City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 7, 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. 3. Upcoming Public Hearings The City Council will hold two public hearings on July 21, 2025: 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. 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 Detailed information on each of these hearings can be found on www.meetings.cob.org five days prior to the hearing. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 6 7/7/2025 Minutes  4. Council Seeks Members for Initiative Pro and Con Committees The City Council is seeking volunteers to serve on committees tasked with writing the pro and con statements to appear in the Voters’ Pamphlet for City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2025-03, prohibiting landlords from interfering with tenants engaged in protected activities. Please submit your name to ccmail@cob.org if you are interested in serving on either of the committees. The Council will appoint up to three members to serve on each committee. 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 Public Hearing 24590 1. Public Hearing on a Resolution Authorizing the Relinquishment of a Public Utility p. 6 Easement Located Within Vacated Otis Street and East Laurel Street that is Surplus to the City's Needs Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering, presented the resolution, which relinquishes a public utility easement at 1003 Otis Street to allow for development of private property. The easement that encumbers the subject property is surplus to the City’s needs and not needed for utility service. Council Members discussed the easement and resolution, and asked questions. Council President Huthman opened the public hearing. No individuals provided testimony. Council President Huthman closed the public hearing. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved final approval of Resolution #2025-11. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Mayor's Report Standing time for briefings, updates, and reports to Council by the Mayor. There was no Mayor's Report. Regular Meeting and Committee Sessions The following are heard in both Committee sessions and Regular Meeting in order below: City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 6 7/7/2025 Minutes Council Standing Committee Meetings: Public Works and Natural Resources 1:00 PM Hannah Stone, Chair Lisa Anderson, Jace Cotton 24591 1. Request for Water Service Outside City Limits at 1606 Mt. Baker Highway p. 17 Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering, presented the request for City water service from the property owners at 1606 Mt Baker Highway. The Whatcom County Health Department informed the owners that their well is unsafe as a drinking water source. Pursuant to Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 15.36, the City is authorized to establish a new retail water service connection outside the City's urban growth area if the service is necessary to protect basic public health and safety, the environment, and will not permit urban development. Council Members discussed the water service request and asked questions. Hannah Stone / Lisa Anderson moved to authorize the Mayor to execute a contract to provide retail water service to 1606 Mt. Baker Highway. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24592 2. Whatcom Region Safety Action Plan Presentation p. 32 Joel Pfundt, Public Works Director, and Hugh Conroy, Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG) Director, presented on the Whatcom Region Safety Action Plan, which aims to improve transportation safety in the area. On June 11, 2025, the Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG) Transportation Policy Board adopted the Whatcom Region Safety Action Plan. Council Members discussed the plan and asked questions. Budget and Finance 1:40 PM Lisa Anderson, Chair Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist 24593 1. Utility-wide Financial Update, Proposed Rate Increases, and Proposed Expansion of p. 55 Customer Assistance Program Mike Olinger, Public Works Deputy Director, Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering, Tage Aaker, Senior Project Manager at FCS, and Forrest Longman, Deputy Administrator, provided an update on utility funding, and the following draft ordinances with proposed utility rate increases and the expansion of the City's Customer Assistance Program. Council Members discussed the proposed ordinances, and asked questions. 24594 2. An Ordinance Regarding Water Utility Use Rates; Amending Bellingham Municipal p. 92 Code Chapter 15.08 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 6 7/7/2025 Minutes  Lisa Anderson / Daniel Hammill moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24595 3. An Ordinance Regarding Sewer Utility Use Rates; Amending Bellingham Municipal p. 109 Code Chapter 15.12 Lisa Anderson / Daniel Hammill moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24596 4. An Ordinance Regarding Surface and Stormwater Utility Service Rates; Amending p. 117 Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 15.16 Lisa Anderson / Daniel Hammill moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24597 5. An Ordinance Regarding the City’s Utility Customer Assistance Program for Low p. 123 Income Households; Amending Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 15.04 Lisa Anderson / Daniel Hammill moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Parks and Recreation 3:05 PM Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Chair Hannah Stone, Jace Cotton 24598 1. Contract Award for Hundred Acre Wood Phase 1B Improvements, Bid#14B-2025 p. 127 Nicole Oliver, Parks & Recreation Director, and Gina Austin, Parks Project Engineer, presented the contract award for the Hundred Acre Wood Phase 1B Improvements Project. The project phase includes mitigation planting, habitat restoration, and improvements for existing trails. Council Members discussed the project and asked questions. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Michael Lilliquist moved to award contract No. 14B-2025 for the Sunset Pond Loop Trail Project to Faber Construction, as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder and authorize the Mayor to enter into a contract with them for the amount of $719,331.33, which includes any applicable WSST. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Committee Of The Whole 3:15 PM Hollie Huthman, Chair Hannah Stone, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 6 7/7/2025 Minutes 24589 1. An Ordinance Relating to Equal Protection and Equal Provision of City Services p. 133 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 returned to Council to discuss additional revisions to the 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, provided feedback, and asked questions. See the Committee of the Whole minutes for additional amendment details. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Jace Cotton moved for first reading as amended during the Committee of the Whole meeting. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Jace Cotton / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved for second reading as amended during the Committee of the Whole meeting. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Michael Lilliquist / Daniel Hammill moved to assign the Legislative Policy Analyst to track LGBTQ+ related bills that are assigned to committee in the Washington State Legislature as a standing work item. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 2. Old/New Business There were no discussion items for Old/New Business. Executive Session 3:55 PM Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only: 1. Litigation: Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals Matter (Chaplin, approx. 10 min.) Staff provided information on an ongoing appeal before the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals. Daniel Hammill / Lisa Anderson moved to authorize outside counsel to enter into an agreement to settle a worker’s compensation appeal for $21,422.30. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 2. Potential Litigation (Erb, approx. 10 min.) ITEM ADDED 7.7.25 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 6 7/7/2025 Minutes  Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. Direction given. 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. 24599 1. Approval of the 6/2/2025 Special City Council Meeting Minutes p. 141 24600 2. Approval of the 6/9/2025 City Council Committee and Regular Meeting Minutes p. 146 24601 3. Approval of the 6/23/2025 City Council Committee and Regular Meeting Minutes p. 164 24602 4. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued June 12, 2025 through June 18, 2025 p. 177 24603 5. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated June 1, 2025 to June 15, 2025 p. 178 24604 6. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued June 20, 2025 through June 26, 2025 p. 179 Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Public Comment Period City Council heard public comments from 28 individuals. To access the recording visit, Public Comment Period Recordings - City of Bellingham. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:39 p.m. Hollie Huthman, Council President ATTEST: Kelley Goetz, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 7/21/2025 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 6 7/7/2025 Minutes