City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 15, 2024, 7:00 PM Mayor: Kimberley Lund 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 Jace Cotton Call to Order The City Council Regular meeting was called to order by Council President Pro Tempore Huthman at 7:00pm. Announcements & Upcoming Meetings: Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the State of Washington Open Public Meetings Act. Roll Call Present: Council Member Hannah Stone, First Ward Council Member Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Council Member Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Fourth Ward Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Jace Cotton, At-Large Excused Council President Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Mayor's Report Standing time for briefings, updates, and reports to Council by the Mayor. 24085 1. Mayor's Appointments to the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission p. 6 (Information) Mayor Lund made the following appointments to the Neighborhood Advisory Commission,  Jasmine Fast as the Cordata Neighborhood Representative to her first term, which will expire on April 9, 2026;  Kit Topaz as the Columbia Neighborhood Representative to her first full term, which will expire on February 14, 2026;  Jan Dietzgen as the Fairhaven Neighborhood Representative to her first partial term, which will expire on October 18, 2024. 24096 2. Appointments to Whatcom Racial Equity Commission (WREC) (Approval) p. 13 Mayor Lund will return and request Council's approval of the inaugural members of the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission (WREC) at the May 6, 2024 Council meeting. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 5 4/15/2024 Minutes  Mayor Lund highlighted the recent ground-turning ceremony for Western Washington University's House of Healing Longhouse. Mayor Lund recognized the communications team for their work to improve communications within the City and with the public about key City actions. Regular Meeting and Committee Sessions The following are heard in both Committee sessions and Regular Meeting in order below: Council Standing Committee Meetings: Committee Of The Whole 1:00 PM Daniel Hammill, Chair Hannah Stone, Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton 24086 1. Presentation on Whatcom Racial Equity Commission Appointment Process p. 113 Janice Keller, Interim Deputy Administrator/Communications Director introduced Shu-Ling Zhao, Community Advancement Director for the Chuckanut Health Foundation, who presented on the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission (WREC) appointment process. The WREC was created in 2022 and is a quasi-governmental entity formed to eliminate racial inequities throughout Whatcom County. The Whatcom County Council confirmed a membership roster on April 9, 2024. Council thanked Ms. Zhao for her work, discussed, and asked questions. (See also WREC appointments for Council consideration at April 15 Regular Meeting, AB 24096) 24087 2. EDI Program Loan and Grant Agreement - Old Town Urban Village (ES562) p. 127 Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, and Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering, presented the funding agreement to allow for infrastructure improvements in the Old Town Urban Village. Whatcom County approved $3,000,000 in funding from the Economic Development Investment (EDI) Program, comprised of a $1,500,000 loan and a $1,500,000 grant for the project. The total project cost is estimated at $5,350,000 and the City anticipates using Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) funds for the remaining costs. The funding agreement must be approved by the City Council and the County Council. Council Members discussed the project and funding agreement and asked questions. Hollie Huthman / Michael Lilliquist moved to recommend approval of the funding agreement for the Old Town Urban Village infrastructure improvements project. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 24089 3. An Ordinance Amending the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget – Amendment No. 12 p. 200 Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation Director, and Steve Janiszewski, Park Operations Manager, presented the budget amendment ordinance. The ordinance adds 9.5 FTEs, equating to ten City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 5 4/15/2024 Minutes  positions, and new fleet and equipment to better manage Bellingham's park system. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Hollie Huthman / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 24088 4. Presentation of the Draft Urban Forest Plan p. 223 Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, Analiese Burns, Habitat and Restoration Manager, Renee LaCroix, Assistant Director of Natural Resources, Amelia Needoba, Project Manager at Diamond Head Consulting, Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation Director, and Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, presented the draft Urban Forest Plan (UFP) to Council. The UFP is to serve as a city-wide strategic plan to maintain a healthy urban forest. The plan will be voted upon by Council in early summer of 2024. Council Members discussed the UFP and asked questions. This item will return for additional discussion at an upcoming meeting. The draft plan is available on the City website and the presentation is available here. 5. Old/New Business No discussion items. Executive Session 2:35 PM Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only: 1. Litigation: Offen-Pearson v. COB and Lyons (Good, approx. 10 min.) Staff provided information on a litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. 2. Litigation: Ghanbari v. COB (Good, approx. 10 min.) Staff provided information on a litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. 3. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 3 min.) Staff provided information on a potential watershed property acquisition. Information and discussion only. No action taken. 4. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 3 min.) Staff provided information on a potential watershed property acquisition. Information and discussion only. No action taken. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 5 4/15/2024 Minutes Public Works and Natural Resources 3:15 PM Hannah Stone, Chair Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist 24090 1. Noise Variance - Woburn Sanitary Sewer Replacement Paving, EU190 p. 225 Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, and Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering, presented a noise variance request (BMC 10.24.120) from Faber Construction for resurfacing work at night in the residential area on Woburn Street between Texas Street and Barkley Boulevard, and between Fraser Street and Old Woburn Street in the Roosevelt and Barkley Neighborhoods as part of the Woburn Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project. Council Members discussed the request and asked questions. Hannah Stone / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the noise variance to Faber Construction for the Woburn sanitary sewer replacement paving for up to ten business days beginning April 22, 2024. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 24091 2. 2024 Community Tree Program p. 230 Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, Renee LaCroix, Assistant Director of Natural Resources, and Analiese Burns, Habitat and Restorations Manager, presented the 2024 Community Tree Program, which uses $100,000 authorized by Council to support tree planting efforts across Bellingham. The program includes coupons for trees at local nurseries, partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, and neighborhood associations, providing trees directly to residents at no cost and other educational efforts. Council Members discussed the program and asked questions. Community and Economic Development 4:00 PM Jace Cotton, Chair Hannah Stone, Hollie Huthman 24092 1. Presentation by Western Washington University's Small Business Development p. 246 Center (WWU SBDC) Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development Manager, CJ Seitz, Western Washington University's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Director, and Dr. Liliana Deck, Community Business Development Director at SBDC, provided an annual review of 2023 activities and accomplishments for the center. Council Members discussed the presentation and asked questions. The slides for this presentation are available here. Parks and Recreation 4:25 PM Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Chair Hollie Huthman, Jace Cotton City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 5 4/15/2024 Minutes 24093 1. Resolution Authorizing Application for Recreation and Conservation Office Grant p. 259 (RCO) - Storybrook Park Phase One Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation Director, provided a summary of the resolution, which will allow the City to apply for a $500,000 grant from the Washington State Recreation and Conservations Office Grant (RCO) program for Phase 1 development of Storybrook Park. Phase 1 development design is estimated to cost approximately $2.1 million. The grant will be matched with Park Impact Fee Funds (PIF) and supplemented with REET funds. Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Hannah Stone moved final approval of Resolution #2024-04. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 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. 24094 1. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued March 29, 2024 through April 04, 2024 p. 264 24095 2. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated March 16, 2024 to March 31, p. 265 2024 Michael Lilliquist / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Public Comment Period City Council heard public comments from six individuals. To access the recording visit, Public Comment Period Recordings - City of Bellingham (cob.org). Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:52pm. Hollie Huthman, Council President Pro Tempore ATTEST: Kelley Goetz, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 5/6/2024 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 5 4/15/2024 Minutes