City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 1, 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 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 7:00pm. Announcements & Upcoming Meetings: Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the State of Washington Open Public Meetings Act. 1. On August 29, 2022 at 7:00 PM, there will be a Public Hearing to consider the proposed Hundred Acre Wood Master Plan, which includes the 82-acre Chuckanut Community Forest, located in the South Neighborhood 2. On August 29, 2022 at 7:00 PM, there will be a Public Hearing to consider a proposed resolution of the Bellingham City Council providing for the City to relinquish a general utility easement affecting a portion of the property commonly known as 818 14th Street, APN 370201 184334 0000. The basis for the proposed relinquishment of this easement, which was established April 20th, 1953, under Ordinance 6860, is that said easement is surplus to the City’s needs and is not required for providing existing or future public utility services 3. On September 12, 2022, at 7:00 PM, there will be a Public Hearing to consider proposed amendments to the Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) to establish a manufactured home park (MHP) overlay and regulations related to the change of use, ownership, and closure of a MHP 4. On September 19, 2022, at 6:00 PM, Bellingham City Council will hold its third Town Hall meeting remotely via Zoom. The third Town Hall meeting will be devoted to Community Voices on Funding Priorities. You may join the meeting via Zoom at: https://cob.zoom.us/join and enter the following Webinar ID and Passcode: City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 6 8/1/2022 Minutes  Webinar ID: 846 0180 2457 Passcode: 766025 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 23412 1. Public Hearing for 2022 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance p.6 Grant Program The Bellingham Police Department is applying for a Department of Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $38,840. The Grant is allocated as follows: $24,837 City of Bellingham Police Department and $14,003 to Whatcom County Sheriff's Office. The Police Department would like to purchase print media, radio spots, signage for buses, banners, and billboards to help recruit police officers to our city. President Stone opened the Public Hearing at 7:05pm. Todd Lagestee spoke during the public hearing. President Stone closed the Public Hearing at 7:10pm. Lisa Anderson / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the grant. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Mayor's Report Standing time for briefings, updates and reports to Council by the Mayor, if needed. Information only. 23413 1. Mayor's Reappointment of John Peppel to the Lake Whatcom p.35 Watershed Advisory Board (Approval) The Mayor reappointed John Peppel to his second term, which will expire on August 19, 2025, at which time he may be reappointed. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 6 8/1/2022 Minutes  Daniel Hammill / Michael Lilliquist moved to recommend approval of the appointments to the Immigration Advisory Board. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23414 2. Mayor's Appointments to the Immigration Advisory Board (Approval) p.36 The Mayor reappointed Holly Pai to her first full term, Australia Tobon to her first full term, both terms will expire on June 23, 2024. The Mayor reappointed Bridget Reeves and Monika Cassidy to their final terms, which will expire on June 23, 2024. The Mayor appointed Tara Villalba and Mario Banuelos to their first terms, which will expire on August 1, 2024, at which time they may be reappointed. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the appointments to the Immigration Advisory Board. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 23415 3. Mayor's Reappointments to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board p.42 (Information) The Mayor reappointed Zarah Manju to her first full term, which will expire on August 8, 2025, at which time she may be reappointed. The Mayor reappointed Michael Kutcher to his final term, which will expire on August 30, 2025. Council Standing Committee Meetings: Committee Of The Whole 1:00 PM Hannah Stone, Chair Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Kristina Michele Martens 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. 23416 1. Presentation of the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task p. 43 Force 2022 Annual Report City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 6 8/1/2022 Minutes  Stephen Gockley, Co-Chair of the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force, presented the group's 2022 Annual Report to the City Council. The purpose of the Task Force is to seek solutions to reduce and prevent incarceration while maintaining public safety. The Task Force includes a broad range of participants, including representatives from organizations involved in criminal justice and law enforcement, policy makers, service providers, members of the public, and consumers of services. Areas of focus from the most recent report include,  State of data within criminal and legal system to inform decision-making  Racial Equity  Improve communication with stakeholders and community  Improve non-law enforcement responses  Staff retention and shortages An invitation was extended to the Co-Chairs to return for a presentation highlighting areas for community investment and improvement and the necessary funding to implement. 23342 2. Update on Immigration Resource Center p.69 Brian Heinrich, Deputy Administrator, provided an update on the development of an Immigration Resource Center. Staff continue outreach and research into resource center models. Currently evaluating three possible models, 1) City funded and staffed; 2) Joint partnership center with other government agency; or 3) Contract for Service with existing third-party. Anticipate returning this fall with additional information. 23382 3. Resolution to Support the Continuation of the County-Wide EMS Levy p.70 Mayor Fleetwood and Fire Chief Bill Hewett returned to discuss the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Levy. On July 26, 2022 the Whatcom County Council approved an ordinance to place a renewal of the countywide EMS Levy on the ballot for the November 2022 general election pursuant to state law (RCW 84.52.069). The levy rate will be $.295 per $1,000 of assessed value if approved by the voters. State law requires that the City Council approve the proposed tax measure before it may be placed on the ballot. Michael Lilliquist / Hollie Huthman moved final approval of Resolution #2022-15. MOTION CARRIED 6-1. Opposed: Lisa Anderson City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 6 8/1/2022 Minutes  Michael Lilliquist / Hollie Huthman moved to request the Council President and Administration formulate a resolution in support of the ballot measure to be brought before Council for consideration. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Abstained: Lisa Anderson 23182 4. Post Point Resource Recovery Project - Community Outreach Update p.129 Eric Johnston, Director of Public Works, and Mike Thorstenson and Holly Tichenor, Brown and Caldwell, shared the framework for a community outreach effort in phases over two years regarding the Post Point Resource Recovery Project. The outreach effort includes a concept on how to broaden the public view of the major investments needed at Post Point over the next 10 years. 23391 5. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes p.150 Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Michael Lilliquist moved approval of the July 25, 2022 minutes of the regular City Council meeting as submitted. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Abstained: Hollie Huthman, Lisa Anderson 6. Old/New Business Councilmember Hammill, Councilmember Williams, Council President Stone, and Mayor Fleetwood recently met with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to learn more about timber harvest and sales. Mayor Fleetwood recognized the appointment of Don Burdick as the new ITSD Director effective August 1st, 2022 and thanked Scott Elsner for serving as the Interim Director. Council welcomed back Councilmember Huthman. Executive Session 3:45 PM Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only: 1. Potential Property Acquisition (Potter, approx. 10 min) Staff provided information on a potential property acquisition. For information and discussion. No action taken. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 6 8/1/2022 Minutes 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. 23417 1. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued July 15, 2022 through July p.159 21, 2022 23418 2. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated July 01, 2022 to p.160 July 15, 2022 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 7:52pm. Hannah Stone, Council President ATTEST: Kelley Goetz, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 8/29/2022 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 6 8/1/2022 Minutes