City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes May 6, 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 Hammill called the meeting to order at 1:00pm. 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. 24102 1. Update from Port of Bellingham p. 3 Rob Fix, Executive Director of the Port of Bellingham, provided an update on the waterfront projects and the Bellingham shipping terminal. Council Members discussed the presentation and asked questions. 24103 2. Request for Council to Send a Letter of Support for Grant Funding for Community p. 4 Court Darlene Peterson, Court Director, and Leticia Nunez, Therapeutic Court Manager, presented a letter requesting Council's support for grant funding from the Administrative Office of the Courts Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 May 6, 2024  for the City's Community Court Program launching this fall. Council Members discussed the grant funding support letter and asked questions. Michael Lilliquist / Hollie Huthman moved to recommend approval of the grant support letter for funding the City of Bellingham's Community Court Program. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24104 3. Interlocal Agreement with Whatcom County Regarding the Public Health, Safety, and p. 7 Justice Facility Financing and the Use of Sales Tax Revenues Forrest Longman, Deputy Finance Director, presented the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) which governs the use of the additional two-tenths of one percent sales and use tax for public health, safety, and justice authorized by voters in the November 2023 Election. Council Members discussed the ILA and asked questions. Lisa Anderson / Hollie Huthman moved to recommend approval of the Interlocal Agreement with Whatcom County Regarding the Public Health, Safety, and Justice Facility Financing and the Use of Sales Tax Revenues. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24105 4. An Ordinance Creating a Fund to Account for the New Two-Tenths of One Percent p. 42 Sales and Use Tax for Public Health, Safety, and Justice Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, and Forrest Longman, Deputy Finance Director, presented a draft ordinance, which creates a fund to account for the new two-tenths of one percent sales and use tax for Public Health, Safety, and Justice. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Hollie Huthman / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of the ordinance creating a fund to account for the new two-tenths of one percent sales and use tax for public health, safety, and justice. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24106 5. An Ordinance Amending the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget - Amendment No. 13 p. 45 Mayor Lund, Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, and Forrest Longman, Deputy Finance Director, presented a draft budget ordinance, amending the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget. The ordinance amends the 2023-2024 Budget by adding revenues and expenses to account for the new Public Health, Safety, and Justice Sales Tax and adds 2.0 full-time equivalents and associated expenses in the Mayor's Office. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of the ordinance amending the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget - Amendment No. 13. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 May 6, 2024  MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24088 6. Work Session Regarding the Draft Urban Forest Plan p. 51 Mayor Lund, Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, and Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, and Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation Director, returned to Council to discuss the Urban Forest Plan (UFP). On April 15, 2024, staff presented key elements of the plan and Council requested additional time for questions and discussion of the draft plan. Council provided additional feedback to the administration on the plan. 24107 7. Review of Lake Whatcom Management Program Draft Five-Year Work Plan p. 87 Council Member Stone presented the Lake Whatcom Management Program Draft Five-Year Work Plan. The 2025 - 2029 document outlines the efforts that local entities will implement over the next five years to further the goals of the Lake Whatcom Management Program. The Lake Whatcom Policy Group is requesting Council's input and anticipates final Council approval of the plan later in 2024. Council Members discussed the work plan and asked questions. 8. Old/New Business Council Member Lilliquist inquired about potential regulations to address mail theft in multi-family housing. Director Lyon is actively working on a solution and seeking to build regulations into the Rental and Safety Inspection Program. Council Member Stone shared that she signed a letter of support for federal funding for the library's renovation. Council President Hammill thanked Chief Mertzig for allowing him to participate in a ride-a-long with one of the downtown safety police. He expressed interest in a ride-a-long with the Fire Department in the future. Council President Hammill highlighted a recent Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) meeting as part of larger efforts to assist with community diversion programs. There was universal agreement on the impact of the lack of affordable housing in the community. He shared several upcoming housing-related development efforts including,  Lighthouse Mission building is on schedule and will increase shelter capacity  City purchased land for a new tiny home village to consolidate two existing villages on Northwest Ave  The Way Station will provide respite services this fall for those exiting medical care  Anticipated discussion of additional treatment options later this year Council Member Stone wanted to increase awareness for language access services for evening City Council meetings. Council President Hammill will work with the administration. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 May 6, 2024  Council moved into Executive Session at 3:21pm to discuss six items until 4:02pm. 1. Potential Property Acquisition 2. Potential Property Acquisition 3. Litigation: Lohse v. NWYS and the City of Bellingham 4. Labor Relations: Discuss Collective Bargaining Strategy 5. Potential Property Acquisition 6. Potential Litigation Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:02pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 4 May 6, 2024