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Public Works and Natural Resources Committee

BEL-PWN-2025-03-10 March 10, 2025 Public Works Committee City of Bellingham 37 min
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The Bellingham City Council Public Works and Natural Resources Committee met for a brief 38-minute session to address three agenda items covering infrastructure maintenance, clean energy funding opportunities, and Lake Whatcom watershed protection strategies. The committee approved two contracts totaling over $343,000 and authorized pursuit of federal clean energy tax credits, while staff provided an update on ongoing Lake Whatcom water quality improvement programs. The most significant action was approval of a $343,997.46 contract with Queen City Sheet Metal & Roofing for critical warehouse roof repairs at the Pacific Street Operations Center. The winning bid came in significantly under the engineer's estimate of $618,215.36, representing substantial cost savings for the city. Committee members expressed disappointment that solar panel installation was excluded from the current contract due to budget constraints and logistical challenges, though staff indicated this remains a future priority. The committee also unanimously approved retaining Avisen Legal PA to help the city access federal clean energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, with all costs covered by the Washington State Department of Commerce. This represents a strategic move to maximize federal funding opportunities for clean energy projects like electric vehicles, charging stations, and solar installations. The longest discussion focused on Lake Whatcom watershed protection, where staff provided an update on efforts to encourage private property water quality retrofits. Stormwater Utility Manager Jason Porter outlined recent improvements to the Homeowner Incentive Program (HIP) and explained why staff recommend waiting for critical data from ongoing studies before implementing new programs. Council Member Michael Lilliquist, who initiated the original motion requesting this discussion, pressed for more aggressive outreach to property owners beyond the "early adopters" currently particip

**AB 24463 - Pacific Street Operations Center Warehouse Re-Roof Contract** - **Action:** Approved 3-0 - **Contract Amount:** $343,997.46 with Queen City Sheet Metal & Roofing, Inc. - **Staff Recommendation:** Award contract - Followed - **Specifics:** Includes base bid, additional insulation, and new gutters/downspouts; excludes $348,740 solar panel option due to budget/logistics - **Impact:** Critical infrastructure preservation with 30-year roof life expectancy **AB 24464 - Clean Energy Tax Credit Legal Counsel Authorization** - **Action:** Approved 3-0 - **Contract:** Retain Avisen Legal PA at no cost to city…

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**Infrastructure Maintenance vs. Clean Energy Investment** The roof repair project highlighted ongoing tensions between essential maintenance and sustainability goals. While the committee approved the critical roof replacement, members expressed disappointment that solar panel installation was deferred. Council Member Lisa Anderson noted budget constraints while expressing hope that solar implementation wouldn't be "too long delayed." This reflects the city's challenge of balancing immediate infrastructure needs with long-term environmental commitments. **Lake Whatcom Watershed Protection Strategy** The most substantive policy discussion centered on how aggressively to pursue private property water quality retrofits. Staff outlined a methodical approach, waiting for data from the PBOOM monitoring project and TMDL reassessment before expanding programs. However, Council Member Lilliquist advocated for immediate development of programs targeting the "middle group" of prope…
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**Joel Pfundt, Interim Public Works Co-Director** Presented the roof replacement project emphasizing the critical need for infrastructure maintenance and the significant cost savings achieved through the bidding process. **Matt Stamps, Senior Assistant Attorney** Advocated for the clean energy tax credit legal counsel, describing it as "a good deal for cities" that uses "state dollars to get assistance with law firms with subject matter expertise." **Jason Porter, Surface and Stormwater Utility Manager** Defended the measured approach to Lake Whatcom programs, emphasizing the need for data-driven decision making an…
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**Jason Porter, on Lake Whatcom timeline:** "The reason why we say 50 years is by law we can't go any slower. But our goal is not to stretch it out to year 49, you know what I mean?" **Council Member Michael Lilliquist, on program expansion:** "We need to start now designing programs for that middle group to maximize the return on our efforts as a community to get the most number of houses to no longer be harming the lake." **Jason Porter, on current participation:** "We still have people th…
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**Immediate Actions:** - Both approved contracts proceed to full City Council for final approval (March 10, 2025 evening meeting) - Avisen Legal PA engagement begins for clean energy tax credit applications - Queen City Sheet Metal & Roofing contract execution upon Council approval **Upcoming Deadlines:** - PBOOM project completion expected next year with performance monitoring results - Lake Whatcom TMDL reassessment review by EPA and Department of Ecology expected within approx…

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**Immediate Changes:** - City authorized to spend $343,997.46 on critical warehouse roof replacement with enhanced insulation and drainage systems - Legal counsel authorization enables pursuit of federal clean energy tax credits for past and future projects - HIP program modifications now active including increased reimbursement rates and multifamily property eligibility **Policy Direction:** - Clean energy funding strategy formalized through legal counsel retention - Lake Wh…
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## Meeting Overview The Bellingham Public Works and Natural Resources Committee convened on a crisp March afternoon for a focused 38-minute working session that would touch on infrastructure, clean energy, and environmental protection. Committee Chair Hannah Stone called the meeting to order with council members Lisa Anderson and Jace Cotton, tackling three distinct agenda items that ranged from the practical—repairing a failing warehouse roof—to the forward-looking pursuit of federal clean energy incentives. The March 10, 2025 meeting reflected the committee's dual mandate: managing the nuts-and-bolts infrastructure needs of a growing city while positioning Bellingham to capture emerging opportunities in environmental policy and funding. What made this session notable was not controversy or heated debate, but rather the steady work of municipal governance—approving necessary repairs, authorizing legal assistance for new federal programs, and taking stock of complex environmental initiatives years in the making. The tone throughout was collaborative and business-like, with council members asking pointed questions about costs, timelines, and strategic priorities while staff provided detailed technical explanations. It was, in many ways, a window into how local government functions when the cameras aren't rolling and the headlines aren't watching—careful deliberation on projects that keep the city running and position it for the future. ## A Roof in Need: Pacific Street Operations Center Warehouse The afternoon began with Joel Pfundt, Interim Public Works Co-Director, presenting what appeared to be a straightforward infrastructure project—replacing the failing roof at the Pacific Street Operations Center warehouse. But even routine maintenance carries interesting complications when solar panels and budget constraints enter the picture. Pfundt explained that the warehouse roof had reached the end of its useful life and was causing water damage that threatened the facility's operations. The city had received six bids for the project, with Queen City Sheet Metal & Roofing offering the lowest responsive bid at $343,997.46—nearly $275,000 bel…
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### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council Public Works and Natural Resources Committee met on March 10, 2025, with Chair Hannah Stone and members Lisa Anderson and Jace Cotton. The committee addressed three key items: a warehouse roof replacement contract, authorization for outside legal counsel to pursue clean energy tax credits, and a discussion of Lake Whatcom water quality retrofit programs for private properties. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Agenda Bill:** A formal legislative document presenting an issue for council consideration, containing summary, fiscal impact, and recommendations. **Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL):** A federal environmental regulation that sets the maximum amount of pollutants (like phosphorus) that can enter a water body while maintaining water quality standards. **Homeowner Incentive Program (HIP):** Bellingham's voluntary program that provides financial reimbursement to property owners who install water quality improvements on their property to protect Lake Whatcom. **Clean Energy Tax Credits:** Federal tax incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 that provide direct payments to tax-exempt entities like cities for qualifying clean energy projects. **Phosphorus:** A nutrient that can cause water quality problems in lakes when present in excessive amounts, leading to algae growth and dissolved oxygen issues. **Alternate Bids:** Optional components in a construction contract that can be added or removed based on budget and priorities, beyond the base bid requirements. **Watershed:** The area of land that drains water into a particular lake or stream; for Lake Whatcom, this includes properties whose stormwater runoff affects the lake. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hannah Stone | Committee Chair, First Ward Council Member | | Lisa Anderson | Committee Member, Fifth Ward Council Member | | Jace Cotton | Committee Member, At-Large Council Member | | Joel Pfundt | Interim Public Works Co-Director | | Matt Stamps | Senior Assistant City Attorney | | Jason Porter | Surface and Stormwater Utility Manager | | Michael Lilliquist …
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Transportation & Infrastructure Environmental Utilities Government Operations AB 24463 AB 24464 AB 24465 Avisen Legal Pa Department Of Ecology Environmental Protection Agency Queen City Sheet Metal Roofing Whatcom Conservation District Hannah Stone Jace Cotton Jason Porter Joel Pfundt Lisa Anderson Matt Stamps Michael Lilliquist Budget Finance Climate Action Infrastructure Investment Lake Whatcom Watershed Permitting Fees Water Resources