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BEL-CON-2024-11-18 November 18, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting City of Bellingham 42 min
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The Bellingham City Council held a regular meeting where they approved the 2025 budget with operating expenditures of $392 million and capital expenditures of $157 million. The council also addressed infrastructure projects, including a $4.25 million roundabout construction at James Street and Bakerview Road, fish habitat restoration at Squalicum Creek, and various noise variances for major projects. Mayor Lund provided updates on encampment enforcement actions at two locations, highlighting coordinated efforts with property owners and increased law enforcement presence. Council Member Stone raised concerns about federal immigration policy changes and their potential impact on local immigrant communities, noting the need to reaffirm the city's non-cooperation policies with immigration enforcement. The meeting included routine business items totaling seven agenda bills on the consent agenda and culminated with final passage of the 2025 property tax levy ordinance.

**2025 Budget Adoption (AB 24337):** Passed first and second reading 6-0. Operating budget of $392,057,194 and capital budget of $156,940,883. Staff recommended approval; Council approved as recommended. **James Street/Bakerview Roundabout Contract (AB 24327):** Awarded to Faber Construction for $4,251,865, unanimously 6-0. Staff recommended lowest responsive bidder; Council approved as recommended. Construction to begin spring 2025. **Solid Waste Utility Tax Increase (AB 24335):** Passed first and second reading 6-0, increasing tax from 11.5% to 17.25%. Generates $1 million for Cornwall Landfill remediation. Staff recommended approval; Council approved as recommended. **Squalicum Creek Fish Passage (AB 24326):** Approved interlocal agreement wi…

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The meeting's most significant policy discussion centered on immigration enforcement and federal policy changes following the recent election. Council Member Stone expressed "extreme weight" about the incoming administration's promises of mass deportations and questioned whether Bellingham's sanctuary-style policies would withstand potential federal pressure and funding threats. Stone noted the city has existing policies preventing local law enforcement from engaging in civil immigration enforcement but emphasized the need for clarity about whether these are "policies of convenience" or principles the city would maintain even with "significant financial repercussions." Mayor Lund responded by highlighting the Keep Washington Working compliance workgroup, which still has openings for community members interested in addressing these issues. The discussion underscored tensions betwe…
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**Mayor Kim Lund** emphasized the city's balanced approach to encampment enforcement, describing actions as both "humane and supportive" while pursuing "enforcement, crime prevention and cleanup activities." She stressed the city's continued investments in addressing root causes of homelessness, citing nearly $15 million spent in 2023 on affordable housing projects. **Council Member Hannah Stone** took the strongest position on immigration policy, expressing concern about community fear following election results and emphasizing the need to protect immigrant families regardless of legal status. She distinguished between Jerry Richmond's develop…
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**Council Member Stone, on immigration concerns:** "I am feeling an extreme weight right now. Following the election results, we haven't met since then. And as an immigration attorney, the response from our community is profound and understandably so." **Council Member Stone, on policy commitment:** "Are those policies of convenience because it's the PC thing to do and it makes us feel good, or those policies that we're going to stand by, even if it hurts, and even if that has some pretty sig…
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**Construction Timeline:** James Street/Bakerview roundabout construction begins April-May 2025, completed early summer. Boulevard Park shoreline work continues through February 15, 2025. **Budget Implementation:** 2025 budget takes effect January 1, 2025, with new solid waste utility tax and investment policy changes. **Property Acquisitions:** Lake Whatcom watershed property closings scheduled for November 22, 2024 ($230,000) and December 6, 2024 ($1,026,000). **Housing Initiatives:** Mayor Lund will announce new housing initiatives later…

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After this meeting, Bellingham now has an adopted 2025 budget totaling nearly $549 million in combined operating and capital expenditures, representing the city's largest budget to date. The solid waste utility tax will increase by 5.75 percentage points effective January 1, adding approximately $1 million annually for environmental remediation. The city gained authorization to spend $4.25 million on the James Street roundabout project and secured federal design funding for Squalicum Creek fish barrier removal. The city authorized acquisition of two additional Lake Whatcom watershed properties totaling half an acre for $1.26 million, expanding protected watershed land. Investment policy changed to direct all ear…
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# An Evening of Budgets, Encampments, and Post-Election Concerns On a cool November evening, the Bellingham City Council gathered for their regular meeting on November 18th, 2024, to address a packed agenda that would span from routine municipal business to profound questions about the city's values in the face of federal political changes. Council President Dan Hammill called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM, with six council members present and Councilmember Hollie Huthman excused. The evening would prove to be one of both administrative accomplishment and emotional reflection, as the council adopted their 2025 budget while grappling with concerns about federal immigration policy and its potential impact on Bellingham's immigrant community. ## Appointments and Mayor's Focus on Encampments Mayor Kim Lund began with two appointments, including Jerry Richmond to the Planning and Development Commission. The appointment sparked a brief clarifying discussion when Councilmember Hannah Stone raised questions about potential confusion with Indigo Real Estate, a property management company that has been a source of community controversy. Mayor Lund assured the council that Richmond's company, Indigo Enterprise Northwest, has no connection to the property management firm. The bulk of Mayor Lund's report focused on the city's ongoing efforts to address unauthorized encampments, particularly two high-priority locations that have drawn increasing community concern. At the Eastport Road encampment near Walmart, the city was preparing to begin cleaning and fencing operations in collaboration with the owners of the nearby Tallwood Apartments. "This first and specific step was chosen to help the residents of the Tallwood Apartments, who lived with the impacts and within the impacts of encampment activities," Mayor Lund explained, describing it as the beginning of "a multi-phase, multi-year effort necessary to clean up and repair the environmental damage to the 20-acre property." Per…
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### Meeting Overview The City of Bellingham City Council met on November 18, 2024, for their regular meeting, focusing primarily on the adoption of the 2025 budget and addressing ongoing encampment issues in the community. The meeting included multiple committee sessions and concluded with the approval of significant ordinances and property acquisitions. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Tourism Promotion Area (TPA):** A special assessment area where qualified businesses pay fees to fund tourism marketing activities, as authorized by state law. **Interlocal Agreement:** A contract between two or more government entities to cooperate on shared projects or services, like the city working with the port on creek restoration. **Fish Passage Barriers:** Physical obstacles like culverts or bridges that prevent fish from swimming upstream to reach their spawning habitat. **Roundabout:** A circular intersection designed to improve traffic flow and safety by eliminating traffic signals and reducing conflict points. **Noise Variance:** Official permission to exceed normal noise restrictions during construction, typically granted to allow extended work hours. **Executive Session:** A closed meeting portion where officials discuss confidential matters like litigation, personnel issues, or property acquisitions. **Consent Agenda:** Routine, non-controversial items that can be approved together in a single vote without individual discussion. **Lake Whatcom Watershed:** The area of land that drains into Lake Whatcom, Bellingham's primary drinking water source, requiring special protection. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Dan Hammill | Council President, Third Ward | | Hannah Stone | Council Member, First Ward | | Skip Williams | Council Member, Fourth Ward | | Lisa Anderson | Council Member, Fifth Ward (attended remotely) | | Michael Lil…
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Budget & Finance Transportation & Infrastructure Housing Government Operations Kim Lund Hannah Stone Daniel Hammill Edwin Williams Jace Cotton Lisa Anderson Michael Lilliquist Jerry Richmond Port Bellingham Faber Construction Budget Finance Immigration Policy Homelessness Infrastructure Investment Lake Whatcom Watershed Fish Habitat Restoration