City Council - Community and Economic Development Committee

City of Bellingham Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes October 16, 2023, 11:00 AM Mayor: Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8100, mayorsoffice@cob.org Council Members: Hollie Huthman, Chair Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Hannah Stone, Kristina Michele Martens https://cob.org/council Call to Order Council President Lilliquist called the meeting to order at 11:10am. Roll Call Present: Committee Chair Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Committee Member Hannah Stone, First Ward Committee Member Kristina Michele Martens, 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. 23882 1. Capacity-Building for Small and Mid-Sized Housing & Shelter Providers: Needs, p. 3 Priorities, and Recommendations Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, and Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development Manager, presented a report prepared by Shorthand Consulting. The consultant interviewed nine housing and shelter agency representatives to learn more about their needs and priorities for maintaining and growing their capacity. Several recommendations were made in the resulting report, including evaluating the City's internal operating procedures, creating community training and professional development opportunities, and providing direct grants to offset indirect costs. Council members discussed and questions. A request was made to focus on long-term wellness and support efforts for staff working at these organizations. 23883 2. Interlocal Agreement Between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham to p. 38 Operate an Interim Shower Program Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, and Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development Manager, presented the draft interlocal agreement. On September 11, 2023, the City Council authorized a budget expenditure of $320,000 to contract with the Opportunity Council to operate an interim public shower program at the rear parking lot of City Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes Page 1 October 16, 2023  Hall. The interlocal agreement memorializes a cost-sharing agreement between the City and the County. Council members discussed and asked questions regarding the agreement. Kristina Michele Martens moved to recommend approval of the Interlocal Agreement between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham to operate an interim shower program. MOTION CARRIED 2-0. Abstained: Hannah Stone 23884 3. Interlocal Agreement Between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham to Fund p. 55 a Winter Shelter Program at Civic Field Christopher D'Onofrio, Whatcom County Health Department Housing Program Supervisor, and Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development Manager, presented the draft interlocal agreement, which authorizes a temporary 45-bed nightly winter shelter at Civic Field. Whatcom County issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on August 2nd to solicit a qualified program operator and selected Road2Home, a local nonprofit organization serving unsheltered community members. The City will contract directly with Road2Home to operate the shelter from December 1st to February 29th for approximately $500,000. The County will reimburse the City for $250,000 of staffing and operational costs. Council members discussed and asked questions regarding the agreement. Kristina Michele Martens moved to recommend approval of the interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham to fund a winter shelter program at Civic Field. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:04pm. Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes Page 2 October 16, 2023