City Council - Public Works and Natural Resources Committee

City of Bellingham Public Works and Natural Resources Committee Minutes July 26, 2021, 9:30 AM Mayor Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Council Members, Michael Lilliquist, Chair www.cob.org/council Gene Knutson, Lisa Anderson All meetings are held in the City Hall Council Chambers at 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA, unless otherwise noted. Call to Order Roll Call Present: Committee Chair Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Committee Member Gene Knutson, Second Ward Committee Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Standing Committee Meeting 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 in the order shown below: Public Works and Natural Resources Michael Lilliquist, Chair Gene Knutson, Lisa Anderson 23059 1. Proposed Ordinance Renewing the Cascade Natural Gas Franchise p. 3 Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, introduced the franchise. The City holds franchise rights with Cascade Natural Gas. The current franchise term expires in September 2021. Staff has been in discussions with Cascade Natural Gas and the Pipeline Safety Trust to develope a franchise renewal ordinance. Cascade Natural Gas has agreed to provide mapping of their infrastructure to the City and to coordinate construction and maintenance of the facilities. They have also increased their insurance requirements. Staff recommends accepting the proposed ordinance which includes a ten-year franchise renewal. The item was brought forward for introduction only. The first and second reading of the Public Works and Natural Resources Committee Minutes Page 1 July 26, 2021  ordinance is expected on August 2, with third and final reading scheduled for August 30. Committee members asked questions. 23060 2. Post Point Resource Recovery Project Update, Project Status and p. 53 Contaminants of Concern Discussion Kirsten McDade, Pollution Prevention Specialist with Re-Sources, provided a presentation on action that could be taken at the local level to protect the environment from chemicals in treated biosolids. Representatives from Brown and Caldwell, gave a presentation on the current incineration process. The current incinerator is at the end of its life. Staff presented next steps. They include, submit Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Loan, Finalize Facility Plan, Continue Preliminary Design, and solicit an "Off-site" RFP. Gene Knutson / Lisa Anderson moved to direct staff to conduct testing of PFAS in our current wastewater system and in treated bisoloids by established procedures. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Michael Lilliquist moved to amend the motion so that additional testing would be conducted by staff that would test for additional compounds that were outlined in a letter from Re-Sources and the Sierra Club. Those testing procedures are not yet established so staff will return to Council with more information. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Eric Johnston, explained staff may have difficulty finding someone to do that as there are not yet established testing protocols. Steve Krugel, expects the EPA will have a testing protocol by next year. Lisa Anderson moved to direct staff to look into cost and availability of the testing of chemicals and pollutions as mentioned by Re-Sources and return to Council. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:32 a.m. Public Works and Natural Resources Committee Minutes Page 2 July 26, 2021