Bellingham City Council

Action Taken at March 10, 2014 Meeting

Shall the council:

37. Authorize the legal department to file civil nuisance actions with respect to properties at 2315 Lynn Street and 2512 Lynn Street? (Discussed in Executive Session) Approved 7-0

38. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with the Whatcom Council of Governments to help fund the Whatcom Smart Trips Program? The city will pay the Whatcom Council of Governments $25,000 toward the planning and implementation of the Smart Trips Program. The money will be used to reduce automobile trips, and promote walking, bicycling, sharing rides and riding the bus. All of which will benefit the citizens of Bellingham by reducing the numbers of vehicle trips in Bellingham and the harmful carbon dioxide emissions in Bellingham air quality. The total budget for the program is $426,000, with $267,000 from the federal government. (AB20332) Approved 6-1, Jack Weiss opposed.

39. Authorize the mayor to sign a lease agreement with the Home Port Learning Center for the building at 707 Astor Street? The Learning Center is a nonprofit community organization that operates a transitional education program providing education, vocational training, and mentoring to adjudicated and at-risk youth. Home Port has been leasing the city-owned property since March 2003, at a reduced rate in order to maintain its program in light of county funding cuts. The new five-year lease runs from 4/1/2014 to 12/31/2018. The tenant will be responsible for building maintenance. (AB20333) Approved 7-0

40. Approve the mayor’s appointment of Nicholas Kunkel to the Lake Whatcom Watershed Advisory Board? The board advises the city on the purchase, management, maintenance and use of properties within the Lake Whatcom watershed. Mr. Marshak is currently employed as a salmonid biologist with the Lummi Nation, his term will end on 3/10/2017. (AB20341)Approved 7-0

41. Approve the mayor’s reappointment of David Marshak 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. Marshak’s initial appointment to fill a vacancy was approved at the 2/7/2011 meeting, vote #19. His second term will end on 2/7/2017. (AB20342) Approved 7-0

42. Appropriate $2,627,865 for payroll checks issued from February 11 through February 25, 2014? (AB20345) Approved 7-0

43. Amend the budget to fund the 2014 aquatic invasive species boat inspection program? This amendment appropriates an additional $308,000 to fund the boat inspection program. Salaries, wages and benefits for regular and temporary positions account for $219,000. AB20319 (Ordinance 2014-03-013) Approved 4-3, Terry Bornemann, Roxanne Murphy and Jack Weiss opposed.

Action Taken at March 24, 2014 Meeting

Shall the council:

44. Approve the temporary closure of James Street? Two timber bridges will be replaced with a single-span concrete bridge between Orchard Drive and Sunset Pond Park. The new bridge will allow Squalicum Creek to be rerouted beneath James Street. The street is being closed during construction in order to minimize disturbance to adjacent wetlands, environmental mitigation costs, and to reduce the overall project duration. The average daily traffic on James Street is 11,300 vehicles, it is anticipated the street will be closed from June through December 2014. (AB20349) Approved 7-0

45. Authorize the mayor to sign a loan agreement with the state of Washington for stormwater main replacement and water quality improvements? The loan, in the amount of $1,647,000, will finance the replacement of aging stormwater systems in the Columbia neighborhood and Texas Street. Annual debt service is $378,230 for five years. (AB20350) Approved 7-0

46. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $664,099 to Stremler Gravel of Lynden for the central business district bioretention project? The treatment project will be located at W. Champion and Unity Street. The engineer’s estimated was $682,302. There were 113 bid solicitations viewed and seven bids were received. (AB20351) Approved 7-0

47. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of 1,016,855 to Faber Construction of Lynden for the water main replacement program? This annual program targets water mains needing replacements due to age or other factors. Project locations include 3107 Lindbergh Avenue to Nequalicum Avenue; East Magnolia Street, State Street to Ellis Street; and Northwest Avenue, Larrabee Road to Beaumont Drive. The engineer’s estimate was $1,412,665. There were 99 bid solicitations viewed and six bids were received. (AB20352) Approved 7-0

48. Change rental rates for park open space and the Woodstock Farm facility? At the 3/11/2013 meeting, vote #43, the council increased fees for city parks and recreational facilities. Park open space reservations have decreased in the past year due to open space rental fee increases. In order to encourage the public to reserve and pay a reasonable fee for the space that they use, staff recommends lowering the open space fee. Woodstock Farm facility rentals have dramatically increased since March 2013; staff recommends increasing the Woodstock Farm rental rates for 2015. AB20356 (Resolution 2014-08) Approved 7-0

49. Exchange easement rights with Puget Sound Energy? To upgrade its Sehome substation on Boulevard Street the company needs one final easement for an overhead transmission line across the South Bay Trail. In exchange for an .07 acre easement over the South Bay Trail, Puget Sound Energy will exchange a .32 acre trail easement for the Samish Crest Trail. (AB20357) Approved 6-0-1, Pinky Vargas recused.

50. Authorize the mayor’s appointment of Brian Henshaw as the city’s finance director? The finance director is responsible for all the finances of the city of Bellingham. At the 8/5/2013 meeting, vote #161, the council approved the appointment of Brian Henshaw as the interim finance director. He took over the position left open by the resignation of John Carter on 8/10/2013. (AB20362) Approved 7-0

51. Authorize the mayor’s appointment of Cerise Noah to the Planning and Development Commission? She has lived in Bellingham since 1999 and her current occupation is real estate broker. Her term ends on 3/24/2018. (AB20363) Approved 7-0

52. Mayor Linville introduced the new fire chief Bill Newbold.

53. Authorize A/P Checks and ACH for Feb. 28, 2014, in the amount of $1,703,400? (AB20364) Approved 7-0

54. Appropriate $1,399,137 for goods and services checks issued from February 14 through February 20, 2014? (20365) Approved 7-0

55. Appropriate $2,345,373, for goods and services checks issued fromFebruary 28 through March 6, 2014? (20366) Approved 7-0

56. Appropriate $2,681,236 for payroll checks issued from February 26 through March 10, 2014? (AB 20367) Approved 7-0

57. Create a new service classification and rate for bulk water filling stations? The city has recently completed installation of two bulk water filling stations. Bulk water is typically used for non-potable maintenance and construction activities. The stations will allow for customers with water-hauling vehicles to access the water filling stations using a PIN code system and allow the city to track and monitor usage. AB20330 (Ordinance 2014-03-014) Approved 7-0

58. Approve a demonstration program for the permanently affordable homeownership program? The Kulshan Community Land Trust has applied for a 50 percent percent increase in property density at 2939 Lafayette Street. The increase would allow three affordable home to be constructed at the location, two attached and a single detached. Council President Cathy Lehman reported that the council voted unanimously during the closed record hearing to accept the findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommendations of the hearing examiner. AB20337 (Ordinance 2014-03-015) Approved 7-0

59. Receive and spend a $19,096 federal grant for the victims of domestic violence program? This grant is in partnership with Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County. The grant funding will pay the salary of a volunteer coordinator. Volunteers work with the Bellingham police department to provide information and referrals to the victims of domestic violence. AB20344 (Ordinance 2014-03-016) Approved 7-0