Bellingham City Council

Editor’s Note: The first three votes below are incomplete because they were decided in executive session; the packet doesn’t contain any information on executive sessions. Attempts to obtain details on the votes from the city legal department were unsuccessful. Hopefully, information will published in the next issue.

Shall the council:

35. Authorize the mayor to sign a $66,500 settlement agreement in the case of Rigstad v. City? Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

36. Authorize the mayor to employ special counsel to assist with the Veit vs. City litigation? Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

37. Authorize the mayor to sign a $150,000 agreement with Security Insurance Company of Hartford? Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

38. Authorize the mayor to spend $3,075,500 to purchase 123 acres in the Lake Whatcom watershed for the watershed protection program? The property is located off Northshore Road in the Agate Bay area and adjacent to 200 acres currently owned by the city. The 323 acres will create a large protected area. Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

39. Declare as surplus property on the southeast corner intersection of Byron Avenue, Racine Street and 48th Streets? The city purchased the 30-foot strip of property on the southeast corner in April 2003 as part of street and utility extensions; it sits just outside the city limits. Developers of adjacent property to the west will buy the strip for $16,850. It will be used for right-of-way purposes so it will revert back to the city. (AB168769) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

40. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $85,557 to Razz Construction of Bellingham for construction of the Happy Valley Park? The 4.8 acre park is located south of Donovan Avenue along Connelly Creek, between the co-op housing and the 28th Street right-of-way. The meadow will be turned into lawn; a picnic shelter and tables, bike rack and trash receptacles will be installed and a crushed limstone trail will be restored. The number of bids solicited was not listed, six bids were received. (AB16890) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

41. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $1,017,755 to the Colacurcio Brothers of Blaine, for water main replacement? The program will replace 12,500 feet of 8-inch pipe in the South Hill, Columbia, Lettered Streets and Cornwall Park neighborhoods. Sixty-two bids were solicited and 10 were received. (AB16897) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

42. Authorize the mayor to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Whatcom Council of Governments for the Whatcom Smart Trips program? This is a joint venture of the Council of Governments and Whatcom Transit Authority to reduce automobile trips. The goal is to reduce single-occupant citywide cars trip between 8 and 12 percent. Potentially, this will reduce the maintenance and construction costs for roads. The annual city cost will be $100,000 and come from the street fund. (AB16879) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

43. Appropriate $3,092,141 for goods and services checks issued from January 27 through February 17, 2006? (AB16898/16899/16900) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

44. Appropriate $2,505,250 for payroll checks issued from January 16 through January 31, 2006? (AB 16901) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

45. Segregate the local improvement district assessments for the Village on the Green plat in the Mount Baker neighborhood? The 19-acre parcel in the Barkley Boulevard district is being divided into three assessments, 24 lots for $51,377, future lots for $58,112 and a portion of lot 4 for $11,025 plus interest for a total assessment of $129,372. AB16878 (Resolution 2006-03) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

46. Add March 6 to the City Council meeting schedule? The meeting is needed to complete work on the Greenways levy in order to make the special election deadline. AB16888 (Resolution 2006-04) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

47. Set April 12 as the new public hearing date to consider vacating Birch Street in the Alabama Hill neighborhood? The hearing was originally scheduled on March 8; see the 1/23/06 meeting, vote number 17 for details. AB16889 (Resolution 2006-05) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

48. Pass a park impact fee? The fee will be on residential land development in Bellingham; the money will provide new parks and related facilities. The fee will be used solely for acquiring and/or making capital improvements, it will not be used for maintenance or operations. The Planning Commission recommended setting the impact fee at a 35 percent level and, based on projected growth, will generate an average of about $2 million per year. AB16846 (Ordinance 2006-02-12) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

49. Spend $23,978 to purchase a automobile for the Bellingham police chief? The police chief is currently reimbursed when using his private automobile for police work. The chief finds his car inadequate when responding to emergency calls. Because of budget cuts, a replacement for a parking control vehicle is no longer needed so the funds will be used to purchase an automobile for the police chief. AB16851 (Ordinance 2006-02-13) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

50. Appropriate $22,700 in drug forfeiture funds for the police department? Of the funds, $4,800 will be used for an officer to attend an advanced computer forensics class and $17,900 to rent additional space for evidence storage. AB16852 (Ordinance 2006-02-14) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

51. Transfer $1,100 from the street fund to the debt service fund for street paving? The public works trust loan board set expenses $1,100 higher than the 2006 budget. This transfer will make up the shortfall. AB16853 (Ordinance 2006-02-15) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

52. Change the job title and classification for three employees in the Whatcom Medic 1 unit? The job title Accounting Assistant 1 is changed to Ambulance Billing and Reimbursement Specialist 1 and 2. The Civil Service Commission accepted the new classifications and re-titled the three positions. The current market places Specialist 1 at pay grade 5 and Specialist 2 at pay grade 7. The pay increase of $2,004 per position is included in the 2006 budget. AB16861 (Ordinance 2006-02-16) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

53. Appropriate $20,436 in asset seizure funds to replace office furniture? The 10-year-old furniture doesn’t meet ergonomic standards. Tri County Office Interiors had the lowest quote. AB16864 (Ordinance 2006-02-17) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

Shall the council:

54. Amend the definitions of “family” and “service care” in city code? The city has been limiting the number of disabled persons or foster children living together and requires these non-related families to get special permits. The new amendments bring city code into alignment with state and federal laws to protect the housing rights of the disabled or foster children who live together in non-related family groups. AB16870 (Ordinance 2006-03-18) Approved 7-0

55. Approve a Kulshan Community Land Trust demonstration program? The site plan for 14-unit permanently affordable owner-occupied houses on 15th Street between Harris and McKenzie was approved and stormwater fees waived. The request to waive school and traffic impact fees was rejected. AB16874 (Ordinance 2006-03-19) Approved 7-0

56. Change sections of the city code relating to parklands? The passage of park impact fees (Bellingham Municipal Code 19.04) on new development (2/27/06 meeting, vote number 47) requires BMC 18.44.10 to be amended and 18.44.20 to be repealed. AB16875 (Ordinance 2006-03-20) Approved 7-0

57. Change sections of city code relating to transportation impact fees? With the passage of park impact fees all impact fees are placed under a new chapter, Title 19. Bellingham Municipal Code 13.60 is repealed and BMC 19.06, a new chapter adopted. AB16876 (Ordinance 2006-03-21) Approved 7-0

58. Change section of the city code relating to school impact fees? With the passage of park impact fees all impact fees are placed under a new chapter, Title 19. Bellingham Municipal Code 16.100 is repealed and BMC 19.08, a new chapter adopted. AB16877 (Ordinance 2006-03-22) Approved 7-0

59. Add a temporary position to the human resources department? In recent years the payroll and benefits have become too complex for the current system to administer. A new payroll system is about to be implemented which will require more staff involvement. A half time employee will be added for a maximum of 24 months. The $18,697 needed for 2006 will come from the general fund. AB16880 (Ordinance 2006-03-23) Approved 7-0

60. Increase a financial analyst position from three-quarters time to full-time? This position was reduced from full-time in 2004 to cut costs. The finance director asked that the position be restored to full-time, so internal control for key financial processes and special projects can be established. The position becomes full-time on April 16, 2006, and $13,693 in transferred from the general fund to cover the increased cost for 2006. AB16881 (Ordinance 2006-03-24) Approved 7-0

61. Eliminate a 20-hour library office assistant position and create a 30-hour library aid position? The primary job of the office assistant’s position was to index local publications (The Bellingham Herald and Bellingham Business Journal). The library is no longer indexing the papers so this position has been discontinued. The aide will absorb the increased workload at the central and Fairhaven libraries. This reorganization is nearly cost-neutral as the 10-hour increase is offset by a lower job classification. AB16882 (Ordinance 2006-03-25) Approved 7-0

62. Repeal parts of the water and sewer service extension zones to make them consistent with the Growth Management Act? A January 1979 ordinance ended a utility service moratorium and created service zones outside the city. The GMA prohibits service extension or expansion outside the UGA, except to protect the public health/safety and the environment. This ordinance: (1) Repeals the service zones in and out of the UGA and allows properties currently being served to continue with service; (2) Prevents service extension or expansion outside the UGA and allows for service requests inside the UGA based on current law, regulation and policy; and (3) Repeals only the parts of January 1979 ordinance not covered in BMC 15.36 or modified in subsequent ordinances. AB16884 (Ordinance 2006-03-26) Approved 7-0

63. Move $250,000 from the solid waste fund to the special legal services account? The city is currently seeking to recover remediation costs of former waterfront landfill sites from insurance companies and is using a special counsel. Future insurance settlements will repay the fund. AB16885 (Ordinance 2006-03-27) Approved 7-0

64. Reclassify a position in planning and community development? New duties of coordinating the department’s internal and external communications have been added to a “development specialist” position. The person in that position requested an audit as per union contract and city policy. The position was given the new classification of “program specialist” effective January 1, 2006, with no change in FTE and no further funds needed. AB16891 (Ordinance 2006-03-28) Approved 7-0

65. Accept a state grant of $10,000 to continue updating the city’s Shoreline Master Program? The state revised the scope of work to include waterfront redevelopment. This brings total state grants for the Shoreline Master Program to $100,000. The deadline has been extended to 6/30/06. AB16893 (Ordinance 2006-03-29) Approved 7-0

66. Accept a $1,000 gift from Williams/Northwest Pipeline for participating in an online emergency responder training course? Yearly, Williams awards the gift to one participant who has completed the course. Bellingham participated in 2005 to prepare police officers in responding to a pipeline emergency. The funds will be allocated for later equipment purchases. AB16894 (Ordinance 2006-03-30) Approved 7-0

67. Accept a $7,080 grant from Western Washington University to enforce underage drinking laws? The university received a state grant to enforce underage drinking laws and passed all of the money to the city to defray the overtime costs for “Party Patrols.” AB16895 (Ordinance 2006-03-31) Approved 7-0

68. Accept a federal grant of $120,280 to upgrade the Mount Baker Theater sound system? Representative Rick Larsen sponsored the grant; it will renovate the front-of-house sound control system, the stage monitor system and acoustic improvements, which will allow the facility to accommodate national touring productions. AB16896 (Ordinance 2006-03-32) Approved 7-0