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Public Works and Natural Resources Committee

BEL-PWN-2025-06-09 June 09, 2025 Public Works Committee City of Bellingham 38 min
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The Public Works and Natural Resources Committee convened for a brief 38-minute session covering two significant environmental initiatives. The committee unanimously approved accepting a $7.3 million Public Works Board loan to help finance the Cornwall Avenue Landfill cleanup, a major environmental remediation project with an estimated $30 million total cost. Staff also presented comprehensive results from the 2024 Community Tree Programs pilot, which distributed 1,666 trees across Bellingham through four different programs at a total cost of approximately $130,000. The Cornwall loan represents a critical funding component for one of Bellingham's largest environmental cleanup efforts, involving both the Cornwall Avenue Landfill and the adjacent R.G. Haley site. The city is responsible for 75% of cleanup costs under an interlocal agreement with the Port of Bellingham. The tree pilot results revealed significant variations in program effectiveness, with tree giveaways proving most cost-efficient at $8.98 per tree, while neighborhood grants cost $112.11 per tree. Looking ahead, staff recommended continuing only the two most efficient tree programs - tree giveaways and tree coupons - due to budget and staffing constraints for 2025. The meeting also marked the retirement of Renee LaCroix, Assistant Public Works Director in Natural Resources, after 25 years of environmental service to the community.

**AB 24563 - Cornwall Avenue Landfill Cleanup Public Works Board Loan Acceptance:** APPROVED 3-0 - Staff recommendation: Approve loan acceptance - Council action: Unanimously approved accepting $7,345,000 loan at 1.71% interest over 20 years - Key specifics: No prepayment penalty, administered by Washington State Department…

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**Cornwall Avenue Landfill Financing Strategy** The loan represents part of a complex funding arrangement for what may be Bellingham's largest environmental remediation project. Under the interlocal agreement with the Port of Bellingham, the city bears 75% of the estimated $30 million cleanup cost. State Model Toxic Control Act (MTCA) funds will provide up to 50% matching funds, though staff noted uncertainty about whether full match funding is currently available. The Port is working with the Department of Ecology to potentially redirect funds from other projects to ensure adequate matching funds for Cornwall. Council Member Anderson pressed for clarity on whether additional borrowing would be needed beyond this $7.3 million loan. Staff indicated multiple funding sources remain in play, including Remedial Action grants, Port contributions, city environmental reserves, and potential additional financing for remaining gaps. The project has already incurred over $4 million in investigation, planning, and design costs prior to construction. **Community Tree Program Effectiveness and Equity** The pilot results revealed stark differences in program efficiency a…
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**Staff Recommendations:** Mike Wilson (Assistant Public Works Director) strongly supported loan acceptance, describing it as "best management practices" for handling interlocal agreements and noting permitting has been achieved with bid opening scheduled for July 23rd. Analiese Burns (Habitat & Restoration Manager) recommended continuing only tree giveaways and tree coupons for 2025, acknowledging the difficult choice to suspend programs that better served low-equity neighborhoods but emphasizing resource constraints. **Council Member Positions:** Council Member Anderson supported…
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**Analiese Burns, on tree program equity challenges:** "My concern is the fact that the two programs that your suggesting that not continue actively with for the moment are the ones with the highest number of trees yielded in low equity neighborhoods." **Lisa Anderson, on effectiveness monitoring:** "I know it's an impossible ask. Just resources wise. But I think about way back when I worked for the Forest Service and we had like tree planting. There was, you know, people would go make sure t…
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**Cornwall Avenue Landfill Cleanup:** - July 23, 2025: Bid opening for construction contract - August 2025: Council consideration of contract award (anticipated) - Late 2025: Construction start (anticipated) - Three-year construction timeline expected **Community Tree Programs:** - Summer 2025: Promotional materials and ad…

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The Cornwall Avenue Landfill cleanup moved significantly closer to construction with formal loan acceptance, clearing a major funding hurdle for the city's portion of the $30 million project. The approval enables staff to proceed confidently with bid evaluation and contract award processes. The Community Tree Programs transitioned from experimental pilot status to an established but scaled-back ongoing program. The city now has data-driven evidence about which tree distribution methods work most efficiently, …
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# Committee Takes Stock of Massive Environmental Cleanup While Tree Programs Show Promise ## Meeting Overview On June 9, 2025, the Bellingham City Council's Public Works and Natural Resources Committee convened for its regular monthly meeting, bringing together Committee Chair Hannah Stone with members Lisa Anderson and Jace Cotton to tackle two significant environmental initiatives. The afternoon session, held in Council Chambers at City Hall, addressed a multi-million dollar landfill cleanup financing agreement and reviewed the results of an innovative community tree planting pilot program that distributed over 1,600 trees across the city. Before diving into the substantive work, Chair Stone took a moment to acknowledge recent leadership changes in the Public Works Department, congratulating Joel Pfundt on his new role as Public Works Director and Mike Olinger as Deputy Public Works Director. The meeting reflected a department in transition, working to advance environmental restoration and climate action goals while managing significant financial and operational challenges. The session demonstrated the complex intersection of environmental remediation, fiscal responsibility, and community engagement that characterizes much of Bellingham's municipal work — from securing low-interest financing for a $30 million cleanup project to evaluating which tree giveaway programs deliver the best bang for the buck. ## $7.3 Million Loan for Cornwall Avenue Landfill Cleanup The committee's first major item involved authorizing Mayor Kim Lund to enter into a construction funding agreement for a $7.345 million loan to help finance cleanup of the Cornwall Avenue Landfill site. Mike Wilson, Assistant Public Works Director for Engineering, presented what he characterized as a routine administrative matter — but one tied to one of the city's most significant environmental restoration projects. The loan, offered by the Washington State Public Works Board at an attractive 1.71% interest rate over 20 years with no prepayment penalty, will help fund a portion of the estimated $30 million cleanup cost for the former municipal solid waste landfill located at th…
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### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council's Public Works and Natural Resources Committee met on June 9, 2025, chaired by Hannah Stone with members Lisa Anderson and Jace Cotton. The committee addressed two major items: accepting a $7.3 million loan for Cornwall Avenue landfill cleanup and reviewing results from the 2024 Community Tree Programs pilot. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Public Works Board Loan:** Low-interest financing from Washington State for local infrastructure projects, in this case at 1.71% over 20 years with no prepayment penalty. **Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA):** Washington state law requiring cleanup of contaminated sites, with funding available through grants and taxes. **Environmental Remediation Fund:** City account that collects and manages money for cleaning up contaminated properties. **Remedial Action Grant (RAG):** State funding that covers up to 50% of eligible cleanup costs for contaminated sites. **Tree Equity:** The concept that all neighborhoods should have adequate tree coverage for shade, air quality, and environmental benefits, regardless of income level. **Urban Canopy Cover:** The percentage of land area covered by tree branches and leaves when viewed from above. **Interlocal Agreement:** Legal contract between government entities (like the city and Port of Bellingham) to share costs and responsibilities. ### 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 | Public Works Director (recently appointed) | | Mike Wilson | Assistant Public Works Director | | Analiese Burns | Habitat and Restoration M…
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Environmental Budget & Finance Government Operations AB 24563 AB 24564 Department Ecology Port Bellingham Washington State Department Commerce Whatcom Conservation District Whatcom Million Trees Amy Kraham Analiese Burns Hannah Stone Jace Cotton Joel Pfundt Lisa Anderson Mike Wilson Renee Lacroix Budget Finance Climate Action Environmental Remediation Infrastructure Investment Tree Ordinance