City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 08/14/2017, 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. Announcements & Upcoming Meetings: Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the State of Washington Open Public Meetings Act. Pledge of Allegiance Led by Council President Lilliquist. Roll Call Present: April Barker, Council Member, First Ward Gene Knutson, Council Member, Second Ward Daniel Hammill, Council Member, Third Ward Terry Bornemann, Council Member, Fifth Ward Michael Lilliquist, Council Member, Sixth Ward Roxanne Murphy, Council Member, At Large Excused: Pinky Vargas, Council Member, Fourth Ward Public Hearing 21699 1. A Public Hearing to Consider Text Amendments to Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) Sections 20.00.015, 20.00.045 and 20.00.230 Rick Sepler, Planning and Community Development Director, introduced the code amendments to be considered by the Planning Commission. A Public Hearing is required and an opportunity for comments must be provided before recommendations City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 6 8/14/2017  can be considered, as required by state law. Kurt Nabbefeld, Development Services Manager, explained the code amendment allows the Planning Director to modify the timing of multi-family construction in certain residential, single-mixed zones. Currently several residential, single-mixed zones allow up to 25% of the total number of dwelling units to be duplex or multi-family. The request is not changing the zoning, only modifying the language. The existing rules require at least 50% of single-family housing units be constructed before multi-family buildings can be constructed. The RJ Group submitted a text amendment request to allow the multi-family to come before the single-family for their property near the Costco site. The Director initiated the amendment and while evaluating it, felt it would also be appropriate for other urban mixed-zones. The Planning Commission held a Public Hearing on July 6, 2017 and recommended the proposed changes. The text amendments will correct inconsistent code language, improve implementation of the City's land use ordinance, and provide an opportunity to establish the transitional area between non-residential uses and residential uses. Staff finds it to be compliant with the Comprehensive Plan and recommends that Council approve the amendments. Council President Lilliquist opened the public hearing. No residents spoke and the public hearing was closed. There being no further comments, the public hearing was closed. Gene Knutson / Roxanne Murphy moved approval for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 6-0, Pinky Vargas excused. 15-Minute Public Comment Period Jamie Douglass, addressed the subject of affordable housing {AB #21672}. He feels there is a lack of diversity among residents due to the lack of diversity in housing options. He would like the City Council to work on ways to attract different types of housing for all economic classes of people. Andronetta Douglass, feels that Bellingham is not a small town any longer and with the changing times, the Council should find ways to encourage building of different types of housing to encourage diversity {AB #21672}. Dan McShane, urged the Council to accommodate the Lummi Nation's request for water service. {AB #21704}. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 6 8/14/2017  Cate James, relayed that she is going to be without a home at the end of the month. She urged Council to work for rental changes especially with regard to renters who have pets. Council Standing Committee Meetings: Planning 21672 1. The Missing Middle: Affordable Housing in Bellingham Work session during Committee. Discussion included input from Project Manager Carrie Veldman of the RJ Group, Sarah Goodin, and Ali Taysi. Row housing, cottage houses, accessory dwelling units, townhomes and duplexes were all discussed. Feedback from community members was also taken. Information only. Public Works / Public Safety 21700 1. Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Bellingham and Port of Bellingham for Installation, Operation and Maintenance of Casing, Conduit and District Energy Piping Within Granary Avenue and Laurel Street Terry Bornemann / Roxanne Murphy moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an interlocal agreement between the City of Bellingham and the Port of Bellingham for installation, operation and maintenance of casing, conduit and District Energy piping within the Granary Avenue and Laurel Street. MOTION CARRIED 6-0, Pinky Vargas excused. 21701 2. Bid Award for 2017 TBD Re-Striping Project, ES-0536, Bid 42B-2017 Terry Bornemann / Gene Knutson moved to award Bid No. 42B-2017 for TBD Re- Striping Project to Apply-A-Line of Pacific, Washington as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder and to authorize the Mayor to enter into a contract with them for the amount of their bid, which is $239,645.00, which includes any applicable WSST. MOTION CARRIED 6-0, Pinky Vargas excused. Parks and Recreation 21702 1. Bid Award for Interim Shoreline Stabilization at Boulevard Park, Bid No. 36B-2017 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 6 8/14/2017  April Barker / Dan Hammill moved to award Bid No. 36B-2017 for Interim Shoreline Stabilization at Boulevard Park to Razz Construction of Bellingham as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder and to authorize the Mayor to enter into a contract with them for the amount of their bid, which is $262,651.81, which includes any applicable WSST. MOTION CARRIED 6-0, Pinky Vargas excused. Committee Of The Whole 21703 1. Discussion of 2017 Legislative Session Presentation during Committee. Ben Buchholz, of Tom McBride Public Affairs, relayed objectives that were worked on in Olympia over the past session. The Council directed administration to draft a letter that re-issues a thank you to State Representatives and Senators for funding many local projects as requested. Information only. 21704 2. Discussion of the Potential Economic Impacts of Providing Water Service to the Lummi Nation Presentation during Committee. Council directed staff and administration to continue discussions on a request for purchase of wholesale water service and update the Council at the second meeting in September. 21705 3. Annual Update on Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program (RRSIP) Presentation during Committee. The Program inspects approximately 3,000 units annually. About 2/3 of the 3,000 are inspected by the City's inspectors while the remaining are done by private inspectors. The rate of passing inspections is currently 85% - 90%. The major failings are lack of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, problems with rescue openings and handrails, and exposed wires. Safety issues are the main focus rather than cosmetic issues. Information only. 21706 4. Boards and Commission Membership Requirements Presentation during Committee. A follow up from the discussion that occurred in a June meeting where the question of whether residential requirements should be strictly adhered to for service on Boards and Commissions. Only about half of the Boards and Commissions have state law requirements that need to be met, while the others are more lenient. Council recommended that the residency requirements be changed to a one-year residency replacing the two-year requirement for such positions as a public office and Advisory Boards. Council also recommended that the citizenship requirement be removed to serve on an Advisory Board. Actual changes for consideration and a vote will be brought forth at a later meeting. Information only. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 6 8/14/2017  5. Approval of City Council Committee and/or Special Meeting Minutes Gene Knutson / Roxanne Murphy moved approval of the both the July 24, 2017 and the August 7, 2017 minutes of the regular City Council meeting as corrected. MOTION CARRIED 6-0, Pinky Vargas excused. 6. Old/New Business April Barker reported that the Council voted to direct the Administration to add a future Committee of the Whole agenda item to discuss possibly renaming the Pickett Bridge, in coordination with the Historical Preservation Commission and other local stakeholders. Executive Session - Report and Action only. 1. Potential Litigation: Claim No. 2017-12 Staff provided information on an appeal of the City's denial of this claim for damages. Action: Gene Knutson / Roxanne Murphy moved to uphold the City's denial of the claim. MOTION CARRIED 6-0, Pinky Vargas excused. 2. Litigation: Swatosh v. City of Bellingham: Staff provided information on a litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. 3. Collective Bargaining Strategy Session: Staff provided information regarding a labor relations bargaining strategy. Information only. No action taken. Mayor's Report Standing time for briefings updates and reports to Council by the Mayor, if needed. Information only. Mayor Linville reported that Sheriff Elfo is looking for a Council Member to serve on the Finance and Operating Committee. An appointee to the committee will be considered at the next Council Meeting. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 6 8/14/2017  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. 21707 1. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated July 11, 2017 - July 24, 2017 21708 2. Authorization of A/P Checks Issued August 4, 2017 Roxanne Murphy / Gene Knutson moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 6-0, Pinky Vargas excused. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:37 pm. Michael Lilliquist, Council President ATTEST: Elisabeth Oakes, City Clerk Representative APPROVED: September 11, 2017 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 6 8/14/2017