City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 11, 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 Hearing On August 25th, 2025, the Council will hold a public hearing for the consideration of a draft ordinance to amend several regulations in the Temporary Shelter Code, Chapter 20.15 of the Bellingham Municipal Code. Further details can be found at 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 Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Jace Cotton, At-Large City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 8 8/11/2025 Minutes  Excused Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Public Hearing 24634 1. Public Hearing for an Ordinance Relating to the Preservation of Landmark Trees and p. 7 Extending the Interim Development Regulations with Respect to Landmark Trees Throughout the City Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, presented the ordinance extending the interim landmark tree development regulations. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Council President Huthman opened the public hearing. Four individuals spoke at the public hearing. Council President Huthman closed the public hearing. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Mayor's Report Standing time for briefings, updates, and reports to Council by the Mayor. 24617 1. Mayor's Reappointment to the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission p. 27 (Information) Mayor Lund reappointed Jessica Orr as the South Neighborhood Representative on the Neighborhood Advisory Committee to a first full term, which will expire on August 16, 2027. Mayor Lund provided an update on the Lake Padden Creek diesel spill and how the City is addressing it. Mayor Lund highlighted her One City Initiative to shape the City’s operations. She thanked staff for the opportunity to shadow and learn from them about their work. 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 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 8 8/11/2025 Minutes 24618 1. Authorization to Negotiate a Surplus Timber Sale - The North Beaver Preserve p. 30 Thinning Project Mike Olinger, Deputy Director of Public Works, and Mike Parelskin, Superintendent of Natural Resources Maintenance, presented the proposal to thin the North Beaver Preserve and negotiate a sale of surplus timber harvest. Council Members discussed the agreement and asked questions. Hannah Stone / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of forest thinning through a negotiated surplus timber contract with Janicki Logging and Construction Co., Inc., as authorized by the City's surplus property procedures in Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 4.86. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24619 2. Interagency Agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology for p. 34 Funding and Support of the City of Bellingham's Pollution Prevention Assistance Program Joel Pfundt, Public Works Director, presented the interagency agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology to fund the City of Bellingham's Pollution Prevention Assistance Program. Council Members discussed the agreement and asked questions. Hannah Stone / Daniel Hammill moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an interagency agreement with the Department of Ecology for financial support of the City of Bellingham’s Pollution Prevention Program. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Parks and Recreation 10:55 AM Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Chair Hannah Stone, Jace Cotton 24620 1. Boulevard Park Shoreline and Public Access Enhancement Noise Variance p. 64 Nicole Oliver, Parks & Recreation Director, and Gina Austin, Parks Project Engineer, presented the noise variance request for the Boulevard Park Shoreline Enhancement Project. Council Members discussed the noise variance request and asked questions. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Jace Cotton moved to recommend approval of the noise variance for Boulevard Park Shoreline Enhancement Project between October 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24621 2. Resolution to Increase the Facility Reinvestment and Water Conservation Surcharge p. 67 Rate at Lake Padden Golf Course City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 8 8/11/2025 Minutes  Nicole Oliver, Parks & Recreation Director, Steve Janiszewski, Parks Operations Manager, and Mike Fosnick, Director of Operations at Troon/Premier Golf Centers, presented the draft resolution to increase the facility reinvestment and water conservation surcharge rates at the Lake Padden Golf Course. Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Jace Cotton moved final approval of Resolution #2025-13. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Community and Economic Development 1:00 PM Jace Cotton, Chair Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams 24624 1. Presentation from the Whatcom Working Waterfront Foundation on Education and p. 88 Enhancement Endeavors Deb Granger, Interim Managing Director at the Working Waterfront Foundation, and Dan Tucker, Executive Director of the Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition, presented an update on their programs including the Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship, Buoyant Beginnings Program, and the Marine, Economic, and Research Institute for Sustainability (MERIS) project. Council Members discussed the presentation and asked questions. Committee Of The Whole 1:35 PM Hollie Huthman, Chair Hannah Stone, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton 24605 1. An Ordinance Relating to Land Use and Zoning, Amending the Bellingham p. 103 Comprehensive Plan, Amending the Barkley Neighborhood Plan, Including Land Use Areas 9, 13-20 And 25 and Amending the Land Use Development Code (Title 20) for the Purpose of Adopting the Barkley Urban Village Subarea Plan and Associated Development Regulations Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, Darby Galligan, Senior Planner, Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, Kurt Nabbefield, Planning Development Services Manager, Steve Sundin, Senior Planner, Amalia Leighton, Owner & Director of Engineering at Toole Design, John Moullen, Development Consultant from Talbot Group, and Ben Besley, CEO of Talbot Group, returned to Council to discuss the draft ordinance and answer questions from the July 21, 2025 Public Hearing. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Hollie Huthman / Michael Lilliquist moved for first and second reading with the removal of the nonconformity language in the development regulations. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 8 8/11/2025 Minutes 24606 2. An Ordinance Establishing the Barkley Village Planned Action Pursuant to the State p. 201 Environmental Policy Act, Adding a new Section to BMC 16.30, and Amending BMC 16.30.020 Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, Darby Galligan, Senior Planner, Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, Kurt Nabbefield, Planning Development Services Manager, Steve Sundin, Senior Planner, Amalia Leighton, Owner & Director of Engineering at Toole Design, John Moullen, Development Consultant from Talbot Group, and Ben Besley, CEO of Talbot Group, returned to Council to discuss the draft ordinance and answer questions from the July 21, 2025 Public Hearing. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Hollie Huthman / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading with the additional notification language if work is completed within 100 feet of the Transmountain pipeline. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24607 3. A Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Development Agreement with p. 227 Talbot Real Estate, LLC, Setting Forth the Terms and Conditions for the Anticipated Buildout of Barkley Village Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, Darby Galligan, Senior Planner, Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, Kurt Nabbefield, Planning Development Services Manager, Steve Sundin, Senior Planner, Amalia Leighton, Owner & Director of Engineering at Toole Design, John Moullen, Development Consultant from Talbot Group, and Ben Besley, CEO of Talbot Group, returned to Council to discuss the draft resolution, and answer questions from the July 21, 2025 Public Hearing. Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. Hollie Huthman / Daniel Hammill moved final approval of Resolution #2025-14. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 4. Old/New Business Council Member Stone is working with the administration to explore state law and whether the City can change the At-Large Council Member term from a two-year to a four-year term. Council Member Hammill recently spent time with Community Paramedic and Ground-Level Response and Coordinated Engagement (GRACE) Program staff and expressed gratitude for their work. Later this summer, he will be traveling to Seattle to learn more about their REACH and Emergency Services Programs and riding along with Bellingham Police Department’s Bike Patrol. Council Member Lilliquist shared that the tiny home village on Northwest Ave will be opening soon and invited the community to attend the grand opening on Tuesday, August 26 at 3 p.m. Executive Session 2:40 PM Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only: City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 8 8/11/2025 Minutes  1. Potential Litigation (Stamps, approx. 15 min.) Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. 2. Potential Litigation (Phillips, approx. 15 min.) Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. 3. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 3 min.) Staff provided information on a potential Lake Whatcom Watershed property acquisition totaling 5.92 acres with one potential development unit. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill 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, Robert Cessaro and Christa Russell, with a purchase price of $310,000. Closing is scheduled to occur on or around September 5, 2025. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 4. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 3 min.) Staff provided information on a potential Lake Whatcom Watershed property acquisition totaling 5.96 acres with one potential development unit. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill 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, The Dubois 1988 Trust, with a purchase price of $1,450,000. Closing is scheduled to occur on or around September 5, 2025. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 5. 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. Planning 3:20 PM Michael Lilliquist, Chair Hannah Stone, Lisa Anderson 24623 1. Consideration of Proposed Amendments to Countywide Planning Policies p. 253 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 8 8/11/2025 Minutes  Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, and Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, presented a package of amendments to Countywide Planning Policies (CWPPs) as required by the Growth Management Act for use as a guide to comprehensive plans. The Whatcom County Council approved the proposed changes on May 27, 2025. Council Members discussed the proposed changes and asked questions. Michael Lilliquist / Daniel Hammill moved to recommend adoption of the amended Countywide Planning Policies as presented. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 24622 2. Code Update Work Plan p. 316 Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, presented a revised work plan for the department to accommodate State Senate Bill 5558, which inadvertently reduced the City’s time to complete its comprehensive plan update. Council Members discussed the proposed changes 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. 24625 1. Approval of the 7/21/2025 City Council Committee and Regular Meeting Minutes p. 321 24626 2. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued July 11, 2025 through July 17, 2025 p. 334 24627 3. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued July 18, 2025 through July 24, 2025 p. 335 24628 4. A Resolution Setting the Date and Time for a Public Hearing Before the Hearing p. 336 Examiner to Consider a Street Vacation Petition to Vacate the Western One-Half of Iron Street Abutting Big Rock Park for Future Park Expansion Approved as Resolution #2025-15. 24629 5. A Resolution Setting the Date and Time for a Public Hearing Before the Hearing p. 340 Examiner to Consider a Street Vacation Petition to Vacate a Portion of Alley Between Iowa and Kentucky Streets and Between Pacific and Racine Streets Approved as Resolution #2025-16. 24630 6. Inter-Agency Agreement between the Bellingham Police Department and p. 344 Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center (WSCJTC). 24631 7. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated July 1, 2025 to July 15, 2025 p. 353 24632 8. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued July 25, 2025 through July 31, 2025 p. 354 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 7 of 8 8/11/2025 Minutes 24633 9. Amendments to Interlocal Agreement Regarding Bellingham-Whatcom County p. 355 Commission Against Domestic & Sexual Violence Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Public Comment Period City Council heard public comments from 15 individuals. To access the recording visit, Public Comment Period Recordings - City of Bellingham. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Hollie Huthman, Council President ATTEST: Kelley Goetz, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 8/25/2025 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 8 of 8 8/11/2025 Minutes