City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes August 25, 2025, 2:25 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 2:25 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. 24608 1. An Ordinance Relating to the Annexation of Approximately 146 Acres of p. 3 Unincorporated Property Located Adjacent to the Northern Boundary of the Bellingham City Limits and Commonly Known as the Britton Road / Northern Heights Annexation; Assigning City Land Use and Zoning Designations and Establishing Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, and Chris Behee, Long Range Division Manager, returned to Council to discuss the ordinance, which annexes 146 acres near the northern boundary of Bellingham City limits, known as the Northern Heights annexation. The City Council held a public hearing on July 21, 2025 and referred this item to the Committee of the Whole for further deliberation. Council Members discussed the annexation and asked questions. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 August 25, 2025  Lisa Anderson / Hannah Stone moved to deny the annexation proposal known as the Britton Road/ Northern Heights Annexation. MOTION CARRIED 4-1. OPPOSED: Michael Lilliquist ABSTAINED: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Jace Cotton 24641 2. Consideration of an Ordinance for the Vacation of a Portion of Donovan Avenue p. 22 Generally Between 35th and 36th Streets Alan Marriner, City Attorney, and Jack Bloss from AVT Consulting, presented the street vacation ordinance between Donovan Avenue and 35th and 26th street for development. City Council held a closed record hearing on October 11, 2004, and approved the vacation but did not approve a finalized street vacation ordinance. The proposed street vacation retains a public utility easement for the existing water main, instead of public and private utility easements over the entire vacated right-of-way. Council Members discussed the street vacation ordinance and asked questions. Jace Cotton / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the ordinance for the vacation of a portion of Donovan Avenue generally between 35th and 36th Streets. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24642 3. 2025 Carbon Mitigation Grant Updates p. 43 Seth Vidaña, Climate & Energy Manager, provided an update on the City's progress to lower carbon emissions via carbon mitigation grants. Council Members discussed climate action goals and policies and asked questions. 4. Old/New Business There were no discussion items for Old/New Business. Council moved into Executive Session at 4:27 p.m. to discuss one item until 4:36 p.m. 1. Potential Litigation Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:36 p.m. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 August 25, 2025