City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes December 11, 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 Council 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. 23964 1. Consideration of Revisions to BMC 10.24.120, Public Noise Disturbance p. 3 Amy Kraham, Senior Assistant City Attorney, presented draft revisions to BMC 10.24.120, Public Noise Disturbance. On October 16, 2023, Council directed staff to return with suggested revisions including establishing that construction and industrial noises between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. are prohibited to emanate from any type of zoning if received in a residential zone to a level constituting a public disturbance noise and revisions increasing the penalties for such disturbance. Council Members discussed and asked questions on the draft language and enforcement of noise disturbances. Lisa Anderson / Daniel Hammill moved to request staff to investigate options for non-in person citations for an infraction of the noise ordinance. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 December 11, 2023  Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to request the administration return for discussion with a draft ordinance using the suggested language for BMC 10.24.120 Section C4, doubling all penalties, and continuing to rely upon police for after-hours enforcement. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23965 2. Climate Action Update for Fourth Quarter 2023 p. 6 Mayor Fleetwood, Clare Fogelsong, Natural Resources Policy Manager, Seth Vidaña, Climate Energy Manager, and Carol Fraser, Consultant Lead for Sustainability Solutions Group, provided an update on 2023 climate action activities. Specifically, staff presented climate adaptation and carbon pollution reduction projects and programs, including topics such as regional coordination, planning, and the City's implementation plan for building electrification. Council Members discussed and asked questions regarding current programs and future goals and projects. Staff will return in the first quarter of 2024 to discuss the climate action workplan. 23966 3. Approval of the 11/20/23 City Council Committee and Regular Meeting Minutes p. 98 Hollie Huthman / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the November 20, 2023 meeting minutes. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 4. Old/New Business Council Member Williams introduced a revised resolution supporting a ceasefire in Gaza, Israel, and Palestine. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the resolution supporting an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Israel, and Palestine. Michael Lilliquist / Daniel Hammill moved to amend the third clause, "WHEREAS, the City of Bellingham condemns racism in any form and further condemns the rise of racist acts, antisemitism, islamophobia, and targeted hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim communities that may occur or have occurred in our city, across the nation, and around the world; and” MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Hannah Stone / Lisa Anderson moved to amend the resolution's third clause, “WHEREAS, the City of Bellingham condemns racism in any form and further condemns the rise of racist acts, antisemitism, islamophobia, and targeted hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 December 11, 2023  communities that may occur or have occurred in our city, across the nation, and around the world as a result of this armed conflict; and” MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Hannah Stone / Hollie Huthman moved to amend the resolution’s final clause, “WHEREAS, the United States Government holds immense diplomatic power to engage all parties directly involved in this conflict to end the current violence, address the root causes of this crisis and develop solutions that create a clear pathway to peace and justice for all parties involved in this armed conflict; and” MOTION CARRIED 7-0. AMENDED MOTION CARRIED 7-0. President Lilliquist reiterated the request by Whatcom County to have a City Council member serve on the Marine Resources Committee. Council will revisit at the January 2, 2024 reorganization meeting. Council moved into Executive Session at 4:05pm to discuss three items until 4:40pm. 1. Litigation: Will v. Serad and City of Bellingham 2. Potential Litigation 3. Potential Property Acquisition Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:40pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 December 11, 2023