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City Council

BEL-CON-2025-01-27 January 27, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting City of Bellingham
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The Bellingham City Council approved a significant $3.65 million watershed property acquisition that will protect 754 acres in the Lake Whatcom watershed, marking one of the city's largest land purchases in recent memory. Council also established the inaugural Keep Washington Working Act work group to examine immigration enforcement policies, dissolved the Climate Action Committee while creating a new Finance and Budget Committee, and approved several routine personnel appointments and labor agreements. The meeting demonstrated the city's continued commitment to environmental protection through strategic land acquisition, with Council Member Lilliquist noting the $5,000 per-acre cost represents "a bargain" given the expense of water treatment. The immigration policy discussion reflected the city's response to federal enforcement concerns, with Mayor Lund reaffirming that Bellingham police take no action based on immigration status alone. Council also advanced infrastructure improvements through the Community Streets Program and approved a Holly Street bike lane pilot project update, while addressing homelessness through a severe weather shelter agreement with Whatcom County. The reorganization of council committees reflects a shift toward integrating climate action throughout all city operations rather than isolating it in a separate committee.

**Property Surplus Sale (AB 24412)**: Passed 7-0. Authorized sale of triangular parcel at Cornwall Avenue and East Pine Street to Farm View LLC for $7,500, retaining sewer easement. Enables larger watershed acquisition. **Keep Washington Working Act Group (AB 24413)**: Passed 7-0. Appointed eight inaugural members: Rebecca Agiewich, Eamon Bollinger, Ian Garconnette, Catalina Hope, Holly Pai, Scott Powell, Crystal Rodriguez, and Abigail Santucci. **Personnel Appointments**: All passed 7-0. Reappointed Sarah Gardner (Greenways Advisory Committee), Katie Shearer (Transportation Commission), and Sharon Rice (Hearing Examiner for two years). **Community Streets Program (AB 24418)**: Passed 7-0. Approved implementation of resident-driven traffic safety initiative with four focus areas: checklist projects, capital projects, neighborhood projects, and location studies. **Lake Whatcom Management Program (AB 24419)**: Passed 7-0. Adopted 2025-2029 work plan with $71.2 million in shar…

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**Watershed Protection Strategy**: The 754-acre Nielsen Brothers property acquisition represents the city's ongoing commitment to protecting drinking water quality for over 100,000 residents. Council Member Anderson emphasized the environmental benefits, noting the property contains several drainages flowing into Lake Whatcom and hasn't been logged in over 20 years. The purchase prevents future logging cycles that could increase phosphorus levels and water treatment costs. Council Member Hammill highlighted the property's contiguity with protected county land, creating larger conservation corridors. **Immigration Enforcement Policy**: Mayor Lund's statement clarified the city's position following federal administration changes. The Keep Washington Working Act, established by state legislature in 2019, restricts local law enforcement participation in federal immigration enforcement. The newly created work group will examine city policies and practices to ensure ongoing compliance, with particular focus on hearing from community members with direct immigration experience. **Climate Action Integration**: The dissolution of the Climate Action Committee doesn't s…
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**Paul Schisler** (Public comment on surplus sale): Generally opposes public property sales but supports this transaction given limited city use and adjacency benefits. Advocates for productive reuse of underutilized public property through sale or long-term lease. Provided historical context about pre-railroad shoreline conditions and indigenous presence. **Chi Pana Outrigger Canoe Club**: Supports the surplus property sale after reaching arrangements with Farm View LLC to continue using the property. Previously held temporary six-month seasonal license for boat storage. **Council Member Lisa Anderson**: Strongly supports watershed acquisition, noting multiple creek drainages and 20+ year logging hiatus create significant water quality benefits. Views $5,000 per acre cost as invest…
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**Council Member Lisa Anderson, on watershed purchase:** "What excites me about this purchase is that there are several drainages and creeks that go through this area and into the lake. So when it comes to phosphorus and reduction, the fact that this, you know, other than perhaps some forest management that might have to happen, the fact that this won't be in a logging cycle is a huge bonus for the lake." **Council Member Michael Lilliquist, on property acquisition cost:** "So the City of Bel…
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**February 14, 2025**: Closing scheduled for Nielsen Brothers 754-acre watershed property acquisition. **First Quarter 2025**: Keep Washington Working Act work group expected to begin meetings to examine city immigration policies and practices. **Second Quarter 2025**: PFAS-free response gear expected to arrive and be distributed to fire department employees. **March 31, 2025**: Draft Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan due to Washington Military Department's Emergency Management Division. **April 2, 2025**: Tentati…

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**Property Portfolio**: City will acquire 754 acres of watershed protection land while disposing of small triangular parcel, significantly expanding environmental protection assets. **Committee Structure**: Climate Action Committee dissolved, replaced by Finance and Budget Committee with Council Member Anderson as chair, Lilliquist and Hammill as members. **Immigration Policy Oversight**: Established eight-member Keep Washington Working Act work group to examine and ensure compliance with state immigration protection laws. **Transportation Programs**: Community Streets Program formally implemented, replacing previous neighborhood traffic safety program with more…
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# A Meeting of Multiple Priorities: Bellingham City Council Navigates Water Protection, Immigration Policy, and Infrastructure On January 27, 2025, the Bellingham City Council convened for what appeared to be a routine regular meeting but proved to be a pivotal session addressing watershed protection, federal immigration policy, and the city's evolving infrastructure needs. With all seven council members present—including Hannah Stone joining virtually—the meeting demonstrated the council's approach to both immediate civic concerns and long-term strategic planning. The evening's most significant business occurred during executive session, where the council authorized the city's largest land purchase in recent memory, while also addressing contemporary challenges around federal immigration enforcement and local government's role in protecting immigrant communities. ## The $3.65 Million Watershed Investment The meeting's most consequential decision came during executive session, when the council unanimously approved the purchase of 754 acres of Lake Whatcom watershed property from Nielsen Brothers Inc. for $3,650,000, plus an estimated $184,412 in compensating tax and $96,830 in real estate excise tax. This massive acquisition represented what Councilmember Michael Lilliquist called "one of the biggest parcels we bought in as long as I can remember." While the total cost approached $4 million, Lilliquist noted the per-acre cost of barely $5,000 made it "a bargain when you consider all the expense that goes into our need to preserve water quality and treat the water in Lake Whatcom." The property's significance extends beyond its size. As Councilmember Lisa Anderson explained, "there are several drainages and creeks that go through this area and into the lake. So when it comes to phosphorus and reduction, the fact that this won't be in a logging cycle is a huge bonus for the lake." The l…
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### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council held its regular meeting on January 27, 2025, with all seven council members present (Council Member Stone participated virtually). The meeting focused heavily on land protection for drinking water, transportation improvements, and organizational restructuring, while also addressing immigration policy, homeless encampment cleanup, and community service initiatives. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Surplus Property:** Real estate owned by the city that is no longer needed for municipal purposes and can be sold to private parties, following specific legal procedures and public hearings. **Keep Washington Working Act:** A 2019 state law that restricts local law enforcement participation in federal immigration enforcement, designed to protect immigrant workers and their rights in Washington state. **Lake Whatcom Management Program (LWMP):** A joint effort between the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District to protect the drinking water source for over 100,000 people through coordinated watershed management. **PFAS (Forever Chemicals):** Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that persist in the environment and human body, prompting the fire department to purchase PFAS-free gear to protect employee health. **Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP):** A city-wide plan coordinating disaster response, preparation, mitigation, and recovery efforts across all city departments and with regional partners. **Executive Session:** Closed meetings where council discusses confidential matters like property acquisitions, litigation, and labor negotiations that are exempt from public meeting requirements. **Collective Bargaining Agreement:** A contract between the city and employee unions (like AFSCME Local 114L) covering wages, benefits, and working conditions for specific groups of city workers. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hollie Huthman | Council President | | Hannah Stone | Council Member (participated virtually) | | Daniel Hammill | Council Member | | Edwin "Skip" Williams | Council Member | | Lisa Anderson | Council Member | | Michael Lilliquist | Council Member | | Jace Cotton | Council Member | | Mayor Kim Lund | Mayor | | Joel Pfundt | Interim Public Works Co-Director | | Matt Stamps | Senior Assistant City Attorney | | Shane Sullivan | Transportation Engineer | ### Background Context This meeting occurred during a period of significant change for Bellingham's city government structure. The council dissolved its Climate Action Committee, ackno…
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Environmental Government Operations Budget & Finance AB 24397 AB 24412 AB 24413 AB 24414 AB 24415 AB 24416 AB 24417 AB 24418 AB 24419 AB 24421 AB 24423 AB 24425 AB 24426 Afscme Local 114L Bellingham Police Department Chi Pana Outrigger Canoe Club Farm View Llc Guild Pacific Northwest Employees Lake Whatcom Water Sewer District Nielsen Brothers Whatcom County Daniel Hammill Edwin Williams Hannah Stone Hollie Huffman Hollie Huthman Jace Cotton Joel Pfundt Katie Shearer Kim Lund Lisa Anderson Matt Stamps Michael Lilliquist Paul Schisler Sarah Gardner Shane Sullivan Sharon Rice Behavioral Health Budget Finance Climate Action Community Streets Program Comprehensive Plan Governance Administration Homelessness Immigrant Rights Keep Washington Working Act Lake Whatcom Watershed One City Governance Transportation Policy