City of Bellingham Committee of the Whole

## Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council Committee of the Whole convened at 2:15 PM on January 26, 2026, in a brief but productive session that tackled both operational and policy matters. Council President Hannah Stone presided over the meeting with all seven council members present: Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Edwin "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, and Jace Cotton. The afternoon's agenda was streamlined, featuring just one formal agenda item—an ordinance to create a second municipal judge position—followed by old and new business that proved surprisingly substantive. What made this meeting particularly notable was the extensive discussion about the city's new agenda format and publication system, representing a significant modernization effort in government transparency. The session also demonstrated the council's nimble response to time-sensitive legislative opportunities, including support for collective bargaining rights at Western Washington University. ## Creating a Second Municipal Judge Position The committee's primary business centered on Agenda Bill 24813, an ordinance that would fundamentally restructure Bellingham's Municipal Court by adding a second full-time judge position. Deputy City Administrator Forrest Longman presented the proposal, explaining how it implements decisions already made during the 2026 budget process. "Municipal court requested the additional judge to manage increasing case load and case complexity," Longman explained to the committee. The financial mechanism was particularly interesting—rather than simply adding costs, the city would freeze the current court commissioner position to offset the expense of the new judge role. The distinction between commissioners and judges proved crucial to understanding why this change matters. "Essentially the difference between having a commissioner and a judge is my understanding is that a judge can hear trials where a commissioner cannot," Longman noted. This limitation has created bottlenecks in the court system, with some cases facing lengthy delays before they can be heard by someone with the authority to conduct trials. Council President Stone pressed for clarity about the transition: "So there would no longer be a commissioner at the Bellingham Municipal Court that position." Longman confirmed this was correct, meaning the…