City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes September 26, 2022, 2:00 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 President Stone at 2:12pm. 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. 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. 23277 1. Discussion of Returning to Council Chambers p. 3 Mayor Fleetwood and Brian Heinrich, Deputy Administrator, discussed the City's lifting of existing emergency orders on October 31, 2022, implications of a return to in-person meetings, Boards and Commissions meetings, and the current community health situation. With the City lifting its emergency proclamation, City Council must Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 September 26, 2022  resume in-person meetings at a physical location by no later than its November 7, 2022 meeting. However, given the current low COVID-19 levels in Whatcom County, the size and air filtering capacity of the City Council Chambers, and the City’s resumption of in-person services generally, the Mayor recommends that Council resume in-person meetings in Council Chambers at its October 3, 2022, meeting. Council Chambers can accommodate both inperson and remote attendance by Council Members, staff, and the public. Daniel Hammill / Michael Lilliquist moved to recommend returning to chambers on October 3, 2022. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23182 2. Post Point Resource Recovery Project Discussion p. 6 On 8/29, Mayor Fleetwood announced his intention to stop further development of the Post Point Resource Recovery Project. The decision was based on affordability concerns, greater protection of the Salish Sea, and focusing climate ambitions on achieving community-wide carbon reductions. On 9/12, the Public Works Committee received a briefing. Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, responded to Council questions from the previous meeting. Councilmember Anderson shared that perhaps outreach and education to the public highlighting common PFAS contaminants could be helpful for the community. Michael Lilliquist / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend that the City Council concurs with the mayor’s decision to halt further work on biodigestion for waste solids handling at the Post Point sewage treatment plant. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend that the administration bring forward any policies previously adopted by the City Council that may need to be amended to align with this new direction relative to the Resource Recovery project and that, as they relate to the City’s current climate Action Plan, relevant action plans and policies affected by the Post Point decision be referred to the Council’s Climate Action Committee for review and possible modification to the Climate Action Plan and, if necessary, brought to the full Council for consideration and possible adoption. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Michael Lilliquist / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend that the Administration actively pursue and develop work plans investigating future projects into alternative waste solid technologies and processes, including but not limited to Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 September 26, 2022  thermal processes such as pyrolysis and gasification, for supplementing and/or replacing the current incineration equipment and processes. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23391 3. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes p. 24 Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the September 12, 2022 meeting minutes. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 4. Old/New Business Councilmember Hammill thanked the Downtown Bellingham Partnership for hosting a forum on Public Safety at the Old City Hall. Mayor Fleetwood shared the presentation can be viewed on the City's website. Council President Stone highlighted two items from the consent agenda related to public safety. Councilmember Hammill inquired about partnership with Snohomish County for jail beds and booking restrictions. Councilmember Williams encouraged individuals to tour the City jail. Councilmember Martens attended her first Immigration Advisory Board and requested a follow-up regarding cancellation of the August meeting. Council President Stone highlighted that the September 19, 2022 TownHall on Community Funding Priorities is available online. Mayor Fleetwood and Brian Heinrich, Deputy Administrator, shared that budget work sessions will be held weekly on Mondays through October from 1pm-3pm. Council moved into Executive Session at 3:37pm to discuss three property acquisitions for approximately 29 minutes. 1. Potential Property Acquisition 2. Potential Property Acquisition 3. Potential Property Acquisition Adjournment There being no further business, the committee adjourned at 3:36pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 September 26, 2022