Name: Bellingham City Council - Committee Of The Whole meeting, Jan 26, 2026
Start: 2026-01-26
End: 2026-01-26
Location: City of Bellingham

City Council - Committee Of The Whole

Mon, January 26, 2026

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Meeting summaryAI-generated

City Council – Committee of the Whole — January 26, 2026

This was a relatively brief Committee of the Whole session covering one substantive ordinance and several procedural and administrative items under Old/New Business. All seven council members were present.

Creation of a Second Full-Time Municipal Judge Position (Agenda Bill 24813)

Deputy Administrator Forest Longman presented an ordinance to create a second full-time municipal judge position at Bellingham Municipal Court, implementing a decision made during the 2026 budget process. The court requested the additional judge to address increasing caseload and growing case complexity — particularly a rise in DUI cases, which tend to require more involved proceedings.

The new position will be funded in 2026 by freezing the existing court commissioner position. Longman explained the key functional difference: a commissioner cannot preside over trials, while a judge can. By converting that frozen slot to a judgeship, the court gains full trial-hearing capacity in both positions.

Council President Stone asked about the election cycle for the two judges. City Attorney Alan Mariner (referred to in the transcript as "Alamare" — likely a voice-to-text error) clarified that under state law, municipal judge elections occur on a fixed four-year cycle established in 2002, meaning both judges will be elected on the same cycle rather than staggered — an outcome Stone noted was "unfortunate" but required by state law. Council Member Lilliquist asked who would serve as the nominal head of the court with two judges; Longman said the judges would rotate as presiding judge, which is determined by the court system itself and does not need to be specified in the ordinance. Council Member Hammill asked about "case complexity" referenced in the background materials; Longman confirmed it refers primarily to more cases going to trial.

If approved on third and final reading at the next regular council meeting, the mayor will bring forward an appointment for the second judge position at the second February council meeting.

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

New Agenda Format and Earlier Packet Publication (Old/New Business)

Council President Stone highlighted two administrative improvements taking effect with this meeting. First, council agenda packets will now be published one week in advance — typically the Monday before a meeting (or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) — making materials more accessible to both council members and the public. Second, the agenda and agenda bill format has been redesigned for clarity and consistency.

Stone walked through the key changes: larger print and clearer headers; a new standing section under the Mayor's Report for "Council Assignment Reports," giving council members a dedicated time to share updates from their committee and task force work; a standardized "City Impact and Background" section on each agenda bill that must include financial impacts, staffing implications, opportunity costs, and potential unintended consequences; and a standardized budget/funding source field using a dropdown system for consistency across items.

Stone also noted that staff memos will still be included as separate documents when needed — particularly when tables, graphs, or images are required — since the new background field is text-only. Council Member Hammill noted that per-item time estimates no longer appear on published agendas; Deputy Keller clarified they are still used internally for planning but were removed from public-facing documents because published estimates were often missed. Council Member Cotton raised a concern about neutrality in the "City Impact and Background" section, particularly the inclusion of "unintended consequences," and encouraged that section be written as objectively as possible rather than weighing policy tradeoffs in advance of council deliberation.

Stone credited the project team — including Deputy City Clerk Kelly Gets, Enterprise Systems Architect Matt Bzansen, Deputy Administrator Janice Keller, and Legislative Office Manager Jackie Weller, among others — for executing the upgrade.

*No vote required; informational item.*

Committee Assignment Change — ELTAC (Old/New Business)

Council Member Anderson moved to reassign the city's representative to ELTAC (Everett–Lynnwood–Tacoma Area Committee, though the full name is not stated in the transcript — likely the Whatcom Educational Land Trust Advisory Committee or a similar body) from herself to Council Member Huthman. Anderson explained she would have scheduling conflicts requiring in-person attendance and leadership at two to three fall meetings. Huthman agreed to take on the role. Anderson noted the first meeting is the following day at 3:30 p.m.

Vote: Moved by Council Member Anderson, seconded by Council Member Williams. Passed 7–0.

Amicus Brief — State of Minnesota v. Gnome (Old/New Business)

Stone reported that the city's legal team had reached out the prior week about joining an amicus brief in *State of Minnesota v. Gnome*, a civil rights case filed in Minnesota. The brief — led by the City of Boston — challenges not the federal government's authority to remove individuals without lawful immigration status, but the *manner* in which that authority has been applied, specifically alleging indiscriminate stops, massing of personnel, and excessive force against individuals including bystanders and observers.

Because the deadline to respond fell between council meetings and required a same-day reply, the legal team contacted the mayor and individual council members directly. All seven council members and the mayor signed on in their individual capacities rather than formally as the City of Bellingham. Stone noted this highlights a gap in the council's legislative agenda priorities — the existing language around supporting partner organizations doesn't clearly authorize the lobby team or council president to sign onto such items unilaterally — and suggested the council may want to revisit and clarify that language in future sessions.

*Informational report; no vote taken.*

Support for HB 1570 — Collective Bargaining for Student Employees (Old/New Business)

Council Member Cotton brought forward Washington State House Bill 1570, which would extend collective bargaining rights to operational student employees at public institutions of higher education — specifically placing them within the same statutory framework as other similarly situated public employees. Cotton noted the council had sent a letter of support for similar legislation the previous year, and that he had already signed on individually. The legislative hearing sign-in deadline was 4:30 p.m. that same day.

Vote: Moved by Council Member Cotton, seconded by Council Member Anderson. Passed 7–0. Staff (legislative analyst Iris, last name unclear in transcript) was directed to follow up on the formal submission.

Executive Session

The meeting concluded with a brief executive session on a labor relations matter — review of a contract proposal for the Fraternal Order of Police. No public details were provided.

Key Takeaways

A second full-time municipal judge will be created at Bellingham Municipal Court to address rising caseload and case complexity; the existing court commissioner position will be frozen to offset costs. An appointment is expected in February.

Council agendas and packets will now be published one week in advance, and a redesigned agenda bill format adds standardized impact statements and funding disclosures aimed at greater transparency.

The City of Bellingham signed onto a federal immigration enforcement amicus brief, though due to timing, council members and the mayor signed as individuals rather than formally on behalf of the city — prompting a conversation about clarifying the council's lobbying authority.

The council voted to support HB 1570, extending collective bargaining rights to student employees at Western Washington University and other public higher education institutions.

Council Member Huthman replaced Council Member Anderson as the city's ELTAC representative, effective immediately.

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

During Old/New Business, the council addressed several items including an amicus brief for State of Minnesota v. Gnome regarding civil rights violations, which individual council members and the mayor signed onto due to time constraints preventing formal city action. Council Member Anderson moved to reassign ELTAC committee representation to Council Member Huffman due to scheduling conflicts, which passed unanimously. Council Member Cotton presented HB 1570 concerning collective bargaining for operational student employees at Western Washington University and moved for official city support, which passed unanimously with a 4:30 p.m. deadline for hearing sign-ins. The council also discussed lobby meeting protocols and external legislation support processes, with Cotton raising concerns about potential precedent-setting when council leadership approves support without full council input. Staff indicated the council could revisit and clarify agenda priorities language regarding support for external partners in the next session to ensure clarity on when support for external legislation and letters can be provided during lobby efforts.

An ordinance relating to the Municipal Court and amending Bellingham Municipal Code section 2.16.030 to provide for the creation of a second full-time municipal judge position, an appointment process for newly created or vacated municipal judge positions, and an election for the second municipal judge position for a full judicial term beginning on January 1, 2030

Staff presented an ordinance to create a second full-time municipal judge position in Bellingham Municipal Court, implemented through the 2026 adopted budget to address increasing caseload and case complexity. The position will be offset by freezing the current court commissioner position, with the advantage that judges can hear trials while commissioners cannot. Council members raised questions about the elimination of the commissioner position, the synchronization of election cycles for both judges (which was confirmed as a state law requirement with elections every four years), and the designation of a presiding judge who will rotate between the two judges. Council Member Hamill asked about case complexity, and staff noted increased trial cases including more DUIs. The motion for approval was made by Council Member Anderson, seconded by Council Member Huffman, and passed unanimously (7-0).

Agenda items (2)

Procedural (2)

2ProceduralOld/New Business

Time set aside for council members to bring up any items not covered elsewhere on the agenda.

What happened

24813ProceduralAn ordinance relating to the Municipal Court and amending Bellingham Municipal Code section 2.16.030 to provide for the creation of a second full-time municipal judge position, an appointment process for newly created or vacated municipal judge positions, and an election for the second municipal judge position for a full judicial term beginning on January 1, 2030

The city is creating a second full-time municipal judge position to handle court cases. This ordinance sets up how judges will be appointed to new or vacant positions and calls for a public election in 2029 to elect the second judge, who would start their term on January 1, 2030.

What happened

Additional votes recorded in minutes

Recommend approval of ordinance creating second municipal judge position

aye 7

Daniel Hammillaye

Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye

Hannah Stoneaye

Hollie Huthmanaye

Jace Cottonaye

Lisa Andersonaye

Michael Lilliquistaye

Change council committee assignment to reflect Hollie Huthman as LTAC representative

aye 7

Daniel Hammillaye

Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye

Hannah Stoneaye

Hollie Huthmanaye

Jace Cottonaye

Lisa Andersonaye

Michael Lilliquistaye

City sign on in support of HB 1570

aye 7

Daniel Hammillaye

Edwin H. "Skip" Williamsaye

Hannah Stoneaye

Hollie Huthmanaye

Jace Cottonaye

Lisa Andersonaye

Michael Lilliquistaye

Verbatim transcript available

106 transcript segments indexed

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole minutes January 26, 2026, 2:10 PM 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.

Thank you very much. So, welcome back. We're going to move forward with the committee of the whole meeting. Um, just noting that all council members have been present this afternoon. A couple have stepped away at the moment, but we still have a quorum.

There is no public comment period during committee sessions. Call to order and roll call Council President Stone called the meeting to order at 2:15 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.

So, we will um get started with the one agenda item that we have before us. So, this is agenda bill 24813, an ordinance relating to the municipal court and amending Bellingham Municipal Code section 2.16.030 030 to provide for the creation of a second full-time municipal judge position, an appointment process for newly created and vacated municipal judge positions, and an election for the second municipal judge position for a full judicial term beginning on January 1st, 2030.

"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 24813 1. An ordinance relating to the Municipal Court and amending Bellingham Municipal Code section 2.16.030 to provide for the creation of a second full-time municipal judge position, an appointment process for newly created or vacated municipal judge positions, and an election for the second municipal judge position for a full judicial term beginning on January 1, 2030 Summary: Forrest Longman, Deputy City Administrator, and Alan Marriner, City Attorney, presented on the ordinance, which establishes a second municipal judge position and sets the process for appointing new judges mid-term and holding elections for any appointed judge positions.

That's just the subject. Um [laughter] so the summary is um mostly in in alignment with um yeah with the the subject of the the ordinance that's proposed for consideration. Um so with that I'm going to turn to Forest Longman, deputy administrator.

>> Thank you. Uh yeah, so this ordinance implements the uh 2026 adopted budget. This position was added as part of the budget process. Municipal court requested the additional judge um to manage increasing case load and case complexity.

It also authorizes the Mayor to appoint a second municipal judge and specifies that an election should be held to fill the term beginning January 1, 2030. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions.

From a budget standpoint, this is being offset for 2026 by freezing the current court commissioner position. Um essentially the difference between having a commissioner and a judge is my understanding is that a judge can hear trials where a commissioner cannot.

Page 1 of 3 Action: Lisa Anderson / Hollie Huthman moved to recommend approval of the ordinance. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 2. Old/New Business Summary: Hannah Stone spoke to the recent changes to the City Council agendas and item coversheets.

They have a new look and will be published further in advance (typically one week before the meeting). Council President Stone extended thanks to Jackie Weller, Janice Keller, Kelley Goetz, Matt Bezanson, Forrest Longman, Alan Marriner, Kate Bemis, and David Braun, who all worked on the project.

So uh that's the advantage of having an additional judge instead of a commissioner. Um this will result in an appointment uh and by the mayor and approval by the city council of this second judge. We anticipate bringing that forward to you at the second meeting in February.

Uh which will be if this is approved today. Uh third and final will be at your next council meeting and then after the effective date we would bring forward an appointment. Happy to answer any questions about any of this.

Council President Stone highlighted many changes, including larger print, more legible headers, an added standing announcement for the next meeting date, and an added section for Council Members to bring reports from the various boards, committees, and other groups they participate in.

She also announced that Council Members will start rotating who reads the Land Acknowledgement statement. On the agenda item coversheet, she highlighted the new impact statement, which is under the new heading of City impact and background; the budget and funding source, which have been standardized; and the background statement, which is meant to replace the staff memo in some cases.

We just first had a couple questions um just to confirm the the process. You mentioned freezing that commissioner position. So there would no longer be a commissioner at the Bellingham Municipal Court that position.

Council President Stone reported that there was a recent opportunity for Council Members to sign on to an amicus brief for a case brought by the Public Rights Project. This case and others are not contesting federal authority to remove individuals who are here without legal status but challenges the current detention methods.

>> That's correct. Yeah. >> Okay. Um and so instead there would be two judges and acknowledging the the difference um in their ability to hear trials. And so it sounds like at this time there's a long delay in some cases for those cases to be able to be heard.

Since there was short notice for this opportunity, it was not in Executive Session and the Council as a body was not able to sign on, however each Council Member agreed to sign on individually. Council Member Anderson realized that due to a scheduling conflict, she is unable to participate in the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) meetings.

So certainly for efficiency of the court um and for people to receive justice and you know and um in that shorten time frame is really important. But it was unclear to me it appears as though these two judges would then be on the same election cycle, right?

Versus that being staggered. Is that a requirement that they're on the same or is there a consideration? Okay. >> Alan's gonna speak to that. >> Yeah. Alamare city attorney and it the state law you'd think that they'd want to stagger things so you don't have you're not filling two vacancies at the same election but they they have these municipal court elections every four years and the previous uh the current municipal court judge was 2002 and it's every four years ongoing.

Council Member Huthman has agreed to resume her role as representative to LTAC in her stead. Action: Lisa Anderson / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to change the Council committee assignment list to reflect Hollie Huthman as the LTAC representative.

MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Summary: Council Member Cotton brought up HB 1570 concerning collective bargaining for operational student employees at Western Washington University. He has signed on in favor of the bill as an individual and asked that the Council discuss signing on in favor as a City.

So the next election would be uh for a term starting and so the appointment would be uh through that >> term uh and the election would be the November before in 2029. So it is every four years. >> So it is every four years but the I mean the state's not requiring that they all be on the same four cycle.

Page 2 of 3 Action: Jace Cotton / Lisa Anderson moved that the City sign on in support of HB 1570. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Summary: Council President Stone explained that this item doesn't explicitly fall under the approved legislative agenda, which is why this was brought forward today.

They are okay. So it because I wasn't sure if the timing just was by chance that it aligned right now with when we would be bringing someone new on and so they synced up or if it was a requirement that they're >> It is a requirement.

>> Okay. Well, that's unfortunate. Um other questions from the council council member Lilquist. >> Yeah. So all the employees of the municipal court are city employees, but the court is still headed up by the municipal court judge.

She suggested that they revisit the lobbying guide with regards to that process. Action: Council moved into Executive Session at 2:45 p.m. to discuss one item until 2:50 p.m Labor relations: review contract proposal for the Fraternal Order of Police.

Right now there's one person and that one person is in charge. Now there will be positions one and two. Who is the nominal head of the municipal court? >> My I asked that question. There will be a presiding judge and my understand they will rotate.

>> Is that doesn't need to be in the ordinance or how is that established? >> That's not in the ordinance and and just like other court systems um that's determined by the the court system itself. >> A law already has a rule for that.

>> Thank you. >> Other questions from council members? Council member Hamill, >> sorry if this was addressed, but um in the background uh the words case complexity are mentioned. I'm just trying to get to what a definition of that might look like.

>> Yeah, I think they're seeing more cases that are going to trial. So I I think that's a nod towards that. There's I know there's more they've had been having more DUIs. Um and those are some of the more complex cases that uh that the court sees.

Thanks. >> Questions from council members. Um, this item is again the ordinance is included in the packet um for for consideration. Council member Anderson. >> I'll move approval. >> Second. We have a motion from Council Member Anderson and a second from Council Member Huffman.

Any other discussion or questions? Okay, seeing none, all in favor will say I. I >> I >> Any opposed or abstensions? Okay, seeing none, that passes 70 and I will bring forward that recommendation this evening.

Thank you very much. So that is the end of the agenda for the committee of the whole with that one item and we will move forward with old and new business. Um, I had a couple of items for old and new business.

Um, do we want to review the agenda first? I don't know if Oh, Iris, you are here. I'm going to request um some support from staff as well. So, Iris not our not our legislative um policy analyst. So, just wanting to share with all of you.

I know that the mayor spoke at our last meeting just sort of in advance of the changes that were going to be forthcoming um in our new new agenda. And so beginning with this meeting, right, the city council agenda and packet documents have a new look as you may have noticed when you were reviewing your packet um in preparation [clears throat] for today's meeting and they're also being published further in advance.

So wanting to to highlight that change as well that the agendas and the packets will now be available one week prior to the meeting. So typically that will be the Monday in advance of our meeting. If Monday is a holiday then that publication will take place on the following Tuesday.

Um but otherwise providing that advanced you know notice and availability to not only us as council members but to the general public as well is very important. Um, so one of the many efforts to modernize our systems and make city government more transparent, understandable, and accessible.

Um, in this respect, I wanted to one just extend great appreciation for the team that's helped bring this to to fruition. So, um, my understanding that with, you know, Jackie Weller, our own legislative office manager, and Janice Keller, deputy administrator, really being the project leaders for this undertaking, um, but really heavy lifts, wanting to extend kudos to, um, our deputy city clerk, Kelly Gets, who unfortunately is not with us today, um, to receive that appreciation in person, but also Matt um, Bzansen, who's the enterprise systems architect, just behind the scenes work to to really um, bring the system up up and running has been a a pretty heavy lift.

Um, also wanting to acknowledge Forest Longman, our other deputy administrator, and Alan Manor Mariner, city attorney for your support. Um, and as well as, um, Kate, who's the executive assistant, administrative assistant in the mayor's office, as well as David Braun, assistant communications and community relations director in our council office.

But just wanted to highlight the the team that it's required to to bring this work forward. Um but beyond that, wanting to before reviewing the agenda a little more closely, um wanting to recognize that what we see in the packet, you know, is very neat and tidy and we'll review what that looks like a little more closely.

But just acknowledging that it is a work in progress and all of the additional work required by staff and and those teams in order to really adjust and enter right the new information and adjust to a new format um as well is going to be an an ongoing project.

So appreciation as well to um to staff for navigating that that new system um so well. So in the packet um just wanted to highlight so this is the agenda first that we're looking at on the screen and so just a couple of changes for council members and staff to um to know.

So, there's some larger print making things a little more um legible and easy to to read. Those headers as well, most of them are um similar to what we've seen in the past. There's a new header um under the mayor's report.

So, a new header for council assignment reports. Oh, sorry. Prior to that, um under the announcements, right where we have it now. So, announcements and upcoming meetings. I'm making So under that section with the um Nope, we're good.

So with the we're good. Um so having those announcements and upcoming meetings, one piece with the land acknowledgement statement. It's sort of separate from this update, but a proposal that as council members, we will rotate through who reads that in the evenings.

um just so that doesn't become too much of a wrote piece that we um we read it off. But that stays in there as well as the language access the new agenda and timing that piece right now is just for this particular meeting to draw attention to that.

But then moving up a new the next council meeting to be listed there. I know that it's been and remains at the end of the agenda packet. Um but just wanted to make sure if people are wanting to know when the next meeting is that that's highlighted there.

Then we have the mayor's report and under the mayor's report that new section is the council assignment reports. So this is a standing time for council member reports from assigned committees, task forces and other groups.

Um so that will be a time then I was thinking of providing the report out for our lobby team you know meetings and those updates if from the other assignments that you all are carrying in the community would be a great time to highlight um yeah those reports if there are particular pieces of information um or upcoming events or um timelines that you want to to share with fellow council members as well as the general public.

Just wanting that to be a standing time when we can um address that. So the rest of the committee you know report outs and the times the start times um and the council member um participants in each committee that remains fairly much the same.

Then we have the executive session consent agenda right public comment period and adjournment. So most of that remains unchanged. just has a new look and the um the heading lines. But for the individual agenda bills, there are a couple of pieces that just wanted to bring to your attention.

So, one is the impact statement. Um and that impact statement shows up under the city impact and background. So, we have the agenda item summary, the council action request, and then the city impact and background.

And so from the style guide which is with on base you know this summarizes um any departmental financial staffing and resource impacts. So at a minimum this section should include the dollar amount of the financial impact if any.

Um examples of additional impacts or staff time you know if there's additional staff time needed the opportunity cost of pursuing or not pursuing the item or potential unintended consequences of the action.

So there if there are no impacts to the city, you know, an NA could be an acceptable response in that area. But just wanting to draw um attention council members as well as staff members about that impact statement.

Um then the budget and funding source in that same section where it has budget and then funding source on the example that we're looking at. So now both of these have been standardized so that there is consistency across items in how funding is described.

So for example, you know, a particular fund is selected from a do drop-own list and the budget item includes options like funds are authorized in this year's budget or it requires additional budget authority and expenditure um or it brings additional revenue etc.

But there's some uniformity there and consistency and how how we'll be able to see um those funding sources addressed for for each individual either project or or proposal. And then the last piece I wanted to highlight was the background statement.

So that was referenced earlier by um one of the council members just in in comments and questions on the last item, but the background statement. So this is again from the style guide. It states that this field is intended to in some respects replace staff memos.

Um it provides a his historical information, public engagement results, relevant legislative actions, key stakeholders um can be mentioned and referenced and anticipated questions and challenges could be addressed in this area.

Um if necessary though there will be an addition of a staff memo um and there could be a note to say cease staff memo for additional background because staff memos will be needed um because in this section it's not possible to provide you know possibly sufficient context um in this section if there's additional information needed but also if they want to include tables or graphs or images those can't be attached to this section of the agenda bill.

So it's for text for text only. So if there is a memo that's you know just going to be limited to text and maybe relatively brief that could be um utilized but it's great just to provide additional background beyond sort of the summary statement that we typically see on on agenda bills.

So um so staff memos will still be included you know as separate documents if they're especially long or include those special elements. Um, so just in general wanting to since there is a new look and some new timing with release of that, just wanting to take a moment to to highlight some of those those changes um for us as well as for members of the public.

So um any questions or observations and response? Council member Hamill. >> Yeah, I'm probably just missing this, but is there um did we do away with the estimated time per agenda item? We did. Um, yeah, Deputy Keller, do you want to speak to that?

>> Just wasn't sure if you had the answer at the ready. I'm sorry. >> So, we didn't do away with it. We have it behind the scenes so we can use it for planning purposes. Um, we just sometimes don't quite meet that mark when it's published on the agenda.

So, it's in the internal view, not published on the actual agenda. And I think that tool is still being used as an estimation and you know as you know it's a moving a moving target to you know to guesstimate how much time agenda items will take and so I think that internal communication from you know council members as well as staff is really helpful too if right in your work as a committee you say oh this has been sort of a hot topic I think it's going to need more time to certainly um you know have that ongoing discussion other questions or observ ations.

>> Council member H. >> Yeah. >> Um, uh, council assignment reports. When does that, um, begin? >> So, that would begin tonight in the evening. I mean, that time will be there. So, I have the lobby um the lobby group update which I'll deliver.

But again, it's not a requirement that council members, you know, speak each meeting um to those points. There may be, you know, times we have something to share or not, but just to be able to hold that space because it's also at the beginning of the meeting and more centered on our council assignments versus later in the meeting at night having old and new business still for, you know, other more general items.

Anyone else? No. >> Oh, Council Member Cotton. >> Yeah. I'm I mean I'm curious how the city impact and background statement will function. I mean I think at the state legislature the the fiscal notes always like a a big controversial um thing, right?

Because a lot of what we do is um uh city operations are complex and um policy decisions are complex. And so maybe just a um a commitment we could make whoever is the decision maker on this to be as neutral and um uh I guess a lot of may statements maybe would [laughter] be I think just a good a good practice.

Um and your comment was specifically with respect to the background. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, I mean, if we're talking about including unintended consequences, I I just think it's good for the agenda bill to be as neutral as possible and not be something that I mean, I think we should save as much weight weighing of policy trade-offs for this for our meetings rather than publishing it beforehand.

That's just two cents. >> Anything else? >> Okay. Great. Well, [clears throat] thank you for letting me take the time to speak to that item. Thank you very much for your help, Iris. Um, I had one other item for old and new.

I will also mention this um during this evening's old and old and new, but just wanted to um to share and extend some appreciation for the legal team. So, Amy Creme in particular had reached out to us last week.

So this was in the middle of right sort of a gap between our meetings and at that time um there was an opportunity to sign on to um an amicus brief as an amichi um and so the public rights project the nonprofit entity that's been um leading other lawsuits um recently where the city has signed on in a mikas capacity um had reached out to potentially join this is um regarding the case state of Minnesota versus Gnome.

Um it's a case that's being filed in the state of Minnesota regarding violation of um civil rights and just wanting to highlight that this was this is a lead amikas filed by the city of Boston. So amikas briefs are you know friends of the court.

So obviously Boston for example is not in Minnesota and um but as a friend of the court offering additional um briefs and support documents for consideration by the court in that case and wanting to highlight that in this case in particular that plaintiffs do not challenge the authority of the federal government to remove individuals who do not have lawful status here in the United States.

Right? that these Migas briefs that we've been signing on to are not contesting that um federal authority, but instead the challenge is the application of that specific authority in circumstances. For example, in this particular case, which includes indiscriminate stops and amassing of personnel and excessive use of force against individuals, particularly those who are observing um operations.

And so I just wanted typically something like this would come out during an executive session report. Um but since there was not time, you know, um the request was to respond by the end of the business day, what the legal team here did was provide correspondence to the mayor as well as individual council members to respond and the ability to sign on in our individual capacity as council members and as the mayor.

Um and so [snorts] just wanting to report out that there was um involvement and inclusion from all council members in their capacity as council members and the mayor. So we still did sign on and show great um great collaboration and just commitment there um as a city, but because of the timing, we weren't able to to do so formally as a city.

So that we'll be um listed as as individuals, but wanting to um report that out. So, and thank you everybody for taking the time and responding so quickly. Um, other items for old and new. I know we had Yeah, we had one from um finish up business from our reorg meeting potentially.

Thank you. Um, so after learning a little bit more about uh some of my responsibilities on ELTAC, I will have conflict of attendance for two to three of them come fall. um it wasn't going to be an issue since it was hybrid and I could attend online, but there would be two to three where I'd have to be in person and lead the meetings and my um other obligations makes that very difficult.

So, I had a conversation with council member Huffman and she graciously said that she would uh be the rep for the ELTAC. So, um, and I checked with her shortly before this began to make sure that hadn't changed since the last meeting.

So, I move that, uh, we make the change on our committee assignments and, um, I will no longer be the rep for ELTAC, um, but would, uh, move that Council Member Huffman, uh, take on those responsibilities.

So, we have a motion by Council Member Anderson and a second by Council Member Williams. Any discussion? Council member Anderson. I don't know if you have it on your calendar, but tomorrow is their first meeting.

Um, as at 3:30, if you're unable to attend, um, I could attend because it would be hybrid, but hopefully if you're available, that would be great. >> Luckily, I had that one as a reoccurring meeting into Infinity.

So, yeah, I've got it. Thanks, Lisa. >> Okay, any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing none, that passes 70. And we'll make note of that in the the council assignments.

>> Great. Thank you very much. Other items for old and new? >> Council member Cotton. Um, one item that um, we discussed at a recent lobbying meeting um, was um, HB 1570, which is um, concerns collective bargaining for operational student employees at Western.

Um, and we sent a letter of support um, uh, LA last year. Um, and this just places those students within the same statutory framework that allows public employees to bargain um, who are otherwise similarly situated.

Um, I heard uh a whisper that there might be some interest in revisiting that topic as a council before we decided to sign on as a city. Um, and I've signed on as an individual. Um, happy to answer questions.

Um, I will note the deadline to sign in for a hearing is at 4 3 p.m. today. So, right in the wire, but I've got got it out of my laptop. So, um, and uh, I also encourage you to sign on individually if we um, aren't able to make that decision today.

Thank you. >> Um I would move [laughter] uh that the city officially support HB 1570 which is um concerning collective bargaining for certain employees who are enrolled in academic programs at public institutions of higher education.

Egs Western >> second. So we have a motion from council member Cotton and a second by council member Anderson. Any questions regarding this this bill or recollection about the letter of support that was provided previously everyone?

>> Okay. And just to clarify, I think my motion was the city. Just to check in with the other branch. Is that okay? Should we have it be just the city council? Thumbs up. >> I think you said the city of the city, >> you know.

I don't know if I have that power, but [laughter] great. Thanks, mayor. >> Any further discussion on this? >> Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing none, that passes 70.

Give the head nod to Iris not our legislative analyst to follow up on that. Thank you for bringing that that forward. So this was one of the right items that comes up sometimes during the the lobby meetings when we are we have received sort of guidance from the full council that if something falls within our agenda um that's been approved by the council that we can move forward and sign and pro or support legislation um again that's in alignment sometimes.

So we have sort of a catchall that talks about our partners um and supporting their work. That could be, you know, that could be the county, that could be the port. This case, it could be, you know, western or one of the tribes.

I mean, it could be a number of things, but it's not clearly stated. And so, when things like this come up, and previously, as council member Cotton noted, we'd provided a letter of support to, you know, to the employees up at Western.

And so it felt like there was support, but it also felt like sort of a slippery slope and setting a precedent if you know I as council president was just saying yes, we can you know do that or if the lobby team collectively gave a head nod.

Um, so I would like I mean at some point the council could revisit that section of the agenda priorities to you know to specify that more clearly if you you know things are moving quickly and there's not time for us to you know receive a response or to check in like we are doing today.

Um that's something we could consider. Certainly at this point in the in the session I mean things are going to end up narrowing instead of widening likely. Um, so I don't know that it's necessary for this term, but certainly something for us to put a pin in for the next session and as we continue to to learn and and grow as part of this lobby effort.

Um, but just wanted to know that's why this was coming forward is it seemed like there was support, but really wanting because it it wasn't specifically noted in our agenda priorities, wanting to make sure that there was consensus here.

So, >> okay. So, thank you, Council Member Cotton. I really appreciate it. Other items for old and new? No. Okay. If not, we have one executive item. This is a labor relations item to review contract proposal for the Fraternal Order of Police.