Action Taken at March 10, 2025 Meeting
Shall the council:
51. Ratify the 2025-2026 collective bargaining agreement with the Bellingham Police Guild? Wages and compensation: Effective 1/1/2025 – 4.50 percent increase, effective 1/1/2026 – 3.75 percent increase. Effective 1/1/2025 – Increase educational incentive by 0.5 percent, increase bilingual premium by 1 percent effective upon ratification – Increase premiums for range and training officer assignments by 0.5 percent, increase field training officer premium by 2 percent while training, increase longevity pay by 1 percent for officers with 15 or more years of service, implement new 0.5 percent premium for instructors and 1 percent premium for lead instructors. No change to medical coverage. Other significant issues: Effective 1/1/2026 – In lieu of take-home vehicles, the city will contribute $125 per month into a Health Reimbursement Arrangement Voluntary Employee Benefit Association for each employee who is not assigned a take home vehicle. Duration: 1/1/2025 through 12/31/2026. (Discussed in Executive Session.) Approved 7-0
52. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $343,997 to Queen City Sheet Metal & Roofing of Tukwila to re-roof the warehouse at the Pacific Street Operations Center? The engineer’s estimate was $618,215. The city is recommending roof replacement, roof insulation, new gutters and downspouts. The new roof is anticipated to have a 30-year life, ensuring the building is useful and functional for the foreseeable future. The city received six bids; the high bid was $785,127. The city intends to install solar panels on the vehicle barn as part of a future construction project. (AB24463) Approved 7-0
53. Authorize the mayor to retain Avisen Legal of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to assist the city with accessing clean energy tax credits? The federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 established a “clean energy tax credit” program which allows tax-exempt entities like the city to receive direct payments of “tax credits” from the IRS for qualifying clean energy projects by filing certain tax forms. Qualifying projects may include electric vehicle purchases, EV charging stations, solar panels, and other similar projects. The Washington Clean Energy Tax Credit Assistance Program is a grant program supported by the Washington State Department of Commerce. The program connects cities with financial services firms for assistance with tax filings and legal services firms for assistance with structuring projects to maximize eligibility for clean energy tax credits. Services are provided at no cost to participating cities. All fees are paid directly by the state of Washington. (AB24464) Approved 7-0
54. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $1,983,492 to Premium Services of Bellingham for construction of phase 1 at Storybrook Park? The engineer’s estimate was $1,952,394. The first 5.5 acres were purchased at the 6/23/2008 meeting, vote #175, and the last two purchases at the 12/14/2009 meeting, votes #270 and #271. The three parcels totaling 5.77 acres were purchased for $481,000. At the 12/12/2022 meeting, vote #246, the name was changed from Maplewood McLeod Park to Storybrook Park. This project involves two areas: phase 1 of park development and sidewalk improvements on W. Maplewood between McLeod Road and Alderwood Avenue. The park-related work includes temporary erosion control, site survey, clearing and grubbing, site clean-up, playground and plaza, driveway and trail improvements, park furnishings, lighting, wayfinding and signage, landscape and wetland mitigation fence and planting, water and electrical services. The street frontage improvements along the west edge of W. Maplewood Ave. include striped bike lane, curb gutter, sidewalk, on-street pocket parking, retaining walls, street trees, mailbox relocation, utility pole relocation, and driveway reconstruction. The city received four bids; the high bid was $2,591,610. (AB24468) Approved 7-0
55. Approve the mayor’s appointment of Deron Belt to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board? The board provides recommendations on plans and programs designed to maintain and improve city parks and provide recreation programs for the general welfare of the people of the city. Deron Belt moved to the to the city 11 years ago from Lawrence, Kansas, where he formerly served as a planning commissioner and on the Community Block Grant Advisory Board. A major objective is to develop public interest in the Parks and Recreation Department’s activities and to solicit, to the fullest extent possible, participation of community groups, the general public, and public and private agencies. His first term will expire on 3/10/2028. (AB24471) Approved 7-0
56. Appropriate $5,416,941 for payroll checks issued from February 1 to February 15, 2025? (AB24473) Approved 7-0
57. Appropriate $9,481,170 for goods and services checks issued from February 14 through February 27, 2025? (AB24474/24475) Approved 7-0
58. Authorize the mayor to sign a temporary use permit to operate the boat launch inspections program at Lake Samish? This agreement with the state of Washington allows the city to operate an inspection station on state-owned property. At the 10/24/2011 meeting, vote #210, the council directed staff to develop an aquatic invasive species prevention program. Asian clams had recently been discovered in Lake Whatcom and Eurasian watermilfoil has been a problem; the city was concerned that more non-native species may follow. At the 2/25/2013 meeting, vote #36, the council authorized the hiring of staff to carry out mandatory watercraft inspections, decontaminate infected watercraft and conduct boater surveys. There are three inspection stations on Lake Whatcom and one station on Lake Samish. This permit expires on 10/31/2029. (AB24476) Approved 7-0
59. Authorize the mayor to sign (amendment #1) to the Lake Whatcom Forest Management Plan? At the 9/30/2024 meeting, vote #184, the council approved the creation of the plan with Whatcom County to manage city- and countyowned lands in the Lake Whatcom watershed to protect water quality. The county administers the contract with a consultant. The city recently purchased an additional 754 acres and is adding those lands to the Forest Management Planning effort. The city payment amount will increase by $12,063, for a new maximum amount of $53,358. Whatcom County will modify the $145,123 contract with the consultant with the county’s maximum responsibility, $91,358. (AB24477) Approved 7-0
60. Extend the emergency ordinance regulating the preservation of landmark trees for another six months? (Public hearing held at February 24 meeting.) The extension will allow time for the ordinance to go through the Type VI legislative process. At the 5/20/2024 meeting, vote #104, the council passed an emergency ordinance for the preservation of landmark trees. At the 11/4/2024 meeting, vote #225, the council extended the emergency ordinance for an additional six months. Emergency extensions required public hearings. AB24442 (Ordinance 2025- 03-004) Approved 7-0
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Action Taken at March 24, 2025 Meeting
Shall the council:
61. Authorize the mayor to spend $162,000 to purchase property from the Arlene S. Barboza Trust? (Discussed in Executive Session.) Motion carried 6-0-1, Daniel Hammill abstained.
62. Approve the mayor’s appointment of Daniel Bloemker to the Planning and Development Commission? The commission reviews and makes recommendations to the City Council on the adoption and enforcement of plans and regulations for the physical development of the city. Dan Bloemker is from Philadelphia and has lived in Bellingham for 3 years. He has a B.S. from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in chemical engineering, with 5 years of experience in the field of process control, and has been a regular attendee of Planning Commission meetings. His first term will expire on 4/1/ 2029. (AB24479) Approved 6-0-1, Lisa Anderson abstained.
63. Approve the mayor’s reappointment of Dina Dickerson to a second term on the Greenway Advisory Committee? The Greenway Advisory Committee shall identify, develop, review, and recommend selection criteria, general project priorities and specific actions relating to the expenditure and allocation of Greenway Levy funds. Dina Dickerson was appointed to a partial term at the 12/13/2021 meeting, vote #233, and to a full term at the 2/28/2022 meeting, vote #29. She is a retired public health informaticist, has a masters of public health and has lived in Bellingham for eight years. Her second term will expire on 3/11/2028. (AB24480) Approved 7-0
64. Appropriate $13,106,660 for goods and services checks issued from February 28 through March 13, 2025? (AB24488/24489) Approved 6-0-1, Daniel Hammill abstained.
65. Appropriate $ 5,294,046 for payroll checks issued from February 16 to February 28, 2025? (AB24490) Approved 6-0-1, Daniel Hammill abstained.
66. Adopt the goal and performance measures for the 2025-2035 Water Use Efficiency program? State law requires municipal water suppliers with over 10,000 service connections to adopt a new goal and at least nine measures every six years to ensure long-term water supply reliability, efficient operation and management of the water system, and promote good stewardship of water resources. At the heart of the program is the goal to keep average daily water consumption below 154 gallons per single-family residential account. Key measures: rebates, installation programs for water-efficient fixtures, high-use notification systems, community education, as well as adjustments to billing structures and code updates. AB24481 (Resolution 2025-06) Approved 6-0-1, Edwin H. “Skip” Williams abstained.
