City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting minutes April 27, 2026, 7 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 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 13  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. Next Council meeting The next City Council meeting with be held on May 11, 2026. Presentation 24905 1. A presentation on the State of the Court p. 7 Summary: Debra Lev, Municipal Court Judge, Nicholas Henery, Municipal Court Judge, and Tami Bennett, Court Director, provided the annual State of the Court presentation. Council Members discussed the presentation and asked questions. Appointments 24907 1. Confirmation of the Mayor's appointment to the Historic Preservation p. 30 Commission Summary: Mayor Lund appointed Johann Neem to a first term on the Historic Preservation Commission expiring on April 27, 2029. Action: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Hollie Huthman moved to confirm the Mayor's appointment of Johann Neem to a first term on the Historic Preservation Commission, which expires on April 27, 2029. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24908 2. Mayor's appointment to the Community Development Advisory Board p. 34 (information) Summary: Mayor Lund appointed Denise Catalano to a first term on the Community Development Advisory Board expiring on April 27, 2029. 24909 3. Confirmation of the Mayor's appointments to the Whatcom Museum p. 40 Foundation Board of Trustees Page 2 of 13  Summary: Mayor Lund appointed Sam Gearhart and Amy Navarro to first terms on the Whatcom Museum Foundation Board of Trustees expiring on April 27, 2029. Action: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Lisa Anderson moved to confirm the Mayor's appointments of Sam Gearhart and Amy Navarro to first terms expiring on April 27, 2029, on the Whatcom Museum Foundation Board of Trustees. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Mayor's report Standing time for briefings, updates, and reports to Council by the Mayor. Summary: Mayor Lund expressed appreciation for the State of the Court presentation. Mayor Lund acknowledged a petition requesting the City to shift course on incineration at Post Point. She shared that while the City agrees that incineration is not the desired long- term solution, landfilling waste is not a viable short-term alternative. The City is focused on investing in a long-term solution at Post Point and will be engaging the community through the Comprehensive Sewer Plan process. Mayor Lund highlighted the Parks and Recreation Committee Parks Operations Division update and thanked volunteers for their time. In 2025, over 4,000 individuals volunteered at the City, contributing 14,000 hours, and planting 2,500 native trees and shrubs. Learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities at volunteerbellingham.org. Council assignment reports Standing time for Council Member reports from assigned committees, boards, and other groups. Summary: Council Member Hammill attended the April 21, 2026 Behavioral Health Subcommittee meeting of the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Taskforce. He encouraged individuals interested in data related to incarceration rates to learn more via the Whatcom County website. Council Member Lilliquist shared the Justice Project’s Facilities and Finance Advisory Board met and provided tentative recommendations to the Whatcom County Council for how to manage and spend declining Public Safety Health sales tax revenue. He encouraged the public to attend and pay attention to Whatcom County Council decisions. Page 3 of 13 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. Budget and Finance 10 a.m. Lisa Anderson, Chair Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist 24900 1. An ordinance amending the 2026 adopted budget, reconciling the p. 47 differences between estimated 2026 beginning reserve balances and actual 2026 reserve balances and applying the differences to the ending reserve balances Summary: Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, and Eric Johnson, Budget and Treasury Manager, presented the ordinance, which reconciles the differences between estimated 2026 beginning reserve balances and actual 2026 reserve balances. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Action: Lisa Anderson / Daniel Hammill moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24901 2. An ordinance amending the 2026 budget increasing appropriation p. 54 authority in various funds to pay for goods and services authorized in the previous budget cycle Summary: Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, and Eric Johnson, Budget and Treasury Manager, presented the ordinance, which amends the 2026 budget by increasing appropriation authority in various funds to pay for goods and services authorized in the previous budget cycle. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Action: Lisa Anderson / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Page 4 of 13 24902 3. An ordinance amending the 2026 budget - amendment no. 1 p. 72 Summary: Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director, Forrest Longman, Deputy Administrator, and Eric Johnson, Budget and Treasury Manager, presented the ordinance, which amends the 2026 budget by correcting budgetary errors, adjusting appropriation authority to provide positive estimated ending reserve balances for all City funds, and adding budget authority for items missed during budget development or after adoption of the 2026 budget. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Action: Lisa Anderson / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Parks and Recreation 10:20 a.m. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Chair Daniel Hammill, Jace Cotton 24913 1. A presentation of the 2025 Greenways and Park Impact Fee annual report p. 81 Summary: Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation Director, Peter Gill, Park Planning and Development Coordinator, Zach Cook, Greenways Advisory Committee Chair, and Laine Potter, Park Design and Development Manager, presented the 2025 Greenways and Park Impact Fee Annual Report. Council Members discussed the presentation and asked questions. 24914 2. An update on the Parks Operations Division p. 104 Summary: Steve Janiszewski, Parks Operations Manager, and Freya Fradenburgh, Parks Stewardship Supervisor, provided an overview of the Parks Operations Division accomplishments, ongoing challenges, 2026 goals, and Parks Stewardship Program. Council Members discussed the presentation and asked questions. Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity 1 p.m. Daniel Hammill, Chair Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams Page 5 of 13 24915 1. An ordinance regarding ambulances, amending Bellingham Municipal p. 151 Code Chapter 6.10 to establish penalties for misuse of the 911 dispatch system to obtain non-emergent lift assistance Summary: Fire Chief Bill Hewett, and Steve Larsen, Community Paramedic Captain, presented the ordinance, which amends Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 6.10 to establish penalties for misuse of the 911 dispatch system to obtain non-emergent lift assistance. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Action: Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading as amended during the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Public Works and Natural Resources 1:20 p.m. Michael Lilliquist, Chair Lisa Anderson, Jace Cotton 24899 1. A resolution authorizing the City to apply for and enter into a Washington p. 156 Wildlife and Recreation Program Habitat Conservation Project grant for property acquisition on Squalicum Creek Summary: Joel Pfundt, Public Works Director, and Analiese Burns, Habitat & Restoration Manager, presented the resolution, which authorizes the City to apply for and enter into a Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program Habitat Conservation Project Grant for property acquisition on Squalicum Creek. Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. Action: Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved final approval of Resolution #2026-06. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24916 2. An interagency agreement adopting a voluntary culvert remediation p. 162 implementation plan Summary: Page 6 of 13  Joel Pfundt, Public Works Director, and Analiese Burns, Habitat and Restoration Manager, presented the interagency agreement between the Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe, City of Bellingham, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, adopting a Fish Barrier Remediation Project Implementation Plan. Council Members discussed the agreement and asked questions. Action: Michael Lilliquist / Jace Cotton moved to recommend approval of the interagency memorandum of agreement with the Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for the Fish Barrier Culvert Remediation Project. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24918 3. A contract award for the Pacific Street Operations Center fleet building p. 276 improvements, Project EF164, Bid No. 8B-2026 Summary: Carol Rofkar, Public Works Assistant Director - Internal Services, and Scott Jorissen, Facilities Project Manager, presented the contract award for the Pacific Street Operations Center Fleet Building Improvements Project. The project will replace the roof, upgrade heating and ventilation systems, and address fluid distribution at the fleet building. Council Members discussed the contract award and asked questions. Action: Michael Lilliquist / Lisa Anderson moved to award bid No.8B-2026 for the Pacific Street Operations Center fleet building improvements, Project EF164, to Highline Construction, LLC in the amount of $808,459.37. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24917 4. A resolution adopting the rapid transit locally preferred alternative p. 282 Summary: Tim Hohmann, Public Works Assistant Director - Transportation, Tim Wilder, Whatcom Transit Authority Planning Director, and Chris Behee, Long Range Planning Manager, presented the resolution, which adopts the rapid transit locally preferred alternative. Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. The presentation is available here. Action: Michael Lilliquist / Jace Cotton moved final approval of Resolution #2026-07. Page 7 of 13  MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24919 5. Authorization to enter into a memorandum of understanding with p. 357 Whatcom Transportation Authority for implementation and prioritization of the rapid transit locally preferred alternative Summary: Tim Hohmann, Public Works Assistant Director - Transportation, presented the memorandum of understanding with Whatcom Transportation Authority for implementing and prioritizing the rapid transit locally preferred alternative. Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. Action: Michael Lilliquist / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into the memorandum of understanding with Whatcom Transportation Authority for implementation and prioritization of the rapid transit locally preferred alternative. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Community and Economic Development 2:35 p.m. Jace Cotton, Chair Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams Summary: Council President Pro Tem Huthman managed this agenda item. 24898 1. A resolution relating to the adoption of the 2026 Action Plan, the use of p. 364 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), Bellingham Housing Levy and affordable housing sales tax funds, the allocation of funds to support selected City housing and human services agencies and directing the Mayor to submit the 2026 Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Summary: Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development Manager, and Samya Lutz, Housing and Human Services Manager, presented the resolution, which adopts the 2026 Action Plan, the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), Bellingham Housing Levy and affordable housing sales tax funds, the allocation of funds to support selected City housing and human services agencies and directing the Mayor to submit the 2026 Action Plan to the U.S. Department Page 8 of 13  of Housing and Urban Development. Council Members discussed the resolution and asked questions. The presentation is available here. Action: Jace Cotton / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved final approval of Resolution #2026-08. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. RECUSED: Hannah Stone 24912 2. A presentation on downtown occupancy trends and strategies to address p. 374 vacancies Summary: Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development Manager, Darby Galligan, Senior Planner, and Sarah MacPherson, Limited term Temp presented downtown occupancy trends and strategies to address vacancies. Council Members discussed the presentation and asked questions. This item will return for additional discussion. The presentation is available here. Committee Of The Whole 3:25 p.m. Hannah Stone, Chair Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton 24910 1. Acceptance of a grant from the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant p. 407 Program for cybersecurity projects Summary: Don Burdick, IT Director, and Joshua Knight, Senior Information Security Analyst, presented the grant award from the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program for cybersecurity projects. The grant will fund two projects, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) gap assessment and a zero-trust network access system. Council Members discussed the grant and asked questions. Action: Hannah Stone / Hollie Huthman moved to recommend acceptance of the grant and authorize the Mayor to enter into the grant agreement. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 24911 2. An update on Central Library interior renovations p. 453 Page 9 of 13  Summary: Rebecca Judd, Library Director, provided an update on the Central Library interior renovation plans and timeline. Council Members discussed the project and asked questions. 3. Old or new business Summary: Council President Stone acknowledged receipt of Initiative 26-01, prohibiting algorithmic price fixing, from Community First Whatcom which is actively gathering signatures. She highlighted upcoming deadlines and the overall process for how the City manages initiatives in connection with the Whatcom County Auditor. Council must decide whether to support, defer, or submit a parallel initiative prior to August 4, 2026. Action: Hannah Stone / Michael Lilliquist moved to request the legal department review the Community First Whatcom draft ordinance that was brought forth in connection with Initiative 26-01. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Action: Hannah Stone / Lisa Anderson moved to request the legal department to propose language to modify the initiative timeline as currently outlined in the Bellingham Municipal Code to address concerns raised by the Whatcom County Auditor's Office. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Summary: Council President Stone highlighted adjustments to the 2026 budget amendment, which included a change within the City Council department. The Assistant Communications and Community Relations Director - Intergovernmental Focus will now be budgeted 100% under City Council and the position title will change to City Council Communications and Community Relations Director. Council President Stone recapped the City Council retreat held on April 20, 2026. During the retreat, Council revisited the idea of reducing public comment time from three minutes per person to two minutes. Council deferred a decision until the communications engagement plan is finalized and can be discussed at a Council meeting. Executive session 4:15 p.m. Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only. Page 10 of 13 1. Potential property acquisition (Rosenblatt, approx. 5 min.) Summary: Staff provided information on potential property acquisition. For information and discussion. No action taken. 2. Potential litigation (Erb, approx. 10 min.) Summary: Staff provided information on a potential litigation matter. For information and discussion. Action: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Daniel Hammill moved to authorize the Mayor to execute all documents necessary for the City of Bellingham to participate in the national opioid settlement with the Six Remnant Defendants related to their role in the opioid crisis. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 3. Potential property acquisition (Rosenblatt, approx. 3 min.) Summary: Staff provided information on a potential property acquisition. For information and discussion. No action taken. 4. Potential property acquisition (Rosenblatt, approx. 3 min.) Summary: Staff provided information on a potential property acquisition. For information and discussion. No action taken. 5. Potential property acquisition (Rosenblatt, approx. 3 min.) Summary: Staff provided information on a potential property acquisition. For information and discussion. No action taken. Page 11 of 13 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. 24893 1. Authorization of AP transactions issued March 20, 2026 through March p. 476 26, 2026 24906 2. Authorization of AP transactions issued April 3, 2026 through April 9, p. 477 2026 24903 3. Acceptance of 2025 Emergency Management Performance grant p. 478 24904 4. Memorandum of understanding between Bellingham Police Department p. 611 and Seattle Police Department Action: Michael Lilliquist / Hollie Huthman moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final consideration of ordinances 24891 1. An ordinance regarding multimodal transportation impact fees; amending p. 622 Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 19.06 Action: Hollie Huthman / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams 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 #2026-04-008. 24886 2. An ordinance relating to the composition of the Historic Preservation p. 635 Commission, updating the qualifications for membership on the commission, and amending Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 2.54 Page 12 of 13  Action: Jace Cotton / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams 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 #2026-04-009. Public comment period City Council heard public comments from 18 individuals. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:12 p.m. Hannah Stone, Council President ATTEST: Kelley Goetz, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 5/18/2026 Page 13 of 13