City Council - Regular Meeting
Regular MeetingBellingham, WA · February 8, 2021
Minutes
City of Bellingham
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
February 8, 2021, 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.
Deputy City Clerk Elisabeth Oakes Please note the doors to City Hall unlock at 6:30 PM.
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Council President Stone at 7:00 p.m.
Announcements & Upcoming Meetings:
Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the State of Washington Open Public
Meetings Act.
Roll Call
Present:
Council President Hannah Stone, First Ward
Council Member Gene Knutson, Second 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 Response
The Mayor introduced Erika Lautenbach, Whatcom County Health Department
Director, for an update on COVID-19 response and vaccine update.
Erika Lautenbach, announced that as of last week, there are 34 enrolled provider sites
that offer vaccines. This week, Whatcom County has received 3,275 doses of vaccine.
Last Thursday, she moderated a Town Hall session with PeaceHealth, Family Care
Network, Unity Care Northwest, and SeaMar Community Health Centers. It was
broadcast by Facebook Live and about 1,400 people attended the live event. It was
also live streamed on KGMI. The Health Department aims to provide virtual townhalls
twice monthly to stay on top of new information and provide it to the community in a
timely manner. Another virtual Town Hall with Cindy Hollinsworth, Communicable
Disease Manager with the Health Department, and Whatcom County District 42
City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 6
2/8/2021 Minutes
Representatives, Sharon Shewmake and Alicia Rule, is scheduled for Tuesday, February
9, 2021, to talk about vaccines. Next week, on February 16, another Town Hall is
scheduled with the business community to discuss unique challenges and
opportunities to make sure their employees get vaccinated. On Friday, February 12,
we are expected to know if, as a region, if the Governor will move us into Phase II of
the Road Map to Recovery.
Fire Chief, Bill Hewett, announced that Liz Coogan, has been promoted as the City's
new Emergency Manager.
Council Members asked questions.
Mayor's Report
Standing time for briefings, updates and reports to Council by the Mayor, if needed.
Information only.
22903 1. Mayor's Reappointment of Jeffrey Eastman and Stephen Racich to the
Bellingham Sister Cities Board (Information)
The Mayor reappoints Jeffrey Eastman to his first full term, which will expire on
January 24, 2024 and Stephen Racich to his third term, which will expire on January 1,
2024, at which time they both may be reappointed.
Information only.
Public Comment Period
Public Comment was taken.
Council Standing Committee Meetings:
Public Works and Natural Resources
Michael Lilliquist, Chair
Gene Knutson, Lisa Anderson
22905 1. Noise Variance - Grandview North LLC Permit #BLD2018-1036
Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of the noise variance
to Grandview LLC for work to be done between 4:00 a.m. through 7:00 PM on two
different days.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 6
2/8/2021 Minutes
22906 2. Transportation Commission Update and Associated Role in the Bicycle and
Pedestrian Master Plan Updates
Information Only.
Parks and Recreation
Gene Knutson, Chair
Pinky Vargas, Lisa Anderson
22907 1. Resolution to Establish Greens Fees for the Use of Lake Padden Golf Course
Gene Knutson / Lisa Anderson moved final approval of Resolution #2021-01.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
Public Health, Safety, and Justice
Daniel Hammill, Chair
Gene Knutson, Hollie Huthman
22904 1. Presentation by Whatcom County Health on Serving the Homeless
Presentation during Committee. Information only.
Climate Action
Pinky Vargas, Chair
Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist
22505 1. 2021 Implementation Plan for Climate Action Plan
Update during Committee. Information only.
Committee of the Whole
Hannah Stone, Chair
Gene Knutson, 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.
22908 1. Introduction of New Legislative Assistant
Introduction of Nalini Margaitis, Legislative Assistant.
22909 2. Discussion Regarding Public Comment Period
City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 6
2/8/2021 Minutes
Discussion during Committee. Information only.
22910 3. City Hall Encampment Discussion
Discussion during Committee. Information only.
4. Approval of Minutes
Gene Knutson / Pinky Vargas moved approval of the January 11, 2021 minutes of the
regular City Council meeting as submitted.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
Lisa Anderson/Gene Knutson moved approval of the January 11, 2021 minutes of the
regular City Council meeting as submitted.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
5. Old/New Business
Council Member Huthman introduced an emergency ordinance to temporarily
suspend removal of homeless encampments, like the one at Geri Field.
Council Members discussed.
Hollie Huthman/Dan Hammill moved to submit the draft ordinances into the Public
Record and direct the administration to review for feedback.
MOTION CARRIED 4-0-3, Gene Knutson, Lisa Anderson & Pinky Vargas abstained.
Council Member Anderson asked if the meetings for the Broadband Workgroup could
be recorded.
Lisa Anderson/Michael Lilliquist moved to prepare a resolution that stipulates that
video meetings may be recorded and provided online.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
Executive Session – Report and Action only.
1. Potential Litigation Claim No. 2020-42
City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 6
2/8/2021 Minutes
Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. For information and
discussion. No action taken.
2. Litigation: King v. City of Bellingham
Staff provided information on a litigation matter. For information and discussion. No
action taken.
3. Potential Litigation
Staff provided information on a potential 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.
22911 1. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued January 15, 2021 through January
21, 2021
22912 2. Joint Funding Agreement Between the City of Bellingham and US Department
of Interior / US Geological Survey (USGS) for Water Resources Investigation
Daniel Hammill / Lisa Anderson moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety.
MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Gene Knutson excused.
Final Consideration of Ordinances
22887 1. An Ordinance Amending the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget Increasing
Appropriations in the Wastewater Fund
Michael Lilliquist / 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: Stone, Hammill, Vargas, Anderson, Lilliquist, Huthman
NAYS: (None)
EXCUSED: Knutson
MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Ordinance 2021-02-006.
Adjournment
City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 6
2/8/2021 Minutes
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:49 PM.
Hannah Stone, Council President
ATTEST: Elisabeth Oakes, Deputy City Clerk
APPROVED: 2/22/2021
City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 6
2/8/2021 Minutes
Agenda
City of Bellingham
City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
February 8, 2021, 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.
Deputy City Clerk Elisabeth Oakes Please note the doors to City Hall unlock at 6:30 PM.
Council members will participate in this meeting remotely through an online web-based
meeting platform. Per Washington State Proclamation 20-28, in-person attendance at
meetings is prohibited at this time.
Council meetings are streamed live via the City’s website at meetings.cob.org and on the City’s
YouTube channel. Meetings are broadcast in high definition on BTV on Comcast channel 321,
and in standard definition on Comcast channel 10. Members of the public who do not have
cable or Internet access may contact the City Council office to receive phone numbers in order
to listen to the meeting via telephone.
Anyone wishing to comment during the public hearing or during the regular public comment
period is invited to do so. Advanced testimony by mail, email, and telephone is accepted and
strongly encouraged by sending comments to the Council Office, 210 Lottie Street,
ccmail@cob.org, or (360) 778-8200. Anyone wishing to testify live can do so by joining the
remote meeting at the following link: https://www.cob.org/cc020821. This link can be used
before the meeting to pre-register or during the meeting to register and immediately join the
meeting to testify. Pre-registration is encouraged.
Those who would like to listen in by phone can do so using any of the following phone
numbers:
(253) 215-8782
(346) 248-7799
(669) 900-6833
(301) 715-8592
(312) 626-6799
(929) 205-6099
Meeting ID: 998 6099 7014
Password: 9
The following items are heard in the Regular Meeting only:
Call to Order
Announcements & Upcoming Meetings:
Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the State of Washington Open Meetings Act.
Roll Call
Presentation
22593 1. Update on COVID-19 Response p. 6
Mayor's Report
Standing time for briefings, updates and reports to Council by the Mayor, if needed.
Information only.
22903 1. Mayor's Reappointment of Jeffrey Eastman and Stephen Racich to the p. 7
Bellingham Sister Cities Board (Information)
Public Comment Period
The following are heard in both Committee sessions and Regular Meeting in order below:
Council Standing Committee Meetings:
Open to the public to attend. Note: there is generally no public comment period for Committee
sessions. Standing Committee Members receive reports and information, ask questions and,
when appropriate, vote on a recommended action for consideration by the full Council at the
Regular Meeting. The notice of Committee Meetings identified below also serves as notice of
Special Meetings of the City Council at the times identified as Council Members who are not
members of the committee routinely attend and participate in the Committee Meetings.
Committee Chairs give a report of the Committee Meeting at the Regular Meeting in the
evening prior to deliberation and formal vote in the order shown below:
Public Works and Natural Resources 11:00 AM
Michael Lilliquist, Chair
Gene Knutson, Lisa Anderson
22905 1. Noise Variance - Grandview North LLC Permit #BLD2018-1036 p. 8
22906 2. Transportation Commission Update and Associated Role in the Bicycle p. 13
and Pedestrian Master Plan Updates
Parks and Recreation 11:30 AM
Gene Knutson, Chair
Pinky Vargas, Lisa Anderson
22907 1. Resolution to Establish Greens Fees for the Use of Lake Padden Golf p. 16
Course
Public Health, Safety, and Justice 1:00 PM
Daniel Hammill, Chair
Gene Knutson, Hollie Huthman
22904 1. Presentation by Whatcom County Health on Serving the Homeless p. 24
Climate Action 2:00 PM
Pinky Vargas, Chair
Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist
22505 1. 2021 Implementation Plan for Climate Action Plan p. 30
Committee Of The Whole 2:30 PM
Hannah Stone, Chair
Gene Knutson, 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.
22908 1. Introduction of New Legislative Assistant p. 42
22909 2. Discussion Regarding Public Comment Period p. 43
22910 3. City Hall Encampment Discussion p. 44
4. Approval of Minutes
5. Old/New Business
Executive Session 3:35
Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only:
1. Potential Litigation Claim No. 2020-42 (Brady approx. 15 min)
2. Litigation: King v. City of Bellingham (M. Good approx. 15 min)
3. Potential Litigation (Ruffatto, approx. 30 min)
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.
22911 1. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued January 15, 2021 through p. 45
January 21, 2021
22912 2. Joint Funding Agreement Between the City of Bellingham and US p. 46
Department of Interior / US Geological Survey (USGS) for Water
Resources Investigation
Final Consideration of Ordinances
22887 1. An Ordinance Amending the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget Increasing p. 51
Appropriations in the Wastewater Fund
Adjournment
Agenda Information:
Council Committee and Regular Meeting agendas and agenda packets, which contain the
supporting documentation for agenda items, are available to the public Wednesday afternoon
prior to the meeting. They are posted at https://meetings.cob.org. A hard copy of the agenda
packet is available for review from the reference desk at the Central Library or the Finance
office at City Hall.
Live Broadcast Information:
The Bellingham City Council Committee Meetings are broadcast live on BTV Bellingham at the
times listed on the Agenda. Committee session start times between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM are
estimated. A specific Committee may start later than the time published but will not begin
earlier than its published time.
BTV can be found on cable systems as follows: Comcast channels 10 (standard) and 321 (high
definition), and CenturyLink channels 40 (standard) and 1040 (high definition).
The meetings are also streamed live on the internet as they occur. Online viewers will see
exactly what cable customers would see.
The Bellingham Public Library also has DVD’s available for checkout. Video and audio files are
available on the Internet at https://meetings.cob.org within 5 business days following each
meeting.
BTV Council Meeting Rebroadcast Schedule:
Tues. 12 PM: Repeat broadcast of Monday afternoon Committee meetings
Tues. 7 PM: Repeat broadcast of Monday night regular meeting
Wed. 8 AM: Repeat broadcast of Monday night regular meeting
Sat. 12 PM: Repeat broadcast of Monday afternoon Committee meetings
Sat. 7 PM: Repeat broadcast of Monday night regular meeting
Accessibility:
The Council Chambers is fully accessible. Elevator access to the second floor is available at City
Hall’s west entrance. Hearing assistance is available, and a receiver may be checked out
through the Deputy City Clerk prior to the evening session. For additional accommodations,
contact the Legislative Assistant at 778-8200 in advance of the meeting. Thank you.
Next City Council Meeting
Monday, February 22, 2021
Deadline to submit material for any public hearing for inclusion in the published agenda
packet is 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday prior to the meeting.
Get email alerts for Bellingham
A daily email when new agendas and minutes are posted.