Action Taken at July 7, 2025 Meeting
Shall the council:
135. Authorize outside counsel to sign an agreement to settle a worker’s compensation appeal? The Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals is settled for $21,422. (Discussed in Executive Session.) Motion carried 7-0
136. Authorize the mayor to sign a contract providing retail water service to the residence at 1606 Mt. Baker Highway? The owner has been informed by the Whatcom County Health Department that the well serving the residence should not be used as a drinking water source because of the presence of bacteria and lead in the water. The owner has applied to the city for water service from an existing city main but the property is located outside the city limits. The city is authorized to establish connections outside the city limits only if the service is necessary to protect basic public health, safety and the environment. The public works director has determined that the standard has been met in this case. (AB24591) Approved 7-0
137. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $719,331 to Faber Construction of Lynden for the Hundred Acre Wood project? The engineer’s estimate was $612,017. This is phase 1B of the project, and will be financed by Greenway levy funds. The project includes mitigation planting, habitat restoration, and improving existing trails. Key components of the project include trail narrowing, native planting, and trail resurfacing, habitat fence, improving the bridge crossing Hoag’s Creek, two new boardwalks within the existing trail footprint, and new park benches. The project also includes a modified compacted trail realignment at 22nd Street and Harrison Avenue. The city received four bids; a $581,155 bid was withdrawn. The high bid was $1,080,488. Work is expected to be completed by February 2026. (AB24598) Approved 7-0
138. Appropriate $10,255,463 for goods and services checks issued from June 12 through June 26, 2025? (AB24602/24604) Approved 7-0
139. Appropriate $5,549,526 for payroll checks issued from June 1 to June 15, 2025? (AB24603) Approved 7-0
140. Authorize the relinquishment of a public utility easement located at 1003 Otis Street? (Public hearing held.) The property owner applied for the relinquishment to facilitate development of private property and meet current regulations. On 12/11/1958, the City of Bellingham vacated 10 feet on each side of the Otis Street and E. Laurel Street right-of-way. The city retained an easement for potential future public utility needs within the vacated street segment. The property is zoned Urban Village (UV15) and has a single-family residence and detached garage. The property is being subdivided into four lots. The public works department has reviewed the request and determined that the portion of the easement that encumbers the subject property is surplus to the city’s needs and not needed for utility service. AB24590 (Resolution #2025-11) Approved 7-0
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Action Taken at July 21, 2025 Meeting
Mayor’s Report
Mayor Lund announced that the city has joined a lawsuit (King County v. Turner) against the federal government to protect grant funding.
Shall the council:
141. Ratify the contract with the International Association of Fire Fighters 106S? Duration of contract: 1/1/2024 through 12/31/2026. Wages and Compensation: Increase deferred compensation match by 0.25 percent to 6 percent; introduction of a 1 percent bilingual premium (based on salary). Cost of living adjustment: effective 1/1/2024, 4 percent; effective 1/1/2025, 4 percent; effective 1/1/2026, 3.75 percent. Medical insurance: Increase the city’s contribution to medical health care by 6 percent each year. (Discussed in Executive Session.) Motion carried 7-0
142. Authorize the mayor to spend $352,500 to purchase property from Richard and Lynn Cooper? (Discussed in Executive Session.) Motion carried 7-0
143. Appropriate $8,690,375 for goods and services checks issued from June 27 through July 10, 2025? (AB24612/24615) Approved 7-0
144. Authorize the police chief to accept a $20,000 state grant for police officer wellness? This Washington State Criminal Justice Training commission grant is for building resilience, injury prevention, peer support, physical fitness, proper nutrition, stress management, suicide prevention, physical health, mental health supports/services, and any other program that focuses on officer well-being. The first officer wellness grant for $20,200 was authorized at the 5/9/2022 meeting, vote #76; the second for $140,000 at the 7/10/2023 meeting, vote #133 and the third for $130,000 at the 7/1/2024 meeting, vote #135. This grant expires on 6/30/2026. (AB24613) Approved 7-0
145. Appropriate $5,888,713 for payroll checks issued from June 16 to June 30, 2025? (AB24614) Approved 7-0
146. Authorize the mayor to accept an $84,867 WTA grant for Texas and Woburn Crossing Improvements? The Whatcom Transit Authority Transit Access Fund grant will improve pedestrian and bicycle safety at the Texas Street and Woburn Street intersection. The project will install marked crosswalks with rectangular rapid flashing beacons at the existing north and south crossings, improve the safety and comfort of the Texas Street bike boulevard — bike stands and bike push buttons will also be installed at the north and south crossings. The total cost of the project is $330,000. (AB24616) Approved 7-0
147. Defer Initiative No. 2025-03 to general election (November 4, 2025) voters? The initiative bill defines rights of tenants to speech, assembly, and association, and prohibits landlords from interfering with those rights or retaliating against tenants engaged in protected activities. The Whatcom County auditor has reviewed the initiative petitions and verified that a sufficient number of registered voter signatures (3,167) has been collected. The council may defer the bill to the voters. enact the initiative bill or pass a different bill dealing with the same subject that would appear on the same ballot as the initiative bill. AB24610 (Resolution 2025-12) Approved 7-0
148. Increase the water use rate for all customer classes? The increase will be 12 percent per year for 2026 and 2027, 11 percent per year for 2028 and 2029, and 9 percent per year for 2030 through 2034. The city last updated water use rates for all customer classes at the 12/10/2012 meeting, vote #260. The city retained an independent consultant, FCS (as a subconsultant to Carollo Engineers), to provide a revenue requirement forecast for the water utility for 2025-2034 and to recommend a new rate schedule. AB24594 (Ordinance 2025-07-013) Approved 7-0
149. Increase the sewer utility use rates for all customer classes? The proposed increase is 19 percent per year for 2026 and 2027, 12 percent per year for 2028 and 2029, and 4 percent per year for 2030 through 2044. The city retained an independent consultant, FCS (as a subconsultant to Carollo Engineers), to provide a revenue requirement forecast for the sewer utility for 2026-2044 and to recommend a rate schedule sufficient to meet forecasted revenue requirements. The council finds it is in the best interest of the city to adopt the first three years of the proposed rate schedule for 2026, 2027, and 2028 in this ordinance and revisit the future years of the proposed rate schedule at a later date prior to the expiration of the adopted three-year schedule. AB24595 (Ordinance 2025-07-014) Approved 7-0
150. Increase the surface and stormwater utility service rates? Effective 1/1/2026 and 1/1/2027, the surface and stormwater utility rates levied shall continue with an adjustment equal to the August-to- August annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, plus 0.5 percent. Unless otherwise abrogated by the council, beginning 1/1/2028, and each year thereafter, the surface and storm water utility rates levied in 2027 shall continue with an annual adjustment January 1st each year, by an inflationary factor tied to the most recent August-to-August annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue. AB24596 (Ordinance 2025-07-015) Approved 7-0
151. Expand coverage of the city’s utility customer assistance program for low-income households? The city currently offers reduced utility rates for public water, sewer, and surface and stormwater utilities for low-income seniors and disabled citizens. This expanded customer assistance program will cover all low-income account holders regardless of age or disability status. Rates for qualifying households are reduced by 75 percent for those less than or equal to 30 percent of the area median income (AMI), by 50 percent for those greater than 30 percent and less than or equal to 50 percent of AMI, and by 25 percent for those earning greater than 50 percent and less than or equal to 80 percent of AMI. AB24597 (Ordinance 2025-07-016) Approved 7-0
152. Provide equal protection and city services regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression? At the 6/9/2025 meeting, vote #116, the council unanimously approved a resolution that reaffirms the city’s longstanding commitments to equity, human rights, public safety and social justice, and opposing hate and discrimination. This ordinance creates a new chapter in the Bellingham Municipal Code to put into action values affirmed in the June 9 resolution, with a specific focus on supporting LGBTQ+ community members. In a separate vote approved 7-0, the legislative policy analyst was directed to track LGBTQ+ bills that are assigned to committee in the Washington State Legislature. AB24589 (Ordinance 2025-07-017) Amended and approved 7-0
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Mayor, Kim Lund
360–778–8100 (phone), 360-778-8101 (fax)
mayorsoffice@cob.org
Term expires: Dec. 2027
City Council
360–778–8200 (phone), 360–778–8108 (fax)
ccmail@cob.org
At-Large, Jace Cotton
360-778-8214, jacotton@cob.org
Term expires: Dec. 2025
Ward 1, Hannah Stone
360–778–8211, hestone@cob.org
Term expires: Dec. 2027
Ward 2, Council President, Hollie Huthman
360–778-8216, hahuthman@cob.org
Term expires: Dec. 2025
Ward 3, Dan Hammill
360–778–8213, dchammill@cob.org
Term expires: Dec. 2027
Ward 4, “Skip” Williams
360–778–8215, ehwilliams@cob.org
Term expires: Dec. 2025
Ward 5, Lisa Anderson
360-778-8217, laanderson@cob.org
Term expires: Dec. 2027
Ward 6, Michael Lilliquist
360–778–8212, mlilliquist@cob.org
Term expires: Dec. 2025
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