City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes November 6, 2023, 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 Call to Order Council President Lilliquist called the meeting to order at 2pm. 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. 23917 1. Budget Work Session p. 3 Forrest Longman, Deputy Finance Director, highlighted additional items for the mid-biennial adjustment including,  Recognizing $1 million of extraordinary sales tax revenue received in 2023 from a taxpayer audit performed by Washington State.  Re-budgeting $5.05 million of lapsed American Rescue Plan Act budget authority added in the 2022 budget.  Removing $2 million of General Fund budget authority for the Library Remodel capital project that was related to a grant the City did not receive.  Cleaning-up incorrectly budgeted positions in Library, Finance, Police, and Public Works departments (-$313,500). Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 November 6, 2023   Adjusting Medic One Fund revenue ($1,890,000) and expense ($640,000), consistent with recently approved inter-local agreements and expected 2024 service agreement with Whatcom County.  Correcting pay to a number of e-team positions to ensure parity with equivalent unionized positions ($79,000).  Recognizing grant revenue ($509,000) and budget grant expense ($109,000) for Police Department grants received.  Recognizing revenue and budget expense for Whatcom County’s contribution to the winter shelter program ($250,000). Fire Chief Bill Hewett, presented a high-level summary of the mid-biennium adjustments for the Fire Department including,  Revenue corrections consistent with new Medic One contract amounts totaling $2.8 million.  Adjustments for EMS contracts that were completed in October.  One new firefighter to offset Juneteenth holiday.  Additions to ambulance fleet for new BLS units.  PFAS-free personal protective equipment.  Funding for department wide Cultural Climate Assessment.  Replacement of air bottle filling station and compressor.  Replacement of burn room at Britton Loop training facility.  Expense adjustments to align budget with actual department expenses, includes aligning fleet budget with charges, increases in costs for initial and ongoing medical/physicals, increased costs for uniforms, protective equipment, maintenance, and fuel. Council Members discussed and asked questions on the modifications. 23921 2. An Ordinance of the City of Bellingham, Washington Relating to the Levying of Taxes p. 10 and Establishing the Amount to be Raised in 2024 on the Assessed Valuation of the Property within the City Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, and Forrest Longman, Deputy Finance Director, presented on the draft ordinance, which will increase property taxes by the statutorily allowed one percent for 2024. City Council held a public hearing on the 2024 revenue projections on October 30, 2023. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. “Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the ordinance relating to the levying of taxes and establishing the amount to be raised in 2024 on the assessed valuation of the property within the City. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 3. Old/New Business There were no discussion items for Old/New Business. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 November 6, 2023  Council moved into Executive Session at 2:40pm to discuss eight items until 3:28pm. 1. Potential Property Acquisition 2. Potential Property Acquisition 3. Potential Property Acquisition 4. Potential Property Acquisition 5. Potential Property Acquisition 6. Potential Property Acquisition 7. Potential Property Acquisition 8. Potential Litigation Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:28pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 November 6, 2023