City Council - Budget and Finance Committee

City of Bellingham Budget and Finance Committee Minutes May 19, 2025, 10:00 AM Mayor: Kimberley Lund Contact: (360) 778-8100, mayorsoffice@cob.org Council Members: Lisa Anderson, Chair Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist https://cob.org/council Call to Order Committee Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 10:00am. Roll Call Present: Committee Chair Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Committee Member Daniel Hammill, Third Ward (Attended remotely) Committee Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Standing Committee Meetings: Open to the public to attend. Note: there is generally no public comment period for Committee sessions. Standing Committee Members receive reports and information, ask questions and, when appropriate, vote on a recommended action for consideration by the full Council at the Regular Meeting. The notice of Committee Meetings identified below also serves as notice of Special Meetings of the City Council at the times identified as Council Members who are not members of the committee routinely attend and participate in the Committee Meetings. Committee Chairs give a report of the Committee Meeting at the Regular Meeting in the evening prior to deliberation and formal vote. 24547 1. Presentation Regarding Water System Plan, Utility-wide Financial Information, Utility p. 3 Rates, and Customer Assistance Program Mike Olinger, Interim Public Works Co-Director, Forrest Longman, Deputy Administrator, and Gordon Wilson, Senior Project Manager at FCS Bowman, provided a summary of long-term water system plan updates and anticipated utility rate increases necessary to meet regulatory requirements and manage the City's infrastructure. The presentation also discussed potential changes to the customer assistance program to support residents through the rate increases. Council Members discussed long-term infrastructure upgrades, rate increases, the customer assistance program, and asked questions. 24558 2. Mayor's 2026 Budget Development Process p. 77 Mayor Lund and Forrest Longman, Deputy Administrator, provided an overview of the 2026 budget process and priorities which include, • Public Safety, including evaluating revenue sources that will maintain our current levels of service; • Programs and policies that support the expansion of housing supply across the continuum of need; and Budget and Finance Committee Minutes Page 1 May 19, 2025  • Continued support for the internal services, systems and people that allow the City to effectively and efficiently deliver services to the public. Council Members discussed the budget priorities and asked questions. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:21am. Budget and Finance Committee Minutes Page 2 May 19, 2025