April 2009
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Marcia Guderian
Action Taken at February 23, 2009 Meeting
Shall the council:
28. Spend $1,690,000 to purchase approximately 24 acres located in the Lake Whatcom watershed? The property is located close to other city acquisitions, just off Lake Whatcom Boulevard, north of and adjacent to the Stimpson Reserve. There’s good forest cover and a creek that runs through it drains into Basin 2. If the city hadn’t purchased the property, the 24 acres could have been developed with 12 large homes and would have required a long road. (Executive Session) Approved 7-0
29. Seek a judicial review of documents withheld from a public records request? Attorney Steve Change requested city records. The city withheld some records because of attorney/client privilege or they were work product materials and Mr. Chance requested a judicial review. A judge will review the withheld documents to make sure they fall within public records act exemptions. Approved 7-0
30. Reduce Fairhaven Library repairs to $1.3 million? Council set aside $1.3 million for this project in 2008 and approved an added $1 million in 2009. The library board has recommended addressing at least two main areas: exterior rehabilitation estimated at an estimated $664,273 and landscaping for better water runoff estimated at $76,376. These two items plus additional accompanying costs should come close to the allocated amount. The actual costs will not be known until bids are received. (AB18295) Approved 7-0
31. Authorize the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Whatcom Council of Governments for the services of a legislative specialist to deal with transportation issues? This will be in effect from 1/1/09 to 12/31/09 and continues a longstanding agreement with the Council of Governments. The specialist, Tom Parker of Parker Northwest Associates of Seattle, will act as a lobbyist to the state Legislature and will monitor transportation funding issues relevant to Whatcom County. The cost to the city is $8,523. (AB18314) Approved 4-3, Barbara Ryan, Terry Bornemann and Jack Weiss opposed.
32. Issue a noise variance to the state Department of Transportation for Interstate 5? Construction between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. requires a noise variance. The DOT has requested a noise variance for 30 nonconsecutive nights during the summer of 2009 to perform storm drain improvements for three creeks. The areas affected are from signpost 248.91 to 249.92 for Chuckanut Creek; 250.34 to 250.50 for Padden Creek and 255.07 to 255.35 for Squalicum Creek. Each neighborhood will be notified in advance of the work. (AB18324) Approved 7-0
33. Appropriate $2,624,095 for goods and services checks issued from January 30 through February 13, 2009? (AB18331/18332) Approved 7-0
34. Appropriate $3,094,392.26 for payroll checks issued from January 16 through January 31, 2009? (AB18333) Approved 7-0
35. Authorize the mayor to appoint members to a committee to prepare a Lake Whatcom Restoration Planning Guide? The committee (approved at the 2/9/09 meeting, vote number 21) will examine approximately 20 existing studies, reports and plans and develop a template for cleanup and restoration activities that meet state requirements to restore the lake to 1992 standards. The guide is to be completed within three months and within a $2,500 budget. AB18323 (Resolution 2009-04) Approved 6-1, Barbara Ryan opposed.
36. Support both the “Bellingham energy efficiency community challenge” and proposed state legislation to authorize cities to establish energy conservation districts? The “Bellingham energy challenge” is being formulated by local nonprofit groups to encourage and promote ways for both public and private sectors to reduce energy consumption. The proposed state laws are aimed at improving energy efficiency in homes and businesses. A possible source of financing for energy reducing projects would be through loan funds backed by local revenue bonds. AB18328 (Resolution 2009-05) Approved 7-0
37. Support state Senate Bill 5344? Since 1999, the state of Washington has funded a tug at Neah Bay to protect against oil spills. The tug rendered aid to vessels that became disabled. Under Senate Bill 5344, ships designed to carry oil, large passenger and cargo vessels (fishing boats and small vessels would be exempt) would fund the tug through a “tug cooperative.” The Whatcom County Council supported 5344 at the 2/24/09 meeting, vote number 40, and the Port of Bellingham Commission supported 5344 at the 2/17/09 meeting, vote number 32. AB18329 (Resolution 2009-06) Approved 7-0
38. Spend $765,000 to repair damage to the city’s access road and diversion dam on the Middle Fork of the Nooksack River? The diversion dam is an important part of the city’s water system. The January flooding washed debris onto the access road and into entrance to the sluiceway/tunnel at the dam, effectively blocking both. The material must be removed immediately in order to operate the dam. There is a chance the city will be reimbursed for this expense through state and federal disaster relief. AB18309 (Ordinance 2009-02-05) Approved 7-0
39. Reclassify one Human Resources position? One administrative assistant position will be dropped and one payroll lead position will be added. This change will not require additional funding. AB18316 (Ordinance 2009-02-06) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at March 9, 2009 Meeting
Shall the council:
40. Appoint council member Barbara Ryan to serve as a “Connecting Community With the Arts” jurist? The Bellingham Arts Commission is seeking submittal of small sculptures from local artists for a revolving six-week display in the lobby of City Hall and has requested that a council member assist with the selection process. (old/new business) Approved 7-0
41. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with Whatcom County on the Chuckanut Village marsh restoration project? At the 4/8/08 meeting, vote number 70, the County Council approved the phase 1 contract for preliminary design and permitting. The city is partnering with the county on phase 2 of the project which is located on city property at Chuckanut Bay. The project is designed to reduce the impacts of motor vehicles on the bay, restore salt marsh and upland areas of the shoreline, enhance neighborhood and non-motorized public access and provide parking away from the shoreline. (AB18340) Approved 7-0
42. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $124,558 to Trivan Truck Body of Ferndale for a technical operations command body to be placed on a crew cab frame? The vehicle will be used for SWAT incidents. At the 11/3/08 meeting, vote number 305, the City Council accepted a $257,208 federal grant for a tactical operations vehicle. Forty-three bids were solicited and three bids were received. (AB18348) Approved 7-0
43. Appropriate $3,805,626 for goods and services checks issued from February 13 through February 27, 2009? (AB18350/18351) Approved 7-0
44. Appropriate $2,908,451 for payroll checks issued from February 1 through February 15, 2009? (AB18352) Approved 7-0
45. Continue the emergency moratorium on the filing, acceptance and processing of applications for divisions of land, building permits and land disturbance activities within the Lake Whatcom watershed? At the 5/20/08 meeting, vote number 154, the City Council adopted an emergency moratorium on applications for building permits within the watershed in response to a state study on declining water quality in Lake Whatcom. At the 6/23/08 meeting, vote number 190, the council expanded the moratorium to include any land disturbance within the watershed. At the 9/15/08 meeting, vote number 265, the council extended the ordinance to 3/19/09. The moratorium needs to be extended because a public hearing before the planning commission is scheduled for 3/12/09 and at a later date a public hearing will be scheduled with the City Council. This ordinance will extend the moratorium until 7/19/09 or until the council amends the reservoir regulations and stormwater codes. AB18338 (Ordinance 2009-03-07) Approved 6-0, Jack Weiss was out of the chambers.
46. Reclassify one Information Technology Services position? A database administrator position will be dropped and a systems analyst 2 position will be added. This change will not require additional funding. AB18330 (Ordinance 2009-03-08) Approved 7-0
