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Bellingham City Council Committee of the Whole

BEL-CON-CTW-2026-02-09 February 09, 2026 Committee of the Whole City of Bellingham 50 min
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Bellingham's City Council Committee of the Whole convened for a brief 50-minute session that addressed two distinct items: a routine legal appointment and a significant policy discussion about immigration enforcement. The meeting demonstrated both the procedural efficiency of municipal governance and the deeper tensions around how cities respond to federal policy changes. The committee unanimously approved Mayor Kim Lund's appointment of attorney Bridget Bryck as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission, filling a role necessitated by potential conflicts of interest when the City Attorney's Office both advises and appears before the commission. This appointment follows the 2023 BMC amendment requiring outside counsel for the commission, replacing counsel who recently relocated overseas. The more substantive discussion centered on a draft resolution introduced by Council Members Williams and Hammill addressing immigration enforcement and civil rights. The resolution, titled "A resolution reaffirming the city of Bellingham's commitment to immigrant rights and civil rights and denouncing federal immigration enforcement actions that endanger public safety and violate individuals constitutional rights in Bellingham and nationwide," sparked a lengthy debate about the purpose and effectiveness of municipal resolutions. Council President Stone raised critical questions about the practical difference between this new resolution and a similar one passed just eight months ago on June 9th. She emphasized the need for actionable items rather than symbolic statements, particularly given the real fear experienced by immigrant community members, including dual citizens considering leaving the country. Stone's perspective as an immigration attorney added weight to her concerns about promises the city cannot keep and the need for tangible actions that demonstrate Bellingham as a welcoming community. The discussion revealed different philosophical approaches to m

**AB 24827 - Confirmation of Mayor's appointment of Bridget Bryck as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission** - Vote count: 7-0 (unanimous approval) - Staff recommendation: City Attorney's Office recommended approval - Council action: Aligned with staff recommendation - Key specifics: Permanent appointment unless circumstances require change; no annual renewal needed - Practical impact: Provides required outside counsel to avoid conflicts of interest where City Attorney's Office both advises and…

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**Civil Service Commission Counsel Appointment** The appointment discussion was straightforward but revealed important structural changes to city governance. City Attorney Alan Marriner explained that the 2023 BMC amendment requiring outside counsel was designed to eliminate conflicts of interest where city attorneys were both representing the commission and appearing before it in appeals. The previous outside counsel relocated overseas, necessitating this replacement. The appointment represents a permanent structural change rather than a temporary fix, ensuring ongoing independence for Civil Service Commission proceedings. **Immigration Rights Resolution Development** The immigration resolution discussion dominated the meeting, revealing deep philosophical differences about the role of municipal resolutions during federal policy crises. Council Members Williams and Hammill structured their approach around four key areas: highlighting the city's historical commitment to human and civil rights, addressing current and potential future responses to federal immigration enforcement, reassuring the community of unified municipal government commitment, and encouraging other Whatcom County municipalities to take similar action. Council President Stone challenged the effectiveness of another resolution so soon after the June 2025 welcoming city resolution, particularly given the real fear experienced by community members. Her perspective as an immigration attorney provided concrete context - dual citizens considering leaving the country because they feel "hunted in their own c…
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**City Attorney Alan Marriner** supported the Bryck appointment, noting the City Attorney's Office recommendation and explaining the structural need for outside counsel to avoid conflicts of interest. **Council Member Michael Lilliquist** moved to approve the Civil Service Commission appointment without discussion, demonstrating support for the staff recommendation. **Council Member Edwin H. "Skip" Williams** championed the immigration resolution as a flexible framework rather than rigid commitments, emphasizing the city's need to adapt responses to changing federal enforcement. He stressed the resolution avoids promises beyond city authority while maintaining commitment to use all available tools to assist community members. **Council Member Daniel Hammill** supported the resolution as necessary given changed circumstances and new residents, noting the difference between current ICE operations and conditions eight months ago. He emphasized the resolution demonst…
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**Council President Hannah Stone, on the need for actionable items:** "I'm not saying that we're responsible for why they're not feeling safe. But I am uncomfortable with some words that feel very absolute that, you know, we're going to protect you and make you feel safe. I'm telling you, they're not feeling safe right now." **Council Member Williams, on maintaining flexibility:** "We're not dealing with when this happens, this is what we're going to do in a concrete fashion. This is more whe…
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The draft immigration rights resolution will be considered by the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee, chaired by Council Member Hammill, before the February 23rd City Council meeting. Committee members and other council members can provide feedback to Hammill in advance of the committee session, with the full council discussion scheduled for the evening session on February 23rd. Council President Stone indicated she will send an email reminder about new age…

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**Structural Government Change:** Bellingham now has new outside counsel for the Civil Service Commission, replacing counsel who relocated overseas and maintaining the conflict-of-interest prevention structure established in 2023. **Policy Development Process:** The immigration rights resolution moved from draft stage to formal committee referral, establishing a pathway for council consideration on February 23rd with structured committee review. **Committee Utilization:** The council demonstrated renewed commitment to using the committee structure for substantive policy work, …
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## Meeting Overview The Committee of the Whole convened at 2:05 p.m. on February 9, 2026, in a compact but consequential session that touched on both routine municipal business and one of the most pressing social justice issues facing cities nationwide. All seven council members were present, with Council President Hannah Stone chairing the meeting in City Hall's Council Chambers. The afternoon's agenda appeared deceptively simple: confirm a mayoral appointment and handle old and new business. But what emerged during the old and new business segment was a window into how local government grapples with federal immigration policy in real time, and how elected officials balance symbolic action with tangible impact for vulnerable communities. The session lasted just under an hour, but the immigration resolution discussion revealed deep tensions between the desire to provide moral leadership and the practical limitations of municipal power—a conversation that would continue to reverberate through upcoming committee work and public debate. ## Confirming Special Counsel for Civil Service Commission The meeting opened with what City Attorney Alan Marriner described as necessary housekeeping—appointing Bridget Bryck as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission. The need arose because the previous outside counsel "recently relocated overseas," as Marriner explained to the committee. The appointment stems from a 2023 amendment to city code requiring the Civil Service Commission to use outside counsel rather than the city attorney's office. "That was to avoid the potential conflict where our attorneys from our office were both representing and advising the commission and also appearing before the commission in an appeal," Marriner told the council. Bryck, an attorney with Bellingham's Carmichael Clark Law Firm who specializes in municipal law and has advised other municipalities on labor and employment matters, would handle all matters before the commission, including regular business and appeals. The city attorney's office recommended her for the role. The discussion was brief and businesslike. Council Member Michael Lill…
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### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council Committee of the Whole met on February 9, 2026, to consider the mayor's appointment of special counsel for the Civil Service Commission and discuss a draft resolution on immigrant rights. The meeting featured a significant discussion about the council's response to current federal immigration enforcement actions. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Committee of the Whole:** A committee that includes all seven city council members, used to discuss items before they go to the full council for final action. Unlike regular council meetings, there is no public comment period during committee sessions. **Special Counsel:** An outside attorney hired to provide legal advice to a specific government body. In this case, needed because the city attorney's office could have conflicts of interest representing both the Civil Service Commission and appearing before it in appeals. **Civil Service Commission:** A city board that handles employment matters for civil service employees, including appeals of disciplinary actions. The commission needs independent legal counsel to avoid conflicts with the city attorney's office. **BMC (Bellingham Municipal Code):** The city's local laws and regulations. BMC 3.16.040 specifically requires city council confirmation for the mayor's appointment of special counsel. **Resolution:** A formal statement of the city council's position or values on an issue. Unlike ordinances, resolutions don't create binding law but express the council's official stance. **Immigration Enforcement Actions:** Federal activities by agencies like ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to detain and remove people without legal immigration status. **Welcoming City:** A designation for communities that adopt policies and practices to support immigrants and make them feel safe and included, regardless of immigration status. **Open Public Meetings Act:** Washington state law requiring government business to be conducted transparently in meetings open to the public. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hannah Stone | Council President, meeting chair | | Bridget Bryck | Attorney with Carmichael Clark Law Firm, appointee for special counsel | | Alan Marriner | City Attorney | | Daniel Hammill | Council Member, Third Ward, chair of Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee | | Edwin H. "Skip" Williams | Council Member, Fourth Ward, co-author of immigration resolution | | Hollie Huthman | Council Member, Second Ward | | Lisa Anderson | Council Member, Fifth Ward | | Michael Lilliquist | Council Member, Sixth Ward | | Jace Cotton | Council Member, At-Large | | Deputy Administrator Keller |…
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Government Operations AB 24827 Bellingham Civil Service Commission Carmichael Clark Law Firm City Attorneys Office Civil Service Commission Ice Public Health Safety Justice Equity Committee Alan Marriner Bridget Bryck Daniel Hammill Hannah Stone Hollie Huthman Jace Cotton Kim Lund Lisa Anderson Michael Lilliquist Skip Williams Agenda Process Agenda Timeline Civil Rights Civil Service Commission Committee Structure Community Safety Federal Enforcement Immigration Enforcement Municipal Authority Resolution Process Welcoming City