City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 23, 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 7:00 p.m. 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. 3. Upcoming Public Hearings The City Council has three upcoming public hearings scheduled: On July 7, the Council will hold a public hearing on a proposed resolution for the City to relinquish a portion of a general utility easement retained within vacated Otis Street and E Laurel Street as described in Ordinance 7207. On July 21, the Council will hold a public hearing for consideration of a petition by property owners to annex approximately 146-acres of land into the City of Bellingham. The annexation area is located within the City's northern urban growth area, adjacent to the city limits, and known as the Britton Road / Northern Heights annexation. On July 21, the Council will hold a public hearing for consideration of the adoption of the Barkley Urban Village and associated development regulations, on property owned primarily by Talbot Real Estate LLC City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 7 6/23/2025 Minutes  Detailed information on each of these hearings can be found on www.meetings.cob.org five days prior to the hearing. 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. 24577 1. Mayor's Appointments to the Transportation Commission (Approval) p. 6 Mayor Lund appointed Andrea Reiter and Jonathan Huegel to three-year terms on the Transportation Commission. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Lisa Anderson moved to recommend approval of Andrea Reiter and Jonathan Huegel to three-year terms on the Transportation Commission. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24587 2. Mayor’s appointments to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District Board of p. 14 Directors (Approval) Mayor Lund made the following appointments to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District (PFD) Board of Directors: • Dr. Sati Mookherjee to a first term, to fill a vacancy in a position. • Bruce Tabb to a first term, to fill a vacancy that will be created when a current member’s term ends. These nominations and appointments are made jointly with the Whatcom County Executive. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Michael Lilliquist moved to recommend approval of Dr. Sati Mookherjee to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District (PFD) Board of Directors. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Jace Cotton moved to recommend approval of Bruce Tabb to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District (PFD) Board of Directors. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 7 6/23/2025 Minutes  MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Mayor Lund highlighted conversations from today's Committee of the Whole meeting to bring forward an ordinance codifying LGBTQ+ protections and emphasized the City's values of equity, dignity, and respect for LGBTQ+ community members. Regular Meeting and Committee Sessions The following are heard in both Committee sessions and Regular Meeting in order below: Council Standing Committee Meetings: Public Works and Natural Resources 10:30 AM Hannah Stone, Chair Lisa Anderson, Jace Cotton 24578 1. Eldridge Avenue Non-Motorized Pilot Project Completion p. 21 Joel Pfundt, Public Works Director, and Jessica Bennett, Engineer, presented for Council's approval, the permanent acceptance of the non-motorized pilot project on Eldridge Avenue, which ran from April 2024 to April 2025. In October 2022, the City Council voted to approve as a pilot, the removal of on-street parking and installation of bike lanes on Eldridge Avenue. Council Members discussed the pilot project and asked questions. Hannah Stone / Jace Cotton moved to recommend approval of permanently retaining the Eldridge Avenue non-motorized pilot project. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24579 2. Resolution Adopting the 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program p. 205 On June 9, 2025, City Council held a public hearing on the Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (Six-Year TIP). Joel Pfundt, Public Works Director, returned to Council to request the approval of the resolution adopting the 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program. Council Members discussed the plan and asked questions. Hannah Stone / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved final approval of Resolution #2025-10. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Committee Of The Whole 1:00 PM Hollie Huthman, Chair Hannah Stone, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton 24588 1. Interlocal Agreement for Alternative Response Team (ART) Program Funding for p. 219 2025-26 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 7 6/23/2025 Minutes  Jason Korneliussen, Health & Human Services, Strategic Initiatives Manager, and Malora Christensen, Response Systems Division Manager at Whatcom County Health & Community Services Department, presented the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with Whatcom County for the Alternative Response Team (ART) program. Council Members discussed the ILA and asked questions. Hollie Huthman / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the Interlocal Agreement for the Alternative Response Team (ART) program with Whatcom County. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24589 2. An Ordinance Relating to Equal Protection and Equal Provision of City Services p. 225 Regardless of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Gender Expression, and Creating a New Chapter of the Bellingham Municipal Code Regarding Such Matters Council Member Stone presented the draft ordinance, which creates a new chapter of the Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) to provide equal protection of City services for LGBTQ+ community members. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Council plans to solicit community feedback prior to taking action on the ordinance. 3. Old/New Business There were no items for Old/New Business. Executive Session 2:05 PM 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 totaling 60 acres with three potential development units. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Lisa Anderson moved to authorize the Mayor to close the real estate transaction described in the City’s executed purchase and sale agreement with the property owners, Mary & James Jansky, with a purchase price of $730,000. Closing is to occur on or around July 18, 2025. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 2. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 3 min.) Staff provided information on a potential Lake Whatcom Watershed property acquisition totaling 88.80 acres with no potential development units. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 7 6/23/2025 Minutes  Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Lisa Anderson moved to authorize the Mayor to close the real estate transaction described in the City’s executed purchase and sale agreement with the property owner, Skykomish Resources, LLC, with a purchase price of $1,038,000 plus DFL compensating tax of approximately $35,000. Closing is to occur on or around July 18, 2025. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 3. Litigation: Land v. City of Bellingham, et. al. (Erb & Chaplin, approx. 10 min. Staff provided information on a litigation matter. Michael Lilliquist / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to authorize the Mayor to execute a negotiated settlement agreement with the plaintiffs in this matter. The City will pay the plaintiffs $150,000.00 in exchange for a dismissal of their complaint, with prejudice, against all named defendants. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 4. Potential Litigation, Claim No. 2025-30 (Phillips, approx. 5 min.) Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. Lisa Anderson / Daniel Hammill moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into a settlement agreement with Kenny and Kara Wybenga with the following terms: Resolution of Claim No. 2025- 20 for the payment of $31,719.35 to the claimants for damages related to this claim. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 5. Potential Litigation (Kraham and Chaplin, approx. 10 min.) Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Jace Cotton moved to authorize the Mayor to retain outside counsel to represent the City in litigation challenging federal grant conditions. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Planning 2:40 PM Michael Lilliquist, Chair Hannah Stone, Lisa Anderson 24585 1. Work Session to Continue Discussion of Shift from Neighborhood Plans to Citywide p. 233 Planning Processes Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, and Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, continued discussions on the shift from neighborhood-based to citywide land use City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 7 6/23/2025 Minutes  planning as part of the City's long-term growth strategy. Council Members discussed and asked questions. 24586 2. Work Session to Continue Discussion of Changes to Residential Zoning p. 239 Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, and Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, presented proposed changes to residential zoning in response to implementing State House Bill 1110. Council Members discussed the legislation, 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. 24580 1. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued May 30, 2025 through June 05, 2025 p. 241 24581 2. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated May 16, 2025 to May 31, 2025 p. 242 24582 3. Modification to Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Bellingham and Port of p. 243 Bellingham for City Labor Rate Increase for Mobile Radio Repairs 24583 4. Grant Agreement with Washington State Department of Commerce to Renovate and p. 253 Upgrade Field Lighting at Joe Martin Stadium 24584 5. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued June 06, 2025 through June 12, 2025 p. 288 Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final Consideration of Ordinances 24501 1. An Ordinance of the City of Bellingham, Washington, Relating to Landlord Tenant p. 289 Relations, Adopting a New Chapter in Title 6 of the Bellingham Municipal Code Prohibiting Landlords From Charging Tenants Unfair or Excessive Fees in Residential Rental Agreements and Leases Daniel Hammill / Jace Cotton 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 #2025-06-010. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 7 6/23/2025 Minutes 24502 2. An Ordinance of the City of Bellingham, Washington, Related to p. 300 Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord 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 Lot Lease Agreements Daniel Hammill / Jace Cotton 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 #2025-06-011. 24461 3. An Ordinance Relating to the Vacation of the Platted Alley Abutting Lots 14-18, Block p. 309 130, Fairhaven Land Company’s 2nd Add to Fairhaven, Whatcom County, Washington Michael Lilliquist / Daniel Hammill 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 #2025-06-012. Public Comment Period City Council heard public comments from 46 individuals. To access the recording visit, Public Comment Period Recordings - City of Bellingham. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:16 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 6/23/2025 Minutes