City Council - Regular Meeting

[Music] e e Welcome to the the regular meeting of the Bellingham City Council on this April 15th 2024 I am mayor proem not mayor protm council president proem Holly huthman uh council president Hamill is excused today and council member Anderson as well uh Bellingham city council meets all requirements of the state of Washington open public meetings act uh roll call please Hannah Stone here skip Williams here Michael lillquist here jce cotton here Holly Huffman here all right five council members are present for a quorum and up first we have the mayor's report I'm going to give good evening Council and good evening to members of the community that are here tonight um we had an issue with the printer in the mayor's office at the 11th hour so I'm not able to go to the podium I'm just going to read the mayor's report from here this evening so to begin uh for information I have some appointments to the mayor's neighborhood advisory committee and I will be appointing Jasmine fast as the cornata neighborhood representative I'll be reappointing kit topaz as the Columbia neighbor representative and also appointing Jan dskin as the Fair Haven neighborhood representative also appointing the inaugural slate of 19 members of the watom racial Equity commission is a significant and important milestone for Bellingham and watcom County council president Dan Hamill has been involved with the development of this group since its very Beginnings as have some of you however uh I had originally

planned to bring this slate of candidates forth for your consideration this evening but in light of Dan's being unavailable today due to a family emergency and council member Anderson's excused absence I would like to withdraw this appointment um I would like to withdraw this item from today's agenda and I'm excited to return with it to council at the May 6th meeting next up I'd like to talk about the house of healing and that community representatives from local indigenous communities from Western Washington University Bellingham and wam County came together on Thursday of last week for a very moving ground turning ceremony to celebrate Western's new house of healing louse it will be located at the south end of seahome Hill AR bitum and importantly it will be the first louse in the city of Bellingham it will be used as a cultural Gathering Place for University students our local tribes and the public to come together the city of Bellingham and Western Washington University along with $4.5 million in support from the state of Washington are partnering to construct the louse the city thanks to council's approval is providing 600,000 in transportation funds for pedestrian and Street improvements as well as two acres of Park property which will serve as the location of the future louse and lastly I'd like to close out on the topic of effective communication and our investments in communication Staffing is paying off in our ability to prepare important messaging and describe

actions and issues as they emerge and as new mayor I've had the opportunity to share with City staff throughout each of our key departments about the importance of proactive and robust communication it matters how we are communicating within our teams across our departments and it is also critically important how we share information and engage with the community broadly and in particular there are three recent examples I'd like to highlight um that highlight this intentional approach to improving our communication around key City actions and the three examples I'd like to Spotlight tonight include one the roll out and ongoing follow up around the fenel executive order has led to the city being included in important Statewide and Regional conversations with local tribal leaders and other municipalities leading in this work second the web page and FAQ that was developed in response to the city's decision to serve as the co-lead in the environmental review of ABC recycling's Metal processing uh facility sorry has increased the community's understanding of what is happening with this issue and it will serve to facilitate important up information updates to the community as we move forward third our web page and announcement last week around the new property acquisition to support affordable housing and the relocation of the Swift Haven and Unity Village tiny homes received widespread both traditional and social media attention ion that has enabled increased awareness of this

move especially within the Birchwood neighborhood so special thanks to the city's communication team your work is noticed and it is appreciated and we are excited to continue to build upon this momentum and Foster a well-informed Bellingham that's the end of mayor's report tonight thank you mayor and next uh we move right along to committee reports we uh switch the order up today uh and we'll start with Committee of the whole report out so our first item for committee of the whole was agenda Bill 2486 a presentation on watom the watom county racial Equity commission appointment process the watom racial Equity commission was established in 2022 as a watom county Advisory Group co-funded by wcom county and the City of Bellingham and facilitated through the cheet health Foundation the W is a quasi governmental entity formed to eliminate racial inequities throughout Wacom County the vision of the wreck is that all Races in wcom County live Thrive and belong for who they are as they are without fear every day cinet Health foundations rep uh cinet Health Foundation Representatives provided an overview of the appointment process now underway to seat the group's inaugural members um we had a presentation by suing Zhao of the chenet health Foundation um about this appointment process and uh of course I would highly recommend uh reviewing that video if this is something that is of interest to you so that you can uh stay on top of what is happening with that brand new commission uh at a

county level next up we had agenda Bill 24087 the EDI program loan and Grant agreement for the Oldtown Urban Village the city of Bellingham wcam County and private developers are partnering to fund infrastructure improvements for the Oldtown Urban Village the proposed infrastructure improvements include Street impr improvements and undergrounding of overhead utilities as outlined in the old town sub area plan and the development agreement the improvements will be consistent with The Pedestrian and bicycle master plan in furtherance of the city's goal for transportation mode shift as outlined in the climate action plan the county has approved an application for $3 million via the economic development investment program the funding is a $1.5 million loan and a $1.5 million Grant the funding agreement requires approval by both the city and county councils staff's recommendation is to authorize execution of the funding agreement the committed committee voted uh 601 to recommend approval uh and I so move there is a motion on the table in a second any further discussion seeing none all in favor say I I any opposed any extensions that is 6 Z with oh two five Z with two math two uh absent next we have agenda Bill 2489 an ordinance amending the 2023 to 202 for banial budg budget amendment number 12 in November of 2023 the voters of Bellingham passed a fifth Greenways Levy for 10 years raising 9.3 million in the first year of property tax collections staff presented an overview of

stewardship maintenance and operation needs with a request for an additional 9.5 full-time equivalence and new Fleet and equipment to better manage bellingham's Park system the attached budget ordinance will implement the staffing change and add Associated funding um there's also quite a bit of conversation about wetlands and Wetland mitigation um again go ahead and go back and review that video if this is of interest to you uh the committee recommended approval and I so move second there is a motion on the table in a second any further discussion seeing none all those in favor say I I I any opposed extensions 502 that that passes motion passes okay and then we had Bill uh agenda Bill 24088 a presentation of the draft Urban Forest plan city of Bellingham is creating a strat strategic Urban Forest plan to help maintain a healthy and desirable Urban Forest through well-coordinated consistent and sustainable long-term Urban Forest management the plan outlines a suite of actions to preserve and enhance the Urban Forest to help achieve goals outlined in the climate action plan and the comprehensive plan the plan is based on the aspirational goal of achieving a 45% tree canopy coverage within the city in an equitable fashion as a policy document the plan creates a basis from which future regulations funding and programs can be based Council consider uh Council consideration for approval of the plan will be in early summer of 2024 the draft plan is available on the city website at

b.org slmp staff will staff presented key elements of the plan and an overview of upcoming public engagement process on the draft plan uh staff also had an update on progress on the landmark tree protection ordinance which we will hear more about uh in the public works committee report out um a very long presentation this is our our third presentation regarding urban forestry uh in Bellingham other Pres presentations happened in September November of 2023 if you'd like to dig into those um and we uh we had the our our presentation was given by Analise Burns of uh the habitat and restoration manager from the public works department um we it it was a long presentation and and the council had a lot more discussion that they were interested in having we were out of time so the staff will bring back that conversation the first first uh council meeting in May as a continuance um the second council meeting in May will will have a presentation on the landmark tree ordinance um and then the second meeting in June uh we will have a summary of the public engagement results from the Outreach uh regarding the draft Urban Forest plan that was for information and discussion only and gosh I guess uh we we move to old new business all right seeing none we can move on to the report out for oh nope executive session so for executive session we had four items uh first was litigation uh offen Pearson versus city of Bellingham and lions staff provided information on a litigation matter for

information and discussion no action was taken second item was uh litigation gambari versus city of Bellingham staff provided information on a litigation matter for information and discussion no action was taken and then two potential property Acquisitions uh staff provided information uh it was for information and discussion only both were Watershed property acquisition matters no action was taken on either and with that um we can move to Public Works and natural resources report out and that is shared by council member Stone thank you very much president protm Huffman um so this afternoon on the public works and natural resources committee I was joined by council member Anderson who joined us remotely and council member lillquist here in Chambers we had two items before us this afternoon the first was agenda Bill 249 Z so this is regarding a request for a noise variance regarding wurn sanitary sewer replacement Paving EU 1990 so fa construction the contractor for the wour sanitary sewer replacement project is requesting a variance for the requirements of the city's noise ordinance which is BMC 10-24-10 for resurfacing work at night in the residential area of wurn Street between Texas Street and Barkley Boulevard and also between fre rer Street and Old wurn Street in the Roosevelt and Barkley neighborhoods Faber has requested to complete the paving work on the project at night to minimize traffic impacts and to ensure the safety of both workers and residents as described in

for up to 10 working days beginning April 22nd 2024 staff concurred with completing the work at night because it is in the public interest as it minimizes disruptions to traffic and provides for the safety of the public and contractor um so this afternoon there was a presentation um we were joined by Public Works director Eric Johnston as well as U Mike Wilson assistant director for Public Works um with respect to engineering um and Craig Müller project engineer was also with us so just a couple of points um before discussing a vote on the noise um variance that's being requested Ed so I just wanted to confirm that that work would be completed it's sort of on a right a slow moving process down the street so wouldn't expect that for an extended period of time the construction would be happening or the paving would be happening in front of you know one particular house but that over the period um of those few weeks or they're looking at um the period of time during which that project would be taking place that the work would be in the evenings but Monday through Thursday preferbly not on the weekend and the good news was that the grinding in the project has been completed so that the grinding would not be taking place during those nighttime hours and so it would be restricted to Paving only know there's some concern with the backup you know beepers that happen which is just a part of the process um and can't be um can't be really alleviated because that's part of the safety

precautions taken when that type of Works taking place um but the good news is is that the grinding has already been completed and so it would just be Paving only there was a recommendation this afternoon to move approval that was unanimous recommendation um and I so move second motion's been made by council member Stones second by council member Williams any further discussion seeing none all those in favor say I I any opposed abstentions that motion passes 52 next up thank oh one more item oh yeah that's so the second item before us is afternoon was agenda Bill 24091 so this was regarding the 2024 Community Tree program so healthy trees provide benefits in reducing potential impacts of urban storm water runoff trees also provide benefits in adapting to climate change and the council authorized a one-time $100,000 expenditure from the surface and storm water fund for tree planting in the community to ACR those benefits and to make progress towards the goals of our climate action plan the 2024 Community Tree program will use the authorized funding to support tree planting efforts across Bellingham and includes coupons for trees at local nurseries Partnerships with local nonprofit organizations and neighborhood associations as well as providing trees directly to residents at no cost and other education um educational efforts and so this afternoon we had a presentation we were joined by Public Works director Eric Johnston um and Renee lroy as well as um Analise Burns was the

presenter who's the habitat and restoration manager um for the city of Bellingham and I just wanted to highlight a couple of things so this is with respect to um a pilot project which really is focusing on um goals so we're talking a little bit about the um Urban Forest plan so a focus on goal number five in that draft plan as it stands now which um relates to collaboration with diverse people and organizations right and or Urban Forest management here in the city and so those four areas which were highlighted neighborhood tree grants so sort of part of the small and simple grants where neighborhoods would be able to apply to receive funding um to complete tree projects within their neighborhoods Community Partnerships so this is where the city would be supporting potentially nonprofit organizations and other groups in the community that are already doing this work and so to help um support and expand their work in our community and then tree giveaways and so on the tree giveaways the first giveaway was at the Farmers Market opening day which was April 6th here in Bellingham and there were 158 trees given out that day but I which is wonderful um to see those go home with with families here in Bellingham understand that there were a lot more trees available for pickup um and so the next event or there will be events as well on Earth Day which will be um coming up so to look forward to opportunities in the community to be able to receive um those trees as well as to receive

educational information and support with respect to how to care for your tree Once you take it home to ensure its success going forward um there will also be a tree coupon program so rolling out hopefully in the fall of this year but where individuals in the community can receive coupons to go to local nurse nurseries that have partnered with the city um to allow a discount I believe it's going to be a $30 discount that um members of the community can take advantage of and so that would be in cases where you wanted to go and maybe pick out right the plant of your choice rather than going to a tree pickup um that the city is organizing so you'd have a little bit more um choice in which tree you you brought home but I just wanted to highlight that this you know the the support from Council right to to earmark that $100,000 um towards this particular effort and for it to be something that can really happen immediately as we're continuing to work on um finalizing the urban Forest plan these are sort of quick start things that can happen um now in the interim to really put trees in the ground and to start that work here and so although it may sound simple enough um I just wanted to highlight what director Johnson had shared this afternoon and just the the broad reach right that programs like that this have within the city when it comes to the staff support and time that's really required to get projects like this off the ground so I just wanted to um highlight those names and

contributions from individuals within the city and in particular Public Works and some cases other departments but in particular Renee lroy and Analise Burns um Aaron Burkhart Victoria Miller Nelson Lee Holly Roger Scott HL and Rush Duncan with Public Works um natural resources and then Stephanie um cenon Riley Grant Haley Sanders with Public Works Communications and so Communications and Outreach thinking about everything that we have to do to make sure when these opportunities available that community members are aware of the opportunities and know where and when to go to participate um Nick Baris with itsd so with um it and thinking about the support to update our websites and you know to make sure that this information is available Carlo Buckingham um with Public Works Finance as well as um Matt sier with purchasing Melanie um Alti with the finance department and finally Matt stamps with legal so just to shine a little bit of a light on how broad the reach is and how much participation right and support within the city is really required to to bring projects like this off the ground so I just want to extend another thank you and appreciation to staff support and I'm looking forward to the opportunity for community members to continue to participate because really what we're looking at with the urban Forest plan um is how much of the work left to be done is going to have to be in private spaces right private property within the city um because that's where most of the um

the land is held so as we're looking to expand our canopy um it's really going to be a community wide wide effort to meet those targets and goals so this was for information and discussion only before committee this afternoon so there was no action to be taken at this time um but with that that is end of committee and I'll turn it back to you president protm Huffman mouthful thank you council member Stone and uh next up we had the community and economic development committee and that was chaired by council member cotton thank you President protm we had just one agenda item before us today um before us earlier today that was a presentation by Western Washington University's small business uh Development Center and through an econom uh through an interlocal agreement with the Port of Bellingham and Wacom County the city help us fund the center and we received um a really edifying presentation from program director Liliana deck and um their executive director CJ sites um I encourage anyone interested to listen into this afternoon about these great resources in our community um this discussion was for um information only and that is end of committee report you council member cotton and next up uh and last we had Parks and Recreation chaired by council member Williams thank you president pro Tim hu Huffman uh we had one item on our our agenda as well which was a resolu a resolution authorizing um an application for a Washington State Recreation and conservation Grant to help us uh

develop uh the story Brook Park phase one project the city of Bellingham parks and wreck department requires us to authorize the app the application um for a grant from the Washington State Recreation and conservation office the parks department intends to apply for a grant in the amount of $500,000 to help fund phase one of the story Brook Park project uh the grant will help pay for some of the um elements going going into the park which includes in part a playground a nature trail Loop an outdoor classroom pic nicking facilities a multi-use lawn area which I believe might include pickle ball if somebody wanted to do it and and uh Park uh furnishings and Wetland buffer mitigation The Phase One Park uh development cost for this is approximately 2.1 million and this grant will be matched with Park impact fees and and and additional real estate excise tax funds will help fund the um Street improvements that will need to be made after a rather lengthy explanation by Nicole Oliver the parks and wreck department the committee voted to authorize the application for this Grant and I so move second motion's been made by council member Williams a second by council member Stone any further discussion seeing none all those in favor say I I any opposed extensions and that motion passes 502 that moves us on to consent agenda move approval second motion by council member lqu second by council member Williams any further discussion see none all in favor say I I any opposed exensions that

passes 502 and with that we move on to our public comment period uh and so we need to switch to zoom so those of us watching in real time uh you can go to cob.org BCC Zoom as in city council Zoom to continue view viewing in real time um these recordings are also viewable at c.org uh comment recordings and with that we'll take a short break