Action Taken at April 14, 2025 Meeting
Mayor’s Report
Mayor Lund announced that the city would receive a $1.7 million grant to construct a community solar array. The grant is the results of a Whatcom County fine by the Northwest Clean Air Agency.
Shall the council:
67. Authorize the mayor to close a $653,500 real estate transaction with the property owners, Jeffry/Rebecca Curtis and Douglas/ Marilyn Curtis?. (Discussed in Executive Session.) Motion Carried 7-0
68. Authorize the mayor and fire chief to sign a two-year agreement with the Bellingham Technical College for paramedic training? The fire department will continue to partner with Bellingham Technical College to operate the city’s paramedic training program. Partnership with the college is a requirement for the program to be accredited. Each annual class will have up to 11 students. This agreement will expire on 12/31/2026.(AB24495) Approved 7-0
69. Authorize the mayor to sign an amended agreement with the Bellingham School District for recreational services? The original agreement was authorized at the 6/17/24 meeting, vote #117; it provided recreational sport camps for children of all ages during school breaks. The Bellingham School District provides staffing and facilities for the camps and the city provides marketing, registration, and participant coordination. This amendment involves fees and payments. (AB24496) Approved 7-0
70. Grant a utility easement to the Port of Bellingham to maintain a new stormwater system located at Roeder Avenue and Seaview Drive? The port is reconstructing failed stormwater infrastructure on a city-owned land acquired from BNSF with Greenway funds in 1999. The port intends to redesign and replace the stormwater conveyance system with a new one including, but not limited to, catch basins and pipes that will run under and through the burdened property. (AB24497) Approved 7-0
71. Authorize the mayor to accept a $50,000 state grant for cybersecurity? The city of Bellingham has been awarded a State and Local Government Cybersecurity Grant administered by the Washington State Military Department. The grant will fund a comprehensive cybersecurity audit of the city’s wastewater treatment plant and develop a cybersecurity strategy and implementation plan. It will be followed by staff training and awareness initiatives focused on cybersecurity threats and best practices. (AB24499) Approved 7-0
72. Approve the mayor’s appointment of Derek Ormerod to the Greenway Advisory Committee? The committee identifies, develops, reviews, and recommends general project priorities and specific actions relating to the expenditure and allocation of Greenway Levy funds and works in cooperation with the Parks and Recreation Department staff. Derek Ormerod is a principal environmental engineer with Anchor QEA and is a registered engineer in Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. His first term will expire on 4/14/2028. (AB24500) Approved 7-0
73. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with Whatcom County for new litter and recycling receptacles? The City of Bellingham will purchase 14 uniquely designed and custom-made litter and recycling receptacles to replace existing receptacles throughout Fairhaven. These receptacles are fully enclosed and locked to reduce the potential for litter to scatter, receptacles to overflow, and to eliminate security issues. These receptacles are also made of durable galvanized steel and resistant to damage and graffiti. This agreement expires on 6/30/2025. (AB24503) Approved 7-0
74. Authorize the mayor to sign a two-year contract with Whatcom County for offender work crews? The program was first approved at the 12/16/2013 meeting, vote # 288, and has been functioning every year since then. The tasks include: sidewalk/curb sod/grass cleaning, tree well weeding, roundabout and traffic calming islands, cleanup of transient camps and streams, maintenance of city sidewalks, street islands/vegetation strips, trash removal and invasive vegetation removal. The four-person team is totally self-sustaining. The annual compensation for 130 days will not exceed $55,250. (AB24504) Approved 7-0
75. Approve a $54,000 grant to Sparks Design for an art and lighting installation on the alley side of the Lightcatcher building? The Whatcom Museum project will include installation of sculptural laser-cut lanterns integrated as a 3D mural that cast soft prismatic patterns of shadow and light on the currently blank building façade, creating interest and beauty and adding architectural interest to the space. It will occur in the summer of 2025. (AB24506) Approved 7-0
76. Appropriate $8,865,809 for goods and services checks issued from March 21 through April 3, 2025? (AB24507/24508) Approved 7-0
77. Appropriate $5,335,383 for payroll checks issued from March 1, 2025 to March 15, 2025? (AB24509) Approved 7-0
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Action Taken at April 28, 2025 Meeting
Shall the council:
78. Authorize the mayor to accept a $970,000 state grant for a new What-Comm 911 Dispatch Center building? The current 911 center is housed in an old fire station built in 1954 and the operation has outgrown the building. The grant will help fund construction of a new 8,000 square-foot building. It will be climate resilient for heat, cold, smoke, and other severe weather conditions. It will include redundant and reliable systems for public safety (backup power, earthquake, security, etc.) as well as a radio tower to support communications and radio equipment. The project will be ready for bidding in the fall of this year and completion is anticipated for December of 2026. (AB24517) Approved 7-0
79. Authorize the mayor to accept a $950,000 state grant for segments 3 and 4 of the James Street multimodal improvement project? The $4,251,865 James Street/Bakerview Road intersection reconstruction project was approved at the 11/18/2024 meeting, #231. Segments 3 and 4 will install a 10’-12’ wide multi-use pathway along the west side of James Street from Telegraph Road to Gooding Avenue on King Mountain, and will integrate with the James and Bakerview intersection roundabout connecting to existing pedestrian and bicycle facilities at either end. The grant was awarded for the construction phase of the project. Design for the project is underway with bidding expected to occur in late 2025 or early 2026. (AB24518) Approved 7-0
80. Reject all re-roofing bids for the Federal Building? The roof on the Federal Building has begun to develop leaks and has been patched as needed. The city received three bids; the lowest bid was $533,010 and the highest $654,228. The engineer’s estimate was $323,834. Once adjustments are made to the scope and budget, the project can be rebid. In the meantime, facilities staff have assessed the condition of the roof, masonry, and wood windows and are confident they can continue to do patching and ongoing minor repairs over the short term. (AB24527) Approved 7-0
81. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $42,250 to J. Ritter Dirt and Asphalt of Everson for annual alley grading equipment rental and services? The engineer’s estimate was $65,000. The work will be performed under an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. This bid amount is based upon a hypothetical set of jobs for bid comparison purposes. The contract provides a three-year term and a not-to-exceed amount of $375,000. Each work order is priced based upon unit prices provided in the contractor’s bid. The city received four bids; the high bid was $53,000 .(AB24529 ) Approved 7-0
82. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $3,730,404 to Faber Construction of Lynden for the Sunset Pond Loop Trail project? The engineer’s estimate was $4,421,115. The project will close a critical trail gap, connecting three neighborhoods to a regional trail and park destinations. The project will extend the existing trail system to link with the east-west segment of the Squalicum Creek Trail, leading to connections to Bellingham Bay, and a north-west connection leading to the Barkley Trail, Railroad Trail and beyond. Key components of the project include: trail extension along an upland slope to Sunset Drive, Boardwalk trail through the floodplain, a new bridge over Squalicum Creek and another over an unnamed tributary, as well as a complete loop trail around Sunset Pond Park. Construction is scheduled to begin in late June, with in-water work completed by September and project completion anticipated by February 2027. The city received four bids; the high bid was $4,670,770. (AB24528) Approved 7-0
83. Modify the agreement with the Port of Bellingham for facilities within the Waterfront District? This agreement sets the terms and conditions upon which the city will acquire land from the port to develop a city-owned skatepark. At the 12/2/2013 meeting, vote #253, the city and the Port of Bellingham executed the agreement for facilities within the Waterfront District which set forth the responsibility for, and phasing of, certain facilities (i.e. streets and parks). A grassroots group has developed a temporary skatepark infrastructure under the Roeder Avenue bridge, though these facilities are not formally sanctioned by the port or the city. The mayor has directed city staff to pursue the development of the skatepark to support increased recreational activities in the city center. City ownership of the land beneath the bridge is necessary for the city to seek grant opportunities and invest in the design and construction of this facility and would facilitate the maintenance of the bridge and the skatepark. (AB24521) Approved 7-0
84. Appropriate $6,843,693 for goods and services checks issued from April 04 through April 17, 2025? (AB24522/24523) Approved 7-0.
85. Appropriate $5,556,404 for payroll checks issued from March 16, 2025 to March 31, 2025? (AB24524) Approved 7-0
86. Authorize the mayor and fire chief to sign an amended Wildfire Forestland Response agreement with the state of Washington? At the 12/9/2019 meeting, votes #211 and #212, the city entered into a forestland response and fire district assistance agreements with the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It covered how Bellingham fire and state fire resources work together in forested areas inside and adjacent to the city. The agreement that clarifies each agency’s roles in these mutual aid situations expired at the end of 2024. At the 12/16/2024 meeting, vote #270, the council approved an extension of that agreement while a new one was being created by the state. This new updated version will serve through 12/31/2029. There are no direct financial impacts to the agreement; however having the agreement does allow the city to bill the DNR for responses out of jurisdiction for which they request assistance. (AB24526) Approved 7-0
