City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes March 11, 2024, 11:00 AM 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 11:08am. 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. 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. 1. Executive Session Council moved into Executive Session at 11:08am to discuss three items until 11:58am. 1. Potential Litigation 2. Potential Litigation 3. Potential Litigation Council resumed regular meeting business at 1pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 March 11, 2024 23724 2. An Ordinance Amending Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 17.10, to Adopt, by p. 3 Reference, the 2021 Editions of the Washington State Building Code Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, and Sean Angeley, Planning and Community Development Building Official, presented a summary of the ordinance, which adopts the 2021 Washington State Building Code by the March 15, 2024 deadline. The City Council reviewed the 2021 codes in May 2023, however the State Building Code Council delayed implementation due to several legal challenges, which have been addressed. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. The ordinance was moved for first and second reading in May 2023 and will be voted upon for third and final this evening. 23723 3. An Ordinance of the City of Bellingham Amending Bellingham Municipal Code p. 45 Chapter 17.20 to Adopt by Reference the 2021 Edition of the International Fire Code Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, and Shawn Linville, City Fire Marshal and Division Chief of Life Safety, presented a summary of the ordinance, which adopts the 2021 International Fire Code by the March 15, 2024 deadline. The City Council reviewed the 2021 codes in May of 2023, however the State Building Code Council delayed implementation. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. The ordinance was moved for first and second reading in May 2023 and will be voted upon for third and final this evening. 24039 4. An Ordinance Authorizing the Issuance of One or More Series of Limited Tax General p. 78 Obligation Bonds in the Aggregate Principal Amount of Not to Exceed $26,000,000 to Finance Costs Related to Acquiring, Designing, Constructing, Developing, Improving, Equipping and Furnishing City Facilities Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, presented a summary of the draft ordinance to issue up to $26,000,000 of general obligation bonds for Phase 2 of the Pacific Street Operations Center improvements. The 2023-2024 Biennial Budget includes $24,000,000 for this project. Bonds will only be issued for the actual anticipated cost of the facility and the project will go out to bid in March 2024. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Hollie Huthman / Hannah Stone moved to recommend approval of the ordinance authorizing the issuance of one or more series of limited tax general obligation bonds in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $26,000,000 to finance costs related to acquiring, designing, constructing, developing, improving, equipping and furnishing City facilities; Delegating authority to approve the method of sale and final terms of the bonds; and approving other matters related thereto. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24040 5. R.G. Haley/Cornwall Landfill Site Remediation and Salish Landing Park Phase 1 p. 100 Project Update Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Public Works Engineering, Craig Mueller, Project Engineer, Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation Director, and Amy Kraham, Assistant City Attorney, discussed the clean-up construction at the R.G. Haley and Cornwall Avenue landfill sites and Phase 1 creation Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 March 11, 2024  of the Salish Landing Park. Design on the remedial cleanup activities for both R.G. Haley and the Cornwall Avenue Landfill are nearing completion and permits are under review. The total cleanup construction costs, including Phase 1 park costs, are currently estimated at approximately $47,700,000. The City expects Department of Ecology Oversight Remedial Action Grants to cover up to 50% of the costs. Contributions from potentially liable parties are also expected. Staff are exploring funding strategies and will return to Council with an explicit funding plan as part of the budget process. Council Members discussed the projects and asked questions. 24041 6. Memorandum of Understanding between Whatcom County and the City of p. 126 Bellingham Regarding the State Environmental Policy Act Co-Lead Agency Agreement for the ABC Recycling Facility Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, and Amy Kraham, Assistant City Attorney, presented a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham to establish a collective effort for sharing lead agency responsibilities under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) in order to conduct an environmental review for the proposed ABC Recycling project. Council Members discussed the MOU and asked questions. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Hollie Huthman moved to recommend approval of the memorandum of understanding between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham regarding the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) co-lead agency agreement for the ABC Recycling facility. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24042 7. 2023 Financial Year End Review p. 133 Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, presented a summary of the City's preliminary financial position for the period that ended December 31, 2023. The December Financial Report and presentation are available online. Council Members discussed the financial report and presentation and asked questions. 8. Old/New Business President Hammill shared that a joint meeting of the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force (IPRTF) Behavorial Health and Legal & Justice Subcommittees will take place on Tuesday, March 12th at 11:30am. The meeting will focus on the 988 call system and other important items. President Hammill reminded Council that meeting minutes are now approved during the evening meeting under the Consent Agenda. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:07pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 March 11, 2024