Action Taken at February 10, 2025 Meeting
Shall the council:
32. Authorize the mayor to spend $4 million to purchase approximately 66 acres on Samish Crest from property owners Mickey and Carole Ghio, Cal and Bernetta Leenstra and Tal Property LLC? Greenways Levy funds will be used for the purchase of property located in the Lake Padden watershed. (Discussed in Executive Session.) Approved 7-0
33. Authorize the mayor to sign a $140,000 settlement agreement with Bellingham Police Guild/McGinty grievance for the following terms: withdrawal of grievance and waiver of all related claims? (Discussed in Executive Session.) Approved 7-0
34. Appropriate $5,329,854 for payroll checks issued from January 1 through January 15, 2025? (AB24438) Approved 7-0
35. Appropriate $10,847,428 for goods and services checks issued from January 17 through January 30, 2025? (AB24439/24440) Approved 7-0
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Action Taken at February 24, 2025 Meeting
Mayor’s announcement
The ribbon cutting ceremony for Northern Lights Park will take place on March 5. The park is located north of Costco and within the proximity of Bear Creek preliminary plat.
Shall the council:
36. Ratify the 2025-2026 collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Local 114? Wages And Compensation: 1/1/2025: 4 percent increase; 1/1/2026: 3 percent increase; effective following full ratification, implement 3.5 percent, 4.5 percent, and 6.5 percent longevity premiums at 10, 15, and 20 years of service, respectively and eliminate 10-year 1 percent and 20-year 2 percent service quality steps. Increase the employer match to deferred compensation to 2 percent. Medical insurance: Increase the city’s contribution to medical insurance by 6 percent each year. Duration: 1/1/2025 through 12/31/2026. (Discussed in Executive Session.) Motion Carried 7-0
37. Authorize the mayor to retain Keating, Bucklin, & McCormick of Seattle to represent the city and individually named officers in pending litigation? (Discussed in Executive Session.) Motion Carried 7-0
38. Approve three appointments by the mayor to the Water Resource Advisory Board? The board informs and guides the city’s planning and policy regarding the protection and management of water resources, including municipal water, sewer, surface and storm water systems, controls, rates, and drinking water source protection. Members do not have a limit to the number of terms they can serve. The Lake Whatcom Watershed Advisory Board was dissolved at the 6/5/2023 meeting, vote #113 — decisions on land acquisitions around the Lake Whatcom are now made by the Water Resource Advisory Board. (AB24443)
* 38a. Alicia Toney was appointed to an initial term. Alicia has lived in Bellingham for nine years. For the past 17 years, she has been working on environmental sciences with WQ. Her term will expire on 2/25/2028. Approved 7-0
* 38b. Carl Benson was appointed to an initial term. Carl has lived in Bellingham for a little over one year. He recently retired and moved from Alaska after a career in environmental consulting focusing on contaminated site assessment and remediation. His term will expire on 2/25/2028. Approved 7-0
* 38c. Bret Beau was reappointed to a full term. He has lived in Bellingham for 21 years and was appointed to a one-year term as part of the initial appointments to the board. Bret is a licensed civil engineer with knowledge in drinking water source preservation, drink water and sewer utility systems. His term will expire on 2/25/2028. Approved 7-0
39. Authorize the mayor to accept a $1,840,000 state grant for restoration of the Squalicum Creek estuary? The design phase addresses three fish passage barriers and restoration of the estuary at the mouth of Squalicum Creek. This project helps fulfill local and state priorities for species recovery, flood risk, water quality, transportation, and climate resilience. The project will include a feasibility study, alternatives analysis, and 60 percent design for restoring full fish passage. The three barriers are the city-owned Roeder Avenue culvert, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad-owned culvert, and the Port of Bellingham-owned bridge. Additional grant funding for the project will be pursued as the project design develops. The estimated total design cost is $2,300,000. (AB24444) Approved 7-0
40. Authorize the mayor to award the only bid of $240,168 to Discount Fence of Bellingham for fence installation and repair services? This Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract allows the city to procure on-call work as needs arise by issuing individual work orders. The bid amount was based upon a hypothetical set of jobs for bid comparison purposes and does not establish a contract maximum. The contract provides a three-year term and maximum amount of $335,000. (AB24445) Approved 7-0
41. Approve $150,000 in grant recommendations by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee? At the 12/9/2024 meeting, vote #248, the council approved a total of $235,080 for three downtown beautifications proposals to be funded by the lodging tax. This vote is for $100,000 to Artist Home for a music festival in downtown Bellingham and $50,000 to the Bellingham Bells for a softball tournament called All Night Ball In Bellingham. Both events are anticipated to take place in the spring of 2026. (AB24447) Approved 6-0-1, Hollie Huthman recused herself due to potential business conflicts.
42. Appropriate $5,606,619 for payroll checks issued from January 16 to January 31, 2025? (AB24453) Approved 7-0
43. Appropriate $12,011,653 for goods and services checks issued from January 31, 2025 through February 13, 2025? (AB24454/24455) Approved 7-0
44. Authorize the mayor to accept a $40,170 federal (2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance) grant? The city’s portion of this grant is $28,661 and the county’s portion is $11,509. The city intends to purchase Volcanic Bikes with helmets and shoes and six Wrap Restraint Systems. WRAP is designed to stop conflicts quickly, achieve fast de-escalation and provide rapid recovery to both subjects and officers. The county will will purchase ballistic vests to protect from gunfire. (AB24456) Approved 7-0
45. Extend the agreement with the Whatcom Conservation District for the cooperative Lake Whatcom Homeowner Incentive Program? The original agreement with Whatcom County was approved at the 6/17/2013 meeting, vote #117. The program provides technical assistance and financial incentives to homeowners who voluntarily install storm water best management practices to reduce storm water runoff containing phosphorus to Lake Whatcom. (AB24457) Approved 7-0
46. Authorize the Bellingham Police Department to accept two grants totaling $10,669? A Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs state grant for $4,600 will help purchase two in-car radars to determine a vehicle’s speed without pacing them. The price of two units is $5,760, leaving the city responsible for $1,160. A $6,069 federal STOP Violence Against Women grant will be used to purchase a full-spectrum forensic camera with magnetic lens filters for UV/IR photography and a Rofin Flare +2 IR light source and a Rofin Flare +2 blue light source. The grant requires a city match of $2,327 for a total cost of $8,396. (AB24458/24462) Approved 7-0
47. Grant an easement allowing Puget Sound Energy to maintain and service their power equipment at the Sportsplex? The city-owned facility is located at Civic Field and serves indoor recreation year-round. Puget Sound Energy requires a nonexclusive easement for the installation of new power service and future improvements at the Sportsplex. (AB24459) Approved 7-0
48. Grant an electrical utility easement to Puget Sound Energy for the Coast Salish House of Healing within Sehome Arboretum? The proposed electrical utility easement is for a new electrical transformer and underground power line. The proposed easement area is the minimum size necessary to access and service the main underground electrical wires and transformer equipment. Granting this easement will support the House of Healing longhouse and new vehicle charging stations that are being installed with the project. (AB24460) Approved 7-0
49. Adopt the 10-year Fiber Network Comprehensive Plan? At the 8/24/2020 meeting, vote #151, the council created the Broadband Working Group* to study and recommend options for use of the city’s 89 miles of fiber. At the 5/8/2023 meeting, vote #89, the council adopted the findings of the Broadband Working Group. The council directed staff to prepare a formal plan document. This comprehensive plan is designed to improve fiber network redundancy and resiliency and support the city’s needs in the future, including a long-term city fiber needs’ map, as well as next steps for fiber testing and infrastructure upgrades. AB24433 (Resolution 2025-05) Approved 7-0
*A motion to reconvene members of the Broadband Working Group to address digital equity and affordability of quality broadband – Failed 2-4-1; Hollie Huthman, Hannah Stone, Daniel Hammill, and Edwin H. “Skip” Williams opposed, Jace Cotton abstained.
50. Amend city code to align with updated waste management practices, the city’s Climate Action Plan and Washington State’s HB 1799? At the 2/27/2023 meeting, vote #41, the council modified the Sanitary Service Company contract changing all residential recycling from three bins to a single bin. The code amendments in this vote, effective 1/1/2025, include the implementation of mandatory organics collection (FoodPlus) bins for all residential customers and the transition to single-stream recycling. AB24434 (Ordinance 2025-02-003) Approved 7-0
