May 2008
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Earl Dennis
Action Taken at March 3, 2008 Meeting
Shall the council:
53. Deny an application to extend municipal water to a lot in the Urban Growth Area? The vacant lot is located at the corner of Democrat Street and Yew Street Road. At the 6/14/04 meeting, the council adopted annexation as the preferred option to obtain city utility services in the Urban Growth Area and at the 3/6/06 meeting, vote number 62, and the 6/12/06 meeting, vote number 154, voted to repeal parts of the city utility extension zones to make them consistent with the Growth Management Act. The GMA only allows utility extensions in the UGA to protect public health and safety. (AB17840) Approved 7-0
54. Appropriate $2,698,502 for city payroll checks issued from February 1 through February 15, 2008? (AB17846) Approved 7-0
55. Appropriate $1,058,950 for goods and services checks issued from February 15 through February 22, 2008? (AB17847) Approved 7-0
56. Grant final plat approval for Birch Heights in the Alabama Hill neighborhood? The plat consists of 19 single-family lots and two private tracts for landscaping, stormwater and recreation purposes on the northeast corner of Alabama and Birch streets. The Bellingham Hearing Examiner approved the preliminary plat on 3/24/06 and amended it on 8/29/07 to allow a private recreation facility on top of an underground stormwater vault. AB17845 (Resolution 2008-07) Approved 7-0
57. Vacate portions of Ohio Street between I-5 and Nevada Street and the abutting alley to the north? Public ownership of the rights-of-way will be relinquished. Jerry and Catherine Thomas will relinquish 67,000 square feet of riparian property abutting Whatcom Creek for 32,000 square feet of city right-of-way. The Bellingham Hearing Examiner held a hearing on 10/3/07; she concluded that the vacation is consistent with state law, city policies and ordinances and recommended approval. AB17733 (Ordinance 2008-03-18) Approved 7-0
58. Receive and spend a $2,500 law enforcement grant for blood alcohol sensors? The grant from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs will replace five outdated units. AB17830 (Ordinance 2008-03-19) Approved 7-0
59. Vacate portions of the Birch Street right-of-way in the Alabama Hill neighborhood? Public ownership of the rights-of-way will be relinquished. The 171 feet long and 17 feet wide property vacation will allow the Birch Heights preliminary plat to improve lot designs. The Bellingham Hearing Examiner held a hearing on 4/12/06, she concluded that the vacation is consistent with state law, city policies and ordinances and recommended approval. The technical review committee found no need for payment because the Birch Heights subdivision will dedicate a larger amount of property for city right-of-way. AB17572 (Ordinance 2008-03-20) Approved 6-1, Barbara Ryan opposed.
Action Taken at March 17, 2008 Meeting
Shall the council:
60. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with Whatcom County Fire District No. 4 to resolve potential litigation concerning fire protection in the East Bakerview/James Street and Dewey Valley/Mt. Baker Highway annexation areas? The agreement will become effective from the date of annexation of the two above areas and will last at least three years. The Fire District #4 will provide automatic aid for water tender services as needed and the Bellingham Fire Department will provide fire protection and emergency medical services to the area accessed via Gooding Avenue and Frances Way that will become isolated from the rest of the district with the East Bakerview/James Street annexation. (Executive Session) Approved 7-0
61. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement (amendment #13) with Whatcom County relating to the San Juan Boulevard/Yew Street Road annexation? The city initiated the annexation at the 9/25/06 meeting, vote number 237. The 1997 Whatcom County/city of Bellingham annexation agreement requires that this amendment be signed prior to the expiration of the Boundary Review Board’s 45-day review period of the city’s notice of intention to annex. (AB17859) Approved 7-0
62. Reject all bids for the Red Tail Reach stream restoration project? The project, funded with Olympic Pipeline settlement money, is being coordinated with construction of the Whatcom Creek Trail that will run from Racine Street to Meador Avenue. Sixty-two bids were solicited and five were received. The bids ranged from $57,843 to $125,700; staff found the bids inconsistent with historical prices for the needed grade of material. Specifications will be revised and the project will be rebid. (AB17865) Approved 7-0
63. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $317,612 to Interwest Construction of Bellingham, to replace the polymer feed system at the Post Point sewer treatment plant? The new system will be designed around the current treatment system, increasing reliability, reducing long-term operational costs and ensuring that state permit standards are maintained. Eighty-five bids were solicited and four were received. (AB17866) Approved 7-0
64. Approve an interim Lake Whatcom Reservoir Management Plan? A joint councils and commissioners meeting on 11/1/07 agreed to proceed with developing and adopting the 2008 work plan. The interim plan’s approval will now allow the councils and commissioners to hold policy level discussions which may result in more tasks being added to the final 2008 work plan. (AB17868) Approved 7-0
65. Approve the mayor’s appointment of David Webster as chief administrative officer? Mr. Webster worked for Milwaukee city government from 1987–1993 and was a founding member of a consulting firm from 1993–2003. He was director of Northwest Youth Services in Bellingham from 2003 to this appointment. (AB17869) Approved 7-0
66. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $158,397 to H.B. Hansen of Lynden for a restroom and playground renovation at Whatcom Falls Park? The project will install a prefabricated vandalism-resistant concrete restroom, demolish worn- out playground equipment and construct a new playground. The bid is $16,009 under engineer’s estimate. The excess funds will be held to cover any contingency fee. One-hundred-and-six bids were solicited and six were received. (AB17873) Approved 7-0
67. Adopt a fee schedule payable to the Lake Whatcom Watershed Property Acquisition program? The Old Town development standards (see 3/31/08 meeting, vote number 79) allow financial contributions to the property acquisition program in exchange for a limited increase in developable floor area. For each $12 contributed in 2008, one square foot of developable floor space is earned. The fee contribution shall increase 3 percent annually through 2017. AB17856 (Resolution 2008-08) Approved 7-0
68. Remove from the Bellingham Municipal Code the portion on salary and benefits for the elected finance director position? Voters at the 11/7/06 general election changed the position from elected to appointed by the mayor. Non-elected employees’ salaries and benefits are covered in other sections of the code. AB17842 (Ordinance 2008-03-21) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at March 31, 2008 Meeting
Shall the council:
71. Spend $574,000 to purchase 15 acres at 1238 Marine Drive? The property will become part of the city trail system. (Executive Session) Approved 7-0
72. Spend $160,000 to purchase 8,690 square feet of property at 1329 Iron Street? The property, located adjacent to Rock Hill Park, will be used for park expansion. (Executive Session) Approved 7-0
73. Spend $3,298,000 to purchase 19.7 acres on Irongate Road between East Bakerview and Ross Road for a new public works facility? Placing the vehicle-dependent department on the outskirts of the city would increase gas consumption. A majority of the council felt that staff had not fully explored all the options for relocating the facility. (Executive Session) Failed 3-4, Barbara Ryan, Stan Snapp, Barry Buchanan and Jack Weiss opposed.
74. Enter into an agreement with Peggy Jean Hinton for a stormwater fee exemption? In 1996, the city signed an agreement with Ms. Hinton for an easement through her property to allow city access to a stormwater facility. Under the agreement, the city waived the the one-time stormwater fee. Since then, the stormwater fee has become a monthly bill. The city legal department questioned whether Hinton is required to pay the monthly fee or the property is permanently exempt. Under this agreement, the property will not be assessed the monthly fee until the property changes owners, either through sale or Ms. Hinton’s death. (Executive Session) Approved 7-0
75. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $333,768 to Epic Construction of Bellevue, to repair the Whatcom Creek Trail at Maritime Heritage Park? The portion of the trail between Dupont Street and the park does not meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, has failing retaining walls and walking surfaces. The repair work will realign the trail, replace the failing walls and improve the surface to meet ADA standards. Seventy-four bids were solicited and three bids were received. (AB17886) Approved 7-0
76. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $2,519,918 to Hughes Fire Equipment of Springfield, Ore., for six fire engines? Hughes manufactures approximately one-third of all fire and emergency apparatus nationally; it has a strong local presence, a reputation for dependability and a short delivery time (180-240 days). Bids (number not listed) were solicited and five bids were received. (AB17887) Approved 6-1, Jack Weiss opposed.
77. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $227,950 to S&S Concrete Construction of Bellingham for the annual concrete repair program? This program will repair or replace sidewalks, curbs and wheelchair ramps that are in disrepair or missing. Thirty-seven bids were solicited and three were received. (AB17893) Approved 7-0
78. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $182,182 to H.B. Hansen of Lynden, for playground renovations at Carl Lobe Park and Cornwall Park? This is a continuation of the efforts to replace old, weathered, and inaccessible playground equipment with fun, imaginative, physically challenging and universally accessible play areas for preschool-aged children. The equipment will also comply with current public playground safety standards. The bid is under budget, leaving $17,796 for contingency fees. Seventy-nine bids were solicited and five bids were received. (AB17895) Approved 7-0
79. Adopt the Old Town subarea plan and corresponding development and design standards? (Public hearing held on 2/25/08) This plan creates a new urban village in the Old Town area of downtown Bellingham and implements a new zoning map. The design standards allow for a limited increase of developable floor area (see 3/17/08 meeting, vote number 67). AB17855 (Ordinance 2008-03-22) Approved 7-0
80. Accept a state grant of $471,833 and transfer the money to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District? The grant is for the purchase a green roof, pervious pavement and bioretention at the Bellingham Art and Children’s Museum. The project is designed to reduce the site’s impervious surfaces by 38 percent, by having a 3,000-square-foot green roof, a 6,000-square-foot porous concrete courtyard and alley and 1,300 square feet of vegetated bio-retention cells in the courtyard. The project will be monitored for two years to determine its effectiveness. AB17860 (Ordinance 2008-03-23) Approved 7-0
81. Accept and spend a federal grant of $50,520 for 33 fire department portable radios? The city is responsible for $3,680 in sales tax. The purpose of the grant, from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is to prevent, deter, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism. AB17861 (Ordinance 2008-03-24) Approved 7-0
82. Accept and spend a state grant for $189,534 to provide residential storm water improvements? The grant will pay to retrofit single-family storm-water systems within the city’s portion of the Lake Whatcom watershed to diminish the amount of water running into storm drains and the lake. The grant requires a 25 percent city match and the property owners will pay to maintain the facilities after the work is done. AB17862 (Ordinance 2008-03-25) Approved 7-0
83. Accept a state grant for $125,205 to hire a “source control specialist?” Approximately 70 percent of hazardous waste in the Puget Sound region in generated by small business. The temporary employee will meet with local small businesses to help them reduce or eliminate hazardous waste and pollutants at the source. The grant expires on 6/30/09. AB17863 (Ordinance 2008-03-26) Approved 7-0
84. Accept federal and state grants totaling $477,000 for two bike and pedestrian improvement projects? A federal grant for $302,000 will be used for the Northwest Avenue pedestrian improvements project and a state grant for $175,000 will be used for Northshore Drive bike and pedestrian improvement project. AB17864 (Ordinance 2008-03-27) Approved 7-0
85. Reclassify two positions in the information technology services department? Two “department computing specialists 2” are deleted and two “technology support and training specialists” are created. The Civil Service Commission approved the reclassifications. AB17874 (Ordinance 2008-03-28) Approved 7-0
86. Reclassify one position in the judicial and support services department? The position of “office technician” is deleted and “program technician” is created. There is no fiscal impact for 2008 since the cost will be absorbed by a vacancy in another position. AB17875 (Ordinance 2008-03-29) Approved 7-0
