Bellingham City Council

56. Purchase 2.6 acres between Democrat, Reveille, Fenton and Chester Streets for a 2/3 undivided interest on the property? There are plans to purchase the other 1/3 interest and use this property for potential land swap purposes.The purchase price is $27,500 and funding is from the 1990 Greenway levy. Approved 7-0

57. Purchase 9.99 acres in the Silver Beach neighborhood from the Springland Company for $581,000? Funds would be from the Lake Whatcom Watershed Property Acquisition Program, a fee on water bills. The potential for 29 additional homes in the Lake Whatcom watershed has been eliminated. Approved 5-2, Terry Bornemann and Bob Ryan opposed.

58. Accept the low bid of $106,315 from Henefin Construction of Bellingham for the installation of two lighted crosswalks on Old Fairhaven Parkway and bulb-out curbs on Orleans Street at the trail crossing? The bid was $14,065 above the city engineer’s estimate of $92,250. Of the total, $47,750 will be from a federal transportation grant. Approved 7-0

59. Approve an agreement between the City of Bellingham and Yakima County jail to house sentenced inmates when the Whatcom County jail is over capacity? Daily rates would be from $46 to $50 per inmate depending upon volume. Approved 7-0

60. Uphold the hearing examiner decision on $338,901 in B&O (business and occupation) taxes paid to the city by Veco Engineering? The hearing examiner determined that the B&O tax paid by Veco was for a professional services contract in Bellingham rather than for retail sales in Alaska as claimed by Veco and exempt from B&O tax. The tax collected from Veco Engineering relating to this contract will not be refunded. Approved 6-0-1, John Watts recused.

61. Adopt an “amenities plan” for the Fairhaven Neighborhood to recognize previously approved and proposed amenities? A superior court ruling forbids buildings higher than 35 feet without an approved “amenities plan.” (Resolution 2002-12) Approved 4-3, Bob Ryan, Gene Knutson and Grant Degar opposed.

62. Approve $26,788 in police expenditures? For police trading cards and SWAT gear ($13,950), uniform patches ($2,538), overhead for a new Automated Fingerprint Identification System ($8,000), computer upgrades ($1,800) and stickers for a neighborhood Pace Car Program. Funds would be from reserves ($24,488), a $500 grant and $1,800 from the sale of old computers. (Ordinance 2002-04-27) Approved 7-0

63. Spend $200,000 for the City Hall annex remodel (formerly the Calvary Temple) to be used by the computer department? Asbestos will be removed and handicap access will be added to the remodel project. The $200,000 was originally approved for City Hall seismic upgrades. It will supplement the $600,000 previously budgeted for a total annex remodel of $800,000. (Ordinance 2002-04-28) Approved 7-0

64. Appropriate $4,964,654 to acquire land in the watershed? Four million would be loaned from the wastewater (sewer) reserve fund. The rest would be from water funds collected but not spent in 2001. Water bills may increase to repay the loan with interest and sewer bills may increase to pay for sewer plant expansion. (Ordinance 2002-04-29) Approved 7-0 pproved 7-0

65. Purchase 13.9 acres at the south end of 18th Street near Julia Avenue? The property will be for park and greenway uses. The $500,000 purchase price will be from the 1997 Beyond Greenway levy. Approved 7-0

66. Accept the bid of $143,206 from Braun Northwest of Chehalis, WA to refurbish two ambulances? The 1993 unit has 148,000 miles and a 1994 unit has 133,000 miles. Approved 7-0

67. Declare the replacement of sewer pipe on Holly Street in February an emergency? The emergency declaration would exempt the city from the bid process and allow payment of $110,000 to Wilder Construction of Bellingham for the work. (Resolution 2002-13) Approved 7-0

68. Approve an additional $10,000 to pay for the city’s share of a domestic violence public safety audit? Total funds from the city for domestic violence services is $54,500, which is included in the $1,840,952 adjusted 2002 police budget. (Ordinance 2002-04-30) Approved 7-0

69. Disburse $718,927 as a partial payment for the Pacific Concrete site? The purchase of the approximately 42-acres for $4,000,000 was approved at the 2/11/02 meeting. With this appropriation, all of the $7,000,000 in the 1990 Greenway levy has been spent. (Ordinance 2002-04-31) Approved 7-0

70. Apportion $23,000 for the library gift fund to purchase books? The gift funds are donated to the library (generally memorials) from specific book/material aquisition. (Ordinance 2002-04-32) Approved 7-0

71. Appropriate $83,939 for the wellness incentives program? City employees, on their personal time, record in a booklet healthy activities such as walking, exercising or attempting to quit smoking. (Ordinance 2002-04-33) Approved 7-0

72. Approve vacation of portions of Lopez, Edward, Michigan and St. Clair Streets, Princeton Court and alleys abutting and located east of Yew Street and south of Alvarado Drive? The alley and street right-of-way will be relinquished from public ownership. All utilities would be moved at the expense of the petitioner William Kramer. (Ordinance 2002-04-34) Approved 7-0

73. Amend sections of Bellingham Municipal Code 11.03 to adopt and integrate state laws regarding disabled parking? This corrects an 1999 oversight that failed to include disabled parking in city code when the state’s model traffic ordinance was adopted. (Ordinance 2002-04-35) Approved 7-0

74. Accept a proposal from Matt Christman to use the old Fairhaven fire station at 1314 Harris Ave as a performing arts center and cafe? The city will be paid the appraised value of $175,000 which is $3,000 less than the assessed value. Approved 5-2, Bob Ryan and Grant Deger opposed.

75. Accept the low bid of $3,136,033 from Henifin Construction of Bellingham for widening of Sunset Drive between Orleans and Woburn Streets? The bid, which includes a signal at Racine Street, is $104,523 under the engineer’s estimate. Approved 7-0

76. Approve the vacation of Nevada Street from the alley south of Edwards to the alley south of Lopez Street and Lopez between Moore to Orleans? The Cedar Ridge Plat with 173 single family homes plus duplex, triplex and fourplex units would be approved with a new meandering street to connect Nevada from the point of vacation south to Consolidation Ave. Approved 7-0

77. Replace the emergency ordinance regulating the establishment of electrical power generating facilities, including location, size, type and public process requirements? New power plants in the city would only be allowed if they meet specific conditions, too extensive to list here. (Ordinance 2002-05-36) Approved 4-3, Bob Ryan, Barbara Ryan and Grant Deger opposed.

78. Approve the vacation of the southern 40' of Railroad Ave. between East Laurel and East Myrtle Streets? Estimated market value of the property is $42,200. The street right-of-way will be relinquished from public ownership. Utilities shall be moved at the expense of the petitioner Laurel Corporation, Ken Hertz applicant. (Ordinance 2002-05-37) Approved 7-0