City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 9, 2025, 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 Huthman at 7:00pm. Announcements & Upcoming Meetings: Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the State of Washington Open Public Meetings Act. 1. Land Acknowledgement Statement Before we begin, we acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional and unceded territory of the Lummi, Nooksack, Samish and Semiahmoo People who have cared for and tended this land since time immemorial. Truth and acknowledgment are critical to building mutual respect and connection across all barriers of heritage and difference. We begin this effort to acknowledge what has been buried by honoring the truth. We pay respect to their elders past and present. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that bring us together here today. And please join us in uncovering such truths at any and all public events. 2. Language Access The Bellingham City Council provides Spanish interpretation at all regular evening meetings. Interpretation can be accessed by in-person attendees by utilizing the headsets located at the front of the room. Remote viewers can log on to cob.org/cczoom and click on the “Language” icon at the bottom of the screen to listen in Spanish. Roll Call Present: Council President Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Council Member Hannah Stone, First 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 Jace Cotton, At-Large Mayor's Report Standing time for briefings, updates, and reports to Council by the Mayor. 24572 1. Mayor's Appointment to Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors (Information) p. 7 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 7 6/9/2025 Minutes  Mayor Lund appointed Kendra Bradford to a third term on the Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors. 24573 2. Mayor's Appointment to the Planning and Development Commission (Approval) p. 13 Mayor Lund appointed Lisa Marx to a first term on the Planning and Development Commission. Jace Cotton / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of Lisa Marx to a first term on the Planning and Development Commission. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24574 3. Mayor's Appointment to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (Information) p. 17 Mayor Lund appointed Josiah Raffel-Smith to the one-year student term on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. Public Hearing 24560 1. Public Hearing Regarding the Draft 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program p. 23 (TIP) Joel Pfundt, Public Works Director, presented the draft 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which is the City's comprehensive transportation planning and funding document. The Transportation Commission endorsed the Six-Year TIP at the May 13, 2025 meeting and Council will consider for approval at the June 23, 2025 meeting. Council Members discussed the plan and asked questions. Council President Huthman opened the public hearing. Two individuals provided testimony. Council President Huthman closed the public hearing. 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 9:00 AM Hollie Huthman, Chair Hannah Stone, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton 24501 1. Work Session on an Ordinance Relating to Landlord Tenant Relations, Adopting a p. 63 New Chapter in Title 6 of the Bellingham Municipal Code Prohibiting Landlords from City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 7 6/9/2025 Minutes  Charging Tenants Unfair or Excessive Fees in Residential Rental Agreements and Leases City Council continued work session discussions on the draft ordinance relating to rental fees. For more information on the amendments, see the Committee of the Whole minutes. Hollie Huthman / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading as amended during the Committee of the Whole meeting. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to request the Legislative Policy Analyst to research civil and legal aid available to renters, focusing on the capacity and availability of mediation services for landlords and renters during disputes. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24502 2. Work Session on an Ordinance Related to Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord p. 74 Tenant Relations, Adopting a New Chapter in Title 6 of the Bellingham Municipal Code Prohibiting Landlords from Charging Unfair or Excessive Fees in Manufactured/Mobile Home Lease Agreements City Council continued work session discussions on the draft ordinance relating to manufactured/mobile home fees. For more information on the amendments, see the Committee of the Whole minutes from June 2, 2025 and this afternoon. Hollie Huthman / Daniel Hammill moved for first and second reading as amended during the Committee of the Whole meeting. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Hollie Huthman / Michael Lilliquist moved to request the Legislative Policy Analyst to monitor the long-term impacts of the rental ordinances, especially impacts on pet rental policies. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24561 3. Update from State Representative Ramel on 2025 Legislative Session p. 92 State Representative Alex Ramel (40th Legislative District) provided a summary of activity from the 2025 state legislative session. Council Members discussed the session and asked questions. 24575 4. Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) Presentation p. 93 Jason Korneliussen, Strategic Initiatives Manager for Health & Human Services, Marisa Schoeppach, Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) Manager, and Cheri Johnson, Team Coordinator, provided an update on the team's work in the community connecting individuals with basic needs such as food, City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 7 6/9/2025 Minutes  shelter, medical care, and more. Council Members discussed the outreach and community efforts and asked questions. 24576 5. A Non-Binding Multi-Jurisdictional Resolution Regarding Population, Housing and p. 110 Employment Allocations. Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, and Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, presented on the non-binding resolution, which creates a population reference for each jurisdiction's land use and capital facility planning efforts for the comprehensive plan update. The Whatcom County Council approved a comparable resolution on March 11, 2025. Council Members discussed the resolution, and asked questions. Hollie Huthman / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved final approval of Resolution #2025-08. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24562 6. A Resolution Reaffirming the City of Bellingham as a Welcoming City Where People p. 122 Have a Right to Live Free of Discrimination, Violence and Systemic Barriers that Threaten Their Safety, Well-Being and Human Rights Council Member Stone presented on the draft Resolution, which rewrites Resolution #2017-10 affirming the City's policies and values relating to the safety of all people residing in Bellingham. Council Members discuss the resolution, thanked Council Member Stone for her work, and asked questions. An ordinance will be forthcoming. Hollie Huthman / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved final approval of Resolution #2025-09 as amended during the Committee of the Whole meeting. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 7. Old/New Business No discussion items for Old/New Business. Executive Session 11:00 AM Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only: 1. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 3 min.) Staff provided information on a potential Lake Whatcom Watershed property acquisition. For information and discussion. No action taken. 2. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 3 min.) Staff provided information on a potential Lake Whatcom Watershed property acquisition. For information and discussion. No action taken. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 7 6/9/2025 Minutes  3. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 3 min.) Staff provided information on a potential Lake Whatcom Watershed property acquisition. For information and discussion. No action taken. 4. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 3 min.) Staff provided information on a potential property acquisition. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to authorize the Mayor to purchase a 0.66-acre parcel, AFN 380236 504432, from Whatcom County for $15,000. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 5. Litigation: Land v. City of Bellingham, et. al. (Erb & Chaplin, approx. 15 min.) Staff provided information on a litigation matter. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Jace Cotton moved to authorize the Mayor to retain special counsel to represent city employees who were named as individual defendants in this matter. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 6. Potential Litigation (Marriner, approx. 15 min.) Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. Public Works and Natural Resources 3:30 PM Hannah Stone, Chair Lisa Anderson, Jace Cotton 24563 1. Cornwall Avenue Landfill Cleanup Public Works Board Loan Acceptance (EC018) p. 136 Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering, and Amy Kraham, Assistant City Attorney, presented on a loan agreement, administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce, to pay for a portion of the Cornwall Avenue Landfill Site Cleanup construction in connection with cleanup at the R.G. Haley site, and Salish Landing Park. The loan is for $7,345,000 at 1.71% interest over 20 years with no prepayment penalty. Council Members discussed the loan agreement and asked questions. Hannah Stone / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of the Mayor to enter into the Public Works Board Construction Funding Agreement with the Washington State Department of Commerce. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 7 6/9/2025 Minutes  MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24564 2. Community Tree Programs Pilot, Results and Next Steps p. 169 Joel Pfundt, Public Works Director, and Analiese Burns, Habitat & Restoration Manager, provided an update on the Community Tree Pilot Program. Council Members discussed the pilot program and asked questions. Staff also acknowledged that Renee LaCroix, Assistant Director of Natural Resources, is retiring after 25 years of service to the community. Budget and Finance 4:05 PM Lisa Anderson, Chair Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist 24565 1. First Quarter Financial Review p. 188 Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, and Eric Johnson, Budget & Treasury Manager, provided an update on the City's financial position at the end of Q1 2025. The presentation slides are available online. Council Members discussed the presentation and asked questions. 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. 24566 1. Approval of the 5/19/2025 City Council Committee and Regular Meeting Minutes p. 207 24567 2. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated May 1, 2025 to May 15, 2025 p. 223 24571 3. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued May 09, 2025 through May 15, 2025 p. 224 24568 4. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued May 16, 2025 through May 22, 2025 p. 225 24569 5. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued May 23, 2025 through May 29, 2025 p. 226 24570 6. Interagency Agreement for the Transfer of the Academy Road Stormwater Facility p. 227 from Whatcom County to the City of Bellingham Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Michael Lilliquist moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final Consideration of Ordinances 24540 1. An Ordinance of the City Of Bellingham Amending Chapter 17.82 BMC (Multifamily p. 324 Tax Exemption Program) to Expand the Areas Eligible for the 8-Year Market Rate and City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 7 6/9/2025 Minutes  12-Year Affordable Housing Programs, Allow Exemptions for Co-Living Housing, Add a 20-Year Exemption for Permanently Affordable Homeowner Daniel Hammill / Michael Lilliquist 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: Huthman, Stone, Hammill, Williams, Anderson, Lilliquist, Cotton NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED 7-0 and was thereafter named Ordinance #2025-06-009. Public Comment Period City Council heard public comments from fifteen individuals. To access the recording visit, Public Comment Period Recordings - City of Bellingham. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Hollie Huthman, Council President ATTEST: Kelley Goetz, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 7/7/2025 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 7 of 7 6/9/2025 Minutes