City Council - Special Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council CLOSED Record Hearing December 7, 2020, 1:00 PM Mayor Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Council Members Hannah Stone, Gene Knutson, Daniel Hammill, www.cob.org/council Pinky Vargas, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist and All meetings are held in the City Hall Council Chambers at Hollie Huthman 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA, unless otherwise noted. Call to Order Roll Call Present: Council President Gene Knutson, Second Ward Council Member Hannah Stone, First Ward Council Member Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Council Member Pinky Vargas, Fourth Ward Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Hollie Huthman, At-Large Committee of the Whole Gene Knutson, Chair Hannah Stone, Daniel Hammill, Pinky Vargas, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Hollie Huthman 22834 1. Closed Record Hearing to Consider a Street Vacation for the Full Width of Douglas Avenue Generally Located Between 21st Street and the Alley to the West Alan Marriner, Deputy City Attorney, reviewed an outlined map that showed the petitioner's property on Douglas Avenue vacation. Staff and Hearing Examiner recommend vacation of the area. The City does not own the right-of-way. The property owners are to the north and the City has a right-of-way easement for transportation and utilities. If approved, the trail will lose the open space. The options are to: 1. Approve 2. Deny and declare that it not necessary for the public good 3. Remand the matter to the Hearing Examiner for consideration and testimony on undeveloped right-of-way City Council Special Meeting Minutes Page 1 December 7, 2020  If approved, the City must determine the compensation. It is appraised at $18,000.00 and Council should consider a motion to bring the ordinance forward for first and second reading. Steve Sundin, Senior Planner, explained that policies are about specific rights-of- way, between 21st and 25th Street. There were not included. Public Comment was submitted a day or two before the meeting and echoed what has come thru in the last couple weeks regarding paths and vegetation. Council Member Vargas reminded all that this is private property and it was a good compromise presented by the Hearing Examiner. Council Member Hammill is torn on the findings by the Hearing Examiner. He will consider staff recommendations. Steve Sundin reviewed the facts. He walked over the trail. There is a footpath that is used frequently. The property is not buildable because the right-of-way is fully encumbered by utilities. Michael Lilliquist / Dan Hammill moved to remand and include any new information that has been submitted. MOTION CARRIED 6-1, Anderson opposed. Council Member Anderson does not support the issue. She feels it does consider the petitioner's original intention. Alan Marriner would like a narrow remand and indicated that specific direction would be more helpful. Adjournment There being no further comments, the meeting adjourned at 1:37 PM. City Council Special Meeting Minutes Page 2 December 7, 2020