March 2012
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Marcia Guderian
Action Taken at January 9, 2012 Meeting
Shall the council:
1. Authorize the mayor to award the bid of $89,950 to Cowden Gravel and Ready Mix of Bellingham for gravel? The city uses gravel for maintenance work on trench backfill, pipe bedding and street repairs. Cowden was the second highest bidder. The city picks up the gravel, so travel time and expenses are added when determining the lowest responsible bid. There were 40 solicitations viewed and five bids were received. (AB19436) Approved 7-0
2. Appropriate $4,375,596 for goods and services checks issued from December 2 through December 21, 2011? (AB19437/19438/19439) Approved 7-0
3. Appropriate $6,103,544 for payroll checks issued from November 24 through December 22, 2011? (AB19440/19441) Approved 7-0
4. Apply for a $1.5 million federal grant to help pay for the first phase of water meters instillations? The state has mandated the installation of water meters for all city water customers by 1/22/2017. At the 8/11/2008 meeting, vote #242, the council adopted a water meter installation schedule. The schedule estimated cost to install approximately 16,000 water meters at $8.5 million. The application is with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the grant would finance the installation of approximately 2,350 meters. AB19434 (Resolution 2012-01) Approved 7-0
5. Receive and spend a $55,000 grant from the federal government? This grant is from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Operation Stonegarden. The funds must be spent for law enforcement along the international border and related expenditures. The funds will be used for police special operations: $41,800 for overtime wages, $3,200 for personnel benefits and $10,000 to purchase new equipment. AB19429 (Ordinance 2012-01-01) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at January 23, 2012 Meeting
Shall the council:
6. Authorize the mayor to sign a cooperation agreement with Western Washington University regarding the Bellingham Police Department SWAT team? Under the terms of the agreement, full time officers from the university police department will be selected to serve with the Bellingham SWAT team. The selected university officers will be required to training through the Washington State Tactical Officers Association and will be responsible for paying all costs and fees. (AB19443) Approved 7-0
7. Authorize the mayor to award a $4,500 grant to Northwest Youth Services? Youth Services is developing two living spaces for homeless youth. The grant money will pay for city water connection fees for fire sprinklers. Funds from a federal grant will reimburse the city. (AB19444) Approved 7-0
8. Approve a new city/county Urban Growth Area agreement and direct staff to present the agreement to the Whatcom County Council? The original 1997 agreement expired at the end of 2009. Under the terms of the new agreement, the city and county will coordinate planning, annexation and development review in Bellingham’s Urban Growth Area. The city agrees to reimburse the county for capital improvements within annexation areas. (AB19376) Approved 7-0
9. Approve the mayor’s appointment of Stephen R. Crooks and Jono Manion to the Greenway Advisory Committee? The committee provides recommendations to the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Department about Greenway levy expenditures, parkland acquisitions and parks/trails/open space development projects. Mr. Crooks has resided in Bellingham for 11 years and has 25 years of experience with real estate law. Mr. Manion has has also lived in Bellingham for 11 years and works in marketing and product management. Both are appointed to three-year terms expiring on 1/23/ 2015. (AB19445) Approved 7-0
10.Appropriate $3,773,354 for goods and services checks issued from December 22, 2011 through January 12, 2012? (AB19447/19448) Approved 7-0
11. Appropriate $2,614,906 for payroll and related checks issued from December 22, 2011 through January 10, 2012? Approved 7-0
12. Allow property owners outside of city limits but in the Urban Growth Area to be eligible to reapply for water service that’s been shut off for three or more years? At the 3/6/2006 meeting, vote #62, the council voted to repeal all water and sewer services located outside the UGA and at the 5/23/2011 meeting, vote #94, to services outside the city limits, but the city continues to serve existing contracts. If an existing service is turned off for three years, it is considered to be abandoned and no longer eligible for service. This ordinance allows properties owners in the Urban Growth Areas with abandoned service to apply for one new single family service with a maximum service meter size of one inch or the same meter size previously abandoned whichever is smaller. AB19435 (Ordinance 2012-01-002) Approved 7-0
