RECORD OF PROCEEDING OF CITY COUNCIL

CITY OF BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON

COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
Monday, March 09, 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)

· On Monday, March 23, there will be a Public Hearing regarding proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments for 2009.

· On Monday, March 23, there will be a Public Hearing regarding 2009 Budget Revisions

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

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

KNUTSON / SNAPP moved approval of the February 23, 2009 minutes of the regular Council Meeting as submitted. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.


15 - MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Johnny Grames addressed the council with regard to the Lowell School issue. He feels that the citizens should be able to discuss this issue on BTV10.

Lisa Distler, 910 Myrtle, Lowell School PTA President, spoke in support of neighborhood schools and read a citizen resolution they have proposed. Approximately 65 people stood in support of her comments.

Andrea McMillin, 1600 Knox asked the City Council to support the school board in making decisions that are sustainable over several years and are congruent with keeping the neighborhoods healthy and in line with the values of city leaders. The PTA and parent leadership have met with a representative from the schools and have pledged their support in collaborating on creative solutions for keeping Lowell School open.

Yóshe Revelle noted that March 8th is International Women's Day and asked the city council to pass a resolution urging our senators to ratify the convention to eliminate discrimination against women.


NEW BUSINESS

BARBARA RYAN / SNAPP moved to support the citizen's resolution presented during public comment, requesting that the City Council propose a resolution encouraging the Bellingham School Board to keep neighborhood schools open. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

Staff will write a resolution for council's consideration.


PRESENTATION(S)

AB18337 1. BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL

Therese Kelliher presented a report of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee's (BPAC) work. She reviewed their activities which are categorized into the following principles: Evaluation and Planning, Engineering, Education, Encouragement and Enforcement. She noted that public process identifies concerns after which BPAC evaluates those concerns and makes recommendations to Public Works and the City Council. BPAC uses an evaluation criteria for site assessments, which helps in crafting their recommendations.

Highlights of BPAC accomplishments in 2008 included: developing priority recommendations for the Transportation Improvement Program; identifying key pedestrian and bicycle corridors for the concurrency program; establishing relationships with neighborhood associations; developing the "Share the Road and the Rules" safety education campaign with the Police Department and they conducted eight site assessments and provided those reports to Public Works. Additionally, BPAC identified bike parking locations for downtown; reviewed and updated the BPAC bicycle and pedestrian project lists; accepted and integrated public comment during their regular meetings and participated on the Green Streets Committee.

Their next steps include:

· Review of the Municipal Code and Comprehensive Plan intersection to ensure consistency.
· Review policies and development guidelines related to: bike and pedestrian safety at construction zones, arterial retrofits, sidewalk dining and bike parking facilities.
· Research and recommendations for city adoption of a complete streets policy.
· Develop comprehensive bike and pedestrian master plans.

Ms. Kelliher said that BPAC recognizes the need to integrate land use and transportation polices to fully develop a multi-modal transportation system. If a Transportation Commission is created then BPAC has the following considerations:

· Benefits would include: a higher level communication forum for citizens and improved integration of pedestrian and cyclist transportation needs into the transportation system.
· Their concerns include: The broad policy responsibilities of a Transportation Commission may limit the time available to address the specialized needs of pedestrian and bicycle transportation; the development of a Transportation Master Plan without the creation of separate Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans may not accomplish the city's mode shift goals; and it can be easy to forget how pedestrian circulation supports the efficiency of all other transportation modes. She added that when working to solve the considerable challenges of motor vehicle traffic, the quieter modes and lower cost needs of pedestrians and bicyclists may get lost in the shuffle.

The Committee believes that walking and biking are integral to a healthy community, where the city's livability, sustainability and overall quality of life are enhanced by more people walking and biking and where these activities are safe, convenient and practical options for everyone.

Council Member Weiss indicated that there would be a meeting in two weeks, which will begin the conversation with regard to the Transportation Commission. He feels that a Transportation Commission will be much better than the current system and will provide an integrated approach where the whole philosophy of BPAC will be elevated to another level of importance, funding and prioritization.

Information only.

Council Member Weiss left Council Chambers.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

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

AB18338 CB 13501
1. AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE INTERIM EMERGENCY MORATORIUM ON THE FILING, ACCEPTANCE AND PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR DIVISIONS OF LAND, BUILDING PERMITS AND LAND DISTURBANCE ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE LAKE WHATCOM WATERSHED

SNAPP / KNUTSON moved final approval of Emergency Ordinance #2009-03-007. MOTION CARRIED 6-0 (Weiss out of Chambers)


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

AB18339 CB 13502
1. AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE 2008 BUDGET APPROPRIATING ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,373.34 TO REIMBURSE FOR PREPAID GOLF PASSES

BARBARA RYAN / BJORNSON moved approval for first and second reading. MOTION CARRIED 6-0, (Weiss out of Chambers)


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

Council Member Weiss returned to Council Chambers.

AB18340 1. INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM AND WHATCOM COUNTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTNERING BY CONTRIBUTING FUNDS TOWARD PHASE II OF THE CHUCKANUT VILLAGE MARSH RESTORATION PROJECT

BJORNSON / KNUTSON moved to postpone consideration to March 23, 2009. MOTION FAILED, 2-5, BORNEMANN, BARBARA RYAN, BUCHANAN, SNAPP, WEISS opposed.

BORNEMANN / BARBARA RYAN moved to authorize the Mayor to execute the Interlocal agreement with Whatcom County, and other procedural documents, related to the Chuckanut Village Marsh Restoration Project. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

BJORNSON / KNUTSON moved to include the Parks Advisory Board in the process. MOTION CARRIED 5-2, BORNEMANN, BARBARA RYAN opposed.


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

AB18341 1. PRESENTATION OF (1) FISCAL YEAR-END 2008 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, (2) AN UPDATE ON THE 2009 BUDGET PROPOSED REDUCTIONS, (3) BRIEFING ON THE 2008 REAPPROPRIATIONS

John Carter, Finance Director provided a brief review of the presentation made during committee. The presentation is available on the city's web site. Information only.


COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MEMBERS: BARRY BUCHANAN, CHAIR

1. OLD/NEW BUSINESS

BORNEMANN / KNUTSON moved to appoint Council Member Barbara Ryan to serve as a jurist for the Bellingham Arts Commission “Connecting Community with the Arts”. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.


MAYOR'S REPORT

AB18342 1. MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT OF ROSE LATHROP, KATHLEEN KERSHNER, BEN MILLAR AND THOMAS STANLEY TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD
Information only.

AB18343 2. MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT OF MEREDITH ANN MURRAY AS THE COLUMBIA REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MAYOR'S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION
Information only.

AB18344 3. MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT OF MARY ANDERSON AS THE PUGET REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MAYOR'S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION
Information only.

AB18345 4. MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT OF JIM MCCABE AS THE PUGET ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MAYOR'S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION
Information only.

AB18346 5. MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT OF EDWARD CRASPER, TODD ELSWORTH, TAIMI DUNN GORMAN AND SUSAN TIVE TO THE TOURISM COMMISSION
Information only.

AB18347 6. MAYOR'S REAPPOINTMENT OF ALEXANDRA WILEY, RICHARD EGGEMEYER AND CHRIS FOSS TO THE WHATCOM MUSEUM SOCIETY BOARD.

BARBARA RYAN / BORNEMANN moved to authorize the Mayor's reappointment of Alexandra Wiley, Richard Eggemeyer and Chris Foss to the Whatcom Museum Society Board, terms ending March 1, 2012. 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.

AB18348 1. BID AWARD FOR TACTICAL OPERATIONS COMMAND BODY, BID #127B-2008

AB18349 2. BID AWARD FOR STEEL METER BOX LIDS, #3, BID #10B-2009

AB18350 3. AUTHORIZATION OF CHECK ISSUE FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FROM FEBRUARY, 13, 2009 to FEBRUARY 20, 2009

AB18351 4. AUTHORIZATION OF CHECK ISSUE FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FROM FEBRUARY 20, 2009 to FEBRUARY 27, 2009

AB18352 5. AUTHORIZATION OF CHECK ISSUE FOR PAYROLL FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2009 TO FEBRUARY 15, 2009

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


FINAL CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES

AB18330 1. CB 13500
AN 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

BARBARA RYAN / KNUTSON 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 #2009-03-008



ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m. Barry Buchanan, Council President

ATTEST: Linda D. Anderson City Clerk Representative
APPROVED: 03/23/2009

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.