Bellingham City Council

Shall the council:

55. Authorize the city attorney to hire outside counsel to represent the city in the Squalicum Ridge Road appeal? If built, Squalicum Ridge Road would allow the construction of 28 houses in the Lake Whatcom watershed. At the 1/26/09 meeting, vote number 11, the council voted to appeal a county decision issuing a mitigated determination of nonsignificance for the road. The county withdrew its original determination and issued a revised one on 3/6/09. The city is appealing the revised determination. (Executive Session) Approved 6-0-1, Gene Knudson abstained; he didn’t attend the executive session.

56. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $670,799 to Friberg Construction of Ferndale for sewer replacements? This project includes replacing concrete and clay sewer pipe on Lincoln Street from Lakeway Drive to the I-5 overpass, lowering the sewer line at York Street so that a future sewer line can be installed under Lincoln Creek at Moore Street and replacing two private sewer laterals that are located in city alleys. One hundred and twenty bids were solicited and 11 bids were received. (AB18378) Approved 7-0

57. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $1,281,377 to Ebenal General Construction of Bellingham for the Forest Street water main replacement and resurfacing project? This project will replace pipe installed in 1914 and 1918 on Forest Street between Rose Street and York Street, resurfacing pavement on Forest Street, installing bulbouts at Rose, Maple, Laurel and Chestnut streets, replacing approximately 850 feet of storm drain, reducing the width of Forest Street and adding bike lanes, installing fire hydrants and pavement markings. One hundred and twenty-six bids were solicited and 11 bids were received. (AB18379) Approved 7-0

58. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with Whatcom County (amendment 17) for the Cordata Park annexation? At the 7/21/08 meeting, vote number 215, the council initiated the annexation process for 20 acres known as the Cordata Park site. The 1997 agreement with the county requires that the city and county approve an amendment to the agreement, which includes a description of the Cordata Park area and other annexation related issues. This amendment must be executed before 4/18/09, the end of the Boundary Review Board’s 45-day review period and goes into effect when the property is annexed. (AB18382) Approved 7-0

59. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with Whatcom County (amendment 18) for the Van Wyck/James Street Road annexation? At the 9/29/08 meeting, vote number 276, the council initiated the annexation process for 237 acres in the Van Wyck/James Street Road area. As required by the 1997 agreement, the city and county approved an amendment describing the area to be annexed and other related issues. This amendment must be executed before 4/12/09, the end of the Boundary Review Board’s 45-day review period and goes into effect when the property is annexed. (AB18383) Approved 7-0

60. Amend the charter of the Bellingham Public Development Authority to add the office of vice chairperson and remove the office of secretary? The council created the development authority at the 5/5/08 meeting, vote number 136. The development authority charter provided for amendments to be made by the development authority board subject to approval by the council. The board decided that the office of secretary is unnecessary as it is duplicated by city staff functions and a vice chair is needed as a backup to the chairperson. (AB18390) Approved 7-0

61. Terminate a joint air supply group agreement? The 1995 agreement between the Bellingham Fire Department, South Whidbey Fire Authority and Whatcom County Fire Districts 4 and 8 calls for the purchase and sharing of self-contained breathing apparatus, refilling equipment and services. Under the agreement, compressors and air filling tanks were purchased and installed in the city and fire districts, and a surplus equipment truck was outfitted with cascade air filling equipment as a mobile unit. Recent equipment purchases approved through the federal fire grant program have made the agreement unnecessary. Equipment purchased under the old agreement will belong to the agency housing it and remaining funds will be distributed equally among the participating agencies. (AB18391) Approved 7-0

62. Authorize the mayor to award low bids totaling $97,690 for water system fittings? HD Supply Waterworks of Bellingham was the low bidder at $82,875 for Ford Group brass fittings. HB Jaeger Co. of Burlington was the low bidder at $11,747 for Lee Group brass fittings. United Pipe & Supply of Marysville was the low bidder at $3,068 for Apollo Ball valves. Total bids are $11,893 below the fittings approved at the 5/5/08 meeting, vote number 143. Thirty-seven bids were solicited and four bids were received. (AB18397) Approved 7-0

63. Appropriate $3,583,582 for goods and services checks issued from March 13 through April 3, 2009? (AB18398/18399/18400) Approved 7-0

64. Appropriate $2,957,857 for payroll checks issued from March 1 through March 15, 2009? (AB18401) Approved 7-0

65. Clarify the 20-year population and employment growth forecasts? At the 3/23/09 meeting, vote number 51, the city adopted new growth and employment forecasts to be used in the 2009 urban growth area boundary update and the 2011 comprehensive plan update. Instead of planning for the city’s population growth at 44.5 percent of countywide growth, the city will more specifically plan for 113,055 residents by 2031. This resolution replaces Resolution 2009-07 approved at the 3/23/09 meeting. AB18380 (Resolution 2009-10) Approved 7-0

66. Grant final plat approval for Spyglass Estates? The plat consists of 23 single-family lots, ranging in size from 5,000 to 13,700 square feet, and a stormwater retention tract. The 5.3-acre plat is located in the Mt. Baker neighborhood on the north side of Barkley Boulevard between Sussex Drive and Chandler Parkway, on a steep slope and is zoned for residential and planned multi use. The stormwater retention tract is to be located at the lowest point. The proposed development must comply with stormwater management practices as required by the city and state, must conform to all geologic recommendations in the Associated Earth Sciences, Inc. report and comply with all city requirements for critical areas. AB18392 (Resolution 2009-11) Approved 7-0

67. Transfer the jurisdiction of building code appeals from the Board of Code Appeals to the Bellingham Hearing Examiner? There have been only two building code appeals in the last five years and all three Board of Code positions are vacant; the transfer is authorized by the state. AB18362 (Ordinance 2009-04-10) Approved 7-0

68. Adjust the beginning reserve balances for the 2009 budget by $50,810,782 to account for differences between estimated and actual year-end balances? The budget is drawn up before the end of the year and estimates are used. The 2009 beginning reserves budget will increase from estimated reserves of $87,272,784 to actual reserves of $138,083,566. AB18356 (Ordinance 2009-04-11) Approved 7-0

69. Reauthorize $25,179,401 for goods and services that were budgeted in 2008 but not ordered by the end of the year? This amount will be deducted from the 2008 ending reserves and added to the 2009 budget for goods and services. AB18357 (Ordinance 2009-04-12) Approved 7-0

70. Reauthorize $41,036,922 for goods and services that were ordered in 2008 but didn’t have purchase orders or contracts by the end of the year? This money will be appropriated from estimated reserves and unanticipated revenue, and $494,861 will be placed in reserves. AB18358 (Ordinance 2009-04-13) Approved 7-0

71. Reduce the 2009 budgeted sales tax revenues in the general fund, and offset the reduction by cutting expenditure budgets in the street fund and the development services fund? Under this revision, budgeted general fund revenues are reduced by $1,073,000, the street fund budget is cut by $402,037 and the development services fund is reduced by $789,460. AB18359 (Ordinance 2009-04-14) Approved 7-0

72. Revise the rules and duties of the Municipal Arts Commission and rename it the Bellingham Arts Commission? The revisions will clarify the leave of absence and termination rules for arts commission members and define limits for project reviews. The new rules will restrict the commission agenda to artistic, ornamental and commemorative projects. AB18365 (Ordinance 2009-04-15) Approved 7-0