City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes July 10, 2023, 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 Call to Order President Lilliquist called the meeting to order at 1pm. Roll Call Present: Council President Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward 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 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. 23776 1. A Briefing on Launching The Bellingham Plan: A 2025 Periodic Update to the p. 3 Comprehensive Plan Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, and Elizabeth Erickson, Senior Planner, provided a briefing on the launch of the Comprehensive Plan including the scope, schedule, and community engagement plans. The City must provide an updated report to the state in mid-2025. Council Members discussed and asked questions regarding the Comprehensive Plan, process and potential impacts of State legislation. 23777 2. Consideration of an Amended Conservation Easement and Conservation Easement p. 27 Assignment Agreement for Hundred Acre Wood with the Chuckanut Community Forest Park District (CCFPD) and the Whatcom Land Trust (WLT) Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 July 10, 2023  Alan Marriner, City Attorney, Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation Director, and Bob Carmichael, Attorney for the Park District, presented on an amended conservation easement and a conservation easement assignment agreement for the Hundred Acre Wood. The Chuckanut Community Forest Park District (CCFPD) has paid off the loan purchase and is preparing to assign its interest in the conservation easement to the Washington Land Trust (WLT), and then dissolve. To facilitate these actions by CCFPD, staff recommends Council approve the attached amended conservation easement and conservation easement assignment agreement for Hundred Acre Wood. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of adopting an amended conservation easement, a second amended conservation easement, and an assignment agreement for the Hundred Acre Wood property with the Chuckanut Community Forest Park District (CCFPD) and Whatcom Land Trust (WLT). MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23778 3. An Ordinance Creating a New Fund to Account for the Construction of the What- p. 73 Comm Emergency 911 Facility and Amending the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget – Amendment No. 6 Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, and Forrest Longman, Deputy Finance Director, presented on the proposed budget ordinance. The budget ordinance creates a new fund to account for the construction and design of a new What-Comm Emergency 911 Facility and appropriates funds to perform a feasibility study and concept design for a recently purchased park property on Meridian Street for trails and a new location for the Swift Haven and Unity Village tiny home communities. Daniel Hammill / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of a new fund to account for the construction of the What-Comm Emergency 911 Facility and amending the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget - Amendment 6. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23779 4. Work Session to Consider an Ordinance Amending the Old Town Overlay District p. 83 Development Regulations On June 26, 2023 City Council held a hearing on the ordinance, which proposes amendments to the Old Town Overlay District development regulations found in Bellingham Municipal Code 20.35.065- .075 including, allowing additional interim light industrial uses, adjusting floor area bonuses and transfers between development sites, and eliminating parking requirements. Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director and Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development Manager, and Chris Koch, Planner 2, returned to further address Council questions. Michael Lilliquist / Hannah Stone moved to recommend adding new minimum bicycle parking standards to the ordinance consistent with previous adopted urban villages’ bicycle parking standards. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 July 10, 2023  MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Hollie Huthman / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend adopting the Planning Commission’s proposed amendment to the Old Town Overlay District development regulations in BMC 20.35.055-.085 with the following exception regarding FAR bonuses, retain the existing “public plazas and open space” FAR bonus provision. MOTION CARRIED 4-2. Opposed: Lisa Anderson, Kristina Michele Martens Abstained: Michael Lilliquist 23780 5. Work Session to Consider a Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter Into a p. 208 Development Agreement Regarding the Redevelopment Located in the Old Town Subarea On June 26, 2023, City Council held a public hearing to consider a Development Agreement with Developers (Old Town Village, LLC and Capron, LLC) who have sought partnership with the City to develop several parcels of property within the Old Town Subarea. Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, and Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development Manager returned to address Council questions. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a development agreement with Old Town Village, LLC and Capron, LLC regarding the redevelopment of property located in the Old Town Subarea, consistent with the Old Town Urban Village Plan, upon third and final reading of the ordinance amending the Old Town Overlay District Development Regulations. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23781 6. Discussion of Initiative No. 2023-1 to Raise the Minimum Wage p. 235 James Erb, Deputy City Attorney, presented on the initiative to raise the minimum wage. The County Auditor has reviewed the initiative petition entitled "Initiative No. 2023-01 Raise the Minimum Wage" and verified that the petitioners collected signatures equal to not less than 10% of the total number of votes cast for the Office of Mayor at the last preceding municipal general election, i.e., 3,093. Council must respond to the initiative, as required by the Charter and the Municipal Code, by enacting the initiative, deferring it to the voters, or rejecting the measure and propose an alternative measure that would appear on the ballot along with the initiative. Council Members discussed and asked questions regarding potential impacts of the initiative. Hollie Huthman / Kristina Michele Martens moved to defer Initiative No. 2023-01 Raise the Minimum Wage to the voters. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23782 7. Discussion of Initiative No. 2023-02 Regarding Economic Displacement Assistance p. 244 Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 July 10, 2023  James Erb, Deputy City Attorney, presented on the initiative regarding economic displacement assistance. The Whatcom County Auditor has reviewed the initiative petition entitled "Initiative No. 2023-02 Economic Displacement Assistance" and verified that the petitioners collected signatures equal to not less than 10% of the total number of votes cast for the Office of Mayor at the last preceding municipal general election, i.e., 3,093. Council must respond to the initiative, as required by the Charter and the Municipal Code, by enacting the initiative, deferring it to the voters, or rejecting the measure and propose an alternative measure that would appear on the ballot along with the initiative. Council Members discussed and asked questions regarding potential impacts of the initiative. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to retire to executive session to discuss Initiative No. 2023-02 Economic Displacement Assistance for 20 minutes. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill moved to defer Initiative No. 2023-02 Economic Displacement Assistance to the voters. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23783 8. A Resolution Affirming that Affordable Housing and Homelessness are a Public p. 252 Health Crisis On June 26, 2023, Council Member Martens circulated a draft resolution affirming that affordable housing and homelessness are a public health crisis. Council requested the administration review the resolution and return for additional discussion. Council Members discussed and asked questions on the resolution related to the language, possible inclusion of value statements or references to previous City Council work, titling of the resolution, and impact of declaring a crisis. Council will receive a presentation at the July 24, 2023 meeting regarding rental protections. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend the resolution be referred back to the administration for additional review and clarity for return discussion at the July 24, 2023 meeting. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23784 9. Approval of the 6/26/2023 City Council Committee and Regular Meeting Minutes p. 267 Hollie Huthman / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the June 26, 2023 meeting minutes. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Abstained: Michael Lilliquist Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 4 July 10, 2023 Old/New Business Council Member Stone requested Public Works return for a presentation on recent changes in state law (HB 1050) regarding apprenticeships in September 2023. Council Member Stone requested a reevaluation of how staff include color copies in the Council packet. Council requested additional discussion on how Council packets are prepared and distributed. Council Member Anderson recognized the City's Pride Celebration the past weekend and all those in attendance. President Lilliquist thanked Council Member Hammill and Mayor Fleetwood for their work to send a follow-up letter to Whatcom County regarding the Justice Project Implementation Plan. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:41pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 5 July 10, 2023