July 2006
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Earl Dennis
Action Taken at May 15, 2006 Meeting
Shall the council:
115. Change downtown parking meter enforcement to 9 a.m.? At the 6/27/05 meeting, vote number 134, the council voted to begin parking meter enforcement at 8 a.m. (it was previously 10 a.m.). Downtown merchants complained that the earlier start time was costing them business. Because there is insufficient parking at 8 a.m. to demand high turnover, the parking commission recommended a 9 a.m. start time. Enforcement commences on 6/1/06. (AB16982) Approved 7-0
116. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $2,147,758 to Wilder Construction of Bellingham for the annual street resurfacing program? This project will lay asphalt on five miles of 21 city streets, while making repairs to sidewalks and drainage systems. Portions of Holly and Fraser streets will be bid as separate projects later this year. The Wilder bid is $159,015 under engineer’s estimate. Twenty-seven bids were solicited and two were received. (AB16998) Approved 7-0
117. Issue a noise variance to Wilder Construction for street resurfacing? The variance (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.) covers Lakeway Drive, Squalicum Parkway and Bellis Fair Parkway during June and July. Each location should take two to four days. (AB16999) Approved 7-0
118. Appropriate $2,643,784 for city payroll checks issued from April 16 through April 30, 2006? (AB17000) Approved 7-0
119. Appropriate $2,861,610 for goods and services checks issued from April 21 through May 5, 2006? (AB17701/17702) Approved 7-0
120. Establish a fee schedule for the transportation management review? At the 4/24/06 meeting, vote number 103, the council established a transportation management program to review development applications for compliance with traffic standards. New developments that exceed traffic standards must be mitigated or the project denied. This sets a fee schedule to cover the program’s administrative costs. An estimated $60,000 in yearly fees are expected to be collected. AB16985 (Resolution 2006-13) Approved 7-0
121. Amend the fee schedule for utility extensions outside the city limits? The schedule was established at the 10/11/04 meeting, vote number 215, and doesn’t have a minimum or maximum application fee. This sets the minimum fee at $500 and the maximum at $5,000 for single/multiple family, commercial or industrial developments. Developments exceeding 50 lots will be adjusted to cover the city’s expense. All services in existing service zones are $200 per contract service. AB16986 (Resolution 2006-14) Approved 7-0
122. Adopt boundary adjustments and zoning changes in the Bellingham Urban Growth Area? At the May 2, 2006 work session, the City Council approved the land supply boundary adjustments and zoning changes in the Urban Growth Area. This vote recommends adding the “Queen Mountain five-year review area” and forwards the adjustments and changes to the Whatcom County Council for action. AB16993 (Resolution 2006-15) Approved 4-3, Joan Beardsley, Terry Bornemann and Barbara Ryan opposed.
123. Grant final plat approval to phase 1 of Samish Heights? The 29-acre plat is located at the end of Wildwood Drive in the Samish Neighborhood. The Bellingham Hearing Examiner approved the preliminary plat on October 27, 2003. The plat consists of 20 residential lots, three open space tracts, a stormwater detention tract and a reserve tract. AB16997 (Resolution 2006-16) Approved 7-0
124. Issue $11,630,000 in water utility revenue bonds? The bonds will be used to construct a reservoir and pump station in the upper portion of Yew Street Hill ($6,200,000) and to purchase land in the watershed ($5 million)—the city has already approved $3,427,500 of this money for watershed purchases. The pump station bond will be repaid over 20 years and the watershed bond will be paid over 10 years at an estimated average of 4.8 percent interest rate for a total interest cost of $5,200,000. The final rate will be set on June 15, 2006 sale date. AB16971 (Ordinance 2006-05-50) Approved 7-0
125. Accept a state grant of $197,000 to improve lighting at the Mount Baker Theatre? The grant is awarded to the city of Bellingham and the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District. Lobby and auditorium lighting will be renovated to comply with the national electrical code. Senators Dale Brandland and Harriet Spaniel, Representatives Doug Ericksen and Kelli Linville sponsored the 2005-2007 state budget expenditure. AB16975 (Ordinance 2006-05-51) Approved 7-0
126. Accept a state grant of $6,000 for police department overtime pay? The Washington State Traffic Safety Commission grant will be used for the “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign from 5/15/06 to 6/3/06. AB16976 (Ordinance 2006-05-52) Approved 7-0
127. Amend the arterial street designation system? The arterial designation list was last updated in 1999 and no longer accurately reflects traffic patterns. Barkley Boulevard, Deemer and Telegraph roads, Fraser and Puget streets are not listed. The list will coordinate the city’s system with the county and state. The official arterial street list will be added to the Comprehensive Plan. AB16955 (Ordinance 2006-05-53) Approved 7-0
128. Amend the arterial street designations for truck routes? The designations were last updated in 1999 and no longer accurately reflect the arterials that should be used for truck traffic. This modification adds arterials such as Lakeway between I-5 and the city limits and routes trucks away from the watershed while coordinating the city’s system with the county and state. The official truck route list will be added to the Comprehensive Plan. AB16956 (Ordinance 2006-05-54) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at June 5, 2006 Meeting
Shall the council:
129. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $53,333 to T.E.K. Construction of Bellingham for a chemical induction unit? The water treatment plant will use the unit as part of the process in which aluminum sulfate is added to the water to coagulate particles making them easier to remove. Forty-one bids were solicited and three were received. (AB17021) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
130. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $7.24 a ton to Ludtke-Pacific Trucking of Bellingham for the hauling and disposal of materials from excavations? The material comes from ditches, sewers, storm drains, water mains and street repairs. The city disposes of approximately 8,000 cubic yards annually at an estimated cost of $58,000. Thirty-one bids were solicited and five were received. (AB17022) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
131. Reject a sole bid of $120,343 for mowing to control vegetation? The bid from JTI Commercial Services of Everson was $60,000 above the budgeted amount. This is the third time mowing bids were solicited this year; the first two times no bids were received. The bid awarded for mowing in 2004 was $71,175 and in 2005 was $48,000. Pubic works is reviewing other options for mowing along major trails, sidewalks, intersections and roadways. Fourteen bids were solicited and one was received. (AB17023) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
132. Reject four bids for a vehicle exhaust system at six fire stations? The purpose of the system is to remove carbon monoxide from inside the stations. The two low bids ($275,808 and $336,815) didn’t respond to verification efforts and the two high bids ($508,962 and $549,929) were above engineer’s estimates. Thirty-eight bids were solicited and four were received. (AB17024) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
133. Appropriate $4,465,068 for goods and services checks issued from May 5, through May 19, 2006? (AB17725/17726/17727) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
134. Appropriate $2,407,366 for city payroll checks issued from May 1 through May 15, 2006? (AB17029) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
135. Sell $11,630,000 in water utility revenue bonds? The sale was authorized at the 5/15/06 meeting, vote number 124. The bonds will be used to construct a reservoir and pump station on Yew Street Hill ($6,200,000) and purchase land in the watershed ($5million). The bonds will have 10 and 20 year maturity; the average interest rate is 4.8 percent with total interest costs of $5,200,000. AB17006 (Resolution 2006-17) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
136. Amend the 2006 action plan of the 2003-2007 consolidated plan? The action plan designates city use of federal grants for low- and moderate-income households. The 2006 action plan was approved at the 10/24/05 meeting, vote number 228 and the estimated income was $116,564 higher than what will be received. Decreased expenses will offset decreased income. This amendment makes adjustments for the lower income and updates the plan with the federal government. AB17012 (Resolution 2006-18) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
137. Grant final plat approval for division one of The Reserve at Cordata in the Guide Meridian neighborhood? The plat (located on the Northeast corner of the Cordata Parkway and Waldron Road) consists of 80 single-family lots, two open space tracts, a stormwater retention tract and a tract reserved for future development (88 single-family lots). AB17018 (Resolution 2006-19) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
138. Appropriate an additional $400,000 for electrical wiring repairs at Joe Martin Field? The electrical wiring had been assumed adequate before the start of the $7 million Civic Field improvement project (1/7/06 meeting, vote number 2). Since then, hazardous conditions have been discovered. These include medium voltage lines not buried to code depth and high voltage lines without a safe disconnect switch. The funding will come out of the first quarter real estate excise taxes. AB16980 (Ordinance 2006-06-55) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
139. Create an additional parking enforcement officer position and appropriate $21,762 to pay for that position starting on 7/1/06? The 2003 budget removed a parking enforcement officer, leaving two officers. Recent downtown development has consumed all of the city’s available parking lot permits resulting in meter feeding. Another officer is needed to cover the meters. AB16981 (Ordinance 2006-06-56) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
140. Amend the Bellingham Municipal Code on visibility at traffic intersections? The code stipulates that interference with drivers’ visibility is a nuisance. Property owners have taken the city’s interpretation of a nuisance to court. This ordinance clarifies a nuisance, naming it any organic or man-made item (such as signs, fences, trees, landscaping, etc.) that blocks a driver’s ability to see traffic or endangers the public health and safety. AB16983 (Ordinance 2006-06-57) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
141. Adopt a new Bellingham Comprehensive Plan? The Growth Management Act requires the periodic update of the comprehensive plan, a broad statement of community vision, goals and policies that direct physical development of the city. After three years of work, 14 public hearings and 30 work sessions, the plan is finished. AB16992 (Ordinance 2006-06-59) Approved 5-2, Bob Ryan and Terry Bornemann opposed, Joan Beardsley excused.
142. Accept grant transfers of $4,000 for speed patrols? Several agencies received state grants for the “Speed, Save It for the Slopes” program. For details, see the 1/7/06 meeting, vote number 7. The police departments of Blaine ($1,500) and Ferndale ($1,000) and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife ($1,500) were unable to use their grant funds and transferred them to the Bellingham Police Department. AB16996 (Ordinance 2006-06-59) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
