City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes July 7, 2025, 3:15 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 Huthman called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m. Roll Call Present: Council President Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Council Member Hannah Stone, First Ward 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. 24589 1. An Ordinance Relating to Equal Protection and Equal Provision of City Services p. 3 Regardless of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Gender Expression, and Creating a New Chapter of the Bellingham Municipal Code Regarding Such Matters Council Member Stone returned to Council to discuss additional revisions to the ordinance, which creates a new chapter of the Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) to provide equal protection of City services for LGBTQ+ community members. Council Members discussed the ordinance, provided feedback, and asked questions. Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to adopt Council Member Stone's proposed revisions with the exclusion of Section .040 (f). Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 July 7, 2025  MOTION CARRIED 6-0. ABSTAINED: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to amend Section .040 (h) to include, "The City shall advocate for inclusive and affirming changes to state and federal policies and programs." MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Hannah Stone / Michael Lilliquist moved to amend Section .040 (f) to read, "The City shall oppose or support legislation or actions at the state or federal level that the mayor and city council determine impact the rights, safety, or dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals in Bellingham as outlined in this Chapter. Such determination shall be made based on legal review of proposed legislation or related actions, consultation with the City’s lobby team, or feedback from community partners, advocacy groups, or members of the public. The mayor and city council shall determine what actions if any the City takes to oppose such legislation or actions. Examples of such actions include, but are not limited to, inclusion as part of the City's lobbying priorities, letters or other written correspondence and in-person meetings with state or federal legislators, testimony during legislative hearings, passage of local resolutions, ordinances or other amendments to the BMC, etc." MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 2. Old/New Business Council Member Stone highlighted an upcoming LAW Advocates Junk Fee Ordinance Information Session on Saturday, July 19th at the Bellingham Central Library. Council moved into Executive Session at 4:35 p.m. to discuss two items until 4:55 p.m. 1. Litigation: Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals Matter 2. Potential Litigation Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 July 7, 2025