City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting minutes April 13, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Chair: Hannah Stone Phone: 360-778-8200 Members: Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Email: ccmail@cob.org Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Web: cob.org/council Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton Regular meeting The following items are heard in the Regular Meeting only. Call to order and roll call The meeting was called to order by Council President Stone at 7 p.m. 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 (Attended remotely) Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Jace Cotton, At-Large Announcements and upcoming meetings The 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 Page 1 of 10  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 Special Council Meeting The Council will hold a Special Meeting on April 20, 2026 for the purpose of a Council Retreat. The meeting will be held at the Cordata Pavillion beginning at 9 a.m. The meeting agenda will be available at meetings.cob.org seven days prior to the meeting. 4. Next Council meeting The next City Council meeting with be held on April 27, 2026. Public hearing 24876 1. Public hearing and interlocal agreement for fiscal year 2025 Byrne Justice p. 7 Assistance Grant (JAG) Summary: Deputy Police Chief Jay Hart presented the interlocal agreement for the 2025 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). Summary: Council President Stone opened the public hearing. One individual provided testimony. Council President Stone closed the public hearing. Action: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Jace Cotton moved to recommend approval of the interlocal agreement for fiscal year 2025 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Appointments 24884 1. Confirmation of the Mayor's appointment to the Bellingham Arts p. 46 Commission Summary: Page 2 of 10  Mayor Lund appointed Susanna a'Kinlochaline to a first term on the Bellingham Arts Commission expiring on April 13, 2030. Action: Jace Cotton / Hollie Huthman moved to confirm the Mayor's appointment of Susanna a'Kinlochaline to a first term on the Bellingham Arts Commission. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Mayor's report Standing time for briefings, updates, and reports to Council by the Mayor. Summary: Mayor Lund shared that the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) anticipated reopening I-5 northbound on Thursday, April 16th. Earlier in the afternoon, WSDOT representatives presented to Council during the Old and New Business portion of the Committee of the Whole. The community can watch the recording of that presentation on meetings.cob.org. She expressed gratitude to intergovernmental partners, City staff, and the community for working together through this challenge. Mayor Lund recognized April as Fair Housing Month and explained how the City is working to educate the public. The City is sponsoring two upcoming events: • April 22nd at 5:30 p.m. – From Redlining to Resilience, a film screening and community discussion at Mount Baker Theatre. • April 28th at 3:30 p.m. at Council Chambers to learn more about Rental Registration process. Learn more at cob.org/event/navigating-new-rental-laws. Mayor Lund highlighted City participation in the Vamos Outdoors Project Annual event Fiesta de Conexion Comunitaria last weekend. Mayor Lund recognized the opening of the Bellingham Farmer's Market 34th season and encouraged the community to stop by the Public Works booth where free trees are available through April. Council assignment reports Standing time for Council Member reports from assigned committees, boards, and other groups. Summary: There were no Council Member reports. Page 3 of 10 Committee meeting reports The following committee meetings are held during the day. Committee chairs will present a summary of each agenda item during the evening meeting, and further discussion or action may take place if needed. Committee meetings are open to the public to attend, however committee agendas do not include public comment sessions. Public Works and Natural Resources 1:00 p.m. Michael Lilliquist, Chair Lisa Anderson, Jace Cotton 24890 1. Approval of a surplus timber sale agreement p. 54 Summary: Michael Parelskin, Public Works Superintendent of Natural Resources Field Operations, presented the surplus timber sale agreement. Council Members discussed the sale agreement and asked questions. Action: Michael Lilliquist / Jace Cotton moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into the contract for negotiated surplus timber sale with Janicki Logging Company, Inc. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24891 2. An ordinance regarding multimodal transportation impact fees; amending p. 73 Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 19.06 Summary: Tim Hohmann, Public Works Assistant Director of Transportation, and Dylan Casper, Transportation Planner, presented the ordinance, which revises multimodal transportation impact fees. Council Members discussed the rate changes and asked questions. Action: Michael Lilliquist / Jace Cotton moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24892 3. Acceptance of a grant from the Washington State Department of p. 113 Transportation for the Downtown Signalized Intersection Accessibility and Safety Improvements Project (ET037) Page 4 of 10  Summary: Mike Wilson, Public Works Assistant Director of Engineering, and Tim Hohmann, Public Works Assistant Director of Transportation, presented the grant award from the Washington State Department of Transportation for the Downtown Signalized Intersection Accessibility and Safety Improvements Project (ET037). Council Members discussed the grant and asked questions. Action: Michael Lilliquist / Daniel Hammill moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into the local agency agreement and any related amendments with WSDOT for the Downtown Signalized Intersection Accessibility and Safety Improvements Project. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Planning 1:35 p.m. Hollie Huthman, Chair Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist 24889 1. A work session to discuss the results of the 2025 landlord and property p. 131 manager survey Summary: Iris Nott, Legislative Policy Analyst, returned to Council to further discuss results of the 2025 landlord and property manager survey. Action: Hollie Huthman / Daniel Hammill moved to request City Council staff to research a process on how to gather similar survey questions from tenants. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Action: Hollie Huthman / Jace Cotton moved to direct staff to conduct a follow-up landlord survey at the appropriate time. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Budget and Finance 2:05 p.m. Lisa Anderson, Chair Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist Page 5 of 10 24874 1. 2025 year-end financial review p. 164 Summary: Andrew Asbjornsen, Finance Director, and Eric Johnson, Budget and Treasury Manager, present a summary of the City's 2025 year-end finance position. Council Members discussed City finances and asked questions. The presentation is available here. Committee Of The Whole 2:45 p.m. Hannah Stone, Chair Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton 24887 1. An update on the 2026 state legislative session and City lobbying p. 183 activities Summary: Janice Keller, Deputy Administrator, and the City's Contract Lobbyists, Luke Esser and Nick Federici, provided an update on the 2026 state legislative session and City lobbying activities. Council Members discussed the presentation and planning for 2027, and asked questions. 24886 2. An ordinance relating to the composition of the Historic Preservation p. 184 Commission, updating the qualifications for membership on the commission, and amending Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 2.54 Summary: Blake Lyon, Planning and Community Development Director, and Emy Scherrer, Planner, presented the ordinance, which amends the membership composition of the Historic Preservation Commission, and makes other revisions to Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 2.54. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Action: Hannah Stone / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24888 3. A resolution appointing members to a regional fire authority planning p. 190 committee Summary: Page 6 of 10  Fire Chief Bill Hewett presented the resolution appointing members to a Regional Fire Authority (RFA) Planning Committee. Fire District 8 also supported the creation of a planning committee. Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. Action: Hannah Stone / Hollie Huthman moved final approval of Resolution #2026-05. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24895 4. Presentation and approval of the City Council Strategic Communications p. 194 and Community Engagement Plan Summary: David Brauhn, Assistant Communications and Community Relations Director Intergovernmental Focus, presented a Council strategic communications and community engagement plan. Council Members discussed the plan and asked questions. Action: Hannah Stone / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to recommend approval of the City Council Strategic Communications and Community Engagement Plan. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24896 5. Presentation and approval of the City Council Communications Charter p. 204 Summary: David Brauhn, Assistant Communications and Community Relations Director Intergovernmental Focus, presented a City Council Communications Charter, which outlines how the Bellingham City Council organizes and manages its communications and community engagement work. Council Members discussed the charter and asked questions. Action: Hannah Stone / Michael Lilliquist moved to recommend approval of the City Council Communications Charter. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 6. Old or new business Summary: There were no discussion items for Old/New Business. Page 7 of 10 Executive session 4:20 p.m. Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only. 1. Potential litigation (Kraham, approx. 10 min.) Summary: Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. 2. Potential surplus property sale (Stamps, approx. 5 min.) - ITEM ADDED 4.9.26 Summary: Staff provided information on the potential sale of the City’s Fire Station 10 property, declared surplus on July 1, 2024. Action: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into a purchase and sale agreement for the surplus sale of the City’s Fire Station 10 property located at 858 E. Smith Road to Connor McCollum for $590,000. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Consent agenda Consent Agenda items are considered routine and/or non-controversial 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. 24875 1. A sub-recipient agreement between Whatcom County, City of Bellingham, p. 211 and What-Comm Communications Center 24879 2. An interlocal agreement with the Whatcom Conservation District for p. 232 support of the City's Lake Whatcom Homeowner Incentive Program 24880 3. An interlocal agreement with Whatcom Transportation Authority for p. 242 acceptance of a grant from the Transit Access Fund for the Barkley Boulevard and Racine Street intersection Page 8 of 10 24894 4. Aquatic lands lease from Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to City p. 249 of Bellingham for purposes of construction and public use of Salish Landing Park 24883 5. Authorization to enter Into an interlocal cooperative purchasing p. 299 agreement with the Education Service Center - Region 19 Allied States Cooperative 24877 6. Authorization of payroll labor cost payments dated February 16, 2026 to p. 302 February 28, 2026 24878 7. Authorization of payroll labor cost payments dated March 1, 2026 to p. 303 March 15, 2026 24881 8. Authorization of AP transactions issued March 6, 2026 through March 12, p. 304 2026 24882 9. Authorization of AP transactions issued March 13, 2026 through March p. 305 19, 2026 24885 10. Approval of the March 9, 2026 regular City Council meeting minutes p. 306 Action: Hollie Huthman / Daniel Hammill moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final consideration of ordinances 24867 1. An ordinance regarding temporary alley closures for public health and p. 313 safety Action: 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: Stone, Huthman, Hammill, Williams, Anderson, Cotton NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) ABSTAINED: Michael Lilliquist Page 9 of 10  MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1 and was thereafter named Ordinance #2026-04-006. 24854 2. An ordinance amending the fee schedule for the Rental Registration and p. 317 Safety Inspection Program Action: 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: AYES: Stone, Huthman, Hammill, Williams, Anderson, Lilliquist, Cotton NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED 7-0 and was thereafter named Ordinance #2026-04-007. Public comment period City Council heard public comments from 21 individuals. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Hannah Stone, Council President ATTEST: Kelley Goetz, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 5/11/2026 Page 10 of 10