City Council - Public Works and Natural Resources Committee

City of Bellingham Public Works and Natural Resources Committee Minutes February 10, 2025, 1:00 PM Mayor: Kimberley Lund Contact: (360) 778-8100, mayorsoffice@cob.org Council Members: Hannah Stone, Chair Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Lisa Anderson, Jace Cotton https://cob.org/council Call to Order Committee Chair Stone called the meeting to order at 1:00pm. Roll Call Present: Committee Chair Hannah Stone, First Ward Committee Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Committee Member Jace Cotton, 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. 24433 1. 10-Year Fiber Network Comprehensive Plan Adoption p. 3 Joel Pfundt, Interim Public Works Co-Director, and John Gaven, Fiber Optic Network Engineer, presented the 10-Year Fiber Network Comprehensive Plan. The plan will improve fiber network redundancy and resiliency and the City’s future fiber network needs. Council Members discussed the plan and asked questions. Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of the 2025-2035 Fiber Network Comprehensive Plan. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. 24434 2. An Ordinance Amending Municipal Code Chapter 9.12 to Align with Updated Waste p. 32 Management Practices, State Legislation, and the City's Climate Action Plan Mike Olinger, Interim Public Works Co-Director, Sean O’Neill, Sanitation & Solid Waste Manager, and Ted Carlson, General Manager at Sanitary Service Company (SSC), presented the draft ordinance, which amends BMC 9.12 to align updated waste management practices, state Public Works and Natural Resources Committee Minutes Page 1 February 10, 2025  requirements, and the City's Climate Action Plan. Council Members discussed the draft ordinance and asked questions. Council requested further discussion on standardizing rate discounts. Jace Cotton moved to amend section 9.12.060 Solid waste and recyclables collection charges – Payment - Liens as follows “2. Rates are evaluated annually. Increases must be approved by the Public Works Director. If rate increases are approved, the city or contractor will provide a 45-day notice to ratepayers via direct mail, billing statements, electronic notice, or by publishing the rate increase in a local newspaper per RCW 35.21.157.” MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of the ordinance amending Municipal Code Chapter 9.12 to align with updated waste management practices, state legislation, and the City's Climate Action Plan as amended. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:12pm. Public Works and Natural Resources Committee Minutes Page 2 February 10, 2025