Bellingham City Council

Action Taken at April 16, 2012 Meeting

Shall the council:

62. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with Whatcom County concerning Bellingham’s Urban Growth Area? This agreement covers planning, annexation and development within the UGA. The Whatcom County Council approved the agreement with slight revisions at the 3/27/2012 meeting, vote #51. The city planning dept. has reviewed and approved their revisions. Under the terms of the new agreement the city may have to reimburse the county for tax income lost and/or for money spent by the county for improvements in areas the city annexes. (AB19376) Approved 7-0

63. Deny the development agreement with Padden Trails, LLC for their property in the Samish neighborhood? (Public hearing held on March 12.) Free Spirit Enterprises, LLC., on behalf of the owner, Padden Trails, submitted a proposal that would give the owner the option of building up to 100 non-infill housing units plus up to 392 infill type units as long as proper steps are taken to deal with stormwater measures, increased traffic and the owner agrees to develop recreational areas and set aside open spaces. The number of units would have doubled the density currently allowed in the neighborhood. (AB19484) Approved 6-0, Gene Knutson was out of the room.

64. Approve dissolved air floatation technology as the best means of dealing with seasonal algae growth in Lake Whatcom? Summertime blooms of Aphanocapsa and Aphanothece algae clog the filters of the city’s water treatment plant, requiring frequent cleaning and reducing capacity. Starting in 2009, which was an unusually warm year, the blooms began happening much earlier in the season and became enough of a problem that the city had to restrict water consumption during the summer. Over the last decade the biological condition of the lake has become increasingly favorable to the algae blooms. The city initiated a study to evaluate alternative solutions to the problem. The results of the study are detailed in a report posted on the city’s website: www.cob.org. DAF technology is presented as the most effective alternative for dealing with the algae and it will also help to reduce the amount of organic carbon in the lake. This vote also directed staff to add DAF technology to the city’s water system comprehensive plan, by adding it to the plan, the city will be able to pursue state funding for the installation. (AB19526) Approved 6-1, Jack Weiss opposed.

65. Approve the mayor’s appointment of Garrett O’Brien to the Planning and Development Commission? Mr. O’Brien is the owner of Volonta Corporation, a company established in 2009. It is a tenant improvement, residential and commercial construction firm. He will fill the vacancy left by Sharon Robinson, the term expires on 4/16/2016. (AB19530) Approved 7-0

66. Continue emergency response services to county addresses near the East Bakerview/James Street annexation? Some county addresses were isolated by the 2008 annexation. The original agreement between the city and Whatcom County Fire District No. 4 was approved at the 3/17/2008 meeting, vote #60. It provided for joint operation and an exchange of emergency and training services for this area. The agreement expires this spring. This agreement also provides the city fire department with access to the Britton Loop Training Center. (AB19534) Approved 7-0

67. Appropriate $2,079,515 for goods and services checks issued from March 16, 2012 to March 29, 2012? (AB19537/AB19538) Approved 7-0

68. Appropriate $5,075,527 for payroll checks issued from March 10 through April 10, 2012? (AB19539/19540) Approved 7-0

69. Honor Western Washington University men’s basketball team? WWU’s basketball program was started 110 years ago. In March of this year the WWU Vikings won the Division II National Championship for the first time, defeating Montevallo, Alabama 72-65. The Viking Men’s basketball team had a 31-5 winning season. The Championship playoffs of the Elite Eight were held at the Bank of Kentucky Center on the campus of Northern Kentucky University. This resolution will honor the players on the team and the coach, Brad Jackson, who was also named National Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II. AB19523 (Resolution 2012-09) Approved 7-0

70. Add an additional meeting date to the council schedule? The date of May 14 will be added to allow time for public hearings, worksessions and adequate consideration of issues by the council. This will bring to 25 the number of meetings scheduled for the year. AB19533 (Resolution 2012-10) Approved 7-0

71. Adjust the beginning reserve balances for the 2012 budget by 47,892,856 to account for differences between the estimated and actual year-end balances? The budget is drawn up before the end of the year and estimates are used. The 2012 beginning reserves budget will increase from estimated reserves of $120,273,702 to actual reserves of $167,208,433. The city budget is available at City Hall or online at www.cob.org. AB19507 (Ordinance 2012-04-018) Approved 7-0

72. Reauthorize $14,444,031 for goods and services that were ordered in 2011 but unpaid at the end of the year? At the end of each year there are contracts and purchase orders that are not completed or processed until the following year. AB19508 (Ordinance 2012-04-019) Approved 7-0

73. Reauthorize $41,154,197 for goods and services that were authorized in 2011 but didn’t have purchase orders or contracts by the end of the year? These funds and corresponding future expenditures will be moved to the 2011 budget and $273,185 will be placed in reserves. This reauthorization increases the 2011 budget expenditures from $218,720,470 to $274,318,698. AB19509 (Ordinance 2012-04-020) Approved 7-0

74. Accept from the estate of Allyn C. Deets a bequest of property? Mr. Deets left his interest in several pieces of property to the city for future use in expanding the Fountain Plaza Park in the Fountain District. Mr. Deets was part owner of property at 2416 Meridian and a parking lot across the alley on Peabody Street and the sole owner of property at 2404-2406 Meridian. AB19512 (Ordinance 2012-04-021) Approved 7-0

75. Appropriate $65,000 for the finance department to upgrade and replace financial system software? Specifically this increase will replace the Quadrant cashiering system; set up a centralized accounts receivable system and upgrade the Business and Occupation Tax system. The total cost of these upgrades were unknown when the budget was approved last year. The 2012 budget allocated $140,00 to support financial systems projects; this appropriation brings the total to $205,000. AB19518 (Ordinance 2012-04-022) Approved 7-0

76. Receive and spend a $68,424 federal grant to purchase extrication system tools? This grant is from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and will be used by the fire department to purchase cutters, spreaders, door busters and rams to rescue people. The grant requires a local match of $17,106 for a total expenditure of $85,530. AB19519 (Ordinance 2012-04-023) Approved 7-0

Action Taken at April 23, 2012 Meeting

Shall the council:

77. Authorize the mayor to accept a $100,000 state grant (amendment #1) for the Eldridge Avenue municipal landfill site? A grant for $403,723 was accepted at the 5/9/2011 meeting, vote #240, bringing the grant total to $503,723. For a few years in the 1930s, the city used the site as a “sanitary landfill.” The site contains the physical remains of garbage and also the soil is contaminated with PAHs, benzoic acid, pthalates, PCP, cadmium, copper, lead. mercury and zinc. The grant is intended to fund 50 percent of the costs for an investigation/feasibility study and action plan for the clean-up and restoration of the site. The city must put up the other 50 percent. The estimated total cost for the work is $979,000 and the city’s share of that is $489,500. The amended agreement increases the maximum eligible total to $1,007,446. (AB19541) Approved 7-0

78. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $2,012,952 to Colacurcio Brothers of Blaine for the 2012 street improvement program? The program includes repairing, leveling and resurfacing Elm, Dupont, Woburn and Indian Streets; adding wheelchair ramps and pedestrian crossings and improved lighting on Indian St. and adding bicycle lanes along the Northwest/Elm/Dupont St. corridor. The engineer’s estimate was $2,119,236. There were 67 solicitations viewed and three bids were received. (AB19544) Approved 7-0

79. Direct staff to proceed with the first two stages of the invasive species prevention program for Lake Whatcom? The city staff has developed a three phased prevention program estimated to cost $293,00 and seek a grant from the Puget Sound Partnership. The grant is not required in order to proceed with the first part of the program. Council has also asked the staff to come up with an ordinance to prohibit infested boats from entering the lake. (AB19547) Approved 7-0

80. Direct staff to study the possibility of closing the Bloedel Donovan boat launch to all boats? The administration is directed to consult with Whatcom County about closing the lake to boats. (AB19547) Approved 6-1, Michael Lilliquist opposed.

81. Amend the development agreement between the Bellingham Public Development Authority and Catholic Community Services for the sale of property at 1100 Cornwall? The council confirmed the property sale at the 12/5/2011 meeting, vote #244. The property is a vacant lot at the corner of East Maple Street and Cornwall Avenue, Catholic Community Services owns property adjacent to 1100 Cornwall. They plan on building housing on the corner lot. This amendment will extend the time limit for beginning construction from 18 to 27 months after the sale closes. The added time will give Catholic Community Services a chance to apply for state housing funds for the project. (AB19551) Approved 7-0

82. Authorize the mayor to sign a purchasing agreement with North Whatcom Fire District? This agreement would allow each agency to make purchases from contracts the other has secured in a competitive bidding process. Purchases may be made directly from the vendor by one party acting as agent for the other. (AB19555) Approved 7-0

83. Appropriate $5,274,485 for goods and services checks issued from March 30 through April 12, 2012? (AB19556/19557) Approved 7-0

84. Authorize the mayor to apply for a state grant to assist with a land acquisition? The City Council voted at the 3/26/12 meeting, vote #46, to purchase 12 acres along Marine Drive. The property will provide public access to Bellingham Bay. The city will spend approximately $438,000 from the Greenway three levy fund to acquire the land. If the Washington Aquatic Enhancement Account grant is approved the city could be reimbursed for 50 percent of that cost. AB19542 (Resolution 2012-11) Approved 7-0

85. Appropriate $100,000 to American Traffic Solutions? At the 12/6/2010 meeting, vote #233, the City Council voted to install red light cameras at three intersections and two school zones. The mayor no longer wishes to install the cameras so the council voted to amend the agreement with American Traffic Solutions at the 3/26/2012 meeting, vote #48. The city must pay the company $100,000 or face a breach-of-contract litigation. AB19535 (Ordinance 2012-04-024) Approved 6-1, Terry Bornemann opposed.