City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole minutes January 26, 2026, 2:10 PM Chair: Hannah Stone Phone: 360-778-8200 Members: Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Email: ccmail@cob.org Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Web: cob.org/council Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton City Council committee meetings Standing committee members receive reports and information, ask questions, and vote on a recommended action for consideration by the full Council at the regular meeting. There is no public comment period during committee sessions. Call to order and roll call Council President Stone called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m. Present: Council President Hannah Stone, First Ward Council Member Hollie Huthman, Second 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 Committee Of The Whole 24813 1. An ordinance relating to the Municipal Court and amending Bellingham Municipal Code section 2.16.030 to provide for the creation of a second full-time municipal judge position, an appointment process for newly created or vacated municipal judge positions, and an election for the second municipal judge position for a full judicial term beginning on January 1, 2030 Summary: Forrest Longman, Deputy City Administrator, and Alan Marriner, City Attorney, presented on the ordinance, which establishes a second municipal judge position and sets the process for appointing new judges mid-term and holding elections for any appointed judge positions. It also authorizes the Mayor to appoint a second municipal judge and specifies that an election should be held to fill the term beginning January 1, 2030. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Page 1 of 3 Action: Lisa Anderson / Hollie Huthman moved to recommend approval of the ordinance. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 2. Old/New Business Summary: Hannah Stone spoke to the recent changes to the City Council agendas and item coversheets. They have a new look and will be published further in advance (typically one week before the meeting). Council President Stone extended thanks to Jackie Weller, Janice Keller, Kelley Goetz, Matt Bezanson, Forrest Longman, Alan Marriner, Kate Bemis, and David Braun, who all worked on the project. Council President Stone highlighted many changes, including larger print, more legible headers, an added standing announcement for the next meeting date, and an added section for Council Members to bring reports from the various boards, committees, and other groups they participate in. She also announced that Council Members will start rotating who reads the Land Acknowledgement statement. On the agenda item coversheet, she highlighted the new impact statement, which is under the new heading of City impact and background; the budget and funding source, which have been standardized; and the background statement, which is meant to replace the staff memo in some cases. Council President Stone reported that there was a recent opportunity for Council Members to sign on to an amicus brief for a case brought by the Public Rights Project. This case and others are not contesting federal authority to remove individuals who are here without legal status but challenges the current detention methods. Since there was short notice for this opportunity, it was not in Executive Session and the Council as a body was not able to sign on, however each Council Member agreed to sign on individually. Council Member Anderson realized that due to a scheduling conflict, she is unable to participate in the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) meetings. Council Member Huthman has agreed to resume her role as representative to LTAC in her stead. Action: Lisa Anderson / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to change the Council committee assignment list to reflect Hollie Huthman as the LTAC representative. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Summary: Council Member Cotton brought up HB 1570 concerning collective bargaining for operational student employees at Western Washington University. He has signed on in favor of the bill as an individual and asked that the Council discuss signing on in favor as a City. Page 2 of 3  Action: Jace Cotton / Lisa Anderson moved that the City sign on in support of HB 1570. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Summary: Council President Stone explained that this item doesn't explicitly fall under the approved legislative agenda, which is why this was brought forward today. She suggested that they revisit the lobbying guide with regards to that process. Action: Council moved into Executive Session at 2:45 p.m. to discuss one item until 2:50 p.m Labor relations: review contract proposal for the Fraternal Order of Police. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m. Page 3 of 3