City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes October 6, 2025, 9:30 AM 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 9:30 a.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. 24681 1. Budget Work Session p. 3 Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, provided an orientation to the preliminary 2026 Budget Book. Fire Chief Hewett provided an overview of the Fire Department’s 2026 proposed budget and work plan. Council members discussed the department's proposed budget and asked questions. Police Chief Mertzig provided an overview of the Police Department’s 2026 proposed budget and work plan. Council members discussed the department's proposed budget and asked questions. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 October 6, 2025 24682 2. The Bellingham Plan Overview p. 4 Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, Elizabeth Erickson, Senior Planner, and Anya Gedrath, Planner, presented an overview of the Bellingham Plan, the City’s Comprehensive Plan for growth, including the content of the plan, the process to develop it, and the timeline for Council to review and approve it. 24683 3. Discussion and Approval of Proposed Legislative Lobbying Guide for City Council p. 48 Iris Nott, Legislative Policy Analyst, presented the Legislative Lobbying Guide to inform Council on roles, expectations, and how Council Members can participate in 2026 legislative lobbying efforts. Council Members discussed the guide and asked questions. Participants for the lobbying committee will be selected in November. Jace Cotton / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to adopt the Legislative Lobbying Guide for City Council. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 4. Old/New Business Forrest Longman, Deputy Administrator, shared with Council Members a list of programs in the General Fund which the new public safety sales tax would support. This was related to a discussion that took place during the Budget Wok Session earlier in the afternoon. Council moved into Executive Session at 2:45 p.m. to discuss one item until 3:10 p.m. 1. Potential Litigation Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:10 p.m. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 October 6, 2025