Bellingham City Council

Shall the council:

231. Purchase .43 acres from Ernst and Renate Rohrer for $39,000? The property is located in the undeveloped area west of E. Oregon Street and north of Silverbeach Elementary School; the purchased is part of the Lake Whatcom watershed property acquisition program. Approved 7-0

232. Authorize the mayor to purchase 49 percent of port property located adjacent to the Cornwall Avenue landfill cleanup site? See the 11/21/05 meeting, vote number 251, authorizing $2,450,000 to purchase the property. The purchase of the property will safeguard the landfill’s cleanup and monitor environmental controls near the site. Approved 7-0

233. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with the Port of Bellingham for the joint cleanup of the Cornwall Avenue landfill and central waterfront sites? Under the agreement, the city’s share of the cleanup is $3,700,000 and the port will manage the cleanup. The city will send a draft of the agreement to the insurance carriers named in the pending insurance litigation case to recover the cleanup costs. Approved 7-0

234. Authorize the mayor to sign an interlocal agreement with the nonprofit organization Specialized Emergency Response Program? County and city fire agencies and the local refineries in Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties created the specialized emergency service program in 1996. It currently handles hazardous materials incidents and emergency notification services. This agreement updates the document to conform to state law, which allows only government bodies to sign interlocal agreements. The new agreement restructures the membership, board and purpose. (AB16731) Approved 7-0

235. Authorize the mayor to sign a lease with Colony Wharf? The city will lease the property back to the seller (see 10/17/05 meeting, vote number 218), Landings at Colony Wharf for four years. This is to keep as many existing jobs as possible and the property under current management while environmental remediation is pending. The rent is 15 percent of what Landings at Colony Wharf receives monthly for subleasing space and 5 percent of their gross receipts of their business operations. (AB16732) This was not a roll call vote, it was approve/disapprove and was approved.

236. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $91,944 to Imac, Inc. of Mount Vernon for a stack cap damper at the Post Point wastewater treatment facility? This replaces the damper (which controls the airflow allowing a clean burn) on incinerator number one. Twenty-two bids were solicited and two were received. (AB16737) Approved 7-0

237. Appropriate $2,299,766 for city payroll checks issued from October 1 through October 15, 2005? (AB16738) Approved 7-0

238. Appropriate $2,169,055 for goods and services checks issued from October 7 through October 21, 2005? (AB16739/16740) Approved 7-0

239. Accept an $11,185 gift for library computers? The Friends of the Bellingham Public Library agreed to purchase 10 computers for public use. The library bought 10 computers in early 2005 to take advantage of a bulk purchase program so this gift reimburses the library for the earlier purchase. AB16725 (Ordinance 2005-11- 86) Approved 7-0

240. Appropriate $24,000 for 2005 library mailing services? This item was not part of the 2005 budget because the Whatcom County Library System has only been processing hold (reserve) and overdue notices for the Bellingham Public Library since September 1, 2004. Library patrons are encouraged to receive notices by email to save mailing expenses. AB16726 (Ordinance 2005-11-87) Approved 7-0

241. Award a $10,000 grant to the Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities? The grant will be one-third of local funds required to match a $30,000 grant from the Boeing Employees Foundation to create the Healthy Communities Network, an Internet-based clearinghouse that will collect health information about Whatcom County. AB16727 (Ordinance 2005-11-88) Approved 7-0

Shall the council:

242. Authorize the mayor to enter into a trust agreement with the Oeser Company to clean up Little Squalicum Park? The Oeser Company contributed $500,000 to the trust to clean up the contaminated park site adjacent to the company property. The mayor will apply for a $500,000 state grant to match the Oeser grant. In August of this year, the Oeser Company signed an agreement with the EPA to deposit $8.6 million into two trusts to clean up polluted company property. The federal government has spent $14 million to investigate and clean up contaminated company property since it was designated a Superfund site in 1997. Approved 7-0

243. Approve the legislative agenda for the 2006 session? Dick Little (governmental relations director) presented 14 items that are expected to be presented to the Legislature, many will have a financial impact on the city. Mr. Little will lobby lawmakers on the issues during the 60-day session that starts on January 9, 2006. AB16748 Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan absent.

244. Appropriate $3,003,636 for goods and services checks issued from October 21 through November 4, 2005? (AB16753/16754) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan absent.

245. Appropriate $121,914 to cover shortfalls in fire and police pension payments? The shortfall in the police pension fund is $100,914 and the fire pension fund is $21,000. The shortfalls were created by higher than expected payments that came from settling the 2005 contract, a cost of living allowance that was less than anticipated leaving the city responsible for the difference and a bookkeeping error in the 2005 budget. AB16730 (Ordinance 2005-11-89) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan absent.

Shall the council:

246. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $125,411 to Hinton Contracting and Development of Bellingham for water tanks fences? The fencing will secure drinking water tanks supplying Sehome Hill, Highland Drive, Alabama Hill and Yew Street Road and Whatcom Falls Park areas. The water treatment plant will also be fenced. Thirty bids were solicited and four were received. AB16768 Approved 7-0

Shall the council:

247. Adopt the 2005 transportation impact fee rate schedule? The impact 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. The impact fee rate is expected to collect $900,000 in 2006; this would be $11,000 above 2004. AB16744 (Resolution 2005-47) Approved 7-0

248. Appropriate $2,451,219 for payroll checks issued from October 16 through October 31, 2005? (AB16769) Approved 7-0

249. Appropriate $1,011,871 for goods and services checks issued from November 4 through November 10, 2005? (AB16770) Approved 7-0

250. Amend the Black Rock cable franchise to operate and maintain a video telecommunications system in city rights-of-way? Black Rock was granted their franchise in 1999 and currently distributes Comcast programming. After Black Rock was sold in 2003, the city held lengthy discussions with new owners over their new business paradigm (type of services, financial responsibilities and organization) that resulted in Black Rock’s request that the franchise reflect those changes. AB16722 (Ordinance 2005-11-90) Approved 7-0

251. Issue $8,700,000 in general obligation bonds? The 20-year bonds will: finance the city’s share ($3.7 million) of environmental cleanup of the Cornwall Avenue and central waterfront landfills; reimburse the city for the $1.5 million cleanup costs for the Holly Street landfill; purchase of the Colony Wharf property for $3.3 million and pay bond closing costs. The bond will be repaid by the solid waste fund utility tax. AB16742 (Ordinance 2005-11-91) Approved 7-0

252. Adopt a new Critical Areas Ordinance? Bellingham Municipal Code 21.10 will be amended, chapter 16.50 repealed and a new chapter16.55 adopted. The ordinance designates, classifies and protects environmentally sensitive areas under the Growth Management Act. The changes take effect December 6, 2005. AB16745 (Ordinance 2005-11-92) Approved 5-2, Gene Knutson and Grant Deger opposed.

Shall the council:

253. Authorize the mayor to award the sole bid of $299 a ton to the Thatcher Company of Missoula, MT, for soda ash? Soda ash controls corrosion in water mains and valves. The city uses approximately 200 tons a year and the 2006 estimated cost of $59,890. The sole bid for soda ash in 2005 was $200 per ton at an estimated cost of $40,000. Seven bids were solicited and one was received. (AB16785) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.

254. Appropriate $1,365,030 for goods and services checks issued from November 10 through November 18, 2005? (AB16786) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.

255. Appropriate $2,256,028 for payroll checks issued from November 1 through November 15, 2005? (AB16767) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.

256. Change the general fund reserve goal from 10 percent to 12 percent of the annual operating budget? The Budget Advisory Committee recommended 15 percent, but the mayor advised a 12 percent goal based on projected revenues and the funding needs for pensions and city technology. AB16774 (Resolution 2005-48) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.

257. Grant final plat approval for division 1 (19 single-family lots) of the Wild Rose Hills plat in the Whatcom Falls neighborhood? The preliminary plat (located at the southern end of Kenoyer Drive) was passed on 9/23/96, extensions were granted on 10/22/01, 12/8/03, vote number 204 and 2/28/05, vote number 35. The extensions were due to changes in wetlands regulations and permit alterations. Tracts are reserved for future development. AB16783 (Resolution 2005-49) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.

258. Extend the permanently affordable home ownership project? The Kulshan Community Land Trust will be allowed to build permanently affordable houses at the corner of Harris and 15th Street; the property was formerly occupied by the Barracks apartments and is next to the new fire station. The extension will end on December 31, 2006. AB 16755 (Ordinance 2005-12-93) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.

259. Amend Bellingham’s historic preservation ordinance to bring it into line with the state’s model ordinance? The amendments will give the city’s program a certified local government status, increase financial incentives for properties listed on the Register of Historic Places, streamline the review process, establish criteria for demolishing historic buildings and establish a process to designate historic districts. AB16757 (Ordinance 2005-12-94) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.

260. Adopt the International Property Maintenance Code? The international code (2003 edition) sets the standards for maintenance and habitability of existing buildings and properties in the city. AB16758 (Ordinance 2005-12-95) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.

261. Accept a state grant of $6,159 to pay overtime for a program ticketing aggressive automobile drivers? The city and state are participating in a federal program studying the driving behavior of passenger car drivers around commercial vehicles. AB16760 (Ordinance 2005-12-96) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.

262. Add a new police classification to the AFSCME 114 contract salary schedule? The 2002 agreement with the union required a classification study of both judicial services and police administrative support positions. The initial study showed that both classifications were appropriate. Since, several duties have been transferred to the police administration requiring a re-evaluation. New data allows for a new classification, local police support services specialist, with a pay grade 8 to be added to the salary schedule. AB16761 (Ordinance 2005-12-97) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.

263. Transfer project funds for Whatcom Creek Trail and Squalicum Fields Park? Funds for phase I of the two projects are being transferred from the first quarter real estate excise tax fund to the second quarter real estate excise tax fund. The first quarter fund has $400,000 for the Whatcom Creek Trail project and $650,000 for the Squalicum Fields project. Both projects qualify for second quarter funding, which has more money available. AB16762 (Ordinance 2005-12-98) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.

264. Authorize an interfund loan of $2,450,000 to buy 49 percent of 5.79-acres adjacent to the Cornwall Avenue landfill cleanup site? The property, owned by the Port of Bellingham, has an appraised value of between $5,044,475 and $7,062,265. Staff recommended the purchase to monitor the landfill cleanup and future development of the property. AB16763 (Ordinance 2005-12-99) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.

265. Vacate property on the southeast corner of Railroad Avenue and East Chestnut Street occupied by the La Fiamma restaurant? The council voted at the 8/8/05 meeting, vote number 171, to declare the property and building surplus and sold the building to the restaurant owners for $550,000. The city is not charging the restaurant owners for the property. AB16749 (Ordinance 2005-12-100) Approved 6-0, Barbara Ryan excused.