Bellingham City Council

134. Award bids of $70,935 to Familian Northwest of Bellingham and $71,658 National Waterworks of Waco, Texas, for 12 types of water fittings and valves? Every three years the public works department seeks bids on a variety of fittings and valves needed to maintain the water distribution system. Frequently used items are stocked, while less often used items are ordered when needed. Familian was the lowest bidder for five types of valves and fittings and National was the lowest bidder on the remaining seven. (AB15757) Approved 7-0

135. Approve the vacation of Newmarket Street? Public ownership of the street right-of-way will be relinquished. The street begins at Rimland Drive, crosses Barkley Boulevard and ends in Barkley Village. The vacation will not substantially change the function of the roadway, but will allow nonstandard improvements by the petitioner (Talbot Real Estate) and transfer roadway maintenance to the petitioner. AB15645 (Ordinance 2003-08-50) Approved 7-0

136. Reallocate $35,256 to create a part-time job in the planning department and increase the wages for five positions in the public works and technology departments? The human resources department set the new rates after performing a market study and after negotiations with the union. AB15741 (Ordinance 2003-08-51) Approved 7-0

137. Appropriate $195,864 for the Bellingham Police Department and accept a federal grant of $8,129 for body armor? Allocate $9,463 in local money for a body armor total of $17,592. Replacement items: $112,347 for firearms and light bars (flashing light on top of vehicle); $74,054 for two airplane collision avoidance systems, overtime pay, teen court and teen drug court, and a fingerprint imaging system. AB15742 (Ordinance 2003-08-52) Approved 7-0

138. Allocate $750,000 to implement the design phase of the Civic Field Complex Improvement Program? This ordinance provides the go ahead to design improvements to several Civic Field structures that are in need of repair and upgrades such as paving the parking lot. Final project funding, after the initial design and cost estimation process, is proposed to be paid for via Beyond Greenway levy funds and a bond issue, which will be repaid by the real estate excise tax.* AB15743 (Ordinance 2003-08-53) Approved 7-0

139. Appropriate an additional $575,000 to purchase property at Bakerview Road and Eliza Avenue and for higher than anticipated construction costs on the Eliza Project? The property must be bought to avoid a wetland area while connecting Bakerview Road with Kellogg Road via Eliza Avenue. The negotiated purchase price is $423,000 for 1.21 acres. The additional construction costs include retaining walls to support the street and minimize impacts to wetland areas, addition of a second sidewalk to complete the road to full standards and additional stormwater treatment facilities. AB15747 (Ordinance 2003-08-54) Approved 7-0

* This type of funding will avoid a public vote. When a Civic Field improvement bond was on the 2000 ballot it received less than 48 percent of the vote—60 percent was needed for passage.

140. Award the low bid of $358,190 to Imco General Construction of Bellingham for the Eliza Avenue project? This project will construct Eliza Avenue north from West Bakerview approximately 750 feet to the existing Eliza Avenue in the Cordata area. The project includes a stormwater system, sidewalk, bike lane, sewer and water. The low bid was $12,194 above engineer’s estimate. (AB15768) Approved 7-0

141. Award the lowest responsive bid of $110,952 to Boise Office Solutions of Kent for miscellaneous computer supplies, parts, ribbons and toner? The lowest bidder, Northwest Computer Supplies of Bellingham, was disqualified because the bid was not signed. Thus, the lowest responsive bidder was Boise. (AB15769) Approved 6-1, Bob Ryan opposed.

142. Amend the Bellingham municipal code relating to construction in flood plains? Bellingham is required to adopt and maintain ordinances that reduce building and development damage from floods in order to stay in the federal flood insurance program. This amendment will align the city’s code with federal rules and keep the city in the program. AB15753 (Ordinance 2003-08-55) Approved 7-0

143. Modifying the Bellingham municipal code relating to sewer connections? City code currently restricts applications for sewer service to those properties that abut a sewer line. This modification will allow commercial, multifamily or industrial developments to apply for a connection when the sewer line is being installed. AB15754 (Ordinance 2003-08-56) Approved 7-0

144. Pass an ordinance vacating Twenty-First Street north of West College Way? This is a housekeeping measure to clear up a discrepancy in the 1970 purchase of the street right-of-way by Western Washington University. When the university purchased the street an ordinance was not passed, as state law requires, thus not giving the university clear title to the land. AB15755 (Ordinance: 2003-08-57) Approved 7-0

145. Amend the Bellingham municipal code allowing greater flexibility in the use of the real estate tax? Current code requires that half of the real estate tax be used for the planning, buying and/or construction of drainage improvements and facilities. The surface and stormwater tax now provides consistent revenue for these improvements, thus the real estate tax is no longer needed for this purpose. AB15764 (Ordinance 2003-08-58) Approved 7-0

146. Hire the law firm of Brown, Revis and Manning of Seattle as special council? City property neighboring the old Roeder Avenue landfill site has been contaminated and the city is looking into taking legal action. The city attorney’s office recommended this firm because of their expertise in matters involving landfills and insurance companies. Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.

147. A public hearing was held to consider the uses of a block grant from the Justice Department. The police department proposed the funds be used to upgrade computers and purchase mobile computers. The city is required to match the $27,331 grant with $3,037 for a total of $30,368. AB 15771 Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.

148. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $824,192 to Road Construction Northwest of Renton for the final phase of the Oak Street pump station upgrade? A second sewer line increasing sewer capacity by 62.5 percent is being added from the Oak Street pump station to Boulevard Avenue. The total cost of the three-phase project is $7,315,928. For votes on phase one and two see: 2/10, vote 24 and 5/19, vote 86. AB 15774 Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.

149. Amend the Guide Meridian Neighborhood Plan? The area in question is north of West Bakerview Road between Northwest Road and Guide Meridian. As the area develops, the current plan requires the city to construct a road between W. Kellogg and Aldridge Road, connecting Guide Meridian with Aldrich Road. The Public Works Department determined that wetlands in the area would decrease development, thus, there is no need for the connector. After a public hearing on May 15, 2003, the Planning Commission voted to stop further road development. This amendment, preventing construction of a connector will be added to the annual comprehensive plan ordinance. AB15751 Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.

150. Appropriate $120,109 to purchase and install 10 video cameras downtown and train police officers to operate them? The appropriation includes overtime pay for police DUI patrols during August and September 2003. The camera system is intended to curb drug associated activities and other downtown problems. AB15766 (Ordinance 2003-09-59) Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.