Bellingham City Council

Shall the council:

240. Close 32nd Street at the intersection with Old Fairhaven Parkway? The Washington State Department of Transportation requested the closure because they will be angling the I-5 off-ramp much closer to 32nd Street to reduce cars backing up on the freeway. Closure will divert traffic down Donovan Avenue and along 30th, which will need improvements to accommodate motor, bicycle and pedestrian traffic. The estimated improvements costs are $1,000,000, with the state contributing $300,000. (AB16256) Approved 4-3, Louise Bjornson, Terry Borneman and Barbara Ryan opposed.

Shall the council:

242. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with the state for an environmental study of Little Squalicum Creek? The creek is in the process of being cleaned up under the Model Toxics Control Act. The city has been named as potentially liable and has signed this agreement to gain access to Department of Ecology’s matching funds for the first phase of the cleanup’s remedial investigation and feasibility study. Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.

243. Purchase 34,165 square feet of property for $50,500? The property off Barkley Blvd. will be purchased for stormwater retention. Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.

244. Authorize the mayor to award the sole bid of $1,154,077 to Strider Construction of Bellingham for sewer and storm drain projects? The sewer project is the repair or replacement of 3,700 feet of sewer pipe and 700 feet of new sewer pipe at seven different locations around the city. The storm drain project on Laurel Street will replace 430 feet of pipe. Eighty-nine bids were solicited and one was received. Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.

245. Authorize the mayor to award the sole bid of $0.10 per pound to Thatcher Company of Missoula, MT for soda ash? The soda ash controls corrosion in water mains and valves. The city uses approximately 400,000 pounds a year at a yearly cost of $40,000. Eleven bids were solicited and one was received. (AB16291) Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.

246. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $230.46 per ton to General Chemical Corporation of Parsippany, NJ, for aluminum sulfate? The aluminum sulfate removes small particles from the water during the filtration process at the water treatment plant. The city uses 180 tons of aluminum sulfate a year at an approximate cost of $41,483. This year’s contract is $31.92 per ton higher than last year. Sixteen bids were solicited and two were received. (AB16292) Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.

247. Appropriate $2,334,752 for city payroll checks issued from October 16 through October 31, 2004? (AB16293) Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.

248. Adopt the 2005 transportation impact fee rate schedule? The fee is imposed on all new buildings, structures or expansions that create additional traffic. The schedule is divided into three zones: single family residence, retail and light industrial. For the first 10 months of this year, an additional $81,000 has been collected over 2003. Fees generated 19.9 percent of the transportation impact program budget for all of 2003. AB16289 (Resolution 2004-35) Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.

249. Accept a $1,250 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation for child identification kits? The Bellingham police department provides these kits to parents to document their children with a thumb print, still photographs, video, etc. This documentation helps law enforcement find missing children. AB16273 (Ordinance 2004-11-78) Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.

250. Amend the Bellingham Municipal Code on the Bellingham/Whatcom County Commission on Domestic Violence? Currently only the chief executive officers of small cites can serve on the commission. Some of these officials find it difficult to participate, this amendment allows them to designate a representative. AB16278 (Ordinance 2004-11-79) Approved 6-0, Grant Deger excused.

Shall the council:

251. Purchase 160 acres from Lee and Barbara Denke for $4 million? The Lake Whatcom Watershed Advisory Board recommended this purchase. The property is at the south end of Piedmont Place in Geneva. The payments will be made over six years ending on 12/15/09. Approved 7-0

252. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with the state for an environmental study of the Cornwall Avenue landfill? This agreement will allow the city to access matching funds from the state Department of Ecology for the remedial investigation and feasibility study of the landfill site, which the city operated from 1960 to 1965. Approved 7-0

253. Appropriate $2,235,567 for goods and services checks issued from October 29 through November 12, 2004? (AB16302/16303) Approved 7-0

254. Authorize the mayor to award the sole bid of $52,864 to Goble Sampson Associates of Issaquah for a sewer plant pump? The current pump, used in the secondary treatment process, is costing the city $26,000 in annual maintenance. An internal study found that newer models would save the city $6,600 a year; $6,000 in maintenance costs and $600 in energy costs. Thirty-five bids were solicited and one was received. (AB16301) Approved 7-0

255. Approve the legislative agenda for the next session of the state legislature? This annual agenda (proposed by the government relations director) keeps the city’s needs before state officials. The agenda includes: ambulance utilities, B&O taxes, real estate excise and lodging taxes, a uniform state sales tax process, driving with a suspended license fine collections, gambling off tribal lands, restrictions on cities awarding bids, tort reform, increasing transportation funding and water rights. (AB16300) Approved 7-0

256. Document the city’s progress on the Comprehensive Plan update? The city has completed most of the work on the comprehensive plan but will miss the state deadline of 12/1/04. The state has recognized that many cities will miss the deadline and is allowing them extensions, if they pass a resolution that details their progress, sets a new deadline and has a timetable for completion. This resolution sets 12/1/05 as the completion date. AB16274 (Resolution 2004-36) Approved 7-0

257. Establish an affordable home ownership program? Builders will be allowed to increase the number of homes on a piece of property by agreeing to keep them permanently affordable. This is a one-year evaluation period to test the viability of permanently affordable housing in Bellingham. At the end of one year, the council may extend the evaluation period, make changes and permanently incorporate it into the land use development code or rescind the ordinance. AB16286 (Ordinance 2004-11-79) Approved 7-0

258. Amend the water and sewer ordinance? Starting on 1/1/05, current water customers will have the option of installing meters and all new construction will be required to install water meters. Fees are updated to reflect costs and operating procedures are clarified. AB16290 (Ordinance 2004-11-81) Approved 7-0

Shall the council:

259. Appropriate $2,185,275 for city payroll checks issued from November 1 through November 15, 2004? (AB16319) Approved 7-0

260. Appropriate $1,945,956 for goods and services checks issued from November 12 through November 19, 2004? (AB16320) Approved 7-0

261. Increase the fees charged by the Bellingham Hearing Examiner? All fees are increased $50 for items that require legal notices in the newspaper and mailings to surrounding property owners. AB16304 (Resolution 2004-37). Approved 7-0

262. Amend the preliminary plat and grant a one-year extension for Village on the Green in the Mt. Baker Neighborhood? The plat is changed to single-family detached lots and total units reduced from 114 to 88. AB16310 (Resolution 2004-38) Approved 5-2, Barbara Ryan and Terry Borneman opposed.

263. Adopt new application fees for land use permits? The council increased the number of surrounding property owners that are to be notified about land use applications. The fees will pay for the increased notification costs. The estimated increase in annual revenue is $108,900. AB16312 (Resolution 2004-39) Approved 7-0

264. Accept a $6,000 state grant for DUI patrols? The Washington State Traffic Safety Commission grant is for Bellingham traffic officers’ overtime pay to conduct “driving under the influence” patrols. The funds originated with the federal government and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. AB16294 (Ordinance 2004-12-82) Approved 7-0

265. Bring the city business and occupation tax code into compliance with state law? The City Council adopted a new B&O tax code at the 12/16/02 meeting, vote 242, so these changes are not expected to have a fiscal impact. AB16295 (Ordinance 2004-12-83) Approved 7-0

266. Modify the Bellingham Municipal Code to reflect changes by the state legislature in the business and occupation tax? This modification brings the city into compliance with state law. AB16296 (Ordinance 2004-12-84) Approved 7-0

267. Appropriate $42,248 for computer inventory software? The public works department is installing computer software for warehouse inventory and it was recently discovered that the program is not compatible with existing city software. This appropriation will purchase the software to make the programs compatible. AB16297 (Ordinance 2004-12-85) Approved 7-0

268. Vacate a portion of East North Street between Xenia and Yew Streets? Public ownership of the right-of-way will be relinquished. The Bellingham Hearing Examiner held a public hearing on August 25, 2004, and recommended the vacation with the following conditions. Utility easements be retained by the city and the applicants purchased the property at the appraised price of $19,125, which they did. The land can be consolidated with adjacent property to create a single-family lot. AB16298 (Ordinance 2004-12-86) Approved 5-2, Barbara Ryan and Grant Deger opposed.