City Council
The Lynden City Council took significant action on November 3, 2025, passing a $14 per month ambulance utility fee increase that will generate $775,000 in additional annual revenue for emergency medical services. The council unanimously approved raising the ambulance fee from $6 to $20 per month per billing unit, with automatic increases of $2 per year planned for 2027 and 2028, bringing the fee to $24 by 2028. Council also approved a new business license renewal fee of $50 annually, expected to generate $68,000 for the General Fund, marking the first time Lynden has charged renewal fees for business licenses in several years. The council held its first public hearing on the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update, with Planning Commission having recommended approval in October. In a reversal of previous action, the council unanimously voted to instruct staff to bring back an ordinance establishing school impact fees and set a public hearing for December 1. This comes after the council previously rejected school impact fees in August by a 4-3 vote, but concerns emerged about delays and costs if the school district uses the SEPA process instead. The council also approved participation in the AWC GIS Consortium program for $18,150 annually to replace the vacant GIS analyst position.
**Passed Unanimously (7-0):** 1. **RES-25-1132 - Ambulance Utility Fee Increase**: Approved raising the ambulance utility fee to $20 per month per billing unit starting January 1, 2026, with additional $2 increases on January 1, 2027 and 2028. Will generate approximately $1.8 million annually, representing a $775,000 increase in cost recovery. 2. **RES-25-1133 - Business License Fees**: Established annual renewal fees of $50 for all business license types while maintaining current origination fees ($50 for general/non-resident licenses, $125 for home-based businesses). Expected to generate $68,000 in General Fund revenue. 3. **AWC GIS Consortium Participation**: Authorized enrollment at Tier 3 for $18,150 annually ($400 membership fee plus $17,750 consulting…
**November 17, 2025 Council Meeting:** - Second public hearing on 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update with focus on Transportation Element - Public hearing on 2026 Property Tax Levy - Second public hearing on preliminary 2026 Budget **December 1, 2025 Council Meeting:** - Final budget hearing and potential adoption - Public hearing on school …