City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes December 16, 2024, 1:15 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 Pro Tempore Huthman called the meeting to order at 1:16pm. Roll Call Present: Council President Daniel Hammill, Third Ward (Attended remotely) 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. 24375 1. Interim Ordinance Eliminating Parking Minimums Citywide p. 3 Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, Kurt Nabbefeld, Development Services Manager, and Chris Koch, Planner, presented the draft ordinance, which repeals parking minimums Citywide. A public hearing will be held on January 13, 2025 and more information is available online. Council Members discussed the ordinance and Bellingham’s housing shortage, and asked questions. Jace Cotton / Hannah Stone moved to recommend approval of the ordinance relating to land use and zoning, adopting interim zoning regulations to eliminate minimum automobile parking requirements and establish consistent bicycle parking standards Citywide. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 December 16, 2024  MOTION CARRIED 5-1. Opposed: Lisa Anderson Abstained: Michael Lilliquist 24376 2. Renewal of Interlocal Agreement with Whatcom County Supporting the GRACE p. 65 Program Forrest Longman, Deputy Administrator, presented the interlocal agreement (ILA) with Whatcom County that supports the Ground Level Response and Coordinated Engagement (GRACE) Program. The GRACE program provides intensive, coordinated care for individuals who are frequent users of emergency response services and aims to reduce utilization while improving their well-being and stability. The City Council will receive an update on the program from Malora Christensen, Whatcom County's Manager of the Response Systems Division, next year. Council Members discussed the ILA and asked questions. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Michael Lilliquist moved to recommend approval of the Interlocal Agreement with Whatcom County Supporting the GRACE Program. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24253 3. Work Session Regarding Landlord Tenant Relations and Unfair or Excessive Fees in p. 74 Residential Rental Agreements and Leases During the December 9, 2024 Council meeting, Council Members requested additional time to review and discuss the draft ordinances. Council Members provided additional feedback on the draft and requested additional changes for discussion at the next Council meeting. 24254 4. Work Session Regarding Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord Tenant Relations and p. 117 Unfair or Excessive Fees in Manufactured/Mobile Home Lease Agreements During the December 9, 2024 Council meeting, Council Members requested additional time to City Cou review and discuss the draft ordinances. Council Members provided additional feedback on the draft or draft and requested additional changes for discussion at the next Council meeting. addition 5. Old/New Business Council Member Lilliquist shared the following updates, • The Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) approved a deficit budget but will still expand services and capital projects by spending down their reserves for the short-term. • A resolution will be forthcoming in 2025 to adopt countywide growth numbers as part of growth management planning for updates to the Comprehensive Plan. • The Financial Advisory Board of the Whatcom County Justice Project will be meeting monthly. The County will hire an owner's representative to provide project management for the jail and facility planning. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 December 16, 2024  Council Member Anderson shared she will be proposing a resolution in 2025 to support the creation of a national infrastructure bank. Council moved into Executive Session at 3:45 pm to discuss three items until 3:57pm. 1. Potential Property Acquisition 2. Potential Property Acquisition 3. Litigation: Stodola v. Bellingham et al. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:57pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 December 16, 2024