Action Taken at December 8, 2025 Meeting
Shall the council:
248. Authorize the mayor to spend $289,000 purchase a 3.62-acre property from Derek and Amanda Hahn? The property will be acquired through the Lake Whatcom Watershed Land Acquisition and Preservation Program. Motion carried 7-0
249. Authorize the mayor to sell surplus city property located at 858 E. Smith Road to Thomas Costa and Janel Cruz for $630,000? This 0.97-acre city-owned parcel has a 2,891 square foot home that has served as an ambulance station. The city purchased the property in 2002 for $198,000 and the parcel was appraised in February of 2024 at $710,000. At the 7/1/2024 meeting, vote #128, the council declared the parcel surplus and authorized its sale. There is a $10,000 closing cost allowance in favor of buyer, contingent upon the sale of buyer’s home. Motion carried 7-0
250. Authorize the mayor to sign onto the amicus brief in United States v. New York City et al., No. 1:25-cv-04084 ? The United States has filed a complaint against the City of New York and its officials, alleging that the city’s sanctuary policies obstruct federal immigration enforcement, thereby endangering public safety. The United States seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to preempt local laws that violate the supremacy clause of the Constitution and hinder the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The above information came from the Website scribe.com. Motion carried 7-0
251. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $1,504,200 to Summit Construction of Bellingham for repairs to the police department building? The engineer’s estimate was $1,475,860. At the 8/25/2025 meeting, vote #168, the council rejected all bids for repairs to the police department building. The low bid of $1,875,845 was rejected because it was more than double the engineer’s estimate of $925,000. It was decided that the project would be reviewed and rebid. This vote is the rebid. The front entryway façade of the main building has experienced water infiltration due to leaky seams, failed caulking, damaged areas of stucco, and flashing, and sealing around select windows. The city received six bids; the high bid was $1,864,944. (AB24761) Approved 7-0
252. Amend the service fee agreement with Whatcom County for Advanced Life Support Services? The 2026 fee schedule is $13,943,642. The funding source is the countywide EMS levy. Annual costs: four paramedic units available 24 hours a days, 365 days per year ($11,774,716); an EMS captain position available 24 hours a days, 365 days per year ($1,146,343); two community paramedics available 40 hours per week ($494,651); and an entrylevel paramedic training program ($527,932). This agreement terminates on 12/31/2029. (AB24763) Approved 7-0
253. Amend the agreement with Whatcom County for Ground-Level Response and Coordinated Engagement (GRACE)? At the 1/28/2019 meeting, vote #13, the council authorized the mayor to sign an agreement with Whatcom County to support the creation of the GRACE program. The program goals are to reduce first responder calls, emergency department visits, arrests, and jail admissions while improving the health, well-being and stability of these individuals. This agreement is being amended to reduce the city’s contribution, it will now be $355,000 in 2026, a reduction of $60,358. The county does not anticipate any changes to program services as a result of this reduction. (AB24764) Approved 7-0
254. Approve the 2026 Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism Promotion Area budget for $1,488,655? At the 5/10/2021 meeting, vote #88, the City Council created a joint city and county tourism promotion area. Revenue collected will be used to promote local tourism, market the Bellingham-Whatcom County area entertainment, cultural and sporting events to the travel industry, and provide marketing and event assistance for those qualifying activities. Collections received in the city and unincorporated Whatcom County are deposited with the City of Bellingham. (AB24765) Approved 7-0
255. Approve amendments to the 2025 Lodging Tax Advisory Committee’s budget and the recommended 2026 budget? Expenditures for 2025 will be increased by $140,000 and the 2026 budget will be $2.818,157. See the Lodging Tax Committee’s 2026 recommendations below. Pursuant to state law, the City Council cannot change the funding amount or add new recipients to the list. The City Council can decline approval of a line item in its entirety. Revenues are expected to be over $2.2 million in 2026. (AB24766) Approved 6-0, Hollie Huthman recused.
256. Amend the Regional Economic Partnership agreement with Whatcom County and Port of Bellingham regarding funding economic development? The agreement was originally approved at the 12/13/2010 meeting, vote #235. Through this agreement, the city supports a collaborative commitment to fund the Port of Bellingham’s Regional Economic Partnership, Western’s Small Business Development Center, maintain the “Choose Whatcom” website, and oversee various contracts with economic developmentfocused activities. For 2026 and 2027, the city will reduce its combined funding from $244,274 to zero. Notwithstanding the absence of a financial contribution, the city shall remain a signatory to this agreement and a foundational partner in the regional economic partnership. (AB24767) Approved 7-0
257. Authorize the Parks and Recreation director to accept a $199,820 state grant for an Intergenerational Community Recreation Center with expanded aquatic center? The grant is from the state Department of Commerce and will be used to produce a business plan for the recreation center with expanded aquatic center. The project budgets $223,595 for architecture and engineering and will assist city decision makers in “right sizing” a future facility, assess market conditions, and create a sustainable operational plan. The project is anticipated to be completed by November 2026. (AB24777) Approved 7-0
258. Appropriate $11,999,729 for goods and services checks issued from November 13 through November 26, 2025? ( AB24778/24779/24780) Approved 7-0
259. Expand fees at Bayview Cemetery? New services include the disposition of terramains, providing memorial garden ground space, and the donation of memorial benches. Terramains is the process of turning a person’s remains into compost. This process is accomplished elsewhere by a licensed organic reduction facility. The finished product is delivered to the cemetery in 15 to 25 bags each weighing approximately 25 pounds. This resolution sets the fee for bags, memorial garden plots and the donations of memorial benches. AB24770 (Resolution 2025-30) Approved 7-0
260. Establish Parks and Recreation Department facility use fees? In an effort to offset rising costs for maintenance and staffing of facilities, the use fees are being increased. This resolution establishes commercial use permit fees for local businesses and organizations who use City of Bellingham parks and facilities to run their recreational programs, offsetting their impact and creating a system to avoid user conflicts and minimize overuse of particular park areas. There will be a maximum annual increase of 5 percent for Bellingham Parks and Recreation facilities. AB24771 (Resolution #2025-31) Approved 7-0
261. Amend and extend an interim ordinance permitting infill housing in areas that are zoned predominantly for residential uses, with the exception of the Lake Whatcom Reservoir? (Public hearing held at November 17 meeting.) At the 5/19/2025 meeting, vote #105, the council passed a 12-month interim ordinance on to expand the Infill Toolkit across the city. A range of housing forms that fall between detached single-family homes on one end of the spectrum to mid- to high-rise multifamily buildings on the other end of the spectrum are generally considered to be compatible in scale, form, and character with single-family houses. This ordinance allows for up to four units per lot with the potential for a fifth or sixth unit, if affordable, as defined by the state. Amended to change requirements for maximum permitted Infill Housing density authorized on each lot from four to six, if located within one-quarter of a mile walking distance of a major transit route to half of a mile. These interim regulations expire on 12/4/2026. AB24753 (Ordinance 2025-12-032) Approved 7-0
262. Amend city code to allow co-living in zones which allow multi-family, plus update and add definitions relevant to co-living, and replace references to the word “family” with “household”? (Public hearing held at November 17 meeting.) In 2024, Washington State passed legislation requiring all cities and counties under the Growth Management Act (GMA) to allow co-living housing as a permitted use on any lot where six or more multifamily units are permitted. Co-living housing is defined as a residential development where sleeping units are independently rented or sold and residents share kitchen facilities, often referred to as rooming and boarding house, residential suites, micro-units, or dormitories. AB24733 (Ordinance 2025-12-033) Approved 7-0
263. Adopt interim regulations to establish clear and objective design standards and streamline the design review permitting process for residential, commercial, mixed-use projects, and industrial projects in urban villages? (Public hearing held at November 17 meeting.) The city currently requires certain development projects to go through a design review process to encourage quality building design and site planning that enhances the character of the city. This interim ordinance amends the city’s current design review process and regulations to align with several state bills passed in recent years requiring objective standards and other specific processes. Due to state legislation passed in 2025, these changes are due by the end of 2025. The interim ordinance will bring the city into compliance with this legislation while permanent regulations are developed. This interim ordinance ends on 12/30/2026. AB24742 (Ordinance 2025-12-034) Approved 7-0
264. Amend city code regarding accessory dwelling units? At the 8/7/2023 meeting, vote #160, the council amended the rules for accessory dwelling units to be largely consistent with House Bill 1337, and to be ahead of state-mandated time limits. These amendments remove owner occupancy requirements for ADUs, allow ADUs with all infill housing types, eliminate the exemption from zoning density limits for ADUs, eliminate floor area ratio exclusions for ADUs, eliminate development and design standards that are more restrictive than those applied to principal units, include non-substantive changes to code that improve clarity and understanding and remove provisions that are redundant or have no regulatory purpose, and make other changes. AB24693 (Ordinance 2025-12-035) Approved 7-0
265. Adopt the 2026 budget? (Public hearings held at October 6 and November 3 meetings.) The budget has operating expenditures of $388,407,567 and capital expenditures of $155,858,743, for a total of $544,266,310. This ordinance adopts the 2026 budget, and creates the Skate Park Construction Fund for a park to be constructed under Chestnut Street bridge. AB24741 (Ordinance 2025-12-036) Approved 7-0
______________________________
Action Taken at December 15, 2025 Meeting
Shall the council:
266. Ratify a contract with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937? Duration: 1/1/2026, through 12/3/ 2027. Wages and compensation: Effective January 1, 2026, implement 2025 Evergreen Market Study by 1) bringing all current bargaining unit employees up to the market average and 2) placing employees into the same step in the new salary schedule as they are at on the current pay scale. Effective 1/1/2026, a 3 percent general wage adjustment; effective 1/1/2027, a 2 percent general wage adjustment. Increase the city’s contribution to medical health care by 6 percent each year. (Discussed in Executive Session) Motion carried 7-0
267. The mayor made two appointments to the Transportation Commission. The commission is expected to help shape the future of Bellingham by taking long-range, strategic looks at transportation issues and providing recommendations on policy choices and investment priorities. The committee has nine members — terms are three years with a two-term limit.
267a. Approve the appointment of Brad Johnson to his initial term on the commission? He has lived in Bellingham for approximately 12 years, is a professional planner with 18 years of land use planning experience and currently serves as the community development director for the City of Burlington. His first term expires on 12/15/2028. (AB24784) Approved 7-0
267b. Approve the appointment of Cindy Dennis to a second term on the commission? Cindy Steigerwald (former surname) was initially appointed to the commission at the 12/10/2022 meeting, vote #247. Cindy Dennis has lived in Bellingham for four years and currently serves as the director of transportation for the Bellingham Public Schools, and has worked in school district transportation since 1995. Her final term expires on 12/12/2028. (AB24784) Approved 7-0
268. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $3,880,135 to RAM Construction of Bellingham for James Street multimodal improvements? The engineer’s estimate was $5,222,315. At the 11/18/2024 meeting, vote #234, the council approved a $4,251,865 bid for a James Street/E. Bakerview Road roundabout, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, street lighting, and stormwater facilities; this bid is for segments 3 and 4. The project will install a multiuse path on the west side of James Street from Telegraph Road to King Avenue, and sidewalks and bike lanes from King Avenue to Gooding Avenue. The project includes street trees, stormwater piping and treatment, illumination, city fiber communication connections, and a pavement overlay. Construction is expected to begin in February 2026 and be completed by November 2026. The city received 10 bids; the high bid was $4,779,799. (AB24785) Approved 7-0
269. Extend sewer service to 2496 Yew Street Road? At the 5/23/2011 meeting, vote #94, the council repealed all water and sewer services located outside the city limits. The Growth Management Act allows the expansion of city services into rural areas to protect public health and safety. The property has a single-family residence that was constructed in 1983. It is served with water from the City of Bellingham and is within the city’s urban growth area. There is an existing sewer main abutting the property. On 11/6/2025, the Whatcom County Health Department discovered that the septic system had failed and ordered the property owner to correct the issue. Future use of the sewer is limited to the existing single-family dwelling. (AB24786) Approved 7-0
270. Appropriate $17,272,583 for goods and services checks issued from November 28, 2025 through December 4, 2025? (AB24789) Approved 7-0
271. Appropriate $10,764,634 for payroll checks issued from November 1 through November 30, 2025? (AB24790/24791) Approved 7-0
272. Amend the Bellingham Sportsplex lease with Whatcom Sports & Recreation (WSR)? The updated lease is through 12/31/2028, and it provides clearer delineation of maintenance responsibilities of the indoor soccer and ice arena at Civic Field. The city will be responsible for maintaining the building envelope, including structural, exterior, and other core building components. WSR will be responsible for all interior features, routine maintenance, operations, and overall facility management. Under the terms of the amended lease, WSR will continue to remit monthly rent payments to the city until the city’s debt obligation on the facility bond is fully satisfied, which is projected to occur by the end of 2028. Monthly rent starts at $27,293, and it increases to $28,088, it includes leasehold tax and utility payments. (AB24794) Approved 7-0
273. Declare an emergency and waive competitive bidding requirements for response to damages from recent weather events? On 12/10/2025, the weather had a significant impact on city infrastructure. There were sewer backups at 10 residences and a water main broke impacting two residences (approximate cost: $150,000). Baker Creek overflowed causing the flooding of a culvert and long-term closure of Bakerview Road and Smith Road (approximate cost: $1 million to $2 million), sinkholes formed at the upper abutment to Little Squalicum pier (approximate cost: $75,000 to $150,000), and Cemetery Creek near Woburn Street overflowed causing a road closure and weakening the road (approximate cost: $100,000 to $200,000). Declarations of emergency require a resolution to waive normal bidding procedures. AB24796 (Resolution 2025-32) Approved 7-0
274. Authorize the city to apply for three state grants for $18,445,000 to improve fish passage in Squalicum Creek? The city is applying to the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board jointly administered by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office. The city’s fish passage improvement program began in 2003 and, in 2022, resulted in a voluntary memorandum of agreement with the Nooksack Indian Tribe, Lummi Nation, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to formalize their shared goals of improving fish passage. The improvements will be to Squalicum Creek at Baker Creek (grant request $6,290,000), Squalicum Creek at Meridian/Birchwood (grant request $8,500,000) and the Squalicum Creek estuary (grant request $4,300,000). Total funding for three proposed projects is $21,700,000: up to $18,445,000 from grant sources and up to $3,255,000 in city match funds. AB24795 (Resolution 2025-33) Approved 7-0
275. Relinquish two sewer main easements in 801 Harris Avenue? (Public hearing held.) On 5/27/1926, the Puget Sound Saw Mills & Shingle Company granted the City of Bellingham an easement for construction, maintenance, and operation of a sewer main over portions of 801 Harris Avenue, now owned by the Port of Bellingham. On 2/21/1939, the Port of Bellingham granted the city an easement for sewer for construction, maintenance, and operation of a sewer main over portions of the property. The Port of Bellingham has an upcoming stormwater management project and needs the added area encumbered by the city’s sewer easements to properly complete the design and meet current regulations. The property is a developed lot. AB24782 (Resolution 2025-34) Approved 7-0
276. Relinquish a public utility easement in vacated Alder Street? (Public hearing held.) On 2/24/1955, the City of Bellingham vacated a portion of the Alder Street right-of-way at 403 North State Street. The current owner has plans to replace the existing duplex and garage with eight townhouse units. The owner needs the added area encumbered by the city’s retained utility easement to facilitate the development. AB24783 (Resolution 2025-35) Approved 7-0
277. Grant Forged Fiber 37 LLC a franchise to install, operate and maintain fiber optic broadband network components in city rights-of-way for wholesale telecommunications services to resellers? Forged Fiber is a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T Inc. AT&T and Forged Fiber are in the process of acquiring certain fiber assets from Lumen Technologies Inc., including assets located in Bellingham rights-of-way. The purpose of the franchise is to coordinate the shared use of the right-of-way for transportation, utility, and telecommunications services in an orderly manner, with a clear allocation of risk among the various users. Construction within the right-of-way requires additional site-specific public works permits for each distinct project. The franchise term is 10 years. AB24781 (Ordinance 2025-12-037) Approved 7-0
278. Amend the 2025 budget to add $400,000 in revenue and $4,890,000 in expenditures? This ordinance authorizes interfund loans up to $1,100,000 to the Medic One fund ($300,000), Workers Compensation fund ($200,000) and Health Benefits fund ($600,00). It is necessary to provide interfund loans to ensure the funds do not end the year in a negative cash position or below required reserve minimums. AB24769 (Ordinance 2025-12-038) Approved 7-0
279. Adopt the 2025 City of Bellingham’s Comprehensive Plan, including the future land use map? (Public hearing held at November 3 meeting.). The plan is the city’s guiding community plan, providing direction on a range of topics to guide growth over the next 20 years. Once a decade, the city updates and/or refines this plan in what is known as a “periodic update.” An amendment to the ordinance includes a new policy in the housing chapter to explore creative solutions for creating permanent affordability and community wealth building, such as community land trusts, limited equity cooperatives, resident-owned communities, and public development authorities. More information about the plan can be found here: https://cob.org/services/planning/comprehensive-plan/periodic-update AB24775 (Ordinance 2025-12-039) Amended and approved 7-0
