City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 31, 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. 1. On September 14, 2020 at 7:00 PM during the remote Regular City Council Meeting, there will be a Public Hearing on the consideration of proposed amendments to Bellingham Municipal Code Title 20 to establish regulations for electronic message signs on public zoned land which are intended to improve public access to information on community activities, events and services. 2. The URLs for future remote City Council meetings have been updated. The new format is www.cob.org/ccMMDDYY. The registration URL for the September 14, 2020 meeting is www.cob.org/cc091420. Pledge of Allegiance Led by Council Member Stone. 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 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 6 8/31/2020 Minutes Presentation The Mayor reported that the Whatcom Restart Grant Program, a countywide collaboration, allocated nearly $700,000 in Federal Cares Act funds to nearly two dozen licensed childcare providers. A list of grant recipients can be found on the Whatcom Restart website. The Whatcom Museum in the Lightcatcher Building, the museum store and the Old City Hall, are all opening Saturday, September 19, 2020 with safety measures in place. Lastly, the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center is reopening with limited capacity. The Center will open on Monday, September 14, 2020. Strict COVID-19 measures are in place that include participants must pre-register to use. 22593 1. Update on COVID-19 Response Erika Lautenbach, Whatcom County Health Department Director, reported that COVID-19 cases have gone down in the last few weeks. The Health Department has provided a survey to gather data about social distancing and mask wearing. To date they have received about 5,000 responses. Dr. Steven Bennett, Professor, at WWU is doing research on behaviors and mask wearing in public and social settings. Once the survey closes, she will be able to provide Council with their findings. The Health Department continues to partner with providers for COVID-19 testing. Council Members asked questions. Public Hearing 22739 1. Public Hearing for Consideration of Application for Bureau of Justice Grant in the Amount of $20,652 Flo Simon, Deputy Police Chief, briefed the Council on the grant the department is applying for. The grant is through the Bureau of Justice in the amount of $20,652, to be used to purchase a portable X-ray system for the Hazardous Device Unit. Council President Knutson opened the Public Hearing. Hannah Fishman, feels the Police Department should not be adding resources to their budget. Kainui Rapaport, expressed that he feels the x-ray machine will expand on searching subjects without a warrant. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 6 8/31/2020 Minutes  There being no further comments, the Public Hearing was closed. Council Members asked questions. Information only. 15-Minute Public Comment Period Public Comment was taken. Mayor's Report Standing time for briefings, updates and reports to Council by the Mayor, if needed. Information only. Council Standing Committee Meetings: Public Works and Natural Resources Michael Lilliquist, Chair Pinky Vargas, Lisa Anderson 22351 1. Small Cell and 5G in the City of Bellingham Presentation during Committee. Michael Lilliquist / Pinky Vargas moved to work with the administration and the Council office to reach out to congressional representatives to find out the status of the FCC oversight regarding health investigations for small cell technology. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 22740 2. Public Works Asset Management and PURC Process Presentation during Committee. Information only. 22741 3. Draft 2020 Surface and Stormwater Comprehensive Plan Presentation during Committee. Information only. Finance and Economic Development Pinky Vargas, Chair Lisa Anderson, Hollie Huthman 22742 1. City Financial Update and Forecast City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 6 8/31/2020 Minutes  Presentation during Committee. Information only. Committee of the Whole 1. Approval of City Council Committee and/or Special Meeting Minutes Daniel Hammill / Michael Lilliquist moved approval of the August 24, 2020 minutes of the regular City Council meeting as submitted. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 2. Old/New Business Council Member Lilliquist responded to public concerns about policing. Michael Lilliquist / Dan Hammill moved to direct the Council's Legislative Analyst, to add to his work plan, research into policing options on traffic enforcement. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Council Member Stone, mentioned that the employment committee for the Legislative Assistant should reconvene to find a replacement for the position. She also reported that she attended the Solidarity March last week and signed a petition that seeks to declare racism as a public health crisis. She is working on a resolution to present to City Council for consideration that addresses the crisis. Lastly, she announced that the American Public Works Association recognized a host of projects, one of which was the Granary Ave and Laurel Street project that our Public Works Department worked on. Council Member Lilliquist also signed the petition declaring a racism as a public health crisis. Council Member Hammill, signed the petition and feels strongly that racism is a social determinate of health. He responded to a public inquiry about the CAHOOTS program, a model used in Eugene, OR. He feels we need to look at the model and how it would work with our existing diversion programs. He is researching what other communities are doing but reassured all that he is still working on these issues. Executive Session - Report and Action only. 1. Labor Relations: Discuss Bargaining Strategy Staff provided information on a labor relations matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 6 8/31/2020 Minutes 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. 22743 1. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued July 24, 2020 through July 30, 2020 22744 2. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued August 14, 2020 through August 20, 2020 22745 3. Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County for 2020 BYRNE Justice Assistance Grant Program Award Daniel Hammill / Lisa Anderson moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final Consideration of Ordinances 22724 1. An Ordinance Amending the 2019-2020 Biennial Budget Increasing Appropriations in the Claims and Litigation Fund Daniel Hammill / Pinky Vargas 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 #2020-08-021. Adjournment Rick Sepler, Planning and Community Development Director, announced the City has agreed to support a grant application for a Department of Commerce grant that is seeking to establish a cottage transitional housing community at 800 E. Sunset Ave. It would accommodate up to forty people, with preference given of those over age 55. The project is headed up by a group called Road to Home. The grant application will be submitted at the end of September with a letter of support from both the City Council and the Mayor. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 6 8/31/2020 Minutes Gene Knutson, Council President ATTEST: Elisabeth Oakes, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 9/14/2020 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 6 8/31/2020 Minutes