Action Taken at April 8, 2019 Meeting
Shall the council:
63. Approve the mayor’s reappointments of Abe Lloyd and Allan Richardson to the Lake Whatcom Watershed Advisory Board? The board advises the city on the purchase, management, maintenance and use of properties within the Lake Whatcom watershed. Abe Lloyd is an instructor at WWU and WCC, with a master’s degree in environmental studies and a bachelor of science in natural resource management, who has lived in Bellingham for 29 years. Allan Richardson is a retired WCC faculty member who has lived in Bellingham 47 years and is active in the Washington Native Plant Society and the Whatcom County Historical Society. Both were initially appointed at the 4/11/2016 meeting, vote #55. Their second term ends on 4/11/2022, at which time they may be reappointed. (AB22271) Approved 5-0, Pinky Vargas and April Barker excused.
64. Authorize the mayor to accept a $148,305 state grant for the water quality infrastructure assessment? The grant will be used to study water quality citywide and develop a prioritized plan to improve water quality through stormwater management actions. The city is required to provide 25 percent or $49,435 in matching funds. Jason Porter will act as project manager for the city. (AB22272) Approved 5-0, Pinky Vargas and April Barker excused.
65. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with Whatcom County Fire Protection District #7 for communications maintenance and repair services? Fire District #7 utilizes similar two-way radio equipment as the city, including mobile, portable and fixed-base radio equipment, as well as headsets, chargers and intercom systems. In an effort to improve security, efficiency and response times, and to reduce the cost of hiring a third-party repair company to maintain district communications equipment, the district is seeking to utilize Bellingham’s in-house existing radio communications shop to perform these services. Services would only be provided as time and resources are available as a secondary priority to city needs. The city has similar agreements for communication maintenance services with other local fire districts and the Port of Bellingham that have been successful and remain in effect with no detrimental impacts to fleet and communications operations. (AB22273) Approved 5-0, Pinky Vargas and April Barker excused.
66. Appropriate $4,061,240 for goods and services checks issued from March 16 through March 29, 2019? (AB22274/22275) Approved 5-0, Pinky Vargas and April Barker excused.
67. Appropriate $4,498,696 for payroll checks issued from March 1 through March 15, 2019? (AB22276) Approved 5-0, Pinky Vargas and April Barker excused.
68. Authorize the mayor to relinquish two utility easements running through portions of the Sunnyland Elementary School property at 2800 James Street? (Public hearing held.) The Public Works Department has determined that the easements located within a vacated alley and vacated portion of King Street are surplus to the city’s needs and not required for the provision of public utility services. Both easements were created by city ordinance in 1953. Bellingham School District 501 currently owns the property and is seeking to have the easements relinquished to facilitate improvements. AB22267 (Resolution 2019-09) Approved 5-0, Pinky Vargas and April Barker excused.
Action Taken at April 22, 2019 Meeting
Shall the council:
69. Remove on-street parking on W. Chestnut Street for the installation of bike lanes? A total of five parking stalls will be removed from both sides of W. Chestnut Street to install bike lanes in the summer of 2019. The project will also remove a driving lane and install buffer- protected bike lanes on W. Chestnut between Railroad Avenue and Key Street. During design, it was determined that removal of on-street parking would allow bike lanes on W. Chestnut to connect infrastructure from Bay Street to Railroad Avenue. (AB22278) Approved 7-0
70. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with Whatcom County Fire Protection District #17 for communications maintenance and repair services? Fire District #17 utilizes similar two-way radio equipment as the city, including mobile, portable, and fixed-base radio equipment, as well as headsets, chargers, and intercom systems. In an effort to increase security, efficiency and response times, and reduce the cost of hiring a third-party repair company to maintain district communications equipment, the district is seeking to utilize Bellingham’s in-house existing radio communications shop to perform these services. Payment for communications repair and installation services will be on a time and materials basis, with labor charged at $90/hr. through 2019 to be reviewed annually, and time-and-a-half for offtime and holidays. The city has similar amendments in place for communication maintenance services with other local fire districts and the Port of Bellingham that have been successful and remain in effect with no detrimental impacts to fleet and communications operations. (AB22288) Approved 7-0
71. Authorize the mayor to accept a $406,314 state grant for the West Cemetery Creek water quality improvements project? This project includes the design and construction of approximately 2,300 linear feet of stream bank and channel features along the creek, and will install natural bed and bank features and stormwater dispersion along the creek to improve water quality and restore natural processes. The grant requires a city match of 25 percent or $135,438. for a total of $541,752. (AB22289) Approved 7-0
72. Appropriate $3,629,988 for payroll checks issued from March 16 through March 31, 2019? (AB22290) Approved 7-0
73. Appropriate $3,342,269 for goods and services checks issued from March 30, 2019 through April 12, 2019? (AB22291/22292) Approved 7-0
74. Update right-of-way permit fees? This vote clarifies the administrative review fees for permits required under the updated roadside vending ordinance. The council first passed street obstruction fees in 1988 and last updated fees at the 12/13/2004 meeting, vote #273. A permit is required for all work in city alleys or street rights-of-way that substantially interfere with public use, such as culver/storm drains, utilities, fences, sidewalk cafes, ramps, etc. Fees range for temporary right of way use permits from $25 for less than six days and under 1,000 square feet to $300 for 91 days or more and over 1,000 square feet, with annual renewals where applicable set at $50. AB22280 (Resolution 2019-10) Approved 7-0
75. Establish fees for short-term rental land use permits? At the 11/5/2018 meeting, vote #180, the council established regulations for short-term rentals. The ordinance states that short-term rental regulations take effect six months after the date of adoption, which is 5/5/2019 at which time the fees must be in place. Revenue generated by these fees will go into the Development Services Fund. Fees are as follows: Type I at $246 (staff & contingency) + $123 consulting fee = $370; Type II at $430 (staff & contingency, includes $53 notice) + $123 consulting fee = $553 (rounded down to $550); Type III-A at $297 (includes $53 notice fee) + $550 Hearing Examiner fee = $847; and Renewal (before January 1 of every even-numbered year) at $123 (staff & contingency) + $123 = $246 (rounded up to $250). The proposed fees for the city of Bellingham’s new short term rental permits may be higher than other Washington jurisdictions because of the added cost of an annual consulting service, which is integral to enforcing continued compliance with the regulations. AB22285 (Resolution 2019-11) Approved 7-0
76. Vacate portions of West Ivy Street (32,335 square feet), H Street (13,713 square feet), Central Avenue (6,400 square feet), Laurel Street (9,997 square feet) and West Maple Street (13,585 square feet) within the Waterfront District? The Port of Bellingham petitioned for the vacation of approximately 76,000 square feet of right-of-way, approximately 38,735 square feet are underwater tidelands. The right-of-ways are located between the I & J Waterway, Roeder Avenue, Railroad Avenue, and the outer harbor line in Bellingham Bay AB20205 (Ordinance 2019-04-009) Approved 7-0
77. Vacate portions of Army Street (41,447 square feet), Central Avenue (15,579 square feet), Oak Street (15,579 square feet) and portions of C (35,002 square feet), D (35,037 square feet), E (35,075 square feet) and F (35,115 square feet) streets within the Waterfront District? The Port of Bellingham petitioned for the vacation of approximately 239,290 square feet of rights-of-way, approximately 140,250 square feet are underwater and within harbor areas. AB20206 (Ordinance 2019-04-010) Approved 7-0
