City Council - Public Works and Natural Resources Committee

City of Bellingham Public Works and Natural Resources Committee Minutes September 25, 2023, 10:00 AM Mayor: Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8100, mayorsoffice@cob.org Council Members: Hannah Stone, Chair Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Lisa Anderson, Kristina Michele Martens https://cob.org/council Call to Order Council Member Stone called the meeting to order at 10am. Roll Call Present: Committee Chair Hannah Stone, First Ward Committee Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Committee Member Kristina Michele Martens, At Large 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. 23859 1. Report from the September 6, 2023 Lake Whatcom Policy Group Meeting p. 3 Council Member Stone provided an update from the September 6, 2023 Lake Whatcom Policy Group. The Lake Whatcom Policy Group consists of representatives from the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District, the Whatcom County Council, the Sudden Valley Community Association, and the Bellingham City Council. Council Member Stone reviewed the discussion and decisions at the meeting (see meeting minutes included in the packet). 23860 2. Lake Whatcom Water Level Dashboard p. 10 Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, Caleb Barber, Asset Manager, Tyler Pouley, Systems Manager, and Nickolas Leininger, Chief Operator Water, provided an overview of the interactive Lake Whatcom water level dashboard. The dashboard was created in an effort to improve transparency about the water levels and operations of the dam on Whatcom Creek. The dashboard is available online. Public Works and Natural Resources Committee Minutes Page 1 September 25, 2023 23861 3. Fiber Network Update p. 11 Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, and John Gaven, Fiber Optic Network Engineer, provided a summary of plans to develop a comprehensive capital and operations plan for the City's fiber network. The City owns and manages a fiber optic network that serves utility systems, traffic control equipment, cameras, City IT network infrastructure and network access to other public agencies including Whatcom Transit Authority, Washington State Department of Transportation, Bellingham School District, and Western Washington University. In May 2023, the City Council adopted the recommendations of the Broadband Advisory Workgroup via Resolution #2023-05. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:01am. Public Works and Natural Resources Committee Minutes Page 2 September 25, 2023