August 2005
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Sarah Kuck
Action Taken at June 13, 2005 Meeting
Shall the council:
120. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $703,298 to Tiger Construction Company of Everson to improve Chuckanut Drive? The project will widen the street by five feet; add a curb, gutter, sidewalk and bicycle lane to the Fairhaven Park side of Chuckanut Drive from 12th Street to Iris Lane. The improvements also include new streetlights. Ninety-four bids were solicited and 10 were received. (AB16552) Approved 7-0
121. Revise fees for construction and land use applications? Recent studies determined that permit fees do not cover costs. The new fees for land use, building, fire and mechanical permits will result in between $126,000 and $275,000 of additional revenue to the storm and surface water fund, recovering all the costs and establishing a reserve fund. AB16556 (Resolution 2005-28) Approved 7-0
122. Amend the Bellingham municipal code on manufactured homes? A recently passed state law allows (starting July 1, 2005) new manufactured homes wherever a house could be built using traditional construction methods. The new law voids the Bellingham municipal code that restricts them to housing parks and manufactured home subdivisions. The law also prohibits special regulations being placed on manufactured homes. The changes do not affect existing manufactured home parks or properties with purchase agreements that limit what can be built on the land. AB16534 (Ordinance 2005-06-48) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at June 27, 2005 Meeting
Shall the council:
123. Spend $94,859 to purchase property for construction of a roundabout at Cordata Parkway and Westerly Road? This roundabout is midway between W. Bakerview and the roundabout at Cordata Parkway and West Kellogg Road. See vote 127 for information about construction of the roundabout. Approved 7-0
124. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $209,079 to Tiger Construction of Everson for Segment A of the Coast Millennium Trail? Construction on the Whatcom segment of the trail consists of three portions. Segment A will construct a trailhead in Little Squalicum Park, a paved parking lot and 10-foot wide limestone trail connecting Marine Drive with the Bay-to-Baker Trail. Both Greenways and Beyond Greenways will fund the project. Thirty-seven bids were solicited and two were received. (AB16567) Approved 7-0
125. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $271,324 to Award Construction of Ferndale for improvements to two sewer lift stations? The purpose of the project is to prevent sewerage overflows into Lake Whatcom. Both stations (Flynn Street and Lakeside) are located in the Lake Whatcom watershed and will get emergency generators. Sixty bids were solicited and two were received. (AB16571) Approved 7-0
126. Authorize the mayor to award the sole bid of $282,763 to Award Construction of Ferndale for the repair of four Squalicum Creek culverts to enhance fish passage? The culverts are between Northwest and Meridian and range in length from 100 to 475 feet. Thirty bids were solicited and one was received. (AB16572) Approved 7-0
127. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $860,675 to Colacurcio Brothers of Blaine to construct a roundabout at Cordata Parkway and Westerly? See vote number 123 for information about property purchased for the roundabout. Forty-two bids were solicited and five were received. (AB16573) Approved 7-0
128. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $1,438,863 to Standard Construction of Mount Vernon to construct a new water pump station on Highland Drive? The Sunset Heights pump station will provide water to WWU student housing. The water tower at Highland Drive and College Way will be torn down. The project includes the instillation of 1,300 feet of water and sewer pipe and paving Highland Drive. WWU will contribute $660,000. Fifty-seven bids were solicited and two were received. (AB16574) Approved 7-0
129. Authorize the mayor to modify the city-county agreement pertaining to the operation and funding of Whatcom Medic One? The agreement will be terminated on Dec. 31, 2006, unless a five-year commitment with a funding mechanism is approved by June 30, 2006. The County Council approved the modified agreement at the June 7, 2005, meeting. (AB16564) Approved 5-2, Bob Ryan and John Watts opposed.
130. Appropriate $2,427,420 for city payroll checks from May 16 through May 31, 2005? (AB16858) Approved 7-0
131. Appropriate $2,280,192 for goods and services checks issued from May 27 through June 17, 2005? (AB16586/16587/16587) Approved 7-0
132. Increase the pre-application meeting fee? On June 13, 2005 (vote number 121), the City Council passed revised fees for land use and building permit applications and inadvertently omitted the pre-application meeting fee. The fee will be increased from $450 to $600. AB16565 (Resolution 2005-29) Approved 7-0
133. Grant final plat approval for phase 1 of the Birch Street plat? Phase 1 consists of 36 single-family lots with open space/utility tracts. The 172 single-family lot development received preliminary plat approval on November 15, 1999. The development could not proceed until the traffic signal was installed at the intersection of Birch and Lakeway. For other votes on the signal and property acquition for the signal, see 7/29/02, vote number 134, 4/14/03, vote 51, 11/3/03, vote 183, 11/24/03, vote 200, 6/7/04, vote 106 and 7/12/04, vote 136. AB16566 (Resolution 2005-30) Approved 7-0
134. Increase parking meter rates through 2010 and begin parking meter enforcement two hours earlier? Parking meter enforcement will begin at 8 a.m. as opposed to the current 10 a.m., and meter rates will be increased from the current $.25 per hour (since 1996) to $.50 per hour in 2006, $.75 per hour in 2008 and $1 per hour in 2010. Increased revenue will bring the parking fund closer to self-supporting with $474,492 in additional revenue in 2006. AB16575 (Resolution 2005-31) Approved 7-0
135. Grant final plat approval for three single-family lots in Alpine Estates? Alpine Estates is located west of Barkley Boulevard at the end of Cedarside Court, access to Cedarside Court is through Brandywine Drive. Preliminary plat approval for 19 single-family and 24 multifamily homes was granted in 1993. AB16584 (Resolution 2005-32) Approved 7-0
136. Appropriate an additional $16,923 for Whatcom Medic One? The funding will add one position to Medic One, a division of the Bellingham fire department. AB16551 (Ordinance 2005-06-49) Approved 7-0
137. Revise storm and surface water permit fees? Earlier this year, an independent study concluded that storm water utility fees do not accurately reflect costs. The council adopted the planning committee recommendation to recover 100 percent of the permit fees beginning on August 1, 2005. The new fees will result in an increase of $307,000 to the storm and surface water utility fund. AB16553 (Ordinance 2005-06-50) Approved 5-2, Grant Deger and Gene Knutson opposed.
138. Modify storm water development charges? There will be a charge for each parcel of property that is developed or redeveloped and for remodels that add 3,000 square feet or more. A single-family residence is $678 and there is a square foot charge for all others. AB 16554 (Ordinance 2005-06-51) Approved
Action taken at the July 11, 2005 meeting
Shall the council:
139. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $654,402 to Whatcom Builders of Bellingham for the annual street resurfacing program? There are five streets in the downtown area and 10 streets in south Bellingham scheduled for resurfacing. Twenty-seven bids were solicited and three were received. (AB16593) Approved 7-0
140. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $148,505 to Award Construction of Ferndale to restore salmon habitat on lower Squalicum Creek? This project includes the creation of a small side channel, installing four engineered logjams and one cribwall fashioned from logs and root wads. Forty-four bids were solicited and three were received. (AB16594) Approved 7-0
141. Authorize the mayor to accept a $1.6 million state grant to improve fish passage at the middle fork diversion dam? The money will be used to replace the water intake structure. The city of Bellingham, Lummi Nation, Nooksack Tribe and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are working together to improve fish passage. (AB16596) Approved 7-0
142. Appropriate $2,267,956 for city payroll checks from June 1 through June 15, 2005? (AB16604) Approved 7-0
143. Appropriate $1,071,094 for goods and services checks issued from June 17 through June 24, 2005? (AB16605) Approved 7-0
144. Change 8th Street from two-way to one-way between McKenzie and Harris Avenues? Fairhaven Harbor received a shoreline conditional use permit for a project on the southeast corner of 8th Street and Harris Avenue, subject to certain conditions. Changing 8th Street to one-way northbound in the block between McKenzie and Harris is one of those conditions. AB16592 (Resolution 2005-33) Approved 7-0
145. Authorize a $1.4 million interfund loan to purchase property in the Lake Whatcom watershed? The money to purchase the watershed property (see 6/6/05 meeting, vote number 113) will be borrowed from the wastewater fund. Later this year, the city will issue $5 million in bonds to purchase property in the Lake Whatcom watershed. This loan will be repaid when the bonds are sold. AB16535 (Ordinance 2005-07-52) Approved 5-2, Bob Ryan and Grant Deger opposed.
146. Extend sewer and water service to a subdivision in the Bellingham Urban Growth Area? The petitioner is the developer of Stonecrest, a subdivision located near the intersection of Bakerview and Irongate. The development contains 68 units, 46 single-family units, three duplex units (six) and four multi units (16). The developer agreed to provide nine transfer of developments rights, a park site and retain the trees along Irongate Road. AB16558 (Ordinance 2005-07-53) Approved 6-1, John Watts opposed.
147. Make changes in two library positions? Change the title of one public services librarian to Webmaster/teen services librarian. Delete one reference librarian and create one public services librarian with a wage increase. No additional funds are required for 2005. AB16560 (Ordinance 2005-07-54) Approved 7-0
148. Upgrade one parks department position and reclassify another position? The aborist pay position is raised from grade 11 to grade 12. One seasonal position of maintenance aide 2 is deleted and one seasonal position of maintenance aide 3 is added. No additional funds are required for 2005. AB 16561 (Ordinance 2005-07-55) Approved 7-0
149. Amend the municipal code regarding reduced utility rates for low-income seniors and disabled citizens? Change the term “income” to “gross income” as defined by IRS code. Change the requirement that the applicant must be an “owner of a single-family residence” to “have a separate city utility service.” Finally, all applications must contain sufficient information to verify eligibility. AB16562 (Ordinance 2005-07-56) Approved 7-0
150. Contribute $50,000 to the Whatcom Alliance for Healthcare Access for start-up costs? The organization was formed to help provide access to healthcare for Whatcom County residents who are partially insured and uninsured. AB16563 (Ordinance 2005-07-57) Approved 7-0
151. Repeal sections of the municipal code that refer to the defunct City Center Development Authority? The commission provided policy direction on city parking. AB16568 (Ordinance 2005-07-58) Approved 6-0, John Watts out of room.
152. Modify city parking meters to only accept U.S. coins? Between the exchange rate and the fees banks charge to sort foreign coins, the city estimates it would loose $13,000 this year. AB16576 (Ordinance 2005-07-59) Approved 7-0
153. Increase penalties for parking infractions? Overtime parking tickets will be increased from $5 to $10, municipal court will continue to send notifications of overdue penalties and all revenue increases will go into the parking fund. If the number of citations issued remains constant, the anticipated revenue will double to $950,000. AB 16577 (Ordinance 2005-07-60) Approve 6-1, Louise Bjornson opposed.
154. Increase the mechanic’s vehicle permit fee from $75 to $125? The permit allows vehicle owners to place hoods over parking meters when performing work in the downtown area. In 2005, 36 permits have been sold. The estimated addition to parking fund revenue in 2006 is $1,800. (Ordinance 2005-07-61) Approved 7-0
