real-briefings

Executive summary

The Committee of the Whole met Monday afternoon to advance five budget-related items totaling over $549 million in city expenditures for 2025. The committee unanimously approved the city's annual budget adoption ordinance, setting operating expenditures at $392 million and capital expenditures at $157 million. The session focused heavily on revenue generation measures, including a 50% increase in solid waste utility tax that will cost residential customers an additional $2.43 per month while generating $1.1 million annually for environmental remediation projects. The committee also approved an investment income reallocation ordinance that redirects interest earnings from various city funds to the general fund, except where legally restricted. This change represents a significant shift in how the city manages its investment returns across multiple fund categories. Other approved items included a $1.1 million paramedic training agreement with Whatcom County and a building code exemption for a YWCA interim housing facility serving women and children. Committee Chair Daniel Hammill used the old/new business portion to highlight recent community engagement activities, including his testimony before the Washington State Supreme Court on public defender resources and participation in a traditional fire station "push-in" ceremony. The session concluded with an executive session covering potential litigation, labor negotiations, and property acquisitions.

Key decisions

**AB 24333 - Paramedic Training Interlocal Agreement:** Approved 5-0. Authorizes $1.144 million agreement with Whatcom County for 2025 paramedic training cohort covering five Bellingham firefighters and five regional agency students. Funding comes from County Wide EMS Levy for student backfill, preceptor costs, and training materials. **AB 24334 - YWCA Building Code Exemption:** Approved 5-0. Authorizes building code exemption for YWCA interim housing facility at 315 Lakeway Drive serving up to 20 women and children. Exemption runs until November 18, 2029, under RCW 19.27.042 provisions for indigent housing. **AB 24335 - Solid Waste Utility Tax Increase:** Approved 5-0. Increases solid …

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Policy discussion

**Budget Process Completion:** Finance Director Andy Asbjornsen highlighted the conclusion of extensive budget deliberations that began with budget introduction on September 30, 2024. The committee incorporated amendments developed through five work sessions and two public hearings. The budget includes a reduction in general fund reserves down to $20 million, representing a strategic policy shift toward using reserves for current operations and investments. **Environmental Remediation Funding:** The solid waste utility tax increase directly funds ongoing environmental cleanup obligations under consent decrees for Cornwall Avenue Municipal Landfill and R.G. Haley site. Total cleanup costs are estimated at $45.6 million for the two sites, with the city responsible for approximately $17 million after state and port funding. The utility tax increase helps service anticipated debt exceeding $800,000 annually. Future projects include State Street Natural Gas Plant remediation estimated…

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Stakeholder positions

**Assistant Fire Chief Dave Pethick** supported the paramedic training agreement as continuation of established regional cooperation, emphasizing the routine nature of the annual per-student funding arrangement. **Planner Sara Ullman** recommended approval of the YWCA building code exemption, confirming that building official and fire marshal inspections found no threat to human life, safety, or health at the interim housing facility. **Finance Director Andy Asbjornsen** advocated for both investment income reallocation and solid waste tax increa…

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Notable quotes

**Andy Asbjornsen, on investment income changes:** "This really aligns us with the RCS that define what we can, what the city can use. The funds for, and where the authority needs to be defined in the municipal code and code, and through ordinance." **Council Member Lisa Anderson, on transparency needs:** "I would appreciate that because I understand leaving it vague so that we don't have to come back continuously to change it, but it's a little too vague for me right now, not knowing which f…

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What’s next

**Budget Implementation:** The 2025 budget takes effect January 1, 2025, following expected full Council approval at the evening regular meeting. **Solid Waste Tax Implementation:** Sanitary Services Company has requested February 1, 2025 effective date for the utility tax increase to allow implementation time. **Investment Income Reporting:** Staff will provide Council Member Anderson with specific fund details and develop ongoing reporting mechanisms f…

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What changed

The City Council moved from preliminary budget to final budget adoption with operating expenditures set at $392.057 million and capital expenditures at $156.941 million. General fund reserves were reduced to $20 million as a policy decision to utilize reserve funds for current operations. Solid waste utility tax increased from 11.5% to 17.25%, adding approximately $1.1 million annually to Environmental Remediation Fund and costing average residential customers $2.43 monthly. Investment in…

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Full meeting narrative

# Budget Season Finale: Committee of the Whole Clinches the 2025 Budget The City of Bellingham's Committee of the Whole convened on the afternoon of November 18, 2024, for what proved to be the final act of budget season. With five council members present—Council President Daniel Hammill presiding, along with Hannah Stone, Edwin "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson (attending remotely), and Jace Cotton—the committee moved through a carefully choreographed agenda that would set the city's financial course for 2025. The atmosphere was notably business-like, reflecting the culmination of months of budget discussions that began with the preliminary budget introduction on September 30th. This was not a meeting for debate or deliberation—it was time to formalize decisions already made through weeks of work sessions and public hearings. ## The 2025 Paramedic Training Partnership Assistant Fire Chief Dave Pethick opened the proceedings with a straightforward presentation of the annual interlocal agreement with Whatcom County for paramedic training. "It is that time of year again where we're looking for permission to enter into an agreement with Whatcom EMS to pay for our 2025 cohort," Pethick explained with the casual tone of someone who has made this same pitch many times before. The agreement, valued at $1,144,274, would fund training for five Bellingham firefighter students and five students from other regional agencies. This collaborative approach reflects a regional strategy for emergency medical services, with costs covering student backfill, preceptor and evaluation expenses, books, and other training materials. The discussion was brief and technical. Council members had no questions, and Williams moved app…

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Study guide

### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Committee of the Whole met on November 18, 2024, primarily to review and approve budget-related items for 2025. The committee unanimously approved five ordinances and resolutions, including the 2025 budget adoption with total expenditures of $548,998,077. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Committee of the Whole:** A committee consisting of all seven city council members that reviews major policy items before they go to the full council for final vote. **Interlocal Agreement:** A contract between government agencies (in this case, the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County) to share costs and resources for services like paramedic training. **Interim Housing Use:** Temporary shelter facilities for people experiencing homelessness that can operate with modified building code requirements for up to five years. **Environmental Remediation Fund:** A special city fund dedicated to cleaning up contaminated sites like the Cornwall Avenue Landfill and R.G. Haley site. **Solid Waste Utility Tax:** A tax imposed on garbage collection companies that is passed through to customers on their monthly bills. **Investment Income Allocation:** The practice of directing interest earned on city investments to specific funds, with this ordinance directing most to the General Fund. **Executive Session:** A closed meeting where council discusses confidential matters like potential lawsuits, property acquisitions, and labor negotiations. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Daniel Hammill | Council President, Committee Chair | | Hannah Stone | Council Member, First Ward | | Edwin H. "Skip" Williams | Council Member, Fourth Ward | | Lisa Anderson | Council Member, Fifth Ward (remote) | | Jace Cotton | Council Member, At-Large | | Dave Pethick | Assistant Fire Chief | | Sara Ullman | Planner II | | Andy Asbjornsen | Finance Director | | Eric Johnson | Budget and Treasury Manager | ### Back…

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Committee of the Whole

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