City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole Minutes November 17, 2025, 9:00 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 9:00 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. 24734 1. Presentation on the Interplay between Accessory Dwelling Units, Middle Housing, p. 3 Co-Living, and Design Review Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, provided an overview of the interdependencies between housing ordinances coming before council in response to state law, including accessory dwelling units, middle housing, and co-living. Council Members discussed the ordinances and asked questions. The presentation is available here. 24693 2. An Ordinance Relating to Land Use Planning, Amending Bellingham Municipal Code p. 7 (BMC) Titles 20 and 21 Regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 1 November 17, 2025  Chris Koch, Planner, Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, and Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering, presented on the ordinance relating to land use planning for accessory dwelling units in order to comply with Washington State law HB 1337. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. The presentation is available here. Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of amending the ordinance to reflect feedback from the Washington State Department of Commerce, Section 15. Conversion of Existing Accessory Structures to D-ADUs. Accessory structures that are at least 5 years old may be converted or replaced at their current location, even if they do not comply with current code requirements for setbacks or lot coverage, provided that all applicable ADU, building, and other standards are met. ADUs may be converted from existing structures, including but not limited to detached garages, even if they violate current code requirements for setbacks or lot coverage. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Jace Cotton / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of accepting two Planning Commission recommendations: • Eliminate the requirement for a joint agreement with the abutting property owner to reduce the setback for D-ADUs in the rear 32' of a property (just allow it outright). • Eliminate minimum parking requirements for ADUs. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Jace Cotton / Hannah Stone moved to recommend approval of the ordinance relating to land use planning, amending Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) Titles 20 and 21 regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as amended. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24737 3. An Ordinance Adopting the 2025 City of Bellingham Comprehensive Plan Including p. 52 the Future Land Use Map Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, Sydney Prusak, Planner, and Elizabeth Erickson, Senior Planner, presented the ordinance to adopt the 2025 Bellingham Comprehensive Plan including the future land use map. City Council held a public hearing on the draft on November 3, 2025. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to amend and add a new policy in the environment chapter of natural resource management section, “Continue to collaborate with state agencies regarding state and local forest practices within the City of Bellingham for all phases of the conversion of forest land, including land clearing and grading, protection of critical areas, Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 2 November 17, 2025  wildfire and wildland urban interface, efforts to address nuisance abatements consistent that would be consistent with Bellingham’s development regulations and the Urban Forest Plan.” MOTION CARRIED 6-0. ABSENT: Lisa Anderson Daniel Hammill / Michael Lilliquist moved to amend and add a new policy in the environment chapter, "The draft Urban Forest Plan established a canopy cover target from 40% to 45% by 2050, that would maintain a consistent approach with other topics such as the mode shift targets that are in the Transportation Plan, and greenhouse gas emission reductions in the Climate Action Plan." Daniel Hammill / Lisa Anderson moved to amend the motion to, “The Bellingham City Council draft Urban Forest Plan established a canopy cover target from 40 to 45% by 2050, that would maintain a consistent approach with other topics such as the mode shift targets that are in the Transportation Plan, and greenhouse gas emission reductions in the Climate Action Plan." AMENDMENT FAILED 2-5. OPPOSED: Hollie Huthman, Hannah Stone, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton MOTION FAILED 2-5. OPPOSED: Hollie Huthman, Hannah Stone, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton Michael Lilliquist / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to create a new policy in the environment chapter, "Regularly monitor and evaluate progress toward canopy coverage goals, to be included in an Urban Forestry Plan, to inform programs, policies, and practices.” MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend adoption of all proposed amendments in the memo following the November 10, 2025 work session. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to create a new policy in the housing chapter, housing for all incomes section, "Strives to create housing opportunities across income levels within neighborhoods and districts to avoid unintended segregation of housing opportunities by income level." Michael Lilliquist / Jace Cotton moved to lay the motion on the table until the evening meeting. MOTION TO TABLE CARRIED 7-0. Hollie Huthman / Jace Cotton moved to amend the Housing for All Incomes Policy H-16, "Monitor the residential development economy for opportunities to develop a mandatory opportunities to Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 3 November 17, 2025  develop inclusionary affordability zoning programs without significantly reducing overall housing production." MOTION FAILED 2-4. OPPOSED: Hannah Stone, Daniel Hammill, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist ABSTAINED: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams 24735 4. An Interlocal Agreement with South Whatcom Fire Authority for Emergency Medical p. 507 Services for Galbraith Mountain Forrest Longman, Deputy City Administrator, presented the interlocal agreement (ILA) with South Whatcom Fire Authority for emergency medical services at Galbraith Mountain for 2025-2027. A subsequent proposed interlocal agreement with Whatcom County will reimburse the City for one- third of the cost of this agreement. Council Members discussed the ILA and asked questions. Daniel Hammill / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of the interlocal agreement with South Whatcom Fire Authority for emergency medical services at Galbraith Mountain from 2025- 2027. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. ABSENT: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams 24736 5. Interlocal Agreement with Whatcom County Related to Emergency Medical Services p. 515 on Galbraith Mountain Forrest Longman, Deputy City Administrator, presented the interlocal agreement (ILA) with Whatcom County related to emergency medical services on Galbraith Mountain. This ILA is companion to the ILA with South Whatcom Fire Authority. Council Members discussed the ILA and asked questions. Jace Cotton / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the interlocal agreement with Whatcom County for emergency medical services on Galbraith Mountain 2025-2026. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. ABSENT: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams 6. Old/New Business Council adjourned regular business at 12:15 p.m. to break for lunch. At 1:00 p.m. Council moved into Executive Session to discuss six items until 1:50 p.m. 1. Litigation: Scarmuzzi v. City of Bellingham, et. al 2. Litigation: Jewett v. City of Bellingham, et. al 3. Potential Property Acquisition 4. Potential Property Acquisition 5. Potential Lease of Real Property Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 4 November 17, 2025  6. Potential Litigation Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m. Committee Of The Whole Minutes Page 5 November 17, 2025