City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 06/05/2017, 7:00 PM Mayor Kelli Linville Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Council Members April Barker, Gene Knutson, Daniel www.cob.org/council Hammill, 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 The meeting was called to order by Council President Lilliquist at 7:00 p.m. Council President Lilliquist asked all to observe a moment of silence for community member Bill Distler, who recently passed. Announcements & Upcoming Meetings: 1. On Tuesday, June 13, 2017, the Bellingham City Council will host a Town Hall Meeting on the topic of housing. The event will take place at the Bellingham High School Auditorium, 2020 Cornwall Avenue, 6:30-8:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. A panel discussion will be followed by a time for members of the public to offer their ideas and potential solutions. 2. On Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at noon, the City of Bellingham will host a flag-raising ceremony for the newly adopted Bellingham Flag in the City Hall Flag Plaza. The ceremony will be followed by an Open House in the new offices of the City Council and Hearing Examiner on the Second Floor of City Hall. 3. On Monday, July 10, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, the City Council will host a Public Hearing on amendments to the Cordata Neighborhood Plan Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the State of Washington Open Public Meetings Act. Pledge of Allegiance Led by Council President Lilliquist. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 8 6/5/2017  Roll Call Present: April Barker, Council Member, First Ward Gene Knutson, Council Member, Second Ward Daniel Hammill, Council Member, Third Ward Pinky Vargas, Council Member, Fourth Ward Terry Bornemann, Council Member, Fifth Ward Michael Lilliquist, Council Member, Sixth Ward Roxanne Murphy, Council Member, At Large Excused: Public Hearing 21634 1. Public Hearing to Consider a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the Barkley Neighborhood Plan to Rezone a Portion of Property Located Within Area 1 from Residential, Single to Commercial, Planned Moshe Quinn, Planner, gave a presentation on the request to rezone a portion of property located in Area 1 of the Barkley Neighborhood. Council President Lilliquist opened the public hearing. Jeff Kvamme, spoke on behalf of the Kvamme Family LP, who applied for the rezone. He agrees with the Planning staff's recommended approval of the area. There being no further comments, the public hearing was closed. Roxanne Murphy / Gene Knutson moved approval for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 21635 2. Public Hearing to Consider a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the Cordata Neighborhood Plan to Rezone a Portion of Property Located within Area 20 from Residential, Single to Industrial, Planned Ryan Nelson, Planner, gave background on the area that has been recommended for a rezone. Council President Lilliquist opened the public hearing. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 8 6/5/2017  Ron Jepson, spoke on behalf of Terra Firma Bellingham LLC, who applied for the rezone. He asked that the Council approve the request. There being no further comments, the public hearing was closed. Gene Knutson / Terry Bornemann moved approval for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED. 15-Minute Public Comment Period Joseph McDonald, requested the Council Member candidates host an open forum for questioning. Jill MacIntyre Witt, asked that the Council take bold action to support climate change. Ben Larson, spoke about the lack of housing within the City of Bellingham. Gary Pederson, spoke about landlord / tenant law. He is a member of the Bellingham Tenants Union. He presented ways that landlords can request tenants to move, spoke about the high cost of rentals, (over 40% of tenants' income is spent on rent) and discussed the need for housing security in the rental market. Nancy Amole, is currently experiencing homelessness. She does not have an option for an apartment that takes Section 8 vouchers. She feels the landlords are discriminatory towards people who receive vouchers. Galen Herz, thanked the organizer of the Peace Out event that was held this weekend. He discussed how the high cost of rent and homes and climate change are linked and the solutions are also linked. Peyton Acree, reported that she recently did a project on persons experiencing homelessness. She offered solutions to help persons receive relief from homelessness. Russ Sapienza, who works at the Rainbow Recovery Center, reported his experience of his clients being discriminated against from landlords because of prior criminal history or drug and alcohol treatment. Laura Rawes, presented a box of wishes from homeless persons to the Mayor. She organized the Peace Out event and thanked the City for allowing the event. Michael Zick, discussed the Section 8 vouchers. He appreciates the efforts that the City is doing to help the homeless. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 8 6/5/2017  Rick Carroll, feels the homeless needs more assistance. Jade Griffin, discussed transgender discrimination with respect to housing and public restrooms. Rheanna Johnston, thanked the organizers of the Peace Out. She thanked Council in their effort to listen to concerns about the high cost of rent and upfront costs to move. She feels that increasing access to information on tenants' rights and responsibilities is also helpful. April McCabe, works as a housing case manager with the Opportunity Council. She relayed that often landlords will not take housing assistance and feels potential renters are being discriminated against because of the Section 8 vouchers. Yoshe Ravelle, asked all to help with persons experiencing homelessness. Council Standing Committee Meetings: Planning 21621 1. Council Planning Committee Work Session on Residential Renter Barriers/Concerns Gene Knutson reported on the work session held earlier in the day. Landlords and the Opportunity Council's representative for Whatcom Homeless Service Center, gave input about income discrimination, move-in fees, tenants' rights and responsibilities. Property insurance will be topic of discussion for the next work session. Information only. Public Works / Public Safety 21636 1. Noise Variance Request from WSDOT for I-5 Cable Barrier Upgrade Project Terry Bornemann / Dan Hammill moved to approve the noise variance request from WSDOT for I-5 Cable Barrier Upgrade Project. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 8 6/5/2017  Finance and Personnel 21637 1. An Ordinance Amending the 2017/2018 Adopted Budget Recognizing $9,868,874 Property Tax Revenues in the Greenways Fund, Appropriating a Portion for Capital Maintenance and Increasing Ending Reserves Roxanne Murphy / Dan Hammill moved approval for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 21638 2. 2017 Financial Report Discussion during Committee. Information only. Parks and Recreation 21639 1. Approval of the Name of New Park on Whatcom Waterway April Barker / Roxanne Murphy moved approval of the name "Waypoint Park" for the new park located along Whatcom waterway. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Committee Of The Whole 21640 1. Site Selection Criteria for Potential Locations for the Low-Barrier Homeless Shelter and Day Center to be Operated by Lighthouse Mission Ministries (LMM) The City and the Lighthouse Mission are still actively looking for a site for a low-barrier shelter. Criteria for the site selection has been established, but site and building requirements are not equally weighted or rigidly defined. The efforts are ongoing and updates will be provided as progress continues. Information only. 21266 2. Interlocal Jail Facility Financing and Use Agreement President Lilliquist directed staff to bring the topic back for discussion and approval at the next meeting scheduled for June 19, 2017. 21641 3. Options for Inquiries, Reports and Complaints City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 8 6/5/2017  Council Member Bornemann directed the administration to bring forth models or ideas that would provide a mechanism for feedback, especially from persons that are disadvantaged or underrepresented in Bellingham. 21620 4. Public Works Presentation Regarding the Draft 2018-2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Michael Lilliquist / Dan Hammill moved final approval of Resolution # 2017-29. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 5. Approval of City Council Committee and/or Special Meeting Minutes No minutes presented for approval. 6. Old/New Business Pinky Vargas / Gene Knutson moved to sign a letter stating that the City of Bellingham joins other cities in an open letter of support to Bloomberg Philanthropies that states support for the Paris Climate Agreement. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Council Member Murphy reported that a public hearing will be held to hear from residents about a resolution that asks Bellingham residents to decline to sign petitions for Initiative-1552. The public hearing will be held on June 19, 2017. Council Member Barker announced that the Town Hall is scheduled for June 13, 2017 and will be held at Bellingham High School. Executive Session 2:35 PM - Report and Action only. 1. Haskell Corporation v. City of Bellingham Staff provided information on a litigation matter. For information and discussion only. No action taken. 2. Potential Litigation Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. 3. Potential Litigation Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 8 6/5/2017  Mayor's Report Standing time for briefings, updates and reports to Council by the Mayor, if needed. Information only. 21642 1. Mayor's Reappointment of Daniel Larner and David Warren to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District Roxanne Murphy / Dan Hammill moved approval of the Mayor's reappointment of Daniel Larner to his second term to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District, which will expire on July 31, 2021. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Roxanne Murphy / Dan Hammill moved approval of the Mayor's reappointment of David Warren to his fourth term to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District, which will expire on July 31, 2021. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 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. 21643 1. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated April 26, 2017 - May 10, 2017 21644 2. Authorization of A/P Checks Issued May 19, 2017 21645 3. Authorization of A/P Checks Issued May 26, 2017 Gene Knutson/ Roxanne Murphy moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final Consideration of Ordinances 21626 1. Ordinance Adopting the 2017 National Electric Code Gene Knutson / Dan Hammill 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: BARKER, BORNEMANN, HAMMILL, KNUTSON, LILLIQUIST, MURPHY, VARGAS NAYS: EXCUSED: MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Ordinance #2017-06-016 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 7 of 8 6/5/2017  Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:33 pm. Michael Lilliquist, Council President ATTEST: Elisabeth Oakes, City Clerk Representative APPROVED: June 19, 2017 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 8 of 8 6/5/2017