Council Minutes for January 26, 2009 City of Bellingham, WA

RECORD OF PROCEEDING OF CITY COUNCIL

CITY OF BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON

COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
Monday, January 26, 2009, 07:00 PM
Book: 63, Page: 1

REGULAR MEETING

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)

None.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

SNAPP / KNUTSON moved approval of the January 12, 2009 minutes of the regular Council Meeting as submitted. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

15 - MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Bruce Deile (homeless) expressed his frustration to the council with regard to motels requiring a credit card and not accepting cash.

John Servais, 1609 Mill Avenue, Chair, Advocacy Committee, Friends of the Fairhaven Library. He said the Fairhaven Library can be repaired and protected for the $2.3 million budgeted, or less. He does not support reallocating the $640,000 from the central library. He asked council to only make the needed repairs, which include: new stucco exterior and seismic retrofitting, repair front steps, replace HVAC, and repair roof plus a few smaller items, which are all within the budgeted amount. He added that anything beyond that is a wish list and urged the council to instruct the Library Board to move ahead on the needed repairs that are within the budget.

Johnny Grames shared his opinions with regard to the statue [streetscape sculpture] at Bay Street [and Holly],which he feels is out of place; and public access to BTV10.

Diane Bruland, Volunteer, Lighthouse Mission, shared her experiences as a volunteer with the mission.

PRESENTATION(S)

AB18292 1. PRESENTATION BY RON BUCHINSKI REGARDING THE LIGHTHOUSE MISSION IN BELLINGHAM

Ron Buchinski, Executive Director, Lighthouse Mission brought the council up to date on the current activities at the Lighthouse Mission. Mr. Buchinski said they now have:

· 10 shelters, working with men, women and children;
· an inclement weather and overflow shelter;
· serve an average of 325 meals per day;
· a New Life Program has been implemented with 12 graduates of the program going to school or working;
· 24-room Agape Home scheduled to open in the summer (they currently have 6 rooms); and a
· Drop In Center open from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Mr. Buchinski is working with the downtown businesses so that they know when and how to refer people to the Drop In Center. Information only.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

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

AB18293 1. NOISE VARIANCE FROM BMC SECTION 10.24.100 FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES PILING REMOVAL PROJECT

BORNEMANN / KNUTSON moved to allow approval of a noise variance request to BMC 10.24.120(4) to allow the Department of Natural Resources to work on Phase II of its piling removal project proximate to Eldridge Avenue, Boulevard and South Hill with work completed by February 28, 2009. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

PARKS AND RECREATION
MEMBERS: BARBARA RYAN, CHAIR; LOUISE BJORNSON, TERRY BORNEMANN

AB18294 Resolution 2009-03
1. RESOLUTION FOR 2009 RATE INCREASE FOR BAYVIEW CEMETERY

BARBARA RYAN / BORNEMANN moved final approval of Resolution #2009-03. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MEMBERS: BARRY BUCHANAN, CHAIR

AB18295 1. FAIRHAVEN BRANCH LIBRARY REPAIRS & RENOVATION

Council President Buchanan summarized the presentation given during committee by Pam Kiesner, Library Director; Myron Carlson, Facilities Manager and Brad Cornwall, RMC Architects.

Upon the Library Board's recommendation, Mr. Buchanan reported that the Committee of the Whole has recommended reallocating up to $600,000 from the Central Library to the Fairhaven Branch Library in order to supplement the Fairhaven project. A meeting to present revised estimates of the project is scheduled for February 18, 2009.

Council Member Weiss noted that there will be a public meeting to discuss the renovations at the Fairhaven Library on February 5, 2009.

BORNEMANN / KNUTSON moved to postpone a vote until the first regular city council meeting after the revised estimate, which is scheduled for presentation on February 18th, 2009. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

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

None submitted at evening meeting.

3. OLD/NEW BUSINESS

Council Member Ryan reported that there will be a meeting of the Whatcom County Growth Management Coordinating Committee on February 4, 2009, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Ferndale Whatcom Educational Credit Union (WECU). She requested that Tim Stewart, Director of Planning and Community Development discuss the this complex process with council.

BORNEMANN / SNAPP moved to direct staff to reconvene an Economic Summit, similar to the one held two years ago, in order to gain a broader perspective on the economy from the community. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

EXECUTIVE SESSION – Report only.

1. POTENTIAL LITIGATION: City staff provided information regarding Whatcom County's recent issuance of a SEPA Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance (MDNS) for the proposed Squalicum Ridge Road project. On January 22, 2009, the City filed formal comments with the County regarding this MDNS.

BARBARA RYAN / BORNEMANN moved to authorize an appeal of Whatcom County's MDNS (SEP 2008-00063) regarding the proposed Squalicum Ridge Road to the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

2. LITIGATION: Brisbane et al. v. City of Bellingham: City staff provided an update on this litigation matter regarding the North Chuckanut Estates Short Plat. Information only. No action taken.

3. LITIGATION: City of Bellingham v. Port of Bellingham - Appeal of SEPA MDNS: City staff provided an update on the City SEPA appeal of the Port's Revised Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance (MDNS) for the demolition of three historic buildings at the Georgia Pacific site. Information only. No action taken.

4. LITIGATION: North Shore Estates Appeal to Whatcom County Hearing Examiner: City staff provided information on the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner's recent decision regarding the City's appeal of a Whatcom County determination allowing the Lake Whatcom Water & Sewer District to extend sewer mains to serve the North Shore Estates subdivision.

SNAPP / BARBARA RYAN moved to authorize an appeal of the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner's decision to the Whatcom County Council. MOTION CARRIED 7-0

5. LITIGATION: Pacific Crest Partners v. City of Bellingham: City staff provided an update on this litigation matter regarding the San Juan Hills Preliminary Plat. Information only. No action taken.

6. POTENTIAL LITIGATION: Information only. No action taken.

MAYOR'S REPORT

AB18296 1. MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT OF LARA WELKER AS THE WWU DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MAYOR'S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION

Information only.

AB18297 2. MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT OF BARBARA CAMPBELL, AS THE BIRCHWOOD DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MAYOR'S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION

Information only.

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.

AB18298 1. BID AWARD FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT INTERIOR PAINTING #147B-2008

AB18299 2. AUTHORIZATION OF CHECK ISSUE FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FROM DECEMBER 24, 2008 TO JANUARY 2, 2009.

AB18300 3. AUTHORIZATION OF CHECK ISSUE FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FROM JANUARY 2, 2009 TO JANUARY 9, 2009.

AB18301 4. AUTHORIZATION OF CHECK ISSUE FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FROM JANUARY 9, 2009 TO JANUARY 16, 2009.

AB18302 5. AUTHORIZATION OF CHECK ISSUE FOR PAYROLL FROM DECEMBER 16, 2008 TO DECEMBER 31, 2009.

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

FINAL CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES

AB18274 1. CB 13497
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE 2008 BUDGET APPROPRIATING AN ADDITIONAL $104,774.85 IN THE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION BOARD (CERB) FUND FROM UNANTICIPATED REVENUE TO BE USED FOR RETIRING THE REMAINING BALANCE OF THE CERB LOAN

KNUTSON / 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 #2009-01-004.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m. Barry Buchanan, Council President

ATTEST: Linda D. Anderson City Clerk Representative
APPROVED: 02/09/2009

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.