City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 25, 2022, 7:00 PM Mayor: Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8100, mayorsoffice@cob.org Council Members: Hannah Stone, Hollie Huthman, Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. “Skip” Williams, Lisa Anderson, https://cob.org/council Michael Lilliquist and Kristina Michele Martens All meetings are held in the City Hall Council Chambers at Legislative Assistant: Nalini Margaitis 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 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 Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Council Member Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Council Member Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Fourth Ward Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Kristina Michele Martens, At Large Public Hearing 23321 1. Public Hearing to Consider a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to p. 6 Rezone a Property in Area 1A of the Sunnyland Neighborhood from Residential, Single to Residential Multi, Multiple/Mixed (Offices Allowed) (No Density) Gregory Aucutt, Assistant Director of Planning, introduced McKayla Dunfey to the Council. McKayla Dunfey, Planner II, provided Council with the Staff Report. President Stone opened the Public Hearing. No participants spoke during the public hearing. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 8 4/25/2022 Minutes  President Stone closed the Public Hearing. Brad Swanson, Belcher Swanson Law Firm, provided some statements on behalf of the applicant. Daniel Hammill / Michael Lilliquist moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Mayor's Report Standing time for briefings, updates and reports to Council by the Mayor, if needed. Information only. 23322 1. Mayor's Appointment of Pamela Wheeler to the Bellingham- p. 70 Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence (Information) Mayor Fleetwood appointed Pamela Wheeler to her first partial term on the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence, which will expire on January 31, 2025, at which time she may be reappointed. Information Only. Mayor Fleetwood announced the May Day Bike Ride, which will occur on May 1, 2022. For more information, please visit: https://cob.org/news/2022/celebrate-bike-everywhere-month-by-reenacting- historic-bike-ride-and-photograph Mayor Fleetwood thanked everyone who participated in the Downtown Bellingham Partnership Safety Ambassador Meeting on April 21, 2022. For more information, please visit: https://www.downtownbellingham.com/ Mayor Fleetwood announced that he has selected Rebecca Mertzig as the next Chief of Police for the City of Bellingham. Mertzig will begin on June 1, 2022, the same day that Police Chief Flo Simon will be retiring. For more information, please visit: https://cob.org/news/2022/celebrate-bike-everywhere-month-by-reenacting- historic-bike-ride-and-photograph Mayor Fleetwood announced that the WA DNR Bessie Sorts timber sale (166 acres), has been removed. The following are heard in both Committee sessions and Regular Meeting in order below: City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 8 4/25/2022 Minutes Council Standing Committee Meetings: Public Works and Natural Resources 9:00 AM 23069 1. Broadband Advisory Workgroup Update #3 p. 77 Spencer Moore, of The Broadband Advisory Workgroup, presented an update of their work, including broadband equity and affordability. Presentation during Committee. Information Only. 23323 2. Bid Award for Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity Overhead Door p. 89 Repair Services, BID #5B-2022 Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to award Bid No. 5B-2022 for IDIQ Overhead Door Repair Services- Rebid to Overhead Door 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, which is $46,861.52, which includes any applicable WSST. This contract provides a three-year term and is not-to-exceed the amount of $175,000. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Climate Action 9:30 AM 23308 1. Proposed Climate Action Fund: Part 3 - Amount and Term p. 93 Mayor Fleetwood and Seth Vidaña, Climate Energy Manager, provided an overview of the proposed Climate Action Fund (CAF) and a recommended levy amount. This third presentation is the last of the three-part series. The proposal outlined in the presentation included a property tax to generate approximately $6M per year over a 10-year term. Four items outlined in the presentation included: renewable electricity, low-carbon transportation, electrification and energy efficiency, and climate change adaptation. The next step in the process will be a presentation of a draft resolution to the Council on May 23, 2022. Staff will schedule a Public Hearing on the proposal for June 6, 2022. If the Council proceeds on June 6, advertisement for parties to write the pro and con statements will be posted in early June. Presentation during Committee. Information only. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 8 4/25/2022 Minutes Committee Of The Whole 1:00 PM 23324 1. Annual Update on the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on p. 138 Sexual & Domestic Violence Susan Marks, Director of the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual & Domestic Violence, provided an update to inform the Council of the work of the Commission, with a focus on restorative and transformative justice. The Annual Meeting will be held at 9:00 – 10:00 AM on May 26, 2022 via Zoom. Please email contact@dvcommission.org for information on how to connect. Presentation during Committee. Information Only. 23277 2. Discussion of In-Person Council Meetings p. 149 Erika Lautenbach, Whatcom County Health Director, and Dr. Greg Thompson, Health Officer, provided Council with an update of current COVID-19 trends. Following the presentation, Council continued their discussion of the return to in-person meetings. Hannah Stone / Daniel Hammill moved to continue the discussion on May 23, 2022. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23325 3. 2022-2023 Consolidated Action Plan for Housing & Services as it p. 150 Relates to Families with Children Samya Lutz, Housing and Services Program Manager, Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development Manager, Greg Winter, of the Opportunity Council, and Louis Walbrek, of Lydia Place, provided Council with an update on efforts to address the needs of families with children. Presentation during Committee. Information Only. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 8 4/25/2022 Minutes 23182 4. Post Point Resource Recovery Project p. 159 Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, and Chad Schulhauser, City Engineer, provided Council with an update of the Post Point Resource Recovery Project and a summary of the April 11, 2022 discussion. Presentation during Committee. Hannah Stone / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to direct staff to proceed by continuing to develop the anaerobic digester and conduct further assessment of post digestion solids management. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23326 5. Extension and Renewal of an Ordinance Establishing a Moratorium on p. 172 Redevelopment of Manufactured Home Parks in Bellingham Greg Aucutt, Assistant Director of Planning and Community Development, and Blake Lyon, Director of Planning and Community Development, requested a final extension on the Moratorium on Redevelopment of Manufactured Home Parks in Bellingham. Hannah Stone / Daniel Hammill moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23327 6. An Ordinance Amending the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget Increasing p. 181 Revenues and Expenditures and Adding Positions Forrest Longman, Deputy Finance Director, provided an update to Council regarding the requested amendment to the 2021-2022 biennial budget. The budget changes will finance the property purchase to protect the Post Point heron colony, preserve affordable housing and expand childcare options with American Rescue Plan Act funding, account for existing contractual obligations related to Medic One, reorganize staffing in the Parks and Recreation Department to ease hiring challenges, and add a part-time finance position in Public Works. Hannah Stone / Hollie Huthman moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 8 4/25/2022 Minutes 23328 7. 2023-2024 Biennial Budget Process p. 187 Forrest Longman, Deputy Finance Director, highlighted the areas included in the memo, including the following: public safety – including alternative responses, continuing investment in climate action and reducing our climate impact, maintaining and expanding investments in affordable housing, supporting vulnerable populations, and mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 and supporting the community as we emerge from COVID-19. Information only. 23329 8. Briefing on Existing Tree Regulations p. 190 Kim Weil, Planner II, Planning and Community Development, provided Council with a briefing on existing tree regulations. Presentation during Committee. Information only. 9. Approval of Minutes Daniel Hammill / Hollie Huthman moved approval of the April 11, 2022 minutes of the regular City Council meeting as submitted. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 10. Old/New Business Councilmember Hammill shared that the Stakeholder Advisory Committee has been meeting with the Incarceration Prevention Taskforce and the Crisis Stabilization Committee. Councilmember Lilliquist shared that the Stakeholder Advisory Group is feeding into a county process to consider a new proposed ballot measure to address public safety concerns. The EMS levy is up for renewal and the EMS Oversight Board is working with a technical group that is developing specific proposals about refunding the EMS system in Whatcom County. Councilmember Martens announced that the library has reopened their public meeting rooms and returned in-person programs for teens and adults, as well as in-person class visits both on and off site. As a pilot program, the Bellingham Public Library has started to offer children’s story time at the Bellis Fair Mall (Tuesdays and Wednesdays through May 25, 2022, for children up to age 5). City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 8 4/25/2022 Minutes  Councilmember Williams shared that he attended the 95th birthday of the Mt Baker Theatre. Council President Stone shared that, on Friday, she attended a Mother Earth Day celebration at Maritime Heritage Park, hosted by Setting Sun Productions. Stone acknowledged the community response from related to the Broadway Park Overlook and addressed that projects that are in the permit phase do not allow for Council to make retroactive changes. Mayor Fleetwood shared that on Saturday, there was an earth day party at Fairhaven Park, helping to remove ivy, and improve the area around Padden Creek. Executive Session 4:00 PM 1. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 10 min) Staff briefed City Council on a tax issue that arose in connection with the closing of a watershed land acquisition approved by City Council at its last regularly scheduled meeting on April 11. The subject property is a 131-acre property owned by CBC Brothers, LLC, commonly known as the Henry C. Semple property. The property is zoned commercial forestry. The tax status of the property is designated forest land. Daniel Hammill / Michael Lilliquist moved to authorize the Mayor to amend the purchase and sale agreement to require the City to assume the seller’s obligation to pay the compensating tax that will be imposed as a result of the land being removed from its designated forest land status in connection with the sale of the property to the City. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 2. Potential Property Acquisition (Potter, approx. 10 min) 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. 23330 1. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued April 01, 2022 through April p. 218 07, 2022 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 7 of 8 4/25/2022 Minutes 23331 2. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued April 08, 2022 through April p. 219 14, 2022 23332 3. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated March 16, 2022 p. 220 to March 31, 2022 23333 4. Approval of Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Bellingham and p. 221 Port of Bellingham for Installation, Operation and Maintenance of Port Owned Fiber Conduit in Roeder Avenue and F Street Daniel Hammill / Hollie Huthman moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:16 PM Hannah Stone, Council President ATTEST: Nalini Margaitis, Legislative Assistant APPROVED: 5/9/2022 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 8 of 8 4/25/2022 Minutes