City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting agenda June 1, 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 Legislative Office Manager: Jackie Weller How to watch City Council meetings The City Council Regular meetings are held in a hybrid format – watch or participate in person or remotely. 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 open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. meeting. Accessibility: 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 Council office prior to the evening session. For additional accommodations, contact the Council office at 360-778-8200 in advance of the meeting. Live via BTV, Comcast, or YouTube: Council meetings are streamed live at cob.org/meetings, cob.org/btv, and on the City’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/@cityofbhamwa. Meetings are also broadcast on Comcast channels 321 (HD) and 10 (SD). Telephone: To listen by phone, dial 253-215-8782, enter Meeting ID: 871 5188 5205, and Password 9 when prompted. Language access: Spanish interpretation is available at all regular evening Council meetings. • In-person: Headsets are available to attendees in Council Chambers. • Online: Join the Zoom meeting at cob.org/cczoom, 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. Meeting records: Video recordings of each meeting are available online at cob.org/meetings within five business days following each meeting. How to provide input At the meeting: To speak during a public hearing or public comment session, you must sign up in advance. • Online: A sign-up form is available at cob.org/ccsignup on the day of the meeting. • In person: Sign-up sheets are available outside the Council Chambers doors starting at 6:30 p.m. the evening of the meeting.  • Sign up, both online and in person, closes at 7 p.m. Once signed up, speakers may participate via the following options: • In person: Meetings are held in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. • Online: Join the Zoom meeting at cob.org/cczoom and follow staff instructions at time of the hearing or public comment period. • Over the phone: Call 253-215-8782, enter Meeting ID 871 5188 5205, and Password 9. Follow staff instructions at the time of the hearing or public comment period. Before or after a meeting: The City of Bellingham meets the Open Public Meetings Act by accepting written public comment in advance of City Council meetings. Send written input before or after a meeting. • By mail addressed to: City Council, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225. • Online: o For a public hearing: 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 and roll call 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 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 June 15, 2026, City Council will hold a public hearing to consider an ordinance extending interim regulations to eliminate minimum parking requirements and establish consistent bicycle parking standards. More details can be found on meetings.cob.org seven days prior to the hearing. 4. Next Council meeting The next City Council meeting with be held on June 15, 2026 Public hearing 24946 1. A public hearing on the 2027-2032 Transportation Improvement Program p. 7 Appointments 24944 1. Confirmation of the Mayor's appointment to the Bellingham Arts p. 23 Commission 24945 2. Mayor's appointment to the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission p. 27 (information) Mayor's report Standing time for briefings, updates, and reports to Council by the Mayor. Council assignment reports Standing time for Council Member reports from assigned committees, boards, and other groups. 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 11 a.m. Michael Lilliquist, Chair Lisa Anderson, Jace Cotton 24957 1. A contract award for the Tremont Lift Station, project EU193, Bid No. 19B- p. 30 2026 24958 2. An agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation p. 35 for grant funding for the Pine Street Crossing, project WF023 24959 3. An update on the Comprehensive Sewer Plan and emerging Post Point p. 52 solids handling technology - ITEM REMOVED 5/28/26 Budget and Finance 11:20 a.m. Lisa Anderson, Chair Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist 24943 1. A presentation on the 2027 budget development process p. 54 Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity 1 p.m. Daniel Hammill, Chair Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams 24952 1. An update from the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual p. 57 and Domestic Violence 24956 2. An agreement with the US Department of Homeland Security for a 2026 p. 80 FIFA grant Parks and Recreation 1:40 p.m. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Chair Daniel Hammill, Jace Cotton 24954 1. A contract award for Jills Court Trail, project P0145, Bid No. 15B-2026 p. 130 24955 2. A resolution authorizing application for Recreation and Conservation p. 134 Office Grant – Middle Fork Spring Open Space Trail Community and Economic Development 2:05 p.m. Jace Cotton, Chair Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams 24953 1. A presentation by the Port of Bellingham's Regional Economic Partnership p. 139 and Western Washington University's Small Business Development Center 24912 2. A work session on downtown occupancy trends and strategies to address p. 149 vacancies Committee Of The Whole 3:10 p.m. Hannah Stone, Chair Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton 1. Old or new business Executive session 3:20 p.m. Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only. 1. Potential property acquisition (Rosenblatt, approx. 3 mins) 2. Potential property acquisition (Rosenblatt, approx. 3 mins) 3. Potential property acquisition (Rosenblatt, approx. 3 mins) 4. Potential litigation (Rosenblatt, approx. 10 mins) - ITEM ADDED 5/29/26 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. 24947 1. Authorization of payroll labor cost payments dated April 16, 2026 to April p. 182 30, 2026 24948 2. Authorization of AP transactions issued May 1, 2026 through May 7, 2026 p. 183 24951 3. Authorization of AP transactions issued May 8, 2026 through May 14, p. 184 2026 24949 4. Approval of an access easement for the City's North End Regional Pond p. 185 wetland mitigation site 24950 5. A resolution confirming Bellingham's compliance with state requirements p. 197 and completion of the 2025 periodic update to the Comprehensive Plan Final consideration of ordinances 24933 1. An ordinance adding a new Chapter 11.05 to the Bellingham Municipal p. 202 Code regarding speed limits 24937 2. An ordinance amending the 2026 budget to recognize revenues and p. 218 expenditures associated with the Public Safety Funding Program award - Amendment 2 Public comment period Advance sign up is required for participation. An online sign-up form will be available at 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 public comment sessions are available at cob.org/commentrecordings. Adjournment Next City Council meeting Monday, June 15, 2026