City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes August 1, 2022, 1:00 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 1:00pm. Roll Call Present: Council President Hannah Stone, First Ward Council Member Hollie Huthman, Second 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 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. 23416 1. Presentation of the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task p.3 Force 2022 Annual Report Stephen Gockley, Co-Chair of the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force, presented the group's 2022 Annual Report to the City Council. The purpose of the Task Force is to seek solutions to reduce and prevent incarceration while maintaining public safety. The Task Force includes a broad range of participants, including Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 August 1, 2022  representatives from organizations involved in criminal justice and law enforcement, policy makers, service providers, members of the public, and consumers of services. Areas of focus from the most recent report include,  State of data within criminal and legal system to inform decision-making  Racial Equity  Improve communication with stakeholders and community  Improve non-law enforcement responses  Staff retention and shortages An invitation was extended to the Co-Chairs to return for a presentation highlighting areas for community investment and improvement and the necessary funding to implement. 23342 2. Update on Immigration Resource Center p.29 Brian Heinrich, Deputy Administrator, provided an update on the development of an Immigration Resource Center. Staff continue outreach and research into resource center models. Currently evaluating three possible models, 1) City funded and staffed; 2) Joint partnership center with other government agency; or 3) Contract for Service with existing third-party. Anticipate returning this fall with additional information. 23382 3. Resolution to Support the Continuation of the County-Wide EMS Levy p.30 Mayor Fleetwood and Fire Chief Bill Hewett returned to discuss the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Levy. On July 26, 2022 the Whatcom County Council approved an ordinance to place a renewal of the countywide EMS Levy on the ballot for the November 2022 general election pursuant to state law (RCW 84.52.069). The levy rate will be $.295 per $1,000 of assessed value if approved by the voters. State law requires that the City Council approve the proposed tax measure before it may be placed on the ballot. Michael Lilliquist / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the amended EMS levy resolution. MOTION CARRIED 6-1. Opposed: Lisa Anderson 23182 4. Post Point Resource Recovery Project - Community Outreach Update p.89 Eric Johnston, Director of Public Works, and Mike Thorstenson and Holly Tichenor, Brown and Caldwell, shared the framework for a community outreach effort in phases over two years regarding the Post Point Resource Recovery Project. The outreach Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 August 1, 2022  effort includes a concept on how to broaden the public view of the major investments needed at Post Point over the next 10 years. 23391 5. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes p.110 Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the July 25th meeting minutes. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Abstained: Hollie Huthman, Lisa Anderson 6. Old/New Business Councilmember Hammill, Councilmember Williams, Council President Stone, and Mayor Fleetwood recently met with the Washington State Natural Resources to learn more about timber harvest and sales. Mayor Fleetwood recognized the appointment of Don Burdick as the new ITSD Director effective August 1st, 2022 and thanked Scott Elsner for serving as the Interim Director. Council moved into Executive Session at 3:03pm for approximately 19 minutes to review one item. 1. Potential Property Acquisition Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:03pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 August 1, 2022