City Council - Committee Of The Whole

City of Bellingham Committee Of The Whole minutes April 13, 2026, 2:45 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 3:10 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 (Attended remotely) Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Jace Cotton, At-Large Committee Of The Whole 24887 1. An update on the 2026 state legislative session and City lobbying activities Summary: Janice Keller, Deputy Administrator, and the City's Contract Lobbyists, Luke Esser and Nick Federici, provided an update on the 2026 state legislative session and City lobbying activities. Council Members discussed the presentation and planning for 2027 and asked questions. 24886 2. An ordinance relating to the composition of the Historic Preservation Commission, updating the qualifications for membership on the commission, and amending Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 2.54 Summary: Page 1 of 3  Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, and Emy Scherrer, Planner, presented the ordinance, which amends the membership composition of the Historic Preservation Commission, and makes other revisions to Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 2.54. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Action: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Hollie Huthman moved to recommend approval of the ordinance. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24888 3. A resolution appointing members to a regional fire authority planning committee Summary: Fire Chief Bill Hewett presented the resolution appointing members to a Regional Fire Authority (RFA) Planning Committee. Fire District 8 also supported the creation of a planning committee. Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. Action: Hollie Huthman / Lisa Anderson moved to nominate Mayor Kim Lund, Council Member Michael Lilliquist, and Council Member Daniel Hammill to serve on the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) Planning Committee. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Action: Hollie Huthman / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the resolution. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24895 4. Presentation and approval of the City Council Strategic Communications and Community Engagement Plan Summary: David Brauhn, Assistant Communications and Community Relations Director Intergovernmental Focus, presented a Council strategic communications and community engagement plan. Council Members discussed the plan and asked questions. Action: Hollie Huthman / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the City Council Strategic Communications and Community Engagement Plan. Page 2 of 3  MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24896 5. Presentation and approval of the City Council Communications Charter Summary: David Brauhn, Assistant Communications and Community Relations Director Intergovernmental Focus, presented a City Council Communications Charter, which outlines how the Bellingham City Council organizes and manages its communications and community engagement work. Council Members discussed the charter and asked questions. Action: Jace Cotton / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the City Council Communications Charter. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 6. Old/New Business Summary: Janice Keller, Deputy Administrator, introduced Melissa Ambler, WSDOT Assistant Regional Administrator of the Mt Baker Area, and Brittany Dayley, Delve Underground Project Engineering Geologist, who updated Council on the recent northbound I-5 landslide closure and WSDOT's response. Council moved into Executive Session at 4:55 p.m. to discuss two items until 5:10 p.m. 1. Potential litigation 2. Potential surplus property sale Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m. Page 3 of 3