City Council - Regular Meeting

Name: City Council - Regular Meeting — Bellingham, WA
Start: 2026-01-05T19:00:00
End: 2026-01-05T21:00:00
Location: Bellingham, WA

Regular Meeting

Bellingham, WA · January 5, 2026

Agenda Minutes Packet Video Recording

Minutes

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 5, 2026, 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 Stone 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. Roll Call Present: Council President Hannah Stone, First Ward Council Member Hollie Huthman, Second 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. Mayor Lund wished the community, staff, and Council a Happy New Year. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 7 1/5/2026 Minutes Mayor Lund previewed forthcoming items for 2026 including: • Agenda improvement project to increase transparency and access to city council meeting materials beginning with the January 26, 2026 meeting. Agenda items will be published earlier, in a modernized template. Internally, a new staff user interface and revised workflows will improve reporting and streamline processes. Mayor Lund thanked staff from her office, City Council, legal, and finance for their efforts. • Creation of a state of city video instead of an address to modernize and create a more accessible, engaging format. • Plans for a series of townhall style meetings known loosely as the “department head road show” throughout the City to further engage with the community. Mayor Lund congratulated incoming Council President Stone and thanked Council Member Huthman for her leadership as last year’s Council President and incoming role as Council President Pro Tempore. She also expressed appreciation to Edwin H. "Skip" Williams for serving as Mayor Pro Tempore and thanked all Council Members for their dedication to service to the community. 24799 1. Mayor's reappointment to the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual p. 5 and Domestic Violence (information) Mayor Lund reappointed Christina Byrne to a first full term on the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence, which will expire on January 31, 2030. 24800 2. Mayor's appointment to the Community Development Advisory Board (information) p. 21 Mayor Lund appointed Amy Navarro to a first term on the Community Development Advisory Board, which will expire on January 5, 2029. 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 Hollie Huthman, Chair Hannah Stone, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton 24797 1. 2026 City Council reorganization p. 25 Hannah Stone / Michael Lilliquist moved to approve Council Member leadership positions: Council President: Hannah Stone Council President Pro Tempore: Hollie Huthman City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 7 1/5/2026 Minutes Mayor Pro Tempore: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams Budget and Finance: 1. Lisa Anderson (Chair) 2. Dan Hammill 3. Michael Lilliquist Community and Economic Development: 1. Jace Cotton (Chair) 2. Hollie Huthman 3. Edwin H. “Skip” Williams Parks and Recreation: 1. Edwin H. “Skip” Williams (Chair) 2. Jace Cotton 3. Dan Hammill Planning: 1. Hollie Huthman (Chair) 2. Lisa Anderson 3. Michael Lilliquist Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity: 1. Daniel Hammill (Chair) 2. Hollie Huthman 3. Edwin H. “Skip” Williams Public Works and Natural Resources: 1. Michael Lilliquist (Chair) 2. Lisa Anderson 3. Jace Cotton MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Hannah Stone / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to approve Council assignments: Community Development Advisory Board: Michael Lilliquist EMS Oversight Board: Daniel Hammill Fire Pension Board: City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 7 1/5/2026 Minutes Lisa Anderson Greenways Advisory Committee: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams Incarceration Prevention Task Force: Daniel Hammill Hollie Huthman, Proxy Justice Project Finance & Facility Advisory Board: Michael Lilliquist Justice Project Oversight & Implementation Committee: Daniel Hammill Lake Whatcom Policy Group: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams Lisa Anderson Library Board of Trustees: Daniel Hammill Mt. Baker Theatre Board: Hollie Huthman Open Space Committee - Joint City/County: Hollie Huthman Lisa Anderson Michael Lilliquist Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams Police Pension Board: Hannah Stone Tourism Commission/LTAC: Lisa Anderson WHAT-COMM Communications (911) Admin Board: Daniel Hammill Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG): Michael Lilliquist, Executive Committee Jace Cotton, Policy Committee City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 7 1/5/2026 Minutes Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee: Lisa Anderson Whatcom Museum Foundation Board: Jace Cotton Whatcom Racial Equity Commission: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams Whatcom Transportation Authority: Michael Lilliquist Jace Cotton MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24798 2. Presentation and discussion of 2026 City legislative agenda p. 102 Hannah Stone / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the City's 2026 legislative agenda. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 3. Old/New Business No discussions items for Old/New Business. Council President Stone seeks to find an alternative report out option from individual Council Members on their various assignments outside of Old/New Business. Executive Session 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 a litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. 2. Litigation: Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals Matter (Chaplin, approx. 10 min.) Staff provided information on a litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. 3. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 5 min.) Staff briefed Council on the City’s pending agreement to purchase a 5.02-acre property from Loren Demuth and Theresa Green and a 1.36-acre conservation easement located on a separate parcel owned by Loren Demuth and Theresa Green. The property is located in the Lake Whatcom Watershed and is identified by Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 370416023034 and 370416027095. The purchase price is $1,800,000.00. Closing is set to occur on or before January 30, 2026, subject to City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 7 1/5/2026 Minutes Council approval. The property will be acquired through the City’s Lake Whatcom Watershed Land Acquisition and Preservation Program using restricted funds dedicated to that purpose. The Program is funded by City water customers through a watershed surcharge on their utility bill. 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 Loren Demuth and Theresa Green, with a purchase price of $1,800,000.00. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 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. 24801 1. Approval of the 11/10/2025 City Council special meeting minutes p. 103 24802 2. Approval of the 11/17/2025 City Council committee and regular meeting minutes p. 107 24803 3. Approval of the 12/8/2025 City Council committee and regular meeting minutes p. 131 24804 4. Approval of the 12/15/2025 City Council committee and regular meeting minutes p. 162 24805 5. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued December 05, 2025 through December 11, p. 179 2025 24806 6. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued December 12, 2025 through December 18, p. 180 2025 Daniel Hammill / Hollie Huthman moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final Consideration of Ordinances 24787 1. An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Bellingham, Washington, Authorizing p. 181 the Issuance of One or More Series of Limited Tax General Obligation and Refunding Bonds in the Aggregate Principal Amount of Not to Exceed $19,000,000 to Finance Costs Related to Designing, Constructing, Improving and Equipping a 911 Dispatch Facility, Refunding Certain Outstanding Limited Tax General Obligations of the City, and Paying the Costs of Issuance of the Bonds; Delegating Authority to Approve the Method of Sale and Final Terms of the Bonds; and Approving Other Matters Related Thereto. Daniel Hammill / Hollie Huthman moved approval for third and final reading. Upon motion, said bill was placed on final passage and approved by the following roll call vote: City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 7 1/5/2026 Minutes AYES: Stone, Huthman, Hammill, Williams, Anderson, Lilliquist, Cotton NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED 7-0 and was thereafter named Ordinance #2026-01-001. Public Comment Period City Council heard public comments from five individuals. To access the recording visit, Public Comment Period Recordings - City of Bellingham. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m. Hannah Stone, Council President ATTEST: Kelley Goetz, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 1/26/2026 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 7 of 7 1/5/2026 Minutes

Agenda

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Agenda January 5, 2026, 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 Legislative Office Manager: Jackie Weller Watch Council Meetings Live The City Council Regular meetings are conducted in a hybrid setting: both in-person and online. In Person: All meetings are held in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, unless otherwise noted. The doors unlock at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. meeting. Live on YouTube and Comcast: Council meetings are streamed live via the City’s website at https://cob.org/meetings and on the City’s YouTube channel at https://cob.org/btv. Meetings are also broadcast on BTV: Comcast channels 321 and 10. Via Telephone: Members of the public who do not have cable or internet access may listen to the meeting via telephone by calling (253) 215-8782 and entering Meeting ID: 871 5188 5205 and Password: 9 Language Access: Spanish interpretation will be available at the Regular Meeting at 7:00 p.m. In-person attendees will have interpretation headsets available to them. Remote attendees can navigate to www.cob.org/cczoom to login via Zoom, then select the interpretation channel at the bottom of the screen. Those wishing to offer public comment in Spanish will be able to do so and their comments will be interpreted into English. Provide your Input During a Meeting: To speak during a Public Hearing or Public Comment Session, you must sign up in advance. Online sign up is available at https://cob.org/ccsignup on the day of the meeting. Sign-up sheets will also be available outside the Council Chamber doors starting at 6:30 p.m. the evening of the meeting. Sign-up, both online and in- person, closes at 7:00 p.m. Speakers may participate via the following options: • In person: Meetings are held in Council Chambers located at City Hall, 210 Lottie St., Bellingham • Remotely via Zoom: Use the following link to launch the Zoom meeting and follow staff instructions at the time of the hearing or public comment period: https://cob.org/cczoom. • Remotely via phone: Call (253) 215-8782 and enter Meeting ID 896 9801 2044 and Password 9. Follow staff instructions at the time of the hearing or public comment period. Before or After a Meeting: Advance written Public Hearing testimony and general written Public Comment can be presented: • By mail addressed to: City Council, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 • Electronically: o For a public hearing: https://cob.org/publichearing o For general public comment: E-mail all Council Members at ccmail@cob.org. Regular Meeting The following items are heard in the Regular Meeting only: Call to Order Announcements & Upcoming Meetings: Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the State of Washington Open 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 Mayor's Report Standing time for briefings, updates and reports to Council by the Mayor, if needed. Information only. 24799 1. Mayor's reappointment to the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual p. 5 and Domestic Violence (information) 24800 2. Mayor's appointment to the Community Development Advisory Board (information) p. 21 Regular Meeting and Committee Sessions The following are heard in both Committee sessions and Regular Meeting in order below: Council Standing Committee Meetings: Open to the public to attend. Note: there is generally no public comment period for Committee sessions. Standing Committee Members receive reports and information, ask questions and, when appropriate, vote on a recommended action for consideration by the full Council at the Regular Meeting. The Committee Meetings identified below also serves as notice for Special Meetings of the City Council as Council Members routinely attend and participate in Committees they are not a member of. Committee Chairs give a report of the Committee Meeting at the Regular Meeting in the evening prior to deliberation and formal vote in the order shown below: Committee Of The Whole 1:00 PM Note: This Committee will take place in the Mayor’s Boardroom, located on the second floor of City Hall 24797 1. 2026 City Council reorganization p. 25 24798 2. Presentation and discussion of 2026 City legislative agenda p. 102 3. Old/New Business Executive Session Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only: 1. Litigation: Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals Matter (Chaplin, approx. 10 min.) 2. Litigation: Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals Matter (Chaplin, approx. 10 min.) 3. Potential Property Aquisition (Stamps, approx. 5 min.) 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. 24801 1. Approval of the 11/10/2025 City Council special meeting minutes p. 103 24802 2. Approval of the 11/17/2025 City Council committee and regular meeting minutes p. 107 24803 3. Approval of the 12/8/2025 City Council committee and regular meeting minutes p. 131 24804 4. Approval of the 12/15/2025 City Council committee and regular meeting minutes p. 162 24805 5. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued Dec. 05, 2025 through Dec. 11, 2025 p. 179 24806 6. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued Dec. 12, 2025 through Dec. 18, 2025 p. 180 Final Consideration of Ordinances 24787 1. An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Bellingham, Washington, Authorizing p. 181 the Issuance of One or More Series of Limited Tax General Obligation and Refunding Bonds in the Aggregate Principal Amount of Not to Exceed $19,000,000 to Finance Costs Related to Designing, Constructing, Improving and Equipping a 911 Dispatch Facility, Refunding Certain Outstanding Limited Tax General Obligations of the City, and Paying the Costs of Issuance of the Bonds; Delegating Authority to Approve the Method of Sale and Final Terms of the Bonds; and Approving Other Matters Related Thereto Public Comment Period Advance sign-up is required for participation. An electronic sign-up form will be available online at https://cob.org/ccsignup on the day of the meeting and paper sign-up sheets will be outside the chamber doors starting at 6:30 p.m. the evening of the meeting. Registration closes when the meeting begins at 7 p.m. Each speaker will have three minutes. Please see the first page of the agenda for further details. Video of the public comment session will be available by visiting, https://cob.org/commentrecordings. Adjournment Agenda Information Council Committee and Regular Meeting agendas and agenda packets, which contain the supporting documentation for agenda items, are available to the public Wednesday afternoon prior to the meeting. They are posted at https://cob.org/meetings. A hard copy of the agenda packet is available for review from the reference desk at the Finance Office at City Hall. Meeting Live Broadcasts and Recordings The Bellingham City Council Committee Meetings are broadcast live on BTV Bellingham at the times listed on the agenda. Committee session start times between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. are estimated. A specific Committee may start later than the time published but will not begin earlier than its published time. Television: BTV can be found on Comcast channels 10 (standard definition) and 321 (high definition). Meetings are rebroadcast on the following schedule: • Tues. 12 p.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday afternoon Committee meetings • Tues. 7 p.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday night regular meeting • Wed. 8 a.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday night regular meeting • Sat. 12 p.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday afternoon Committee meetings • Sat. 7 p.m. – Repeat broadcast of Monday night regular meeting Online Streaming: The meetings are streamed live at https://cob.org/btv. Online viewers will see exactly what cable customers would see. Video: Video recordings of each meeting are available on the Internet at https://cob.org/meetings within five business days following each meeting. Accessibility The Council Chambers is fully accessible. Elevator access to the second floor is available at City Hall’s west entrance. Hearing assistance is available, and a receiver may be checked out through the Deputy City Clerk prior to the evening session. For additional accommodations, contact the Council Office at (360) 778-8200 in advance of the meeting. Next City Council Meeting Monday, January 26, 2026

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