RECORD OF PROCEEDING OF CITY COUNCIL

CITY OF BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON

COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
Monday, February 23, 2009, 07:00 PM
Book: 63, Page: 1

Called To Order The meeting was called to order by Council President Barry Buchanan who led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call
Present:

Jack Weiss, Council Member, First Ward
Gene Knutson, Council Member, Second Ward
Barry Buchanan, Council Member, Third Ward
Stan Snapp, Council Member, Fourth Ward
Terry Bornemann, Council Member, Fifth Ward
Barbara Ryan, Council Member, Sixth Ward
Louise Bjornson, Council Member, At Large

Excused:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S)

· There will be a Joint Councils-Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Commissioners meeting on February 26, in City Council Chambers @ 6:30 p.m.

· There will be a Special Meeting of the City Council to hear a report from local economic development agencies and the Labor Council regarding the impacts of current economic conditions on local businesses on March 2, in City Council Chambers @ 6:30 p.m.

Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the State of Washington Open Meetings Act.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

BARBARA RYAN / BORNEMANN moved approval of the February 9, 2009 minutes of the regular Council Meeting as corrected. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

15 - MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Lisa Marcus, 414 Bayside Road expressed her displeasure at the Coast Guard's practicing in Bellingham Bay and the accompanying noise from machine guns and helicopters.

Bruce Deile (Homeless) continued his discussion with regard to motels requiring credit cards. He clarified statements made at prior meetings and read a quote that was left out from a letter he wrote to the Cascadia Weekly.

Johnny Grames shared his opinions with regard to programming on BTV10.


REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

FINANCE & PERSONNEL
MEMBERS: GENE KNUTSON, CHAIR; LOUISE BJORNSON; STAN SNAPP

AB18314 1. APPROVAL OF INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH WHATCOM COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR THE SERVICES OF A LEGISLATIVE SPECIALIST

KNUTSON / BJORNSON moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with Whatcom Council of Governments for the services of a Legislative Specialist.

Council Member Ryan will not support the motion as the city is in a budget crisis and already pays two lobbyists.

Council Member Bornemann will not support the motion due to current budget cuts. He would rather spend the money on city services and/or employees.

MOTION CARRIED 4-3, BARBARA RYAN, BORNEMANN, WEISS OPPOSED


LAKE WHATCOM RESERVOIR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS: STAN SNAPP, CHAIR; BARBARA RYAN; GENE KNUTSON

AB18323 Resolution #2009-04
1. RESOLUTION TO FORM A STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE TO CREATE A LAKE WHATCOM PLANNING GUIDE

SNAPP / KNUTSON moved final approval of Resolution #2009-04.

The purpose of this committee would be to develop a new Planning Guide for the restoration of Lake Whatcom from existing studies, reports and plans.

Council Member Snapp noted that the stipend of $2,500 for the coordinator would be from the Mayor's Other Professional Services budget.

David Webster, Chief Administrative Officer added that there would be minimal involvement from staff and that the project is expected to be completed in 90 days.

MOTION CARRIED 6-1, BARBARA RYAN OPPOSED.


PUBLIC WORKS / PUBLIC SAFETY
MEMBERS: LOUISE BJORNSON, CHAIR; GENE KNUTSON; STAN SNAPP

AB18324 1. TEMPORARY NOISE VARIANCE REQUEST FOR WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WORK IN 3 LOCATIONS IN CITY LIMITS

BJORNSON / KNUTSON moved to approve a variance request to BMC 10.24.120(4) for the Washington State Department of Transportation for 30 non-consecutive nights to perform stormwater retrofit at several locations along Interstate 5. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

AB18325 2. SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL DEBRIEF

Information only.


PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
MEMBERS: TERRY BORNEMANN, CHAIR; BARBARA RYAN; JACK WEISS; LOUISE BJORNSON

AB18326 1. A WORKSESSION TO DISCUSS THE COUNTYWIDE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY TASKFORCE (CHAT) RECOMMENDATIONS

BORNEMANN / KNUTSON moved to direct staff to provide a list of completed and recommended action items; to continue this group into CHAT “2” for prioritizing recommendations to the Council's Planning Committee and to use Housing Authority staff for minute taking. MOTION CARRIED 7-0


COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MEMBERS: BARRY BUCHANAN, CHAIR

AB18327 1. HEARING EXAMINER SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO COUNCIL

Information only.

AB18328 Resolution #2009-05
2. RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE BELLINGHAM ENERGY EFFICIENCY COMMUNITY CHALLENGE AND STATE-AUTHORIZED ENERGY CONSERVATION UTILITY DISTRICTS

KNUTSON / BARBARA RYAN moved final approval of Resolution #2009-05. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

AB18329 Resolution #2009-06
3. JOINT COUNCILS RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SB 5344-2009-10 ESTABLISHING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM FOR THE STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA

BARBARA RYAN / WEISS moved final approval of Joint Councils Resolution #2009-06. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

AB18295 4. FAIRHAVEN BRANCH LIBRARY REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS: UPDATE AND COST ESTIMATES

BARBARA RYAN / BJORNSON moved to reduce the Fairhaven Library repair budget allocation to $1.3 million to cover items 1 and 2 and other owner costs. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
WEISS moved to have an alternate added to the bidding documents to include ceiling fans in the upstairs auditorium. The motion died for lack of a second.
KNUTSON / BORNEMANN moved to direct staff to initiate the bidding process for $1.3 million. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

5. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND/OR SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES

None submitted at evening meeting.

6. OLD/NEW BUSINESS

None presented.


EXECUTIVE SESSION – Report only:

1. POTENTIAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION: Staff provided updated information on the potential acquisition of an approximately 24 acre parcel of real property located in the Lake Whatcom Watershed.

SNAPP / BJORNSON moved to authorize closing on the purchase of said property at a purchase price of $1,690,000. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

2. POTENTIAL LITIGATION: Staff provided information on a request for public records.

BARBARA RYAN / BORNEMANN moved to approve an action to seek judicial review of the city's response to Public Records Request No. 1923. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.


CONSENT AGENDA
All matters listed on the Consent Agenda are considered routine and/or non-controversial items and may be approved in a single motion. Committee review has taken place during the afternoon session on most of these items. A member of the Council may ask that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately.

AB18330 CB 13500
1. BUDGET ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE 2009 BUDGET RECLASSIFYING ONE GENERAL FUND POSITION IN THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHERE NO ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OR REALLOCATION OF FUNDS IS REQUIRED

AB18331 2. AUTHORIZATION OF CHECK ISSUE FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FROM JANUARY 30, 2009 TO FEBRUARY 6, 2009

AB18332 3. AUTHORIZATION OF CHECK ISSUE FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FROM FEBRUARY 6, 2009 TO FEBRUARY 13, 2009

AB18333 4. AUTHORIZATION OF CHECK ISSUE FOR PAYROLL FROM JANUARY 16, 2009 TO JANUARY 31, 2009

KNUTSON / BORNEMANN moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

FINAL CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES

AB18309 1. CB 13498
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE 2009 BUDGET APPROPRIATING AN ADDITIONAL $765,000.00 FROM ESTIMATED ENDING UNDESIGNATED RESERVES IN THE WATER FUND TO BE USED FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO THE ACCESS ROAD AND DIVERSION DAM ON THE MIDDLE FORK OF THE NOOKSACK RIVER

WEISS / BJORNSON moved approval for third and final reading. Upon motion, said bill was placed on final passage and approved by the following roll call vote:

AYES: BJORNSON, BORNEMANN, BUCHANAN, KNUTSON, BARBARA RYAN, SNAPP, WEISS
NAYS:
ABSTENTIONS:

MOTION CARRIED 7-0 and was thereafter named Ordinance #2009-02-005

AB18316 2. CB 13499
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE 2009 BUDGET RECLASSIFYING ONE GENERAL FUND POSITION IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WHERE NO ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OR REALLOCATION OF FUNDS IS REQUIRED

BARBARA RYAN / BORNEMANN moved approval for third and final reading. Upon motion, said bill was placed on final passage and approved by the following roll call vote:

AYES: BJORNSON, BORNEMANN, BUCHANAN, KNUTSON, BARBARA RYAN, SNAPP, WEISS
NAYS:
ABSTENTIONS:

MOTION CARRIED 7-0 and was thereafter named Ordinance #2009-02-006



ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Barry Buchanan, Council President

ATTEST: Linda D. Anderson City Clerk Representative
APPROVED: 03/09/2009

This is a digital copy of an original document located at Bellingham's City Hall. The City of Bellingham specifically disclaims any responsibility or liability for the contents of this document. The City of Bellingham does not verify the correctness, accuracy, or validity of the information appearing in this document.