city attorney Amy Cram as well here in chambers. So, again, this special meeting on today is Monday, August 3rd, 2026, again has been called for a limited purpose.

The council will convene this meeting and then immediately adjourn into executive session to discuss, again, this will be a potential litigation matter with Cram for approximately 15 minutes. Wanted to note that no final action will be taken during the executive session.

Potential litigation (Kraham, approx. 10 mins.) Summary: Council moved into Executive Session at 11:33 a.m. to discuss a potential litigation item until 12 p.m. Summary: Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter Action: Daniel Hammill / Edwin H.

"Skip" Williams moved to authorize City Council to retain Carmichael Clark as outside legal counsel to advise City Council in its administration of the appeal filed by Protect Mud Bay Cliffs concerning the Woods at Viewcrest development.

The council anticipates that the session will last, again, approximately 15 minutes. At the conclusion of the executive session, the council will reconvene in open session to report out and if necessary to take final action.

Members of the public are welcome to remain here in chambers and the meeting will resume again at approximately 11:45. So, I will report back at 11:45 and or extend time if additional time is needed. So, until then, um we will adjourn into executive session.

Thank you. Thank you and welcome back to this special meeting of the Bellingham City Council. Um So, we are returning to chambers after an executive session. Again, today is Monday, August 3rd, 2026. This was a potential litigation matter with Cram.

Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. The following action is forthcoming. To entertain a motion to authorize city council to retain Carmichael Clark as outside legal counsel to advise city council in its administration of the appeal filed by Protect Mud Bay Cliffs concerning the Woods at Viewcrest development.

>> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion's been made by council member Hamel and a second by council member Williams. Any discussion? Seeing none. All in favor will say aye. >> Aye. >> Any opposed or abstentions?

Okay, that passes 6-0 with one excused. So council member Cotton um was unable to return to chambers. Okay. Um so that is the only business before the council today. Um and so with that, we will adjourn and the next regularly scheduled council meeting will be on Monday, August 10th.