Bellingham City Council

Action Taken at November 10, 2014 Meeting

Shall the council:

225. Authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with Bellingham Technical College for Maritime Heritage Park and a public parking agreement for the main college campus? Since 1978, the Bellingham Technical College has been leasing the city-owned sewer treatment plant building at Maritime Heritage Park for a fisheries technology program. A 2005 study of the building concluded that, due to structural and settlement problems, building renovations were not feasible. The technical college constructed a new building on the site. A new lease is needed to recognize state ownership of the building on city property, as well as define uses and responsibilities of adjacent infrastructure, including fish ponds, channels, parking and common areas that are open to the public. In addition, a long time commitment for public parking on the main college campus at Little Squalicum Park will be formalized. The college will pay the city $6,000 per year for maintenance, repair and replacement of the barrier railings at the fish ponds and channels. (AB20625) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

226. Approve the Cornwall Beach Park Master Plan? The new 17-acre waterfront park is located on Bellingham Bay and identified as a community park in the city’s Comprehensive Plan and is one of the identified future parks in the adopted Waterfront Sub-Area Plan. The park will be established over former industrial and municipal waste disposal sites. Coordination of the park master plan with the potential cleanup remedies for both the Cornwall Avenue landfill site and R.G. Haley site will help ensure a successful waterfront park project. If possible, some of the park elements may be implemented with the cleanup projects. (AB20626) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

227. Appropriate $2,651,253 for payroll checks issued from October 11 through October 24, 2014? (AB20634) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

228. Appropriate $4,830,221 for goods and services checks issued October 17 through October, 30, 2014? (AB20635/20636) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

229. Amend the administrative and financial plan implementing the 2012 housing levy? At the 11/6/2012 general election, voters approved a tax levy authorizing the spending of $21 million over seven years to provide, produce, and/or preserve affordable housing in Bellingham and to assist low-income tenants. The council approved the administrative and financial plan at the 11/19/2012 meeting, vote #226. This amendment will increase funding for rental assistance and supportive services to fund a homeless outreach team through 2019. The homeless outreach team would include new rental housing vouchers and new outreach services. The outreach services would assist homeless persons to find safe and sanitary housing, as well as other services such as health care. It will also reallocate $1,250,000 from production and preservation of homes program to rental assistance and supportive services program. There would not be an overall increase or decrease in 2012 housing levy revenues or expenditures. AB20628 (Resolution 2014-39) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

230. Grant final plat approval for division 1, phase 1 of the King Mountain preliminary plat? The area consists of 29 single-family detached lots, a public stormwater tract and five private open space tracts served by the extension of James Street and two newly dedicated rights of way, Blackstone Way and Winslow Court, in the King Mountain neighborhood generally located at the northern terminus of James Street. Variances from street standards and improvements are proposed. AB20633 (Resolution 2014-40) Approved 5-1, Jack Weiss opposed; Terry Bornemann excused.

231. Amend the city parking ordinance? Thes amendments are intended to further the city’s efforts to encourage a transportation shift toward alternative modes by increasing on-street parking from 24-hours to 72-hours. Also included are changes to enhance enforcement efficiencies through an increase in fines and tools to discourage repeated abuse of the parking system. The civil penalty for parking meter and overtime infractions will be $20.00; all other parking infractions, with some exceptions, will be $30.00. AB20557 (Ordinance 2014-11-060) Approved 6-0, Terry Bornemann excused.

Action Taken at November 24, 2014 Meeting

Shall the council:

232. Spend $5,000 to acquire the Schwald Property, a 20,000 square foot parcel located in the Padden Gorge? The purchase of two lots in the Padden Gorge west of 40th Street and south of Wilkin Street, will assist the city in consolidating riparian forest properties in the Padden Creek Gorge for stream protection and public enjoyment purposes. The property will be purchased with park site acquisition funds. (Discussed in Executive Session) Approved 6-0, Cathy Lehman excused.

233. Extend the Parkade lease with the Bellingham Railway Museum? The City Council first approved a lease in 2003 for approximately 2,400 square feet in the Parkade at a monthly rent of $560. The current lease expires on 1/31/2015; it is being extended until 2/1/2018 at the same rate of $560 per month. Because the monthly rent is below the going rate ($1,900 a month), the council must approve the lease. (AB20639) Approved 6-0, Cathy Lehman excused.

234. Extend the former Federal Building lease with the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra? The City Council first approved the lease with the orchestra at the 1/14/2013 meeting, vote #3 for $300 per month. The lease expires on 1/31/2015 and is being extended for eighteen months at $400 per month for a third-floor office suite of approximately 1,285 square feet and 373 square feet of basement storage space. Because the monthly rent is below the going rate ($2,783 a month), the City Council must approve the lease. (AB20640) Approved 6-0, Cathy Lehman excused.

235. Authorize the mayor to sign a funding agreement with the city of Ferndale/Whatcom County for the Slater Road/Interstate 5 roundabouts? Whatcom County is responsible for the construction of three compact roundabouts at the interchange; total cost is estimated at $340,000. The city of Bellingham will contribute $10,000 towards the project. (AB20641) Approved 6-0, Cathy Lehman excused.

236. Adopt the city center implementation strategy? The strategy provides action plans for the Downtown, Waterfront and Old Town Districts. The bundle of plans include requirements for building, leasing, permitting and regulating various aspects of construction, business and tourism in the downtown area. (AB20647) Approved 6-0, Cathy Lehman excused.

237. Approve the mayor’s reappointment of Jeff Brown to the Planning and Development Commission? His first full term was approved at the 12/13/2010 meeting, vote #242. He is a 25 year resident of Bellingham, holds a B.S. in environmental studies and was a contracting consultant for municipal waste collection in December 2010. His second full term will end on 1/1/2019. (AB20649) Approved 6-0, Cathy Lehman excused.

238. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $225,699 to Strider Construction of Bellingham for the Padden Creek Estuary habitat enhancement project? The Padden Creek project will create new salt marsh habitat, remove creosote treated timbers and pilings, and stabilize the slopes along the eastern estuary boundary. Salt marsh excavation will be done along the western shoreline and filling along the eastern shoreline. The engineers estimate was $432,398. There were 161 bid solicitations viewed and ten bids were received. (AB20657) Approved 6-0, Cathy Lehman excused.

239. Appropriate $2,931,692 for payroll checks issued from October 25 through November 10, 2014? (AB20658) Approved 6-0, Cathy Lehman excused.

240. Appropriate $3,697477 for goods and services checks issued from October 31 through November 13, 2014? (AB20659/20660) Approved 6-0, Cathy Lehman excused.

241. Approve the refunding of 2005 obligation bonds? The city can issue obligation bonds not to exceed $6,100,000 for the purpose of capturing savings from lower interest rates. This bond issue will be issued with the same amortization period as the original 2005 bonds and is expected to save in excess of 3 percent of the outstanding debt service with the true interest cost not to exceed 5.4 percent. This ordinance delegates authority to the finance director to finalize and approve the terms of the bond, with D.A. Davidson anticipated to serve as the underwriter. AB20622 (Ordinance 2014-11-061) Approved 6-0, Cathy Lehman excused.

242. Establish a property tax levy rate for 2015? (Public hearing held at October 27 meeting.) The mayor’s budget provides for a balanced general fund budget in 2015. As part of the budget process, the City Council needs to establish the property tax levy rate for the upcoming year. The estimated citywide increase in revenues from a 1 percent property tax levy increase is $214,000 plus new construction for a total of $340,000. AB20623 (Ordinance 2014-11-062) Approved 6-0, Cathy Lehman excused.

243. Appropriate an additional $70,000 for the 2014 golf course budget? In order to complete the pond restoration project, an additional $53,000 is needed for environmental investigation, permitting, monitoring and construction. In addition, several emergency facility repairs this year have cost approximately $17,000. The 2014 golf course cash fund will be reduced by $70,000. AB20627 (Ordinance 2014-11-063) Approved 6-0, Cathy Lehman excused.