On the agenda: Bellingham meeting — Flock camera (Nov 16)

City of Bellingham
City Council Regular Meeting agenda
November 16, 2026, 7 p.m.
Chair: Hannah Stone
Members: Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill,
Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson,
Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton
Legislative Office Manager: Jackie Weller

Phone: 360-778-8200
Email: [email protected]
Web: cob.org/council

How to watch City Council meetings
The City Council Regular meetings are held in a hybrid format – watch or participate in person or
remotely.
In person:
All meetings are held in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 210 Lottie Street,
Bellingham unless otherwise noted. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. meeting.
Accessibility:
Elevator access to the second floor is available at City Hall’s west entrance. Hearing assistance is
available, and a receiver may be checked out through the Council office. For additional
accommodations, contact the Council office at 360-778-8200 in advance of the meeting.
Live via BTV, Comcast, or YouTube:
Council meetings are streamed live at cob.org/meetings, cob.org/btv, and on the City’s YouTube
channel at youtube.com/@cityofbhamwa. Meetings are also broadcast on Comcast channels 321
(HD) and 10 (SD).
Telephone:
To listen by phone, dial 253-215-8782 and enter Meeting ID: 871 5188 5205, and Password 9
Language access:
Recordings of City Council meetings can be viewed with subtitles or audio tracks in many different
languages by changing the settings in the YouTube player. PDFs of Council materials are available in
several languages by clicking the “Translate” button in the side panel when opening the document.
Video captions, alternate audio tracks, and PDF translations are powered by Google Translate and
may contain errors.
Information on further language access services, including how to request free interpretation at
meetings, can be found at cob.org/cclanguage.
Más información sobre el acceso de idioma disponible en: cob.org/cclanguage
ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਨੂੰ ਐਕਸੈਸ ਕਰਨ ਬਾਰੇ ਹੋਰ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ cob.org/cclanguage 'ਤੇ ਉਪਲਬਧ ਹੈ।
Xem thêm thông tin về tiếp cận ngôn ngữ tại cob.org/cclanguage
Meeting recordings:
Video recordings of each meeting are available online at cob.org/meetings within five business days
following each meeting.

How to provide input: Public comment, public hearings, and written feedback
A Public comment period is held at the beginning of each regular 7 p.m. meeting for 30 minutes or
until all speakers who signed up have been called on. Public hearings, if scheduled, are topic-specific

and are held after the public comment period. Each speaker at public comment periods and public
hearings has two minutes to speak (four minutes if interpretation or other accommodation is
needed). A sign-up form for speakers is available on the day of the meeting. Sign up is required for
public comment periods and recommended for public hearings. Speakers will be called from the
sign-up sheet in a randomized order.
To sign up, follow these instructions:
• Online: The sign-up form will be available at cob.org/ccsignup on the day of the meeting.
• In person: The sign-up form will be available on an iPad or posted QR code outside the
Council Chambers doors starting at 6:30 p.m. the evening of the meeting.
• The sign-up form closes when the meeting begins at 7 p.m.
Once signed up, speakers may participate via the following options:
• In person: Meetings are held in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall.
• Online: Join the Zoom meeting at cob.org/cczoom and follow staff instructions at time of the
public hearing or public comment period.
• Over the phone: Call 253-215-8782, enter Meeting ID 871 5188 5205, and Password 9. Follow
staff instructions at the time of the public hearing or public comment period.
• During public hearings, speakers who have signed up in advance will be called on first,
followed by any additional speakers who wish to give testimony.
Before or after a meeting:
Written correspondence is always welcome before or after Council meetings. Send written input to:
• For general public comment, e-mail all Council Members at [email protected].
• For written public hearing testimony, visit cob.org/publichearing.
• By mail addressed to: City Council, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225.
Learn more about public comment and public hearings at cob.org/public-hearings-and-publiccomment-periods

Regular meeting
The following items are heard in the regular meeting only.

Call to order and roll call
Announcements and upcoming meetings
1.

Upcoming public hearing

On December 7, 2026, the Council will hold a public hearing to consider a resolution
authorizing the relinquishment of a public utility easement located within vacated Center
Street that is surplus to the City’s needs.. More details will be available on
meetings.cob.org seven days prior to the hearing.

2.

Upcoming closed record hearing

On December 7, 2026, the Council will hold a Special Meeting for the purposes of a
closed record hearing to consider a street vacation ordinance for the Army Street right-ofway between W. Holly Street and Roeder Ave., except the portion abutting the Burlington
Northern Santa Fe owned property. The public is invited to attend the closed record
hearing, but no public testimony will be heard. Further details will be available at
meetings.cob.org seven days prior to the hearing.
3.

Survey on rental regulations available now

The City Council has launched two surveys to gather feedback from renters, landlords,
and property managers on the City's rental regulations. Surveys for both renters and
landlords/property managers are available on engagebellingham.org.
4.

Next Council meeting

The next City Council meeting with be held on December 7, 2026.

30-minute public comment period
Advance sign-up is required for participation. The sign-up form will be available at cob.org/ccsignup
on the day of the meeting and outside the chamber doors starting at 6:30 p.m. The sign-up form
closes when the meeting begins at 7 p.m. Speakers will be called from the sign-up list in a
randomized order. Each speaker will have two minutes to speak and the public comment period will
close after 30 minutes or after all those who signed up have been called on. See the first page of the
agenda for further details.

Public hearing
A sign-up form is available and it is recommended that speakers sign up in advance. Speakers who
have signed up in advance will be called on first, followed by any additional speakers who wish to
give testimony. The sign-up form will be available at cob.org/ccsignup on the day of the meeting and
outside the chamber doors starting at 6:30 p.m. The sign-up form closes when the meeting begins
at 7 p.m. Speakers will be called from the sign-up list in a randomized order. Each speaker will have
two minutes to speak. See the first page of the agenda for further details.
25141

1.

A public hearing for an ordinance amending the 2025 Bellingham
Comprehensive Plan, 2025 Capital Facilities Plan, 2025 Multimodal
Transportation Plan, and Bellingham Municipal Code 20.00.092 Irongate
Neighborhood Zoning Map to incorporate updates approved in the 2026
annual docket review

p. 8

Mayor's reappointment to the Community Development Advisory Board
(information)

p. 55

Appointments
25137

1.

Mayor's report
Standing time for briefings, updates, and reports to Council by the Mayor.

Council Member reports
Standing time for Council Member briefings, updates, and reports, including from assigned
committees, boards, and other groups.

Committee meeting reports
The following committee meetings are held during the day. Committee chairs will present a
summary of each agenda item during the evening meeting, and further discussion or action may
take place if needed. Committee meetings are open to the public to attend, however committee
agendas do not include public comment sessions.

Public Works and Natural Resources 9 a.m.
Michael Lilliquist, Chair
Lisa Anderson, Jace Cotton
25135

1.

A contract award for the Bellingham Central Library Renovation Phase 2
Project (EF175), Bid No. 43B-2026

p. 61

25139

2.

A recommendation to reject all bids on the Commercial Street Parking
Garage Repairs Project (EF196), Bid No. 47B-2026

p. 67

25138

3.

An update on the second year of the Community Streets Program

p. 70

Parks and Recreation 9:40 a.m.
Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Chair
Daniel Hammill, Jace Cotton
25133

1.

An ordinance consolidating the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and p. 349
the Greenways Advisory Committee into the Parks, Recreation, and
Greenways Advisory Board, transferring duties and responsibilities to the
board, establishing membership of the board, providing for a transition,
creating a new chapter in the Bellingham Municipal Code, and repealing
BMC 2.19 and BMC 2.20

Planning 10 a.m.
Hollie Huthman, Chair
Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist
25134

1.

An ordinance amending Bellingham Municipal Code 17.10.010 to update
the adopted electrical code edition

p. 366

Budget and Finance 10:20 a.m.
Lisa Anderson, Chair
Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist
25038

1.

An interlocal grant agreement with the Northwest Clean Air Agency for a
community solar array

p. 370

25106

2.

An interlocal agreement with Whatcom County for the Alternative
Response Team

p. 398

Community and Economic Development 10:40 a.m.
Jace Cotton, Chair
Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams
25129

1.

A presentation on the 2026 Fan Zone event

p. 405

25131

2.

A presentation on Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism's 2027 budget
recommendation

p. 406

25130

3.

A presentation on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee's 2027 budget
recommendation

p. 424

Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity 1 p.m.
Daniel Hammill, Chair
Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams
25143

1.

A resolution of the City of Bellingham approving an exemption for the
temporary building encampment at 925 North Forest Street from
compliance with state building code requirements until November 16,
2031

p. 428

25144

2.

A presentation on the use of Flock cameras and similar technology in
Bellingham, including data sharing and the use of AI pursuant to those
technologies

p. 434

Committee Of The Whole 2 p.m.
Hannah Stone, Chair
Hollie Huthman, Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton

25132

1.

An ordinance regarding initiative procedures, changing the deadline to
submit signed petitions, removing the option to gather additional
signatures after a finding of insufficiency, and amending Bellingham
Municipal Code 1.02.040

p. 435

25120

2.

A joint resolution of the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County Fire
Protection District 8, adopting a Regional Fire Authority Plan and
submitting to the voters a proposition to approve the formation of a
Regional Fire Authority, funded by a property tax and a fire benefit charge

p. 439

25142

3.

An ordinance of the City of Bellingham adopting the 2027 budget

p. 482

4.

Old or new business

Executive session 3:35 p.m.
Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only.
1.

Potential litigation (Rosenblatt, approx. 10 min.)

2.

Labor relations: discuss collective bargaining strategy (Danner, approx. 10
min.)

3.

Litigation: Loewen v. City of Bellingham (Phillips, approx. 10 min.)

4.

Potential litigation (Erb, approx. 15 min.)

5.

Potential litigation (Erb, approx. 15 min.)

Consent agenda
Consent Agenda items are considered routine and/or non-controversial and may be approved in a
single motion. A member of the Council may ask that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda
and considered separately.
25124

1.

An interlocal agreement with Whatcom County to receive Edward Byrne
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding

p. 488

25125

2.

An amendment of the interlocal agreement for ongoing operations of
Whatcom County's Crisis Stabilization Center

p. 508

25126

3.

Authorization of payroll labor cost payments dated October 1, 2026 to
October 15, 2026

p. 513

25127

4.

Authorization of AP transactions issued October 23, 2026 through
October 29, 2026

p. 514

25128

5.

Authorization of AP transactions issued October 16, 2026 through
October 22, 2026

p. 515

Final consideration of ordinances
25115

1.

An ordinance relating to land use and zoning, extending interim zoning
p. 516
regulations, applying new development regulations to single family and
infill housing development, and allowing infill housing in all areas that are
zoned predominantly for residential use, except on property regulated by
BMC Chapter 16.80, Lake Whatcom Reservoir Regulatory Provisions, for
an additional six months

25116

2.

An ordinance relating to land use and planning, extending interim zoning p. 528
regulations to establish clear and objective design standards citywide for
infill housing, multifamily housing, commercial/mixed-use development,
and urban village industrial development and to streamline the design
review permitting process

25121

3.

An ordinance relating to the levy of taxes and establishing the amount to
be raised in 2027 on the assessed valuation of property within the City

Adjournment
Next City Council meeting
Monday, December 7, 2026

p. 555