Name: Bellingham City Council - Committee Of The Whole meeting, Feb 9, 2026
Start: 2026-02-09
End: 2026-02-09
Location: City of Bellingham

City Council - Committee Of The Whole

Mon, February 9, 2026

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Meeting summaryAI-generated

City Council – Committee of the Whole — February 9, 2026

This was an afternoon Committee of the Whole session with all seven council members present. The meeting covered one confirmatory appointment and a substantive discussion about a proposed civil rights resolution, followed by a brief executive session on a litigation matter.

Agenda Item 1: Confirmation of Bridget Bryck as Special Counsel to the Civil Service Commission

Mayor Kim Lund appointed Bridget Bryck, an attorney with the Carmichael Clark Law Firm in Bellingham who specializes in municipal and labor/employment law, to serve as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission. City Attorney Alan Mariner explained the backstory: in 2023, the Bellingham Municipal Code was amended to require the commission to be represented by outside counsel, specifically to avoid a conflict of interest where city attorneys were both advising the commission and appearing before it in appeals. The previous outside counsel has since relocated overseas, necessitating a new appointment. The position is permanent and does not require annual renewal. The City Attorney's Office recommended Bryck for the role, and she was present at the meeting.

Vote: Moved by Council Member Lilliquist, seconded by Council Member Huthman. Passed 7–0.

Old/New Business: Proposed Resolution on Immigrant and Civil Rights

Council Members Skip Williams and Dan Hammill introduced a draft resolution titled *"A Resolution Reaffirming the City of Bellingham'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."* Printed copies were distributed at the meeting, as the draft had not been widely circulated in advance.

Williams outlined four goals for the resolution: (1) documenting Bellingham's history of supporting civil and human rights; (2) addressing steps the city is currently taking or could take in response to federal immigration enforcement activity; (3) reassuring the community that all branches of city government are aligned in protecting residents' rights; and (4) potentially encouraging other Whatcom County municipalities to take similar action.

Hammill emphasized that a significant amount of work went into drafting the resolution and that the effort reflects the council's return to using its committee structure for deliberative work. He noted the city's population has grown by roughly 10,000 people since its first sanctuary-related resolution in 2017, many of whom may not know Bellingham's track record on these issues.

Council President Hannah Stone raised substantive questions about the resolution's purpose, noting the council passed a similar welcoming-city resolution just eight months prior (June 9, 2025). She asked what distinguishes this new resolution from that prior one and pressed for actionable measures beyond a statement of values — particularly given what she described as her direct experience as an immigration attorney with clients, including U.S. citizens with dual nationality, who are actively considering leaving Bellingham because they feel targeted and unsafe. She said she was uncomfortable with language that promised safety the city could not fully deliver, and called for concrete, proactive gestures — citing the upcoming World Cup as an example of an opportunity to publicly celebrate and include immigrant communities.

Williams responded that unlike past resolutions, this one is intentionally flexible — rather than locking in a specific response to specific scenarios, it commits the city to continually using all available tools as situations evolve. He likened the current federal climate to "trying to nail jello to the wall," and said the final resolved clause — affirming the city will never be complicit and will take concrete actions as they become possible — reflects that adaptive commitment.

Hammill reinforced that the current moment is meaningfully different from eight months ago: ICE enforcement activity in communities has intensified since then, and repeating and reaffirming the city's stance matters for newer residents and for a community experiencing real fear.

Council Member Jace Cotton offered a structural observation: resolutions can serve as expressions of values, as work-plan documents, or as formal letters to elected officials (such as the congressional delegation). He suggested the council think about which of those functions this resolution is trying to serve — or whether it should be split into multiple instruments.

Stone also raised process points: items coming through Old/New Business need to reach the council office by the prior Friday to meet the new agenda-setting timeline for the February 23rd meeting. Staff acknowledged the deadline had technically passed but indicated a placeholder would be held. Stone asked that any proposed amendments be submitted in writing to the committee chair and the city clerk before the meeting.

The item was formally referred to the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee for a work session at the February 23rd meeting. Council members not on that committee were asked to send feedback to Committee Chair Hammill in advance. The full council will have an opportunity to discuss the resolution in the evening session on February 23rd.

Vote to refer to committee: Moved by Council Member Williams, seconded by Council Member Hammill. Passed 7–0.

Executive Session

The council moved into executive session to discuss a potential litigation matter (Claim No. 2025-36). No action was reported.

Key Takeaways

Bridget Bryck confirmed as the new outside special counsel to the Civil Service Commission, filling a vacancy created when the previous counsel relocated abroad. The appointment is permanent and eliminates a conflict-of-interest that existed before the 2023 code change.

A civil rights resolution is advancing through committee: Williams and Hammill's draft reaffirming Bellingham's commitment to immigrant and civil rights — and explicitly denouncing current federal immigration enforcement — will be taken up by the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee on February 23rd before a full council vote.

Meaningful internal debate about the resolution's purpose surfaced, with Council President Stone pushing for more than a symbolic restatement of values and calling for tangible, proactive community-facing actions given the intensified fear among immigrant residents.

Process growing pains noted: the council is adjusting to a new, longer agenda-setting timeline, and this item illustrated the challenges of routing last-minute items through the new structure.

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

Old/New Business

# Old/New Business Summary

Council Members Williams and Hamill introduced a draft resolution addressing the city's civil rights challenges and the federal administration's immigration enforcement actions, focusing on four key areas: the city's historical commitment to human and civil rights, current and future resistance strategies to federal enforcement, reassurance to residents that city government will protect their rights and remain welcoming, and encouragement for other Watcom County municipalities to take similar action. Williams recommended that the item be referred to the Public Safety, Justice, and Equity Commission for a work session before consideration at the February 23rd meeting, and invited council members to submit suggestions in advance to committee chair Hamill. The full council will have the opportunity to discuss the matter again during evening sessions following the committee's work.

Confirmation of Mayor's appointment of Bridget Bryck as special counsel to the

Mayor Kim Lond appointed Bridget Brick as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission, subject to City Council confirmation. City Attorney Alan Mariner explained that the 2023 BMC amendment required outside counsel to avoid conflicts of interest where city attorneys both represented and appeared before the commission. The previous outside counsel relocated overseas, necessitating this new appointment. Council Member Lillquist moved to approve and Council Member Hman seconded; the motion passed unanimously 7-0 with no questions or discussion.

Agenda items (2)

Procedural (2)

2ProceduralOld/New Business

Council members can raise any leftover items from previous meetings or bring up new business that wasn't on the formal agenda.

What happened

24827ProceduralConfirmation of Mayor's appointment of Bridget Bryck as special counsel to the

The council will vote to confirm the Mayor's choice of Bridget Bryck to serve as special counsel, a legal advisor role.

What happened

Additional votes recorded in minutes

Recommend approval of Bridget Bryck as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission

aye 7

Daniel Hammillaye

Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye

Hannah Stoneaye

Hollie Huthmanaye

Jace Cottonaye

Lisa Andersonaye

Michael Lilliquistaye

Refer draft resolution on immigrant rights to the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee

aye 7

Daniel Hammillaye

Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye

Hannah Stoneaye

Hollie Huthmanaye

Jace Cottonaye

Lisa Andersonaye

Michael Lilliquistaye

Verbatim transcript available

97 transcript segments indexed

Welcome back to the afternoon committee meetings. So we're going to move forward with the committee of the whole. Just noting that all council members are present this afternoon. We have one item before the committee.

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole minutes February 9, 2026, 2:05 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 City Council committee meetings Standing committee members receive reports and information, ask questions, and vote on a recommended action for consideration by the full Council at the regular meeting.

This is agenda bill 24827. So confirmation of mayor's appointment of Bridget Brick as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission. Mayor Kim Lond has appointed Bridget Brick as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission, subject to confirmation by Bellingham City Council under BMC 3.16.040.

There is no public comment period during committee sessions. Call to order and roll call Council President Stone called the meeting to order at 2:05 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.

Miss Brook is an attorney with the Carmichael Clark Law Firm of Bellingham. She specializes in municipal law and has advised other municipal clients on labor and employment matters. Miss Brick will advise the Civil Service Commission on all matters before it, including regular business and appeals.

"Skip" Williams, Fourth Ward Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Jace Cotton, At-Large Committee Of The Whole 24827 1. Confirmation of Mayor's appointment of Bridget Bryck as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission Summary: Alan Marriner, City Attorney, presented the appointment of Bridget Bryck as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission, subject to confirmation by Bellingham City Council under BMC 3.16.040.

Council Members discussed the appointment and asked questions. Action: Michael Lilliquist / Hollie Huthman moved to recommend approval of Bridget Bryck as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission.

The City Attorney's Office recommends Miss Brick for this role. Um, and so it's currently before us for consideration. I'll turn to city attorney um Alan Mariner to get us started. >> Yeah. Um, back in 2023, the BMC was amended to require that the Civil Service Commission be represented by outside counsel.

That was to avoid the potential conflict where our attorneys from our office were both representing and advising the commission and also appearing before the commission in an appeal. Uh, back in 2023, we appointed outside counsel.

MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Page 1 of 2 2. Old/New Business Summary: Council Member Williams shared a revised draft resolution that he and Council Member Hammill have written regarding immigrant rights and denouncing federal immigration enforcement actions.

Council Member Hammill reiterated the desire to consider the resolution as soon as possible while working through the new agenda timeline and committee structure. Council Members discussed the intent of the resolution and the tension between reaffirming values and commitments and what actions the Council can take.

That outside counsel has recently relocated overseas. So we need to appoint a new outside council and that's the purpose of today. >> Council member Liquist >> move to approve. >> Second. So we have a motion from Council Member Lillquist and a second from Council Member Hman.

Feedback should be sent to Council Member Hammill as the chair of the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee. Action: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill moved to refer the draft resolution to the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee for further consideration.

Any questions or discussion? No. Okay. But just confirming I think you spoke to this. This is a permanent appointment unless and until right there was a need for for a change. It's not a set contract that we have to renew annually or >> that's correct.

MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Summary: Council moved into Executive Session at 2:40 p.m. to discuss one item until 3:00 p.m. 1. Potential litigation: claim no. 2025-36 Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m.

>> This will be okay. >> Great. If there is no further discussion, I will call the question. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing none, that passes 70. Okay. Anything further on this matter?

No. Okay. Wonderful. Um, so thank you very much and just wanting to note that Miss Brick is with us this afternoon. So thank you for being here. Um, and yeah, congratulations on the appointments assuming that's what you want.

[laughter] So we're grateful for the service. So thank you very much. Um, if there's nothing further from committee of the whole, we will move to old and new business. Any items for old and new business?

Council member Williams. >> Yes. Um, as most of you most of you know, at at our last meeting, matter of fact, all of you know, uh, council member Hamill announced that he and I have been working on a resolution for the council to consider regarding the challenges we as a city are facing with the current climate being surfaced in in our country.

And to that end, uh, we emailed you all a a draft copy of a resolution to be considered. Um, and, um, and I just want to pass out a a revised version of that and, uh, kind of give you more of a background and why we think this is an important step to take.

Uh first are well first let me pass out the revised copies here there's yeah there's but um oh okay but as we have been chipping away at this we've we've had our focus has been on four areas that we think are are important.

First is our history as a council and a city in standing for and supporting human and civil rights in our community. Highlighting the actions that the council and the city administration have taken in the past.

Secondly, to address the steps we are currently taking and consider taking to resist the actions being done by the current federal administration regarding immigrant enforcement and other civil and constitutional rights being violated.

Thirdly, to reassure that to our community that in in in addressing this current atmosphere and these activities surfacing in our nation that all branches of our municipal government are rowing in the same direction and organizationally will not waver in our commitment to protecting the human and civil rights of all of our residents.

and remain a welcoming city. And finally, using this as an example to perhaps encourage our other municipal colleagues in Watcom County to take similar action relative to these current circumstances. in my email um or our email as as a path forward.

We'd like to bring this up today for uh uh discussion and then um and consider this at our February 23rd meeting. So based on that, um, we'd also like to recommend that this item be referred to the Public Safety, Justice, and Equity Commission so we can have a a work session at the next February 23rd meeting.

Um, so we have copies. Just noting that for the full council, if we're going to bring copies to meetings that haven't been shared previously, just to make sure to include copies for the mayor as well as legal, >> they're here.

>> Distributed. >> You have extras. >> Great. Okay. Thank you. Um and with that, so noting the assignment of this resolution to a committee for further discussion. I know that um we'd spoken previously and my hope is to send right work to committees so that there can be work sessions and that we're utilizing those committees.

So I'm in support of you know the item going to the public health safety justice and equity committee. Um, I just wanted to confirm that through that work, right, needing that work to happen during the open open meeting.

Um, going forward, Council Member Williams, >> I I just want to add uh to that as you look at this latest version of this uh document that if you have any suggestions um you can uh communicate those uh to the committee chair.

if necessary before the meeting next week or next month there this month. >> Okay. And Council Member Hamill, just to confirm, is the chair of that committee. Um and so that was going to be one question is how you wanted to to receive feedback.

Um initially, I guess with respect to this item being referred to committee for a work session, any response or feedback from legal or the mayor? Where is there? checker with that. I would just echo uh council president that the discussion should occur in open session.

>> Okay. >> Yes. >> And I know we've had ongoing um I won't say debate but discussion about you know committees and how that that functions. So because committees are made up of three, you know, three council members serve on that committee which is less than a quorum of the full council.

Um and those committees are bringing forward recommendations and so perhaps, you know, not taking formal action. Um but under the open public meetings act, you know, we're wanting as a council to defer to having that as transparent as possible and and open to the public.

So wanted to make sure that if there were, you know, multiple committee members wanting to work on something that that would happen during a during an open open meeting. Yeah. >> Um and so I know that that can feel cumbersome >> um at some points, but hopefully that will be for the for the best.

>> Yes. Deputy Administrator Keller. >> I'll just add that in our new timeline with our new agenda setting uh process underway, we're all getting used to new new deadlines. Ideally, um this would be routed at least to the council office by Friday.

>> Um again, we're all >> this Friday the 13th. >> Yeah. And that is something that in preparation for this coming up during old and new, just so the full council's aware that it is a new timeline that we're working with.

And so the reality is that something coming up for this, this is a great example, right? coming up today during old and new. The deadline for actually putting this on the February 23rd agenda has actually passed as far as our internal structure.

Um and so there's been some work with our office manager um Miss Keller to I mean Miss Weller I'm going to go back and forth um to make sure that there's sort of a placeholder there but it is and to have that you know as ready as possible presuming that there's action from the council to to move that forward.

Um, but just recognizing that it does lengthen that process again to provide us with more advanced notice as well as the public. But it does mean that there would have to be some work behind the scenes before an old new discussion to to cue things up, you know.

But but at this point, we're hopeful that if there are any changes that need to take place to the agenda bill itself, um, or the materials that would be included in that packet that that's completed. Um, I was saying hopefully by by Wednesday of this week.

Um but I know that um yeah's wanting to to be as collaborative as possible. So um I guess first then we can have discussion after that. But just a consideration a formal motion to to move this to the committee.

I would make the motion to uh refer this item to the public safety, justice uh I'm sorry, public health, safety, justice, and equity committee. >> So, we have a motion by council member Williams and a second by council member Hamill.

And again, this is to move this item um and for the public since this was handed out here but was not disseminated earlier. So, the title of the resolution that is being sent to the committee, it says, "A resolution reaffirming the city of Bellingham'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.

Um, if there's any further discussion on that motion, okay, seeing none, all in favor will say I." >> I. Any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing none, that passes 70. Um, and council member Williams, you mentioned that feedback from council members who don't serve on that committee could be sent to the chair in advance of that meeting.

Okay. Council member Hamill. >> Yeah, I just just briefly I agree with everything that council member Williams um articulated. I think the the two animating components for the process for this are timeline and committee structure.

And so we're trying to get used to the new timeline which is extended in terms of how we operate to get to this document here which is um which are which contains all the agenda bills that we would be voting for discussing.

So we're trying to be respectful of that process. Wanted to include council's feedback in this um but I did want to report that um quite a bit of work went into how this um resolution came into being in terms of the history the body of work that this council has previously done.

everything that council member Williams has mentioned. Um, and then with respect to committee structure, my interpretation of discussions in the last, you know, six months in particular was that we want to go back to and try this the committee structure that we had previously uh engaged with.

Um and this is um this is a gesture to that to see if we can make this work kind of early on in uh this year to get it started in in the um in that subcommittee and then move it to the committee of the whole at the next meeting.

I just wanted to articulate that >> and I just want to acknowledge that there were some bumps in the road in getting us to this point, but they were not done with any uh any deliberateness. It was just more a matter of oh, there's a deadline now.

Okay. So, sorry for the bumps in the road, but it's a work in progress. >> I will send um an email to council on this point because it extends beyond this resolution, but I think it's a good point in time to to bring it up in that at the meeting on April I mean on February 23rd if there are proposed motions for changes or right amendments to the resolution requesting that council members bring those in writing.

um and send that writing as well to the clerk and to the office manager. Um just that makes the ensuring that we have motions accurately documented. Um and then saves them time as well on trying to track um you know word for word what the motion was in in real time.

So send out a reminder about that. Um, and since I don't serve on that committee, the one, you know, I've had an opportunity to um, speak with Council Member Williams briefly, but you know, my one request, I guess, as far as the committee and the thought about this resolution is reflecting on the resolution that we passed, you know, just eight months ago to the day.

Actually, it was on June 9th that we passed the resolution which is referenced in, you know, this document which was a resolution um reaffirming that the city of Bellingham, right, is a welcoming city where people have a right to live free of discrimination, violence, and systemic barriers that threaten their safety, well-being, and human rights.

Since now, what feels like a short time later, bringing forward another resolution that's sort of reaffirming our position, right? my question and what I'm hearing from the broader immigrant community in particular sort of you know what does that what does that mean and how is this how is this any different um than what we said eight months ago.

So just keeping that in mind as well as if there are actionable items, you know, things that we're able to do as a municipality, you know, what are those and are we able to articulate that here or does that live somewhere else in perhaps another resolution or ordinance that the council would consider?

And I recognize that because of, you know, jurisdictional restraints and the nature of immigration enforcement, there are limitations on what we as a community are able to do. Um, but just wanting to reflect on the real fear, right, and impact to members of our community and that it needs to be, right, more than lip service.

And I I'm not implying that this is, but just wanting it to not feel like just as um public servants, you know, wanting to feel like we're doing something and so we're going to put this in writing. I really want this to, you know, as much as possible to be something tangible for for the community.

Council Williams, >> I totally agree with you conceptually on that, but part of the basic structure of this, like I said, was discuss our history, address the ways that we're currently tackling these issues, and then reassuring to the community that we're going to continue tackling these issues.

And we're in a situation right now, in my opinion, where things happen, but if you lock in your response to a piece of paper rather than saying, "As these events come up, we're going to continue the practices that we're doing now to figure out the best way to respond.

That's that is what we are dealing with right now. We're not dealing with when this happens, this is what we're going to do in a concrete fashion. This is more when this happens, we're going to follow a process to figure out how we're going to respond.

And to me that now in my brief time on this council four years to me that is a different approach than saying we're going to lock in our response and then that's it. We're going to keep going through and figuring out what is our best response to this and what are the actions that we're going to take.

So that's how I see this as being different than past some some of our past resolutions and and that we are going to maintain that commitment to do that. And I just briefly in um response to that I guess the need that I'm feeling right now is in addition to that right is >> what are we able to do that is proactive that actually speaks to Bellingham being a welcoming community.

Right. wearing my other hat as an immigration attorney, right? Having clients who are dual citizens, they are US citizens. They're dual citizens in other countries who are considering leaving to return to their home country right now because they feel like they are being targeted and their words hunted in their own community.

Right? And so this this isn't about only those who are being targeted and subject to enforcement action. This is the reality that there are members of our community who have legal standing right under the immigration laws even to be here who are not feeling safe.

>> And I'm not saying that we're responsible for why they're not feeling safe. >> But I am uncomfortable with some words that feel very absolute that, you know, we're going to protect you and make you feel safe.

I'm telling you, they're not feeling safe right now. And so it doesn't it doesn't feel satisfying to me to say more without some additional action and I don't know right my promise is to try and come back with some more actionable suggestions right is that think about the world cup we're talking about celebrating that is a very international event we have members of our community you know who could represent multiple you know countries that would be participating in that event, you know, members of our community for whom soccer is, you know, very large part of, you know, their culture and and who they are.

And so I'm not looking necessarily to be responsive to immigration enforcement because as frustrating as it is, you know, our hands are tied in in a lot of respects. But I feel like there's more we can do to actually embrace and celebrate people who are here within our community to make them feel that they belong, which is what we're saying.

But I'm just asking right for us to think about if there is more that we can do to be reflecting on that as well in addition. So it's not it's not meant to be right to reflect negatively on this effort.

It's just a yes and I'm just wanting to call on my colleagues because I know that I am living in a unique situation right now that everyone maybe is not sharing that same weight. Um but I'm asking to share that um because it's just the reality is across pairs that we're at right now.

Right. Council member Cotton might take this as an opportunity to reflect a little bit on like what what the function of resolutions are for the council and I mean one I think council member Williams you articulated very well which was just expression of values and to reaffirm those.

I'm also hearing council member Stone um the way that um resolutions can function as as like a way of identifying a work plan and like focusing the council's attention on specific things that we can do.

Um, we've also used letters as kind of just like a less friendly, more formal letter. Um, which I think there's a a be it further resolved um, regarding um, communicating to a congressional delegation about refusing to write additional blank checks to DHS.

So, I think that's that's another function. Um, and [clears throat] maybe we could think about um if we are trying to accomplish all three with this resolution or if we want to focus in on one, but just to say that I think those other those other functions are worthwhile and could get at them in other ways.

But, um, I I think this is an area that the community wants to see us do more good work and I think we have a good track record as a as a city of being responsive to that. So, um um yeah, that's we could talk about this all afternoon.

So, sorry to keep us going, but >> council member and then Williams. >> Uh yeah, I think that we should could and should have this broader discussion um in the evening at the next council meeting when when more people are um uh tuned in to us.

But I do want to um I just want to respond to council president's um statements and just provide a perspective from from where I sit when I um um thought about uh developing this resolution. This um uh timing wise that happened in between the murder of Renee Good and um um Mr.

Prey uh in Minneapolis. It was right in between those two events. Um, eight months ago, ICE was not operating um in the streets as they as they have been in the past month and a half or two. Uh, eight months ago to me is a different world that we no longer reside in.

Um, the I'm looking at the resolution that was passed last year. This was um good good resolution. Um what I was thinking of um when I started to develop this one along with council member Williams was that we in my opinion just where I'm coming from need to affirm, reaffirm and repeat because we live in very uncertain times.

In 2017 when we um first developed a resolution 2017-10 and ordinance 2017-02-00008 um 10 over 10,000 people that live here now did not live in Bellingham. We've seen an increase of about a thousand people per year u might be a little bit more than that.

So they they don't have the context largely because they just didn't live here. And if you look at the um the others that are articulated here in the whereas clauses in the first part of the resolution um it's over the course of years I think we are trying to show that we have developed a body of work that is largely supportive of the immigrant community of LGBTQ plus uh communities and all members of um of Bellingham whether they're citizens or residents.

I think that's very clear. I did want to respond to one item. I I don't see anywhere in here where we have made promises that we would go beyond the authority of um what a city can do in the state of Washington.

I think we articulated fairly well what our police um what municipal code and and police um rules are that are being followed by Bellingham uh PD. We I was very careful to not try to suggest that we can do something that we can't.

I want to make sure that we're very clear that this is a values statement, but it's also an articulation as to what what is legal and what is not in the in the city of Bellingham and any city in the state of Washington.

So, I just want to be clear on that. Thanks, >> Council Williams. >> It's Thank you. It's it's as I said earlier, we're living in a situation where um sit um in order to protect our community members from whatever happens or doesn't happen or their fear.

They have to have a sense that we're committed to using all the tools that we have available to be able to meet their need. And if you look at the the last page and where it says be it finally resolved, um we it basically states that we remain committed to speaking out, taking concrete actions to assist members of our community, and using all the tools at our disposal to ensure that the city is never complicit.

And to me, what that says is that when issues come up, we're going to figure out a way to deal with them, but they might not specifically show up in this resolution because then that would lock us in to not being flexible to adjust to the situations that we face.

And so to me, these items in in in in the resolved section speak to we're going to figure out as a city how we're going to deal with those issues, how we're going to fight them, how we're going to deal with it without saying we're going to do X, Y, and Z.

We're going to figure out based on the circumstances. And in my last professional life when we were faced with this these kinds of situations, we would always say it's like trying to nail jello to the wall because we got to figure out, okay, what is this and how how can we fight this?

And this to me expresses our commitment to do that in concept. Any other discussion from council members? As mentioned, this will go to the committee for public health, safety, justice, and equity um at the next meeting, which is February 23rd.

And again requesting that council members if you have any um feedback that you want to share in advance of that committee's discussion please share that with the chair of the committee which is council member Hamill.

Um and then the full council will have an opportunity to speak to that then in the evening sessions. Okay. Anything else on this item? Other items for old and new business >> on sending it to the committee?

Yes. I wrote down 70. Yes. Um okay. Um no other items for old and new business. And we have one item in executive session. So we will transition to executive session. We have a potential litigation matter.

This is claim number 2025-36. This will be with Phillips for approximately 15 minutes. Um, so at this time we can take a brief five minutes. People need a restroom break. Um, so we will meet in the mayor's boardroom at 2:40 for executive session.