Committee of the Whole

**Waterfront District Land Use and Recreation Infrastructure** The primary policy discussion centered on adapting the 2013 waterfront facilities agreement to accommodate an unanticipated use — recreational infrastructure under transportation infrastructure. Tara Sundin explained that the original agreement never contemplated purchasing land underneath bridges, necessitating creative use of the lowest appraised value category (light industrial at $8/sq ft) despite the downtown waterfront location. The discussion revealed the flexibility built into the Port-City partnership, allowing both entities to respond to community-generated opportunities. Council member…

**Tara Sundin (Community & Economic Development Manager):** Strongly supported the interlocal modification, emphasizing the project's grassroots origins and the need for land control to pursue grants and investment. Noted the Skateboard Collective's commitment to formalize as a nonprofit and share maintenance responsibilities. **Council Member Hammill:** Enthusiastically endorsed the project as beneficial for positive youth development and praised the Port-City partnership model. Moved for approval. **Council Member Stone:** Supported the project while seeking clarity on how the land acquisition affects overall park acreage calculat…

**Tara Sundin, on the grassroots nature:** "A grassroots group has been kind of informally using the land underneath Rotor Avenue Bridge as a skate park. It's pretty pretty. Well, it's a very, very, very grassroots." **Council Member Hammill, on youth development:** "Yeah, it's not every day that we have something before us that is so beneficial for positive youth development. And I think that this really is a great example of what a partnership between the, the port and the and the city in t…

After this meeting, the City of Bellingham has formally committed to purchasing waterfront land for a community-initiated recreation project, marking a shift from informal tolerance to active municipal support. The 2013 Port-City interlocal agreement has been expanded to accommodate recreational use under transportation infrastructure, setting a precedent for adaptive reuse of waterfront spaces. The downtown waterfront park inventory increased f…

### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council's Committee of the Whole met on April 28, 2025 to consider a major modification to an interlocal agreement with the Port of Bellingham. The primary focus was approving changes that would allow the city to develop a skate park under the Roeder Avenue Bridge, formalizing what has been an informal grassroots skateboarding space. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Interlocal Agreement (ILA):** A formal partnership agreement between two government entities—in this case, the City of Bellingham and the Port of Bellingham—that outlines shared responsibilities for facilities like streets and parks in the waterfront district. **Major Modification:** A significant change to an interlocal agreement that requires approval from both the City Council and Port Commission, unlike minor modifications that staff can approve themselves. **Park Impact Fee Credit:** A payment method where the Port receives credit toward fees rather than cash payment. The city essentially pays for land by giving the Port credits that reduce their future park development obligations. **Facilities Interlocal:** The 2013 agreement between the city and port that established who is responsible for building and maintaining infrastructure (streets, parks, utilities) in the waterfront district as it develops. **Roeder Land Acquisition Area:** The approximately 22,000 square feet of land under the Roeder Avenue Bridge that the city wants to acquire, though only about 16,000 square feet is usable for a skate park. **Development Ready Certificate:** Environmental certification from the Port that the land is safe for development, addressing contamination concerns from past industrial use. **Skateboard Collective:** The informal grassroots group that has been using the space under the bridge and is working to become an official nonprofit to help fund and maintain the future skate park. **Committee of the Whole:** A committee format where all seven council members participate, used for discussing items before they go to a formal council vote. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hollie Huthman | Council President, Committee Chair | | Tara Sundin | Community & Economic Development Manager | | Hannah Stone | Council Member, First Ward…