City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes May 23, 2022, 1:30 PM Mayor: Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8100, mayorsoffice@cob.org Council Members: Hannah Stone, Hollie Huthman, Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. “Skip” Williams, Lisa Anderson, https://cob.org/council Michael Lilliquist and Kristina Michele Martens All meetings are held in the City Hall Council Chambers at Legislative Assistant: Nalini Margaitis 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 Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Fourth Ward Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Kristina Michele Martens, At Large Excused: Council Member Hollie Huthman, 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 Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Kristina Michele Martens 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. 23354 1. An Ordinance Amending the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget, Increasing a p. 3 Seasonal Senior Construction Inspector to Full-Time Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 May 23, 2022  Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of increasing the Seasonal Senior Construction Inspector position to full-time. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 23355 2. Interlocal with Whatcom County for Alternative Response Team (ART) p. 6 Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the Interlocal Agreement with Whatcom County for Alternative Response Team. The Mayor and Council expressed support for the Interlocal Agreement with Whatcom County for Alternative Response Team (ART). The program is a collaborative approach between law enforcement, emergency medical response, human services, and other community agencies to respond to low- level non-criminal and/or non-medical calls for service. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 23356 3. Coverage for Councilmember Huthman p. 11 Councilmembers will provide the following coverage during Councilmember Huthman’s extended absence: Community and Economic Development Lisa Anderson (Chair), Kristina Michele Martens, Michael Lilliquist Parks and Recreation Skip Williams (Chair), Lisa Anderson, Daniel Hammill Public Health, Safety, and Justice Daniel Hammill (Chair), Skip Williams, Kristina Michele Martens Bellingham and Whatcom Tourism Kristina Michele Martens Downtown Bellingham Partnership Skip Williams Sustainable Connections Daniel Hammill Tourism Commission and Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) Kristina Michele Martens Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 May 23, 2022  Whatcom Transportation Authority Skip Williams for duration of Councilmember Huthman’s absence MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 23277 4. Discussion of In-Person Council Meetings p. 13 Alan Marriner, City Attorney, notified the Council that they must determine whether to return to full in-person, hybrid, or fully remote meetings after the Governor rescinded Proclamation 20-28, effective June 1, 2022. If the Council decides to continue meeting remotely, it must approve findings to explain why "reasonable safety" measures are unable to be met. The Council discussed concerns over increasing local COVID-19 numbers, maintaining public access to meetings, and how best to protect public health. The Council approved continuation of remote meetings with anticipation of a motion written by the City Attorney's Office for formal adoption this evening. Lisa Anderson / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of continuing with remote City Council meetings and to draft justification to remain remote due to increased pandemic numbers in the county and state, and to review this decision again at the June 27, 2022 meeting. MOTION CARRIED 5-1. Opposed: Michael Lilliquist 23298 5. Council Debrief - Town Hall Meeting: Community Voices on Public p. 27 Safety Information and discussion. The next Town Hall will take place on September 19, 2022 on Budget Priorities. 6. Approval of City Council Committee and/or Special Meeting Minutes Michael Lilliquist / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the May 9, 2022 Committee meeting minutes. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 7. Old/New Business Councilmember Hammill thanked the Bellingham Police Department (BPD) for a recent meeting. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 May 23, 2022  Councilmember Anderson thanked and encouraged others to participate in BPD training opportunities they are making available. Council President Stone thanked Nalini Margaitis for her work managing the City Council meetings while the the Deputy City Clerk position was vacant. She introduced the new Deputy City Clerk, Kelley Goetz, who will begin coverage of meetings on June 6, 2022. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:33 PM. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 4 May 23, 2022