July 2003
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Russel T. Weston
Action Taken at the May 12, 2003 Meeting
69. Approve payments for damage caused by a water main break on West Rusley Drive? The lower level of two homes was damaged. The council has not received all the bills so the total dollar amount is not known. Approved 7-0
70. Accept the lowest qualifying bid of $121,7689 from Clyde/West of Seattle for a 10-12 metric ton Volvo excavator? Two lower bids were disqualified. Fund transfers were needed as only $100,000 was budgeted. The city should no longer have the need to rent an excavator. AB15661 Approved 7-0
71. Direct staff to prepare a statement of concerns regarding Sudden Valley becoming an Urban Growth Area and possibly a city? Bellingham would be on record in a pending lawsuit regarding this issue in a Snohomish County case. Concerns about a potential new city in the Lake Whatcom Watershed will be prepared. Approved 5-2, Bob Ryan and Grant Deger opposed.
72. Approve minutes from afternoon work sessions? The minutes will become part of the official record. The number of council meetings has been reduced from 38 in 2002 to 28 in 2003 with work sessions (no votes are taken) replacing council meetings. Approved 7-0
73. Mayor Mark Asmundson made five appointments to the Lake Whatcom Watershed Advisory Board. Rud Brown and Stan Snapp for two-year terms expiring June 1, 2005, and Seth Cool, Jonathan Sitkin and Myron Wlaznak for three-year terms expiring June 1, 2006. The board will advise on property acquisition and use of city acquired land around Lake Whatcom. AB15665 (Council confirmation not required)
74. Agree with the Whatcom County Council on the wording of the Medic One levy and placing it on the November 4 ballot? The levy ($.38 ½ per $1,000 of assessed value) would generate an average of $5.4 million per year for the next six years. If the ballot issue passes, the $3 million currently collected through property, business and occupation and sales tax to fund this service may be used for other purposes and property taxes would increase for all properties in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. AB15601 (Resolution 2003-11) Approved 7-0
75. Correct errors in Ordinance 2003-04-14 (June 2003, page 17, vote 53)? The year end general fund reserve would be negative $590,670, wastewater year end reserve would be $5,286,518 and stormwater year end reserve would be $799,604. AB15637 (Ordinance 2003-05-23) Approved 7-0
76. Increase the utility bills’ income limit for low-income seniors and disabled persons and tie the annual limit to the consumer price index? The low-income limit would increase from $22,000 to $23,000. The difference between cost of service and payments would increase from $146,000 in 2002 to $165,000 in 2003. Automatic annual increases mean this issue will no longer be brought before the council. AB 15638 (Ordinance 2003-05-24) Approved 7-0
77. Authorize spending $281,125 and placing $30,662 in reserve funds? Certify $80,150 for professional services, $33,500 for recruitment/relocation, $126,542 for fire department mobile data terminals (computers in fire trucks) $24,141 for cost overruns on the Wayfinding System signs and $16,792 for library books. AB15639 (Ordinance 2003-05-25) Approved 7-0
78. Spend an additional $216,249 for police department training, clothing, safety equipment and parking area modifications? Motorcycle police will have all-weather suits, parking for seized vehicles will be provided and drug detection abilities will be increased. AB 15640 (Ordinance 2003-05-26) Approved 7-0
79. Spending an additional $11,500 for police overtime and rulers (12-inch measuring sticks with a safety message) for second graders? Failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and seat belt use enforcement will be increased. Funding will be from state grants. AB15641 (Ordinance 2003-05-27) Approved 7-0
80. Appropriate $72,182 for the 2002 wellness incentives program? City employees, on their personal time, record (in a booklet) healthy activities such as walking, exercising or attempts to quit smoking. AB15643 (Ordinance 2003-05-28) Approved 7-0
81. Amend specifications of Ordinance #10686 (approved 11/6/95) for the 42-lot development of Padden Heights? The revisions would conform to the Whatcom County preliminary short plat decision. Lot layout and road standards are updated, city water service will be extended and more sidewalks/trails will be provided. AB15649 (Ordinance 2003-05-29) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at the May 19, 2003 Meeting
82. Authorize the mayor to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District that restricts use of the funds to a regional center? Funding for projects within the civic center would be the only option considered. The $13 million state sales tax rebate over 25 years (which requires a 1/3 match) will be applied to the Centennial Project Plan. AB15635 Approved 5-2, Gene Knutson and Bob Ryan opposed.
83. Accept the low bid of $127,797 from Custom Design of Bellingham for “Wayfinding System” kiosks in the downtown and waterfront area? This is a joint effort by the city and the Port of Bellingham. The port will reimburse the city for their share of the expenses. AB15669 Approved 7-0
84. Reject all bids for the Taylor Street dock because a late bid was opened and considered? This project, which has been delayed for five years due to permitting, will be delayed a little longer because bids will be required to be resubmitted. AB15670 Approved 7-0
85. Modify the use of block grant and home investment funds? More low-income housing and housing assistance will be provided as well as park improvements (available for review at the Bellingham Public Library). AB15672 (Resolution 2003-12) Approved 7-0
86. Accept the low bid of $4,766,210 from Strider Construction of Bellingham for the Oak Street sewer station upgrade? Sewage pumping capacity will be increased by 62.5 percent at this overflow point (in 1999 there were four sewage overflows into the bay); additional treatment capacity may be needed when these overflows are prevented. This bid exceeds budget by $1,266,210. AB15673 Approved 7-0
87. Reallocate $778,535 for union-negotiated wage increases? This will pay (librarians, police dispatchers, other staff and reclassify two positions) the 2 percent wage increases approved by the council in February and March this year. AB15658 (Ordinance 2003-05-30) Approved 7-0
88. Replace two accounting positions with higher paying financial management positions in the Public Works Department? Temporary help performing more sophisticated work than funding for the previous position justified will become permanent. AB15659 (Ordinance 2003-05-31) Approved 7-0
89. Add $10,000 to the budget of the “Reining in the Rain” project? A rain garden booklet in electronic format will be added to the project and a stormwater retention system will be installed and monitored in the Municipal Court Building parking lot. Funding for the stormwater management education project is a state grant. AB15660 (Ordinance 2003-05-32) Approved 7-0
90. Authorize spending $4,000 to advertise the American Museum of Radio? Ads will be on KOMO and King radio stations and in two magazines. Total advertising cost is $6,305. AB15662 (Ordinance 2003-05-33) Approved 7-0
91. Authorize spending of $20,000 for the development of a tourism-focused ‘brand’ for Bellingham/Whatcom County? The total cost is $50,000—with funding from Whatcom County, the Port of Bellingham and Whatcom Convention and Visitors Bureau. The purpose is to project the county as an attractive place to live, work, visit and invest. New York and Oregon based companies will prepare the ‘brand.’ AB15663 (Ordinance 2003-05-34) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at June 9, 2003 Meeting
92. Grant a 10-year property tax exemption to the proposed 24-unit apartment building at 839 N. State Street? The exemption would be for the building, not the property. Since the vote failed the building at the corner of Myrtle and State Streets will not receive a property tax exemption and may be built taller to make it profitable. AB15678 Failed 3-4, Gene Knutson, Grant Deger, Terry Bornemann and Louise Bjornson opposed.
93. Award the low bid of $43,118 to Crosby Restorations of Bellevue for concrete repairs at Bayview Cemetery Mausoleum? Cracks in the walls caused by moisture from the roof leaks will be fixed.AB15680 Approved 7-0
94. Enter into a $132,558 agreement with the Bellingham School District to install a computer fiber optic network? The network will connect Alderwood, Birchwood, Columbia and Shuksan schools and also serve the city sewer, water, traffic control, northwest fire station plus the county Public Utility District? The city will be reimbursed $73,332 from the school district and $66,279 from a federal grant, the remaining $7,053 will go into street reserves. AB15681 Approved 7-0
95. Purchase .42 acres (2501 Willis) at the intersection of Harrison Street and the Interurban Trail (near Hoag Pond) for $137,500? The price includes the cost to demolish the home to which the seller/resident (Karen Hanna) has an 11-month occupancy right and may take any or all parts of the building. Funding will be from the 1997 Beyond Greenway levy. AB15684 Approved 7-0
96. Enter into a $734,000 grant agreement with Washington State Department of Ecology for assistance in cleanup of the Holly Street landfill? The state grant funds will pay 50 percent of the Old Town cleanup cost with the city paying the remainder. Grant funds are being sought for the other 50 percent and for 50 percent of the $124,316 methane gas collection and vent system that has been installed in Maritime Heritage Park. AB15685 Approved 7-0
97. Declare the city has no use for 6.3 acres at 2140 Division Street and offer it for sale? The property will be sold for $850,000 with the money going into the street fund. Potential buyers will be evaluated along with the proposed use of the property. AB15677 (Resolution 2003-13) Approved 7-0
98. Set the date for a public hearing on the six-year transportation plan? The public has an opportunity at the June 23 council meeting to comment on priorities and projects for spending transportation money and setting impact fees. AB15686 (Resolution 2003-14) Approved 7-0
99. Appropriate an additional $480,057 for home loans, human service agencies and home repairs for low income and/or disabled persons? Funding would be from federal grants. City parks, agencies such as Whatcom County Opportunity Council, YWCA, Catholic Community Services etc., and first time home buyers or low-income renters are the beneficiaries. AB15671 (Ordinance 2003-06-35) Approved 7-0
