City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes November 3, 2025, 10:00 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 10:00 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. 24712 1. Budget Work Session p. 3 Forrest Longman, Deputy Administrator, presented proposed revisions to the 2026 budget as outlined in the staff memo. Council Members discussed the proposed modifications to the budget ordinance and asked questions. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the proposed modifications to the proposed 2026 budget. Errata & Corrections 1. Museum – increase expenditures 2.7% ($10,150) per operating agreement. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 November 3, 2025  2. Library – correct budgeted positions table to replace part-time Library Assistant with Public Services Clerk as removed position; increase Library Gift Fund expenditures by 3. $100,000. 4. Human Resources Department – correct budgeted positions table to change position being reduced by 0.25 FTE from HR Assistant to HR Office Assistant. 5. Municipal Court – add funding for supplies and services ($62,500). 6. Parks & Recreation – correct account coding and removes duplicated budget entry (Overall: $0; General Fund: $266,400; Greenways: -$266,400) 7. Planning and Community Development Department – correct budgeted positions table to replace Planning Department Office Assistant with Comm/Devel Admin Secretary as removed position. 8. Public Works – add revenue in fleet fund associated with new fleet vehicle purchases; correct project account coding in Transportation Fund. 9. Fire Department: add revenue and expense for emergency medical service response to Galbraith recreation areas to pay South Whatcom Fire Authority ($100,000). 10. Police Department: correct account coding in Environmental Remediation Fund. New and Modified Capital Projects 1. 1. Add $1,100,000 to the Water Fund for finalized design and increased construction estimate of Columbia Water Main Replacement. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Judge Deborah Lev and Tami Bennett, Municipal Court Director, provided an overview of the court's proposed 2026 budget and work plan. Council members discussed the court's proposed budget and asked questions. Council President Huthman and Jackie Weller, Legislative Office Manager, provided an overview of the department's proposed 2026 budget and work plan. Council members discussed the department's proposed budget and asked questions. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Jace Cotton moved to recommend approval of freezing the City Council Legislative Assistant position for the 2026 budget cycle. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Mayor Lund, Janice Keller, Deputy Administrator, and Forrest Longman, Deputy Administrator, provided an overview of the department's proposed 2026 budget and work plan. Council members discussed the department's proposed budget and asked questions. Council recessed at 11:32 a.m. and resumed further business in Council Chambers at 1:00 p.m. 24713 2. Renewal of the Interlocal Agreement for Probation Services with the Whatcom p. 9 County District Court Probation Department Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 November 3, 2025  Tami Bennett, Municipal Court Director, presented the interlocal agreement (ILA) allowing for probation services with the Whatcom County District Court Probation Department. Council Members discussed the ILA and asked questions. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the interlocal agreement (ILA) for Probation Services with the Whatcom County District Court Probation Department. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24711 3. A Resolution Adding the Impact Fee Schedule for the Bellingham School District to p. 16 the Capital Facilities Plan Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, and Elizabeth Erickson, Senior Planner, presented the resolution adding the impact fee schedule for the Bellingham School District to the Capital Facilities Plan. Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. Jace Cotton / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the resoluton adding the impact fee schedule for the Bellingham School District to the Capital Facilities Plan. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24714 4. An Ordinance Relating to the Levy of Taxes and Establishing the Amount to be Raised p. 66 in 2026 on the Assessed Valuation of Property within the City Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, and Eric Johnson, Budget & Treasury Manager, presented the ordinance establishing the City's property tax levy for 2026. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the ordinance relating to the levying of taxes and establishing the amount to be raised in 2025 on the assessed valuation of the property within the City. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24719 5. A Resolution Setting the Dates and Times of the 2026 City Council Meetings p. 70 Council President Huthman and Jackie Weller, Legislative Office Manager, presented the proposed 2026 City Council meeting schedule. Council Members discussed the schedule and asked questions. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the resolution fixing the times and dates of the 2026 Regular and Committee Meetings of the Bellingham City Council beginning January 5, 2026. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 November 3, 2025  6. Old/New Business Council Member Hammill highlighted the expansion of the Didgwálič mobile medic unit which will be clinic located at the First Baptist Church parking lot beginning on November 10th. Council President Huthman solicited two Council Members to participate in interviews for the Trifunder CEDS 2027-2031 engagement plan. Council Member Lilliquist and Council President Huthman expressed interest and Council will vote on this item at the next meeting. Council moved into Executive Session at 1:20 p.m. to discuss two items until 1:30 p.m. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 4 November 3, 2025