March 2007
Watching Government
Bellingham City Council
Compiled by Earl Dennis
Action Taken at January 8, 2007 Meeting
Shall the council:
1. Approve a three-year labor contract with the What-comm Public Safety Dispatch Guild? The guild has ratified the three-year agreement which will increase wages 3.5 percent in 2007 and 3 percent in 2008-2009, will give a 1 percent certification premium for obtaining and maintaining an advanced certification, it will increase vacation days to match other city employees vacation days and will continue the attendance incentive program. Approved 7-0
2. Approve a three-month medical leave for Joan Beardsley? The City Charter requires the City Council to excuse a member who misses more than three consecutive meetings or the office must be forfeited. Joan Beardsley will be treated for bone marrow cancer, forcing her to miss more than three consecutive meetings. (AB17273) Approved 7-0
3. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $173,875 to Veca Electric of Bellingham for lighting renovations at the Mount Baker Theatre? The original 1927 lighting has never been restored. The fixtures will be returned to their original state, replacing lamp sockets and wiring and bringing them up to code. The expenses will be reimbursed by a state grant. Forty-nine bids were solicited and three were received. (AB17274) Approved 7-0
4. Appropriate $4,951,704 for goods and services checks issued from December 1 through December 22, 2006? (AB1777/17279/17280) Approved 7-0
5. Appropriate $5,090,625 for city payroll checks issued from November 16 through December 15, 2006? (AB17276/17278) Approved 7-0
6. Correct an error in the septage waste dumping rates? The amended rules and regulations passed at the 8/14/06 meeting, vote number 206, contained the error. A scriveners error listed the rates as $0.013 per gallon; they should have been $0.13 per gallon, no rate change. AB17262 (Ordinance 2007-01-01) Approved 7-0
7. Close the City Hall annex fund? The construction work is completed; funds are no longer needed. The balance of $26,784 will be transferred to real estate excise tax fund, which was the last source of funds. AB17268 (Ordinance 2007-01-02) Approved 7-0
8. Increase expenses in the 2006 budget for street paving? The 2006 public works budget is increased by $18 (not a typo). AB17269 (Ordinance 2007-01-03) Approved 7-0
9. Close the Greenways fund, transfer the remaining balance to Beyond Greenways and create a Greenways III fund? The Greenways levy was passed in May of 1990; the fund will not have any future tax revenue so it is being closed. The remaining $23,280 will be transferred to its successor, Beyond Greenways, passed by the voters in November 1997. Greenways III, passed by the voters in May 2006, will start receiving money in 2007. AB17270 (Ordinance 2007-01-04) Approved 7-0 For corrections to this ordinance, see page 20, vote 28.
Action Taken at January 22, 2007 Meeting
Shall the council:
10. Approve the library boards recommendation to demolish the downtown library and build a new one at the same location? After evaluating over 21 sites, the board decided the current site was the best location for a 70,000-80,000 square foot building. There is no fiscal impact as the board is only requesting approval of the site. A bond measure will be approved at a future meeting. (AB17281B) Approved 7-0
11. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $214,304 to H.B. Hansen Construction of Lynden, for segment B of the Coast Millennium Trail? A federal grant will cover 70 percent of the construction; the remaining 30 percent will come from Beyond Greenways funds. Segment A was approved at the 6/27/05 meeting, vote number 124. This segment will create the trail from the Squalicum Creek Park entrance on Squalicum Way to the Bay-to-Baker Trail. Segment C will be approved at a future date. Upon completion, the Coast Millennium Trail will stretch from Skagit County to White Rock, British Columbia. Eighty-four bids were solicited and 10 were received. (AB17288) Approved 7-0
12. Appropriate $2,813,214 for city payroll checks issued from December 16 through December 31, 2006? (AB1796) Approved 7-0
13. Appropriate $4,110,372 for goods and services checks issued from December 22, 2006 through January 12, 2007? (AB17297/17298/17299) Approved 7-0
14. Accept and spend a federal grant of $18,268 for domestic violence and sexual assault services? Both the city and Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County received the grant that will pay the salary of a volunteer coordinator. Volunteers work with the Bellingham Police Department; they provide information and referrals for female victims of domestic violence. AB17275 (Ordinance 2007-01-05) Approved 7-0
Action Taken at February 5, 2007 Meeting
Shall the council:
15. Authorize the mayor to spend $813,000 to purchase 50 acres of property in the Lake Whatcom watershed? David Davis is the owner and the purchase is part of the watershed acquisition program. The property is located in the vicinity of Northshore and Y roads; both Olsen and Carpenter Creeks cross the property. (Executive Session) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
16. Authorize the city to institute a third-party claim against Crown Point Development for defense and indemnification in connection with a lawsuit filed by Gray Revocable Trust? (Executive Session) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
17. Approve an $80,000 settlement with Comcast Corporation for unpaid franchise fees, utility taxes and accrued interest? At the 8/1/05 meeting, vote number 164, the council authorized the city attorney to sue the cable company to recover approximately $80,000 in delinquent utility taxes and interest and to spend up to $50,000 for legal expenses. (Executive Session) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
18. Authorize the city to join 32 other governmental entities in appealing portions of phase II of the state of Washingtons municipal stormwater permits? The appeal contends that some portions of the permits may expose municipalities to litigation from third parties, take away local discretion and obligate municipalities to enforce regulations currently administered by the state. (Executive Session) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
19. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $324.11 per ton to General Chemical Performance Products of Parsippany, NJ, for aluminum sulfate? The water treatment plant uses aluminum sulfate in the filtration process to coagulate particles making them easier to remove from the water. The city uses approximately 180 tons a year; the estimated cost for 2007 is $58,339. The city paid $198.54 a ton in 2004, $230.46 a ton in 2005 and $280.49 a ton in 2006. Seventeen bids were solicited and two were received. (AB17317) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
20. Appropriate $2,580,032 for city payroll checks issued from January 1 through January 15, 2007? (AB17319) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
21. Appropriate $2,026,598 for goods and services checks issued from January 12 through January 19, 2007? (AB17320/17321) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
22. Authorize the mayor to apply for a $1.1 million county grant to be used for New Whatcom planning? If approved, the Whatcom County Economic Development Investment grant would partially pay the citys half of the costs of preparing regulations, the master plan and the environmental impact statement. The Port of Bellingham is liable for the other half. AB17304 (Resolution 2007-01) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
23. Establish city council goals and objectives for 2007? The council discussed the 11 proposed goals at the January 20 retreat, but deferred action until staff could make some clarification edits and provide greater details for goal 7, which deals with transportation, parking and land-use decisions. AB17312 (Resolution 2007-02) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
24. Reclassify a position from data services assistant to engineering technician? The positions duties in public works have changed over time to require extensive use of GIS tools with many of the same functions as that of a GIS technician. Human resources reviewed the classification and found the duties were in line with the engineering technician classification. The position pay will be increased by $2,259 for 2007 and thereafter provides an annual increase of $5,376. AB17284 (Ordinance 2007-02-06) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
25. Reclassify a position from parking services assistant 3 to accounting assistant 3? The positions duties in public works have grown to include 70-80 percent accounting support: adjusting journal entries, investigating variances, applying tax rates for contracts and lease holds, monitoring budget variances and performing month-end reconciliations. It now needs accounting support skills instead of general clerical skills. Human resources recommended an accounting assistant 3 classification, adding $1,244 for 2007 and thereafter provides an annual increase of $2,400. AB17285 (Ordinance 2007-02-07) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
26. Reclassify a position from parking services assistant 2 to secretary 3? The addition of Depot Market Square and the broadening of the parking commissions authority have resulted in public works department management requesting a review of the position to allow them to fill the vacant position. Human resources recommended a secretary 3 classification, an increase of the starting base pay $1,576 for 2007 and thereafter provides an annual increase of $2,172. The position is currently vacant. AB17286 (Ordinance 2007-02-08) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
27. Reclassify a position from communications specialist to program manager 1? The incumbent planned and developed the Planning and Community Development Departments overall communications and also acts as the Director of Planning and Community Developments confidential advisor. The additional duties added to the position triggered a job audit, which has reclassified it as program manager 1. The title of the position is communications coordinator for the waterfront redevelopment project. The fiscal impact for 2007 is $11,593 and thereafter provides an annual increase of $18,552. AB17287 (Ordinance 2007-02-09) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
28. Correct the Greenways/Beyond Greenways/Greenways III ordinance? The ordinance, passed at the 1/8/07 meeting, vote number 9, contained errors. The amount being transferred from Greenways to Beyond Greenways was wrong; it is $23,280, not $23,870. Also corrected is the Greenways III fund; creation of the fund was not included in the previous ordinance. AB17294 (Ordinance 2007-02-10) Approved 6-0, Joan Beardsley excused.
