City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes September 16, 2024, 1:30 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 1:30pm. 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. 24235 1. An Ordinance Establishing a Shelter Protection Area Immediately Adjacent to the p. 3 Way Station Located at 1500 N State Street within which Certain Activities that Adversely Affect the Operations and Residents of the Way Station and the Adjacent Area are Prohibited in Public Spaces Mayor Lund, Alan Marriner, City Attorney, Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, and Deputy Police Chief Almer, presented the draft ordinance which modifies the shelter protection area around the future Way Station at 1500 N State Street. Steen Brochner-Nielsen, Facilities Manager at Unity Care Northwest, and Marisa Schoeppach, Homeless Outreach Team Coordinator at the Opportunity Council, spoke in support of the ordinance. After the Way Station is complete, services to unhoused individuals and families will be provided in partnership by Unity Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 September 16, 2024  Care NW, the Opportunity Council, and PeaceHealth. Services include medical and behavioral health services, restrooms, shower and laundry services, case management, and a medical respite program. Past Shelter Protection Areas established around interim housing facilities in the City increased safety for clients and reduced negative behaviors and impacts such as debris, disorderly conduct, and property damage. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the ordinance establishing a shelter protection area immediately adjacent to the Way Station located at 1500 N State Street within which certain activities that adversely affect the operations and residents of the Way Station and the adjacent area are prohibited in public spaces as amended. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to amend the ordinance to revise Section 1. to include the area surrounding the Eleanor Apartments building. AMENDMENT CARRIED 7-0. AMENDED MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24236 2. A Resolution Opposing the Proposed Merger of Albertsons and Kroger p. 11 Council Member Cotton presented the draft resolution opposing the proposed merger between Albertsons and Kroger. The resolution would formally oppose the merger and transmit copies of the resolution to the Federal Trade Commission, Washington State Attorney General, and the CEOs of Kroger and Albertsons. Jace Cotton / Hollie Huthman moved to recommend approval of the resolution opposing the proposed merger of Albertsons and Kroger as amended. Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to amend the resolution, “WHEREAS, approval of this merger would almost certainly to most likely lead to store closures, undermine thousands of unionized grocery jobs in Washington, likely increase prices for consumers, and increase food insecurity.” AMENDMENT CARRIED 7-0. Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to amend the resolution, “Section 1. That the City Council of Bellingham opposes the proposed merger any merger proposal of Albertsons and Kroger that would lead to store closures, and supports the Attorney General’s lawsuit to block the merger.” AMENDMENT FAILED 0-7. Opposed: Daniel Hammill, Hannah Stone, Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 September 16, 2024  AMENDED MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 3. Old/New Business Council Member Stone sought clarification on Consent Agenda item #2, Sub-Recipient Agreement; Whatcom County, City of Bellingham, & What-Comm Communications Center Contract Number C2401002, and if this is a routine contract for reimbursement or if this is additional monies based upon new work. Council Member Lilliquist expressed appreciation for the Bellingham Public Library Director for supporting the "What is Addiction: Plain Talk for our Community" event held on September 12th. Council Member Anderson added her support for the event. The video is available via BTV. Council Member Cotton shared that work continues on the draft ordinance prohibiting excessive residential rental fees and plans to bring an ordinance forward for consideration at Council's September 30, 2024 meeting. Mayor Lund provided an update on two large encampments on Stuart-Deemer Road and at Northwest-Bakerview Road. The City is pursuing actions against these encampments and actively working with the property owners. The public can learn more online about the City's actions and resources. Council President Hammill recognized Dr. Shannon Boustead for his presentation at the community event on addiction held earlier this month. He also highlighted that Dr. Boustead, Lisa Marx, Western State Carpenters Reentry Program, and Andrew Hovenden, Outpatient Program Manager at the Lake Whatcom Center, will be attending the Incarceration and Prevention Taskforce subcommittee meetings on September 17th at 11:30am. He encouraged the community to attend County committee workgroups. Council President Hammill thanked Deputy Police Chief Almer and Deputy Police Chief Monson for allowing him and Council Member Lilliquist to attend a recent training to engage with the City's police force. Council moved into Executive Session at 1:50pm to discuss six items until 2:44pm. 1. Potential Property Acquisition 2. Potential Property Acquisition 3. Potential Property Acquisition 4. Potential Property Acquisition 5. Labor Relations: Discuss Collective Bargaining Strategy 6. Labor Relations: Review contract proposal for the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:44pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 September 16, 2024