Bellingham City Council

180. Approve the payment of $27,500 to settle litigation in the matter of Chapin vs. city of Bellingham? Rojean Chapin accused police officer Allan Bass of hugging and kissing her on September 3, 2000. At the time, officer Bass was responding to Chapin’s call of a disturbance in the Happy Valley neighborhood. Officer Bass initiated a counter suit alleging that Chapin’s suit was libelous and slanderous. Chapin accepted the settlement, so neither party will be held responsible for any wrongdoing. Approved 7-0

181. Authorize the mayor to accept the sole bid of $37,750 from the Phelps Tire Company of Bellingham for new tires and repairs? This contract is for approximately 195 new tires and flat repairs for the coming year (1/1/04–12/31/04). The city does not repair tires or change tires on heavy equipment. Of the three local vendors providing the needed services, Meridian Tire chose not to bid and Les Schwab is the current state contract holder. The city compares the price of each purchase between Phelps Tire and Les Schwab; the cheapest receives the order. (AB15849) Approved 7-0

182. Authorize the mayor to accept the low bid of $38,244 from Pacific Coast Industrial Lighting of Woodinville for light bulbs? Incandescent and fluorescent bulbs will be replaced throughout city hall with high-efficiency fluorescent lights. It is estimated that the annual electricity savings for lighting will be 54 percent. Puget Sound Energy will rebate between 20 and 50 percent of the cost. The engineer’s estimated cost was between $35,000 and $50,000. (AB15847) Approved 7-0

183. Extend the deadline for the installation of a traffic signal at Lakeway Drive and Birch Street? This vote extends the deadline until 8/30/04. On 7/29/02, (vote 134) the council set the deadline at 5/31/03; on 4/14/03 (vote 51) the council extended the deadline to 11/30/03. The city cannot install the signal because it does not have the necessary right-of-way for the north side of the intersection. Construction of homes in the Birch Street development will be delayed until the signal is installed. (AB15848) Approved 7-0

184. Repeal the municipal code chapter on the disposition of surplus property and replace it with one that clarifies procedures? The current code was enacted in 1979 and last amended in 1985. It is not clear enough to handle out-of-the-ordinary situations. The new chapter will clarify the process, eliminating ambiguities and inconsistencies in the prior code. AB15838 (Ordinance 2003-11-70) Approved 7-0

185. Consider Western Washington University’s request to change parking at the Armory building? WWU wants to limit parking at 525 North State Street to faculty, staff and students and use headfirst parking on the street. To solve the problem, WWU proposes that in return for encroaching on the right-of-way, they would allow public parking in two of the 20 slots. (AB15866) Approved 6-0, Louise Bjornsen excused.

186. Accept the second lowest bid of $74,614 from Clyde West of Seattle for a front-end loader? This is a replacement for a 25-year-old loader, which will be transferred to less demanding work. The low bid of $68,869 from Western Power Equipment of Auburn did not meet height specifications needed to fill roadway sanders, which have sides taller than the standard dump truck. (AB15867) Approved 6-0, Louise Bjornsen excused.

187. Grant final plat approval for the last 25 lots in the Pacific Trail development? Preliminary approval for 67 single-family lots at the end of Undine Street in the Roosevelt Neighborhood was granted on June 17, 1996. Final plat approval was granted for the initial 21 lots on June 16, 1997, and the second 20 lots on March 21, 2001. The council accepted changes to the original plat design on September 10, 2001, and the required improvements have either been completed or a cash security has been accepted. AB15868 (Resolution 2003-29) Approved 6-0, Louise Bjornsen excused

188. Approve a ten-year property tax exemption for 28 multifamily units in the Bellingham Inn? The exemption is for the redeveloped Bellingham Inn (corner of Railroad and Holly) and does not include land or commercial improvements. Lost property taxes are estimated to be $6,356 per year and will be offset by taxes from expected commercial improvements to the building. AB15869 (Resolution 2003-30) Approved 6-0, Louise Bjornsen excused.

189. Approve a ten-year property multifamily tax exemption for 76 units in the Morse Hardware site? This exemption is for a dwelling in the 1000 block of Railroad Avenue. Lost property taxes are estimated to be $53,675 per year and will be offset by taxes from commercial improvements to the building. AB15870 (Resolution 2003-31) Approved 6-0, Louise Bjornsen excused.

190. Set December 17, 2003, as the public hearing date for the vacation of Waldron Road? Public ownership of the street right-of-way will be relinquished. Waldron Road is no longer needed to connect Meridian with Aldrich Road. At the 9/8/03 council meeting, vote 149, it was decided wetlands would decrease development in the area so a connector is not required. AB15873 (Resolution 2003-32) Approved 6-0, Louise Bjornsen excused.

191. Transfer $86,575 in unspent audit money back to the departments that were not audited and appropriate $6,727 for unanticipated audit charges? It is unknown which departments will be audited so funds are kept in the finance department. This year there was $6,727 in unplanned costs. AB15845 (Ordinance 2003-11-71) Approved 6-0, Louise Bjornsen excused.

192. Accept a state grant of $107,158 for costs associated with the Holly Street landfill cleanup/Whatcom Creek estuary restoration project? The grant will reimburse the city $62,158 of the $124,316 they spent installing a methane collection system in the new Maritime Heritage Park building. The remaining $45,000 will be used for the landfill cleanup (6/9/03, vote 96). AB15846 (Ordinance 2003-11-72) Approved 6-0, Louise Bjornsen excused

193. Award the low bid of $2,044,700 to Ebinal General of Bellingham for phase one of the Mount Baker Theatre renovation? The project will install a facade that resembles the original; create new dressing rooms/backstage support and a new 3,000 square foot multipurpose room in the empty storefronts on Commercial Street. Included in the project are seismic, mechanical, plumbing and electrical work. The city is administrating the contract for the Public Facilities District. There will be a spring 2004 vote on bonds to pay the loans financing the project. (AB15877) Approved 7-0

194. Close the rainy day fund and move the $2,370,018 into the general fund? This move will reduce the fund’s operating cost from 10 percent as a special fund to eight percent in the general fund. This change will not impact the fund’s purpose as a reserve for emergencies. AB15856 (Ordinance 2003-11-73) Approved 6-1, Bob Ryan opposed.

195. Create a construction fund for the Civic Field improvement project? To keep accounting straight, the “Civic Field Improvement Fund” is being created. This ordinance will move the $750,000 approved on 8/18/03 (vote 138) from the street and real estate tax accounts to the new one. AB15858 (Ordinance 2003-11-75) Approved 7-0

196. Appropriate $6,851 in unanticipated grants for the Bellingham Fire Department? In 2003, the fire department received this money from several sources. The funds will pay for the state homeland security program, overtime, fire officer academy tuition, classes in response to a hazardous materials incident, and emergency medical technicians. AB15859 (Ordinance 2003-11-76) Approved 7-0

197. Re-allocate $488,000 in public safety funds to upgrade the dispatch system? Due to its age, the vendor will not support the existing dispatch system beyond 2003. These funds will upgrade the system so it can receive phase II cell phone information and fulfill the state requirement to be compliant by the end of 2004. AB15860 (Ordinance 2003-11-77) Approved 7-0

198. Accept three state grants totaling $15,318? These traffic safety grants for the police department will pay for motorcycle helmets, overtime to enforce DUI/seat belt laws, and crosswalk enforcement. AB15861 (Ordinance 2003-11-78) Approved 7-0

199. Accept an $800,000 grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program? The grant can only be used for the Taylor Avenue dock segment of the South Bay Trail. The grant will cover a portion of architectural and engineering services. AB15862 (Ordinance 2003-11-79) Approved 7-0

200. Condemn the property on the northwest corner of Birch and Lakeway? The city will be installing a traffic signal at the intersection. For additional votes on the signal, see 7/29/02, vote 134, 4/14/03, vote 51, and 11/3/03, vote 191. Approximately 553 square feet of property are needed with an estimated value of $7,500. The city claims the property owners (David and Kay Hansen) ignored all attempts by the city to negotiate. To keep the project on schedule, the city has elected to condemn the property. AB15865 (Ordinance 2003-11-80) Approved 6-1, Barbara Ryan opposed.

201. Change the zoning of six acres in the Mt. Baker Neighborhood to allow the county to build a low-risk jail at 2140 Division Street? The re-zoning from planned industrial to public in the Irongate industrial area will allow 150 additional beds for low-risk offenders and ease overcrowding in the jail, until a larger permanent facility can be built. (AB15854) Approved 6-1, Barbara Ryan opposed.