City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee of the Whole Minutes February 22, 2021, 1:05 PM Mayor Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Council Members Hannah Stone, Gene Knutson, Daniel Hammill, www.cob.org/council Pinky Vargas, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist and All meetings are held in the City Hall Council Chambers at Hollie Huthman 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA, unless otherwise noted. Call to Order Roll Call Present: Council President Hannah Stone, First Ward Council Member Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Council Member Pinky Vargas, Fourth Ward Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Hollie Huthman, At-Large Excused: Council Member Gene Knutson, Second 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 in the order shown below: Committee of the Whole Hannah Stone, Chair Gene Knutson, Daniel Hammill, Pinky Vargas, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Hollie Huthman Please be advised that if the City Council is ahead of schedule, they may start with old/new business before the official Committee of the Whole meeting time. 22910 1. Analysis of Proposed BMC Amendments for Tent Encampments and p. 3 Camping in Public Places Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 1 February 22, 2021  Council President introduced the item for discussion. Mayor Fleetwood explained that when the encampment at City Hall ended, many of the campers moved to the lower section of Geri Fields. There is availability of a possible site at Cornwall that has been offered by the Port. Both the permits for Swift Haven and the potential site at Cornall are temporary. The Port's encampment facility would end once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. City Council submitted emergency ordinances for consideration. Council had asked staff to review and comment. He introduced City staff from various departments to comment on work that is being done that addresses homelessness. Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development Manager, explained that there are four City Council presentations scheduled for the next couple months. On March 8, there will be an overview of the 2021 - 2022 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Action Plan. March 22, the presentation will focus on families and children experiencing homelessness. She explained that the City is losing ground on this demographic right now. Currently, there are over 65 homeless families living in motels. Five families per week are going to Opportunity Council for services. For April 12, a discussion that explains the investments the City makes, which include rental assistance, food recovery, and recommendations for additional funding from the Community Development Block Grant will take place. On April 26, she plans to present the Action Plan and ask for the Council's adoption of the Plan. Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation Director, gave a summary of operations at the warming center that began on February 12, 2021 at Depot Market Square. The warming center was set up for emergency care to unsheltered individuals due to the approaching winter storm. Parks staff obtained FEMA cots from the Operations Center and staff from the Opportunity Council agreed to help find volunteers to work the warming center. Volunteers and Parks staff ran the center. Rules were put in place, hot drinks and snacks were provided, hand sanitizer was obtained, first aid supplies and masks were provided and set up to accomodate 35 people. Throughout the week, 88 volunteers helped staff the warming site. She thanked all who volunteered. Over the course of seven days, there were 23 calls to 911, nine trespasses occurred, 368 guests signed into the warming site, and 28 people (on average) stayed overnight. Personal property and bedding were bagged up daily. Rick Sepler, Planning & Community Development Manager, provided an overview of the recommendations that are outlined in the attached memo regarding the draft ordinance. The fundamental flaw in the ordinance submitted is that there are conditions to the exemptions. It is lacking location criteria, does Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 2 February 22, 2021  not limit the size of occupancy, nothing to prohibit individuals from gathering in any of the popular parks, and no sanitary provisions. He explained that this is not in the public interest. Previous Councils have already spent time crafting emergency ordinances on temporary encampments, and it is not in the public interest to allow unregulated encampments as they have severe ecological impacts to the environment. Council Members asked questions. Information only. 22430 2. Proposed Revisions to Ordinance #2019-11-033 Establishing an p. 27 Immigration Advisory Board Council Member Stone explained that she has brought forth some revisions to the ordinance because a request was brought forward from Board members to allow alternates to serve due to conflicts in schedules. The second request was to allow for members that reside outside the City of Bellingham but are residents of Whatcom County to serve on the Board provided they show proof of residency. Many residents who would like to participate on the Board but do not live within City limits but have meaningful contact inside the City of Bellingham. Lastly, the Board would like to allow for a co-facilitator type of leadership. Daniel Hammill / Michael Lilliquist moved to recommend approval. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Gene Knutson excused. 22916 3. Report on 2020 CARES Act Economic and Business Response p. 31 Darby Cowles, Senior Planner and Liz Purdy, Temporary Development Specialist, explained how the CARES Act provided economic and business recovery and how the funds have been used. They shared the results and impact of these funding programs. Information only. 4. Approval of City Council Committee and/or Special Meeting Minutes Michael Lilliquist / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval with corrections. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1. 5. Old/New Business Council Member Hammill, explained that currently there is House Bill 1590, that provides cities the opportunity to implement a sales tax that could raise up to Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 3 February 22, 2021  $3 million dollars per year for affordable housing and provide services for those experiencing homelessness. Dan Hammill/ Hollie Huthman moved to hold a public hearing on March 8 to consider an ordinance imposing a one tenth of percent sales and use tax for affordbale housing and related services. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Gene Knutson excused. Alan Marriner, Deputy City Attorney, clarified that the special meeting would not be necessary if the Council voted at the end of the Public Hearing on the 8th. Perhaps the special session is needed to further consider the ordinance. Council Member Hammill expressed that it is the tradition of the Council to delay a vote until after the Public Hearing of any controversial topics. Dan Hammill / Hollie Huthman moved to hold a special meeting on March 15 for the Council's consideration to impose a one tenth of one percent sales and use tax for affordable housing and related services. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Gene Knutson excused. Dan Hammill / Lisa Anderson moved to direct staff to prepare a draft ordinance imposing a one tenth of one percent sales and use tax for affordable housing and related services. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Gene Knutson excused. Mayor Fleetwood, announced that the City will commence a search for a full time Police Chief, because Deputy Chief, Flo Simon, will be retiring this year. The recruitment process will need a Council Member to sit in on a Search Committee. Brian Heinrich, Deputy Administrator, requested Council President Stone to participate and provide input with the recruitment company that has been hired to commence the search. He also requested Council Member Hammill sit in on the interview panel when interviews take place. Council Member Vargas added that she is willing to participate as a backup if Council Member Hammill is unavailable. Council President Stone, announced that last weekend, Bellingham Unity Committee hosted a virtual event in celebration of Black History Month, that was facilitated by the Bellingham Library. The video can be found online at the Bellingham Unity Committee and Bellingham Library's website. She also shared that the Birchwood Neighborhood continues to struggle with food access since the Albertson's store closed several years ago. The Salvation Army has opened a food distribution center at the old thrift store, across from the Albertson's location. They have drive thru as well as walk up service that distributes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 PM. Food boxes include canned goods, fresh produce, frozen meats, protein, dry goods, and dairy. There are No-Cook Bags to those who do not have access to kitchen or cooking facilities. Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 4 February 22, 2021  Council Member Hammill expressed that staff continues to work on the resolution declaring racism as a public health crisis. After legal review it will go back to the stakeholder group for their further evaluation. Committee of the Whole moved into Executive Session at 3:35 PM for approximately 15 minutes to discuss the following item: 1. Potential Property Acquisition Adjournment Council President Stone reconvened the Committee of the Whole to adjourn at 3:59 PM. Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 5 February 22, 2021