Bellingham City Council

Shall the council:

29. Authorize the mayor to enter into an agreement with the city of Everett to appeal a state ruling requiring mandatory water metering by 2017? Everett, like Bellingham, doesn’t require every water user to meter their water. The city of Bellingham has a voluntary effort, charging owners $150 to install a meter. The city requires meters for all new development and is working toward total metering. Compliance would cost the city between $7.5-10 million. (Executive Session) Approved 4-2, John Watts and Barbara Ryan opposed, Joan Beardsley excused.*

30. Approve an application for sewer service at 766 Marine Drive in the Urban Growth Area? The site gets water from Water District #2 and was assessed as a latecomer on June 14, 2004. The planning department could not find a compelling reason to approve the application and suggested the area be annexed before hookup. The public works department recommended approval because of the latecomer status and the fact that the property was currently being assessed fees on that status. (AB17326) Failed 3-3, Barbara Ryan, Bob Ryan and Terry Bornemann opposed, Joan Beardsley excused.*

31. Deny an application for sewer service at 804 Marine Drive in the Urban Growth Area? The planning department could not find a compelling reason to approve the application. The public works department recommended denial because the applicant does not have latecomer status and the zone does not cover the entire property of application. (AB17327) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.*

32. Approve an application for water service to 2319 Yew Street Road in the Urban Growth Area? Staff recommended approval with conditions. (AB17328) Failed 5-1, Louise Bjornson, Bob Ryan, John Watts, Terry Bornemann and Barbara Ryan opposed, Joan Beardsley excused.*

33. Authorize the mayor to enter into a cost sharing agreement with Whatcom County to fund a countywide affordable housing taskforce? The City Council created an affordable housing program at the 7/10/06 meeting, vote number 172. The scheduled completion date is 12/31/07 and the city’s share for 2007 shall not exceed $75,000. (AB17329) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.*

34. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $333,872 to Dreamland Skateparks of Lincoln City, Ore., for improvements to the skateboard park? These improvements are part of the Civic Field1 complex improvement project. The bid is $98,913 over budget; money saved on other phases of the project will cover the cost overrun. Seventy-eight bids were solicited and two were received. (AB17331) Approved: 5-1, Barbara Ryan opposed, Joan Beardsley excused.*

35. Authorize the mayor to award the lowest responsible bid of $1,976,461 to Strider Construction of Bellingham for Holly Street improvements? Holly Street will be upgraded between Ellis Street and Railroad Avenue; improvements include planting street plants, replacing all the curbs, gutters and sidewalks, resurfacing the road and burying phone and electrical utilities. Eighty-two bids were solicited and six were received. (AB17332) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.*

36. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $160,211 to Architectural Graphics of Virginia Beach, Va., for signage at the Civic Field/Joe Martin athletic complex? This is part of the Civic Field1 complex improvement project.The bid covers a signature identity sign at the intersection of Lakeway and Orleans, directional signs, building signs and room signs. Eighty-seven bids were solicited and four were received. (AB17336) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.*

37. Appropriate $458,757 for goods and services checks issued from January 26 through February 2, 2007? (AB17337) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.*

38. Authorize the city of Bellingham to apply to the federal government for a Preserve America Community designation? If the city receives the designation it can apply for federal grants to help pay for a consultant to survey neighborhoods for historic significance and identify those properties eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. In a second year, the money would be used will perform in-depth research and nominate eligible properties to the National Register of Historic Places. AB17330 (Resolution 2007-03) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.*

39. Adopt land-use regulations for large retail establishments? At the 9/11/06 meeting, vote number 224, the council passed an emergency ordinance blocking new/expansion of existing retail outlets of more than 100,000 square feet. The planning commission on 12/14/06 concluded that more time was needed for review and recommended the moratorium lapse. This ordinance sets a 90,000 square foot cap on retailers with more than 10 percent of the sales floor for non-taxable merchandise, sets the design standards for “big box” retailers of more than 60,000 square feet and allows existing establishments to change grocery sales within their current floor areas. AB17301 (Ordinance 2007-02-11) Approved 4-2, John Watts, Bob Ryan opposed, Joan Beardsley excused.*

40. Transfer $173,154 in parking fine revenue to the parking services fund? The parking fine revenue total is currently $648,154. The Bellingham Municipal Code requires parking fine revenue over $475,000 to be placed in the parking services fund. AB17305 (Ordinance 2007-02-12) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.*

41. Appropriate $77,634 from the 2006 budget for county jail expenses? Under an agreement with the county, the city contributed $1.6 million for construction of the interim jail and received jail bed days valued at $4.5 million. Consultation with the state auditor’s office caused staff to modify the calculation to allow the accounting of the full costs, ensuring the city’s financial statements accurately reflect true incarceration costs. AB17306 (Ordinance 2007-02-13) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.*

42. Increase the 2007 budget by $497,754 for incarceration costs? A change to the 2006 budget (see previous vote for the reason) requires a modification in the 2007 budget. The change increases the jail budget by $497,754. The increase is offset by $313,643 from the miscellaneous revenue budget for judicial and support services and the remaining $184,111 is from jail contribution reserves. AB17307 (Ordinance 2007-02-14) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.*

43. Modify the 2006 budget by $349,589 for emergency medical services? The City Council approved an agreement with the county at the 12/11/06 meeting, vote number 308, for emergency medical services. The city previously remitted $349,589 to the county. AB17314 (Ordinance 2007-02-15) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.*

44. Adjust the finance department’s 2006 budget in the amount of $4,000? The department exceeded its budget by $4,000 because a tax software upgrade was completed sooner than anticipated. The $4,000 is transferred from the general fund to cover the shortfall. AB17315 (Ordinance 2007-02-16) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.*

45. Adjust the parks department’s 2006 budget in the amount of $17,000? The department missed a 2006 savings goal of $245,760 by $17,000. The $17,000 is transferred from business and occupation tax revenue to cover the shortfall. AB17316 (Ordinance 2007-02-17) Approved 6-0. Joan Beardsley excused.*