City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes May 20, 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 1pm. 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. 24125 1. Annual Update on the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and p. 3 Domestic Violence Susan Marks, Director of the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence, provided an update on recent work, education efforts, and the impact of domestic violence in the community. More information and community reports are available online. Council Members discussed the presentation and asked questions. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 May 20, 2024 24126 2. Financial Management Guidelines p. 9 Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, and Forrest Longman, Deputy Finance Director, presented revised Financial Management Guidelines. The document outlines policies to ensure fiscal prudence and guide decision-making. Council Members discussed the guidelines and asked questions. Lisa Anderson / Michael Lilliquist moved to amend the Investment Policy by removing opportunities to invest in supranationals, corporate notes, and commercial paper from the Financial Management Guidelines. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to amend the Financial Management Priorities to include the statement, "Furthermore, the City's financial goals shall be to manage its financial conditions such that all four priorities may be addressed” after Priority 4. MOTION FAILED 3-4. Opposed: Daniel Hammill, Hannah Stone, Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Jace Cotton moved to recommend approval of the resolution endorsing the Financial Management Guidelines for the City of Bellingham as amended. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24127 3. Mayor's 2025 Budget Priorities p. 58 Mayor Lund presented a 2025 budget priorities list to City Council. The priorities include,  Public Safety, including a focus on the Justice Project Implementation Plan;  Expanded investments to create housing across the continuum of need;  Support for the internal services, systems and people that allow the City to effectively and efficiently deliver services to the public; and  Climate action and work to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Council Members discussed the priorities and asked questions. 24128 4. Parking Reforms - Consideration of Eliminating Off-Street Parking Requirements p. 60 Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, and Iris Nott, Legislative Policy Analyst, presented a proposal for parking reforms in the City. Council Members discussed the policy framework, provided feedback, and asked questions. Jace Cotton / Hannah Stone moved to recommend the City explore policies and regulations to eliminate parking minimums Citywide. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 May 20, 2024  Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Michael Lilliquist moved to amend the motion to, “recommend the City explore policies and regulations to eliminate parking minimums Citywide and transit oriented development and urban villages.” AMENDMENT CARRIED 5-2. Opposed: Hannah Stone, Jace Cotton AMENDED MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 5. Old/New Business There were no discussion items for old/new business. Council moved into Executive Session at 3:42pm to discuss two items until 4:34pm. 1. Litigation: City of Bellingham v. Fang 2. Potential Litigation Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:34pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 May 20, 2024