City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes April 15, 2024, 1:00 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 Pro Tempore Huthman called the meeting to order at 1pm. Roll Call Present: 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 Excused: Council President Daniel Hammill, Third Ward 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. 24086 1. Presentation on Whatcom Racial Equity Commission Appointment Process p. 3 Janice Keller, Interim Deputy Administrator/Communications Director introduced Shu-Ling Zhao, Community Advancement Director for the Chuckanut Health Foundation, who presented on the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission (WREC) appointment process. The WREC was created in 2022 and is a quasi-governmental entity formed to eliminate racial inequities throughout Whatcom County. The Whatcom County Council confirmed a membership roster on April 9, 2024. Council thanked Ms. Zhao for her work, discussed, and asked questions. (See also WREC appointments for Council consideration at April 15 Regular Meeting, AB 24096) Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 April 15, 2024 24087 2. EDI Program Loan and Grant Agreement - Old Town Urban Village (ES562) p. 17 Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, and Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering, presented the funding agreement to allow for infrastructure improvements in the Old Town Urban Village. Whatcom County approved $3,000,000 in funding from the Economic Development Investment (EDI) Program, comprised of a $1,500,000 loan and a $1,500,000 grant for the project. The total project cost is estimated at $5,350,000 and the City anticipates using Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) funds for the remaining costs. The funding agreement must be approved by the City Council and the County Council. Council Members discussed the project and funding agreement and asked questions. Hannah Stone / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the funding agreement for the Old Town Urban Village infrastructure improvements project. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24089 3. An Ordinance Amending the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget – Amendment No. 12 p. 90 Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation Director, and Steve Janiszewski, Park Operations Manager, presented the budget amendment ordinance. The ordinance adds 9.5 FTEs, equating to ten positions, and new fleet and equipment to better manage Bellingham's park system. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Michael Lilliquist moved to recommend approval of the ordinance amending the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget - Amendment No. 12. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24088 4. Presentation of the Draft Urban Forest Plan p. 113 Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, Analiese Burns, Habitat and Restoration Manager, Renee LaCroix, Assistant Director of Natural Resources, Amelia Needoba, Project Manager at Diamond Head Consulting, Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation Director, and Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, presented the draft Urban Forest Plan (UFP) to Council. The UFP is to serve as a city-wide strategic plan to maintain a healthy urban forest. The plan will be voted upon by Council in early summer of 2024. Council Members discussed the UFP and asked questions. This item will return for additional discussion at an upcoming meeting. The draft plan is available on the City website and the presentation is available here. 5. Old/New Business Council moved into Executive Session at 2:50pm to discuss four items until 3:10pm. 1. Litigation: Offen-Pearson v. COB and Lyons 2. Litigation: Ghanbari v. COB 3. Potential Property Acquisition Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 April 15, 2024  4. Potential Property Acquisition Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:11pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 April 15, 2024