City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes October 12, 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. Council President Knutson announced that today is Coast Salish Indigenous Peoples Day. 1. A Budget Work Session will be held on October 19, 2020 at 1:00 PM to continue presentations on the 2021-2022 City Budget 2. A Budget Work Session will be held on October 26, 2020 at 10:00 AM to continue presentations on the 2021-2022 City Budget 3. A Budget Work Session will be held on November 2, 2020 at 1:00 PM to continue presentations on the 2021-2022 City Budget 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 Pinky Vargas, Fourth Ward Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Hollie Huthman, At-Large Excused Council Member Daniel Hammill, Third Ward City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 8 10/12/2020 Minutes Public Hearing 22767 1. Public Hearing on a Resolution in Support of Renewal of the Bellingham Transportation Fund in the November 2020 General Election Council Member Stone introduced the resolution and the public hearing on a sales tax continuation that is to fund the Bellingham Transportation Fund. The resolution encourages voters of Bellingham to renew the Transportation Fund in the November 2020 General Election. Council President Knutson opened the public hearing. No citizens spoke and the public hearing was closed. Hannah Stone / Michael Lilliquist moved final approval of Resolution #2020-39. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Dan Hammill excused. 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. 22782 1. Mayor's Reappointment of John Blethen and Appointment of Paul Randall- Grutter to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (Information) The Mayor reappoints John Blethen to his final term on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, which will expire on July 1, 2023. The Mayor appoints Paul Randall- Gutter to his first term, on the Parks and Recreation Board, which will expire on September 20, 2023, at which time he may be reappointed. Information only. Mayor Fleetwood outlined the budget timeline. Work sessions are ongoing through November. Public Comment is open today. For more information, go to www.cob.org/budget There have been many requests for park playgrounds to open. The City will be reopening playgrounds at the end of this week. This is supported by the Whatcom County Health Department. There will be safety protocols in place and not more than five kids are allowed per play structure and masks required. More announcements to follow. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 8 10/12/2020 Minutes  The Mayor also announced that the City will take steps to merge Whatcom Unified Command under the Whatcom County Health Department organizational structure. City Council Special Meeting 22775 1. 2021-2022 Biennial Budget Work Session Presentation during Committee by the Fire Department. Council Member Vargas explained that the Municipal Court's presentation was planned for the work session, but that time did not allow for the Court's briefing. The Municipal Court presentation will return at the next work session. Council Standing Committee Meetings: Planning and Community Development Hollie Huthman, Chair Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist 22776 1. Presentation Regarding the Public-Private Partnership to Redevelop the Former Aloha Motel at 315 N. Samish Way into a Mixed-Use, Mixed-Income Affordable Housing Development Known as Samish Commons Presentation during Committee by staff, Bellingham Housing Authority staff, and the architect's representative. $4.9 million dollars of Housing Levy Funds will be used to fund the project. It is a multi-use project with a mix of approximately 125 housing units serving a range of incomes, new office headquarters, and commercial uses. The presentation during Committee explained the roles of the City and the Bellingham Housing Authority and how this partnership benefits the community. Information only. Public Works and Natural Resources Michael Lilliquist, Chair Pinky Vargas, Lisa Anderson 22777 1. Bid Award for Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Electrical Services, BID # 55B-2020 Michael Lilliquist / Hollie Huthman moved to award Bid No. 55B-2020 for Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity for Electrical Services to Veca Electric of Bellingham, WA as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder and to authorize the Mayor to enter into a contract with them for the amount of their bid, not to exceed$350,000, over the course of three years, which includes any applicable WSST. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 8 10/12/2020 Minutes  MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Dan Hammill excused. 22761 2. Resolution to Adopt the 2020-2025 Water Use Efficiency Program Goals and Measures Michael Lilliquist / Hannah Stone moved final approval of Resolution #2020-40. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Dan Hammill excused. 22375 3. Funding Agreement with WSDOT for a New Northbound On-Ramp at the I-5 / West Bakerview Interchange (Exit 258) Michael Lilliquist / Pinky Vargas moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into a contract with WSDOT for a new northbound on-ramp at the I-5/West Bakerview Interchange. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Dan Hammill excused. 20680 4. Update on Establishment of Railroad Quiet Zones Within City Limits Discussion during Committee. Back in 2007 the City created a Quiet Zone report which documented the steps needed to establish two separate Quiet Zones within the City. Any crossings close to one another need to be part of the same Quiet Zone, (there are a group of five crossings on the south end and six crossings on the north side). The City partnered with the Port of Bellingham to work to make the improvements necessary to create a Quiet Zone. Completion of one of the Zones, the south side one is coming to an end and the City may be able to apply for Quiet Zone status next year. The north side area is about half done and still needing design review to be completed in certain crossings. Information only. 22741 5. Introduction of the Proposed Amendments to Bellingham Municipal Code Chapters 15.16 and 15.42 Discussion during Committee. The proposed code amendments reflect feedback given during the August 31st, September 14th, and September 28th City Council Public Works Committee Meetings. The proposed amendments are for surface and stormwater utility rates. The proposed changes include elimination of inequities between customer types, elimination of some credits, clarification on reductions for senior and disabled customers and increases in development fees and permits. Over the next several years, small and medium footprint rates are proposed to be held constant while large footprint customer rates will increase to cover the true cost of the City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 8 10/12/2020 Minutes  utility. The proposed ordinance also eliminates internal charges for City streets. The ordinance is presented for discussion only. Finance and Economic Development Pinky Vargas, Chair Lisa Anderson, Hollie Huthman 22778 1. An Ordinance Amending the 2019-2020 Biennial Budget Increasing Appropriations and Transferring Funds and Authorizing Retirement of the Drake Note Debt Pinky Vargas / Hollie Huthman moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Dan Hammill excused. 22779 2. An Ordinance Amending the 2019-2020 Biennial Budget in the Radio Communications Fund Pinky Vargas / Lisa Anderson moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Dan Hammill excused. Committee of the Whole Gene Knutson, Chair Hannah Stone, Daniel Hammill, Pinky Vargas, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Hollie Huthman Please be advised that if the City Council is ahead of schedule, they may start with old/new business before the official Committee of the Whole meeting time. 22780 1. Puget Sound Energy Update Presentation during Committee. The local government representative, Carryn Vande Griend, shared an update on PSE's response and restoration plan for storm outages, customer safety information, and a brief local update. Information only. 22781 2. Hearing Examiner Annual Report to Council Report during Committee. The report summarized cases decided, highlighted issued raised in the course of applications considered, offered recommendations regarding those issues, and reported on other work performed by the Hearing Examiner over the course of the year. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 8 10/12/2020 Minutes  Information only. 22573 3. Overview of Current and Proposed Shelters, Facilities and Programs Available to Serve Those Unsheltered Community Members Currently in Unapproved Encampments Presentation during Committee. This December there will be 330 beds and 117 motel vouchers available for unsheltered information. A comprehensive report was provided during Committee. Information only. 4. Old/New Business Council Member Stone, asked about budget amendments and when they should come forward. The Mayor noted that the next steps include two public hearings that are scheduled. Then it moves in an adoption phase in early December. If the Council wants to amend the budget, the budget manager will collect amendments for discussion. Council Member Vargas reminded Council that their scheduled work session is on November 9. 5. Approval of Minutes Michael Lilliquist / Hollie Huthman moved approval of the September 28, 2020 minutes of the regular City Council meeting as submitted. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Dan Hammill excused. Executive Session – Report and Action only. 1. Potential Litigation Claim No. 2020-27 Staff provided information on a litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. 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. 22783 1. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated September 1 to September 15, 2020 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 8 10/12/2020 Minutes 22784 2. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued September 18, 2020 through September 24, 2020 22785 3. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued September 25, 2020 through October 01, 2020 Michael Lilliquist / Pinky Vargas moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Dan Hammill excused. Final Consideration of Ordinances 22691 1. An Ordinance Amending the 2019-2020 Biennial Budget Increasing Appropriations and Estimated Revenues in the General Fund to Recognize Additional CARES Act Funding Hannah Stone / Hollie Huthman 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, Vargas, Anderson, Lilliquist, Huthman NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: Hammill MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Ordinance 2020-10-023. 22769 2. Consideration of an Ordinance Amending BMC 2.16.100 which Relates to the City's Electronic Home Detention and Monitoring Program Lisa Anderson / Hollie Huthman 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, Vargas, Anderson, Lilliquist, Huthman NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: Hammill MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Ordinance 2020-10-024. 22665 3. Consideration of an Ordinance Creating a Shelter Protection Area for Base Camp Located at 1530 Cornwall Avenue City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 7 of 8 10/12/2020 Minutes  Lisa Anderson / 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, Vargas, Anderson, Lilliquist, Huthman NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: Hammill MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Ordinance 2020-10-025. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:28 PM. Gene Knutson, Council President ATTEST: Elisabeth Oakes, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 10/26/2020 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 8 of 8 10/12/2020 Minutes