City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes January 27, 2025, 1:35 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 Huthman called the meeting to order at 1:44pm. Roll Call Present: Council President Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Council Member Hannah Stone, First Ward (Attended remotely) Council Member Daniel Hammill, Third 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. 24424 1. The Bellingham Plan Presentation and Discussion of Project Status, Key Issues, and p. 3 Schedule for 2025 Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, and Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, provided an update on the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan. Since 2023, staff have been engaging community feedback and incorporating new community priorities and state requirements into the revision of the 20-year plan. Council will need to adopt a plan by the end of 2025. Council Members discussed the plan and asked questions. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 January 27, 2025 24425 2. Discussion and Approval of Council Standing Committee Structure p. 20 Council President Huthman reviewed the current proposal from the Administration to modify the Council committee structure. The proposal removes the Climate Action Committee and incorporates that work into Committee of the Whole or other relevant committees. The proposal also establishes a Finance and Budget Committee. Daniel Hammill / Lisa Anderson moved to dissolve the Climate Action Committee and create a Finance and Budget Committee, with Councilmember Anderson as Committee Chair and Councilmember Lilliquist and Councilmember Hammill as members. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24426 3. Discussion of Council Assignments to Boards, Commissions, Task Forces, and Other p. 21 Groups Council discussed the role of standing committees and how to move forward with current assignments. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend Councilmember Stone as the member for the Sustainable Connections and Downtown Bellingham Partnership Boards and to leave vacancies on the Bellingham International Airport Advisory and Port Marina Advisory Committees. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Michael Lilliquist / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to confirm Council President Huthman as the Tourism Commission/LTAC representative and Councilmember Anderson as the Finance and Budget Committee Chair and Fire Pension Board representative. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 4. Old/New Business Councilmember Lilliquist highlighted a draft letter to state legislators that he shared with Council expressing support for rent stabilization. Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of Council President Huthman signing and sending a letter expressing support for rent stabilization in Washington State. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Council President Huthman highlighted the administration’s efforts to coordinate lobbying efforts and requested the Legislative Policy Analyst craft a policy related to Council’s involvement in the process. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 January 27, 2025  Council moved into Executive Session at 3:50pm to discuss five items until 4:34pm. 1. Potential Property Acquisition 2. Litigation: Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 / Walton Grievance 3. Labor Relations: Review Contract Proposal for AFSCME Local No 114L 4. Labor Relations: Discuss Collective Bargaining Strategy 5. Potential Litigation Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:34pm. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 January 27, 2025