City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 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. 1. Special Meeting on March 15, 2021 at 2:00 PM to consider ordinance imposing an additional sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for affordable housing and related services as authorized in RCW 82.14.530 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 Public Hearing 22922 1. A Public Hearing on an Ordinance to Authorize a Sales Tax for Housing and Related Services Council President Stone handed over to Council President Hammill who introduced the ordinance. He explained that House Bill 1590, enacted in March 2020, expanded the ability of cities and counties to enact a sales tax of one tenth of one percent for construction and operation of housing, and mental and behavioral health facilities and services. Council will consider the ordinance at a Special Meeting on March 15, 2021. Council President Stone opened the Public Hearing. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 7 3/8/2021 Minutes  Public Comment was taken. There being no further comments, Council President Stone closed the Public Hearing. The written record will remain open until the Council makes a final decision on the matter. Mayor's Report Standing time for briefings, updates and reports to Council by the Mayor, if needed. Information only. Mayor Fleetwood, explained that he gave an update at this afternoon's session of Committee of the Whole. During the update he describes steps being taken to remove the encampment at the Geri Fields. The encampment will be removed in the coming days. A full COVID-19 update will be provided at the next meeting on March 22, 2021. 22923 1. Mayor's Reappointment of Tom Scott and Appointment of Dima Hart to the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission (Information) The Mayor reappoints Tom Scott as the York Neighborhood Primary Representative to his final term, on the Neighborhood Advisory Commission, which will expire on February 5, 2023. The Mayor appoints Dima Hart as the King Mountain Primary Representative to her first partial term, on the Neighborhood Advisory Commission, which will expire on December 27, 2021, at which time she may be reappointed. Information only. 22924 2. Mayor's Reappointment of Joan Drinkwin to the Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors (Information) The Mayor reappoints Joan Drinkwin, to her second term, to the Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors, which will expire on February 9, 2024, at which time she may be reappointed. Information only. 22925 3. Mayor's Reappointment of Nikki Quinn and Chris Fowler to the Home Rehabilitation Program Loan Review Board (Information) City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 7 3/8/2021 Minutes  The Mayor reappoints Nikki Quinn and Chris Fowler to the Home Rehabilitation Program Loan Review Board with terms expiring on March 19, 2025, at which time they may be reappointed. Information only. 22926 4. Mayor's Appointment of Jed Ballew to the Planning and Development Commission (Approval) Gene Knutson / Daniel Hammil moved to approve the Mayor's appointment of Jed Ballew to his first partial term on the Planning and Development Commission, which will expire on March 24, 2022, at which time he may be reappointed. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Public Comment Period Public Comment was taken. Council Standing Committee Meetings: Public Works and Natural Resources Michael Lilliquist, Chair Gene Knutson, Lisa Anderson 22914 1. Habitat Restoration and Stewardship in Lower Whatcom Creek Corridor Presentation Follow-up Presentation during Committee. Information only. 22705 2. Post Point Resource Recovery Project Update Presentation during Committee. Information only. 22927 3. Report from the February 17, 2021 Lake Whatcom Policy Group Meeting Presentation during Committee. On March 31, 2021, there will be the annual joint meeting between Whatcom County, Bellingham City Council, and Lake Whatcom Sewer District for an annual update and review of activities to protect and restore Lake Whatcom. Information only. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 7 3/8/2021 Minutes 22928 4. Proposed Lease to HUB Community Bike Shop Gene Knutson / Michael Lilliquist moved to direct staff to negotiate a lease at below market rate with HUB Community Bike Shop. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Community and Economic Development Hollie Huthman, Chair Pinky Vargas, Michael Lilliquist 22929 1. Consideration of a Resolution Forming a Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism Promotion Area Hollie Huthman / Daniel Hammill moved final approval of Resolution #2021-03. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 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. 22930 1. Part 1 in a Series of Staff Presentations in Preparation for City Council Adoption of the 2021-2022 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Action Plan Presentation during Committee. Information only. 22934 5. An Ordinance to Authorize a Sales Tax for Housing and Related Services Information and discussion only. A Special Meeting on the ordinance will be held on March 15 at 2:00 PM and written comment is still open for submittal. 22931 2. An Ordinance Amending the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget for the Purpose of a Tiny Home Village Hannah Stone / Gene Knutson moved for first and second reading. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 7 3/8/2021 Minutes  MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 22932 3. 2020 Financial Year End Review and Updated 2021 Revenue Forecast Presentation during Committee. Information only. 22933 4. An Ordinance Amending the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget Hannah Stone / Lisa Anderson moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1, Michael Lilliquist excused. 22599 6. Renewal and Extension of an Emergency Ordinance Imposing a Moratorium on the Processing of Applications for Detached Single-Family Development in Multi-Family Zones The ordinance comes before Council unexpectedly because there was an error, a moratorium on the ordinance ends today and needs to be renewed to continue the moratorium on development in multi-family zones. It does not require public comment or a Public Hearing at this time. A Public Hearing is required within 60 days of passage. Hannah Stone / 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, Knutson, Hammill, Vargas, Anderson, Lilliquist, Huthman NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Emergency Ordinance 2021-03-010. 7. Approval of Minutes Gene Knutson / Daniel Hammill moved approval of the February 22, 2021 minutes of the regular City Council meeting as submitted. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 8. Old/New Business Council President Stone reported that during Committee of the Whole, a motion was made by Council Member Anderson, seconded by Council Member Huthman, to review a draft ordinance that establishes labor standards requirements for additional City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 7 3/8/2021 Minutes  compensation for grocery workers in Bellingham. The motion carried 5-2, Vargas and Knutson opposed. Council Member Knutson asked how much longer it might be before we can meet in Council Chambers. Brian Heinrich, Deputy Administrator, reported that we may have an extension from the Governor limiting or extending in-person meetings. Executive Session – Report and Action only. 1. Potential Property Acquisition Staff provided information on a potential property acquisition. 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. 22935 1. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued February 12, 2021 Through February 18, 2021 22936 2. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued February 19, 2021 Through February 25, 2021 22937 3. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated February 01, 2021 to February 15, 2021 Gene Knutson / Hollie Huthman moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final Consideration of Ordinances 22329 1. Amending City of Bellingham Code Title 4, Requiring that Public Funds Used for Construction Projects do Double Duty by also Providing Apprentices with Job Training Hours to Meet the Requirements Necessary to Become the Next Generation of Skilled Trades Pe Michael Lilliquist / Gene Knutson 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, Knutson, Hammill, Vargas, Anderson, Lilliquist, Huthman NAYS: (None) City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 7 3/8/2021 Minutes  EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Ordinance #2021-03-007. 22915 2. An Ordinance Amending the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget Increasing Appropriations in the General Fund 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: Stone, Knutson, Hammill, Vargas, Anderson, Lilliquist, Huthman NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Ordinance #2021-03-008. 22430 3. An Ordinance of the City of Bellingham Amending Ordinance No. 2019-11-033 which Established an Immigration Advisory Board and Amending the Bellingham Municipal Code to Codify the Establishment, Function and Membership of the Board Pinky Vargas / Gene Knutson 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, Knutson, Hammill, Vargas, Anderson, Lilliquist, Huthman NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED and was thereafter named Ordinance #2021-03-009. Adjournment There being no further comments, the meeting adjourned at 10:15 PM. Hannah Stone, Council President ATTEST: Elisabeth Oakes, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 3/22/2021 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 7 of 7 3/8/2021 Minutes