Action Taken at July 13, 2026 Meeting
Committee reports:
Councilmember Hollie Huthman shared updates from the Tourism Commission related to the Bellingham Fan Zone activities. The Fan Zone website received 53,000+ visits. Watch parties were successful, the Commercial Street Party had 1,800 visitors, Trackside had around 7,000 at the first event with 1,500 of those individuals living 50+ miles away, the second watch party at Trackside had 4,800 individuals with 1,500 of those individuals living 50+ miles away. Personal vehicles from all ports of entry increased in June by 13 percent compared to June 2025. While positive, the number is still down 22 percent from June 2024. The council should anticipate a more comprehensive report in the fall.
Shall the council:
Appoint Councilmembers Jace Cotton, Michael Lilliquist and Edwin “Skip” Williams to serve on the City Council Lobbying Work Group? Members were selected by drawing names. (Council assignment report) Motion carried 7-0
114. Authorize the mayor to spend $190,000 to purchase property from the owner, Jeff Kradenpoth? The property is located in the Lake Whatcom Watershed; it will be acquired through the Lake Whatcom Watershed Land Acquisition and Preservation Program. The program is funded by water customers through a surcharge on their utility bill. (Discussed in Executive Session.) Motion carried 7-0
115, Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $1,480,017 to RAM Construction of Bellingham for a citywide nonmotorized project? The engineer’s estimate was $2,128,936.The project consists of improvements across 10 locations in the city that will make walking and biking safer and more comfortable. Corridor-based improvements include widening of bicycle lane lines on Lakeway between Woburn Street and the city limits and establishing bike boulevards on G and H Streets between Dupont Street and W. North Street and W. North street between Cornwall Avenue and Broadway. The project will also make improvements at seven intersections by installing rectangular rapid flashing beacons at existing crosswalks. Four of these locations will include Americans with Disabilities Act ramp upgrades, and one will install a new streetlight. One intersection revision with upgraded curb ramps at E. Maple Street and Mason Street on the west side of Ellis Street is also included in the project. The city received seven bids and all were below the engineer’s estimate; the high bid was $1,907,805. (AB24983) Approved 7-0
116. Update fees for public use of city-owned electric vehicle charging stations? At the 11/17/2022 meeting, vote #213, the council adopted a fee schedule for city-owned electric vehicle charging stations. The base rate was $0.25/kWh for both Level 2 and Level 3 chargers.This resolution raises the base fee for Level 3 chargers to 0.40 cents per kWh in order to pay for system operational costs and allow for a small amount of system development costs. In addition, the base fee for EV charging will be set annually using the Consumer Price Index to allow for system revenue to keep pace with expenses. AB24986 (Resolution 2026-15) Approved 7-0
117. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of not to exceed $450,000 to Stumpys Tree Care of Lynden for tree trimming and removal services? The three-year definite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contact has an option of a one-year renewal. The contract includes emergency and non-emergency work. It shall include but is not limited to the timely removal of hazardous trees, ancillary work, and cleanup necessary to complete the hazardous tree removal work, including tree pruning. The work sites are located in the public rights-of-way, parks, and other city-owned and/or operated facilities within the boundaries and watersheds of Bellingham. The city received three bids. (AB24981) Approved 7-0
118. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with Whatcom County for the Alternative Response Team (ART) Program? The Bellingham Police Department applied for a $688,760 state grant over a 25-month period. Launched in January 2023, this Bellingham program sends two behavioral health specialists to respond to specific nonviolent behavioral health 911 calls. As part of the last legislative session, the state Legislature reduced the state’s contribution. This grant will replace that funding. The police department requested funds to help maintain operations of ART, retain trained personnel, analyze program data, and to preserve the unit’s demonstrated benefit to the Bellingham community. The agreement ends on 6/30/2028. (AB24984) Approved 7-0
119. Appropriate $20,986,491 for goods and services checks issued from May 29, 2026 through June 25, 2026? (AB24971/24972/24980/24988) Approved 7-0
120. Appropriate $6,110,137 for payroll checks issued from May 16 to May 31, 2026? (AB24979) Approved 7-0
121. Place a measure on the November ballot to facilitate electronic signatures for city contracts? This includes two components: allowing the mayor’s designee to sign contracts and removing the requirement for the finance director to attest to the mayor’s signature and physically attach the city seal. These changes to the charter will allow for meaningful modernization of contracting practices, increasing efficiently with no impact to transparency or accountability. AB24977 (Resolution 2026-16) Approved 7-0
122. Place a measure on the November ballot to eliminate the requirement that the mayor be the highest paid employee of the city? The current charter language results in a mayoral salary that is driven by staff salary compression instead of public intention. Reviewing a sample of similarly sized and larger cities in Washington state, Bellingham’s system was atypical; in no city reviewed was the mayor the highest salaried employee. Far more common is salary setting through an independent salary commission.At the 12/6/2021 meeting, vote #230, the City Council created a salary commission to determine compensation for City Council members. Salary commission members served without compensation. The proposed new language has mayoral compensation set by the same salary commission that sets City Council compensation, increasing transparency and aligning with best practices. AB24978 (Resolution 2026-17) Approved 7-0
123. Extend the interim zoning ordinance to eliminating minimum automobile parking standards and establishing bicycle parking standards? (Public hearings held at June 15 and July 13 meetings.) This six-month extension allows property owners and developers to reduce the amount of parking they provide based on anticipated demand rather than city mandates. A driving force behind this parking reform is to remove obstacles to housing production, reduce environmental impacts, and support the city’s climate goals. The council initially passed the interim ordinance at the 1/13/2025 meeting, vote #14, and extended it at the 11/17/2025 meeting, vote #246. This six-month extension will terminate on 1/28/2027. Staff anticipates completing the code updates in late summer or early fall 2026. AB24968 (Ordinance 2026-07-017) Approved 7-0
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Action Taken at July 27, 2026 Meeting
Shall the council:
124. Authorize the mayor to sign a $27,968 settlement agreement with Laeth and Kara Nelson for water damages? On 12/11/2025 at approximately 4:45 a.m., a water main broke on Bayside Road. It flooded a home, crawl space, garage and flower beds with mud and water. Wood siding on the house and the driveway had to be replaced and the landscape needed repairing. Rugs and other household items had to be restored. (Discussed in Executive Session.) Motion carried 6-0, Hollie Huthman excused.
125. Authorize the mayor to submit claims form #2873 in the AFFF multidistrict PFAS litigation? The city attorney’s office will not be sending information on this vote until September 4. That is after this issue is sent to the printer. This vote will be updated in the October issue. (Discussed in Executive Session.) Motion carried 6-0, Hollie Huthman excused.
126. Authorize the mayor to retain Marten Law of Seattle to represent the city on environmental permitting, regulatory compliance and enforcement matters concerning the city’s Post Point Resource Recovery Plant? (Discussed in Executive Session.) Motion carried 6-0, Hollie Huthman excused.
127. Confirm the mayor’s appointment of James Erb as interim city attorney? Mr. Erb meets the qualifications of city attorney as defined in article 6, section 2 of the City Charter. Mr. Erb has been the acting deputy city attorney since 2010, he also acted as staff attorney for the Nooksack Indian Tribe from 2008-2010, and as assistant state attorney 10th Judicial from 2005-2007. (AB24989) Approved 6-0, Hollie Huthman excused.
128. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $2,829,638 to Faber Construction of Lynden for the Ellis, Fraser, and Lincoln overlay? The engineer’s estimate was $3,422,430. The project includes pavement restoration, water main replacement, and upgrades to pedestrian infrastructure. The streets to be paved are Ellis Street between E. Illinois Street and Squalicum Parkway, Fraser Street between Puget Street and Valencia Street, and Lincoln Street between Elwood Avenue and E. Maple Street. Within the overlay limits of Ellis Street, a 16-inch ductile iron water main will be installed to replace the existing 6-inch cast iron water main. The project is expected to be completed in October 2026, weather permitting. The city received seven bids; the high bid was $4,025,455. (AB24997) Approved carried 6-0, Hollie Huthman excused.
129. Grant a 30-day noise variance to Faber Construction for the Ellis, Lincoln, and Fraser overlay? Construction work in residential-zoned areas between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. requires a noise variance. This variance is recommended to lessen daytime traffic impacts and allow for nighttime work to provide for reasonable traffic control, which will ensure reasonable access to medical services provided at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and surrounding medical providers. (AB24994) Approved 6-0, Hollie Huthman excused.
130. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with the state Department of Enterprise Services in support of the statewide energy performance contracting program? The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services Energy Program (DES) contracts with qualified energy services companies to provide energy project management services. The services provided are intended to reduce the city’s ongoing operating costs by improving energy efficiency and supporting implementation of the city’s Climate Action Plan. The program acts as an advocate for facility owners by providing expertise, managing contracts, improving facility efficiency, and reducing carbon emissions while managing project risks. (AB24998) Approved 6-0, Hollie Huthman excused.
131. Place Initiative measure 2026-01 on the November ballot to prohibit algorithmic price fixing in the rental market? The proposal would prohibit two or more landlords from entering into an agreement to establish rental prices; and prohibit the use of paid algorithmic coordinating services that use systems or software to analyze public and private data about the rental market to recommend rental prices, lease renewal terms, or occupancy levels to multiple landlords. Additionally, it would create a private right of action, establish protections for whistleblowers and anti-retaliation protections for tenants and employees, and authorize civil and criminal penalties for violations. After receiving notice from the Whatcom County Auditor that the sponsors of initiative 2026-01 had gathered a sufficient number of signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot, the City Council discussed the initiative bill. This vote defers the initiative to the November general election ballot. AB24990 (Resolution 2026-18) Approved 6-0, Hollie Huthman excused.
132. Approve the City Council Communications and Community Engagement 2026 Work Plan? This is a long-term plan to better connect Bellingham residents with the City Council. This document describes the communications activities that would be conducted on behalf of the City Council, including in-person public engagement options, establishment of an email newsletter, increased social media presence, and public comment period improvements. (AB24973) Approved 6-0, Hollie Huthman excused.
133. Appropriate $5,743,116 for payroll checks issued from June 1 through June 15, 2026? (AB24991) Approved 6-0, Hollie Huthman excused.
134. Amend the city code to expand the urban village phased tax credit and establish a new downtown pedestrian core tax credit? The goal of the ordinance is to reduce the pedestrian core vacancy rate to below 10 percent while encouraging long-term business investment and activation of storefront spaces. The amendment sets the tax credit for the first seven years at 100 percent. Other amendments will expand eligibility to ensure all designated urban villages are represented within the program. AB24985 (Ordinance 2026-07-018) Approved 6-0, Hollie Huthman excused.
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Bellingham City Council
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