Bellingham City Council

Don Gischer was sworn in as 4th Ward representative.

Shall the council:

84. Authorize the hiring of the law firm K&L Gates to deal with waterfront redevelopment issues? K&L Gates is a combination of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart in Pittsburgh and Preston Gates & Ellis in Seattle — plus law firms in Washington D.C., Boston, Los Angeles, Dallas and London. K&L Gates has approximately 1,400 lawyers in 22 cities. The project’s legal issues necessitate a law firm with redevelopment experience. (Executive Session) Approved 6-0, Gene Knutson excused.

85. Deny a $1 million damage claim for police misconduct? Around midnight on December 16, 2006, Cynthia Alexander claims that two Bellingham police officers neglected her safety when they refused to allow her to drive home because of suspected drug use. She alleges that the officers made her, a disabled woman, walk the two miles to her home; that during the walk she was raped by two men, she injured her leg when she fell into a ditch and suffered emotional distress because she was not dressed for walking in 38-degree weather. The legal department denied the claim and it was appealed to the City Council. (Executive Session) Denied 6-0, Gene Knutson excused.

86. Authorize the mayor to amend an agreement with Whatcom County for annexation in the city’s Urban Growth Area? At the 9/25/06 meeting, vote number 238, the City Council started the process to annex approximately 125 acres in the Aldrich Road/Horton Road area. The 1997 agreement with the county on annexation in the UGA requires the city and county to amend the agreement 45 days prior to a review by the Boundary Review Board and Whatcom County. (AB17417) Approved 5-1, Barbara Ryan opposed and Gene Knutson excused.

87. Approve the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District trial apprenticeship program and set aside $30,000? Currently, skilled construction tradespeople are retiring faster than they are replaced. The apprenticeship program will create training opportunities and work experience as a part of public facility district projects. The first project will be the art and children’s museum. Under the program, the contractor will receive $3 per hour for each hour of work by a state registered apprentice up to a maximum of 10,000 hours. The set-aside is about one-fifth of one percent of the $12.7 million project. AB 17420 Approved 6-0, Gene Knutson excused.

88. Authorize the mayor to award the low bid of $91,333 to Atlas Tracks, Inc. of Tualatin, Ore., for resurfacing the Civic Field track? The track was last surfaced in 2000. Besides the general public, the track is used by Sehome, Bellingham and Squalicum high schools, Western Washington University and the Bellingham Police Department. Thirty-three bids were solicited and two were received. (AB17430) Approved 6-0, Gene Knutson excused.

89. Appropriate $5,712,205 for goods and services checks issued from March 16 through April 20, 2007? (AB17433/17434/17435/17436/ 17437) Approved 6-0, Gene Knutson excused.

90. Appropriate $5,333,170 for city payroll checks issued from March 16 through April 15, 2007? (AB17438/17439) Approved 6-0, Gene Knutson excused.

91. Increase the park impact fee? The council approved the park impact fee at the 2/27/06 meeting, vote number 48. The fee is to be used for acquiring parkland or improvements to existing parks, not maintenance or operations. When the park fee was passed it was estimated the fee would generate about $2 million per year in revenue. At the 3/26/07 meeting, vote number 69, the council reduced estimated park fees in 2007 to $1 million because of reduced construction. The increase will generate an estimated $1.5 million in 2007 and a total of $53 million by 2022. AB17418 (Resolution 2007-07) Approved 5-1, Barbara Ryan opposed and Gene Knutson excused.

92. Display city flags at half-staff on May 15? Since 1994, U.S. flags on federal buildings have flown at half-staff on May 15, Peace Officers Memorial Day. That day, established in 1962, remembers officers who have died in the line of duty and recognizes the service of those who protect citizens through law enforcement. AB17427 (Resolution 2007-08) Approved 6-0, Gene Knutson excused.

93. Set May 23 as the public hearing date to consider the vacation of certain rights-of-way in the Samish neighborhood? The Bellingham Hearing Examiner will consider a petition by Pacific Crest Partners to relinquish public ownership of rights-of-way within the San Juan Hill plat. Adams Avenue is located on the north end, 44th Street on the west and 48th Street on the east. AB17429 (Resolution 2007-09) Approved 6-0, Gene Knutson excused.

94. Reclassify a position from office assistant 2 to administrative secretary? Human Resources conducted a job audit of the Information Technology Services position and recommended an upgrade to administrative secretary. The reclassification will cost $1,658 more in 2007and the annual amount is $6,876. AB17396 (Ordinance 2007-04-32) Approved 6-0, Gene Knutson excused.

95. Reallocate $665,405 in payroll costs for nine staff members in the Community Development division? This changes the payroll-funding source from the community development block grant fund to the general fund to ensure that only grant-eligible payroll costs are charged to the to grants. AB17397 (Ordinance 2007-04-33) Approved 6-0, Gene Knutson excused.

96. Change the name of the Beyond Greenways Endowment Fund to the Greenways Maintenance Endowment Fund and make changes on the use limitations? With the passage of the 1997 Beyond Greenways levy, the council created the Beyond Greenways and the B.G. Endowment Funds, with 10 percent of the levy placed in the endowment so the interest could help pay for maintaining Beyond Greenways properties. The passage of the Greenways III levy resulted in the creation of a second endowment fund to pay for maintaining Greenways properties. This vote combines the two funds as the Greenways Maintenance Endowment Fund and allows them to be used for any property purchases with Greenways money. AB17398 (Ordinance 2007-04-34) Approved 6-0, Gene Knutson excused.

97. Accept $72,500 in state funds to update the Whatcom emergency radio communications system? The money will pay for consulting services by Palidor Radio Communication Consultants of North Vancouver, B.C., to update the emergency communication system before the police and firefighter summer Olympics in 2009, the Para Olympics in 2009 and the winter 2010 Olympics in British Columbia. AB17399 (Ordinance 2007-04-36) Approved 6-0, Gene Knutson excused.

98. Appropriate the final $100,000 in drug forfeiture funds for the EWHA, Inc. litigation settlement? At the 11/18/02 meeting, vote number 201, the council declared the Bellingham Inn at 202 E. Holly, neighborhood blight. The inn owners sued the city claiming damages to their business. To settle the suit, the council approved the payment of $400,000 to EWHA to help convert the motel to apartments and retail space. The first $300,000 was approved at the 8/16/04 meeting, vote number 175; the remaining $100,000 was due when the project was complete. AB17408 (Ordinance 2007-04-36) Approved 6-0, Gene Knutson excused.