City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes January 29, 2024, 3:00 PM Mayor: Kimberley Lund 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 Jace Cotton Call to Order Council President Hammill called the meeting to order at 3pm. Roll Call Present: Council President Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Council Member Hannah Stone, First Ward Council Member Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Council Member Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Fourth Ward Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Jace Cotton, 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. 23993 1. An Ordinance Amending the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget - Amendment No. 10 p. 3 Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, presented the draft ordinance, which will increase an existing Development Specialist 2 position in the Community Development Division of the Planning and Community Development Department from part-time to full-time. The department will pay for the 2024 expense associated with this increase out of existing budget authority; accordingly, this ordinance adds no funds to the budget. However, this change will increase expenses by approximately $40,000. Michael Lilliquist / Hollie Huthman moved to recommend approval of the ordinance amending the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget - Amendment No. 10. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 January 29, 2024 23971 2. An Ordinance of the City of Bellingham, Washington, Suspending All Future Meetings p. 6 of the Immigration Advisory Board (IAB) and its Subcommittees Until City Council Adopts an Ordinance Rescinding the Suspension Council Member Stone introduced the ordinance, which would temporarily suspend all future meetings of the Immigration Advisory Board (IAB) and its subcommittees until the Council adopts an ordinance rescinding the suspension. Mayor Lund, City Attorney Alan Marriner, Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig, and Janice Keller, Interim Deputy Administrator and Communications Director, expressed their support for the ordinance. The administration provided a summary of proposed next steps. Council Members discussed the ordinance and the proposal document and asked questions. Michael Lilliquist / Hollie Huthman moved to direct the City administration to work with City Council leadership and IAB members to create an ad hoc workgroup to evaluate membership, purposes, procedures, processes, and resources to improve the IAB effectiveness as an advisory board and to increase the IAB's ability to advise the City on matters that affect immigrant community members. MOTION WITHDRAWN Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to, “direct the City administration to work with City Council leadership, IAB members, and other parties to create an ad hoc workgroup to evaluate topics that may include, membership, purposes, procedures, processes, and resources to improve the IAB's effectivesness as an advisory board and increase the IAB's ability to advise the City on matters that affect immigrant community members.” MOTION CARRIED 5-2. OPPOSED: Hannah Stone, Lisa Anderson Hannah Stone / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of the ordinance suspending all future meetings of the Immigration Advisory Board (IAB) and its subcommittees until City Council adopts an ordinance rescinding the suspension. Michael Lilliquist / Jace Cotton moved to amend the ordinance to strike language in Section 2. "The terms of the current Immigration Advisory Board Members will continue to run during the suspension." Section 2. Suspension of Meetings. City Council suspends all future meetings of the Immigration Advisory Board and its sub-committees until City Council adopts an ordinance rescinding the suspension. City staff and Immigration Advisory Board Members are directed to not attend any currently scheduled meetings or meetings that may be scheduled in the future prior to City Council adopting an ordinance rescinding the suspension. The terms of the current Immigration Advisory Board Members will continue to run during the suspension. MOTION AMENDMENT CARRIED 7-0. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 January 29, 2024  Michael Lilliquist / Hollie Huthman moved to strike, “Section 1. Findings of Fact. City Council adopts the above “WHEREAS” recitals as finding s of fact in support of its action.” MOTION AMENDMENT CARRIED 7-0. AMENDED MOTION CARRIED 6-1. OPPOSED: Jace Cotton 23994 3. A Resolution Supporting the Passage of Rent Stabilization Legislation by the p. 43 Washington State Legislature, Including Washington State House Bill 2114 and Senate Bill 5961 Council Member Cotton introduced a resolution that supports passage of rent stabilization legislation by the Washington State Legislature, including Washington State House Bill 2114 and Senate Bill 5961. Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. Jace Cotton / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the resolution to support rental stabilization legislation in the Washington State Legislature. Michael Lilliquist / Jace Cotton moved to add a recital second to last, "Whereas, on January 8, 2024, the Bellingham City Council authorized Council Member Lilliquist to sign in support of HB 2114, which occurred the following day via the Washington State Legislature’s web portal; and" MOTION AMENDMENT CARRIED 7-0. Hollie Huthman / Hannah Stone moved to amend the resolution by striking "Section 2. The City of Bellingham supports Washington State House Bill 2114 and Senate Bill 5961, which, if passed, would provide rent stabilization across Washington State." MOTION AMENDMENT CARRIED 7-0. Daniel Hammill / Hannah Stone moved to amend the title of the resolution to strike, "Washington State House Bill 2114 and Senate Bill 5961". MOTION AMENDMENT CARRIED 7-0. AMENDED MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23995 4. An Ordinance Relating to the Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program; p. 46 Amending BMC 6.15.020, 6.15.030, 6.15.040, 6.15.050, 6.15.070, 6.15.080, and 6.15.170; and Adding a New Section to Chapter 6.15 This item was postponed due to time constraints to the February 12, 2024 Committee of the Whole Meeting. 23996 5. Approval of the 12/11/2023 City Council Committee and Regular Meeting Minutes p. 59 Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 January 29, 2024  Approval of the December 11, 2023 meeting minutes was postponed to the evening meeting. 23997 6. Approval of the 1/2/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes p. 72 Approval of the January 2, 2024 meeting minutes was postponed to the evening meeting. 23998 7. Approval of the 1/8/2024 City Council Committee and Regular Meeting Minutes p. 80 Approval of the January 8, 2024 meeting minutes was postponed to the evening meeting. 8. Old/New Business Note that Old/New Business occurred prior to the scheduled start time at 3pm. Council Member Lilliquist requested staff to explore requiring older apartment buildings to satisfy the same regulations that apply to new buildings in connection with with other safety inspection program improvements. Planning and Community Development Director, Blake Lyon, shared the department is working on additional changes to the rental inspection program with the addition of two new positions and plans to return to Council before the end of the year for further discussion. Council Member Anderson requested information about the short-term rentals program including how the program is operating, number of infractions, and any necessary revisions to prevent individuals from taking advantage of the system. Council Member Stone requested a conversation among the Council about the Legislative Policy Analyst and how best utilize them internally and across the City. Council President Hammill welcomed Jackie Lassiter as the City Council Office Manager, and shared that Iris Nott was hired as the Legislative Policy Analyst beginning February 1st. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to request the administration to provide an agenda bill that explores making the At-Large position a four-year term at the next municipal November 2024 election. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. ABSTAINED: Jace Cotton Council President Hammill acknowledged Chief Mertzig and staff for including Council at a recent SWAT training in Lynden. Council Member Lilliquist would like the new policy analyst to examine the economic impact of raising the minimum wage. Mayor Lund requested the analyst work in connection with the ongoing study at the Chamber of Commerce. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 4 January 29, 2024  Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to request the new policy analyst to examine what expertise might be needed to run a long-term economic impact study of raising the minimum wage. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Council moved into Executive Session at 4:46pm to discuss five items until 5:07pm.  Potential Property Acquisition  Potential Property Acquisition  Potential Litigation  Labor Relations: Discuss Collective Bargaining  Labor Relations: Review Contract Proposal for the Police Guild Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:07pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 5 January 29, 2024