June 2004
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Earl Dennis
Action Taken at April 19, 2004 Meeting
Shall the council:
69. Sign an interlocal agreement with the Bellingham Housing Authority for police services? The housing authority will pay the city $86,805 to increase police presence in public housing complexes to combat criminal activities. The police department will set up block watches, and aide investigations of drug dealers living/operating in public housing. They will also provide a criminal history, including fingerprinting, when needed, for housing applicants. (AB16030) Approved 7-0
70. Award the low bid of $180,991 to Colacurcio Brothers of Blaine for Central Avenue improvements? This project improves Central Avenue between Prospect Street and the amphitheater. Improvements include curbs, gutters, landscaping, street lighting and asphalt paving. The bid was $38,529 below engineer’s estimate. (AB16047) Approved 7-0
71. Award the low bid of $520,310 to Ram Construction of Bellingham for sewer line replacements? This year’s replacement program will include Broadway between Sunset and Cornwall, the alley north of Forest Street between Pine and Oak and Xenia Street between Carolina and Texas. The low bid was $19,778 below engineer’s estimate. (AB16048) Approved 7-0
72. Award the low bid of $33,242 to Cascade Controls of Tukwila for sewage pump drives? The variable-frequency drives for the Roeder Avenue wastewater station will adjust the pump speed to the sewage flow, improving efficiency by 10 percent. Puget Sound Energy’s energy reduction program will reduce the final cost by approximately 15 percent. The bid was $3,242 above original estimate. (AB16056) Approved 7-0
73. Approve road closures and noise variances for the I-5 and Old Fairhaven Parkway projects? The I-5 project will install a sound wall and a third lane southbound from Ohio to Lakeway and widen the Lakeway off-ramp. The nighttime closures will be Lakeway, the Lakeway off-ramp and the Ohio on-ramp. The Old Fairhaven Parkway project will install a signal and a turn lane at the I-5 southbound off-ramp, during resurfacing of the parkway. (AB16051) Approved 7-0
74. Appropriate $1,683,866 for goods and services checks issued from March 26 through April 9, 2004? (AB16053/16054) Approved 7-0
75. Appropriate $2,576,919 for city payroll checks issued from March 16 through March 31, 2004? (AB16055) Approved 7-0
76. Appropriate $15,654 for a one-time payment to city employees for accrued compensatory time? In 1982, two city employees agreed to carry and respond to a pager that earned them compensatory time, resulting in an accumulation of 2,943 hours. The city/teamsters agreement resolves all issues and ends the practice. AB16028 (Ordinance 2004-04-24) Approved 7-0
77. Appropriate an additional $252,819 for City Hall alternations? The Building Services Division is enlarging the public service counter and permit services center. This amount is in addition to the $282,082 approved on 2/23/04, vote 29. The total cost of the project is expected to be $613,181; that is $360,000 more than originally budgeted. AB16029 (Ordinance 2004-04-25) Approved 7-0
78. Amend the Bellingham Municipal Code relating to the aiming or discharging of firearms or deadly weapons? The state law on “aiming or discharging a firearm” was accidentally omitted when adopting state criminal laws into municipal code. The state code defines as a gross misdemeanor anyone discharging a firearm, air gun, weapon, or throwing any deadly missile in a public place or any place where someone might be endangered. AB16031 (Ordinance 2004-04-26) Approved 7-0
79. Amend the Bellingham Municipal Code to define disorderly conduct as a “domestic violence” offense? This new definition will allow prosecutors of obtain no-contact orders to improve a victim’s safety and allow an annotation in the defendant’s criminal record to inform law enforcement of a prior domestic violence conviction. AB16032 (Ordinance 2004-04-27) Approved 7-0
80. Amend the Bellingham Municipal Code to clarify the prohibition on parking within residential yards? The code currently prohibits parking in yards that abut a “sidewalk or curb,” but does not address streets with no curbs or sidewalks. This amendment will bridge this gap by adding the words “street” and “road” to the definition. AB16033 (Ordinance 2004-04-28) Approved 4-3, Bob Ryan, Gene Knutzen and Louise Bjornsen opposed.
Action Taken at May 3, 2004 Meeting
Shall the council:
81. Appropriate $1,926,599 for city payroll checks issued from April 1 through April 15, 2004? (AB 16054) Approved 7-0
82. Appropriate $1,669,269 for goods and services checks issued from April 2 through April 9, 2004? (AB 16067) Approved 7-0
83. Transfer $250,000 from the claims and litigation fund to the claims and litigation budget to pay the Dean DeBoer settlement? The city fired Mr. DeBoer, the Bayview Cemetery Manager, in 1992. This settlement ends a long running court battle. AB16045 (Ordinance 2004-05-29) Approved 7-0
84. Sell $10,690,000 in water and sewer bonds? $4,600,000 will be used to construct the 2.5 million gallon Kearny Road reservoir on the lower portion of King Mountain and its water line to the Cordata area. The remaining $6,090,000 will refinance water and sewer bonds sold in 1994. This refinancing will save the city approximately $330,000 in interest payments. AB16046 (Ordinance 2004-05-30) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at May 10, 2004 Meeting
Shall the council:
85. Sell the Bellingham Food Bank property to Alternatives to Hunger for $1? The city has rented the property at 1824 Ellis Street to Alternatives to Hunger for $1 per year since 1989. The building has an assessed value of $168,000 and is not earthquake proof, which limits its value. The real estate review committee recommended selling the property to Alternatives to Hunger for $1. The sale will ensure the organization’s viability and save the city from on-going maintenance on the 80-year-old building. (AB16069) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.
86. Award the lowest responsive bid of $60,932 to National Waterworks of Bellingham for fittings used in drinking water operations and maintenance? The three other bidders were disqualified because two did not sign their bids and the other did not bid on all the items. (AB16076) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.
87. Appropriate $246,439 for goods and services checks issued from April 23 through April 30, 2004? (AB16078) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.
88. Support the Great Blue Heron rookery at Post Point? In 1999, when Bellingham’s last known heron colony was disturbed by the construction of Heron Estates on Chuckanut Bay, they migrated to city-owned trees abutting the Post Point wastewater treatment plant. This resolution, proposed by the local Audubon chapter, outlines the history of the city’s actions over the last five years and establishes efforts to conserve and protect the heron nests. AB16062 (Resolution 2004-10) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.
89. Set June 7 as the public hearing date for the six-year transportation plan? The public will have an opportunity to comment on city transportation projects and priorities for the next six years. AB 16075 (Resolution 2004-11) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.
90. Adopt the Bellingham School District’s recommendations for a six-year capital facilities plan and impact fees? For details on the plan and impact fees see the 4/5/04 meeting, vote 59. The plan takes affect on May 24, 2004. AB 16027 (Ordinance 2004-05-31) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.
91. Upgrade two police officer positions and appropriate $9,937 in pay increases? Two warrant officers will be reclassified from grade 11 to grade 13 with standard uniform allowances. AB 16059 (Ordinance 2004-05-32) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.
92. Vacate an alley in the Columbia Neighborhood? Public ownership of the right-of-way will be relinquished. The applicant, Immanuel Church, owns all the property abutting the T-shaped alley in the block bounded by North, Henry, Lynn and W. Connecticut Streets. The Bellingham Hearing Examiner approved the vacation on March 10, 2004. The church will purchase the property at the appraised price of $60,300. AB 16060 (Ordinance 2004-05-33) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.
93. Update the Bellingham Municipal Code for the Landmark Review Board and the Board of Adjustment? The updates will merge the two boards into a single board to be named the Landmark Review Board and Board of Adjustment. The new board will have the powers and duties currently assigned to the Landmark Review Board. The Bellingham Hearing Examiner will assume the last of the Board of Adjustment’s duties later this year and the board will be formally dissolved at that time. AB 16061 (Ordinance 2004-05-34) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused. §
