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Past Issues


Whatcom Watch Online
Bellingham City Council


July 2004

Watching Government

Bellingham City Council

Compiled by Earl Dennis

Action Taken at May 17, 2004 Meeting

Shall the council:

94. Amend the Puget neighborhood plan? Add “mini-storage” as a permitted use for property located between I-5, Maple and Lincoln, across the street from the former Samish Drive-in theatre. This change will allow the construction of 20,000 square feet of mini-storage and outdoor storage. (AB16079) Approved 7-0

95. Amend the Cornwall Park neighborhood plan? Remove the requirement that the St. Joseph’s Hospital master plan must be amended before new medical offices can be built. The owners of two properties and the parks department initiated the amendment to the hospital master plan. (AB16080) Approved 6-1, Bob Ryan opposed.

96. Award low bids of $43,752 to FocusMicro of Mukelteo and $8,947 to Anixter of Kent for communications equipment? The equipment will use the city’s fiber optic network to transmit electronic signals from traffic lights, Parkade security, emergency response and 10 downtown video cameras to the traffic management center and then appropriate departments. FocusMicro was low bidder on three items and Anixter on four items. (AB16082) Approved 7-0

97. Purchase Inspiration Point on Chuckanut Bay for $3,030,000 in Beyond Greenways funds? The 15.4-acre site (a.k.a. Woodstock Farm) has over one-third of a mile of shoreline and will be part of the Greenways public land and trail system. This purchase will expend the last of the 1997 Beyond Greenways funds. (AB16083) Approved 7-0

98. Authorize the mayor to sign a lease with the Downtown Renaissance Network for the free use of space in the Parkade? The city has been allowing the Resnaissance Network to use 1,100 square feet of space with no formal agreement. Staff determined it is best for the city to sign a lease specifying use and occupancy guidelines and set the rent at zero. The annual market value for the space is $10,000. (AB16085) Approved 6-1, Bob Ryan opposed, citing that it gave special privileges to a group working to improve a neighborhood.

99. Award the low bid of $73,802 to Grounds Crew of Bellingham for landscape maintenance services? This is an annual contract for fire stations, the 911 center, water filtration plant, wastewater treatment plant, public works central shop, seven water reservoirs, five pump stations, various medians, stormwater ponds and communication sites. (AB16086) Approved 6-1, Barbara Ryan opposed.

100. Authorize the mayor to award the sole bid of $22,980 to Haines Tree and Spraying Service of Bellingham for vegetation spraying? This is a one-time spraying of sidewalks, traffic islands, tree wells, shoulders, guardrails and I-5 bulkheads. Fifteen solicitations were mailed and one bid was received. (AB16089) Approved 7-0

101. Appropriate $1,677,841 for goods and services checks issued from April 30 through May 7, 2004? (AB16090) Approved 7-0

102. Appropriate $2,555,659 for city payroll checks issued from April 16 through April 30, 2004? (AB16091) Approved 7-0

103. Designate the Wolter/Tweit home as a local historic landmark? Located at 1305 Old Fairhaven Parkway, near the corner of 12th Street, this is a designation to encourage the restoration and preservation of the city’s older homes. The Bellingham Hearing Examiner will hold a public hearing before the homes non-historic windows and doors are replaced. AB16084 (Resolution 2004-12) Approved 7-0

104. Set June 23 as the public hearing date to consider the vacation of a portion of Donovan Avenue, between 35th and 36th Streets? The Bellingham Hearing Examiner will consider a petition by Bruce Ayers, agent of the property owner, that public ownership be relinquished. The vacation would create an additional lot. AB16088 (Resolution 2004-13) Approved 7-0

Action Taken at June 7, 2004 Meeting

Shall the council:

105. Approve the payment of $400,000 to settle litigation with EWHA, Inc.? The city council at the November 18, 2002 meeting (vote 201) unanimously approved a motion declaring the Bellingham Inn at 202 E. Holly Street a neighborhood blight requiring acquisition by the city. The owners sued claiming damage to their business. The city was forced to settle because they did not have the money to purchase the property with an estimated value of between $1.3 and $1.9 million. This settlement will use drug-forfeiture money to renovate the upper stories of the inn into apartments with business on the ground floor. Approved 5-1, Bob Ryan opposed (believing it was too much money with little guarantee of success), Barbara Ryan absent.

106. Approve the payment of $49,994 to settle litigation in the matter of a right-of-way condemnation? The city council at the November 24, 2003 meeting (vote 200) approved a motion to condemn the property on the northwest corner of Birch and Lakeway. The city needed 553 square feet of property to install a traffic signal and claimed the property owners ignored all attempts to negotiate. Allsop, LLC sued the city and they settled, paying Allsop’s legal costs. The city still does not own the property. Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan absent.

107. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $1,348,337 to Ebenal Construction of Bellingham for the Holly Street remediation and boardwalk construction project? The project will be on both sides of Whatcom Creek, north of the Holly Street Bridge. It will remove about 12,750 tons of earth, cap the former dumpsite with new dirt and build a boardwalk on the west side of the creek. A $400,000 federal grant and a $50,000 state grant have been secured. The city expects more funds from the state Model Toxics Control Act. The low bid was $77,288 below engineer’s estimate. (AB16094) Approved 5-1, Bob Ryan opposed (believing it should be rebid,*) Barbara Ryan absent.

108. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $683,448 to Colacurcio Brothers of Blaine for the construction of a roundabout? This project is a cooperative effort with Whatcom Community College and will be constructed in the summer of 2005 at the intersection of Cordata Parkway and West Kellogg Road. (AB16102) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan absent.

109. Appropriate $3,019,677 for goods and services checks issued from May 7 through May 28, 2004? (AB16103, 16104, 16105) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan absent.

110. Appropriate $1,995,939 for city payroll checks issued from May 1 through May 15, 2004? (AB16106) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan absent.

111. Adopt the annual six-year (2005-2010) transportation improvement program? State law requires cities to update their six-year transportation program by July of each year. It provides a list of needed capital improvements to establish the city’s eligibility for state and federal funds. AB16092 (Resolution 2004-14) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan absent.

112. Amend the 2004 action plan of the Bellingham 2003-2007 consolidated plan to reflect significant funding changes and proposed use of funds? The action plan budgets the funds used for local low and moderate-income housing. This amendment corrects the November 2003 estimate to reflect a net gain of $16,288 resulting from a decrease in federal funding, an increase in Community Development Block Grant funds, unanticipated requests for assistance and added administration costs. AB16095 (Resolution 2004-15) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan absent.

113. Set July 14 as the public hearing date to consider the vacation of a portion of 37th Street? The Bellingham Hearing Examiner will consider a petition by Tom Aliotti (agent of the property owner) that public ownership of 37th Street abutting the alleyways between Old Samish Road and I-5 be relinquished. AB16101 (Resolution 2004-16) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan absent.


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