City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee of the Whole Minutes May 24, 2021, 1:45 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 Gene Knutson, Second 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 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. 23002 1. Discussion of City Priorities committee of the Whole Minutes Page 1 May 24, 2021  Mayor Fleetwood provided a check-in with Council and discussed Work Plans. He sought to affirm administrative goals with Council. The goals adopted in the biennial budget include: 1. Addressing social justice issues. 2. An unarmed 9-1-1 response. 3. Climate change. 4. Expand trails, parks, and open space. 5. Improve City infrastructure. Information only. Committee members asked questions. 23003 2. American Rescue Plan Act Overview Tara Sundin, Economic Development Manager, made recommendations on ways funds can be used to help fiscal recovery due to the pandemic shutdown. Decision making and partnering with community agencies will need to be made and identified. The unmet needs will target areas of food security, housing security, and economic recovery in the childcare and tourism sectors. Information only. 23004 3. Library Service in the Time of COVID-19 The Library will be reopening June 1, 2021, with updated state and local library guidance. Rebecca Judd, Library Director, described the library service and how they have pivoted in open service from being closed for a year. Curbside pick-up of holds and an offsite call center were all included in the COVID-19 closure. The Library provided a Wi-Fi hotspot lending program. It included 310 checkouts on 55 devices. On Monday, June 7, the Central Library will reopen for limited, in-person service, with occupancy capacity limit of 50%. Information only. 4. Approval of City Council Committee and/or Special Meeting Minutes Daniel Hammill / Hollie Huthman moved to recommend approval of the Committee Meeting minutes from May 10, 2021. committee of the Whole Minutes Page 2 May 24, 2021  MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 5. Old/New Business Michael Lilliquist reported that Council received a constituent letter about biotoxin concerns in the bio digestion process. He inquired about what current data we might have on any toxins that could survive the bio digestion process. Michael Lilliquist / Gene Knutson moved to request staff bring forward any data to the Public Works Committee at a later meeting, regarding measured biosolid toxins in the waste stream after the bio digestion process. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to bring forth a discussion at a future Committee of the Whole meeting on the process for revising the City Charter regarding lowering the threshold of petition signatures required for initiatives. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Dan Hammill asked when the blessing ceremony will be this afternoon. The Red Road to D.C., a blessing ceremony, is scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM near Granary Avenue. Council President Stone is scheduled to speak at 5:05 PM. She asked if the Council could have a designated representative to the Nooksak Tribe and the Lummi Nation at the next annual reorganization meeting. Pinky Vargas / Michael Lilliquist moved to add a liason role to the Lummi Nation and the Nooksak Tribe. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. One item for Executive Session. Committee of the Whole moved into Executive Session at 3:34 PM for approximately ten minutes for the following item: Litigation: Bianchi v. City of Belingham. Adjournment Council President Stone reconvened the Committee of the Whole to adjourn at 3:43 PM. committee of the Whole Minutes Page 3 May 24, 2021