City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 23, 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. A Closed Record Hearing will be held on December 7, 2020 at 1:00 for consideration of a street vacation petition for the full width of Douglas Avenue between 21st Street and the alley immediately to the west. Petitioner is 21st and Taylor, LLC. Happy Valley Neighborhood – Area 1A. 2. December 7, 2020 at 1:00 PM or shortly thereafter Council will be notified of a request received from Qwest Broadband Services, Inc. d/b/a CenturyLink to terminate its existing non-exclusive franchise to operate and maintain a cable television system within the City. 3. A Public Hearing on December 7, 2020 to consider ordinance 2020 to consider extending for six months moratorium on redevelopment in the ten manufactured home parks in Bellingham. If confirmed, the moratorium would remain in effect until June 2, 2021. 4. A Public Hearing on December 14, 2020 to consider five requests to docket amendments to the 2016 Bellingham Comprehensive Plan for review in 2020- 2021. The proposals include one rezone request in Area 1 of the Fairhaven Neighborhood from Industrial 2 to a Commercial Core designation, a request to potentially add comprehensive plan designation and zoning for existing mobile / manufactured home parks, and two requests to adopt by reference a new Bellingham School District Capital Facilities Plan and new 2020 Surface and Stormwater Comprehensive Plan. Pledge of Allegiance Led by Council President Knutson. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 8 11/23/2020 Minutes 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 There will be no public comment due to the high volume of Public Hearing participants, but written public comment is encouraged and should be sent to ccmail@cob.org or mailed to City Council, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225. Mayor's Report Standing time for briefings, updates and reports to Council by the Mayor, if needed. Information only. Mayor Fleetwood announced his administration is working to provide a public site for a winter shelter for those experiencing homelessness. He is meeting with camp organizers of the homeless camp on the lawn of City Hall tomorrow. He is working on proposed solutions and looks forward to announcing more later this week. Mobile COVID-19 testing is available at the NW Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden. More testing sites can be found at www.whatcomcounty.us/covidtesting 22820 1. Mayor's Reappointments and Appointment to the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission (Information) The Mayor appoints Rick Sucee to his first term as the Samish Neighborhood Primary Representative, which will expire on November 10, 2022, at which time he may be reappointed. The Mayor reappoints Jenny Baker-Couch to her final term as the Whatcom Falls Neighborhood Representative, which will expire on October 18, 2022. The Mayor reappoints Alexarc Mastema to his first full term as the Sunnyland Neighborhood Representative, which will expire on August 16, 2022. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 8 11/23/2020 Minutes  The Mayor reappoints Bobbi Vollendorff to her final term as the Happy Valley Neighborhood Representative, which will expire on August 29, 2022. The Mayor reappoints Gordon Duham to his final term as the Cornwall Neighborhood Representative, which will expire on June 7, 2022. Council Standing Committee Meetings: Planning and Community Development Hollie Huthman, Chair Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist 22799 1. Follow-Up Discussion on the Proposal to Amend the Area 1 Description in the York Neighborhood Plan Discussion during Committee. The Planning Committee recommended clarifying language. Hollie Huthman / Daniel Hammill moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Finance and Economic Development Pinky Vargas, Chair Lisa Anderson, Hollie Huthman 22821 1. An Ordinance Regarding Accounting for Funds Related to Solid Waste; Amending Bellingham Municipal Code Section 4.76.040, Closing the Solid Waste Fund, and Amending the Name and Purpose of the Fund Established in Ordinance No. 2011-06-029 Discussion during Committee. Pinky Vargas / Lisa Anderson moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Parks and Recreation Lisa Anderson, Chair Hannah Stone, Michael Lilliquist 22822 1. Memorandum of Understanding Between City of Bellingham and Bellingham School District Discussion during Committee. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 8 11/23/2020 Minutes  Lisa Anderson / Hannah Stone moved to recommend approval of the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Bellingham and the Bellingham School District. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Climate Action Hannah Stone, Chair Daniel Hammill, Pinky Vargas 22505 1. Amending the Climate Protection Action Plan Hannah Stone / Daniel Hammill moved final approval of Resolution #2020-45 with revisions that include under the THEREFORE section: #2. Electrify New Buildings This policy allows for development of an implementation plan for requiring the electrification for all new buildings built in Bellingham, while supporting a just transition with labor and our utility on electric capacity. #5. Evaluate Community Wide renewable energy programs. This policy allows for further discussions to develop new partnerships to provide low carbon renewable electricity for all Bellingham residents. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 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. 22823 1. Review of 2021 Legislative Objectives Gene Knutson / Pinky Vargas moved approval of the 2021 Legislative objectives. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 2. Approval of Minutes Michael Lilliquist / Daniel Hammill moved approval of the October 9, 2020 minutes of the regular City Council meeting as submitted. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 8 11/23/2020 Minutes  3. Old/New Business Council Member Hammill announced that at the next City Council meeting, he will seek to present a resolution for consideration that declares racism as a public health crisis. 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. 22824 1. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated October 16 to October 31, 2020 22825 2. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued October 30, 2020 through November 05, 2020 22826 3. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued November 06, 2020 through November 12, 2020 22827 4. Authorize the Mayor to Amend an Interlocal Agreement with Whatcom County for the Lake Whatcom Homeowner Incentive Program 22828 5. Authorize the Mayor to Enter into an Inter-Agency Agreement with the Department of Ecology Providing Grant Funding for the Donald Avenue Water Quality Treatment Facility within the Lake Whatcom Watershed 22829 6. Authorize the Amendment to the Existing Inter-Agency Agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology – COB CONTRACT #C2000761 Daniel Hammill / Michael Lilliquist moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final Consideration of Ordinances 22804 1. A Closed Record Hearing to Consider a Street Vacation of an Alley Generally Located South of West Chestnut Street and Between Cornwall and Commercial Streets Hollie Huthman / 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 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 8 11/23/2020 Minutes  NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Ordinance 2020-11-029 22805 2. A Closed Record Hearing to Consider a Street Vacation for a Portion of Pasco Street Between the West Line of Samish Way and the North Line of Abbott Street Michael Lilliquist / 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, Hammill, Vargas, Anderson, Lilliquist, Huthman NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Ordinance 2020-11-030 22741 3. Proposed Ordinance Amending Bellingham Municipal Code Chapters 15.16 and 15.42 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, Hammill, Vargas, Anderson, Lilliquist, Huthman NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Ordinance 2020-11-031 22806 4. Consideration of an Ordinance Amending BMC 21.10.110 Regarding Public Meetings Before the Planning Commission and its Shoreline Committee Hollie Huthman / Lisa Anderson 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 2020-11-032 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 8 11/23/2020 Minutes  MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 22808 5. An Ordinance Amending the 2019-2020 Biennial Budget Increasing Estimated Revenues and Appropriations and Transferring Funds 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, Hammill, Vargas, Anderson, Lilliquist, Huthman NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Ordinance 2020-11-033 22819 6. An Ordinance Establishing the Property Tax Levy for 2021 Lisa Anderson / 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 2020-11-034 Public Hearing 22775 1. Second Public Hearing on the 2021-2022 Preliminary Biennial Budget Council Member Vargas, outlined the efforts being made on the budget and thanked members of the community for their engagement. Council President Knutson opened the public hearing. Public Comment was taken. There being no further comments, the public hearing was closed. Adjournment There being no further comments, the meeting adjourned at 10:40 PM. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 7 of 8 11/23/2020 Minutes Gene Knutson, Council President ATTEST: Elisabeth Oakes, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 12/7/2020 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 8 of 8 11/23/2020 Minutes