February 2006
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Earl Dennis
Action Taken at December 12, 2005 Meeting
Shall the council:
266. Increase non-union city employee wages by 3 percent? This increase, effective 1/1/06, is similar to 2005 union negotiations. Beside non-represented employees, this raise covers uniformed managerial positions, the mayor, departments heads and administrators. (AB16788) Approved 7-0
267. Authorize the mayor to renew the agreement with Western Washington University to jointly maintain the Sehome Hill Arboretum? The first agreement was signed on August 7, 1974, for the 175.5-acre site; the university owns 38 acres and the city 137.5 acres. During the university’s roadway design process, weaknesses in the agreement became evident, which were addressed in this renewal. The university’s revision insures the Arboretum’s operations remain responsive to WWU’s needs while keeping the Arboretum viable. The 10-year agreement begans on 8/6/05 and ends on 8/5/15. (AB16794) Approved 7-0
268. Authorize the mayor to award the sole bid of $280.49 per ton to General Chemical Performance Products of Parsippany, NJ, for aluminum sulfate? The water treatment plant uses aluminum sulfate in the filtration process to coagulate particles making them easier to remove. The city uses approximately 180 tons a year; the estimated cost for 2006 is $50,488. The city paid $198.54 a ton in 2004 and $230.46 a ton in 2005. Seven bids were solicited and one was received (AB16802) Approved 7-0
269. Authorize the mayor to award the sole bid of $42,822 to Industrial Furnace Company of Rochester, NY, for a multiple hearth furnace? This replaces a multihearth sludge incinerator at the Post Point sewer treatment plant. Twenty bids were solicited and one was received. (AB 16803) Approved 7-0
270. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $32,208 to Valley Truck of Sunnyside, WA, for a hoist service body and crane? The body and crane are mounted on a cab and chassis; the vehicle moves equipment and material at the Post Point sewer treatment plant. Thirty bids were solicited and four were received. (AB 16804) Approved 7-0
271. Appropriate $1,470,190 for goods and services checks issued from November 19 through December 2, 2005? (AB16805) Approved 7-0
272. Authorize the mayor to sign a two-year $117,431 contract with B.A. Kramer, Inc. of Bellingham to manage the Lake Padden golf course? A selection committee (Parks and Recreation staff, Lake Padden Golf Club representatives and the golfing public) picked B.K. Kramer as the most responsive of three applicants. The contract runs from 1/1/06 to 12/31/07. (AB15795) Approved 7-0
273. Establish new fees at the Lake Padden golf course? The 5.6 percent increase (over fees passed at the 10/20/03 meeting, vote number 166) will produce approximately $70,000 in additional revenue in 2006. The new fees take effect on January 1, 2006. AB15796 (Resolution 2005-50) Approved 7-0
274. Set the time and dates for 2006 regular council meetings? Twenty-eight meetings are scheduled for 2006, four less than were held in 2005. AB15798 (Resolution 2005-51) Approved 7-0
275. Support the Magnuson amendment to the Marine Mammal Protection Act? The council supports the efforts of the Washington state delegation to oppose the repeal of the Magnuson amendment that limits the size of oil tankers in Puget Sound waters. AB15799 (Resolution 2005-52) Approved 6-0-1, Grant Deger abstained.
276. Rezone 1314 Old Fairhaven Parkway? The 12,000 square foot property is located on the southwest corner of Old Fairhaven Parkway and 14th Street. Staff recommended the rezoning change from residential to residential/office. The new zoning will increase the number of units from four to six and the height will be restricted to 35 feet. The building proposed for the lot will be 25 feet high. It will have six business units with a living area loft, allowing the owner to live on the premises. AB16771 (Ordinance 2005-12-101) Approved 7-0
277. Approve the 2006 annual budget? The total budget is $193,190,621 with ending reserves of $63,433,321. The general fund anticipates revenue and expenditures of $65,091,840 and ending reserves of $10,931,150. The 2006 budget is $23 million above the proposed budget for 2005. AB16772 (Ordinance 2005-12-102) Approved 7-0
278. Accept a state grant of a $130,637 and appropriate city matching funds for a total expenditure of $261,274 to restore the Whatcom Museum’s exterior? Part of the project is already completed. This phase will survey the 108 windows and repair ones with problems. Exterior sandstone and bricks will be repaired or replaced and a basement door will be replaced. The matching money was set aside in the 2005 budget. AB16773 (Ordinance 2005-12-103) Approved 7-0
279. Accept a state grant of $3,500 for overtime pay? The Washington State Traffic Safety Commission grant will be used for “Drive Hammered–Get Nailed” DUI patrols from 11/2/05 through 1/2/06. The performance standard is a minimum of three tickets per hour. AB16775 (Ordinance 2005-12-104) Approved 7-0
280. Amend the land use designation for Squalicum Creek Park? The park is the former Pacific Concrete site with approximately 35 acres in the Birchwood neighborhood and seven acres in the Columbia neighborhood. The city purchased the land in 2002 to build a sport-emphasized park; the park name and master plan was adopted at the 2/7/05 meeting, vote numbers 24 and 25. The zoning is changed from a mix of industrial and residential to public. AB16776 (Ordinance 2005-12-105) Approved 7-0
281. Amend to the Central Business District and South Hill neighborhood plans and zoning maps for the New Whatcom area? The 200-acre area of central waterfront (formerly the G-P plant) from the I and J Waterway south to the former Cornwall Avenue landfill site will be rezoned from “heavy and marine industrial” to “mixed-use” to aid in redevelopment of the central waterfront. AB16777 (Ordinance 2005-12-106) Approved 7-0
282. Amend the Bellingham Municipal Code for the composition and duties of the Emergency Medical and Ambulance Advisory Board? Board membership will be reduced from 11 to nine to make it more active and thorough in reviewing emergency medical services; city and county government positions will be reduced and three fire commissioner positions added. The board’s added duties include holding at least two public meetings per year to review the previous year and the budget. AB 16778 (Ordinance 2005-12-107) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at January 7, 2006 Meeting
Shall the council:
1. Authorize the mayor to purchase a .23-acre parcel located at the northwest corner of Woburn and Alabama for $420,000 plus $1,600 in closing costs? The property will be used for street expansion. Approved 7-0
2. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $7,055,298 to Colacurcio Brothers of Blaine, for the Civic Field complex improvement project? Western Washington University will pay $83,012 (included in the above bid) to improve the viking and game operations rooms. The above bid does not include expansion of the skate park, signage or Joe Martin field improvements, which will be put out for bid later this year. The 2006 budget has $7,854,903 for the project, any remaining funds will be used to install synthetic turf at Joe Martin Stadium. ?? bids were solicated and five were received. (AB16809) Approved 7-0
3. Appropriate $4,706,763 for goods and services checks issued from December 2 through December 30, 2005? (AB16817/16818/16819/16820) Approved 7-0
4. Appropriate $4,698,786 for payroll checks issued from November 16 through December 15, 2005? (AB16821/16822) Approved 7-0
5. Modify Resolution 2005-27 by a removing one section from the original vote? The council decided against Harold and Cindy Mehler’s sewer assessment appeal (6/6/05 meeting, vote number 115) and accepted the examiner’s first recommendation to reject the application because it was not filed on time. The council’s decision was appealed to Superior Court because one section did not apply to the accepted recommendation. The court returned the matter to the council to either remove the one section from the decision or confirm the original vote. AB16810 (Resolution 2006-01) Approved 5-1-1, John Watts opposed, Joan Beardsley abstained.
6. Create two new funds, one for Sportsplex payments and the other for the Oeser settlement? The Sportsplex fund was created so that interest on Whatcom Soccer Commission’s security deposit payments doesn’t go into the general fund. The second fund will track the $500,000 used for the Little Squalicum Park environmental cleanup. See the 11/14/05 meeting, vote number 242, for details on the Oeser cleanup settlement. AB16789 (Ordinance 2006-01-01) Approved 7-0
7. Accept a state grant of $6,000 for overtime pay? The Washington State Traffic Safety Commission grant will be used for police “Speed, Save It for the Slopes” patrols from 12/1/05 through 2/28/06. Similar patrols in 1999 reduced the average speed in 35mph zones from 55mph before the patrols to 42 mph after. The hope is greater police visibility will send a message to snow-sport enthusiasts to slow down. AB16790 (Ordinance 2006-01-02) Approved 7-0
8. Amend the ordinance increasing penalties for parking infractions? Ordinance 2005-07-60 (7/11/05 meeting, vote number 153) increased parking ticket rates beginning January 1, 2006. Discussions on the ordinance brought up questions of where fines should be deposited; the council decided to keep a revenue neutral approach for the general fund. All fines will be placed in the general fund until 2005’s parking ticket total ($475,000) is attained—additional funds will go to parking related activities. AB16791 (Ordinance 2006-01-03) Approved 7-0
9. Appropriate $19,963 to replace a damaged vehicle? On November 16, 2005, a public works truck was sitting at a red light when an uninsured motorist hit it from behind. The city is currently processing a legal claim against the motorist. The truck has been declared a total wreck, it will be surplused and auctioned for salvage. The salvage amount will be deposited in the street fund. AB16792 (Ordinance 2006-01-04) Approved 7-0
10. Appropriate $585,000 for the Little Squalicum Park hazardous waste assessment? The total appropriated amount includes a federal Brownfields grant ($200,000), a state grant ($175,000) and a Beyond Greenways match ($210,000) to fund a hazardous waste assessment of Little Squalicum Park. See the 11/14/05 meeting, vote number 242, for details on the Oeser cleanup settlement. The assessment is to determine the extent and nature of any contamination and provide a plan if needed to remediate and clean up the site. AB16793 (Ordinance 2006-01-05) Approved 7-0
