City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes March 13, 2023, 2:50 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 Call to Order Council President Pro Tempore Dan Hammill called the Committee of the Whole meeting to order at 3:08pm. Roll Call Present: Council Member 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 Kristina Michele Martens, At Large Excused: Council President Michael Lilliquist, Sixth 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. 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. 23654 1. Confirmation of Mayor's Appointment of Ms. Jordan Stephens as Special Counsel to p. 3 the Bellingham Civil Service Commission City Attorney Alan Marriner and Mayor Fleetwood appointed Jordan Stephens as Special Counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission, subject to confirmation by City Council. Ms. Stephens is an attorney with the Anderson Hunter Law Firm of Everett and chairs the firm's Municipal Division and Employment Practices Division. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of Jordan Stephens to serve as Special Counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 March 13, 2023  MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 23655 2. An Ordinance Prohibiting the Use of Controlled Substances in Public Places p. 4 Mayor Fleetwood proposed an ordinance to make it unlawful to use controlled substances in public places by amending and adding a new section to Bellingham Municipal Code 10.08. With this change to the BMC, use of a controlled substance in public would be a misdemeanor and subject to arrest. Council requested additional information and discussion on the ordinance and therapeutic courts. Lisa Anderson / Hollie Huthman moved to request the administration return to Council to discuss a timeline for implementation of the therapeutic court program, necessary budget and resources for implementation, background on state laws and how they can be enacted locally, and identify additional support for downtown businesses. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 23656 3. Letter in Support of LEAD Program Grant Funding p. 8 The Whatcom County Health Department is applying for an expansion of grant funding for the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program through the United States Department of Justice. The grant would extend the grant for an additional three years. The Whatcom County Health Department has requested a letter from the City Council in support of the new grant. The Mayor is also submitting a grant support letter. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the LEAD Program Grant funding letter as amended, "The From the beginning of the program forward, the number of jail bookings for LEAD clients dropped by 50% or more after participating in the program, and in 2022, jail days for LEAD clients dropped by almost 100%. The Bellingham City Council is fully committed to this critical initiative program that provides essential support to LEAD's targeted population." MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 23657 4. Approval of City Council Committee and Regular Meeting Minutes p. 11 Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of the February 27, 2023 minutes. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 March 13, 2023  5. Old/New Business Council Member Martens requested a review of discussion time allotments for Council agenda items. Council moved into Executive Session for approximately 15 minutes. 1. Potential Property Acquisition 2. Potential Property Acquisition 3. Potential Property Acquisition 4. Potential Litigation: Claim #2022-46 5. Labor Relations: Discuss Collective Bargaining Strategy Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:01pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 March 13, 2023