City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 05/05/2014, 7:00 PM Mayor Kelli Linville Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Council Members Jack Weiss, Gene Knutson, Cathy www.cob.org/council Lehman, Pinky Vargas, Terry Bornemann, Michael Lilliquist All meetings are held in the City Hall Council Chambers at and Roxanne Murphy 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA unless otherwise noted. Call to Order Announcements & Upcoming Meetings: Council President Lehman announced that an Executive Session would be held immediately following the Mayor's Report. Pledge of Allegiance Led by Council President Lehman. Roll Call All present. A moment of silence was held for Billy Frank, Jr. 15-Minute Public Comment Period Betsy Pernotto discussed rental unit inspections and advocated for safe housing and inspections, and requiring registration with a small monthly fee for each unit along with a higher inspection rate [AB 20382]. Charles Law discussed the speed limit on Alabama Street [AB 20370]. He feels the speed limit should either be raised or traffic calming installed. Leonard Lindstrom discussed social issues. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 8 May 5, 2014  Dennis DeWitt spoke with regard to rental registration [AB 20382]. He said a complaint based system can work if the consumers are educated and asked how the council proposes to create fair, readable rules with predictable results. He feels the ordinance is full of qualitative standards and the RCW lists "reasonable" results. These are all subject to the interpretation of the inspector on that day, and what may pass inspection one year, may fail for the exact same thing, the next year depending on the inspector's interpretation. Good intentions do not produce good results. These are just aspirational guidelines. Rose Lathrop is pleased with work that's been done with regard to waterfront redevelopment on the map for sustainability. The district scale non potable water systems will have a payback in as soon as four years and it may be feasible to reuse the existing storage towers from the GP Mill site as storage for thermal water. The public has expressed a desire to see these facilities reused if possible and we applaud the creative thinking that achieves multiple policy goals. She thanked the City and staff for their efforts. Elliott Smith thanked the City for honoring Billy Frank, Jr. Theo Bickel, Organizer for Bellinghome Campaign for Tenant Safety and is excited that council is considering a rental registration program. His group has gathered over 500 signatures on a petition calling for proactive code enforcement and specifically having a universal registration system and also starting to have rental properties inspected. Presentation(s) 20398 1. Presentation by the Department of Health for the Water Treatment Plant's Drinking Water Week Award Clark Halvorson of the Washington State Department of Health presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Bill Evans, Chief Operator. Water Treatment Plant. Information only. Public Works / Public Safety 20399 1. Update On Fire Equipment Purchases Update presented during committee. Information only. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 8 May 5, 2014  20400 2. Temporary street closure and opening for McLeod Road Culvert Replacement, Project No. EV-0101 Terry Bornemann / Gene Knutson moved to approve Project No. EV-0101 McLeod Road Culvert Replacement. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 20401 3. Temporary street closure for Chestnut-Bay at Railroad Crossing for Bridge Rehabilitation Project No. ER-0013 Terry Bornemann / Jack Weiss moved to approve the temporary street closure for Chestnut-Bay at Railroad Crossing for Bridge Rehabilitation Project No. ER-0013. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 20402 4. A Resolution to Maintain Adequate Revenue Streams for Operating Expenses and Debt Repayments of Public Trust Fund Loan Terry Bornemann / Pinky Vargas moved final approval of Resolution #2014-15. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 20403 5. Waterfront Utility Master Plan: District-Specific Utility Study - Preliminary Review Report presented during committee. Information only. Planning 20382 1. A work session on a draft ordinance to establish a rental registration program Council Member Weiss reported that direction to staff was provided during the committee's worksession with options to be considered: 1) provide committee with cost options associated with the proposal and variations associated with rate of audit inspections including a low, medium and high type of projection; 2) the exterior of a unit is in a condition that might trigger an inspection based on a complaint; 3) the possibility of having pre-inspections to be used as an education tool and would be a hold harmless inspection; ball-park number on what a registration fee might look like on a monthly or annual basis; 4) with consensus of the committee to look at amending the ordinance having to do with offering free inspections for the audit inspections; 5) register owner-occupied duplexes and the units associated with the Bellingham Housing City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 8 May 5, 2014  Authority (BHA); 6) how registrations would be distributed to the units; 7) consensus to change the timing of city council review to be triggered three years from the date of the last batch of registrations. A public hearing will be scheduled. Finance and Personnel 20405 1. Amend the 2014 Library budget to delete one position, create a new position, and reallocate savings to support the new position. "AN ORDINANCE ADDIING A NEW CLASSIFICATION TO THE E-TEAM SALARY PLAN AND AMENDING THE 2014 GENERAL FUND BUDGET BY DELETING ONE POSITION IN THE LIBRARY, CREATING A NEW POSITION AND REALLOCATING EXPENDITURES TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED COSTS." Michael Lilliquist / Gene Knutson moved to approve for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 20406 2. Amend the 2014 Adopted Budget to increase expenditures to call $380,000.00 of Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECB) "AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING REDEMPTION OF QUALIFIED ENERGY CONSERVATION BONDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $380,000.00 USING THE REMAINING BOND PROCEEDS IN THE FACILITIES ADMINISTRATION FUND ESTIMATED ENDING RESERVE BALANCE, AND TRANSFERRING $2,824.36 TO THE 2011 QEC BOND FUND ESTIMATED ENDING RESTRICTED RESERVE." Michael Lilliquist / Terry Bornemann moved to approve for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Lake Whatcom Reservoir and Natural Resources 20407 1. Report from the April 14, 2014 Lake Whatcom Policy Group meeting Report presented during committee. The next meeting is scheduled for May 12, 2014. Information only. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 8 May 5, 2014  Community and Economic Development 20408 1. Resolution Amending the 2012 Housing Levy Administrative and Financing Plan "A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE LOW INCOME HOUSING ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCING PLAN REGARDING THE USE AND EXPENDITURE OF HOUSING LEVY FUNDS AUTHORIZED BY THE VOTERS IN PROPOSITION NO. 1, LOW-INCOME HOUSING LEVY." Gene Knutson / Pinky Vargas moved final approval of Resolution #2014-16. Michael Lilliquist moved to amend the resolution to remove the $75,000 shift. [Editor's note: $75,000 per year of Bellingham Housing Levy funds to Housing Services]. No second. MOTION CARRIED 6-1. Opposed: Michael Lilliquist 20409 2. Resolution authorizing 2014 HUD Action Plan "A RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE 2014 ACTION PLAN, THE USE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (HOME) FUNDS, THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO SUPPORT SELECTED CITY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO SUBMIT THE 2014 ACTION PLAN TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT." Gene Knutson / Pinky Vargas moved final approval of Resolution #2014-17. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Committee Of The Whole 20410 1. State of Washington Honors Two Bellingham Police Officers Officer Otto Brown and Officer Don Almer where honored. Information only. 20411 2. Presentation of options for rules to govern use of electronic communications devices during meetings Cathy Lehman / Gene Knutson moved final approval of Resolution #2014-18 with Option 2. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 8 May 5, 2014  20412 3. Presentation on new Council materials management solution Presentation made during committee. Information only. 4. Approval of Minutes No minutes of the regular meeting were submitted. 5. Old/New Business Council President Lehman attended Fire Ops 101 Training. Council Member Knutson and Council Member Carl Weimer attended the Joint Labor Council memorial ceremony. Council Member Knutson judged the "Kids Art Walk". Bornemann / Knutson moved to request that Community Wise Bellingham present their updated rail transportation report to the City Council in early June. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Council Member Murphy reported a rally at Western Washington University on Diversity. Council Member Weiss reported that the Technical Advisory Committee for the Airport Master Plan met last week. They will meet again on May 28th to discuss noise issues followed by a public meeting later that night. The topic will be noise issues. Council Member Vargas reported that the Mayor's Energy Working Group has been approved in the first round selection for the Georgetown University Energy Prize. Completed applications are due by June 30th with notification of qualified finalists announced by September 30th. Qualified finalists can enter the competition, which will start in January, 2015. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 8 May 5, 2014  Mayor's Report 20413 1. Mayor's appointments to the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission Mayor Linville appointed Sheryl Russell, Richard Sawyer, Kay Reddell and Dick Conoboy as representatives. Information only. Executive Session An executive session item was added to the agenda. Potential Property Acquisition: COUNCIL ADJOURNED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. A potential property acquisition was discussed. Direction was given. No action was taken. Council President Lehman called the meeting back to order. Consent Agenda All matters listed on the Consent Agenda are considered routine and/or non-controversial items and may be approved in a single motion. A member of the Council may ask that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately. 20414 1. Bid Award for No-Lead Brass Service and Thread Fittings - 21B-2014 20415 2. Authorization of A/P checks issued April 11, 2014 20416 3. Authorization of A/P checks issued April 18, 2014 20417 4. Authorization of Payroll labor cost payments April 11, 2014 - April 25, 2014 Gene Knutson / Terry Bornemann moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final Consideration of Ordinances 20383 1. AN ORDINANCE ADDING A NEW CLASSIFICATION TO THE E-TEAM SALARY PLAN AND AMENDING THE 2014 BUDGET BY ADDING ONE NEW POSITION IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DISPATCH City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 7 of 8 May 5, 2014  OPERATIONS GROUP, WHERE NO ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION IS REQUIRED IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCH FUND. Michael Lilliquist / Roxanne Murphy moved approval for third and final reading. Upon motion, said bill was placed on final passage and approved by the following roll call vote: AYES: BORNEMANN, KNUTSON, LEHMAN, LILLIQUIST, MURPHY, VARGAS, WEISS NAYS: EXCUSED: MOTION CARRIED 7-0 and was thereafter named Ordinance #2014-05-023 20389 2. AN ORDINANCE GRANTING NOEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. A NON- EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN, THROUGH, OVER AND UNDER THE RIGHTS- OF-WAY WITHIN THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM. Bornemann / Weiss moved approval for third and final reading. Upon motion, said bill was placed on final passage and approved by the following roll call vote: AYES: BORNEMANN, KNUTSON, LEHMAN, LILLIQUIST, MURPHY, VARGAS, WEISS NAYS: EXCUSED: MOTION CARRIED 7-0 and was thereafter named Ordinance #2014-05-024 Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m. __________________________ Cathy Lehman, Council President ___________________________ ATTEST: Linda Anderson City Clerk Representative APPROVED: May 20, 2014 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 8 of 8 May 5, 2014