City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes November 18, 2024, 2:30 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 2:30pm. 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 (Attended remotely) Council Member Jace Cotton, At-Large Excused: Council Member Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth 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. 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. 24333 1. Interlocal Agreement for 2025 Paramedic Training p. 3 Fire Chief Hewett and Dave Pethick, Assistant Fire Chief, presented the interlocal agreement (ILA) for paramedic training in 2025 with Whatcom County. The ILA provides funding for five Bellingham Firefighter students, and five students from other regional agencies and pays for student back-fill, preceptor and evaluation costs, books and other consumables for the students. Council Members discussed the ILA and asked questions. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Jace Cotton moved to recommend approval of the Interlocal Agreement with Whatcom County for the 2025 paramedic training cohort. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 November 18, 2024 24334 2. Resolution to Exempt an Interim Housing Use from Compliance from the State p. 13 Building Code Requirements Kurt Nabbefeld, Planning Development Services Manager, and Sara Ullman, Planner, presented the draft resolution to exempt the YWCA's forthcoming shelter at 315 Lakeway Drive from state building code requirements. Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Jace Cotton moved to recommend approval of the resolution approving an exemption for the interim housing use at 315 Lakeway Drive from compliance with state building code requirements until November 18, 2029. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 24335 3. An Ordinance Amending Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 4.76 to Increase the p. 19 Solid Waste Utility Tax from 11.5 Percent to 17.25 Percent Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, presented the draft ordinance, which amends the Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) 4.76 to increase the Solid Waste Utility Tax from 11.5 percent to 17.25 percent. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Jace Cotton moved to recommend approval of the Ordinance Amending Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 4.76 to Increase the Solid Waste Utility Tax from 11.5 Percent to 17.25 Percent. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 24336 4. An Ordinance of the City of Bellingham, WA Regarding Investment of City Funds p. 23 Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, presented the draft ordinance which expands the practice of directing all investment income into the General Fund, except as otherwise required by law. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Hannah Stone / Jace Cotton moved to recommend approval of the ordinance regarding investment of City funds. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 24337 5. An Ordinance of the City of Bellingham, Washington Adopting the 2025 Budget p. 27 Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, and Eric Johnson, Budget and Treasury Manager, presented the draft ordinance, which adopts the 2025 Budget. The budget includes operating expenditures of $392,057,194 and capital expenditures of $156,940,883. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 November 18, 2024  Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Hannah Stone moved to recommend approval of the ordinance adopting the 2025 budget. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 6. Old/New Business Council President Hammill thanked Library Director Rebecca Judd for the recent meeting with the Whatcom County Jail to learn about available library services for inmates. Council President Hammill highlighted the recent "push-in" ceremony for a new City fire engine held on November 13th. Council President Hammill shared that he testified in front of the Washington State Supreme Court at their indigent defense hearing. His comments are available online around the 1 hour and 45 minute mark. Council moved into Executive Session at 2:48pm to discuss eight items until 3:29pm. 1. Potential Litigation 2. Labor Relations: Discuss Collective Bargaining Strategy 3. Potential Property Acquisition 4. Potential Property Acquisition 5. Potential Property Acquisition 6. Potential Property Acquisition 7. Potential Property Acquisition 8. Potential Property Acquisition Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:29pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 November 18, 2024