May 2006
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Ryan Hashagen
Action Taken at February 27, 2006 Meeting
Editor’s Note: The previous issue contained incomplete information on the next three votes.
Shall the council:
35. Authorize the mayor to sign a $66,500 settlement in the case of Ringstad v. city of Bellingham? In 2002, a sewer backup flooded the basement of Mathew and Lynn Ringstad’s home on Iron Street. The Ringstads’ run their consulting business Apollo Geophysics Company, out of the basement. The Ringstads took the city to court to recover $400,000 in damages and lost wages. Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.
36. Authorize the mayor to employ Safford Frey of Seattle as special counsel in the Veit v. city of Bellingham litigation? The city of Bellingham and Burlington Northern Railroad are being sued over an unsafe railroad crossing, Allizon Veit’s car was struck by a train on September 10, 2001at the crossing. Veit sustained injuries in the crash and total damages have yet to be determined. The City Council decided a special council was warranted due to the size of damages claims and the large amount of paperwork. Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.
37. Authorize the mayor to sign a $150,000 settlement with the Security Insurance Company of Hartford? The city of Bellingham sued the Security Insurance Company (formerly New Amsterdam) for reimbursement of cleanup costs associated with Holly Street landfill, Cornwall Avenue landfill, Central Waterfront, Little Squalicum Park, Boulevard Park and Taylor Avenue sites insured by company from 1961–1964. Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.
Action Taken at March 13, 2006 Meeting
Shall the council:
69. Approve the AFSCME, local 114 (police officers), three-year labor contract? The 2006-08 contract includes a 3 percent wage increase per year; the city will pay more of the medical premiums and added a program that pays a 0.5 percent yearly bonus. Approved 7-0
70. Deny damage claim? Louise Kinder filed a $750,000 claim for a shoulder injury that she says occurred during her arrest in a kidnapping investigation. The denial allows Kinder to take the matter to court. Approved 7-0
71. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $885,477 to Tiger Construction of Everson for the 2005-06 sewer main replacement project? This project will repair (the pipe will be scrubbed and any leaking joints fixed) or replace 11,880 feet of sewer pipe, replace 31 manholes and restore any structures damaged during construction. Seventy-five bids were solicited and seven were received. (AB16910) Approved 7-0
72. Appropriate $1,887,947 for goods and services checks issued from February 17 through March 3, 2006? (AB16921/16922) Approved 7-0
73. Appropriate $2,335,863 for city payroll checks issued from February 1 through February 15, 2006? (AB16923) Approved 7-0
74. Implement the Greenways III Levy program? This resolution gives staff guidelines to start work on planning the new program prior to the May 16 special election. (Resolution 2006-06) Approved 7-0
75. Grant final plat approval and a one-year preliminary plat extension for Village on the Green? The final plat approval is for 24 single-family detached lots with reserved tracts for future development. The one-year preliminary plat extension is for the area north of Sussex Dive and south of Vining Street. The preliminary plat for Village on the Green was approved at the 3/14/94 meeting, amended at the 8/28/95 meeting and 12/6/04 meeting, vote number 262. AB16905 (Resolution 2006-07) Approved 7-0
76. Close 8th Street between McKenzie and Harris avenues to vehicular traffic? On May 4, 2005, Fairhaven Harbor was granted both Shoreline Conditional Use and Substantial Development permits to construct two buildings next to Padden Creek. The citizens’ group Fairhaven Neighbors appealed the permits to the Shorelines Hearings Board. The Bellingham Hearing Examiner determined that 8th Street, which runs between the project and Padden Creek, must either be one-way without parking or be closed to car traffic. At the July 11, 2005 meeting, vote number 144, 8th between McKenzie and Harris was changed to a one-way street. A settlement was approved at the February 6, 2006 meeting, vote number 19, which requires 8th be closed to vehicular traffic. AB16908 (Resolution 2006-08) Approved 7-0
77. Support universal access to health care? The council supports the right of every person in the United States to equal high quality health care. United for Healthcare asked for this support to coincide with a citizens’/Congressional Hearing on health care in Bellingham on March 25, 2006, to support national legislation in Congress and encourage Washington’s state legislators to pass legislation that makes universal health care a right. AB16915 (Resolution 2006-09) Approved 7-0
78. Submit Greenways III levy to the voters on May 16, 2006? Since 1990 (the first Greenway levy was passed on 5/20/90 with 67 percent of the vote and the second levy on 11/4/97 with 58 percent of the vote), the Greenways program has generated $27 million in levy money and $11.8 million in donations and grants for a total of $38.8 million to create, maintain and improve trails, acquire parkland and other recreation projects in Bellingham. If passed, Greenways III will start in 2007 and maintain the same $0.57 per thousand tax rate of the previous measures through 2016, generating $43 million. The money will be allocated as follows: 60 percent for acquisitions, 31 percent for development and 9 percent for endowments. AB16868 (Ordinance 2006-03-33) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at March 27, 2006 Meeting
Shall the council:
79. Authorize the mayor to spend up to $350,200 to purchase 9.2 acres of property in the Lake Whatcom watershed? The property is located off Northshore Road in the Agate Bay area and adjacent to the 123 acres the council purchased at the 2/27/06 meeting, vote 38. Approved 7-0
80. Authorize the mayor to extend a lease with the Downtown Renaissance Network for free space in the Parkade? The lease for 1,100 square feet of free space began on April 1, 2004; this renewal is through March 31, 2007. The annual market value of the space is $12,000. (AB16932) Approved 7-0
81. Appropriate $3,840,197 for goods and services checks issued from March 3 through March 17, 2006? (AB16940/16941) Approved 7-0
82. Appropriate $2,509,204 for city payroll checks issued from February 16 through February 28, 2006? (AB16942) Approved 7-0
83. Approve a multi family tax-exempt contract with West-Lind Construction of Bellingham? The contract grants a 10-year property tax exemption on the residential portion (131 dwelling units located at 1010 and 1020 Railroad Avenue—Morse Hardware site) of the project. Property taxes and impact fees will be assessed on the land and non-residential portions of the project. The development will be coordinated with the Depot Market, Railroad Avenue corridor and South Bay Trail. AB16933 (Resolution 2006-10) Approved 7-0
84. Create a park impact fund? The City Council passed a park impact fee at the 2/27/06 meeting, vote number 47. This vote creates an account for the funds generated by the fee. It is estimated the fees will collect approximately $2 million per year for capital improvements only, not for maintenance or operations. AB16911 (Ordinance 2006-03-34) Approved 7-0
85. Appropriate $95,000 to pay for the programming costs of an incident-based records system and provide financial assistance for Project Safer? The Bellingham Police Department is expanding its records system from a crime reporting system to incident-based data that will be reported to the state and federal governments. The records system will receive $75,000 and Project Safer which provides low-income people with legal representation will receive $20,000. AB16919 (Ordinance 2006-03-35) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at April 3, 2006 Meeting
Shall the council:
86. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with the state of Washington on the central waterfront site? The city is potentially liable under the Model Toxics Control Act for the central waterfront; part of the site is the former Roeder Avenue landfill. State law requires the city to sign the agreement to begin a remedial investigation/feasibility study and to access state funding for the study. The Port of Bellingham is managing the cleanup project under an agreement with the city. Approved 6-0, John Watts excused.
87. Authorize the mayor to enter into a settlement with the Trillium Corporation? This agreement allows residential development on six lots in the Cordata PUD. Approved 5-1, Bob Ryan opposed and John Watts excused.
88. Authorize the mayor to award the sole bid of $268,970 to Matia Contractors of Bellingham to replace playground equipment at Civic Field/Carl Cozier playground, Broadway and Lake Padden Parks? Matia’s bid is 23 percent over the engineer’s estimate; staff gave five reasons for recommending acceptance. The packet didn’t list the number of bids solicited, one bid was received. (AB16943) Approved 6-0, John Watts excused.
89. Appropriate $2,373,150 for city payroll checks issued from March 1 through March 15, 2006? (AB16945) Approved 6-0, John Watts excused.
90. Appropriate $1,887,947 for goods and services checks issued from March 17 through March 24, 2006? (AB16946) Approved 6-0, John Watts excused.
91. Transfer $500,000 within the street fund for the Gateway building? The Gateway building is the former Travel Lodge at the corner of Holly and Railroad. Funds will be transferred from the street fund to the arterial street fund. AB16925 (Ordinance 2006-04-36) Approved 6-0, John Watts excused.
92. Reauthorize $41,943,568 for goods and services that were budgeted in 2005 but not ordered by the end of the year? This increases 2006 budget expenditures from $193, 190,621 to $246,856,016. AB16926 (Ordinance 2006-04-37) Approved 6-0, John Watts excused.
93. Reauthorize $11,721,828 for goods and services that were ordered in 2005 but didn’t have purchase orders or contracts by years end? AB16927 (Ordinance 2006-04-38) Approved 6-0, John Watts excused.
94. Adjust the beginning reserve balances for the 2006 budget by $50,291,142 to account for difference between estimated and actual year-end balances? The budget is drawn up before the end of the year and estimates are used. The 2006 beginning reserves budget will increase to $126,390,307. AB16928 (Ordinance 2006-04-39) Approved 6-0, John Watts excused.
95. Appropriate $33,352 for the ambulance transport program? In April of 2005, the city agreed with International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 106 to allow fire engine crews to respond, treat and transport patients without using Medic One. The one-time agreement gave firefighters half of the 2005 Medic One fee payments. Each firefighter will receive $419 plus benefits for a total of $1,912. AB16929 (Ordinance 2006-04-40) Approved 6-0, John Watts excused.
