City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes July 11, 2022, 2:30 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 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA, unless otherwise noted. Call to Order The Committee of the Whole meeting was called to order by Council President Stone at 2:41pm. 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: 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. 23396 1. Discussion of Labor Concerns Related to Climate Action Efforts p. 3 At the February 28, 2022 meeting, the City Council was provided a list of concerns raised by organized labor representatives as government and industry move toward development without fossil fuel-dependent heating and cooling systems, broadly known as the "Just Transition" effort. Brian Heinrich, Deputy Administrator, briefly reviewed a policy memo that was provided to Council for Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 July 11, 2022  consideration and discussion in response to labor concerns. Karl De Jong, President of the Northwest Central Washington Labor Council, and Trevor Smith, LIUNA, Local 292, attended the meeting to provide additional feedback. Council requested labor representatives to share any additional feedback with the Climate Action Committee Members. Michael Lilliquist / Kristina Michele Martens moved to refer to the Climate Action Committee further discussion of the City of Bellingham and State's existing apprenticeship requirements and how they may or may not be applied to future climate action work. Daniel Hammill / Lisa Anderson moved to amend the motion to refer from the Climate Action Committee to the Public Works Committee instead. AMENDMENT CARRIED 5-0. Abstained: Michael Lilliquist AMENDED MOTION CARRIED 6-0 Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to further discuss the issue of displaced workers and displaced industries in relation to the City's Climate Action Plan to the Climate Action Committee. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 23382 2. Update on the Renewal of the EMS Levy p. 8 Bill Hewett, Fire Chief, provided an update on the status of the county wide EMS levy. The County Council will review revised levy language that incorporates shared goals of increasing equity and inclusion in how we protect and serve our community, and diversify staff. Challenges remain with cuts to the levy rate from $.295 to $.199. If cuts are maintained, the Fire Department will likely reduce from five to four ASL units, eliminate the community paramedic programs, and basic life support services. Chief Hewett will share the finalized levy draft for consideration before the Whatcom County Council with the City Council and return to the July 27, 2022 meeting with an update. 23391 3. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes p. 10 Lisa Anderson / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the June 27, 2022 meeting minutes. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 July 11, 2022  MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 4. Old/New Business Due to scheduling, Old/New Business was postponed until the Regular City Council meeting. Council moved into Executive Session at 4:01pm for approximately 45 minutes to review five items. 1. Potential Property Acquisition 2. Potential Property Acquisition 3. Potential Property Acquisition 4. Potential Litigation 5. Potential Litigation Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:01pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 July 11, 2022