May 2004
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Earl Dennis
Action Taken at the March 15, 2004 Meeting
Shall the council:
49. Appropriate a total of $3,036,525 for goods and services checks? For checks issued from January 9 through January 16, 2004, the amount is $1,936,122 and for checks issued from February 27 through March 5, 2004, the amount is $1,100,403. (AB16010/AB16011). Approved 7-0
50. Appropriate $2,532,923 for city payroll checks issued from February 16 through February 29, 2004? (AB16012) Approved 7-0
51. Purchase the Federal Building on the northwest corner of Cornwall and Magnolia? The General Services Administration declared the 1912 building surplus. It is on the National Register of Historic Places; because of this status the city can purchase it for $1. The building needs renovation and the city will receive $2.6 million in federal funds for the work. Private sector property management professionals estimate the operations’ worst-case loss of $22,000 per year and the best-case profit of $231,000 per year. AB16007 (Resolution 2004-06) Approved 7-0
52. Support the Lake Whatcom Landscape Plan? The landscape plan is intended to protect and manage the water quality of Lake Whatcom and accompanying streams by restricting timber harvests and cleanup activities, regulating harvest and road construction on potentially unstable slopes, prohibiting harvest and road construction on unstable slopes, limiting old road reconstruction and developing a road management plan for the watershed. The state Board of Natural Resources is currently reviewing the Lake Whatcom Landscape Committee plan. AB16008 (Resolution 2004-07) Approved 7-0
53. Reclassify and implement a wage increase for a professional librarian and update the wage plan? The 2003 audit eliminated the network manager position and found teens and young adults to be underserved. These additional responsibilities were assigned to a reference librarian. Because of the workload from the extra work, the reference librarian filed a job audit on October 27, 2003, and worked with the library director to create a new job description. Human Resources evaluated the description and recommended a pay raise of $4,464 per year, retroactive to November 1, 2003. AB158989 (Ordinance 2004-03-16) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at the March 22, 2004 Meeting
Shall the council:
54. Select Matrix Consulting Group of Palo Alto, California, to assess the fire department’s operations and administration and find ways to increase effectiveness and reduce costs? Bids went out in December 2003 and Matrix was selected from the three firms that were interviewed. The estimated cost is $85,500. (AB 16018) Approved 7-0
55. Appropriate $1,046,552 for goods and services checks issued from March 5 through March 12, 2004? (AB16025) Approved 6-0*
56. Grant final plat approval for nine lots in the Purple Plum plat in the Happy Valley neighborhood? The Bellingham Hearing Examiner granted preliminary plat approval on September 24, 2002, for nine lots. Zoning only allows seven units, but two additional lots were allowed in exchange for construction of a trail near the Donovan Avenue neighborhood park. AB16022 (Resolution 2004-08) Approved 6-0*
57. Segregate a local improvement district assessment for the Lucas and Ledda lot line adjustment in the Guide Meridian neighborhood? The assessed values of the two parcels have been reconfigured with new lot lines. Macaulay and Associates, the appraiser, has determined there is no change in the total amount of money the two parcels owe the city. AB16023 (Resolution 2004-09) Approved 6-0*
58. Accept a $1,892 grant from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs and spend it on breathalyzer machines? The grant money will purchase four breathalyzer machines and a display board. The board will be placed inside the police department’s front doors and display traffic safety brochures. AB16005 (Ordinance 2004-03-17) Approved 6-0*
*Barbara Ryan left early and was not present for this vote.
Action Taken at April 5, 2004 Meeting
Shall the council:
59. Adopt the Bellingham School District’s recommendations for a six-year capital facilities plan and impact fees? The plan includes building a new elementary school; structural improvements, adding classrooms to existing schools; performing wetlands mitigation for Squalicum and Roosevelt schools and completing installation of a fiber optics network. The impact fees for single-family dwelling ($150,000 assessed value) will decrease from $1,500 to $1,211 and increase for multi-family dwelling ($55,000 assessed value) from $164 to $721. School age children increasingly live in apartments rather than single-family homes. (AB16027) Approved 7-0
60. Award the low bid of $71,175 to TruGreen Landcare of Everett for right-of-way and trailside mowing? This is annual program of vegetation control along major trails, sidewalks, intersections and roadways. The bid is based on an hourly rate of $65 and an estimated 1,350 hours of work. (AB16040) Approved 7-0
61. Appropriate $1,900,052 for city payroll checks issued from March 1 through March 15, 2004? (AB16041) Approved 7-0
62. Appropriate $2,786,080 for goods and services checks issued from March 12 through 26, 2004? (AB16042/AB16043) Approved 7-0
63. Authorize $39,785,413 in modifications to the 2004 adopted budget to account for differences between estimated and actual year-end balance? Beginning reserves will increase from the 2004 budget estimate of $59,735,080 to the actual number of $99,520,493. AB16013 (Ordinance 2004-04-18) Approved 7-0
64. Reauthorize $12,248,563 in 2003 budget funds to pay for goods and services ordered in 2003 but unpaid at year-end? AB16014? (Ordinance 2004-04-19) Approved 7-0
65. Reauthorize $20,531,956 to pay for goods and services that were authorized for acquisition in 2003 (but no purchase orders or contracts were issued by year-end)? AB16015 (Ordinance 2004-04-20) Approved 7-0
66. Transfer $2,105,000 into the claims and litigation fund? This transfer will increase the fund to $5,111,557 and allow it to collect interest. The city is self-insured, the fund pays winners of law suits or those that settle out-of-court. Other purposes include hiring outside council, expert witnesses and other legal professionals. AB16016 (Ordinance 2004-04-21) Approved 7-0
67. Transfer property from the claims and litigation fund to the parks department? In January 2002, the city bought the Bower’s property for $161,243 to settle a suit. The 2.3-acre parcel (located off Barkley Blvd. near North Ridge Park) has an appraised value of $200,000. The council decided not to sell the property for the following reasons. It is a prominent ridge visible from downtown and western Bellingham that provides a forested backdrop; the wetlands store water for most of the year and aid in drainage; it’s a wildlife habitat and enhances existing tracts and trails. AB16017 (Ordinance 2004-04-22) Approved 7-0
68. Appropriate $18,521 to replace the budget manager? It will take the budget manager a little over two months to train his replacement, for equipment to be changed and other costs. This expense was not planned, so it is not in the 2004 budget. AB16019 (Ordinance 2004-04-23) Approved 7-0
