May 2009
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Marcia Guderian
Action Taken at March 23, 2009 Meeting
Shall the council:
47. Authorize the city to appeal to the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner a revised county decision on the Squalicum Ridge Road? If built, the two-mile long road would allow the construction of 28 homes in the Lake Whatcom watershed. At the 1/26/09 meeting, vote number 11, the City Council voted to appeal a mitigated detemination of nonsignificance for the Squalicum Ridge Road. That appeal was based on the opinion of the city legal department that the road and homes should be considered a single project, requiring an environmental impact statement. On 3/6/09, the county issued a revised mitigated determination of nonsignificance. The city considers the revised determination inadequate protection for Lake Whatcom and the environment. (Executive Session) Approved 7-0
48. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $438,543 to Ebenal General of Bellingham for repairs to the diversion dam and access road? The January flooding washed debris onto the access road and into the entrance of the sluiceway/tunnel at the dam, effectively blocking both. At the 2/23/09 meeting, vote number 38, the council approved $765,000 for this project. The repairs will be eligible for a federal government reimbursement of up to 75 percent of the project. One hundred and forty-three bids were solicited and 21 bids were received. (AB18360) Approved 7-0
49. Appropriate $3,086,651 for payroll checks issued from February 16 through February 28, 2009? (AB18369) Approved 7-0
50. Appropriate $6,397,042 for goods and services checks issued from February 27 through March 13, 2009? (AB18370/AB18371) Approved 7-0
51. Adopt a new 20-year population and employment growth forecast? (Public hearing held) This new forecast will be used by the county in the 2009 urban growth boundary update and by the city of Bellingham in the 2011 comprehensive plan update and in all urban planning. These updates are required by the Growth Management Act. The City Council amended the resolution to include the following forecasts: total county-wide population for the planning period 2011-2031 estimated at 234,917, (current population is 191,000); the growth estimate for Bellingham is 44.5 percent of the total. Employment estimates forecast 26,083 new jobs county-wide by 2031, with 18,829 of them in Bellingham. The city urges the county to monitor actual growth and modify the forecasts accordingly. The resolution also recommends that the county take steps to slow the rate of growth in rural and agricultural areas. The forecast adopted by the city will be taken into consideration by the Whatcom County Council and planning commission. Final forecast by the County Council must be adopted by June 30. AB18354 (Resolution 2009-07) Approved as amended 5-2, Louise Bjornson and Gene Knudson opposed.
52. Revise the water use efficiency goals? At the 1/14/08 meeting, vote number 12, in accordance with state requirements, the City Council adopted water use efficiency goals and performance measures for 2008-2014, to maintain citywide per person daily consumption levels and keep citywide water demand at less than or equal to the population growth rate. The state requires that these goals be revised so as to be measurable. The proposed revisions are to maintain daily consumption levels at approximately 105 gallons per person per day for residential usage and 77 gallons per capita daily for nonresidential. Keeps citywide water demand equal to or below city population growth rate for the next six years. AB18361 (Resolution 2009-08) Approved 6-1, Jack Weiss opposed.
53. Sponsor the Bellingham Public Development Authority’s membership in the Association of Washington Cities employee benefit trust? The Association of Washington Cities requires semi-official city entities to be sponsored by a participating city. AB18366 (Resolution 2009-09) Approved 7-0
54. Appropriate $29,373 to reimburse the Lake Padden Golf Course LLC for prepaid golf passes sold by the city? The City Council approved a lease agreement with the company at the 1/14/08 meeting, vote number 6. The city had sold a number of play passes for 2008 and 2009 prior to 1/14/08. An estimated $17,000 more will be needed for reimbursements before all the passes expire in October 2009. The city has set aside $63,783 to cover these expenses. AB18339 (Ordinance 2009-03-09) Approved 7-0
