Bellingham City Council

Shall the council:

130. Establish City Council goals for 2009? At a 5/1/08, work session, the council reviewed and discussed the proposed goals. The nine goals are priorities for the council. The administration will use the goals as a guide in the development of the 2009 budget. (AB17951) Approved 7-0

131. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $108,513 to Advanced Construction of Mukilteo for bridge repairs? Inspections in 2006 identified 15 bridges that need repair. An epoxy will be injected into bridges cracks to reinforce the concrete and prohibit corrosion of rebar and/or water damage. The bid was $28,167 below engineer’s estimate. Forty-nine bids were solicited and four were received. (AB17953) Approved 7-0

132. Appropriate $1,868,787 for goods and services checks issued April 18 through April 25, 2008? (AB17954) Approved 7-0

133. Appropriate $2,697,427 for city payroll checks issued April 1 through April 15, 2008? (AB17955) Approved 7-0

134. Issue a noise variance to Strider Construction for the Cornwall Avenue water main replacement project? The annual Sea to Ski Junior Parade will use Cornwall Avenue on May 16. Construction must be completed and temporary paving must be replaced with a smoothly paved surface by that date. The contractor is concerned that future rain or cold weather could prevent completion of paving before the parade. The variance gives Strider permission to start asphalt patching at 4 a.m. in both the commercial and residential areas of Cornwall Avenue. (AB17957) Approved 7-0

135. Declare an intent to issue tax-exempt bonds for Fairhaven Library improvements? This vote gives the council the authority to issue up to $3 million in bonds for library renovations and capital repairs. AB17950 (Resolution 2008-13) Approved 7-0

136. Create a public corporation to be known as the Bellingham Public Development Authority? The authority will manage property redevelopment, the waterfront, central business district, the Old Town neighborhood and other redevelopment projects as directed by the City Council. A board of directors will govern the affairs of the authority. The authority will be responsible its own debts, obligations and liabilities and the city council may dissolve it. AB17928 (Ordinance 2008-05-47) Approved 7-0

137. Reclassify one position in the finance department? A job audit was performed on the “assistant 3” position because of additional work that includes lead responsibilities. The Civil Service Commission approved a reclassification to “accounting technician” at the 4/9/08 meeting. AB17934 (Ordinance 2008-05-48) Approved 7-0

138. Reclassify one position in the public works department? The “associate utility engineer” position was audited because work previously performed by a higher-classified position was added during the utilities restructuring process. The joint classification committee approved a reclassification to “utility operations engineer,” effective 1/1/08. AB17935 (Ordinance 2008-05-49) Approved 7-0

Shall the council:

139. Direct staff to stop challenging the state water metering requirements? At the 2/12/07 meeting, vote number 29, the council authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with the city of Everett to appeal a state ruling requiring mandatory water metering by 2017. The council has decided not to continue the appeal because the arguments against mandatory metering are not strong enough to merit the investment of legal time and money; also, the council has come to the conclusion that water metering is one of the best ways to conserve water. (Executive Session) Approved 7-0

140. Direct counsel not to appeal the Court of Appeals ruling? At the 7/10/06 meeting, vote number 161, the council approved a $621,366 contract with Matia Contractors of Bellingham for new turf, irrigation and a drainage system at Joe Martin Field. The city terminated the contract because of substandard work. Matia filed a suit in King County for breach of contract. At the 8/13/07 meeting, vote number 159, the council authorized the hiring of counsel in King County. The counsel filed a motion to dismiss the suit and won. Matia filed an appeal and won. The decision won’t be appealed, the suit will continue in King County. (Executive Session) Approved 7-0

141. Authorize the mayor to settle a damage and injury claim? On 10/6/05, Karen Johnson was in driving her automobile on Alabama Street. She was stopped at a red light at the Orleans Street intersection when her vehicle was read-ended by a city pickup driven by Richard Prince. He was cited for driver inattention. Karen Johnson’s vehicle was damaged and she received medical care for injuries to her neck and back. She filed a claim for damages with the city on 10/11/05 and in Superior Court on 9/7/07. The mayor is authorized to sign a $17,000 settlement with Ms. Johnson. (Executive Session) Approved 7-0

142. Authorize the mayor to spend $450,000 to purchase approximately 10 acres in the Lake Whatcom watershed? The property is being purchased from the Donald Hawley V. Trust as part of the Lake Whatcom Property Acquisition Program. It is located in the Agate Bay area, off Northshore Road and adjacent to property purchased at the 2/27/06 meeting, vote number 38 and 3/27/06 meeting, vote number 79. (Executive Session) Approved 7-0

143. Authorize the mayor to award low bids totaling $109,583 for water system fittings? HD Supply Waterworks of Bellingham was the low bidder at $89,043 for Ford Group brass fittings. United Pipe & Supply of Marysville was the low bidder at $17,419 for Lee Group brass fittings. HD Fowler of Bellingham was the low bidder at $3,121 for Apollo Ball valves. The bids don’t include sales tax. Nineteen bids were solicited and four were received. (AB17977) Approved 7-0

144. Authorize the mayor to award the sole bid for rain barrels to Cypress Designs of Bellingham? The Cypress bid was $197.93 per barrel. The city of Bellingham was awarded a state grant of $189,534 (3/31/08 meeting, vote number 82) for residential stormwater improvements. The city will provide stormwater retrofits for residential structures in Lake Whatcom watershed and select other locations in the city that requires rain collection systems. The grant requires a 25 percent match by the city and property owners will be required to maintain the facilities. Nineteen bids were solicited and one bid was received. (AB17978) Approved 7-0

145. Appropriate $4,580,305 for goods and services checks issued from April 25 through May 9, 2008? (AB17979/17980) Approved 7-0

146. Appropriate $2,899,073 for payroll checks issued from April 16 to April 30, 2008? (AB17981) Approved 7-0

147. Declare an intent to issue tax-exempt bonds to finance property acquisitions within the Lake Whatcom watershed? Fees collected on city utility bills for watershed property acquisitions are running low. The bonds will enable the city to spend $8 million for the acquisition of land and development rights around the lake. AB17964 (Resolution 2008-14) Approved 7-0

148. Approve an updated park, recreation and open space plan? State law requires an updated plan every six years in order to retain eligibility for grants administered by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. (The city has applied for a grant for reimbursement of up to $500,000 for the purchase of the Cordata area neighborhood park.) The updated plan must be submitted by 6/2/08. Further changes may be incorporated based on public hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council. AB17966 (Resolution 2008-15) Approved 5-2, Terry Bornemann and Barbara Ryan opposed.

149. Establish a “peak oil task force” to study the consequences of diminishing energy resources on Whatcom County and the city of Bellingham? The county-wide 18-member volunteer task force (for the County Council vote on the task force see 5/20/08 meeting, vote number 102) will make recommendations to policy makers and citizens on how to minimize the negative effects of “peak oil,” including impacts on transportation, food production and delivery, business and home energy use, land-use planning, municipal water and wastewater treatment, social services and the demands on first responders. AB17942 (Resolution 2008-16) Approved 7-0

150. Amend the Bellingham Urban Fringe Subarea plan related to zoning changes in the city’s Urban Growth Area and revisions to the Urban Growth Area boundary? At the 2/28/08 meeting, vote number 20, the council approved a resolution supporting Whatcom County’s more limited expansion of the city’s UGA’s boundaries than the original resolution approved at the 5/15/06 meeting, vote number 122. Two petitions were filed with the Growth Management Hearings Board challenging the resolution approved at the 2/28/08 meeting. The board consolidated the two petitions into one case, Petree and Wiesen v. city of Bellingham. The petitioners and the city reached a settlement; the petitioners agreed to dismiss their petition with prejudice if the city adopted a resolution clarifying the resolution approved at the 2/28/08 meeting. (Under this vote, the city may conform to the county’s less expansive UGA boundaries if it is upheld by the Growth Management Hearings Board.) AB17983 (Resolution 2008-17) Approved 7-0

151. Annex approximately 125 acres identified as the Aldrich Road/Horton urban growth area into the city of Bellingham? At the 9/25/06 meeting, vote number 238, the council accepted a petition to initiate annexation. A public hearing was held at the 6/18/07 meeting; council directed staff to work with property owners to insure a north-south trail corridor would be established through the area. An agreement with the Bellingham School District provides for a trail through the district’s property. Other property owners will be required to provide a trail upon development of their property. On 5/12/08, council held a special meeting and voted first and second reading on this ordinance. The area will be designated as residential single, medium land-use zoning. AB17489D (Ordinance 2008-05-50) Approved 7-0

152. Approve a collective bargaining agreement for unrepresented police lieutenant wages? Human Resources conducted a study of police lieutenant wages that showed the top step implemented in 2004 is no longer sufficient to keep lieutenant pay ahead of that for police sergeants when premiums and overtime are included. This ordinance will increase the monthly rate for lieutenants to $8,383/month and provides a 6 percent interval with deputy chief pay. The estimated increase for 2008 salaries and benefits is $36,360. AB17936 (Ordinance 2008-05-51) Approved 7-0

153. Authorize the spending of $1.3 million for Fairhaven Library renovations? A Fairhaven Library assessment proposed a three-phased project totaling $1.85 million in 2006 dollars. The original intent was to include the branch renovations in a total library bond issue, which could include replacing the central library. That bond project has been put on hold. In order to avert further structural damage to the Fairhaven Library, the library board proposed that the first phase of the project be done this year. The work will protect the shell of the library, exterior stucco, brick, windows, interior stairs and railings. AB17949 (Ordinance 2008-05-52) Approved 7-0

154. Establish an emergency moratorium on applications for divisions of land and building permits within the Lake Whatcom watershed? In light of the recent reports on Lake Whatcom’s deteriorating water quality, Mayor Dan Pike presented council with this four-month moratorium. Within 60 days of passage, the City Council is required to hold a public hearing on the moratorium. AB17982 (Ordinance 2008-05-53) Approved 7-0