City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting agenda August 10, 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 August 24, 2026, the Council will hold a public hearing to consider an ordinance adopting development regulations incentivizing the construction of low-income housing projects. More information will be available seven days before the hearing on meetings.cob.org. 4. Next Council meeting The next City Council meeting with be held on August 24, 2026 Public hearing 24999 1. A public hearing for an ordinance related to the preservation of landmark p. 7 trees and extending for an additional six months the interim development regulations with respect to landmark trees throughout the city Appointments 25004 1. Mayor's reappointment to the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory p. 26 Commission (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 1 p.m. Michael Lilliquist, Chair Lisa Anderson, Jace Cotton 25013 1. A contract award for the Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Emission p. 30 Control Upgrades Project (EU199), Bid No. 2B-2026 Community and Economic Development 1:15 p.m. Jace Cotton, Chair Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams 25006 1. An ordinance regarding the One Percent for Art program; amending p. 37 Bellingham Municipal Code Chapter 4.92 Planning 1:45 p.m. Hollie Huthman, Chair Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist 25011 1. A presentation on the proposed rental inspector audit and qualification p. 44 process 25012 2. An ordinance amending BMC 6.15 and BMC 2.21.010, regarding the rental p. 50 registration and safety inspection program, and chapter 6.12 BMC, regarding rental agreements 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 1. Old or new business Executive session 2:55 p.m. Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only. 1. Litigation: Oldham v. City of Bellingham, et al (Phillips, approx. 15 min.) 2. Litigation: Jewett v. City of Bellingham, et al (Phillips, approx. 10 min.) 3. Litigation: Blomeen v. City of Bellingham, et al (Phillips, approx. 10 min.) 4. Potential property acquisition (Rosenblatt, approx. 3 min.) 5. Potential property acquisition (Rosenblatt, approx. 3 min.) 6. Potential property acquisition (Rosenblatt, approx. 3 min.)  7. Potential property acquisition (Stamps, approx. 5 min.) 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. 25000 1. Approval of the June 1, 2026 City Council committee and regular meeting p. 74 minutes 25001 2. Approval of the June 15, 2026 City Council committee and regular p. 96 meeting minutes 25002 3. Approval of the July 13, 2026 City Council committee and regular meeting p. 110 minutes 24996 4. Authorization of payroll labor cost payments dated June 16, 2026 to June p. 134 30, 2026 25007 5. Authorization of AP transactions issued June 26, 2026 through July 2, p. 135 2026 25008 6. Authorization of AP transactions issued July 3, 2026 through July 9, 2026 p. 136 25009 7. Authorization of AP transactions issued July 10, 2026 through July 16, p. 137 2026 25010 8. Authorization of AP transactions issued July 17, 2026 through July 23, p. 138 2026 Final consideration of ordinances 24970 1. An ordinance relating to land use and zoning, amending multiple chapters p. 139 in the Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) to adopt permanent zoning regulations to eliminate minimum automobile parking requirements and establish consistent bicycle parking standards citywide 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, August 24, 2026