April 2005
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Earl Dennis
Action Taken at February 28, 2005 Meeting
Shall the council:
33. Sell Lake Whatcom watershed property development rights? This is the first time the city has sold development rights. The city purchased 40-acres that has 91 development rights. These rights can be transferred to property outside the watershed to raise their density. The profits from the sale can only be used to acquire more watershed property. (AB16398) Approved 4-3, Bob Ryan, Terry Bornemann and Louise Bjornson opposed.
34. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $191,750 to S&S Concrete Construction of Bellingham for the annual concrete repair program? The program repairs and replaces concrete structures (sidewalks, curbs, wheelchair ramps and streets). Forty-three bids were solicited and four were received. (AB16402) Approved 7-0
35. Grant a one-year preliminary plat extension for Wildrose Hills in the Whatcom Falls Neighborhood? The preliminary plat was passed on 9/23/96, and extensions were granted on 10/22/01 and 12/8/03, vote 204. The extensions were due to changes in wetland regulations and permit alterations. The 2003 neighborhood plan requires a road (Lopez Street) to run through the property. This extension will allow phase one to be built and provide the needed right- of-way for construction of Lopez Street. (AB16403) Approved 7-0
36. Intervene in a lawsuit over the Lake Whatcom Landscape Plan? See the 3/15/04 meeting, vote 52, for landscape plan details. The plan is intended to protect and manage the water quality of Lake Whatcom and accompanying streams. It includes regulating timber harvest and road construction on potentially unstable lopes and prohibiting timber harvests and road construction on unstable slopes. Skagit County, United General Hospital and the Mt. Baker School District are challenging the project in court, claiming that it violates the state financial obligations to trust land beneficiaries. (AB16407) Approved 6-0-1, Bob Ryan abstained.
37. Appropriate $2,385,031 for city payroll checks issued from January 16 through January 31, 2005? (AB16413) Approved 7-0
38. Appropriate $1,864,859 for goods and services checks issued from January 28 through February 11, 2005? (AB16415/16416) Approved 7-0
39. Accept the Waterfront Futures Group’s results as stated in the waterfront vision and framework plan and use the Waterfront Action Plan as a potential guide? This 18-month project to define the strategy for waterfront use in Bellingham came in on time and under budget. The action plan will be used as a guide for the city and port to manage Bellingham’s waterfront use and development. AB16395 (Resolution 2005-4) Approved 7-0
40. Increase rates 2005/2006 at Bayview Cemetery? The rates were last increased at the 12/9/02 meeting, vote 221. Staff recommended raising the current 1.67 percent markup rate to 1.90 percent, a 3 percent markup for graves and crypt niches to offset inflation and a service increase of 6 percent with an added 3 percent increase of some items selected by staff. The increase will raise an estimated $25,164 for 2005/2006. AB16404 (Resolution 2005-05) Approved 7-0
41. Set April 13 as the public hearing date to consider vacating a portion of McKenzie Avenue? The Bellingham Hearing Examiner will consider a petition to relinquish public ownership on the northern side of McKenzie Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets. See sidebar on page 6 for details. AB16412 (Resolution 2005-6) Approved 7-0
42. Reclassify three city positions? Change a parking services supervisor position from division supervisor to program coordinator, with no changes in wages. Transfer a utilities mapping technician position to the permit center and reclassified as a permit technician, with a salary increase of $2,508. Upgrade a permit center assistant from assistant 1 to assistant 2, with an annual salary increase of $1,074. AB16376 (Ordinance 2005-02-13) Approved 7-0
43. Increase the 2005 budget income by $108,900? At the 12/6/05 meeting, vote 263, the council increased the application fee for land use permits. The fee increase was approved after the 2005 budget was approved. The building services fund will increase by $103,200 and general fund will increase by $5,700. AB16377 (Ordinance 2005-02-14) Approved 7-0
44. Modify the budgets of the general fund and firefighter’s pension fund? Higher than anticipated revenue from new construction will increase the general fund by $121,050 and the firefighter’s pension fund by $106,200. This will increase the reserve fund from $440,417 to $667,721. AB16378 (Ordinance 2005-02-15) Approved 7-0
45. Increase the general fund by $25,000 for police special investigations overtime pay? The $25,000 is transferred from the asset seizure/drug enforcement fund. AB16379 (Ordinance 2005-02-16) Approved 7-0
46. Increase the public safety dispatch fund by $50,949 to pay for a new fire dispatch position in the 2005 budget? AB16380 (Ordinance 2005-02-17) Approved 7-0
47. Accept a $3,354 grant to purchase five radar units? The grant (from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs) is for hands-free units that will go in squad cars. AB16381 (Ordinance 2005-02-18) Approved 7-0
48. Reclassify fire department administrative positions? The Matrix Study recommended reorganizing the life safety and training divisions, eliminating a fire training captain and a senior inspector for the training division chief, resulting an a $13,265 surplus, and upgrading the life safety division chief to fire marshal at an added expense of $26,398. A delay in filling the marshal position will create a surplus of $9,603 that can be added to the training division surplus to cover the added cost of the new fire marshal position. AB16382 (Ordinance 2005-02-19) Approved 7-0
