Bellingham City Council
The Bellingham City Council conducted a busy regular meeting covering infrastructure investment, affordable housing preservation, and committee appointments. The most significant financial action was approving a $12.8 million contract for the new WhatComm Emergency Communications Center, reflecting the city's commitment to modernizing critical public safety infrastructure. The evening's most policy-rich discussion centered on the surplus declaration of two I Street properties that had served as transitional housing for 36 years. The council unanimously approved declaring the duplex property surplus and designating it for special disposition through a request for proposals process, prioritizing continued affordable housing use over market sale. Three public commenters offered different perspectives on the property's future, from selling it to fund more housing units to ensuring it remains permanently affordable through community land trust or similar models. Council also adopted the city's updated four-year Commute Trip Reduction Plan, with amendments to strengthen targets and remove an ineligible employer. The plan delegates administration to the Whatcom Council of Governments through their Smart Trips program, reflecting regional coordination on transportation demand management. The meeting included multiple mayoral appointments to advisory boards, including four new members to the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission representing different districts and expertise areas. The appointments demonstrate continued effort to ensure diverse representation on regional equity work. Council members provided substantive reports from their external assignments, particularly updates on Lake Whatcom protection efforts and the state legislative session. The legislative update highlighted the city's active engagement in Olympia, including testimony on housing bills and advocacy for transportation and shelter funding.
**AB 24824 - I Street Surplus Property:** Approved 7-0. Declared 1504 and 1506 I Street surplus to city needs and designated for special disposition through negotiated RFP process. Staff recommendation aligned with council action to retain property for affordable housing use rather than market sale. **AB 24826 - WhatComm Emergency Communications Center:** Approved 7-0. Awarded construction contract to Colacurcio Brothers, Inc. for $12,763,390.80. Project includes $970,000 in state grant funding and will replace 1954-era facility with modern, climate-resilient 911 dispatch center. **AB 24829 - Commute Trip Reduction Plan:** Approved 7-0 as amended. Adopted four-year plan (2025-2029) with two amendments: drive-alone rate target strengthened from 64% to 57%, and SilFab Solar Inc. removed from affected employer list. **AB 24828 - WCOG Interlocal Ag…
**February 23, 2026:** Public hearing on landmark tree preservation ordinance extending interim development regulations for additional six months. Written testimony accepted at cob.org/publichearing until eight days before hearing. **April 1, 2026:** Lake Whatcom Joint Council and Commissioners meeting at 6:30 PM in Council chambers, featuring lake monitoring snapshot presentation and 2026 priorities discussion. **I Street Property RFP:** Request for proposals to be issued February 10-11, 2026, with selection and negotiation to follow. Staff targeting simultaneous transacti…