City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 27, 2020, 7:00 PM Mayor Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Council Members Hannah Stone, Gene Knutson, Daniel Hammill, www.cob.org/council Pinky Vargas, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist and All meetings are held in the City Hall Council Chambers at Hollie Huthman 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA, unless otherwise noted. Please note the doors to City Hall unlock at 6:30 PM. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Council President Knutson at 7:00 p.m. 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 Knutson. Roll Call Present: Council President Gene Knutson, Second Ward Council Member Hannah Stone, First Ward Council Member Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Council Member Pinky Vargas, Fourth Ward Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Hollie Huthman, At-Large Presentation 22593 1. Update on COVID-19 from Bellingham Emergency Management Mayor Fleetwood shared that several updates will be provided by members of staff and county agencies during the meeting. He assured all that City staff stays in regular communication with our state delegation to monitor various federal and state relief that may be available to the City. He relayed to Senator Patty Murray the recently passed resolution by City Council seeks mortgage and renter relief. David Doll, Police Chief, announced that that the City's Operations Group will enter its next operational period, beginning May 4 and run through the end of May. This group ensures continuity of essential City services, making sure all front-line personnel have City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 6 4/27/2020 Minutes  PPE, collaboration with County-wide coordination in Unified Command, and provide essential communication to the community. In the past week, the group has created an objective for re-starting the economy. It is to evaluate coronavirus operational decisions on programs and service delivery models based on the following criteria: one, federal, state, and local health department guidelines. Two, what is in the best interest of all community members. Rick Sepler, Planning and Director of Community Development, expanded on the Operations Group new objective. He discussed a path forward that includes coronavirus testing, PPE, contact tracing, make sure adequate capacity is in our healthcare system, and a preparation of a vaccine. Most large gatherings will likely be prohibited, and telecommuting will be more the norm than the exception. Industries that are inclined to physical separation are likely to open before others. Reopening will be a phased approach, in order to protect the most vulnerable of the population. Patricia Leach, Museum Director, announced that cultural and educational programs have moved online and will be available for viewing in early May. Downloadable activities for children can now be found on the museum's website at https://www.whatcommuseum.org/. Virtual tours of exhibits can also be viewed at the museum's website. There is also a new exhibit that is set to open called the Storydome. It is a digital recording studio. It allows community members to record three to five-minute stories of their experience during this time. Rebecca Judd, Library Director, explained how Parks and Recreation Department have pivoted services to create online teachings. Some of the classes include water skills for children and sports skills for teenagers. Spring work parties has been cancelled but new videos published on the Park's social media platforms provide history on Bellingham Parks. Children’s staff transitioned 19 weekly story times to virtual offerings on the City’s YouTube channel. The Library’s middle-school book club collaborated with the Bellingham School District to host a Zoom virtual book club earlier this month. It was a great success with 82 students attending and it now meets four times weekly. For adults, the Library started a new Title Tuesday reading recommendation on Facebook. Information on Title Tuesday can also be found through email and the Library’s call center. Nicole Oliver, Interim Parks Director, relayed that as of May 5, state parks will reopen, fishing, hunting, and golf will reopen. Last Friday, the Mayor issued an order cancelling all special events in City parks and facilities, and all activities that have open space shelter and pavilions reservations will be cancelled through August 30. Pools remained closed. City staff are hoping for agency guidance that could provide a way to open pools under strict protocol. There are no team sports allowed. Woods Coffeehouse at Boulevard Park will remain operational. She encouraged residents to keep moving through the parks and not linger. Outdoor recreation is critical to staying healthy and well. The Shower Program is planned to open at Civic Stadium. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 6 4/27/2020 Minutes  Bill Hewett, Fire Chief, reported that as of this past week, Unified Command structure has changed. It is now under the direction of a single Incident Commander that is working on behalf of all county agencies. The change moves from a response and reactive type organization to a long-range planning and preparations. The EOC is closed on the weekends. The Byron Street isolation and quarantine center opened last week. The hospital is well below capacity in their bed count. Erika Lautenbach, Whatcom County Health Director, explained that the Health Department has moved from a response to a long-term planning implementation plan. She outlined strategies. The first is to increase testing from a community wide effort that may include contact tracing. In case investigations, contact tracing encourages all persons exposed to be tested. The Department is hoping to gain support from the State for software that would help with case investigations. The software is in beta testing phases right now but will be available soon. The Department also tests in known outbreak areas, such as in long-term care and skilled nursing facilities. They are not testing for asymptomatic patients at this time; only those with symptoms. Recently a task force was created for COVID-19 business support. They will work to create strategies to improve infection control measures that are currently open and for businesses to use when they re-open. She encouraged business owners to apply for the task force. Information can be found at https://www.whatcom.us/3998/COVID-19-Business-Support-Task-Force. Mauri Ingram, CEO of Whatcom Community Foundation, shared data on food security work by the Food Security Task Force. They meet twice a week. They have worked to ensure food security for all of Whatcom County residents, particularly those with barriers to food access, while maximizing nutrition and minimize health risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, food banks worked to provide more of a Shoppers Model to users where they could pick and choose their items. Because of safety hazards, the food providers cannot provide any perishable food. Instead they work to provide staples and shelf stable items. The Foundation is working with local farmers and community gardens projects that had planned to sell to restaurants, to create market opportunities for them. Council Members asked questions of presenters. Council Standing Committee Meetings: Committee of the Whole Gene Knutson, Chair Hannah Stone, Daniel Hammill, Pinky Vargas, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Hollie Huthman City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 6 4/27/2020 Minutes 22616 1. Draft Process for Review of Climate Policy Process and Development of a Climate Implementation Plan Presentation during Committee. Information only 22627 2. Priorities and Timeline for 2021-2022 Biennial Budget Presentation during Committee. Information only. 3. Approval of Minutes Michael Lilliquist / Pinky Vargas moved approval of the April 13, 2020 minutes of the regular City Council meeting as submitted. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 4. Old/New Business Council Member Stone, explained she circulated a letter among Council Members for consideration that highlighted an exclusion in the Cares Act, which denies stimulus support to individuals that use ITIN numbers when filing their taxes. They pay taxes but do not benefit from the stimulus funds. Proposed legislation has gone forth to consider these individuals. Council Member Stone would like to voice support of that legislation and encourage our national delegation in Washington, D.C. to support such legislation. Council Member Hammill, commended Council Member Stone on her leadership regarding this issue and will whole heartedly support the letter. Council Member Vargas, is very supportive of the letter. Mayor Fleetwood expressed his support. Hannah Stone / Holly Huthman moved to request Council President Knutson to sign and send the letter on behalf of the Bellingham City Council. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Council Member Vargas announced that the Governor announced today that public lands will reopen soon. She reminded everyone that the recommendation was to attend parks with family members to limit the spread of COVID-19. She encouraged all to continue wearing masks. Additionally, Council Member Vargas urged residents to City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 6 4/27/2020 Minutes  support local businesses. You can find a list of businesses that are open by visiting https://www.bellingham.org/. Council Member Hammill, announced that tomorrow morning, at 10:00 a.m. he and Council Member Huthman will be joining City Council Members from the City of Seattle, Spokane, Redmond, and Burien on a press conference to request further recovery money from Governor Inslee. Those cities have passed similar resolutions to the Bellingham resolution that requests stimulus and recovery funds. Executive Session – Report and Action only. 1. Potential Litigation Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. Daniel Hammill / Lisa Anderson moved to authorize the City to enter into a contract with Kinnon Williams of Inslee Best, to provide legal counsel, advice, and representation in acquiring property needed for the Orchard Street extension project, up to and including condemnation. 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. 22628 1. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments for the Period Dated March 16 - March 31, 2020 22629 2. Authorization of A/P Checks Issued April 10, 2020 22630 3. Authorization of A/P Checks Issued April 17, 2020 Michael Lilliquist / Daniel Hammill moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final Consideration of Ordinances 22617 1. An Ordinance Amending the 2019-2020 Biennial Budget, Increasing Appropriations in the General Fund for Expenses Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 6 4/27/2020 Minutes  Daniel Hammill / Michael Lilliquist 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: Knutson, Stone, Hammill, Vargas, Anderson, Lilliquist, Huthman NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Ordinance #2020-04-010 Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m. Gene Knutson, Council President ATTEST: Elisabeth Oakes, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 5/4/2020 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 6 4/27/2020 Minutes