City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes June 3, 2024, 1:10 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 1:11pm. Roll Call Present: Council President Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Council Member Hannah Stone, First 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 Member Hollie Huthman, Second 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 in the order shown below: 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 City Council adjourned into Executive Session to discuss one item at 1:11pm until 1:37pm. 1. Potential Litigation Regular committee business resumed around 1:40pm. 24117 2. An Ordinance Relating to Multi-Family Development in the Silver Beach p. 3 Neighborhood, Amending the Silver Beach Neighborhood Plan and the Zoning Table Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 June 3, 2024  in Title 20 Of the Bellingham Municipal Code to Reduce the Density of Multi-Family Areas 8, 9 and 13 from High Density to Either Medium or Low Density Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, and Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, presented the ordinance related to development in the Silver Beach neighborhood. On May 20, 2024, the City Council requested a work session to further discuss density development in multi-family areas of 8,9, 13, and 18. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. More information is available online. Michael Lilliquist / Hannah Stone moved to recommend approval of the ordinance relating to multi-family development in the Silver Beach Neighborhood, amending the Silver Beach Neighborhood Plan and the Zoning Table in Title 20 Of the Bellingham Municipal Code to reduce the density of Multi-Family Areas 8, 9 and 13 from High Density to Low Density. Hannah Stone / Michael Lilliquist moved to amend the ordinance relating to multi-family development in the Silver Beach Neighborhood, amending the Silver Beach Neighborhood Plan and the Zoning Table in Title 20 Of the Bellingham Municipal Code to reduce the density of Multi- Family Areas 8, 9 and 13 from High Density to Low Density “and Area 18 from Medium Density to Low Density.” MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Jace Cotton moved to amend the ordinance to include a special condition to adopt the low density option with an opportunity to increase the total unit count up to the medium density maximum via consideration and adoption of a development agreement. MOTION CARRIED 4-2. Opposed: Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist AMENDED MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Note: Since Council approved an ordinance establishing density for multi-family zones in the Silver Beach Neighborhood, the public hearing on the ordinance extending the moratorium on multi- family development in the Silver Beach Neighborhood was removed from the evening's Regular Council meeting agenda. 24140 3. A Resolution Extending the Exemption for the Existing Shelter at 1522/1530 Cornwall p. 14 Ave from Compliance with State Building Code Requirements Until November 17, 2024. Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, and Sara Ullman, Planner, presented a resolution extending the exemption for the existing shelter at 1522/1530 Cornwall Ave from compliance with state building code requirements until November 17, 2024. This allows the exemption to remain in place until the Lighthouse Mission Ministries' (LMM) new facility is operational and Base Camp will no longer be needed. Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 June 3, 2024  Lisa Anderson / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the resolution extending the exemption for the existing shelter at 1522/1530 Cornwall Ave from compliance with state building code requirements until November 17, 2024. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24141 4. A Resolution Declaring an Opioid and Synthetic Drug Crisis in Bellingham and p. 21 Recognizing that Addressing the Crisis is One of the Highest Priorities for the City of Bellingham Council Member Williams introduced the resolution declaring an opioid and synthetic drug crisis in Bellingham. The resolution further identifies the crisis as a high priority of the City and will ensure work with governmental and other community partners to address interdiction, and the prevention, intervention, treatment, and aftercare/recovery needs of our community. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Michael Lilliquist moved to recommend approval of the resolution declaring an opioid and synthetic drug crisis in Bellingham and recognizing that addressing the crisis is one of the highest priorities for the City of Bellingham. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24142 5. A Briefing on The Bellingham Plan: A 2025 Periodic Update to the Comprehensive p. 25 Plan Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, and Elizabeth Erickson, Senior Planner, provided an update on the Comprehensive Plan Project, which is due to the state by December 31, 2025. The presentation discussed project scope and schedule, a summary of input received to-date, the results of the 2023 Community Vision and Housing Preference Surveys, 2045 growth projections and preliminary allocations to urban growth areas, draft growth alternatives, and policy issues. Council Members discussed the presentation and asked questions. A link to the presentation is available here. 6. Old/New Business There were no items for Old/New Business. Council moved into Executive Session at 3:30pm to discuss three items until 4pm. 1. Potential Property Acquisition 2. Potential Property Acquisition 3. Potential Property Acquisition Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 June 3, 2024