July 2005
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Earl Dennis
Action Taken at May 9, 2005 Meeting
Shall the council:
96. Support the hearing examiner’s recommendation to close a kennel/animal shelter? It has operated on Grant Street since 1979. The kennel has served as a no-kill alternative to the Humane Society and has been home for more than 70 cats/dogs at one time. The city filed a complaint with the hearing examiner that the kennel was in violation of city code. The hearing examiner ruled that the kennel was not permitted in an area zoned for single families. This vote starts legal proceedings to close the shelter. Approved 6-1, Gene Knutson opposed.
97. Appropriate $2,222,644 for city payroll checks issued from April 1 through April 15, 2005? (AB16507) Approved 7-0
98. Appropriate $2,474.802 for goods and services checks issued from April 6 through April 29, 2005? (AB16508/16509/16510) Approved 7-0
99. Require the construction and renovation of city-owned buildings to meet green-building standards and encourage the practice by the private sector? City building over 5,000 square feet will be required to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The LEED rating system requires integrated site planning, saves on building materials and water use, protects human health, promotes the use of local resources, lowers energy costs and creates healthier indoor environments. The State of Washington and the cities of Seattle and Portland previously adopted LEED standards. AB16495 (Resolution 2005-21) Approved 7-0
100. Adopt the Whatcom County multijurisdictional hazard mitigation plan? In order to receive federal natural disaster relief, the city of Bellingham must have an approved disaster plan. AB16497 (Resolution 2005-22) Approved 7-0
101. Approve phase 1 of the Water Resource Inventory Area 1 Watershed Management Plan? The state legislature created the Watershed Management Act to facilitate local watershed planning. Phase 1 will select which stream flows to monitor in the Nooksack River watershed, set the procedures for data collection, monitoring, how the technical studies will be finished and develop the next phase of the plan. AB16501 (Resolution 2005-23) Approved 7-0
102. Change the name of the Building Services Fund to Development Services Fund and change its purpose and function to fit into the permit center’s operations? Creation of a centralized permit center necessitates the changes to the Building Services Fund so that it can be used within the scope of work at the newly created permit center. The changes are to help the staff track compliance, permit fees/expenses and ensure that the fees will cover the cost of center operations. AB16465 (Ordinance 2005-05-39) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at May 16, 2005 Meeting
Shall the council:
103. Authorize the mayor to enter into three interrelated agreements with/and between the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District and the Mount Baker Theater nonprofit group? The agreements will transfer the theater’s ownership from the city to the public facilities district for 25 years, but the city will remain responsible for the continued maintenance of the building’s exterior and fund the theater’s management and operations from local tax revenues. This transfer will allow the public facilities district to access lodging taxes to operate the theater as a tourist-related facility. (AB16503) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann absent.
104. Appropriate $2,379,912 for city payroll checks issued from April 16 through April 30, 2005? (AB16520) Approved 7-0
105. Appropriate $1,220,937 for goods and services checks issued from April 29 through May 6, 2005? (AB16521) Approved 7-0
106. Adopt the annual six-year (2006-2011) transportation improvement program? State law requires cities to update their six-year transportations program by July 1 of each year. The program provides a list of needed capital improvements and establishes the city’s eligibility for state and federal funds. AB 16512 (Resolution 2005-24) Approved 5-1, Barbara Ryan opposed, Terry Bornemann absent.
107. Appropriate $459,598 to purchase the assets of the Deer Creek Water Association? This will allow the city to control the number of new homes in the urban growth area. AB16471 (Ordinance 2005-05-40) Approved 5-1, Barbara Ryan opposed, Terry Bornemann absent.
108. Appropriate $19,741 to pay for an unplanned fire department retirement and hiring a replacement? In 2005, the Bellingham Fire Department received $10,000 in unanticipated money from the Whatcom Transportation Authority for use of the city’s radio transmitter towers and equipment. The combined total of $29,741 will pay for accumulated vacation and hiring a replacement. AB 16496 (Ordinance 2005-05-41) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann absent.
Action Taken at May 23, 2005 Meeting
Shall the council:
109. Appropriate $1,099,054 for goods and services checks issued from May 6 through May 13, 2005? (AB16532) Approved 7-0
110. Grant final plat approval for eight lots in division 3A of Samish Highlands? The development contains a total of 57 single-family lots located at the intersection of 40th and Donovan. Division 1 contained 18 lots and was approved on 12/4/00. Division 2 contained 10 lots and was approved on 2/11/02. AB16529 (Resolution 2005-25) Approved 7-0.
111. Accept three state grants totaling $14,800 for the Bellingham police department? The grants are from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. The first grant is $8,300 to purchase nine radar units for school safety use; the second is $6,000 for overtime in the Click it or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign and the third is $500 to purchase 1,000 pencils, rulers and erasers for Talking Terry, a traffic safety program for second and third graders. AB16513 (Ordinance 2005-05-42) Approved 7-0
112. Vacate the northern five feet of McKenzie Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets in the Fairhaven Neighborhood? Building C of the Harris Square development was built five feet into the city right of way. The developer owns the property across McKenzie and offered it in exchange for the vacated property. The owner must maintain vegetation (other than city trees) on the McKenzie Avenue property deeded to the city. Utility easements will not be retained, and no added compensation is required. AB16519 (Ordinance 2005-05-43) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at June 6, 2005 Meeting
Shall the council:
113. Purchase 160 acres from Squalicum LLC for $1.4 million plus closing costs? The property is located in Whatcom County, north of Agate Bay on the east side of Lake Whatcom. The purchase (under the Watershed Acquisition Program) contains eight transfer of development rights, allows for the natural filtration of rainwater to help improve water quality and may block development to the east. Approved 5-2, Bob Ryan and Grant Deger opposed.
114. Declare intent to reimburse interfund loans for watershed land acquisition? Watershed land purchases will be financed by an interfund loan till bonds are issued. A 2005 bond issue for watershed acquisitions is estimated to be $5 million. The Internal Revenue Service requires that the city show how interfund loans will be repaid. AB16536 (Resolution 2005-26) Approved 7-0
115. Adopt the hearing examiner’s ruling on the Harold and Cindy Mehler appeal? The council considered the hearing examiner’s report and the parties’ oral arguments. They adopted the hearing examiner’s recommendation to reject the developer reimbursement agreement for the Lopez Street project because the application was not filed on time. This will allow Harold/Cindy Mehler to avoid paying the latecomer fees. AB16541 (Resolution 2005-27) Approved 6-1, John Watts opposed.
116. Prohibit the use of commercial phosphorus-containing fertilizers in the Lake Whatcom watershed? The increase of phosphorus and decrease of dissolved oxygen in the lake prevents the city from meeting federal drinking water standards and increases the cost of processing drinking water. This action seeks to increase dissolved oxygen in the lake. AB16522 (Ordinance 2005-06-44) Approved 7-0
117. Phase out carbureted two-stroke engines on the city’s portion of Lake Whatcom? The impact of two-stroke engines on the lake prompted the Whatcom County Council to pass an ordinance (see 7/20/04 meeting, vote number 140) to phase out the engines. The city staff recommended phasing the engines out by January 1, 2006, based on recommendations by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Lake Whatcom Motorized Watercraft Citizens Advisory Committee and the Lake Whatcom Management Committee. AB16523 (Ordinance 2005-06-45) Approved 6-1, Bob Ryan opposed.
118. Amend the cable television ordinance to increase the Comcast cable franchise fees? The city has chosen to use television, Channel 10, as its main public communications tool. This amendment increases the fee from 3.75 percent to 4.25 percent and will generate an additional $120,000 annually to cover operating costs and additional programming. AB16527 (Ordinance 2005-06-46) Approved 5-2, Bob Ryan and Gene Knutson opposed
119. Set the budget for Comcast Channel 10 and make staffing changes? This ordinance adds $42,779 to the Channel 10 budget to increase the station coordinator position to from part-time to full-time and allow for the purchase of additional computer hardware and software. AB16528 (Ordinance 2005-06-47) Approved 6-1, Bob Ryan opposed.
