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[music]

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Good evening and welcome to the

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Bellingham City Council regular meeting.

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Today is Monday, August 24th, 2026.

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Going to call the meeting to order and

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begin with roll call.

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» Holly Huffman

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» Here.

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» Dan Haml

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» Here.

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» Skip Williams

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» Here.

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» Lisa Anderson

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» Here.

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» Michael Lilliloquist

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» Here.

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» Jay Cotton

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» Here.

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» Hannah Stone

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» Here. All council members are present.

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Thank you very much.

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» The Bellingham City Council meets all

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requirements of the State of Washington

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Open Public Meetings Act.

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Before we begin, we acknowledge that we

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are gathered on the traditional and

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unseated territory of the Lummy, Nuksac,

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Samish, and Simyu people who have cared

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for and tended this land since time and

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memorial. Truth and acknowledgement are

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critical to building mutual respect and

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connection across all barriers of

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heritage and difference.

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We begin this effort to acknowledge what

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has been buried by honoring the truth.

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We pay respect to their elders, both

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past and present. Please take a moment

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to consider the many legacies of

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violence, displacement, migration, and

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settlement that bring us together here

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today. And please join us in uncovering

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such truths at any and all public

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events.

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The Bellingham City Council provides

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Spanish interpretation at all regular

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evening meetings. Interpretation can be

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accessed by in-person attendees by

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utilizing the headsets located at the

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front of the room. Remote viewers can

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log on to co.orgccoom

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and click on the language icon at the

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bottom of the screen to listen listen in

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Spanish.

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Our next council meeting will be held on

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September 14th, 2026.

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So this evening we are beginning first

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with a public hearing.

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This is agenda bill 255027,

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a public hearing on an ordinance

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relating to land use and planning

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amending title 20 of the Bellingham

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Municipal Code creating a new chapter

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20.29A 29A

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titled lowincome housing development

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incentive removing and reducing zoning

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based development regulations for

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low-income housing in all residential

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multi- urban village and commercial

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zones.

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This ordinance proposes adoption of the

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lowincome housing development incentive,

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a new chapter within title 20 of the

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Bellingham Municipal Code, intended to

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facilitate the development of

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permanently affordable housing by

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reducing regulatory barriers and

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streamlining approvals for qualifying

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low-income housing projects.

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The proposed incentive would exempt

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eligible developments from certain

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zoning and land use regulations while

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maintaining applicable health, safety,

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environmental, and infrastructure

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standards.

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Qualifying projects must provide

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long-term affordability for households

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earning less than 80% of the area median

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income, also known as AMI. A type six

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public review process is required for

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these development code amendments.

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Following a public hearing on July 9th,

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2026, the planning commission

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recommended approval of the proposed

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code changes to the city council. So,

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we'll begin this evening um with

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community economic development manager

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Tara Sundine.

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» Good evening, uh Tara Sundine. I'm

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joined by Kurt Abfeld. We both work in

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the planning and community development

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department and we're co-presenting. I'm

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going to keep my comments brief because

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you read um the full summary statement.

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Um so, as you know, our affordable

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housing partners, our affordable housing

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developers, specifically uh the the

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nonprofit ones struggle um with um

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getting these projects off the ground.

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Um costs remain high. The financing that

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they use is fairly complicated. As you

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know, there's quite deep subsidy that

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goes into these projects and from time

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to time we find that the land use

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regulations are either adding a little

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complexity, maybe a little delay,

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sometimes more cost. Um, and so Kurt and

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I have been talking about bringing this

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forward for a while. Um, even before the

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the parking regulations were no longer

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an issue. Um, so we're pleased to to be

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presenting this. It's a pretty

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straightforward proposal and uh summary

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statement was was uh pretty robust on

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what's eligible, but it is that simple.

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If a project and I'll describe projects

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for you all that are familiar to you and

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those um that the community might be

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familiar with that um this would apply

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to they would apply to something like

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Cedar Commons that's currently being

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built out by Bellisair.

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um the Aloha in the Samish Way um

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neighborhood or Samish Commons, the uh

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Trail View at Barkley Village, Eleanor

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downtown. These are familiar

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developments to our community. These

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projects typically are in the four to

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five story range. Um, and I say that

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because we are recommending that we

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remove height limits as a constraint,

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but we know what kind of bandwidth um,

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the the financing affords these

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projects. Right now, we're seeing

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development usually in the fourstory

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range, and that's because the tax credit

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program is a little weak right now. Um,

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they're not as valuable as they are

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sometimes. Um, and just pushing that

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there's a little extra cost to go into

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fifths story. Um, for those that think

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that all of a sudden we're going to see

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eightstory buildings or 10story

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buildings, I can assure you that these

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housing um, developers cannot afford to

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go into that type of construction which

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um would be a lot more costly. Um we're

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also proposing that um in order for the

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the developers to be eligible, they're

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already partnered with the city. So

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these are the projects I speak of, they

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need to be in um the city's uh

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consolidated plan, and as you know,

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that's a plan that you all approve. So,

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these are um this is pretty targeted to

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a small number of projects in our

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community and and it's um purposeful in

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that way. Uh

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Council Chair Stone mentioned the

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permanent affordability. We think that

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there is a really solid um uh uh what do

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you um

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anyway so we're we're providing some

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flexibility for the development in

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return for a um a public benefit that is

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long-term uh affordability. So a

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covenant would be recorded on these

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properties and the properties would be

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permanently affordable for a 50-year

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period. So, we think that's a pretty

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pretty solid um tradeoff. And um with

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that, I'm going to turn it over to Kurt

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to summarize the code changes.

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» Great. Thank you, Tara. Uh yeah, so Tara

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really hit kind of the first bullet on

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the slides that you're seeing tonight.

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Um the why, um these new rules would

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apply citywide, but they would only

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apply through our urban village,

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commercial, and residential multiszones.

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they would not be allowed in residential

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uh single zones. Um and really kind of

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getting at to the the meat of the

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document here, the ordinance is it's

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really setting back and reducing the

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development standards. Um I'm going to

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walk through those development standards

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so we can get a good overview of um what

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what would apply and what wouldn't apply

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in these areas. Um as Tara mentioned,

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height uh we are not we are recommending

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no height limit uh except within certain

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view corridors. We've got several of

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those in the waterfront and the Oldtown

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areas. Um I'll just show you a quick

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couple quick slides. These are in our

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Oldtown areas where through those

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Oldtown or through those urban village

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plans, we've adopted specific um view

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corridors that we wanted to maintain and

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kept heights lower in those areas. So

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these new no rules, no height

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regulations would not apply in those

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areas where we've already adopted

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certain limits.

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Um many of our or I should say most of

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our areas within the the city include

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either a density requirement. So that

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density is the number of units per

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amount of land that you have. Um some of

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our urban villages have floor area ratio

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requirements which again um these things

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are really kind of intended to keep

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those the scale of the buildings a

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little bit smaller. Um we are

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recommending that there be no maximum

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floor areas or densities in these areas.

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We want to be able to uh let these um

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designers develop these buildings or

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design these buildings in a way that

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maximizes the total unit count because

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that's really what we've seen is um

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whether it be parking or a setback

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standard or um a height limitation, we

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seem to get a reduction in units. And so

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we're really trying to encourage more

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units and trying to eliminate some of

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those barriers.

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Um when it does come back to setbacks,

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we are wanting to make sure that we

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still maintain those underlying setbacks

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um so that they are the same as the

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buildings that would be constructed

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nearby. Um lot coverage, we're getting

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away from lock coverage as well. Uh

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remember a lot of these the buildings

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that are being built are being built in

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our more urbanized areas such as the

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commercial zones or in our urban village

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areas. Um

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so no maximum lot coverage requirements.

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Um we are recommending some usable space

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in certain areas. um that usable space

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for people. It's a it's a private usable

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space um but it can be joined to be a

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common usable space. Um we're looking at

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a 100 square feet per dwelling unit um

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except within our urban villages because

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most of our urban villages do not

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require that usable space. Now, um we

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did, um throw in an alternative here,

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which is something that we've been

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looking at for quite some time now, and

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that's when we have buildings or units

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that are located near a park or some

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other type of facility where some where

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the residents can actually go out to

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recreate someplace else or get some that

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open space. Um and so that alternative

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here to providing that is if the the

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project is located within a/4 mile of a

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park um then they don't have to provide

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that that 100 square feet per unit. Um

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parking as you know uh you've already

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passed those rules and regulations. Um

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so there's no auto parking that would be

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required for these projects. Um there

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00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:24,240
will still be ADA and electric vehicle

279
00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:27,279
charging stations. uh would still be

280
00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:30,720
required when parking is provided. Um

281
00:12:27,279 --> 00:12:32,800
and then as a part of the recent parking

282
00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:35,040
regulations that were adopted, there are

283
00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:36,639
citywide bike parking standards which we

284
00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:39,760
are recommending stay with these

285
00:12:36,639 --> 00:12:41,200
projects. Um a landscaping uh we're

286
00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:44,880
keeping those rules the same as

287
00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:46,639
underlining zoning. Um and then we do

288
00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:48,720
believe that these projects should still

289
00:12:46,639 --> 00:12:51,760
go through some sort of design review.

290
00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:54,639
Um, as you are aware, the state has

291
00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:57,760
recently required jurisdictions to go to

292
00:12:54,639 --> 00:12:59,839
an objective standard, uh, which the

293
00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:02,000
city currently has an interim ordinance

294
00:12:59,839 --> 00:13:03,920
in place. So, we've gotten rid of the

295
00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,600
subjectivity when it comes to design

296
00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:07,920
review and it's very straightforward

297
00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:11,040
objective standards. And just on a side

298
00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:14,240
note, um, we've, um, just from a staff

299
00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:16,399
perspective and a, uh, developer

300
00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:18,800
perspective, those interim rules seem to

301
00:13:16,399 --> 00:13:22,079
be working very well. um staff says that

302
00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:24,800
they are not as they're not taking as

303
00:13:22,079 --> 00:13:26,560
much time to do these types of reviews

304
00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,480
and the development community knows

305
00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:31,120
exactly what they need to do um because

306
00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:33,360
it's quite clear. So we believe again

307
00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:35,120
that design review is important for

308
00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:38,560
these buildings uh should still go

309
00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:42,000
through that process.

310
00:13:38,560 --> 00:13:44,160
Um and finally I just wanted to

311
00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:47,120
reiterate the planning commission held a

312
00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:50,639
public hearing on July 9th. Um they did

313
00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:54,079
u recommend approval with a 50 uh

314
00:13:50,639 --> 00:13:56,800
review. Um we believe in summary that

315
00:13:54,079 --> 00:13:58,959
staff believes that the proposal offers

316
00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:02,720
a very targeted way to use the city's

317
00:13:58,959 --> 00:14:04,720
land use regulations to support um a

318
00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:06,399
very important community priority uh

319
00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,480
which is increasing the supply of

320
00:14:06,399 --> 00:14:10,079
low-income housing while maintaining

321
00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,320
health, safety, and environmental and

322
00:14:10,079 --> 00:14:14,399
infrastructure standards. Um, we

323
00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:16,079
therefore uh recommend that you adopt

324
00:14:14,399 --> 00:14:17,680
the planning commission's findings,

325
00:14:16,079 --> 00:14:19,920
conclusions, and recommendations and

326
00:14:17,680 --> 00:14:21,440
pass the ordinance tonight. We are

327
00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,760
available for any questions you may

328
00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:24,800
have.

329
00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:27,279
» Thank you very much for the

330
00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:29,839
presentation. Um, as you noted, we're

331
00:14:27,279 --> 00:14:32,240
first here for public hearing. So, are

332
00:14:29,839 --> 00:14:33,680
there any clarifying questions before we

333
00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,959
receive that public hearing testimony?

334
00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:37,199
Then we'll bring it back for discussion

335
00:14:34,959 --> 00:14:40,079
at the close.

336
00:14:37,199 --> 00:14:41,760
Questions? Okay, seeing none, we will

337
00:14:40,079 --> 00:14:44,000
open the public hearing and I'll turn to

338
00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:45,519
the clerk to read the first names.

339
00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:48,720
Right, we had four individuals signed

340
00:14:45,519 --> 00:14:51,600
up. Um, first up was Adam Bellinger. Um,

341
00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:55,720
it's Jess or Tess Mullen or Muller, Mary

342
00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:55,720
Lou White, and then Pete Day.

343
00:15:02,639 --> 00:15:06,079
» Good evening, council staff, and uh,

344
00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:09,760
community members. My name is Adam

345
00:15:06,079 --> 00:15:13,040
Bellinger. Um, I am broadly supportive

346
00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:14,560
of this uh recommendation um for the

347
00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:17,920
low-income housing development

348
00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:20,480
incentive. Um, what I would suggest

349
00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:23,519
though is that there be tracking of the

350
00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:26,000
actual costs to build

351
00:15:23,519 --> 00:15:28,880
going forward of these affordable

352
00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:32,800
housing projects relative on a per unit

353
00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:36,000
basis relative to the private sector. Um

354
00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:38,480
there's a pretty big differential of uh

355
00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:40,720
when I look at projects that are have

356
00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:43,440
been done in the last few years. Um it's

357
00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:47,120
roughly about half a million a unit to

358
00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:50,079
build an affordable housing uh uh

359
00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:53,680
project and yet the private sector is

360
00:15:50,079 --> 00:15:56,480
able to do it for 330,000 roughly lately

361
00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:59,680
uh in the last few years. Um

362
00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:03,519
uh it's that's a pretty big differential

363
00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:07,600
and if we're not getting the the actual

364
00:16:03,519 --> 00:16:09,759
costs reduced for the um for the

365
00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:13,120
affordable housing, we need to keep

366
00:16:09,759 --> 00:16:16,000
looking for ways to get it uh down

367
00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:18,079
lower. Um and there's there's a lot of

368
00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,759
factors that go into affordable housing

369
00:16:18,079 --> 00:16:22,079
as I'm sure you're aware of some of

370
00:16:19,759 --> 00:16:24,959
those. But um I I think we really need

371
00:16:22,079 --> 00:16:27,920
to like track how this looks going

372
00:16:24,959 --> 00:16:32,399
forward as uh we see the the impacts on

373
00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:35,720
the development piece. Thank you.

374
00:16:32,399 --> 00:16:35,720
» Thank you, Adam.

375
00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:47,959
» Jess or Tess Mullen or Müller, Maryl

376
00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:47,959
White, and Pete Day.

377
00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:54,600
You're all welcome to come up to the

378
00:16:50,959 --> 00:16:54,600
mic. Yeah,

379
00:16:57,279 --> 00:17:00,480
I don't have my written comment because

380
00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:03,120
I couldn't get off the computer today

381
00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:05,280
and as usual I'm not organized, but you

382
00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:08,000
guys have gotten my comments more than

383
00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:12,160
once. You know, my concerns with regard

384
00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:15,839
to mining. um my concerns regard to this

385
00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:17,600
uh burden it places on the um the people

386
00:17:15,839 --> 00:17:20,160
who are paying taxes here because it's

387
00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:23,760
deeply financed and doesn't give the

388
00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:26,799
financial return for that finance. Um I

389
00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:29,039
didn't say what ordinance it is because

390
00:17:26,799 --> 00:17:32,720
it's not on the sheet I was given.

391
00:17:29,039 --> 00:17:34,720
Likewise, I got this on July 25th, but

392
00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:37,200
um if I were somebody who had not been

393
00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:40,080
on the board as an alternate, I would

394
00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:42,480
not be able to ex to reach this until 7

395
00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:45,760
days before the meeting to find out

396
00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:47,440
anything about it. Um so that's just

397
00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:50,559
another thing on the side and I think

398
00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:52,799
it's in my notes. Um, with regard to the

399
00:17:50,559 --> 00:17:55,760
mining in particular, because I live in

400
00:17:52,799 --> 00:17:59,120
a mining area area, a historic mining

401
00:17:55,760 --> 00:18:02,240
area, I'm concerned because the voids

402
00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:04,240
aren't equal across the city and that's

403
00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:07,039
why we shouldn't have a regulation

404
00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:08,240
that's equal across the city. I'm also

405
00:18:07,039 --> 00:18:12,320
concerned with regard to the

406
00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:15,600
environmental factor. Um because these

407
00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:17,760
units they city is saying is four

408
00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:19,360
roughly four to five now but they

409
00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:21,440
acknowledge there'll be at least up to

410
00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:23,919
six. They acknowledged at the last

411
00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:25,200
meeting if it's on record I don't know

412
00:18:23,919 --> 00:18:27,360
if it's on record but it could be on

413
00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:30,080
video that there's really no regulations

414
00:18:27,360 --> 00:18:31,440
any longer. Um so that these will end up

415
00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:34,080
ultimately possibly going into

416
00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:37,200
residential neighborhoods. I would also

417
00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:38,880
like to um place it on record any notes

418
00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:41,679
that I've put in at that meeting, this

419
00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:43,919
meeting, and potentially uh the 20 or

420
00:18:41,679 --> 00:18:47,360
the 2701

421
00:18:43,919 --> 00:18:49,200
um Birwood neighborhood um h planned

422
00:18:47,360 --> 00:18:51,679
housing that I also provided the council

423
00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:55,120
with documentation on with regard to the

424
00:18:51,679 --> 00:18:56,720
risks for storm water drainage. Um, I

425
00:18:55,120 --> 00:18:58,559
think the council knows that the city

426
00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:00,960
has infrastructure that's overundred

427
00:18:58,559 --> 00:19:03,360
years old and that these large

428
00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:06,320
structures put in on infrastructure that

429
00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:09,200
wasn't developed for that could lead to

430
00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:11,440
um backwatering and sewage backups in

431
00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:15,200
homes, which has happened in Bellingham

432
00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:18,799
several times this year. Um, it will

433
00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:20,559
also uh potentially lead to blackouts

434
00:19:18,799 --> 00:19:22,480
where you don't get electricity or you

435
00:19:20,559 --> 00:19:26,240
have a restriction on your electricity

436
00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:27,760
or water. Um, so I think we need to look

437
00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:31,039
at this more carefully and that it

438
00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:34,080
should be subject to due diligence and I

439
00:19:31,039 --> 00:19:36,400
think having a broad um thing that isn't

440
00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:39,360
subject to due diligence doesn't cover

441
00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:43,760
that. Um, I also would like to say with

442
00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:45,520
regard to the SEIPA comment, um, that I

443
00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:47,280
I noticed in the SEIPA comment that the

444
00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:49,360
city has decided to give away our

445
00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:51,600
wildlife for the outskirts of the

446
00:19:49,360 --> 00:19:53,280
Bellingham and I don't think that's good

447
00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:56,320
for the health and safety of the

448
00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:57,600
citizens of Bellingham. Um, so and I

449
00:19:56,320 --> 00:20:00,799
don't think that we were asked about

450
00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:03,840
that either with regard to that. So, I

451
00:20:00,799 --> 00:20:07,400
welcome the council to talk to me.

452
00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:07,400
» Thank you, Mary Lou.

453
00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:26,320
Good evening, council members and

454
00:20:23,679 --> 00:20:28,320
neighbors, city staff. My name is Pete

455
00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:32,559
Day. I live in the Birchwood

456
00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:34,480
neighborhood as well and uh I also uh am

457
00:20:32,559 --> 00:20:36,960
here representing Compass Housing

458
00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:39,919
Alliance which is a regional nonprofit

459
00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:41,919
affordable housing developer. Um and I'm

460
00:20:39,919 --> 00:20:44,159
not going to take much of your time this

461
00:20:41,919 --> 00:20:46,480
evening. Um but I did want to offer

462
00:20:44,159 --> 00:20:49,840
support for this ordinance and

463
00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:52,799
underscore uh just how important

464
00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:54,720
regulatory updates like this are to

465
00:20:52,799 --> 00:20:57,679
making affordable housing possible in

466
00:20:54,720 --> 00:21:01,280
our community. So uh from a developer

467
00:20:57,679 --> 00:21:03,919
standpoint um in broad strokes an

468
00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:08,400
ordinance like this serves to increase

469
00:21:03,919 --> 00:21:10,799
certainty for us which is a huge deal um

470
00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:13,600
so that we can plan effectively and know

471
00:21:10,799 --> 00:21:15,679
at the outset of feasibility you know

472
00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:19,039
exploring um whether a project is even

473
00:21:15,679 --> 00:21:20,640
possible. Um we need clarity on what

474
00:21:19,039 --> 00:21:23,840
what the rules are, what the land use

475
00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:26,960
regulations are. Um and oftentimes what

476
00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:28,480
ends up happening is we um go in, you

477
00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:31,440
know, to a community that has more

478
00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:33,200
restrictive um land use regulations and

479
00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:35,600
there's a lot of back and forth with

480
00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:37,840
with the city that takes a lot of time

481
00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:40,400
to understand what those regulations are

482
00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:42,240
and how we can work with them. So

483
00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:46,480
appreciate the clarity um that this

484
00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:47,600
ordinance offers. Um, and secondly,

485
00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:50,880
I just [clears throat] want to call out

486
00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:53,200
the um the ways that an ordinance like

487
00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:55,919
this really does reduce development

488
00:21:53,200 --> 00:22:00,000
costs substantially.

489
00:21:55,919 --> 00:22:02,320
Um, and there are substantial soft costs

490
00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:05,360
and hard costs associated with pursuing

491
00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:08,400
variances, which is often the case uh

492
00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:10,960
when building affordable housing. um

493
00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:14,159
negotiating design allowances and paying

494
00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:17,679
consultants and legal fees uh to to work

495
00:22:14,159 --> 00:22:21,520
those things out. Um so there's

496
00:22:17,679 --> 00:22:23,440
definitely um uh cost savings there. And

497
00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:27,919
I'll call out a regulatory change like

498
00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:31,520
this um allows more of each affordable

499
00:22:27,919 --> 00:22:35,280
housing dollar to be spent on actually

500
00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:38,480
building affordable homes as opposed to

501
00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:44,480
um servicing the cost of administrative

502
00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:46,720
burden essentially, right? Um so uh I I

503
00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:48,159
want to thank uh Tara and Kurt for and

504
00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:51,200
the city staff for their work on this

505
00:22:48,159 --> 00:22:53,120
ordinance. Um, I feel that it does a

506
00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:56,640
does a good job of balancing the urgency

507
00:22:53,120 --> 00:22:59,120
of the need uh in our community um with

508
00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:01,760
appropriate safeguards for responsible

509
00:22:59,120 --> 00:23:03,440
community development. And I'll just

510
00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:05,520
call out clauses like the long-term

511
00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:08,159
affordability condition that's in the

512
00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:10,559
ordinance um as well as the city funding

513
00:23:08,159 --> 00:23:14,640
and consolidated action plan condition

514
00:23:10,559 --> 00:23:16,640
as well um as examples of um great

515
00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:19,760
safeguards that I appreciate are in

516
00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:22,240
there. Um, so thank you Tara and Kurt.

517
00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:25,120
Uh, and thank you councel for

518
00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:28,520
entertaining this ordinance.

519
00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:28,520
» Thank you Pete

520
00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,600
Jess.

521
00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:38,559
» Okay.

522
00:23:36,159 --> 00:23:39,919
Are there any So is there anyone else on

523
00:23:38,559 --> 00:23:41,760
the list?

524
00:23:39,919 --> 00:23:42,480
» Uh, Jess or Tess, but they're not um

525
00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:44,159
stepping up.

526
00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,520
» They haven't responded. Okay. Is there

527
00:23:44,159 --> 00:23:48,640
anyone else here this evening who would

528
00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:49,440
like to speak to this item?

529
00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,600
» Yes. Yes.

530
00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,720
» Hello everybody. You guys are in my

531
00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:54,320
wheelhouse when you start talking about

532
00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:55,600
affordable housing. But I a couple

533
00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:57,360
things I want to bring up. I didn't have

534
00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:59,280
my notes either. My computer decided to

535
00:23:57,360 --> 00:24:01,840
crash. What I want to highlight is

536
00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:04,640
what's the cost of the affordable

537
00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:08,240
housing that we do. And I wish that we

538
00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:10,240
would keep a record of um the increased

539
00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:12,000
regulatory cost which they're going to

540
00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:13,600
try and get rid of. But really there's

541
00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:16,400
hidden costs that nobody really wants to

542
00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:17,840
talk about. And that's there's about 92

543
00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:21,279
properties that are in Wakom County

544
00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:22,799
right now that pay no property tax. And

545
00:24:21,279 --> 00:24:24,880
what you'll find is there's a lot of

546
00:24:22,799 --> 00:24:27,760
like an apartment complex that is near

547
00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:29,600
me or my work on Wurn where they were

548
00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:31,200
paying 150 grand a year in property

549
00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:34,400
taxes and then about two or three years

550
00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:36,559
ago magically they paid zero.

551
00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:39,840
And so I want to be reminded that there

552
00:24:36,559 --> 00:24:41,440
isn't some magic budget tree that just

553
00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:45,120
drops

554
00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:46,799
$100 bills for us to get what we want.

555
00:24:45,120 --> 00:24:49,600
People have to be taxed to get that

556
00:24:46,799 --> 00:24:52,400
money. People have to pay money out of

557
00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:54,000
their own, you know, their own uh uh

558
00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:56,640
incomes.

559
00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:58,240
And I'm telling you that there's a cost

560
00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:01,120
to this. And when you say affordable

561
00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:03,600
housing, I want you to know, and this is

562
00:25:01,120 --> 00:25:05,360
no offense to anybody. I feel like

563
00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,039
people are saying it like my kids would

564
00:25:05,360 --> 00:25:08,320
say when they were little and we didn't

565
00:25:07,039 --> 00:25:12,240
have the money and they said just write

566
00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:14,320
a check because they had no real

567
00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:15,760
comprehension of what that meant. And I

568
00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:17,679
want everybody to remind I'm here to

569
00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,960
remind everybody that there's a cost

570
00:25:17,679 --> 00:25:21,360
when you're talking about affordable

571
00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:23,520
housing. There's a cost to your land use

572
00:25:21,360 --> 00:25:25,360
policies. There's a cost to your

573
00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:27,919
hoarding of land through the greenways

574
00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:30,799
and other purchases. uh on available

575
00:25:27,919 --> 00:25:34,080
land like in the US Street corridor that

576
00:25:30,799 --> 00:25:36,480
Bellingham owns like 50% of there's the

577
00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:38,799
cost of the tree ordinances. There's the

578
00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:41,360
cost of everything and it all just

579
00:25:38,799 --> 00:25:42,799
stacks and it makes it a very

580
00:25:41,360 --> 00:25:44,880
unaffordable place. And I want you to

581
00:25:42,799 --> 00:25:48,640
remember this isn't just evil. I mean

582
00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:53,840
developers do a God's work. They do a a

583
00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:55,520
a vital uh thing for our community.

584
00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,720
What happens is that we don't have jobs.

585
00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:58,480
It's like where's your teachers going to

586
00:25:56,720 --> 00:26:00,400
go? Where are they going to live? Are

587
00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:02,000
they going to live in 200 foot places?

588
00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:03,279
Are they going to want to live here? I

589
00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:05,600
want you to remember last time I said

590
00:26:03,279 --> 00:26:08,559
that Wakom County number one export we

591
00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:10,880
have is our children. That's from La uh

592
00:26:08,559 --> 00:26:12,159
La Sorenson. I want you to think about

593
00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:14,640
that when you're talking about these

594
00:26:12,159 --> 00:26:16,799
these issues that it's people's futures

595
00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:18,960
and people's ability to live here. But

596
00:26:16,799 --> 00:26:20,960
in reality, I believe that Bellingham

597
00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:23,279
had 42 projects or something the last

598
00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:25,520
couple years that got the tax break for

599
00:26:23,279 --> 00:26:28,159
for being in these corridors. Not one of

600
00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:31,200
them had uh lowincome housing. They

601
00:26:28,159 --> 00:26:33,039
could do market rent. So, I want you to

602
00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:35,520
say that there's a cost to all this. And

603
00:26:33,039 --> 00:26:37,679
then finally, I want you to know that

604
00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:39,760
that there's like $3 million worth of

605
00:26:37,679 --> 00:26:41,440
tax that's going away from people that

606
00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:44,080
aren't being uh uh collected. So, when

607
00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:45,760
you do these low-inccome h projects,

608
00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:48,480
let's keep a running total of what they

609
00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:51,360
cost. And it's not just hiding subsidies

610
00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:52,320
from people not paying taxes or proper

611
00:26:51,360 --> 00:26:54,480
or projects. Thank you.

612
00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:57,039
» Thank you, Brian.

613
00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:58,320
Thank you, Brian. Is there anyone else

614
00:26:57,039 --> 00:27:00,559
here this evening who would like to

615
00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:03,039
speak to the topic of this specific

616
00:27:00,559 --> 00:27:06,080
public hearing?

617
00:27:03,039 --> 00:27:07,360
Okay, seeing none, I will close the

618
00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:09,679
public hearing and bring it back to

619
00:27:07,360 --> 00:27:11,679
council for discussion. Council member

620
00:27:09,679 --> 00:27:13,840
Anderson.

621
00:27:11,679 --> 00:27:16,320
» So, I don't have any specific questions.

622
00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:19,679
I think it's pretty well written

623
00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:21,520
through. Um, generally, we would send

624
00:27:19,679 --> 00:27:27,600
this on to a work session if there's a

625
00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:29,679
lot of questions. Um but uh

626
00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:32,240
just to share, I remember a project on

627
00:27:29,679 --> 00:27:35,919
Samish Wayade, the Samish Commons, and

628
00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:39,360
as a uh neighborhood leader, we worked

629
00:27:35,919 --> 00:27:42,720
really hard to uh help secure that

630
00:27:39,360 --> 00:27:44,799
property. And then again, as two

631
00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:47,440
neighborhoods, Se Home and York, we

632
00:27:44,799 --> 00:27:49,200
really lobbyed that affordable housing

633
00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,720
would go into that part of our

634
00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:53,360
community.

635
00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:56,080
And thankfully it was awarded to

636
00:27:53,360 --> 00:27:57,760
Bellingham Housing Authority. And then

637
00:27:56,080 --> 00:28:00,799
um as time went on, I was on the

638
00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:03,360
planning commission. And when the

639
00:28:00,799 --> 00:28:05,600
property was designed and ready to go,

640
00:28:03,360 --> 00:28:08,000
um they were just outside the corridor

641
00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:10,240
for kind of the unlimited height. So

642
00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:12,159
there was a height limit for them. And

643
00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:15,039
they could save a substantial amount of

644
00:28:12,159 --> 00:28:18,320
money if they were able to use some uh

645
00:28:15,039 --> 00:28:21,120
like pre-engineered prefab parts. And so

646
00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:22,960
they were going to be six feet above the

647
00:28:21,120 --> 00:28:26,399
height limit. Six or eight feet above

648
00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:27,760
the height limit. So to try to save the

649
00:28:26,399 --> 00:28:29,600
money, they went to the neighborhoods

650
00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:31,919
and talked about trying to increase the

651
00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:33,840
height of which both neighborhoods were

652
00:28:31,919 --> 00:28:36,399
fully supported. And we kept asking

653
00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:39,120
them, could you go even go higher? But

654
00:28:36,399 --> 00:28:43,279
they explained to us that the cost of

655
00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:49,919
going from uh stick and board to

656
00:28:43,279 --> 00:28:53,440
engineered and manufactured like uh uh

657
00:28:49,919 --> 00:28:55,120
metals and stuff just greatly increased

658
00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:57,520
the cost that they would not be able to

659
00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:59,520
get funding. And so they had to go the

660
00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:01,440
route of delaying and then going through

661
00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:03,600
the planning commission to have the

662
00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:05,120
planning commission agree that the

663
00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:07,039
height should be changed. And then

664
00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:09,279
eventually that came to at least two of

665
00:29:07,039 --> 00:29:11,039
the council members here to vote for it.

666
00:29:09,279 --> 00:29:13,919
Um, council member Liiloquist and

667
00:29:11,039 --> 00:29:17,200
Council Member Hamill. And that caused a

668
00:29:13,919 --> 00:29:19,840
pretty significant delay for six feet

669
00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:22,880
and them being able to save enough money

670
00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:26,159
to be able to afford to put it in. And

671
00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:29,200
and I understand the cost associated to

672
00:29:26,159 --> 00:29:32,080
not getting taxes or perhaps additional

673
00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:34,960
staff time, but our largest segment of

674
00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:39,200
unmet housing needs are going to be

675
00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:40,799
those people under 80% AMI. And so our

676
00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:44,960
for-profit

677
00:29:40,799 --> 00:29:46,799
um development doesn't address that. And

678
00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:49,279
the city only has so much money to

679
00:29:46,799 --> 00:29:53,520
develop it on our own. So any

680
00:29:49,279 --> 00:29:56,080
opportunity we have to

681
00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:57,760
assist to cut down some of that

682
00:29:56,080 --> 00:30:00,880
administrative cost, the extra

683
00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:04,159
engineering cost. Um I used to be uh

684
00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:07,360
worried about height, um making sure

685
00:30:04,159 --> 00:30:09,279
that it fit within what was in that

686
00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:11,120
corridor or that neighborhood, but the

687
00:30:09,279 --> 00:30:12,799
reality is the more I understand about

688
00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:14,799
the engineering and the development

689
00:30:12,799 --> 00:30:18,000
costs, we're really not going to see

690
00:30:14,799 --> 00:30:20,240
anything above four stories. um because

691
00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:22,720
our nonprofits, they can't get that

692
00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:24,640
level of funding. Um that is more of a

693
00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:27,039
for-profit and this is not what it's

694
00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:30,320
covering. So, I'm not worried about the

695
00:30:27,039 --> 00:30:34,480
height coming in um and being an issue

696
00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:36,159
in the areas that are allowed. Um, and I

697
00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:38,320
could maybe not get a second. And this

698
00:30:36,159 --> 00:30:41,279
is unusual for me to make a motion to

699
00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:44,320
approve um without necessarily sending

700
00:30:41,279 --> 00:30:47,679
it to committee, but um I think this is

701
00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:49,679
a pretty straightforward and necessary

702
00:30:47,679 --> 00:30:54,480
and grateful that this is being coming

703
00:30:49,679 --> 00:30:57,679
forward. So I um move approval of um the

704
00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:59,760
adoption of

705
00:30:57,679 --> 00:31:00,559
the ordinance for the first and second

706
00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:03,559
reading.

707
00:31:00,559 --> 00:31:03,559
» Second.

708
00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:07,039
Motion was made by Council Member

709
00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:08,720
Anderson and a second by Council Member

710
00:31:07,039 --> 00:31:12,640
Hman.

711
00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:15,039
Discussion. Council member Liquist.

712
00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:16,480
» I think there's a lot about this

713
00:31:15,039 --> 00:31:19,039
ordinance that I love, but I think

714
00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:21,279
there's uh also a major problem which I

715
00:31:19,039 --> 00:31:23,279
would like to address before we we vote

716
00:31:21,279 --> 00:31:25,360
on it. Um

717
00:31:23,279 --> 00:31:28,399
yeah, you know this what it basically

718
00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:29,840
does does is it says uh by relaxing

719
00:31:28,399 --> 00:31:31,360
height rules or getting rid of them,

720
00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:32,559
density rules or getting rid of them or

721
00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:35,279
lot coverage rules or getting rid of

722
00:31:32,559 --> 00:31:37,039
them, you can build bigger the edges of

723
00:31:35,279 --> 00:31:39,440
your lot so long as you deal with storm

724
00:31:37,039 --> 00:31:41,519
water issues. You go as high as you want

725
00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:43,279
so long as you're have well engineered

726
00:31:41,519 --> 00:31:45,679
building and as as long as you don't

727
00:31:43,279 --> 00:31:48,000
block view corridors. All this makes a

728
00:31:45,679 --> 00:31:49,440
great deal of sense to me. I'm not sure

729
00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:51,039
about the open space thing. I can't tell

730
00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:53,360
if it's more generous or more forgiving,

731
00:31:51,039 --> 00:31:55,360
but I think that's a minor deal. My

732
00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:57,039
problem is that in the name of removing

733
00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:59,440
restrictions, we're creating a new

734
00:31:57,039 --> 00:32:01,600
restriction. We're creating the opposite

735
00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:03,760
of flexibility in a way which I don't

736
00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:06,240
think was thought through. The problem

737
00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:08,320
is that during our comp plan discussion,

738
00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:11,440
we talked about the value and the

739
00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:14,240
utility of mixed income projects and how

740
00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:16,640
mixed income projects are disfavored by

741
00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:18,720
the way we keep writing our rules. So

742
00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:20,720
that we keep writing rules which creates

743
00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:23,679
lowincome poor people housing or

744
00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:26,960
anything else and we don't allow

745
00:32:23,679 --> 00:32:29,120
possibility of mixtures of incomes. The

746
00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:31,120
way this is written it prevents that

747
00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:33,440
possibility. It's the opposite of

748
00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:35,519
flexibility. It actually excludes an

749
00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:38,080
option of mixed housing which I think

750
00:32:35,519 --> 00:32:42,960
runs counter to our compound policy 816.

751
00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:44,640
So on the applicability chapter 2029A-2

752
00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:48,000
section C, it says only projects

753
00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:49,519
proposing 100% low-income housing are

754
00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:51,919
eligible for the incentive provisions

755
00:32:49,519 --> 00:32:53,519
herein. I think that's a mistake. I

756
00:32:51,919 --> 00:32:56,240
think we should allow this if a project

757
00:32:53,519 --> 00:32:58,880
has the majority of low-income units,

758
00:32:56,240 --> 00:33:01,679
60% or some other number. We can talk

759
00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:04,720
about it. But why are we excluding mixed

760
00:33:01,679 --> 00:33:06,960
income projects? We want housing. We

761
00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:09,679
want housing that's affordable. And we

762
00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:11,840
also want mixed income housing projects.

763
00:33:09,679 --> 00:33:14,320
We could get all three if we just

764
00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:16,480
rewrote the applicability section. So I

765
00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:18,799
would like to talk about that and maybe

766
00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:22,279
amend it before voting on the amendment

767
00:33:18,799 --> 00:33:22,279
on the ordinance.

768
00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:30,159
» Council member Lilloquist, is that

769
00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:31,279
formal motion or anything or at this

770
00:33:30,159 --> 00:33:33,200
point you just want

771
00:33:31,279 --> 00:33:35,919
» At this point I want to open discussion.

772
00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:38,799
» Okay. Council member Cotton.

773
00:33:35,919 --> 00:33:40,960
Um, I love this ordinance. I think it's

774
00:33:38,799 --> 00:33:43,760
so smart and thank you for the work to

775
00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:46,240
bring it forward. Um,

776
00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:48,320
okay. I have one uh technical question.

777
00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:50,880
How much work is it to re for the city

778
00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:53,039
to confirm a covenant has been recorded?

779
00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:54,240
Are you just copied on an email or the

780
00:33:53,039 --> 00:33:56,159
staff have to run down to the

781
00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:57,360
courthouse? Like how much staff time is

782
00:33:56,159 --> 00:33:59,679
that component?

783
00:33:57,360 --> 00:34:01,840
» I don't do that part, but um my team

784
00:33:59,679 --> 00:34:03,760
does and we do require covenants anytime

785
00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:06,559
we loan on a project. So, that's

786
00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:08,960
something that we do routinely.

787
00:34:06,559 --> 00:34:12,960
» I can answer. It's actually relatively

788
00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:15,599
minimal. Um, we draft up a uh the the

789
00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:17,359
covenant. It's very standard. Um, we

790
00:34:15,599 --> 00:34:19,200
require the developer or the applicant

791
00:34:17,359 --> 00:34:20,800
to recorded it. So, they walk they get

792
00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:22,399
it, they walk across the street, record

793
00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:25,440
it, bring us back a copy, we have a

794
00:34:22,399 --> 00:34:27,839
copy, it stays in the file.

795
00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:29,520
» Okay. That is I've always been curious,

796
00:34:27,839 --> 00:34:31,599
so thank you for answering that. Um, but

797
00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:34,639
I do think it, um, informs my reaction

798
00:34:31,599 --> 00:34:36,399
to your comments, council Loquist. Um,

799
00:34:34,639 --> 00:34:38,720
that question around whether or not this

800
00:34:36,399 --> 00:34:40,800
should be expanded to maybe incentivize

801
00:34:38,720 --> 00:34:42,079
participation in the 12-year MFT was

802
00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:44,720
brought up in the planning commission

803
00:34:42,079 --> 00:34:46,960
meeting. Um,

804
00:34:44,720 --> 00:34:50,240
I do think we would have to kind of get

805
00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:52,879
down to that maybe level of percentage,

806
00:34:50,240 --> 00:34:58,480
like a 20% for that really to pencil in

807
00:34:52,879 --> 00:35:02,000
most cases. But, um, I do think, um,

808
00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:03,359
we we are getting a lot in exchange for

809
00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:06,160
this. Like, we're talking about a

810
00:35:03,359 --> 00:35:07,760
50-year covenant for affordability. So,

811
00:35:06,160 --> 00:35:09,440
in that sense, for that extra

812
00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:12,480
affordability, we're actually getting a

813
00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:15,119
lot more on top of the 12-year MFT. Um,

814
00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:18,000
so I I think it's maybe a really smart

815
00:35:15,119 --> 00:35:21,440
idea. Um I understand that you know this

816
00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:23,040
is uh providing a lot of additional

817
00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:25,040
flexibility and there might be some

818
00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:28,320
concerns about how that plays out but I

819
00:35:25,040 --> 00:35:31,200
think this the fact this is limited to u

820
00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:33,599
multif family zones makes me feel a lot

821
00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:37,200
more comfortable. Um and also we just

822
00:35:33,599 --> 00:35:38,800
desperately need affordable units and um

823
00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:40,320
it seems like we're we're getting a lot

824
00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:42,880
for what we're given here. So, I'm

825
00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:45,359
generally supportive of council and

826
00:35:42,880 --> 00:35:49,920
happy to continue that conversation in

827
00:35:45,359 --> 00:35:50,720
in committee or um uh or now if folks

828
00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:52,000
have thoughts.

829
00:35:50,720 --> 00:35:52,480
» Clear. Are you supporting council member

830
00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:54,480
Anderson?

831
00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:55,680
» I I'm supporting.

832
00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:56,079
» Yes.

833
00:35:55,680 --> 00:36:00,000
» Sorry.

834
00:35:56,079 --> 00:36:01,680
» So, um I I too would love to see what I

835
00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:03,920
call, you know, not the silos of

836
00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:07,200
poverty, but I just questioned how much

837
00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:10,960
time and work it would be to come back

838
00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:14,640
with what is the right mix. Is it 50%

839
00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:17,280
affordability? Is it 20% affordability?

840
00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:20,079
Um, things have to pencil out for the

841
00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:22,960
developer, not just the nonprofit.

842
00:36:20,079 --> 00:36:25,680
Because if you're doing mix often is not

843
00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:28,000
the nonprofit, it might be a nonprofit

844
00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:30,480
uh partnering with a for-profit

845
00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:33,520
development. I think conversations would

846
00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:37,040
need to be had so we had the right

847
00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:39,680
mix um to make it make sense. And I'm

848
00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:42,640
just wondering um and this might be to

849
00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:46,480
director Lions who's typing away there.

850
00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:49,760
Um, does it make more sense to pass this

851
00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:52,160
as it is and then come back because I

852
00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:55,359
know your guys's work agenda after what

853
00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:58,800
was presented at the planning the shared

854
00:36:55,359 --> 00:37:01,520
joint meeting is quite extensive and so

855
00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:03,359
I worry about delaying something and

856
00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:04,960
then having a bunch of questions that go

857
00:37:03,359 --> 00:37:07,359
into a work session that could go into

858
00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:09,359
work session into work session to make

859
00:37:07,359 --> 00:37:12,560
it pencil out. Does it make sense to

860
00:37:09,359 --> 00:37:14,320
maybe delay this and have you come back

861
00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:16,800
um with any questions we're going to be

862
00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:19,839
forming now or does it make sense to

863
00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:22,320
perhaps if council supports it to pass

864
00:37:19,839 --> 00:37:24,880
it and then come back with an amendment

865
00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:27,040
when it fits into your work schedule?

866
00:37:24,880 --> 00:37:29,920
because I would like to see the

867
00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:32,480
opportunity for mix. But I also think if

868
00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:35,280
we're looking at good opportunity, we

869
00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:38,720
might want to consider some of those tax

870
00:37:35,280 --> 00:37:40,640
incentives in tandem with changes. And

871
00:37:38,720 --> 00:37:44,400
it may not necessarily be with this. It

872
00:37:40,640 --> 00:37:46,800
might be with another um ordinance that

873
00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:50,240
comes forward. So I guess some direction

874
00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:53,359
how you think might be best

875
00:37:50,240 --> 00:37:57,359
to reach maybe a shared goal of

876
00:37:53,359 --> 00:37:59,040
incentivizing more mixed income housing.

877
00:37:57,359 --> 00:37:59,440
» I'll let Tara respond first and then

878
00:37:59,040 --> 00:38:02,240
I'll

879
00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:05,599
» Yeah, I'll start. Um we do have a

880
00:38:02,240 --> 00:38:07,520
project in the pipeline that is stuck at

881
00:38:05,599 --> 00:38:09,599
the moment that one of our affordable

882
00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:13,760
housing developers and it's a height

883
00:38:09,599 --> 00:38:16,880
issue. So, we would like to see action

884
00:38:13,760 --> 00:38:19,200
and if the council wants to expand. So,

885
00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:22,000
this is the reason why it says 100%

886
00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:25,200
affordable is when we're funding

887
00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:27,280
projects, we that's the realm that we're

888
00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:30,800
in and and especially in the rental

889
00:38:27,280 --> 00:38:32,720
product. Um it doesn't mean that by the

890
00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:34,640
way a developer couldn't propose a

891
00:38:32,720 --> 00:38:36,240
mixeduse development and we partially

892
00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:39,520
fund and they would just follow the

893
00:38:36,240 --> 00:38:41,440
rules that that are there in the

894
00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:43,680
underlining zoning. So what we said to

895
00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:46,480
planning commission is if you want to

896
00:38:43,680 --> 00:38:49,920
contemplate expansion we're talking

897
00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:52,240
about a really different scope if we're

898
00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:55,359
talking about the 12-year expansion that

899
00:38:52,240 --> 00:38:56,880
is like citywide now. So, and we don't

900
00:38:55,359 --> 00:39:01,040
we just don't really know what to expect

901
00:38:56,880 --> 00:39:03,680
with with that program. So, I'd urge

902
00:39:01,040 --> 00:39:06,160
adoption and then come back later.

903
00:39:03,680 --> 00:39:09,680
» I would offer one other um consideration

904
00:39:06,160 --> 00:39:12,800
and that is the

905
00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:14,880
the two worlds of having an applicant

906
00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:18,480
who is an affordable housing developer

907
00:39:14,880 --> 00:39:22,240
and a market rate housing developer

908
00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:24,800
don't blend as much as you would think.

909
00:39:22,240 --> 00:39:26,160
um they are almost I I don't want to say

910
00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:27,440
they're exclusive because that wouldn't

911
00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:30,320
that wouldn't be a fair statement

912
00:39:27,440 --> 00:39:33,520
either, but they are unique and

913
00:39:30,320 --> 00:39:36,720
disciplined in their own right. And so

914
00:39:33,520 --> 00:39:38,560
having an idea of um making them

915
00:39:36,720 --> 00:39:41,520
collaborate and do that kind of stuff is

916
00:39:38,560 --> 00:39:43,040
is is great in theory and [laughter] but

917
00:39:41,520 --> 00:39:45,440
it's a little more difficult in

918
00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:47,520
practice. And so I would not want us to

919
00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:49,280
necessarily hold up the projects that

920
00:39:47,520 --> 00:39:53,119
Tara is talking about to kind of force

921
00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:55,119
that endeavor. Council member Lillquist.

922
00:39:53,119 --> 00:39:57,760
» Yeah, I must have spoken very poorly.

923
00:39:55,119 --> 00:40:00,160
I'm not saying we should require mixed

924
00:39:57,760 --> 00:40:04,079
use. I'm saying that we should allow

925
00:40:00,160 --> 00:40:06,480
mixed use. Saying at least say 60% means

926
00:40:04,079 --> 00:40:08,720
you could do 100%.

927
00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:10,800
No one has to do mixed use. If you like

928
00:40:08,720 --> 00:40:13,280
this proposal which gives the incentive

929
00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:15,680
to 100% then you might like it better if

930
00:40:13,280 --> 00:40:17,520
it also allowed another number when it

931
00:40:15,680 --> 00:40:18,960
was mixed use. So we don't need to come

932
00:40:17,520 --> 00:40:21,280
up with the right number. If if someone

933
00:40:18,960 --> 00:40:22,960
wants to come in and you only do 100%

934
00:40:21,280 --> 00:40:24,480
affordable, you can get it. You can get

935
00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:26,000
it. You can get it tomorrow. The

936
00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:27,760
whoever's lined up to do it, they can

937
00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:30,880
get it tomorrow if we pass it tonight.

938
00:40:27,760 --> 00:40:33,280
Well, 15 days. Um I'm suggesting we add

939
00:40:30,880 --> 00:40:36,079
flexibility. We add the possibility. I'm

940
00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:39,200
not saying only projects with exactly or

941
00:40:36,079 --> 00:40:41,599
at least some number, right? Or, you

942
00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:43,440
know, a mixed market rate. I'm saying at

943
00:40:41,599 --> 00:40:45,680
least this percentage has to be

944
00:40:43,440 --> 00:40:47,839
affordable. It could be 100% if you

945
00:40:45,680 --> 00:40:49,680
want. So, I'm I'm I'm making it

946
00:40:47,839 --> 00:40:51,599
permissive language, not mandatory

947
00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:53,280
language. So, I think I want to clear

948
00:40:51,599 --> 00:40:55,920
that up. And you you still may not like

949
00:40:53,280 --> 00:40:57,839
the idea. Um, but I'm also confused with

950
00:40:55,920 --> 00:41:00,560
the staff saying, "Oh, we can fund a

951
00:40:57,839 --> 00:41:03,119
mixeduse project now. We would just do a

952
00:41:00,560 --> 00:41:05,119
100% of a funding of the 80% of the

953
00:41:03,119 --> 00:41:06,800
units that are affordable."

954
00:41:05,119 --> 00:41:09,040
That requires them to divide up their

955
00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:10,480
project. Why Why make it hard on them?

956
00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:13,920
Why not just have them show us the unit

957
00:41:10,480 --> 00:41:15,359
count? Uh, so I if we can all if we're

958
00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:17,280
already think we can do it and then

959
00:41:15,359 --> 00:41:18,800
going to Mr. Lion's point, they're

960
00:41:17,280 --> 00:41:21,119
really well taken. There are two

961
00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:23,200
different worlds of of forprofit and

962
00:41:21,119 --> 00:41:25,280
nonprofit and putting them together is a

963
00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:27,280
challenge, but we keep saying we want

964
00:41:25,280 --> 00:41:30,000
it. So why would we create a new

965
00:41:27,280 --> 00:41:33,200
roadblock of our own making? One more

966
00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:35,440
reason you can't do mixed use. So I'm

967
00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:37,599
saying let's get rid of this roadblock

968
00:41:35,440 --> 00:41:39,839
and not require mixeduse, but at least

969
00:41:37,599 --> 00:41:41,920
allow it. So that's what I would hope to

970
00:41:39,839 --> 00:41:44,800
propose. And I'm sorry I wasn't clear

971
00:41:41,920 --> 00:41:46,160
about that about you not requiring it.

972
00:41:44,800 --> 00:41:49,599
So, Council Member Loquist, in your

973
00:41:46,160 --> 00:41:52,319
mind, how would the incentive be applied

974
00:41:49,599 --> 00:41:55,200
to just hypothetically to a a mixed

975
00:41:52,319 --> 00:41:56,319
project, then in this case, it would

976
00:41:55,200 --> 00:41:58,319
just apply to the

977
00:41:56,319 --> 00:42:01,520
» Affordable simply say to the city that

978
00:41:58,319 --> 00:42:04,319
uh you know, we swear or affirm that X%

979
00:42:01,520 --> 00:42:07,839
of our units, 26 out of 32 or whatever

980
00:42:04,319 --> 00:42:10,079
their number is are uh qualify under

981
00:42:07,839 --> 00:42:11,839
section 030A definition of low-income

982
00:42:10,079 --> 00:42:14,560
housing. I mean, they're already

983
00:42:11,839 --> 00:42:16,240
swearing and covenanting that 100% they

984
00:42:14,560 --> 00:42:19,599
would just submit the same piece of

985
00:42:16,240 --> 00:42:21,359
paper which says that 80 or 60 or 40% of

986
00:42:19,599 --> 00:42:22,400
the units meet the requirement.

987
00:42:21,359 --> 00:42:23,920
» Council member Cod.

988
00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:26,000
» So, I'm interpreting your question

989
00:42:23,920 --> 00:42:27,200
council and maybe this is actually a

990
00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:31,440
really good candidate for work session.

991
00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:34,560
I don't know. Um, but uh sorry Steph um

992
00:42:31,440 --> 00:42:36,160
uh my interpretation is that it would

993
00:42:34,560 --> 00:42:37,920
all the incentives would still apply to

994
00:42:36,160 --> 00:42:40,160
the entire project is what you're

995
00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:40,400
suggesting, right? Yes, one building of

996
00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:42,960
money.

997
00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:46,160
» You have to build one building, but the,

998
00:42:42,960 --> 00:42:48,240
you know, if 20% were rent restricted

999
00:42:46,160 --> 00:42:51,520
units with an affordability covenant

1000
00:42:48,240 --> 00:42:54,720
recorded, then the project could benefit

1001
00:42:51,520 --> 00:42:57,440
from the flexibility that's contesting

1002
00:42:54,720 --> 00:42:59,920
or whatever percent. I do I'm not sure

1003
00:42:57,440 --> 00:43:02,400
it's worth doing 60% because I'm not

1004
00:42:59,920 --> 00:43:04,960
sure there's anyone wanting to do that.

1005
00:43:02,400 --> 00:43:06,640
Um, I think yeah, layering it on top of

1006
00:43:04,960 --> 00:43:10,000
the MF team would make the most sense to

1007
00:43:06,640 --> 00:43:11,839
me. So, what I would propose, um,

1008
00:43:10,000 --> 00:43:14,400
there's not a formal motion on the table

1009
00:43:11,839 --> 00:43:16,800
to amend the current motion, which was

1010
00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:19,280
already, um,

1011
00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:22,160
brought forward by the council members

1012
00:43:19,280 --> 00:43:25,359
Anderson and Huffman. Um

1013
00:43:22,160 --> 00:43:27,599
but we've spoken before about that

1014
00:43:25,359 --> 00:43:31,280
interest in yes how how do we

1015
00:43:27,599 --> 00:43:34,000
incentivize or make it simple for

1016
00:43:31,280 --> 00:43:36,079
you know profit developers market rate

1017
00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:39,119
and people who are building permanently

1018
00:43:36,079 --> 00:43:41,040
affordable to collaborate or work right

1019
00:43:39,119 --> 00:43:42,960
together on projects like it feels like

1020
00:43:41,040 --> 00:43:44,240
it would be the best of both worlds but

1021
00:43:42,960 --> 00:43:45,920
at the same time you're asking for two

1022
00:43:44,240 --> 00:43:47,760
very different worlds to then play in

1023
00:43:45,920 --> 00:43:51,520
the same sandbox and it's complicated

1024
00:43:47,760 --> 00:43:53,280
and messy and so Um, but I think there's

1025
00:43:51,520 --> 00:43:56,240
more

1026
00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:58,400
than a simple right brush of the pen to

1027
00:43:56,240 --> 00:44:01,599
effectuate what you're talking about.

1028
00:43:58,400 --> 00:44:03,119
And in light of what Tara shared about,

1029
00:44:01,599 --> 00:44:05,280
you know, projects in the queue that

1030
00:44:03,119 --> 00:44:06,960
could potentially benefit from this that

1031
00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:08,960
would put units on the ground here in

1032
00:44:06,960 --> 00:44:10,880
our community, I proposed to move

1033
00:44:08,960 --> 00:44:13,599
forward with the vote before us this

1034
00:44:10,880 --> 00:44:16,240
evening and request a work session

1035
00:44:13,599 --> 00:44:18,800
related to I mean, I don't know on what

1036
00:44:16,240 --> 00:44:21,839
time frame, but in thinking about are

1037
00:44:18,800 --> 00:44:24,319
there creative ways to get to that that

1038
00:44:21,839 --> 00:44:26,400
mixed right

1039
00:44:24,319 --> 00:44:28,720
mixed developments when you have

1040
00:44:26,400 --> 00:44:31,040
permanently affordable and market

1041
00:44:28,720 --> 00:44:35,440
coexisting and is there a way as a city

1042
00:44:31,040 --> 00:44:38,880
to help to incentivize right that um but

1043
00:44:35,440 --> 00:44:40,960
if you have a particular

1044
00:44:38,880 --> 00:44:43,280
you know amendment I just think it's

1045
00:44:40,960 --> 00:44:44,960
going to be right it's yes we would all

1046
00:44:43,280 --> 00:44:47,040
like simple solutions and I don't think

1047
00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:48,560
this is one that's going to be a

1048
00:44:47,040 --> 00:44:49,839
achieved tonight but council member

1049
00:44:48,560 --> 00:44:51,200
Liquist

1050
00:44:49,839 --> 00:44:54,079
» This is not a work session but it's

1051
00:44:51,200 --> 00:44:57,680
going to end up being one um you'll see

1052
00:44:54,079 --> 00:45:00,079
why I propose that we amend 2029 AO2

1053
00:44:57,680 --> 00:45:04,160
applicability section section C to read

1054
00:45:00,079 --> 00:45:06,160
only projects proposing at least 20%

1055
00:45:04,160 --> 00:45:10,040
lowincome housing are eligible for the

1056
00:45:06,160 --> 00:45:10,040
incentive provisions herein

1057
00:45:10,160 --> 00:45:13,160
» Second

1058
00:45:15,520 --> 00:45:19,359
» The reason I chose 20 was to bring up

1059
00:45:17,280 --> 00:45:20,800
the discussion that was had the planning

1060
00:45:19,359 --> 00:45:23,040
commission although I didn't listen to

1061
00:45:20,800 --> 00:45:24,480
it that had to do with it if doing it

1062
00:45:23,040 --> 00:45:27,280
this way would layer it on with the

1063
00:45:24,480 --> 00:45:29,760
MFTTE program that now you would not

1064
00:45:27,280 --> 00:45:31,760
only have the MFTTE program which has

1065
00:45:29,760 --> 00:45:35,280
the possibility of creating mixed income

1066
00:45:31,760 --> 00:45:38,480
housing but has never yet once done so

1067
00:45:35,280 --> 00:45:41,440
as Mr. Gas pointed out. Now we have a

1068
00:45:38,480 --> 00:45:43,440
way of creating this MFTA program could

1069
00:45:41,440 --> 00:45:45,440
potentially do that. I am not sure it's

1070
00:45:43,440 --> 00:45:47,920
a great idea but I want to talk about

1071
00:45:45,440 --> 00:45:50,000
it. This has not been talked about. This

1072
00:45:47,920 --> 00:45:51,920
is a great topic for a work session but

1073
00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:53,680
I want to talk about layering these on.

1074
00:45:51,920 --> 00:45:56,880
It may be too much. It may I don't know

1075
00:45:53,680 --> 00:45:58,960
but I want to talk about it.

1076
00:45:56,880 --> 00:46:02,319
Council member Anderson and then H.

1077
00:45:58,960 --> 00:46:05,599
» So I can't support it. Um 20% is too low

1078
00:46:02,319 --> 00:46:09,920
in my opinion because this is about um

1079
00:46:05,599 --> 00:46:12,640
creating affordability. 20% leaves 80%

1080
00:46:09,920 --> 00:46:15,040
which for a for-profit developer could

1081
00:46:12,640 --> 00:46:17,520
just blow out the whole height aspect

1082
00:46:15,040 --> 00:46:20,319
because they can afford to go much

1083
00:46:17,520 --> 00:46:22,400
higher. I was comfortable without a hype

1084
00:46:20,319 --> 00:46:24,160
knowing that a majority of nonprofit

1085
00:46:22,400 --> 00:46:26,079
based on their funding mechanism

1086
00:46:24,160 --> 00:46:28,880
wouldn't be able to build higher than

1087
00:46:26,079 --> 00:46:31,280
maybe four or five stories. A forprofit

1088
00:46:28,880 --> 00:46:33,839
could and I think it just opens up too

1089
00:46:31,280 --> 00:46:36,800
much concern about where would this

1090
00:46:33,839 --> 00:46:40,880
potentially 10 or 12 story building go

1091
00:46:36,800 --> 00:46:44,160
in what area. And um there I have too

1092
00:46:40,880 --> 00:46:46,160
many questions that I don't think today

1093
00:46:44,160 --> 00:46:48,560
we're going to answer and I'm just

1094
00:46:46,160 --> 00:46:51,359
really apprehensive about not getting it

1095
00:46:48,560 --> 00:46:53,599
passed tonight and potentially impacting

1096
00:46:51,359 --> 00:46:57,520
the project. I'd much rather have had a

1097
00:46:53,599 --> 00:46:59,599
motion afterwards to send it to staff um

1098
00:46:57,520 --> 00:47:02,800
to create a work session in the future

1099
00:46:59,599 --> 00:47:05,200
that would be able to give us um more

1100
00:47:02,800 --> 00:47:07,760
details on the whatifs and the

1101
00:47:05,200 --> 00:47:09,520
opportunities. Council member Hudman.

1102
00:47:07,760 --> 00:47:11,680
» Thank you. Um I appreciate the

1103
00:47:09,520 --> 00:47:14,160
conversation. Council member Loquist for

1104
00:47:11,680 --> 00:47:16,800
sure. I know that's uh having mixed

1105
00:47:14,160 --> 00:47:18,640
income housing has been um a topic of

1106
00:47:16,800 --> 00:47:21,839
conversation a lot and how we encourage

1107
00:47:18,640 --> 00:47:26,800
that has been a topic of conversation a

1108
00:47:21,839 --> 00:47:28,720
lot. Uh I'm wary of this amendment only

1109
00:47:26,800 --> 00:47:31,200
because

1110
00:47:28,720 --> 00:47:35,200
of understanding just how complex

1111
00:47:31,200 --> 00:47:38,480
nonprofit building is already the the

1112
00:47:35,200 --> 00:47:41,680
number of factors that go into

1113
00:47:38,480 --> 00:47:44,720
um build building nonprofit housing and

1114
00:47:41,680 --> 00:47:47,119
then adding the extra complexity of the

1115
00:47:44,720 --> 00:47:48,960
for-profit component as well into the

1116
00:47:47,119 --> 00:47:52,000
same building.

1117
00:47:48,960 --> 00:47:54,160
And I'm here for it. I I think it's just

1118
00:47:52,000 --> 00:47:56,240
the the behind the-scenes details and

1119
00:47:54,160 --> 00:48:00,400
funding mech mechanisms and what that

1120
00:47:56,240 --> 00:48:04,400
looks like for staff. Um and what is it

1121
00:48:00,400 --> 00:48:06,319
that we we uh as non-experts in this

1122
00:48:04,400 --> 00:48:08,720
field um don't know about those

1123
00:48:06,319 --> 00:48:10,400
complexities um which is why it would be

1124
00:48:08,720 --> 00:48:13,680
wonderful to have a fuller conversation

1125
00:48:10,400 --> 00:48:16,960
about that. Um, at this point I would

1126
00:48:13,680 --> 00:48:18,720
really like to get this passed as it is

1127
00:48:16,960 --> 00:48:20,960
something that has been poured over by

1128
00:48:18,720 --> 00:48:24,400
staff already asking all of those

1129
00:48:20,960 --> 00:48:28,720
questions of complexity. Um, and then

1130
00:48:24,400 --> 00:48:32,000
perhaps at a later time um contemplating

1131
00:48:28,720 --> 00:48:35,200
your your idea in a more full way.

1132
00:48:32,000 --> 00:48:39,920
Council member Williams,

1133
00:48:35,200 --> 00:48:42,880
» I tend to agree with my colleague um

1134
00:48:39,920 --> 00:48:45,839
Holly Huffman in that

1135
00:48:42,880 --> 00:48:48,079
I'm not a big prognosticator of doing

1136
00:48:45,839 --> 00:48:52,240
things on the fly.

1137
00:48:48,079 --> 00:48:54,400
I if this is an issue that needs to be

1138
00:48:52,240 --> 00:48:56,960
addressed,

1139
00:48:54,400 --> 00:49:00,240
then it needs to be addressed in the

1140
00:48:56,960 --> 00:49:03,920
right way. This has already been

1141
00:49:00,240 --> 00:49:07,520
addressed. It's been through the hopper

1142
00:49:03,920 --> 00:49:09,920
and uh it's been recommended by the

1143
00:49:07,520 --> 00:49:15,680
planning commission and the staff that

1144
00:49:09,920 --> 00:49:17,839
we pass it this one. Now, if there's

1145
00:49:15,680 --> 00:49:21,520
something else down the road that we

1146
00:49:17,839 --> 00:49:24,319
need to take a look at and go through

1147
00:49:21,520 --> 00:49:27,520
the work and the research and everything

1148
00:49:24,319 --> 00:49:30,480
else to make sure that what you are

1149
00:49:27,520 --> 00:49:33,599
talking about is going to work. I'm all

1150
00:49:30,480 --> 00:49:36,319
for that, but I'm not all for just

1151
00:49:33,599 --> 00:49:39,200
making a motion tonight on something

1152
00:49:36,319 --> 00:49:42,960
that's already been thought through and

1153
00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:45,960
dealt with. So, um I would support the

1154
00:49:42,960 --> 00:49:45,960
motion.

1155
00:49:47,119 --> 00:49:54,240
» No. Or not not your motion, the uh

1156
00:49:51,599 --> 00:49:55,760
passage of this as it is written.

1157
00:49:54,240 --> 00:49:57,680
» Council member Hamill.

1158
00:49:55,760 --> 00:49:59,839
» Yeah. I understand. I think what you're

1159
00:49:57,680 --> 00:50:03,359
trying to do and seeing the benefits of

1160
00:49:59,839 --> 00:50:05,359
u mixed income developments there's um a

1161
00:50:03,359 --> 00:50:07,040
body of work and evidence that supports

1162
00:50:05,359 --> 00:50:09,440
that. I totally understand that.

1163
00:50:07,040 --> 00:50:11,599
However, I I just I mean if you look at

1164
00:50:09,440 --> 00:50:15,760
the um the projects that are cited here

1165
00:50:11,599 --> 00:50:19,520
as as examples are nonprofit developer

1166
00:50:15,760 --> 00:50:22,079
oriented. So, Sedra Commons um is

1167
00:50:19,520 --> 00:50:27,280
opportunity council, Milworks is Mercy,

1168
00:50:22,079 --> 00:50:29,359
Eleanor is Mercy. Um to and I think the

1169
00:50:27,280 --> 00:50:31,040
the planning director is correct that

1170
00:50:29,359 --> 00:50:33,040
what we're looking at is two different

1171
00:50:31,040 --> 00:50:34,800
business models and two different types

1172
00:50:33,040 --> 00:50:37,040
of work products that come out of those

1173
00:50:34,800 --> 00:50:40,880
different business models. And one thing

1174
00:50:37,040 --> 00:50:44,079
that I'm not clear on or not certain on

1175
00:50:40,880 --> 00:50:46,079
is a for-profit developer ability to to

1176
00:50:44,079 --> 00:50:48,640
manage a 50-year affordability

1177
00:50:46,079 --> 00:50:49,359
requirement as part of the project. I'm

1178
00:50:48,640 --> 00:50:51,119
just not

1179
00:50:49,359 --> 00:50:52,160
» Certain that how that's going to work or

1180
00:50:51,119 --> 00:50:53,760
if they'd want to take on that

1181
00:50:52,160 --> 00:50:56,480
responsibility. There's a reason why we

1182
00:50:53,760 --> 00:50:58,559
haven't seen I can't think of a single

1183
00:50:56,480 --> 00:51:00,480
for-profit

1184
00:50:58,559 --> 00:51:04,240
development in the city of Bellingham

1185
00:51:00,480 --> 00:51:06,000
that has affordability um requirements.

1186
00:51:04,240 --> 00:51:07,040
the all the ones that are, like I said,

1187
00:51:06,000 --> 00:51:08,640
all the ones that are cited here,

1188
00:51:07,040 --> 00:51:10,319
they're all nonprofit developers. They

1189
00:51:08,640 --> 00:51:12,880
have expertise within that field. That

1190
00:51:10,319 --> 00:51:16,319
is their lane and they they're very

1191
00:51:12,880 --> 00:51:17,839
accomplished within that. Um,

1192
00:51:16,319 --> 00:51:19,599
so I'm not going to support the

1193
00:51:17,839 --> 00:51:22,319
amendment. I do support passing this

1194
00:51:19,599 --> 00:51:24,640
tonight. I think that we do we should uh

1195
00:51:22,319 --> 00:51:27,200
for the public benefit come back and and

1196
00:51:24,640 --> 00:51:28,800
have a further discussion to try to

1197
00:51:27,200 --> 00:51:31,680
understand your concept a little bit

1198
00:51:28,800 --> 00:51:33,920
better in a future work session.

1199
00:51:31,680 --> 00:51:35,359
Um, before I go to council member

1200
00:51:33,920 --> 00:51:37,680
Anderson again, I was just going to note

1201
00:51:35,359 --> 00:51:38,800
as well that in the motion that you

1202
00:51:37,680 --> 00:51:41,119
made, I believe that you're just

1203
00:51:38,800 --> 00:51:42,559
addressing subsection C, which talks

1204
00:51:41,119 --> 00:51:45,359
about the percentage, but then

1205
00:51:42,559 --> 00:51:47,280
subsection D states that low-income

1206
00:51:45,359 --> 00:51:49,200
housing projects shall be operated by a

1207
00:51:47,280 --> 00:51:51,119
qualified low-income housing provider.

1208
00:51:49,200 --> 00:51:54,319
And so, I think there will be some

1209
00:51:51,119 --> 00:51:56,000
direct conflict there as well. But the

1210
00:51:54,319 --> 00:51:57,760
other question that you're getting at of

1211
00:51:56,000 --> 00:52:00,160
yes, why haven't we seen any of those

1212
00:51:57,760 --> 00:52:01,680
MFT projects come forward? I mean, I

1213
00:52:00,160 --> 00:52:04,000
think that's the bigger thing to grapple

1214
00:52:01,680 --> 00:52:06,480
with. It's like what? Yeah. What is it

1215
00:52:04,000 --> 00:52:09,359
that's going to need to come forward in

1216
00:52:06,480 --> 00:52:10,559
order to to move those projects? Um, and

1217
00:52:09,359 --> 00:52:13,920
so I feel like there are already

1218
00:52:10,559 --> 00:52:16,640
mechanisms available to try and foster

1219
00:52:13,920 --> 00:52:17,839
those projects, but it's not coming to

1220
00:52:16,640 --> 00:52:19,200
fruition. And so there's there are

1221
00:52:17,839 --> 00:52:20,720
bigger things to unpack there, I guess,

1222
00:52:19,200 --> 00:52:21,920
at this time, I believe. Council member

1223
00:52:20,720 --> 00:52:24,640
Anderson.

1224
00:52:21,920 --> 00:52:27,119
» Thank you. Um, I do see potentially a

1225
00:52:24,640 --> 00:52:28,800
future opportunity, but I also want to

1226
00:52:27,119 --> 00:52:31,599
make sure we get it right to make sure

1227
00:52:28,800 --> 00:52:34,720
that it's just not something listed that

1228
00:52:31,599 --> 00:52:36,880
never gets utilized because it's not

1229
00:52:34,720 --> 00:52:39,280
worded where we needed. um like what

1230
00:52:36,880 --> 00:52:41,440
council me council president um Stone

1231
00:52:39,280 --> 00:52:43,200
has just stated, you know, some of the

1232
00:52:41,440 --> 00:52:45,280
language in here would really need to

1233
00:52:43,200 --> 00:52:47,839
change because in talking with some of

1234
00:52:45,280 --> 00:52:51,440
our um nonprofit

1235
00:52:47,839 --> 00:52:53,680
um one I won't throw them out there, but

1236
00:52:51,440 --> 00:52:56,640
one of the dynamic conversations we had

1237
00:52:53,680 --> 00:52:58,319
was there was some interest in having

1238
00:52:56,640 --> 00:52:59,839
market rate in one of their

1239
00:52:58,319 --> 00:53:02,240
developments, but they really had to

1240
00:52:59,839 --> 00:53:03,920
look at a lot of different funding um

1241
00:53:02,240 --> 00:53:06,960
possibilities to make something that

1242
00:53:03,920 --> 00:53:08,960
like that happen. We also have a new um

1243
00:53:06,960 --> 00:53:11,359
nonprofit in the community that has

1244
00:53:08,960 --> 00:53:13,760
received some substantial grants. The

1245
00:53:11,359 --> 00:53:17,440
future home buyers organization, they

1246
00:53:13,760 --> 00:53:20,000
just placed their first person in a

1247
00:53:17,440 --> 00:53:22,319
condo unit for permanent affordability.

1248
00:53:20,000 --> 00:53:24,160
So whereas we have like Culian Land

1249
00:53:22,319 --> 00:53:28,400
Trust that does a lot of development and

1250
00:53:24,160 --> 00:53:30,720
building and it's all there. Um, the FHO

1251
00:53:28,400 --> 00:53:32,640
is partnering with either already built

1252
00:53:30,720 --> 00:53:36,160
units, but they were also partnering

1253
00:53:32,640 --> 00:53:37,680
with a developer who just developed, but

1254
00:53:36,160 --> 00:53:39,920
they're going to use hopefully the tax

1255
00:53:37,680 --> 00:53:41,520
incentive, but it'd be really nice for

1256
00:53:39,920 --> 00:53:44,720
our planning department to have the

1257
00:53:41,520 --> 00:53:46,400
opportunity to sit down with like FHO,

1258
00:53:44,720 --> 00:53:48,319
and I'm not going to say the developers

1259
00:53:46,400 --> 00:53:50,319
name because, you know, there's a lot in

1260
00:53:48,319 --> 00:53:52,880
the community, but maybe some of our

1261
00:53:50,319 --> 00:53:56,720
developers and find out how do we

1262
00:53:52,880 --> 00:53:59,280
incentivize such partnerships where um

1263
00:53:56,720 --> 00:54:02,960
someone like FHO or even Culsian Land

1264
00:53:59,280 --> 00:54:04,640
Trust or perhaps unknown to me um you

1265
00:54:02,960 --> 00:54:06,960
know another if I had another name I'd

1266
00:54:04,640 --> 00:54:09,200
drop it but for an organization to be

1267
00:54:06,960 --> 00:54:13,520
able to say okay we could buy 10 units

1268
00:54:09,200 --> 00:54:16,960
with our our funding for this and then

1269
00:54:13,520 --> 00:54:19,119
you maybe ex expand it beyond just the

1270
00:54:16,960 --> 00:54:22,720
tax credit because the units would be

1271
00:54:19,119 --> 00:54:24,240
under um the nonprofit um for permanent

1272
00:54:22,720 --> 00:54:26,480
affordability. they're the ones that

1273
00:54:24,240 --> 00:54:29,280
monitor it and what happens with the

1274
00:54:26,480 --> 00:54:31,040
forprofit can change hands. I could see

1275
00:54:29,280 --> 00:54:32,720
where a model would work, but I think

1276
00:54:31,040 --> 00:54:35,200
there's just some work and leg work that

1277
00:54:32,720 --> 00:54:36,800
has to happen first to make sure that

1278
00:54:35,200 --> 00:54:39,200
anything we're putting on the books will

1279
00:54:36,800 --> 00:54:41,040
be utilized and be functional and

1280
00:54:39,200 --> 00:54:43,359
hopefully we will see those partnerships

1281
00:54:41,040 --> 00:54:46,559
come out. I have hope that we have some

1282
00:54:43,359 --> 00:54:48,640
of the pieces, but slicing it into this

1283
00:54:46,559 --> 00:54:50,880
ordinance is not going to be the thing I

1284
00:54:48,640 --> 00:54:53,200
believe that will make it happen. And I

1285
00:54:50,880 --> 00:54:55,440
want to make sure it happens. So, I I do

1286
00:54:53,200 --> 00:54:57,280
appreciate council member Lilliloquist

1287
00:54:55,440 --> 00:54:59,520
um bringing that forward because it does

1288
00:54:57,280 --> 00:55:01,680
allow us to have this discussion and

1289
00:54:59,520 --> 00:55:04,559
perhaps staff are aware of a desire we

1290
00:55:01,680 --> 00:55:06,160
would like to go. Um but timing is also

1291
00:55:04,559 --> 00:55:08,640
critical on it.

1292
00:55:06,160 --> 00:55:10,000
» We have an amendment before us. Um if

1293
00:55:08,640 --> 00:55:11,920
there's not further comment on the

1294
00:55:10,000 --> 00:55:14,319
proposed amendment, I'm going to call

1295
00:55:11,920 --> 00:55:16,960
the vote on the amendment.

1296
00:55:14,319 --> 00:55:18,800
Council member Lilquist and Cotton,

1297
00:55:16,960 --> 00:55:21,599
» You should go first.

1298
00:55:18,800 --> 00:55:23,119
Um, just to note, the definition of

1299
00:55:21,599 --> 00:55:25,839
qualified low-inccome housing provider

1300
00:55:23,119 --> 00:55:28,160
does include for-profit developers, but

1301
00:55:25,839 --> 00:55:29,680
your point is well taken. I think this

1302
00:55:28,160 --> 00:55:30,960
amendment would only make sense if we

1303
00:55:29,680 --> 00:55:34,400
also amended the definition of

1304
00:55:30,960 --> 00:55:38,000
low-inccome housing and removed the

1305
00:55:34,400 --> 00:55:40,079
reference to the consolidated plan. Um,

1306
00:55:38,000 --> 00:55:42,000
but regardless, this motion sounds like

1307
00:55:40,079 --> 00:55:44,000
it will fail. But I do think hopefully

1308
00:55:42,000 --> 00:55:47,599
staff has heard seven council members

1309
00:55:44,000 --> 00:55:49,680
interested in pursuing this idea. Um,

1310
00:55:47,599 --> 00:55:52,880
but I do think just to respond to a

1311
00:55:49,680 --> 00:55:54,240
comment, I am more afraid of um,

1312
00:55:52,880 --> 00:55:56,000
Bellingham being a place that people

1313
00:55:54,240 --> 00:55:59,040
can't afford rather than tall buildings

1314
00:55:56,000 --> 00:56:04,000
and multif family zones. So, um, just to

1315
00:55:59,040 --> 00:56:05,040
name our priorities, um, I, um, uh, I

1316
00:56:04,000 --> 00:56:06,720
think we should be more afraid of

1317
00:56:05,040 --> 00:56:09,720
Bellingham being a place people can't

1318
00:56:06,720 --> 00:56:09,720
afford.

1319
00:56:10,720 --> 00:56:15,359
Council Lopez,

1320
00:56:13,760 --> 00:56:17,359
» To be honest, the reason why I proposed

1321
00:56:15,359 --> 00:56:19,440
20% was to make sure that it got on the

1322
00:56:17,359 --> 00:56:20,960
table for discussion

1323
00:56:19,440 --> 00:56:23,040
because I knew that I had a second for

1324
00:56:20,960 --> 00:56:26,240
that. I don't think 20% is the right

1325
00:56:23,040 --> 00:56:28,079
number. I threw out 60%. Maybe 80%.

1326
00:56:26,240 --> 00:56:29,839
That's a better number. That's the more

1327
00:56:28,079 --> 00:56:32,000
likely thing that would work for a model

1328
00:56:29,839 --> 00:56:33,280
for mixed development. Councilman

1329
00:56:32,000 --> 00:56:34,640
Anderson mentioned there's somebody

1330
00:56:33,280 --> 00:56:35,839
who's looking at mixeduse development.

1331
00:56:34,640 --> 00:56:37,599
Well, we're going to close the door on

1332
00:56:35,839 --> 00:56:39,839
that. we're going to take this incentive

1333
00:56:37,599 --> 00:56:42,000
and remove it from the table so it won't

1334
00:56:39,839 --> 00:56:43,599
be available to them. We keep talking

1335
00:56:42,000 --> 00:56:45,440
about how this is a difficult thing and

1336
00:56:43,599 --> 00:56:47,680
how do we make this mixeduse work? We

1337
00:56:45,440 --> 00:56:49,520
all want it. There's so much work uh uh

1338
00:56:47,680 --> 00:56:51,280
Mr. Hamill referred to which says it's a

1339
00:56:49,520 --> 00:56:53,599
good idea. Why are we closing the door

1340
00:56:51,280 --> 00:56:59,200
on it? Why are we creating one more

1341
00:56:53,599 --> 00:57:01,760
barrier to mixed use? My idea is not to

1342
00:56:59,200 --> 00:57:04,319
require programs or projects to be mixed

1343
00:57:01,760 --> 00:57:06,240
use. It is to allow them to be mixed use

1344
00:57:04,319 --> 00:57:08,559
if they want. But if most of the

1345
00:57:06,240 --> 00:57:11,200
developers are nonprofits doing 100%

1346
00:57:08,559 --> 00:57:13,200
affordable, no harm, no foul opposite of

1347
00:57:11,200 --> 00:57:15,200
that, that's a real benefit. I'd like

1348
00:57:13,200 --> 00:57:16,319
this program to succeed. I just don't

1349
00:57:15,200 --> 00:57:18,319
want it to have the unintended

1350
00:57:16,319 --> 00:57:21,680
consequence of closing the door on one

1351
00:57:18,319 --> 00:57:24,240
of the things we keep saying we want.

1352
00:57:21,680 --> 00:57:25,920
So I understand this is not going to

1353
00:57:24,240 --> 00:57:27,599
pass. I would have liked to have had a

1354
00:57:25,920 --> 00:57:29,280
discussion. I would like to gone to a

1355
00:57:27,599 --> 00:57:31,280
work session. I didn't want to do this

1356
00:57:29,280 --> 00:57:33,040
through amendments, but it's the only

1357
00:57:31,280 --> 00:57:35,200
way I could get the discussion to

1358
00:57:33,040 --> 00:57:37,280
continue. I think we're making a

1359
00:57:35,200 --> 00:57:39,520
mistake. I think we're going to get lots

1360
00:57:37,280 --> 00:57:40,960
of really good projects out of this. I'm

1361
00:57:39,520 --> 00:57:42,799
afraid we're going to be missing a few

1362
00:57:40,960 --> 00:57:45,440
as well. And those will be really

1363
00:57:42,799 --> 00:57:47,359
important projects. And those projects

1364
00:57:45,440 --> 00:57:48,880
would be incredible examples to be proud

1365
00:57:47,359 --> 00:57:51,760
of because the thing we've been talking

1366
00:57:48,880 --> 00:57:54,000
about and hoping for for years and now

1367
00:57:51,760 --> 00:57:55,520
those projects will not get disincentive

1368
00:57:54,000 --> 00:58:00,040
and they're even less likely to ever

1369
00:57:55,520 --> 00:58:00,040
come our way. Council member Williams,

1370
00:58:00,240 --> 00:58:06,640
» I didn't hear a single person up here

1371
00:58:02,559 --> 00:58:09,280
disagree with your with your concept.

1372
00:58:06,640 --> 00:58:11,920
What I heard was

1373
00:58:09,280 --> 00:58:15,440
we need to do some homework. We need to

1374
00:58:11,920 --> 00:58:18,400
perhaps develop an

1375
00:58:15,440 --> 00:58:22,160
another ordinance similar to this or

1376
00:58:18,400 --> 00:58:25,040
something to address the issue. I think

1377
00:58:22,160 --> 00:58:28,720
that by voting on this tonight is not

1378
00:58:25,040 --> 00:58:32,960
closing the door. The direction and the

1379
00:58:28,720 --> 00:58:36,319
feeling of this council is at least I

1380
00:58:32,960 --> 00:58:40,000
think it is that that the issue that you

1381
00:58:36,319 --> 00:58:43,599
are bringing up needs to be addressed.

1382
00:58:40,000 --> 00:58:48,480
But is the best way to address it?

1383
00:58:43,599 --> 00:58:51,520
Amending this or kicking it to a work

1384
00:58:48,480 --> 00:58:54,559
session and being sure that when we do

1385
00:58:51,520 --> 00:58:56,319
it, it's done the right way so that it

1386
00:58:54,559 --> 00:58:59,359
will work.

1387
00:58:56,319 --> 00:59:02,240
And um I like I said, I haven't heard a

1388
00:58:59,359 --> 00:59:04,240
single person say no, the issue should

1389
00:59:02,240 --> 00:59:06,880
not be addressed,

1390
00:59:04,240 --> 00:59:09,839
just that maybe this isn't the form that

1391
00:59:06,880 --> 00:59:12,880
it needs to be addressed in.

1392
00:59:09,839 --> 00:59:16,079
So, thank you for bringing it up and

1393
00:59:12,880 --> 00:59:19,359
having the discussion.

1394
00:59:16,079 --> 00:59:22,559
» So, we have a motion.

1395
00:59:19,359 --> 00:59:25,599
» Council member Huffman. [laughter]

1396
00:59:22,559 --> 00:59:27,520
» Thank you, Council President. Um,

1397
00:59:25,599 --> 00:59:30,160
in answer to the closing the door

1398
00:59:27,520 --> 00:59:32,799
comment, I would say I want to make sure

1399
00:59:30,160 --> 00:59:34,960
to keep the door open for this specific

1400
00:59:32,799 --> 00:59:38,160
intended purpose.

1401
00:59:34,960 --> 00:59:41,760
um you have opened a door and you should

1402
00:59:38,160 --> 00:59:44,640
put a doors stop in it. Um perhaps once

1403
00:59:41,760 --> 00:59:46,960
we vote on this uh there is another

1404
00:59:44,640 --> 00:59:49,680
motion that could be made to keep the

1405
00:59:46,960 --> 00:59:51,040
conversation moving. But I think that uh

1406
00:59:49,680 --> 00:59:54,160
with all of the time and effort that has

1407
00:59:51,040 --> 00:59:56,559
gone to this ordinance as is um with

1408
00:59:54,160 --> 01:00:00,799
some very specific purposes to add some

1409
00:59:56,559 --> 01:00:02,400
flexibility so that we um can directly

1410
01:00:00,799 --> 01:00:05,200
impact

1411
01:00:02,400 --> 01:00:08,720
uh providing some flexibility in a way

1412
01:00:05,200 --> 01:00:11,280
that we know um is going to to uh have

1413
01:00:08,720 --> 01:00:13,119
an effect. Uh I I think that for me is

1414
01:00:11,280 --> 01:00:15,200
the priority. But I think that the

1415
01:00:13,119 --> 01:00:17,760
conversation that you're having um with

1416
01:00:15,200 --> 01:00:20,640
us is also very important. Um, we have

1417
01:00:17,760 --> 01:00:22,480
the power to keep it going. So, uh, I

1418
01:00:20,640 --> 01:00:25,599
would I would recommend recommend a

1419
01:00:22,480 --> 01:00:28,839
motion once we're done with this.

1420
01:00:25,599 --> 01:00:28,839
» So, we

1421
01:00:28,960 --> 01:00:33,520
» There is a parliament to this amendment.

1422
01:00:31,839 --> 01:00:35,280
» No, but it's parliamentally allowed.

1423
01:00:33,520 --> 01:00:37,599
There's a motion which would supersede

1424
01:00:35,280 --> 01:00:38,880
this one which would go towards the idea

1425
01:00:37,599 --> 01:00:41,920
of a work session and then it would

1426
01:00:38,880 --> 01:00:43,760
immediately come back to this one.

1427
01:00:41,920 --> 01:00:45,520
It would it would do things in a certain

1428
01:00:43,760 --> 01:00:46,880
order. It would the council would

1429
01:00:45,520 --> 01:00:49,839
declare they want to have a work session

1430
01:00:46,880 --> 01:00:51,680
to discuss mix income housing incentives

1431
01:00:49,839 --> 01:00:52,880
and then that was disposed then this

1432
01:00:51,680 --> 01:00:55,280
motion would immediately come back on

1433
01:00:52,880 --> 01:00:56,720
the table. If you understand this I'm

1434
01:00:55,280 --> 01:00:58,160
doing then you would second my motion.

1435
01:00:56,720 --> 01:00:59,599
Otherwise you might think I'm trying to

1436
01:00:58,160 --> 01:01:02,079
defeat the motion but I'm not. I'm

1437
01:00:59,599 --> 01:01:03,520
trying to move it forward.

1438
01:01:02,079 --> 01:01:04,079
Does anybody understand what I'm trying

1439
01:01:03,520 --> 01:01:05,760
to say?

1440
01:01:04,079 --> 01:01:07,920
» Yes. But is there a reason to do it now

1441
01:01:05,760 --> 01:01:09,119
versus after this has been

1442
01:01:07,920 --> 01:01:10,880
» It gives me the assurance that that

1443
01:01:09,119 --> 01:01:12,319
really is the direction we're going and

1444
01:01:10,880 --> 01:01:13,599
then it it gives me a completely

1445
01:01:12,319 --> 01:01:16,240
different feeling about my subsequent

1446
01:01:13,599 --> 01:01:17,200
votes.

1447
01:01:16,240 --> 01:01:19,599
» Are you making a motion?

1448
01:01:17,200 --> 01:01:21,440
» A motion to table the this current

1449
01:01:19,599 --> 01:01:23,119
matter until the city council takes up

1450
01:01:21,440 --> 01:01:26,079
the question of a work session to

1451
01:01:23,119 --> 01:01:28,079
discuss mixed income housing incentives.

1452
01:01:26,079 --> 01:01:30,079
» Is there a second?

1453
01:01:28,079 --> 01:01:33,200
It's just to take he's moving to table

1454
01:01:30,079 --> 01:01:35,440
for the moment. This is my understanding

1455
01:01:33,200 --> 01:01:37,680
is to table this vote that is currently

1456
01:01:35,440 --> 01:01:40,079
before us in order to hear a motion

1457
01:01:37,680 --> 01:01:42,400
about a work session because he doesn't

1458
01:01:40,079 --> 01:01:44,319
trust that after this vote we're going

1459
01:01:42,400 --> 01:01:46,559
to move forward with consideration of a

1460
01:01:44,319 --> 01:01:48,720
motion. He wants the assurance now

1461
01:01:46,559 --> 01:01:51,200
before he casts his vote on his own

1462
01:01:48,720 --> 01:01:53,440
amendment or the underlying motion.

1463
01:01:51,200 --> 01:01:55,680
» Thank you for speaking English for our

1464
01:01:53,440 --> 01:01:57,280
parliamentarian.

1465
01:01:55,680 --> 01:01:58,960
I'll second it.

1466
01:01:57,280 --> 01:02:01,119
» Okay. So there's a motion by C.

1467
01:01:58,960 --> 01:02:02,799
» Just put it aside.

1468
01:02:01,119 --> 01:02:04,240
So there's a motion from Council Member

1469
01:02:02,799 --> 01:02:06,079
Liiloquist and a second by Council

1470
01:02:04,240 --> 01:02:09,280
Member Anderson to table the current

1471
01:02:06,079 --> 01:02:12,160
discussion and to consider a motion

1472
01:02:09,280 --> 01:02:15,359
to schedule a work session on this topic

1473
01:02:12,160 --> 01:02:17,359
» On mixed income housing incentives

1474
01:02:15,359 --> 01:02:20,359
» On mixed income housing

1475
01:02:17,359 --> 01:02:20,359
» Incentives.

1476
01:02:26,000 --> 01:02:30,240
Okay. So, there is a motion to schedule

1477
01:02:28,400 --> 01:02:33,839
a work session on mixed income housing

1478
01:02:30,240 --> 01:02:36,400
incentives. Council member Williams,

1479
01:02:33,839 --> 01:02:39,520
» I'm I'm having a hard time understanding

1480
01:02:36,400 --> 01:02:42,960
why you just can't make that motion. I I

1481
01:02:39,520 --> 01:02:44,640
mean after passage of this,

1482
01:02:42,960 --> 01:02:47,280
» But we are where we are and I'd like to

1483
01:02:44,640 --> 01:02:49,520
move forward this evening. So,

1484
01:02:47,280 --> 01:02:50,640
» Any discussion on this motion for a work

1485
01:02:49,520 --> 01:02:52,160
session to be

1486
01:02:50,640 --> 01:02:54,640
» The motion is to table then we have to

1487
01:02:52,160 --> 01:02:56,559
make the motion first. You have to clear

1488
01:02:54,640 --> 01:02:59,760
it this motion off the the amendment off

1489
01:02:56,559 --> 01:03:01,680
the table before you can talk about the

1490
01:02:59,760 --> 01:03:01,920
work session. That's the parliamentary

1491
01:03:01,680 --> 01:03:03,200
issue.

1492
01:03:01,920 --> 01:03:03,920
» But the amendment will still be there

1493
01:03:03,200 --> 01:03:06,000
when we come back.

1494
01:03:03,920 --> 01:03:08,240
» Yes. Because because the motion to table

1495
01:03:06,000 --> 01:03:10,480
immediately brings it back once the

1496
01:03:08,240 --> 01:03:12,400
event is triggered.

1497
01:03:10,480 --> 01:03:14,000
» Okay. All in favor of tableabling at

1498
01:03:12,400 --> 01:03:15,440
this moment say I.

1499
01:03:14,000 --> 01:03:18,319
» I. I.

1500
01:03:15,440 --> 01:03:20,720
» Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none,

1501
01:03:18,319 --> 01:03:22,079
that passes 70. Council member

1502
01:03:20,720 --> 01:03:23,920
Littlequist. Motion the city council

1503
01:03:22,079 --> 01:03:25,760
request the administration to schedule

1504
01:03:23,920 --> 01:03:27,760
at an appropriate time in the future a

1505
01:03:25,760 --> 01:03:29,520
work session to discuss mixed income

1506
01:03:27,760 --> 01:03:31,440
housing incentives.

1507
01:03:29,520 --> 01:03:32,799
» Second motion's been made by council

1508
01:03:31,440 --> 01:03:34,799
member Liiloquist and a second by

1509
01:03:32,799 --> 01:03:36,799
council member Anderson again to

1510
01:03:34,799 --> 01:03:39,039
schedule work session on mixed income

1511
01:03:36,799 --> 01:03:42,400
housing incentives. Any discussion on

1512
01:03:39,039 --> 01:03:44,480
the motion? Council member Anderson. I

1513
01:03:42,400 --> 01:03:47,039
appreciate that council member Liloquist

1514
01:03:44,480 --> 01:03:49,839
did not put a date or time stamp on when

1515
01:03:47,039 --> 01:03:54,240
it has to come back because we all saw

1516
01:03:49,839 --> 01:03:57,039
how much work is ahead. Um, and then I

1517
01:03:54,240 --> 01:03:59,680
trust that staff will look at if it can

1518
01:03:57,039 --> 01:04:01,599
dovetail into any other work that makes

1519
01:03:59,680 --> 01:04:04,000
sense so we're not kind of at the end of

1520
01:04:01,599 --> 01:04:08,160
the line. But thank you for not

1521
01:04:04,000 --> 01:04:09,599
requesting it to come back quickly. I

1522
01:04:08,160 --> 01:04:12,400
know.

1523
01:04:09,599 --> 01:04:14,319
» Any other discussion on the motion?

1524
01:04:12,400 --> 01:04:15,440
Seeing none, all in favor will say I.

1525
01:04:14,319 --> 01:04:17,599
» I.

1526
01:04:15,440 --> 01:04:20,079
» Any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing

1527
01:04:17,599 --> 01:04:22,079
none, that passes 70. So, we'll come

1528
01:04:20,079 --> 01:04:24,240
back to the amendment that was

1529
01:04:22,079 --> 01:04:26,000
previously tabled. Now that we've taken

1530
01:04:24,240 --> 01:04:29,680
the action requested by the tableabling

1531
01:04:26,000 --> 01:04:31,200
motion, the amendment brought forward by

1532
01:04:29,680 --> 01:04:33,599
council member Liiloquist and seconded

1533
01:04:31,200 --> 01:04:39,960
by council member Cotton is on page 13

1534
01:04:33,599 --> 01:04:39,960
of our packet under section 20.29A.202

1535
01:04:41,599 --> 01:04:47,920
020 applicability section subsection C.

1536
01:04:46,079 --> 01:04:50,640
The amendment was for it to read, "Only

1537
01:04:47,920 --> 01:04:52,640
projects proposing 20% low-income

1538
01:04:50,640 --> 01:04:54,960
housing are eligible for the incentive

1539
01:04:52,640 --> 01:04:57,200
provisions herein."

1540
01:04:54,960 --> 01:04:58,880
Any discussion on the motion?

1541
01:04:57,200 --> 01:05:00,319
» Okay, seeing none, all in favor of the

1542
01:04:58,880 --> 01:05:03,039
amendment say I.

1543
01:05:00,319 --> 01:05:04,160
» I.

1544
01:05:03,039 --> 01:05:04,480
» Any opposed?

1545
01:05:04,160 --> 01:05:04,880
» No.

1546
01:05:04,480 --> 01:05:06,400
» No.

1547
01:05:04,880 --> 01:05:08,319
» No.

1548
01:05:06,400 --> 01:05:11,049
» Any abstensions?

1549
01:05:08,319 --> 01:05:12,079
» Okay. So, I believe that passed 61.

1550
01:05:11,049 --> 01:05:15,079
[clears throat] You ended up being a

1551
01:05:12,079 --> 01:05:15,079
yes.

1552
01:05:16,480 --> 01:05:20,880
Well, Cotton was a no. I heard you as a

1553
01:05:18,799 --> 01:05:22,000
» Yes, we were all nos.

1554
01:05:20,880 --> 01:05:24,079
» You're both nos.

1555
01:05:22,000 --> 01:05:24,720
» No, he was a yes. We were all nos to the

1556
01:05:24,079 --> 01:05:26,000
amendment.

1557
01:05:24,720 --> 01:05:26,880
» So, right. So, I'm saying you're voting

1558
01:05:26,000 --> 01:05:31,799
against your amendment.

1559
01:05:26,880 --> 01:05:31,799
» Yeah. Failed one six. It didn't pass.

1560
01:05:33,039 --> 01:05:39,280
» Okay. So, that amendment fails 16. And

1561
01:05:36,559 --> 01:05:41,440
that brings us to the underlying

1562
01:05:39,280 --> 01:05:44,480
motion which was originally brought

1563
01:05:41,440 --> 01:05:46,160
forward, if I can find it, by council

1564
01:05:44,480 --> 01:05:48,319
member Anderson, seconded by council

1565
01:05:46,160 --> 01:05:49,920
member Husman. That motion was to move

1566
01:05:48,319 --> 01:05:53,039
to approve the ordinance for first and

1567
01:05:49,920 --> 01:05:55,039
second reading.

1568
01:05:53,039 --> 01:05:56,799
That ordinance being an ordinance

1569
01:05:55,039 --> 01:05:58,880
relating to land use and planning

1570
01:05:56,799 --> 01:06:01,200
amending title 20 of the Bellingham

1571
01:05:58,880 --> 01:06:04,559
Municipal Code creating a new chapter

1572
01:06:01,200 --> 01:06:07,280
20.29A 29A titled lowincome housing

1573
01:06:04,559 --> 01:06:09,520
development incentive. Close title

1574
01:06:07,280 --> 01:06:11,440
removing and reducing zoning based

1575
01:06:09,520 --> 01:06:14,079
development regulations for low-income

1576
01:06:11,440 --> 01:06:17,680
housing in all residential multi- urban

1577
01:06:14,079 --> 01:06:20,240
village and commercial zones.

1578
01:06:17,680 --> 01:06:21,200
Any discussion on the motion? Council

1579
01:06:20,240 --> 01:06:22,880
member Ham.

1580
01:06:21,200 --> 01:06:26,799
» Yeah, just one clarifying question for

1581
01:06:22,880 --> 01:06:28,880
staff. Under 20.298.030,

1582
01:06:26,799 --> 01:06:30,559
030 the definition for low-income

1583
01:06:28,880 --> 01:06:32,480
housing. Is that consistent with the

1584
01:06:30,559 --> 01:06:35,799
Washington State Housing Trust Fund,

1585
01:06:32,480 --> 01:06:35,799
their definition?

1586
01:06:39,359 --> 01:06:42,880
» This was one of the items that was

1587
01:06:40,960 --> 01:06:45,119
changed when we were heading to the

1588
01:06:42,880 --> 01:06:47,599
planning commission based on feedback

1589
01:06:45,119 --> 01:06:51,359
from the affordable housing developers.

1590
01:06:47,599 --> 01:06:54,480
So this has been modified so that it is

1591
01:06:51,359 --> 01:06:58,079
consistent with the trust fund and the

1592
01:06:54,480 --> 01:06:59,520
tax credit terminology or definitions I

1593
01:06:58,079 --> 01:07:01,280
should say.

1594
01:06:59,520 --> 01:07:05,200
» Okay.

1595
01:07:01,280 --> 01:07:07,440
» Any further questions or discussion?

1596
01:07:05,200 --> 01:07:08,559
» Any follow? Okay. Seeing none, all in

1597
01:07:07,440 --> 01:07:09,359
favor will say I.

1598
01:07:08,559 --> 01:07:11,200
» I.

1599
01:07:09,359 --> 01:07:14,000
» Any opposed

1600
01:07:11,200 --> 01:07:16,000
» Or abstensions? Okay. Seeing none, that

1601
01:07:14,000 --> 01:07:17,599
passes 70.

1602
01:07:16,000 --> 01:07:20,240
Any

1603
01:07:17,599 --> 01:07:25,559
further items from staff on this matter?

1604
01:07:20,240 --> 01:07:25,559
No. Okay. Thank you very much.

1605
01:07:28,079 --> 01:07:31,839
So, that concludes the public hearing

1606
01:07:29,920 --> 01:07:34,799
item that was before the council this

1607
01:07:31,839 --> 01:07:37,440
evening. Um, next we would move forward

1608
01:07:34,799 --> 01:07:39,200
with appointments. And for this item,

1609
01:07:37,440 --> 01:07:42,480
I'm going to turn to Deputy

1610
01:07:39,200 --> 01:07:44,000
Administrator Janice Keller.

1611
01:07:42,480 --> 01:07:45,839
» Good evening. I'm presenting the

1612
01:07:44,000 --> 01:07:48,799
appointments on behalf of Mayor Lund

1613
01:07:45,839 --> 01:07:50,799
tonight. Um the first one is for

1614
01:07:48,799 --> 01:07:53,680
information only. It's the mayor's

1615
01:07:50,799 --> 01:07:56,240
appointment of Brandon Roundtree to a

1616
01:07:53,680 --> 01:07:58,559
first term as the Sunnyland neighborhood

1617
01:07:56,240 --> 01:08:01,920
primary representative to the mayor's

1618
01:07:58,559 --> 01:08:05,520
neighborhood advisory commission.

1619
01:08:01,920 --> 01:08:08,000
The second one is a confirmation of the

1620
01:08:05,520 --> 01:08:10,960
mayor's appointments to the landlord and

1621
01:08:08,000 --> 01:08:13,920
tenant advisory work group. Uh this one

1622
01:08:10,960 --> 01:08:17,440
is a little more substantive and um

1623
01:08:13,920 --> 01:08:19,279
we're looking for a confirmation vote

1624
01:08:17,440 --> 01:08:22,799
after we've had a chance to present it

1625
01:08:19,279 --> 01:08:25,279
and discuss it. Mayor Lund presents for

1626
01:08:22,799 --> 01:08:27,520
city council confirmation 13 community

1627
01:08:25,279 --> 01:08:30,560
members to be appointed to the landlord

1628
01:08:27,520 --> 01:08:32,960
and tenant advisory work group. We

1629
01:08:30,560 --> 01:08:35,279
received applications from 60 people who

1630
01:08:32,960 --> 01:08:38,719
applied to be considered for 13

1631
01:08:35,279 --> 01:08:41,759
positions. We were very thrilled to re

1632
01:08:38,719 --> 01:08:45,359
receive that much interest from a range

1633
01:08:41,759 --> 01:08:49,600
of landlords, tenants, professionals

1634
01:08:45,359 --> 01:08:52,480
working in those fields and um just

1635
01:08:49,600 --> 01:08:54,400
really pleased that um this gained so

1636
01:08:52,480 --> 01:08:57,199
much attention after our outreach

1637
01:08:54,400 --> 01:08:59,520
efforts. Those selected represent

1638
01:08:57,199 --> 01:09:01,520
tenants, landlords, and community

1639
01:08:59,520 --> 01:09:04,880
members with lived and professional

1640
01:09:01,520 --> 01:09:06,960
experience in rental issues.

1641
01:09:04,880 --> 01:09:11,839
Mayor Lond appoints the following

1642
01:09:06,960 --> 01:09:17,359
inaugural members. Lette Alberon,

1643
01:09:11,839 --> 01:09:18,960
McClean Bowers, Stacy Carol, Nathan

1644
01:09:17,359 --> 01:09:24,480
Catherol,

1645
01:09:18,960 --> 01:09:26,080
Margot Hammond, Selena Nolock, Lacy

1646
01:09:24,480 --> 01:09:29,440
Lutire,

1647
01:09:26,080 --> 01:09:33,040
Charlie Meyers, Bailey Peterson, Kevin

1648
01:09:29,440 --> 01:09:36,000
Schilling, Rebecca Sharf, Jessica

1649
01:09:33,040 --> 01:09:39,920
Silver, and Kimberly

1650
01:09:36,000 --> 01:09:39,920
Ver Ver Muan.

1651
01:09:40,480 --> 01:09:47,120
I was not involved in the application

1652
01:09:43,520 --> 01:09:49,440
review or the interview process that um

1653
01:09:47,120 --> 01:09:51,759
resulted in the selection of these

1654
01:09:49,440 --> 01:09:55,120
folks. I'd like to invite planning

1655
01:09:51,759 --> 01:09:58,480
director Blake Lion up to talk a little

1656
01:09:55,120 --> 01:10:01,880
bit more about the that process.

1657
01:09:58,480 --> 01:10:01,880
Thank you, Blake.

1658
01:10:02,159 --> 01:10:08,960
» Thank you and good evening. Yes. Um, as

1659
01:10:05,679 --> 01:10:11,280
Janice mentioned, we had um an abundance

1660
01:10:08,960 --> 01:10:14,560
of riches in terms of the applicants

1661
01:10:11,280 --> 01:10:17,360
that came forward and um, you know, it's

1662
01:10:14,560 --> 01:10:19,920
unfortunate that 47 people were not uh,

1663
01:10:17,360 --> 01:10:21,679
able to be selected, but certainly uh,

1664
01:10:19,920 --> 01:10:23,120
very appreciative of everybody's

1665
01:10:21,679 --> 01:10:25,520
interest and the statements they do

1666
01:10:23,120 --> 01:10:27,120
that. Um, we started first and foremost

1667
01:10:25,520 --> 01:10:29,600
with the resolution that the council

1668
01:10:27,120 --> 01:10:31,440
passed. Uh you may recall that there was

1669
01:10:29,600 --> 01:10:33,760
kind of several different categories

1670
01:10:31,440 --> 01:10:35,520
within that resolution that asked for

1671
01:10:33,760 --> 01:10:37,440
some tenant representation, some

1672
01:10:35,520 --> 01:10:40,080
landlord and or property management

1673
01:10:37,440 --> 01:10:42,640
representation, some community interest.

1674
01:10:40,080 --> 01:10:44,480
Uh and we went through those that

1675
01:10:42,640 --> 01:10:47,040
identified and broke them out into those

1676
01:10:44,480 --> 01:10:48,640
groups. We also took the opportunity as

1677
01:10:47,040 --> 01:10:51,280
we do with the planning commission where

1678
01:10:48,640 --> 01:10:52,960
we try to look for and best practices

1679
01:10:51,280 --> 01:10:55,440
look for a broad geographic

1680
01:10:52,960 --> 01:10:57,600
representation across the city. So it's

1681
01:10:55,440 --> 01:10:59,840
not all from one particular u

1682
01:10:57,600 --> 01:11:02,159
neighborhood that there is a

1683
01:10:59,840 --> 01:11:04,000
distribution across those. And then we

1684
01:11:02,159 --> 01:11:06,640
looked at some of the statements of

1685
01:11:04,000 --> 01:11:09,280
interest that were brought forward um to

1686
01:11:06,640 --> 01:11:11,040
see what other kind of self-disclosed

1687
01:11:09,280 --> 01:11:13,440
areas of interest that they might have.

1688
01:11:11,040 --> 01:11:15,199
And we looked in particular for voices

1689
01:11:13,440 --> 01:11:17,199
that have not historically been

1690
01:11:15,199 --> 01:11:19,920
represented in this community. And so we

1691
01:11:17,199 --> 01:11:22,560
saw folks that were brave and offered up

1692
01:11:19,920 --> 01:11:24,159
some of their lived experiences um and

1693
01:11:22,560 --> 01:11:26,480
shared with some of those. And so we

1694
01:11:24,159 --> 01:11:29,520
made recommendations to the mayor based

1695
01:11:26,480 --> 01:11:32,159
on kind of a broad category of

1696
01:11:29,520 --> 01:11:34,320
consideration and then factored into

1697
01:11:32,159 --> 01:11:36,560
that um some of the overall group

1698
01:11:34,320 --> 01:11:39,040
dynamics as we were working with the

1699
01:11:36,560 --> 01:11:41,280
selection of our uh professional

1700
01:11:39,040 --> 01:11:44,640
facilitator that was a little bit of the

1701
01:11:41,280 --> 01:11:45,920
deliberation that came as well. So put

1702
01:11:44,640 --> 01:11:47,440
forward some recommendations to the

1703
01:11:45,920 --> 01:11:49,679
mayor.

1704
01:11:47,440 --> 01:11:52,239
» Thank you Blake.

1705
01:11:49,679 --> 01:11:54,000
Thank you very much. Um so again, this

1706
01:11:52,239 --> 01:11:56,320
confirmation of the mayor's appointments

1707
01:11:54,000 --> 01:11:59,199
to the landlord and tenant advisory work

1708
01:11:56,320 --> 01:12:02,000
group is up for um consideration and

1709
01:11:59,199 --> 01:12:02,880
approval by the council.

1710
01:12:02,000 --> 01:12:03,679
» So move

1711
01:12:02,880 --> 01:12:05,760
» Second

1712
01:12:03,679 --> 01:12:08,760
» To confirm the mayor's appointments to

1713
01:12:05,760 --> 01:12:08,760
this.

1714
01:12:09,520 --> 01:12:13,840
» I move to confirm the mayor's

1715
01:12:11,679 --> 01:12:14,800
appointments to the landlord and tenant

1716
01:12:13,840 --> 01:12:15,840
advisory group.

1717
01:12:14,800 --> 01:12:17,199
» Second.

1718
01:12:15,840 --> 01:12:18,880
» Motion's been made by council member

1719
01:12:17,199 --> 01:12:20,400
Williams and a second by council member

1720
01:12:18,880 --> 01:12:22,239
Liiloquist. Any discussion? Council

1721
01:12:20,400 --> 01:12:25,520
member Hudman and then Anderson.

1722
01:12:22,239 --> 01:12:26,960
» Um, thank you to the 60 people who were

1723
01:12:25,520 --> 01:12:29,040
interested and applied. That's pretty

1724
01:12:26,960 --> 01:12:32,159
amazing that there were so many people

1725
01:12:29,040 --> 01:12:34,000
willing to spend their time doing this

1726
01:12:32,159 --> 01:12:35,679
um, serving their community. And one

1727
01:12:34,000 --> 01:12:38,560
thing that really struck me is that

1728
01:12:35,679 --> 01:12:42,560
looking through these names. I didn't

1729
01:12:38,560 --> 01:12:45,600
recognize I recognize maybe one. Um, and

1730
01:12:42,560 --> 01:12:47,199
I think that's fantastic. uh knowing

1731
01:12:45,600 --> 01:12:52,159
that there's there are people out there

1732
01:12:47,199 --> 01:12:55,520
who um are are not necessarily engaging

1733
01:12:52,159 --> 01:12:59,440
with the city right now, don't know us

1734
01:12:55,520 --> 01:13:01,120
um personally even and and um we'll be

1735
01:12:59,440 --> 01:13:03,040
bringing their perspectives and

1736
01:13:01,120 --> 01:13:05,360
knowledge and and hard work to this

1737
01:13:03,040 --> 01:13:07,440
group. Um so I really appreciate that

1738
01:13:05,360 --> 01:13:10,239
and also thanks to the the staff members

1739
01:13:07,440 --> 01:13:12,239
that spent the time um going through all

1740
01:13:10,239 --> 01:13:13,440
of these applications. That's that's a

1741
01:13:12,239 --> 01:13:14,560
lot. It's a lot of work and I'm sure

1742
01:13:13,440 --> 01:13:16,800
there were a lot of really good

1743
01:13:14,560 --> 01:13:18,320
applicants. Um, so there were some tough

1744
01:13:16,800 --> 01:13:19,520
decisions.

1745
01:13:18,320 --> 01:13:22,239
» Council Anderson,

1746
01:13:19,520 --> 01:13:23,520
» Thank you. Um, I'm unfortunately not

1747
01:13:22,239 --> 01:13:27,040
going to be able to support this

1748
01:13:23,520 --> 01:13:28,640
tonight. Um, it's not about the people

1749
01:13:27,040 --> 01:13:32,239
who have come forward. I really

1750
01:13:28,640 --> 01:13:33,920
appreciate the 60 people interested and

1751
01:13:32,239 --> 01:13:35,520
um, the people who have been appointed.

1752
01:13:33,920 --> 01:13:38,400
I have a lot of respect for people

1753
01:13:35,520 --> 01:13:40,560
willing to donate their time and effort.

1754
01:13:38,400 --> 01:13:42,719
Um, one of the reasons why I can't

1755
01:13:40,560 --> 01:13:46,640
support this isn't so much who has been

1756
01:13:42,719 --> 01:13:49,440
selected but who has not. Um, we have a

1757
01:13:46,640 --> 01:13:51,520
community advocate who is one of the

1758
01:13:49,440 --> 01:13:54,480
reasons why this uh group has been

1759
01:13:51,520 --> 01:13:56,159
formed. They've been at the dis talking.

1760
01:13:54,480 --> 01:13:59,760
They've been in people's office

1761
01:13:56,159 --> 01:14:02,880
advocating. Um Carrie Burnside has been

1762
01:13:59,760 --> 01:14:04,800
just a stalwart of working with council

1763
01:14:02,880 --> 01:14:09,760
and the city when it comes to tenants

1764
01:14:04,800 --> 01:14:12,000
rights and um tenant protections. And

1765
01:14:09,760 --> 01:14:14,719
just for those who aren't familiar,

1766
01:14:12,000 --> 01:14:16,719
probably people watching, um she is part

1767
01:14:14,719 --> 01:14:18,960
of the Wakom Housing Alliance Policy

1768
01:14:16,719 --> 01:14:21,360
Task Force, Wacom County Housing

1769
01:14:18,960 --> 01:14:23,199
Advisory Committee, Bellingham Tenants

1770
01:14:21,360 --> 01:14:25,280
Union, City of Bellingham Office of

1771
01:14:23,199 --> 01:14:28,000
Healthy Housing Feasibility Study Task

1772
01:14:25,280 --> 01:14:31,040
Force, Rental Registry Matrix. She's

1773
01:14:28,000 --> 01:14:33,120
worked directly with staff um regarding

1774
01:14:31,040 --> 01:14:35,600
the rental registry and making

1775
01:14:33,120 --> 01:14:37,760
improvements. Um

1776
01:14:35,600 --> 01:14:39,920
she has talked with people on both sides

1777
01:14:37,760 --> 01:14:42,719
of the junk fee ordinance and advocated

1778
01:14:39,920 --> 01:14:45,040
for better policy. Um she's brought the

1779
01:14:42,719 --> 01:14:47,440
law advocates and dispute resolution

1780
01:14:45,040 --> 01:14:49,920
professionals together to do know your

1781
01:14:47,440 --> 01:14:53,840
right training for renters and for

1782
01:14:49,920 --> 01:14:56,239
landlords. Um she has been here many

1783
01:14:53,840 --> 01:14:59,360
times talking about policy and things

1784
01:14:56,239 --> 01:15:01,600
that we can make um improvements on. She

1785
01:14:59,360 --> 01:15:04,320
started a nonprofit with a couple other

1786
01:15:01,600 --> 01:15:06,400
of our housing advocates um the future

1787
01:15:04,320 --> 01:15:08,239
home buyer organizations. So she has

1788
01:15:06,400 --> 01:15:11,840
brought in potentially a million dollars

1789
01:15:08,239 --> 01:15:14,400
into our community to help lowincome

1790
01:15:11,840 --> 01:15:17,840
um first-time home buyers and they just

1791
01:15:14,400 --> 01:15:21,040
had their first signing of their first

1792
01:15:17,840 --> 01:15:24,000
purchase um a week ago. uh she's been

1793
01:15:21,040 --> 01:15:26,320
invited recently to speak at the you uh

1794
01:15:24,000 --> 01:15:29,360
at Western Washington University to do a

1795
01:15:26,320 --> 01:15:32,640
lecture series on the housing crisis and

1796
01:15:29,360 --> 01:15:34,640
um issues facing tenants on a state

1797
01:15:32,640 --> 01:15:37,360
level. She's been part of the Washington

1798
01:15:34,640 --> 01:15:39,199
Housing Alliance and um she's the

1799
01:15:37,360 --> 01:15:41,360
legislative district lead for the 40th

1800
01:15:39,199 --> 01:15:43,440
and 42nd regarding the Washington

1801
01:15:41,360 --> 01:15:45,840
Low-Income Housing Alliance. She's

1802
01:15:43,440 --> 01:15:47,679
worked with Representative Gregerson's

1803
01:15:45,840 --> 01:15:51,040
team on the statewide junk fee

1804
01:15:47,679 --> 01:15:53,120
legislation. Uh she's uh consulted Mayor

1805
01:15:51,040 --> 01:15:55,520
Kathy Wilson's office regarding the

1806
01:15:53,120 --> 01:15:59,920
Bellingham Junks fee ordinance and the

1807
01:15:55,520 --> 01:16:02,800
perhaps adoption there. Um she has been

1808
01:15:59,920 --> 01:16:05,199
invited to signing with our current

1809
01:16:02,800 --> 01:16:09,600
governor for low-income housing. Uh

1810
01:16:05,199 --> 01:16:13,120
she's down in Olympia uh advocating um

1811
01:16:09,600 --> 01:16:16,080
for legislation. Um I could go on. I

1812
01:16:13,120 --> 01:16:17,520
just wanted a few things that um I was

1813
01:16:16,080 --> 01:16:19,440
able to write down that she's been

1814
01:16:17,520 --> 01:16:22,719
involved in. And I know it's important

1815
01:16:19,440 --> 01:16:24,480
to have new voices, but we have a person

1816
01:16:22,719 --> 01:16:26,640
who doesn't even live in our community.

1817
01:16:24,480 --> 01:16:29,440
They live in Seattle. Kevin Schilling

1818
01:16:26,640 --> 01:16:32,000
being appointed who lives in Seattle. I

1819
01:16:29,440 --> 01:16:34,880
know we passed um the ability to have

1820
01:16:32,000 --> 01:16:36,320
people outside of our area. I really

1821
01:16:34,880 --> 01:16:39,600
thought that was when there wasn't

1822
01:16:36,320 --> 01:16:41,440
qualified people eligible um to be on a

1823
01:16:39,600 --> 01:16:46,320
committee to serve. So, we are bringing

1824
01:16:41,440 --> 01:16:48,400
somebody in who is um part of the RH AWA

1825
01:16:46,320 --> 01:16:51,120
who represents the needs of perspective

1826
01:16:48,400 --> 01:16:54,400
prospective 60,000 small rental housing

1827
01:16:51,120 --> 01:16:56,239
providers. Um I can't imagine we didn't

1828
01:16:54,400 --> 01:16:57,520
have a small housing provider who would

1829
01:16:56,239 --> 01:16:59,920
have applied who could have been

1830
01:16:57,520 --> 01:17:03,120
speaking who lives in this community and

1831
01:16:59,920 --> 01:17:04,800
has direct impact on those rental um

1832
01:17:03,120 --> 01:17:06,400
experiences.

1833
01:17:04,800 --> 01:17:08,080
but instead we're appointing the

1834
01:17:06,400 --> 01:17:10,960
communication and advocacy mana man

1835
01:17:08,080 --> 01:17:12,960
manager for a large represented group.

1836
01:17:10,960 --> 01:17:15,679
Um it seems a little disproportionate

1837
01:17:12,960 --> 01:17:17,920
for me. Um I'm just really disappointed

1838
01:17:15,679 --> 01:17:19,840
that uh somebody in this community who

1839
01:17:17,920 --> 01:17:23,440
worked really hard to get this in front

1840
01:17:19,840 --> 01:17:26,640
of us who has such a vast experience of

1841
01:17:23,440 --> 01:17:30,159
advocating for both sides um and who has

1842
01:17:26,640 --> 01:17:33,679
a very strong knowledge of our

1843
01:17:30,159 --> 01:17:37,120
legislation that is on the books. um who

1844
01:17:33,679 --> 01:17:39,520
is known to be somebody who uh

1845
01:17:37,120 --> 01:17:42,159
collaborates. So, [snorts]

1846
01:17:39,520 --> 01:17:44,480
um I'm just really greatly disappointed

1847
01:17:42,159 --> 01:17:47,199
and because of that, um as much as I

1848
01:17:44,480 --> 01:17:48,640
really appreciate 12 of the applicants

1849
01:17:47,199 --> 01:17:50,800
and think that they'll bring a lot of

1850
01:17:48,640 --> 01:17:53,120
good things forward, um I just in my

1851
01:17:50,800 --> 01:17:55,760
conscious cannot

1852
01:17:53,120 --> 01:17:57,440
I can't as a council member feel like

1853
01:17:55,760 --> 01:18:00,320
I'm slighting somebody in our community

1854
01:17:57,440 --> 01:18:04,400
who has worked so hard to better our

1855
01:18:00,320 --> 01:18:06,320
community and the uh living situations

1856
01:18:04,400 --> 01:18:08,800
for the people who rent in our

1857
01:18:06,320 --> 01:18:11,840
community. Council

1858
01:18:08,800 --> 01:18:14,880
member Williams.

1859
01:18:11,840 --> 01:18:17,920
» Wow. Um, I just want to say that I

1860
01:18:14,880 --> 01:18:21,520
welcome this committee moving forward. I

1861
01:18:17,920 --> 01:18:23,040
know it's been in the works for quite a

1862
01:18:21,520 --> 01:18:26,960
while

1863
01:18:23,040 --> 01:18:29,600
and um I see

1864
01:18:26,960 --> 01:18:33,679
um

1865
01:18:29,600 --> 01:18:37,440
I see this being able to give us the

1866
01:18:33,679 --> 01:18:42,000
information that we need to make durable

1867
01:18:37,440 --> 01:18:47,520
decisions to improve our rental

1868
01:18:42,000 --> 01:18:49,679
um community. and um and hopefully we'll

1869
01:18:47,520 --> 01:18:51,600
see some of those recommendations coming

1870
01:18:49,679 --> 01:18:54,080
our way.

1871
01:18:51,600 --> 01:18:58,979
So

1872
01:18:54,080 --> 01:18:59,679
um see is is there any more uh comment?

1873
01:18:58,979 --> 01:19:03,360
[clears throat]

1874
01:18:59,679 --> 01:19:05,360
I guess that's your question.

1875
01:19:03,360 --> 01:19:07,360
» Any other comments from council members?

1876
01:19:05,360 --> 01:19:10,080
Council member Liquist.

1877
01:19:07,360 --> 01:19:11,840
» Yeah. Um, this idea was proposed and

1878
01:19:10,080 --> 01:19:14,719
supported by the city council quite a

1879
01:19:11,840 --> 01:19:16,560
while ago and so I'm very much excited

1880
01:19:14,719 --> 01:19:18,159
to see them start their work. There were

1881
01:19:16,560 --> 01:19:20,719
some surprises in here. Council member

1882
01:19:18,159 --> 01:19:22,000
Anderson uh pointed to one of those

1883
01:19:20,719 --> 01:19:23,920
surprises, but there were mostly

1884
01:19:22,000 --> 01:19:25,840
pleasant surprises. Um, as council

1885
01:19:23,920 --> 01:19:27,280
member Huffman said, I didn't know most

1886
01:19:25,840 --> 01:19:28,560
of these people. I think I knew two of

1887
01:19:27,280 --> 01:19:30,159
them for sure and then I thought about

1888
01:19:28,560 --> 01:19:31,679
I'd actually talked to a third person,

1889
01:19:30,159 --> 01:19:33,520
but these are some new faces at the

1890
01:19:31,679 --> 01:19:36,000
table and I really appreciate that. In

1891
01:19:33,520 --> 01:19:38,480
particular, uh I want to I want to say

1892
01:19:36,000 --> 01:19:41,199
express my um appreciation and my

1893
01:19:38,480 --> 01:19:43,600
gratitude to the uh renters on this

1894
01:19:41,199 --> 01:19:45,199
committee. Uh Jessica B, Selena, Nathan

1895
01:19:43,600 --> 01:19:48,159
Mlan. I think those are the important

1896
01:19:45,199 --> 01:19:50,080
voices uh which we've been missing and

1897
01:19:48,159 --> 01:19:53,440
which we really need and I would like

1898
01:19:50,080 --> 01:19:55,600
them to be uh strongly represented uh in

1899
01:19:53,440 --> 01:19:57,679
this advisory work group to help inform

1900
01:19:55,600 --> 01:19:59,760
us in our work going forward. We've done

1901
01:19:57,679 --> 01:20:03,679
a lot of work on renter issues, but

1902
01:19:59,760 --> 01:20:06,000
we've been doing it not always in the

1903
01:20:03,679 --> 01:20:08,480
same way. Uh, a little bit ad hoc, some

1904
01:20:06,000 --> 01:20:11,440
good here, some good there. Um, it'll be

1905
01:20:08,480 --> 01:20:13,760
nice to have um an advisory body as a

1906
01:20:11,440 --> 01:20:15,679
touchstone to create some maybe some

1907
01:20:13,760 --> 01:20:18,640
consistency and some perspective on it.

1908
01:20:15,679 --> 01:20:20,880
Um, so I will be I will be supporting uh

1909
01:20:18,640 --> 01:20:22,480
this work these people being proposed to

1910
01:20:20,880 --> 01:20:24,719
the work group and getting its work

1911
01:20:22,480 --> 01:20:27,360
started.

1912
01:20:24,719 --> 01:20:30,159
in the discussion. Um, just to speak to

1913
01:20:27,360 --> 01:20:32,239
Council Member Anderson's comments. Um,

1914
01:20:30,159 --> 01:20:35,120
I have great respect for Carrie

1915
01:20:32,239 --> 01:20:37,120
Burnside. Much appreciation for I mean

1916
01:20:35,120 --> 01:20:39,040
the long list as you said could go on

1917
01:20:37,120 --> 01:20:43,120
her engagement in the community here

1918
01:20:39,040 --> 01:20:45,840
locally and beyond. Um, I

1919
01:20:43,120 --> 01:20:47,920
I feel though that right as evidenced by

1920
01:20:45,840 --> 01:20:50,000
your comments, she's highly engaged

1921
01:20:47,920 --> 01:20:52,560
already. Certainly knows how to access

1922
01:20:50,000 --> 01:20:55,120
the city system and process. And I don't

1923
01:20:52,560 --> 01:20:58,000
expect Car's voice to be silenced, you

1924
01:20:55,120 --> 01:21:00,480
know, going forward and would expect to,

1925
01:20:58,000 --> 01:21:04,080
you know, continue to um to hear from

1926
01:21:00,480 --> 01:21:06,159
her, but am excited to have this um when

1927
01:21:04,080 --> 01:21:09,440
we talk about sort of building a table

1928
01:21:06,159 --> 01:21:11,440
and trying to expand our, you know,

1929
01:21:09,440 --> 01:21:13,199
impact in the community as well as the

1930
01:21:11,440 --> 01:21:15,520
engagement in the community and making

1931
01:21:13,199 --> 01:21:17,520
sure that in a city of 100,000 people

1932
01:21:15,520 --> 01:21:19,040
that we have, right, voices at the table

1933
01:21:17,520 --> 01:21:20,560
that we haven't heard from and making

1934
01:21:19,040 --> 01:21:22,000
sure that they feel welcome coming

1935
01:21:20,560 --> 01:21:23,840
forward and especially especially as you

1936
01:21:22,000 --> 01:21:26,000
commented, Director Lion, you know,

1937
01:21:23,840 --> 01:21:28,400
sharing their lived experience and

1938
01:21:26,000 --> 01:21:30,320
hopefully that will cultivate even more

1939
01:21:28,400 --> 01:21:34,239
advocates in our community to, you know,

1940
01:21:30,320 --> 01:21:37,120
help move forward um our efforts for um

1941
01:21:34,239 --> 01:21:41,040
you know, improved landlord and tenant

1942
01:21:37,120 --> 01:21:43,440
um protections as well as um the you

1943
01:21:41,040 --> 01:21:46,320
know, future ordinances and resolutions

1944
01:21:43,440 --> 01:21:49,199
and work that we will bring forward. And

1945
01:21:46,320 --> 01:21:51,120
I I would have trouble making this about

1946
01:21:49,199 --> 01:21:53,360
one person. Again, I feel like in a city

1947
01:21:51,120 --> 01:21:55,360
of 100,000 people, um there are many

1948
01:21:53,360 --> 01:21:58,239
many voices that we don't hear from that

1949
01:21:55,360 --> 01:22:00,719
I would like to write to hear from in in

1950
01:21:58,239 --> 01:22:03,760
the future. Um so, for those reasons, I

1951
01:22:00,719 --> 01:22:05,360
will be um supporting the the motion.

1952
01:22:03,760 --> 01:22:06,800
Again, we have a motion from council

1953
01:22:05,360 --> 01:22:09,440
member Williams and a second from

1954
01:22:06,800 --> 01:22:11,280
Council Member Liiloquist. The motion is

1955
01:22:09,440 --> 01:22:13,040
to confirm the mayor's appointments to

1956
01:22:11,280 --> 01:22:14,560
the landlord and tenant advisory work

1957
01:22:13,040 --> 01:22:16,000
group. There's no further discussion.

1958
01:22:14,560 --> 01:22:17,520
I'll call the question. All in favor

1959
01:22:16,000 --> 01:22:17,920
will say I.

1960
01:22:17,520 --> 01:22:19,520
» I.

1961
01:22:17,920 --> 01:22:20,080
» Those opposed? No.

1962
01:22:19,520 --> 01:22:22,159
» No.

1963
01:22:20,080 --> 01:22:28,239
» Any abstensions?

1964
01:22:22,159 --> 01:22:31,520
Okay. So, that passes 52.

1965
01:22:28,239 --> 01:22:35,440
» Correct. Okay. That passes 52 um with

1966
01:22:31,520 --> 01:22:39,080
council members Anderson and Cotton

1967
01:22:35,440 --> 01:22:39,080
um voting no.

1968
01:22:41,040 --> 01:22:46,440
Okay. Any further appointments? Deputy

1969
01:22:43,440 --> 01:22:46,440
Killer.

1970
01:22:46,880 --> 01:22:49,360
» No. and no mayor's report tonight.

1971
01:22:48,960 --> 01:22:51,280
» Okay.

1972
01:22:49,360 --> 01:22:53,600
» Thank you.

1973
01:22:51,280 --> 01:22:56,159
» So then we will move forward with the

1974
01:22:53,600 --> 01:22:58,239
council assignment reports. Any updates

1975
01:22:56,159 --> 01:22:58,800
from council members?

1976
01:22:58,239 --> 01:23:01,040
» Yeah, I've got

1977
01:22:58,800 --> 01:23:02,642
» Council member Hamill.

1978
01:23:01,040 --> 01:23:03,920
» Uh yeah, I just wanted to

1979
01:23:02,642 --> 01:23:08,159
[clears throat] I'll be brief here since

1980
01:23:03,920 --> 01:23:09,600
we're bit um long here this evening. So

1981
01:23:08,159 --> 01:23:11,199
I serve on the incarceration prevention

1982
01:23:09,600 --> 01:23:13,040
and reduction task force for Wakom

1983
01:23:11,199 --> 01:23:15,840
County, the chair of the behavioral

1984
01:23:13,040 --> 01:23:19,040
health committee. Um, and as part of my

1985
01:23:15,840 --> 01:23:21,520
duties there, I toured Lumi Nation's uh

1986
01:23:19,040 --> 01:23:23,840
swims facility. So that's secure

1987
01:23:21,520 --> 01:23:25,440
withdrawal management and stabilization

1988
01:23:23,840 --> 01:23:27,920
facility. It's new. It's not open yet.

1989
01:23:25,440 --> 01:23:30,320
It opens next week and it's a 16 bed

1990
01:23:27,920 --> 01:23:32,080
facility uh currently and it has an

1991
01:23:30,320 --> 01:23:36,000
involuntary treatment and a voluntary

1992
01:23:32,080 --> 01:23:37,920
treatment uh component to it. It is um

1993
01:23:36,000 --> 01:23:40,239
it it could be a model for the beh the

1994
01:23:37,920 --> 01:23:42,639
upcoming f or future behavioral care

1995
01:23:40,239 --> 01:23:46,239
center uh for the county. Uh it's trauma

1996
01:23:42,639 --> 01:23:49,840
informed design. It's very well done. Um

1997
01:23:46,239 --> 01:23:50,880
staff 247, admittance 247 as well. Just

1998
01:23:49,840 --> 01:23:52,719
wanted to highlight that. You can look

1999
01:23:50,880 --> 01:23:54,480
it up online too and see some photos

2000
01:23:52,719 --> 01:23:57,600
there and get further information. I

2001
01:23:54,480 --> 01:24:00,239
also serve on the um EMS levy committee

2002
01:23:57,600 --> 01:24:02,080
and the EMS oversight board for the EMS

2003
01:24:00,239 --> 01:24:04,080
uh levy committee. I serve on the

2004
01:24:02,080 --> 01:24:06,000
community paramedic planning team. We

2005
01:24:04,080 --> 01:24:08,719
just started so I don't have a lot to

2006
01:24:06,000 --> 01:24:11,040
update um the public and council with

2007
01:24:08,719 --> 01:24:13,840
regarding uh community paramedic. Um,

2008
01:24:11,040 --> 01:24:16,560
but it is part of the EMS levy plan.

2009
01:24:13,840 --> 01:24:18,480
We're trying to figure out how to um

2010
01:24:16,560 --> 01:24:20,960
provide service delivery throughout the

2011
01:24:18,480 --> 01:24:23,040
county uh within within that program.

2012
01:24:20,960 --> 01:24:25,760
And many of you will recall that the EMS

2013
01:24:23,040 --> 01:24:27,440
levy originally was intended for ALS,

2014
01:24:25,760 --> 01:24:29,679
which is advanced life support, but it

2015
01:24:27,440 --> 01:24:31,840
did branch out to basic life support,

2016
01:24:29,679 --> 01:24:33,440
community parame medicine training, a

2017
01:24:31,840 --> 01:24:37,480
number of different items, but I just

2018
01:24:33,440 --> 01:24:37,480
want to provide that report tonight.

2019
01:24:37,679 --> 01:24:43,520
» Member Williams and then Anderson. Yeah,

2020
01:24:40,239 --> 01:24:46,480
I I was um

2021
01:24:43,520 --> 01:24:50,159
I was invited to participate in a tour

2022
01:24:46,480 --> 01:24:54,639
of homes and businesses last week

2023
01:24:50,159 --> 01:24:57,440
uh um regarding the home electri

2024
01:24:54,639 --> 01:25:01,040
electrification appliance rebate

2025
01:24:57,440 --> 01:25:04,080
program. This was organized by our by

2026
01:25:01,040 --> 01:25:06,159
the mayor's uh climate office, Seth

2027
01:25:04,080 --> 01:25:09,040
Vidana,

2028
01:25:06,159 --> 01:25:11,679
and uh sustainable connections and and

2029
01:25:09,040 --> 01:25:14,880
the opportunity council. We toured

2030
01:25:11,679 --> 01:25:19,199
several homes and several nonprofit

2031
01:25:14,880 --> 01:25:23,920
agencies to to [snorts] get an idea of

2032
01:25:19,199 --> 01:25:28,639
what services these entities have um

2033
01:25:23,920 --> 01:25:30,400
were uh provided with to to update their

2034
01:25:28,639 --> 01:25:34,719
um

2035
01:25:30,400 --> 01:25:37,679
their heating and electrification issues

2036
01:25:34,719 --> 01:25:40,480
that they were having. Um we were also

2037
01:25:37,679 --> 01:25:44,480
accompanied by several people from the

2038
01:25:40,480 --> 01:25:47,280
state department of uh commerce in uh

2039
01:25:44,480 --> 01:25:52,320
looking at these

2040
01:25:47,280 --> 01:25:55,600
um homes and uh businesses. Bes um

2041
01:25:52,320 --> 01:25:58,480
besides the individual homes that

2042
01:25:55,600 --> 01:26:01,920
receive this service, there are several

2043
01:25:58,480 --> 01:26:04,719
nonprofit organizations that are also

2044
01:26:01,920 --> 01:26:07,040
being served such as the Watcom Center

2045
01:26:04,719 --> 01:26:10,080
for Early Learning, Domestic Violence

2046
01:26:07,040 --> 01:26:12,719
and Sexual Assault Services, Lydia

2047
01:26:10,080 --> 01:26:16,000
Place, and Bridget Collins,

2048
01:26:12,719 --> 01:26:17,840
uh and the Tedos Restaurant, which is a

2049
01:26:16,000 --> 01:26:20,320
locallyowned

2050
01:26:17,840 --> 01:26:23,360
minority business in in in our downtown

2051
01:26:20,320 --> 01:26:26,000
sector. The funding for this program

2052
01:26:23,360 --> 01:26:29,679
comes from the Washington

2053
01:26:26,000 --> 01:26:33,679
Washington's climate commitment act, but

2054
01:26:29,679 --> 01:26:36,719
the specific funding for uh Watcom

2055
01:26:33,679 --> 01:26:39,600
County and Bellingham is a grant from

2056
01:26:36,719 --> 01:26:42,000
the Washington Department of Commerce

2057
01:26:39,600 --> 01:26:44,800
and is locally administered by the

2058
01:26:42,000 --> 01:26:48,320
Opportunity Council and Sustainable

2059
01:26:44,800 --> 01:26:51,440
Connections. Anyway, it was a very,

2060
01:26:48,320 --> 01:26:56,560
for lack of a better word, enlightening

2061
01:26:51,440 --> 01:26:58,960
experience and um I learned a lot by uh

2062
01:26:56,560 --> 01:27:01,440
seeing all this.

2063
01:26:58,960 --> 01:27:04,000
The other thing I wanted to talk about

2064
01:27:01,440 --> 01:27:08,080
is um

2065
01:27:04,000 --> 01:27:10,639
I went to uh as I usually do to our

2066
01:27:08,080 --> 01:27:13,600
parks and recreation committee meetings

2067
01:27:10,639 --> 01:27:17,120
and our greenways meetings

2068
01:27:13,600 --> 01:27:20,639
and uh the main focus of those meetings

2069
01:27:17,120 --> 01:27:24,320
at least in the last month or so has

2070
01:27:20,639 --> 01:27:28,400
been to identify the capital program

2071
01:27:24,320 --> 01:27:31,440
priorities for the 2027 budget.

2072
01:27:28,400 --> 01:27:34,639
such as the pier at Little Squallikham

2073
01:27:31,440 --> 01:27:37,920
Park, the War Street Trail, Salish

2074
01:27:34,639 --> 01:27:42,000
Landing, Greenways, Land Acquisition,

2075
01:27:37,920 --> 01:27:44,639
and so forth. And um

2076
01:27:42,000 --> 01:27:47,280
the uh program priorities were discussed

2077
01:27:44,639 --> 01:27:49,520
with the parks and recreation staff at

2078
01:27:47,280 --> 01:27:53,280
the meeting with final committee

2079
01:27:49,520 --> 01:27:56,800
recommendations referred to them.

2080
01:27:53,280 --> 01:27:59,040
And then the um staff will review all

2081
01:27:56,800 --> 01:28:03,440
this, develop

2082
01:27:59,040 --> 01:28:07,520
uh funding levels for each program and

2083
01:28:03,440 --> 01:28:09,920
eventually that will be presented to us

2084
01:28:07,520 --> 01:28:14,159
for inclusion

2085
01:28:09,920 --> 01:28:19,040
in the 2027 budget.

2086
01:28:14,159 --> 01:28:22,400
In in that time too, I also asked the um

2087
01:28:19,040 --> 01:28:26,719
committee leadership about the uh

2088
01:28:22,400 --> 01:28:30,480
process for merging the two committees.

2089
01:28:26,719 --> 01:28:33,360
And um as I spoke to them, I was really

2090
01:28:30,480 --> 01:28:36,239
glad to hear that they felt that the uh

2091
01:28:33,360 --> 01:28:39,040
process was moving forward in a very

2092
01:28:36,239 --> 01:28:43,600
positive way and that the fundamental

2093
01:28:39,040 --> 01:28:45,360
standard they both spoke to me about is

2094
01:28:43,600 --> 01:28:48,159
the purpose is broadening the

2095
01:28:45,360 --> 01:28:50,719
understanding among members all of the

2096
01:28:48,159 --> 01:28:54,000
members regarding the total parks and

2097
01:28:50,719 --> 01:28:56,800
recreation program and not just their

2098
01:28:54,000 --> 01:29:01,520
individual piece of the pie.

2099
01:28:56,800 --> 01:29:06,480
And um in in that it doesn't mean that

2100
01:29:01,520 --> 01:29:09,760
each programmatic focus goes away or is

2101
01:29:06,480 --> 01:29:12,080
prioritized over the other, but it's

2102
01:29:09,760 --> 01:29:15,040
broadened to a larger group with a

2103
01:29:12,080 --> 01:29:17,440
unified vision and understanding for all

2104
01:29:15,040 --> 01:29:21,760
of the areas and programs of of our

2105
01:29:17,440 --> 01:29:27,360
parks and recreation uh uh department.

2106
01:29:21,760 --> 01:29:29,520
And to to guarantee some consistency,

2107
01:29:27,360 --> 01:29:32,400
the current members of each committee

2108
01:29:29,520 --> 01:29:35,280
will be grandfathered into the new

2109
01:29:32,400 --> 01:29:38,239
structure until their term expires with

2110
01:29:35,280 --> 01:29:40,159
a gradual transition to the new

2111
01:29:38,239 --> 01:29:43,840
committee structure. So, I thought that

2112
01:29:40,159 --> 01:29:46,239
was a pretty good conversation I had.

2113
01:29:43,840 --> 01:29:48,239
So,

2114
01:29:46,239 --> 01:29:49,280
all that being said,

2115
01:29:48,239 --> 01:29:51,760
» Thank you.

2116
01:29:49,280 --> 01:29:53,280
» I had a busy week. Council member

2117
01:29:51,760 --> 01:29:55,120
Anderson.

2118
01:29:53,280 --> 01:29:57,600
» Thank you. I have a couple of things. I

2119
01:29:55,120 --> 01:30:01,360
I failed to mention at our last council

2120
01:29:57,600 --> 01:30:03,520
meeting that on August 6 um attended the

2121
01:30:01,360 --> 01:30:05,360
um marine resource

2122
01:30:03,520 --> 01:30:08,960
uh

2123
01:30:05,360 --> 01:30:11,920
committee and it's it's a group of state

2124
01:30:08,960 --> 01:30:16,159
local um

2125
01:30:11,920 --> 01:30:18,719
environmental educational uh resource

2126
01:30:16,159 --> 01:30:22,960
group uh that talks a lot about what's

2127
01:30:18,719 --> 01:30:25,760
happening in our marine area and um what

2128
01:30:22,960 --> 01:30:28,159
was really educ educational about that

2129
01:30:25,760 --> 01:30:30,639
meeting is that there were two interns

2130
01:30:28,159 --> 01:30:35,199
from Bellingham Technical College that

2131
01:30:30,639 --> 01:30:37,840
had uh provided educational outreach uh

2132
01:30:35,199 --> 01:30:40,480
over the summer down at Larabe Park

2133
01:30:37,840 --> 01:30:42,800
where the boat launch is and basically

2134
01:30:40,480 --> 01:30:45,040
educating the community about the ill

2135
01:30:42,800 --> 01:30:46,560
grass there and the impacts trying to

2136
01:30:45,040 --> 01:30:49,360
make sure that people do their boat

2137
01:30:46,560 --> 01:30:52,239
launches and the soft launch of their uh

2138
01:30:49,360 --> 01:30:54,560
personal uh watercrafts that they're not

2139
01:30:52,239 --> 01:30:56,480
walking on the ill grass. um because of

2140
01:30:54,560 --> 01:30:59,520
the habitat but they also came forward

2141
01:30:56,480 --> 01:31:03,040
with some recommendations. Another um

2142
01:30:59,520 --> 01:31:06,800
interesting thing was that um the GIS

2143
01:31:03,040 --> 01:31:13,600
specialist for Pad Padilla Bay National

2144
01:31:06,800 --> 01:31:18,239
um estuary is um there is a

2145
01:31:13,600 --> 01:31:20,800
a data resource a GIS uh that is

2146
01:31:18,239 --> 01:31:24,400
available. So you can um I don't have

2147
01:31:20,800 --> 01:31:27,840
their website here. Um it's I think it's

2148
01:31:24,400 --> 01:31:30,159
called Sound IQ. So, if you're want to

2149
01:31:27,840 --> 01:31:33,199
kind of geek out on things that are

2150
01:31:30,159 --> 01:31:36,239
happening in the marine area, um the

2151
01:31:33,199 --> 01:31:38,000
sound IQ is actually they were showing

2152
01:31:36,239 --> 01:31:41,120
us how to use it. And if you want to

2153
01:31:38,000 --> 01:31:43,120
take a look at the islands or um see

2154
01:31:41,120 --> 01:31:46,159
what what studies are happening and what

2155
01:31:43,120 --> 01:31:47,920
resources are available, um that is

2156
01:31:46,159 --> 01:31:52,000
something that you can spend some

2157
01:31:47,920 --> 01:31:53,600
evening reviewing. Um so, uh this group

2158
01:31:52,000 --> 01:31:57,440
is pretty fascinating. I'm learning

2159
01:31:53,600 --> 01:32:00,320
quite a bit. Um

2160
01:31:57,440 --> 01:32:02,880
I wish uh well their meetings are I

2161
01:32:00,320 --> 01:32:07,760
believe open to the public and we meet

2162
01:32:02,880 --> 01:32:11,600
on our next meeting will be uh

2163
01:32:07,760 --> 01:32:14,159
on Thursday September 3rd from 5 to 5 to

2164
01:32:11,600 --> 01:32:16,560
7 and it's held in the garden room at

2165
01:32:14,159 --> 01:32:18,639
the county building. So if you want to

2166
01:32:16,560 --> 01:32:21,120
learn more about marine resources and

2167
01:32:18,639 --> 01:32:23,760
what they're up to um it is open to the

2168
01:32:21,120 --> 01:32:25,920
public and it's always educational. The

2169
01:32:23,760 --> 01:32:28,639
other thing I wanted to cover is on

2170
01:32:25,920 --> 01:32:32,400
Thursday, this past Thursday, August

2171
01:32:28,639 --> 01:32:35,440
20th, um the planning committee um

2172
01:32:32,400 --> 01:32:37,600
hosted a joint meeting with the uh

2173
01:32:35,440 --> 01:32:40,560
planning commission where staff were

2174
01:32:37,600 --> 01:32:42,239
able to present to us basically

2175
01:32:40,560 --> 01:32:44,960
everything that's in the hopper when it

2176
01:32:42,239 --> 01:32:48,159
comes to um

2177
01:32:44,960 --> 01:32:50,320
a lot of the um the work that is going

2178
01:32:48,159 --> 01:32:53,120
forward. So, we kind of got a three to

2179
01:32:50,320 --> 01:32:54,960
fiveyear perspective of legislative

2180
01:32:53,120 --> 01:32:58,719
things that will be moving forward. So,

2181
01:32:54,960 --> 01:33:01,040
at least um I would ask because I failed

2182
01:32:58,719 --> 01:33:03,520
to ask, but if there was some slides

2183
01:33:01,040 --> 01:33:06,080
that were presented if it might be

2184
01:33:03,520 --> 01:33:08,480
useful to send to all of council because

2185
01:33:06,080 --> 01:33:11,120
some of the graphics showed how far we

2186
01:33:08,480 --> 01:33:12,800
are in projects, what is starting and

2187
01:33:11,120 --> 01:33:15,360
when things should be coming forward to

2188
01:33:12,800 --> 01:33:17,040
council. And I think um that's why I

2189
01:33:15,360 --> 01:33:18,719
thanked council member Liiloquist who

2190
01:33:17,040 --> 01:33:20,880
was in attendance and so was council

2191
01:33:18,719 --> 01:33:23,280
member Huffman and I believe uh council

2192
01:33:20,880 --> 01:33:26,000
member Cotton joined us online. It gives

2193
01:33:23,280 --> 01:33:28,480
us a pretty good layout of the work plan

2194
01:33:26,000 --> 01:33:30,800
and it's

2195
01:33:28,480 --> 01:33:33,199
our planning department is doing quite a

2196
01:33:30,800 --> 01:33:35,280
tremendous lift over the next couple of

2197
01:33:33,199 --> 01:33:38,480
years. So I think it would be very

2198
01:33:35,280 --> 01:33:41,040
useful to have that forwarded over. Um

2199
01:33:38,480 --> 01:33:44,800
kudos to staff. It's always impressive

2200
01:33:41,040 --> 01:33:46,719
to see everything if not um exhausting

2201
01:33:44,800 --> 01:33:48,800
and daunting to realize the work that

2202
01:33:46,719 --> 01:33:51,800
you guys have in front of you. So, thank

2203
01:33:48,800 --> 01:33:51,800
you.

2204
01:33:51,840 --> 01:33:57,280
Any other updates from council members?

2205
01:33:55,520 --> 01:34:01,120
Okay,

2206
01:33:57,280 --> 01:34:04,320
seeing none, I want to gauge we are at

2207
01:34:01,120 --> 01:34:08,960
8:30. Five minute break or go forward

2208
01:34:04,320 --> 01:34:10,639
with report outs. We're at a Okay. Next,

2209
01:34:08,960 --> 01:34:12,800
we have report outs from committee

2210
01:34:10,639 --> 01:34:15,280
meetings earlier today. So, the first

2211
01:34:12,800 --> 01:34:16,560
committee was budget and finance. That

2212
01:34:15,280 --> 01:34:18,080
committee was chaired by council member

2213
01:34:16,560 --> 01:34:20,560
Anderson. So, I'll turn it over to her

2214
01:34:18,080 --> 01:34:22,560
for a report. Thank you, Council

2215
01:34:20,560 --> 01:34:25,360
President. We had three items in front

2216
01:34:22,560 --> 01:34:26,880
of us today. Joining me was Council

2217
01:34:25,360 --> 01:34:30,320
Member Hamill and Council Member

2218
01:34:26,880 --> 01:34:33,040
Liiloquist. Our first agenda item was uh

2219
01:34:30,320 --> 01:34:36,480
255016

2220
01:34:33,040 --> 01:34:38,159
which was a um presentation that

2221
01:34:36,480 --> 01:34:39,920
provided a summary of the city's

2222
01:34:38,159 --> 01:34:44,800
financial position through the second

2223
01:34:39,920 --> 01:34:47,520
quarter of 2026. The June 2026 financial

2224
01:34:44,800 --> 01:34:49,520
report uh was attached to the agenda

2225
01:34:47,520 --> 01:34:52,800
bill and provides detailed information

2226
01:34:49,520 --> 01:34:55,040
related to uh the six-month period. The

2227
01:34:52,800 --> 01:34:57,600
presentation and additional financial

2228
01:34:55,040 --> 01:35:01,719
information is available on the city's

2229
01:34:57,600 --> 01:35:01,719
website at co.orgreports.

2230
01:35:02,080 --> 01:35:07,679
Um something uh basically to share

2231
01:35:05,440 --> 01:35:10,560
coming out of that report is that

2232
01:35:07,679 --> 01:35:13,040
currently the city has about 39

2233
01:35:10,560 --> 01:35:16,239
positions that are currently frozen

2234
01:35:13,040 --> 01:35:21,360
which has basically helped with um

2235
01:35:16,239 --> 01:35:23,600
holding off some of our potential um

2236
01:35:21,360 --> 01:35:26,960
overage and having to go into our

2237
01:35:23,600 --> 01:35:30,560
reserves. Uh some of the good news is

2238
01:35:26,960 --> 01:35:33,440
that um our

2239
01:35:30,560 --> 01:35:39,280
revenue tax has gone up a little bit by

2240
01:35:33,440 --> 01:35:42,080
um I think it was uh one 1.2 million. Um

2241
01:35:39,280 --> 01:35:44,960
which is helping. Um there's no crystal

2242
01:35:42,080 --> 01:35:48,960
ball, but the hope is is that we won't

2243
01:35:44,960 --> 01:35:52,239
be too far over budget. Um if not,

2244
01:35:48,960 --> 01:35:55,920
hopefully we'll be kind of flatlined. Um

2245
01:35:52,239 --> 01:35:59,040
and it was uh if anybody's interested uh

2246
01:35:55,920 --> 01:36:01,120
please go to the day session. We started

2247
01:35:59,040 --> 01:36:03,360
at one o'clock today. It should be

2248
01:36:01,120 --> 01:36:05,600
available on BT10

2249
01:36:03,360 --> 01:36:07,600
um sometime tomorrow, but it was very

2250
01:36:05,600 --> 01:36:09,840
informative of where the city budget is

2251
01:36:07,600 --> 01:36:13,199
currently. And that one was for

2252
01:36:09,840 --> 01:36:17,360
information and discussion only. Um our

2253
01:36:13,199 --> 01:36:20,000
second item was um

2254
01:36:17,360 --> 01:36:22,800
item number 255015.

2255
01:36:20,000 --> 01:36:25,520
It was an ordinance amending the 2026

2256
01:36:22,800 --> 01:36:28,719
budget. It is our third amendment. Um

2257
01:36:25,520 --> 01:36:32,520
the amendment increased revenues by 4

2258
01:36:28,719 --> 01:36:32,520
million 92,873

2259
01:36:32,560 --> 01:36:37,159
and expenditures by 22,189,674

2260
01:36:38,960 --> 01:36:43,679
across multiple departments and funds to

2261
01:36:41,120 --> 01:36:46,080
ensure sufficient budget authority is

2262
01:36:43,679 --> 01:36:48,880
providing for existing upcoming programs

2263
01:36:46,080 --> 01:36:51,840
and projects um and to cover higher than

2264
01:36:48,880 --> 01:36:55,600
anticipated costs. There was a line

2265
01:36:51,840 --> 01:36:58,639
section in there. Some um some of the

2266
01:36:55,600 --> 01:37:01,440
general fund aotments total 1.6 million

2267
01:36:58,639 --> 01:37:03,040
and change. Um a big chunk of that was

2268
01:37:01,440 --> 01:37:05,760
$1.2

2269
01:37:03,040 --> 01:37:09,679
million um for higher than expected

2270
01:37:05,760 --> 01:37:13,520
medical claims. um 200,000 for remodel

2271
01:37:09,679 --> 01:37:15,760
of uh in city hall, the old uh parks and

2272
01:37:13,520 --> 01:37:18,880
recreation suite which will be renovated

2273
01:37:15,760 --> 01:37:20,800
to um house our human resources

2274
01:37:18,880 --> 01:37:22,639
department who has vacated out of the

2275
01:37:20,800 --> 01:37:25,040
federal building so that we could in the

2276
01:37:22,639 --> 01:37:27,440
future move our municipal courts there.

2277
01:37:25,040 --> 01:37:30,400
Um the hearing examiner is having an

2278
01:37:27,440 --> 01:37:35,119
overage. uh the hearing examiner has had

2279
01:37:30,400 --> 01:37:39,199
some rather large detailed um complex

2280
01:37:35,119 --> 01:37:40,880
um appeals and hearings and so um we are

2281
01:37:39,199 --> 01:37:44,719
raising that hopefully with this vote

2282
01:37:40,880 --> 01:37:46,800
for 150,000. Um there are other funds

2283
01:37:44,719 --> 01:37:48,239
that are also live uh listed. I just

2284
01:37:46,800 --> 01:37:53,360
kind of wanted to give some of those

2285
01:37:48,239 --> 01:37:57,440
highlights. Um but the committee voted

2286
01:37:53,360 --> 01:37:59,199
uh three to zero to move um approval of

2287
01:37:57,440 --> 01:38:01,119
the budget amendment and I so move

2288
01:37:59,199 --> 01:38:02,560
» Second.

2289
01:38:01,119 --> 01:38:04,320
» Motion's been made by council member

2290
01:38:02,560 --> 01:38:08,400
Anderson and a second by council member

2291
01:38:04,320 --> 01:38:11,119
Hamill. Any discussion?

2292
01:38:08,400 --> 01:38:11,760
» Seeing none, all in favor will say I.

2293
01:38:11,119 --> 01:38:14,639
» I.

2294
01:38:11,760 --> 01:38:16,400
» Any opposed or abstensions? Okay, seeing

2295
01:38:14,639 --> 01:38:18,719
none, that passes 70.

2296
01:38:16,400 --> 01:38:21,280
» Great. And I failed to mention on those

2297
01:38:18,719 --> 01:38:24,560
two. The first one was presented by our

2298
01:38:21,280 --> 01:38:26,960
finance director Andy Ebjornson and our

2299
01:38:24,560 --> 01:38:29,600
second one with the budget amendment was

2300
01:38:26,960 --> 01:38:33,679
presented by our budget and treasury

2301
01:38:29,600 --> 01:38:37,040
manager um Eric Johnson. So, our third

2302
01:38:33,679 --> 01:38:40,000
item um which was presented by our

2303
01:38:37,040 --> 01:38:42,239
director uh for planning and community

2304
01:38:40,000 --> 01:38:47,360
development, Blake Lion, and also Kurt

2305
01:38:42,239 --> 01:38:49,280
Nabeld, is agenda item 255014,

2306
01:38:47,360 --> 01:38:51,760
a resolution amending the city of

2307
01:38:49,280 --> 01:38:54,400
Bellingham land use and application fee

2308
01:38:51,760 --> 01:38:56,400
schedule. Um, the city has not updated

2309
01:38:54,400 --> 01:38:59,840
the land use application fee schedule

2310
01:38:56,400 --> 01:39:01,920
since its adoption in 2007 and fee

2311
01:38:59,840 --> 01:39:04,239
revenue is no longer keeping pace with

2312
01:39:01,920 --> 01:39:06,239
the cost of service. In an effort to

2313
01:39:04,239 --> 01:39:08,560
bring the fee schedule into alignment

2314
01:39:06,239 --> 01:39:11,199
with current expenditures, the land use

2315
01:39:08,560 --> 01:39:14,400
application fee schedule exhibit B in

2316
01:39:11,199 --> 01:39:17,040
our packet has been revised to account

2317
01:39:14,400 --> 01:39:19,360
for the inflation and include an annual

2318
01:39:17,040 --> 01:39:22,400
adjustment based on the consumer price

2319
01:39:19,360 --> 01:39:26,159
index. The proposed fee schedule would

2320
01:39:22,400 --> 01:39:28,159
go into effect October 1st, 2026. The

2321
01:39:26,159 --> 01:39:30,480
revenue generated from this adjustment

2322
01:39:28,159 --> 01:39:33,119
will in part be used for a fund to

2323
01:39:30,480 --> 01:39:36,159
market study to help inform future

2324
01:39:33,119 --> 01:39:40,400
adjust adjustment um fee schedules as

2325
01:39:36,159 --> 01:39:44,719
well as cost recovery. Um there was um

2326
01:39:40,400 --> 01:39:49,679
great discussion and before I move there

2327
01:39:44,719 --> 01:39:54,000
was um let me bring it up here if I can

2328
01:39:49,679 --> 01:39:55,920
bring it. Oh lord

2329
01:39:54,000 --> 01:40:01,280
there was an amendment and they were so

2330
01:39:55,920 --> 01:40:03,920
kind to send it to me. Um so I guess for

2331
01:40:01,280 --> 01:40:05,040
order. Do I bring forward the amendment

2332
01:40:03,920 --> 01:40:06,239
first? Vote on that?

2333
01:40:05,040 --> 01:40:09,920
» Bring forward the committee's

2334
01:40:06,239 --> 01:40:14,560
recommendation. Okay. So, um the

2335
01:40:09,920 --> 01:40:16,000
committee uh recommended three to zero.

2336
01:40:14,560 --> 01:40:16,800
Um and I so move

2337
01:40:16,000 --> 01:40:20,320
» Second.

2338
01:40:16,800 --> 01:40:23,920
» Okay. So, with that there was um an

2339
01:40:20,320 --> 01:40:26,320
amendment made.

2340
01:40:23,920 --> 01:40:28,159
» So, the motion during the committee was

2341
01:40:26,320 --> 01:40:29,600
to move approval as amended. So, the

2342
01:40:28,159 --> 01:40:30,880
amendment was adopted, but you could

2343
01:40:29,600 --> 01:40:32,400
read the amendment into the record

2344
01:40:30,880 --> 01:40:33,760
tonight. So, that's included.

2345
01:40:32,400 --> 01:40:35,360
» Thank you. I didn't know if we all had a

2346
01:40:33,760 --> 01:40:37,520
vote on the amendment. So reading into

2347
01:40:35,360 --> 01:40:39,440
the record the amendment um move to

2348
01:40:37,520 --> 01:40:42,480
amend the resolution adding the new

2349
01:40:39,440 --> 01:40:45,920
section 3 entitled city council review

2350
01:40:42,480 --> 01:40:49,360
that states at some time before first

2351
01:40:45,920 --> 01:40:51,840
half of 2032 city staff shall bring

2352
01:40:49,360 --> 01:40:55,679
forward the land application fee

2353
01:40:51,840 --> 01:40:58,639
schedule for review by city council. Um

2354
01:40:55,679 --> 01:41:01,600
the discussion was that we would like to

2355
01:40:58,639 --> 01:41:04,080
have this come forward um at some point

2356
01:41:01,600 --> 01:41:05,600
to review and staff pointed out that the

2357
01:41:04,080 --> 01:41:08,719
additional revenue that will be

2358
01:41:05,600 --> 01:41:12,000
generated by the increased fee is going

2359
01:41:08,719 --> 01:41:14,560
to help pay for um someone to do a

2360
01:41:12,000 --> 01:41:17,679
market study. That information should

2361
01:41:14,560 --> 01:41:21,360
come forward and at that point um we'll

2362
01:41:17,679 --> 01:41:23,600
be able to uh either amend or change and

2363
01:41:21,360 --> 01:41:25,679
that will be the report out. The

2364
01:41:23,600 --> 01:41:27,440
amendment was kind of I feel like a

2365
01:41:25,679 --> 01:41:31,119
placeholder to ensure that should

2366
01:41:27,440 --> 01:41:33,440
something happen and um we don't get a

2367
01:41:31,119 --> 01:41:36,400
timely study and recommendations coming

2368
01:41:33,440 --> 01:41:40,760
forward at least we'd get a report back

2369
01:41:36,400 --> 01:41:40,760
um in the near future.

2370
01:41:40,960 --> 01:41:45,040
So again the um committee voted 30 and

2371
01:41:43,840 --> 01:41:47,119
again I move

2372
01:41:45,040 --> 01:41:48,480
» Yep. So there was a motion this evening

2373
01:41:47,119 --> 01:41:50,560
then from council member Anderson,

2374
01:41:48,480 --> 01:41:52,719
seconded by council member Hamill again

2375
01:41:50,560 --> 01:41:55,840
to move to approve the resolution as

2376
01:41:52,719 --> 01:41:57,840
amended. Any discussion?

2377
01:41:55,840 --> 01:41:58,239
Seeing none, all in favor will say I.

2378
01:41:57,840 --> 01:41:58,880
» I.

2379
01:41:58,239 --> 01:42:01,600
» I.

2380
01:41:58,880 --> 01:42:03,280
» Any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing

2381
01:42:01,600 --> 01:42:04,639
none, that passes 70.

2382
01:42:03,280 --> 01:42:06,800
» End of committee.

2383
01:42:04,639 --> 01:42:09,199
» Thank you very much. The next committee

2384
01:42:06,800 --> 01:42:10,639
this afternoon was Parks and Recreation.

2385
01:42:09,199 --> 01:42:12,080
That committee is chaired by Council

2386
01:42:10,639 --> 01:42:13,360
Member Williams. So I will turn it over

2387
01:42:12,080 --> 01:42:15,840
to him for a report.

2388
01:42:13,360 --> 01:42:19,600
» All right. Thank you, President uh

2389
01:42:15,840 --> 01:42:23,119
Stone. We had two items on our agenda.

2390
01:42:19,600 --> 01:42:27,199
Both were dealing with the uh the new

2391
01:42:23,119 --> 01:42:32,639
park off of uh Baker View Road that is

2392
01:42:27,199 --> 01:42:36,415
going to be developed in the next um

2393
01:42:32,639 --> 01:42:37,360
year or so. Uh the 10 or 15 years.

2394
01:42:36,415 --> 01:42:41,199
[laughter]

2395
01:42:37,360 --> 01:42:46,760
Anyway, uh the the first item was was

2396
01:42:41,199 --> 01:42:46,760
was agenda bill 255021

2397
01:42:46,880 --> 01:42:54,480
which was um dealing with the uh with a

2398
01:42:51,520 --> 01:42:58,480
recommendation of a name for the park.

2399
01:42:54,480 --> 01:43:01,600
So, um, at the June Parks and Recreation

2400
01:42:58,480 --> 01:43:03,840
Advisory Board meeting, the parks and

2401
01:43:01,600 --> 01:43:06,719
recreation staff shared the results of

2402
01:43:03,840 --> 01:43:09,760
the public naming poll for this new park

2403
01:43:06,719 --> 01:43:12,800
on East Baker View Road. Some of the

2404
01:43:09,760 --> 01:43:16,239
names that were suggested were

2405
01:43:12,800 --> 01:43:19,040
Bellingham Park,

2406
01:43:16,239 --> 01:43:21,840
uh, Komo Culian Park,

2407
01:43:19,040 --> 01:43:25,760
uh, Telegraph Trail Park, Culinian

2408
01:43:21,840 --> 01:43:28,880
Meadows, and King Mountain Park. Um, and

2409
01:43:25,760 --> 01:43:31,679
so forth. And then there was one other,

2410
01:43:28,880 --> 01:43:37,440
uh, there were some other names, uh,

2411
01:43:31,679 --> 01:43:39,040
recommended by staff. One of which was,

2412
01:43:37,440 --> 01:43:41,600
where is it?

2413
01:43:39,040 --> 01:43:44,480
Baker View Meadows Park, Telegraph

2414
01:43:41,600 --> 01:43:48,400
Trail, and so forth. Some some of the

2415
01:43:44,480 --> 01:43:51,840
same names. So, um, at the end of the

2416
01:43:48,400 --> 01:43:54,880
the, uh, discussion,

2417
01:43:51,840 --> 01:43:58,159
the Parks and Recreation Board and the

2418
01:43:54,880 --> 01:44:02,320
staff recommended to name the park Baker

2419
01:43:58,159 --> 01:44:05,520
View Meadows Park. So, after a brief

2420
01:44:02,320 --> 01:44:08,480
presentation by Nicole Oliver, the parks

2421
01:44:05,520 --> 01:44:11,440
and recreation uh director, and Peter

2422
01:44:08,480 --> 01:44:14,560
Gil, going over all of the nominated

2423
01:44:11,440 --> 01:44:16,800
names, the staff and the advisory

2424
01:44:14,560 --> 01:44:19,360
committee recommended

2425
01:44:16,800 --> 01:44:22,400
Baker View Meadows Park. The council

2426
01:44:19,360 --> 01:44:23,840
committee concurred and I so move.

2427
01:44:22,400 --> 01:44:25,280
Second.

2428
01:44:23,840 --> 01:44:26,800
» Motion's been made by Council Member

2429
01:44:25,280 --> 01:44:30,400
Williams and a second by Council Member

2430
01:44:26,800 --> 01:44:33,040
Hamill. Any discussion?

2431
01:44:30,400 --> 01:44:33,760
Seeing none, all in favor will say I.

2432
01:44:33,040 --> 01:44:36,560
» I.

2433
01:44:33,760 --> 01:44:38,639
» Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none,

2434
01:44:36,560 --> 01:44:42,400
that passes 70.

2435
01:44:38,639 --> 01:44:45,280
» Okay. The the other um

2436
01:44:42,400 --> 01:44:46,880
agenda bill that we had was uh number

2437
01:44:45,280 --> 01:44:49,600
255026

2438
01:44:46,880 --> 01:44:55,440
which was a consideration of the Baker

2439
01:44:49,600 --> 01:44:58,000
View Meadows Park master plan. Um as as

2440
01:44:55,440 --> 01:45:02,239
we have said uh the park is located

2441
01:44:58,000 --> 01:45:05,600
between Telegraph and Baker View on east

2442
01:45:02,239 --> 01:45:08,239
um east of uh Demer Road. The property

2443
01:45:05,600 --> 01:45:11,520
was purchased in 20120 for a

2444
01:45:08,239 --> 01:45:14,639
neighborhood park in and expanding an

2445
01:45:11,520 --> 01:45:18,159
undeserved part of our city.

2446
01:45:14,639 --> 01:45:20,880
The master plan that was being presented

2447
01:45:18,159 --> 01:45:22,480
uh today is a culmination of two years

2448
01:45:20,880 --> 01:45:26,239
of work with local [clears throat]

2449
01:45:22,480 --> 01:45:29,679
residents and the community to design

2450
01:45:26,239 --> 01:45:31,280
and phase the 26 acre space for use as a

2451
01:45:29,679 --> 01:45:34,880
park

2452
01:45:31,280 --> 01:45:38,560
while holding a portion along Baker View

2453
01:45:34,880 --> 01:45:41,920
for future lowincome housing.

2454
01:45:38,560 --> 01:45:44,320
The park is intended to be to be

2455
01:45:41,920 --> 01:45:47,840
completed in phases over the next five

2456
01:45:44,320 --> 01:45:50,239
years with access and temporary trails

2457
01:45:47,840 --> 01:45:52,560
available immediately. But full

2458
01:45:50,239 --> 01:45:56,000
implementation of the master plan will

2459
01:45:52,560 --> 01:45:58,880
take about 10 to 15 years and will be

2460
01:45:56,000 --> 01:46:03,040
phased in over that time frame as

2461
01:45:58,880 --> 01:46:08,159
funding funding is available. So the

2462
01:46:03,040 --> 01:46:11,520
estimates are 75,000 for phase uh zero

2463
01:46:08,159 --> 01:46:15,760
which is current uh 6 million for phase

2464
01:46:11,520 --> 01:46:17,840
one and 7 million for phase two and and

2465
01:46:15,760 --> 01:46:21,520
beyond.

2466
01:46:17,840 --> 01:46:24,560
After a very very enlightening

2467
01:46:21,520 --> 01:46:29,040
presentation by parks director Nicole

2468
01:46:24,560 --> 01:46:31,920
Oliver and Peter Gil, park planning and

2469
01:46:29,040 --> 01:46:34,560
development coordinator along with the

2470
01:46:31,920 --> 01:46:37,520
landscape architect Lesie Batton from

2471
01:46:34,560 --> 01:46:41,360
Field Collab LLC.

2472
01:46:37,520 --> 01:46:45,600
They explained to us that the

2473
01:46:41,360 --> 01:46:48,320
the plan itself reflects the results of

2474
01:46:45,600 --> 01:46:51,600
a vast public outreach

2475
01:46:48,320 --> 01:46:55,280
program from

2476
01:46:51,600 --> 01:46:58,639
700 participants in that community that

2477
01:46:55,280 --> 01:47:01,360
will be serviced by this park. The

2478
01:46:58,639 --> 01:47:04,639
overarching direction is to maintain the

2479
01:47:01,360 --> 01:47:08,400
natural habitat of the park and provide

2480
01:47:04,639 --> 01:47:12,480
areas for many recreational

2481
01:47:08,400 --> 01:47:14,800
activities over time such as having a

2482
01:47:12,480 --> 01:47:19,280
community garden, a children's

2483
01:47:14,800 --> 01:47:23,679
playground, and an adult exercise area.

2484
01:47:19,280 --> 01:47:26,880
ongoing disc golf targets [laughter]

2485
01:47:23,679 --> 01:47:29,600
and several other amenities that'll be

2486
01:47:26,880 --> 01:47:31,360
phased in over time as the funding

2487
01:47:29,600 --> 01:47:35,360
permits.

2488
01:47:31,360 --> 01:47:37,679
So, both the parks and recreation board

2489
01:47:35,360 --> 01:47:41,600
and the parks and recreation staff

2490
01:47:37,679 --> 01:47:44,080
recommended approval of this master plan

2491
01:47:41,600 --> 01:47:45,440
and the committee concurred

2492
01:47:44,080 --> 01:47:46,960
and I so move.

2493
01:47:45,440 --> 01:47:48,320
» Second.

2494
01:47:46,960 --> 01:47:50,000
Motion's been made by Council Member

2495
01:47:48,320 --> 01:47:52,639
Williams and a second by Council Member

2496
01:47:50,000 --> 01:47:55,840
Huffman. Any discussion? Council member

2497
01:47:52,639 --> 01:47:59,520
Huffman. Uh I watched the meeting today,

2498
01:47:55,840 --> 01:48:01,119
although I wasn't here. And um I maybe

2499
01:47:59,520 --> 01:48:03,440
in my next life I'll be a park planner

2500
01:48:01,119 --> 01:48:06,800
because that sounds like so much fun. Um

2501
01:48:03,440 --> 01:48:11,360
it's like real life getting to make

2502
01:48:06,800 --> 01:48:15,280
trails and um and move dirt around. Um,

2503
01:48:11,360 --> 01:48:18,320
but I remember my first being on council

2504
01:48:15,280 --> 01:48:22,000
and looking at a map of the city and

2505
01:48:18,320 --> 01:48:24,000
Nicole Oliver um, director Nicole Oliver

2506
01:48:22,000 --> 01:48:26,080
talking about how we had such a void in

2507
01:48:24,000 --> 01:48:28,880
the north uh, end of Bellingham when it

2508
01:48:26,080 --> 01:48:31,920
came to parks. And then I also got to be

2509
01:48:28,880 --> 01:48:34,639
in a meeting um when Nicole Oliver got

2510
01:48:31,920 --> 01:48:36,719
to be so excited that we were buying

2511
01:48:34,639 --> 01:48:40,639
this property and we would get to have

2512
01:48:36,719 --> 01:48:42,960
this park uh and the potential. Um and

2513
01:48:40,639 --> 01:48:46,000
so it's really fun now to see that there

2514
01:48:42,960 --> 01:48:47,440
is a plan and that um this park is going

2515
01:48:46,000 --> 01:48:50,400
to be realized and it's going to be

2516
01:48:47,440 --> 01:48:55,199
amazing and that uh so many people have

2517
01:48:50,400 --> 01:48:56,320
provided input uh for for this vision. I

2518
01:48:55,199 --> 01:48:58,080
think that that's also really

2519
01:48:56,320 --> 01:48:59,920
incredible. It's uh it's going to be

2520
01:48:58,080 --> 01:49:02,560
something that the community is going to

2521
01:48:59,920 --> 01:49:06,880
be really proud of. So, um very excited

2522
01:49:02,560 --> 01:49:08,159
that this continues to move along.

2523
01:49:06,880 --> 01:49:10,159
» I just want to add

2524
01:49:08,159 --> 01:49:11,360
» Council Member Liquist and then

2525
01:49:10,159 --> 01:49:13,679
Williams.

2526
01:49:11,360 --> 01:49:15,119
» Yeah. Um I I echo a lot of the feelings

2527
01:49:13,679 --> 01:49:16,560
that Council Member Huffman, I do

2528
01:49:15,119 --> 01:49:19,119
remember when this came forward. I do

2529
01:49:16,560 --> 01:49:23,280
remember being excited that it addressed

2530
01:49:19,119 --> 01:49:24,800
a gap in our system. Um, I I uh also

2531
01:49:23,280 --> 01:49:26,800
remember that when this came forward,

2532
01:49:24,800 --> 01:49:28,239
the city council uh directed the staff

2533
01:49:26,800 --> 01:49:30,400
to look at carving out part of the

2534
01:49:28,239 --> 01:49:32,320
property for low-income housing, and

2535
01:49:30,400 --> 01:49:34,800
that has been achieved that that land

2536
01:49:32,320 --> 01:49:36,400
has been identified. I think it's an

2537
01:49:34,800 --> 01:49:38,239
extraordinary statement of values that

2538
01:49:36,400 --> 01:49:40,719
we, you know, provide that kind of

2539
01:49:38,239 --> 01:49:45,440
housing to what next to what one of our

2540
01:49:40,719 --> 01:49:48,560
finest parks. I I note that uh this uh

2541
01:49:45,440 --> 01:49:50,159
this master plan uh is leans heavily on

2542
01:49:48,560 --> 01:49:51,760
trails trails trails because that's what

2543
01:49:50,159 --> 01:49:54,159
the public wanted. That's not a surprise

2544
01:49:51,760 --> 01:49:56,400
to me and I'm really pleased to see

2545
01:49:54,159 --> 01:49:58,000
that'll be multi-use trails, trails for

2546
01:49:56,400 --> 01:50:00,320
people with multiple abilities, both

2547
01:49:58,000 --> 01:50:02,719
smaller natural trail trails and and

2548
01:50:00,320 --> 01:50:04,000
bigger uh paved trails. I think that's

2549
01:50:02,719 --> 01:50:05,600
going to be great. It's what it's what

2550
01:50:04,000 --> 01:50:07,760
the public wanted in addition to other

2551
01:50:05,600 --> 01:50:10,159
park amenities. I also appreciate that

2552
01:50:07,760 --> 01:50:12,080
has natural play spaces along with play

2553
01:50:10,159 --> 01:50:15,040
equipment and sports courts because

2554
01:50:12,080 --> 01:50:17,600
that's been uh a recognized trend as a

2555
01:50:15,040 --> 01:50:20,639
kind of a best practice for um how to

2556
01:50:17,600 --> 01:50:22,639
get people young people um actively

2557
01:50:20,639 --> 01:50:24,400
playing you know give them some

2558
01:50:22,639 --> 01:50:26,560
ambiguity to give them some nature to

2559
01:50:24,400 --> 01:50:28,239
climb upon and even a climbing area so

2560
01:50:26,560 --> 01:50:31,040
you can get your vertical thrills out

2561
01:50:28,239 --> 01:50:33,280
too. Um, and I'm also really pleased

2562
01:50:31,040 --> 01:50:36,480
that there's a phase zero activation

2563
01:50:33,280 --> 01:50:39,679
phase. So, it'll take a while before um

2564
01:50:36,480 --> 01:50:41,520
heavy work begins and uh and the covert

2565
01:50:39,679 --> 01:50:42,800
can be breached with road access and

2566
01:50:41,520 --> 01:50:44,880
things like that. But, there's a phase

2567
01:50:42,800 --> 01:50:46,880
zero, an activation phase that's going

2568
01:50:44,880 --> 01:50:48,719
to occur right away. And I very much

2569
01:50:46,880 --> 01:50:51,440
appreciate that and that there are

2570
01:50:48,719 --> 01:50:54,080
trails even in that early phase zero as

2571
01:50:51,440 --> 01:50:56,639
well as in the other phases. Um, those

2572
01:50:54,080 --> 01:50:58,719
are all wonderful features of this um

2573
01:50:56,639 --> 01:51:01,040
the Baker View Meadows. Got to memorize

2574
01:50:58,719 --> 01:51:02,239
that. Bigger View Meadows uh park master

2575
01:51:01,040 --> 01:51:04,560
plan and which why we'll be

2576
01:51:02,239 --> 01:51:06,960
enthusiastically voting yes.

2577
01:51:04,560 --> 01:51:09,119
» Council member Williams.

2578
01:51:06,960 --> 01:51:12,800
» Yeah. The only thing I want to really

2579
01:51:09,119 --> 01:51:14,480
highlight is the responses from the

2580
01:51:12,800 --> 01:51:18,400
community.

2581
01:51:14,480 --> 01:51:21,840
getting 700 people to give you input as

2582
01:51:18,400 --> 01:51:25,040
to what this park should reflect is a

2583
01:51:21,840 --> 01:51:30,560
very is is something that we should be

2584
01:51:25,040 --> 01:51:32,960
very very proud of because um to me

2585
01:51:30,560 --> 01:51:35,760
that's how parks should should be

2586
01:51:32,960 --> 01:51:39,679
developed by what the local community

2587
01:51:35,760 --> 01:51:42,880
wants to see. And I think that a very

2588
01:51:39,679 --> 01:51:45,520
fine job was done in getting that info.

2589
01:51:42,880 --> 01:51:48,560
Having it phased in over a period of

2590
01:51:45,520 --> 01:51:50,800
time is good because it gives us a

2591
01:51:48,560 --> 01:51:53,920
chance to kind of see what'll work maybe

2592
01:51:50,800 --> 01:51:56,800
and what might not work or might not

2593
01:51:53,920 --> 01:52:01,679
work as we saw it. [laughter]

2594
01:51:56,800 --> 01:52:03,760
But um it's this I remember dealing with

2595
01:52:01,679 --> 01:52:07,280
this piece of land I believe the first

2596
01:52:03,760 --> 01:52:10,400
year I was on the city council and now

2597
01:52:07,280 --> 01:52:13,280
it's coming to fruition and I'm very

2598
01:52:10,400 --> 01:52:16,880
proud that we're that we are doing that

2599
01:52:13,280 --> 01:52:20,080
and making this happen.

2600
01:52:16,880 --> 01:52:22,159
» Any other discussion on the motion?

2601
01:52:20,080 --> 01:52:23,920
Okay, seeing none, we have a motion from

2602
01:52:22,159 --> 01:52:25,440
Council Member Williams and a second by

2603
01:52:23,920 --> 01:52:27,440
Council Member Huffman to move to

2604
01:52:25,440 --> 01:52:29,920
approve the Baker View Meadows Master

2605
01:52:27,440 --> 01:52:32,719
Plan. All in favor, we'll say I.

2606
01:52:29,920 --> 01:52:35,440
» I. Any opposed or abstensions? Okay,

2607
01:52:32,719 --> 01:52:39,199
seeing none, that passes 70.

2608
01:52:35,440 --> 01:52:41,440
» So, so we had no further business. So, I

2609
01:52:39,199 --> 01:52:44,159
adjourn the meeting

2610
01:52:41,440 --> 01:52:46,560
and I'll pass it back over to you.

2611
01:52:44,159 --> 01:52:48,159
» Thank you very much. So the next

2612
01:52:46,560 --> 01:52:49,760
committee meeting this afternoon was

2613
01:52:48,159 --> 01:52:51,840
public health, safety, justice, and

2614
01:52:49,760 --> 01:52:53,360
equity. That committee is chaired by

2615
01:52:51,840 --> 01:52:56,080
council member Hamill. So I will turn it

2616
01:52:53,360 --> 01:52:57,360
over to him for a report. Uh thank you,

2617
01:52:56,080 --> 01:52:58,639
Council President Stone. I was joined

2618
01:52:57,360 --> 01:53:00,480
this afternoon by council members

2619
01:52:58,639 --> 01:53:04,320
Williams and Huffman. We had three items

2620
01:53:00,480 --> 01:53:06,000
before us. First was agenda bill 255028.

2621
01:53:04,320 --> 01:53:08,080
This is an interlocal agreement with the

2622
01:53:06,000 --> 01:53:09,920
city of Blaine for public safety data

2623
01:53:08,080 --> 01:53:11,920
sharing. This interlocal agreement

2624
01:53:09,920 --> 01:53:14,239
authorizes the city of Blaine Police

2625
01:53:11,920 --> 01:53:17,520
Department to share limited records

2626
01:53:14,239 --> 01:53:20,000
management system data with WATCOM 911.

2627
01:53:17,520 --> 01:53:22,480
That's our uh call center. Watcom public

2628
01:53:20,000 --> 01:53:25,360
safety telecommunicators will receive

2629
01:53:22,480 --> 01:53:27,280
readonly access to the names file and

2630
01:53:25,360 --> 01:53:29,679
Blaine's records management system to

2631
01:53:27,280 --> 01:53:32,080
support person checks and provide more

2632
01:53:29,679 --> 01:53:34,000
efficient service to Blaine officers and

2633
01:53:32,080 --> 01:53:36,663
uh the other agencies that they assess

2634
01:53:34,000 --> 01:53:38,400
assist. The agreement does not

2635
01:53:36,663 --> 01:53:40,639
[clears throat] allow the Blaine Police

2636
01:53:38,400 --> 01:53:43,199
Department access to Bellingham Police

2637
01:53:40,639 --> 01:53:45,599
Department records. Each party may

2638
01:53:43,199 --> 01:53:47,520
remains responsible for its own costs

2639
01:53:45,599 --> 01:53:49,840
and the agreement does not authorize the

2640
01:53:47,520 --> 01:53:51,840
expenditure or collection of funds. I'd

2641
01:53:49,840 --> 01:53:54,080
also like to add that the this these

2642
01:53:51,840 --> 01:53:56,639
agreements here um are all consistent

2643
01:53:54,080 --> 01:53:59,599
with the keep Washington working uh act

2644
01:53:56,639 --> 01:54:02,639
and um WATCOM deputy director Justin

2645
01:53:59,599 --> 01:54:04,719
Rasmmanson was here this afternoon to um

2646
01:54:02,639 --> 01:54:06,480
to provide us a briefing on these agenda

2647
01:54:04,719 --> 01:54:08,320
items and he's here this evening. Thanks

2648
01:54:06,480 --> 01:54:10,400
for joining us. Appreciate it. Uh this

2649
01:54:08,320 --> 01:54:12,480
afternoon the committee uh voted to

2650
01:54:10,400 --> 01:54:13,119
approve this interlocal agreement and I

2651
01:54:12,480 --> 01:54:14,400
so moved.

2652
01:54:13,119 --> 01:54:16,320
» Second.

2653
01:54:14,400 --> 01:54:18,719
» Motion was made by council member Hamill

2654
01:54:16,320 --> 01:54:20,960
and a second by council member Williams.

2655
01:54:18,719 --> 01:54:22,880
Any discussion?

2656
01:54:20,960 --> 01:54:23,199
Seeing none, all in favor will say I.

2657
01:54:22,880 --> 01:54:24,000
» I.

2658
01:54:23,199 --> 01:54:26,320
» I.

2659
01:54:24,000 --> 01:54:28,000
» Any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing

2660
01:54:26,320 --> 01:54:30,080
none, that passes 70.

2661
01:54:28,000 --> 01:54:32,880
» The second item is uh agenda bill

2662
01:54:30,080 --> 01:54:34,400
255029. This was an interlocal agreement

2663
01:54:32,880 --> 01:54:36,080
with the city of Ferndale for public

2664
01:54:34,400 --> 01:54:37,440
safety data sharing. I'm not going to

2665
01:54:36,080 --> 01:54:40,000
read the summary statement. It's exactly

2666
01:54:37,440 --> 01:54:44,239
what I just read before for the city of

2667
01:54:40,000 --> 01:54:45,599
Blaine. Um and the committee u voted to

2668
01:54:44,239 --> 01:54:47,679
approve and I move.

2669
01:54:45,599 --> 01:54:49,199
» Second. Motion was made by council

2670
01:54:47,679 --> 01:54:52,800
member Hamill and a second by council

2671
01:54:49,199 --> 01:54:54,639
member Williams. Any discussion?

2672
01:54:52,800 --> 01:54:55,679
Seeing none, all in favor will say I.

2673
01:54:54,639 --> 01:54:58,239
» I.

2674
01:54:55,679 --> 01:54:59,679
» Any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing

2675
01:54:58,239 --> 01:55:02,560
none, that passes 70.

2676
01:54:59,679 --> 01:55:04,880
» The third and final agenda was uh a bill

2677
01:55:02,560 --> 01:55:06,400
was uh 255030.

2678
01:55:04,880 --> 01:55:08,480
This is an interlocal agreement with the

2679
01:55:06,400 --> 01:55:10,639
city of Lynen for public safety data

2680
01:55:08,480 --> 01:55:12,159
sharing. Again, same summary statement.

2681
01:55:10,639 --> 01:55:13,440
The this afternoon the committee moved

2682
01:55:12,159 --> 01:55:16,440
to approve and I so move.

2683
01:55:13,440 --> 01:55:16,440
» Second.

2684
01:55:16,560 --> 01:55:21,199
Motion was made by council member Hamill

2685
01:55:18,239 --> 01:55:23,119
and a second by council member Husman.

2686
01:55:21,199 --> 01:55:25,280
Any discussion?

2687
01:55:23,119 --> 01:55:25,599
Seeing none, all in favor will say I.

2688
01:55:25,280 --> 01:55:26,239
» I.

2689
01:55:25,599 --> 01:55:28,719
» I.

2690
01:55:26,239 --> 01:55:30,320
» Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none,

2691
01:55:28,719 --> 01:55:34,040
that passes 70.

2692
01:55:30,320 --> 01:55:34,040
» End of committee report.

2693
01:55:35,360 --> 01:55:39,440
» Thank you very much. The next committee

2694
01:55:38,000 --> 01:55:41,520
this afternoon was committee of the

2695
01:55:39,440 --> 01:55:44,719
whole. All council members were present

2696
01:55:41,520 --> 01:55:46,560
this afternoon. The first agenda item

2697
01:55:44,719 --> 01:55:48,239
before the committee was agenda bill

2698
01:55:46,560 --> 01:55:50,320
255023.

2699
01:55:48,239 --> 01:55:53,040
This is a resolution establishing the

2700
01:55:50,320 --> 01:55:55,760
docket of proposed amendments to be

2701
01:55:53,040 --> 01:55:58,800
reviewed in the 2026 comprehensive plan

2702
01:55:55,760 --> 01:56:00,880
amendment cycle. So proposed amendments

2703
01:55:58,800 --> 01:56:03,520
added to the annual docket will be

2704
01:56:00,880 --> 01:56:05,599
reviewed using a type six process

2705
01:56:03,520 --> 01:56:07,440
including public hearings on the merits

2706
01:56:05,599 --> 01:56:09,840
before the planning commission and the

2707
01:56:07,440 --> 01:56:11,760
city council. Following a recommendation

2708
01:56:09,840 --> 01:56:13,520
by the planning commission, the city

2709
01:56:11,760 --> 01:56:16,639
council will have an opportunity later

2710
01:56:13,520 --> 01:56:19,440
this year to approve, modify, or deny

2711
01:56:16,639 --> 01:56:21,679
each request using the criteria in

2712
01:56:19,440 --> 01:56:24,679
Bellingham Municipal Code Title

2713
01:56:21,679 --> 01:56:24,679
20.20.040.

2714
01:56:25,599 --> 01:56:29,280
Um we were joined this afternoon by

2715
01:56:27,679 --> 01:56:32,000
Chris Behey, long range planning

2716
01:56:29,280 --> 01:56:33,440
manager, as well as Blake Lion, commun

2717
01:56:32,000 --> 01:56:36,159
um planning and community development

2718
01:56:33,440 --> 01:56:38,480
director. Um just noting so there were

2719
01:56:36,159 --> 01:56:41,520
seven items that are being placed on the

2720
01:56:38,480 --> 01:56:44,159
docket. One is sort of a classic reszone

2721
01:56:41,520 --> 01:56:47,440
being brought forward um by the county

2722
01:56:44,159 --> 01:56:49,840
and also other just cleanup items. Um

2723
01:56:47,440 --> 01:56:51,840
really sort of errors and things that

2724
01:56:49,840 --> 01:56:54,480
need to be cleaned up since the the

2725
01:56:51,840 --> 01:56:57,199
passage of that plan. Just wanting to

2726
01:56:54,480 --> 01:57:00,560
highlight that there as far as the

2727
01:56:57,199 --> 01:57:03,920
agenda going forward and next steps. Um,

2728
01:57:00,560 --> 01:57:06,320
we are anticipating that these items

2729
01:57:03,920 --> 01:57:09,040
then will come back before the city

2730
01:57:06,320 --> 01:57:11,440
council for a work session November 2nd,

2731
01:57:09,040 --> 01:57:13,599
so later this year. Then a public

2732
01:57:11,440 --> 01:57:16,880
hearing proposed to be held on November

2733
01:57:13,599 --> 01:57:19,199
16th with council consideration of the

2734
01:57:16,880 --> 01:57:21,599
ordinance for first and second reading

2735
01:57:19,199 --> 01:57:24,400
on December 7th and potential third and

2736
01:57:21,599 --> 01:57:25,760
final on December 14th. So this

2737
01:57:24,400 --> 01:57:28,000
afternoon there was unanimous

2738
01:57:25,760 --> 01:57:29,920
recommendation from the committee to

2739
01:57:28,000 --> 01:57:30,159
move to approve the resolution and I so

2740
01:57:29,920 --> 01:57:30,880
move.

2741
01:57:30,159 --> 01:57:32,560
» Second.

2742
01:57:30,880 --> 01:57:34,480
» Motion's been made by the chair and a

2743
01:57:32,560 --> 01:57:36,000
second by council member Hamill. Any

2744
01:57:34,480 --> 01:57:38,320
discussion?

2745
01:57:36,000 --> 01:57:39,280
» Okay, seeing none, all in favor will say

2746
01:57:38,320 --> 01:57:39,840
I.

2747
01:57:39,280 --> 01:57:42,639
» I.

2748
01:57:39,840 --> 01:57:46,920
» Any opposed or abstensions? Okay, seeing

2749
01:57:42,639 --> 01:57:46,920
none, that passes 70.

2750
01:57:52,480 --> 01:57:56,800
The next item before the committee was

2751
01:57:54,320 --> 01:57:58,320
agenda bill 255022.

2752
01:57:56,800 --> 01:58:01,280
This was a discussion of tenant

2753
01:57:58,320 --> 01:58:03,360
engagement options. So earlier this

2754
01:58:01,280 --> 01:58:05,679
year, the council directed staff to

2755
01:58:03,360 --> 01:58:07,760
research options for tenant engagement

2756
01:58:05,679 --> 01:58:09,840
similar to the landlord and property

2757
01:58:07,760 --> 01:58:12,400
manager survey that was conducted in the

2758
01:58:09,840 --> 01:58:14,400
fall of last year 2025.

2759
01:58:12,400 --> 01:58:16,880
After considering options, a digital

2760
01:58:14,400 --> 01:58:19,280
survey was identified as the recommended

2761
01:58:16,880 --> 01:58:21,360
engagement strategy.

2762
01:58:19,280 --> 01:58:24,400
As noted um earlier with the

2763
01:58:21,360 --> 01:58:26,719
appointments that came forward um from

2764
01:58:24,400 --> 01:58:28,400
the mayor's team, the administration is

2765
01:58:26,719 --> 01:58:30,480
also taking steps to convene the

2766
01:58:28,400 --> 01:58:33,440
landlord and tenant advisory working

2767
01:58:30,480 --> 01:58:36,000
group. So at the at this time this

2768
01:58:33,440 --> 01:58:38,400
afternoon, council staff um was seeking

2769
01:58:36,000 --> 01:58:40,800
direction for next steps on tenant

2770
01:58:38,400 --> 01:58:43,760
engagement. We were joined by

2771
01:58:40,800 --> 01:58:46,480
legislative policy analyst Iris not as

2772
01:58:43,760 --> 01:58:47,840
well as um Blake Lion who is the

2773
01:58:46,480 --> 01:58:50,800
planning and community development

2774
01:58:47,840 --> 01:58:52,400
director for the city. Um basically the

2775
01:58:50,800 --> 01:58:55,280
question and direction before the

2776
01:58:52,400 --> 01:58:57,520
council was consideration of whether um

2777
01:58:55,280 --> 01:59:00,800
to move forward with the survey at this

2778
01:58:57,520 --> 01:59:02,719
time under um sort of council direction

2779
01:59:00,800 --> 01:59:04,639
that would go forward with um assistance

2780
01:59:02,719 --> 01:59:07,760
and support from our legislative policy

2781
01:59:04,639 --> 01:59:09,280
analyst Iris not and then whatever

2782
01:59:07,760 --> 01:59:10,960
results are brought forward right the

2783
01:59:09,280 --> 01:59:12,800
data collected from that survey that

2784
01:59:10,960 --> 01:59:15,679
could be shared with the work group with

2785
01:59:12,800 --> 01:59:18,159
the um landlord and tenant advisory work

2786
01:59:15,679 --> 01:59:21,599
group for further consideration and

2787
01:59:18,159 --> 01:59:24,239
analysis. or delaying that survey until

2788
01:59:21,599 --> 01:59:26,159
the um landlord and tenant advisory work

2789
01:59:24,239 --> 01:59:28,400
group had an opportunity to sort of lay

2790
01:59:26,159 --> 01:59:31,119
out a more um robust and perhaps

2791
01:59:28,400 --> 01:59:33,599
in-depth engagement proposal for

2792
01:59:31,119 --> 01:59:36,560
landlord and tenant um surveys maybe in

2793
01:59:33,599 --> 01:59:39,040
the future. So this afternoon there was

2794
01:59:36,560 --> 01:59:42,560
a motion from

2795
01:59:39,040 --> 01:59:45,360
the council to move forward with option

2796
01:59:42,560 --> 01:59:46,880
one. So this is a digital engagement

2797
01:59:45,360 --> 01:59:48,960
strategy

2798
01:59:46,880 --> 01:59:53,360
um is the recommendation and to move

2799
01:59:48,960 --> 01:59:55,199
forward with that this fall. Um so again

2800
01:59:53,360 --> 01:59:56,880
the propo the motion from the council

2801
01:59:55,199 --> 01:59:58,880
was to move forward at this time and

2802
01:59:56,880 --> 02:00:01,679
then to share the data collected with

2803
01:59:58,880 --> 02:00:04,480
the um working group for consideration.

2804
02:00:01,679 --> 02:00:06,159
So um I will move at this time to move

2805
02:00:04,480 --> 02:00:07,280
forward with option one this fall.

2806
02:00:06,159 --> 02:00:09,040
» Second.

2807
02:00:07,280 --> 02:00:12,480
» Motion was made by the chair and a

2808
02:00:09,040 --> 02:00:14,560
second by council member Williams.

2809
02:00:12,480 --> 02:00:16,480
Any discussion on that motion? Okay,

2810
02:00:14,560 --> 02:00:16,800
seeing none, all in favor will say I.

2811
02:00:16,480 --> 02:00:17,599
» I.

2812
02:00:16,800 --> 02:00:20,080
» I.

2813
02:00:17,599 --> 02:00:24,320
» Any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing

2814
02:00:20,080 --> 02:00:25,840
none, that passes 70.

2815
02:00:24,320 --> 02:00:28,320
» The next item before committee of the

2816
02:00:25,840 --> 02:00:29,840
whole was agenda 255024.

2817
02:00:28,320 --> 02:00:32,159
This was a discussion of upcoming

2818
02:00:29,840 --> 02:00:33,840
procedural changes to council meetings.

2819
02:00:32,159 --> 02:00:36,080
So, Council President Hannah Stone,

2820
02:00:33,840 --> 02:00:37,840
myself, um reviewed plan changes to

2821
02:00:36,080 --> 02:00:39,280
council meetings, including adjustments

2822
02:00:37,840 --> 02:00:42,239
to public comment, standing

2823
02:00:39,280 --> 02:00:45,679
announcements, and language access. Um

2824
02:00:42,239 --> 02:00:48,239
so this afternoon during committee

2825
02:00:45,679 --> 02:00:49,920
just highlighting um taking them in

2826
02:00:48,239 --> 02:00:52,320
order. So changes to public comment we

2827
02:00:49,920 --> 02:00:54,639
are looking to implement changes at the

2828
02:00:52,320 --> 02:00:57,679
next council meeting um which again will

2829
02:00:54,639 --> 02:00:59,520
be on September 14th. So at that council

2830
02:00:57,679 --> 02:01:01,599
meeting moving public comment to the

2831
02:00:59,520 --> 02:01:03,920
start of the meeting. Um that will be a

2832
02:01:01,599 --> 02:01:06,719
30 minute block with individuals um

2833
02:01:03,920 --> 02:01:09,199
providing comment for two minutes each.

2834
02:01:06,719 --> 02:01:12,320
With respect to the standing announce

2835
02:01:09,199 --> 02:01:14,800
announcements, a couple of changes. Um,

2836
02:01:12,320 --> 02:01:17,520
one regarding the land acknowledgement

2837
02:01:14,800 --> 02:01:19,440
deferring to a special project report

2838
02:01:17,520 --> 02:01:22,159
that was brought forward regarding city

2839
02:01:19,440 --> 02:01:24,320
and tribal relations and engagement. um

2840
02:01:22,159 --> 02:01:26,639
that was highlighting sort of the need

2841
02:01:24,320 --> 02:01:29,599
for the city of Bellingham to work as a

2842
02:01:26,639 --> 02:01:32,080
unified entity um with the local tribes

2843
02:01:29,599 --> 02:01:34,320
to develop a formal land acknowledgement

2844
02:01:32,080 --> 02:01:37,040
if that were to be adopted by the city,

2845
02:01:34,320 --> 02:01:39,599
but acknowledging that the tribes really

2846
02:01:37,040 --> 02:01:41,760
function at um a level higher than the

2847
02:01:39,599 --> 02:01:44,239
council and that the tribes would defer

2848
02:01:41,760 --> 02:01:46,400
to have that engagement and discussion

2849
02:01:44,239 --> 02:01:48,719
directly with the mayor. Um so really

2850
02:01:46,400 --> 02:01:50,480
for the council to defer to the mayor's

2851
02:01:48,719 --> 02:01:54,880
office and the administration to carry

2852
02:01:50,480 --> 02:01:57,199
that work. um forward with respect to um

2853
02:01:54,880 --> 02:01:59,040
language access.

2854
02:01:57,199 --> 02:02:02,000
So in lie of you know budget

2855
02:01:59,040 --> 02:02:04,239
considerations as well as how um

2856
02:02:02,000 --> 02:02:05,760
intentionally we are reaching out to and

2857
02:02:04,239 --> 02:02:07,679
engaging with members of the community

2858
02:02:05,760 --> 02:02:11,599
who for whom English may be a second

2859
02:02:07,679 --> 02:02:13,760
language for them. um acknowledging that

2860
02:02:11,599 --> 02:02:15,599
we have so moving the public comment to

2861
02:02:13,760 --> 02:02:18,080
the beginning of the meeting as well

2862
02:02:15,599 --> 02:02:21,599
will ensure that public comment and the

2863
02:02:18,080 --> 02:02:24,239
broader um meeting is all livereamed

2864
02:02:21,599 --> 02:02:27,119
through BTV and Comcast channel 10 as

2865
02:02:24,239 --> 02:02:29,360
well as on YouTube. So acknowledging the

2866
02:02:27,119 --> 02:02:32,480
although AI generated um certainly

2867
02:02:29,360 --> 02:02:34,719
technology advancements the ability to

2868
02:02:32,480 --> 02:02:37,199
then watch recordings of all meetings

2869
02:02:34,719 --> 02:02:39,280
not just the evening regular meetings um

2870
02:02:37,199 --> 02:02:42,080
in multiple languages. At this time

2871
02:02:39,280 --> 02:02:44,800
YouTube have English plus more than 150

2872
02:02:42,080 --> 02:02:47,280
languages available that allow for audio

2873
02:02:44,800 --> 02:02:49,280
dubbing as well as you know voice over

2874
02:02:47,280 --> 02:02:52,880
um in addition to closed captioning or

2875
02:02:49,280 --> 02:02:56,000
subtitles in any of those languages.

2876
02:02:52,880 --> 02:02:58,560
In addition, the city of Bellingham um

2877
02:02:56,000 --> 02:03:01,440
website, you know, allows

2878
02:02:58,560 --> 02:03:04,960
translation of all the pages on our

2879
02:03:01,440 --> 02:03:08,400
website in English as well as 40 over 40

2880
02:03:04,960 --> 02:03:10,960
languages. Um so that being available in

2881
02:03:08,400 --> 02:03:13,440
multiple language as well as the COB

2882
02:03:10,960 --> 02:03:15,440
meetings website, those support meeting

2883
02:03:13,440 --> 02:03:18,239
materials from council meetings being

2884
02:03:15,440 --> 02:03:20,960
available in translations um of multiple

2885
02:03:18,239 --> 02:03:24,719
languages. And highly also that the the

2886
02:03:20,960 --> 02:03:27,679
city has a contract with language line

2887
02:03:24,719 --> 02:03:30,800
um and that language line offers even a

2888
02:03:27,679 --> 02:03:33,520
much you know higher number of languages

2889
02:03:30,800 --> 02:03:35,760
over 350 languages available. So the

2890
02:03:33,520 --> 02:03:38,000
city has a contract with language line

2891
02:03:35,760 --> 02:03:42,400
that allows any you know employee of the

2892
02:03:38,000 --> 02:03:44,800
city to call and obtain live right

2893
02:03:42,400 --> 02:03:47,599
interpretation in any of those languages

2894
02:03:44,800 --> 02:03:49,920
sort of on demand. So really wanting to

2895
02:03:47,599 --> 02:03:52,480
utilize the interpretation services that

2896
02:03:49,920 --> 02:03:55,119
we have available um in a much more

2897
02:03:52,480 --> 02:03:57,280
deliberate and sort of intentional way.

2898
02:03:55,119 --> 02:03:59,840
So through our work plan, our

2899
02:03:57,280 --> 02:04:01,360
communications work plan as a council,

2900
02:03:59,840 --> 02:04:03,440
wanting to ensure that there are

2901
02:04:01,360 --> 02:04:05,280
opportunities, part of that work plan is

2902
02:04:03,440 --> 02:04:06,880
looking at invitations for council

2903
02:04:05,280 --> 02:04:09,040
members and the council perhaps as a

2904
02:04:06,880 --> 02:04:12,400
whole to attend specific, you know,

2905
02:04:09,040 --> 02:04:14,639
events um andor um meetings or

2906
02:04:12,400 --> 02:04:16,400
programming in the community as well as

2907
02:04:14,639 --> 02:04:19,360
opening, you know, office hours and

2908
02:04:16,400 --> 02:04:21,920
council um chambers or in our council

2909
02:04:19,360 --> 02:04:24,960
office which would allow for you know

2910
02:04:21,920 --> 02:04:27,840
interpretation on an as needed basis.

2911
02:04:24,960 --> 02:04:30,239
um but wanting to make sure that members

2912
02:04:27,840 --> 02:04:33,440
of the community know that we will

2913
02:04:30,239 --> 02:04:35,040
provide interpretation upon request. So

2914
02:04:33,440 --> 02:04:37,040
wanting to ensure that not only Spanish

2915
02:04:35,040 --> 02:04:39,520
but any language or ASL that the

2916
02:04:37,040 --> 02:04:41,679
community may need. You can contact um

2917
02:04:39,520 --> 02:04:43,280
the council office, you know, to make

2918
02:04:41,679 --> 02:04:47,360
those arrangements. We would request

2919
02:04:43,280 --> 02:04:48,960
ideally 48 hours notice um to give us um

2920
02:04:47,360 --> 02:04:50,400
you know, more opportunity to ensure

2921
02:04:48,960 --> 02:04:52,400
that we're able to meet that as best we

2922
02:04:50,400 --> 02:04:54,320
can. But certainly even if it was a last

2923
02:04:52,400 --> 02:04:56,800
minute request, we would potentially use

2924
02:04:54,320 --> 02:05:00,320
the language line contract that we have

2925
02:04:56,800 --> 02:05:04,239
um or other other accommodations. But um

2926
02:05:00,320 --> 02:05:06,880
in addition, so with the um public

2927
02:05:04,239 --> 02:05:09,679
comment moving to the start of the

2928
02:05:06,880 --> 02:05:11,599
meeting um and those changes to our

2929
02:05:09,679 --> 02:05:13,679
standing announcements and language

2930
02:05:11,599 --> 02:05:17,280
access, one of the pieces before

2931
02:05:13,679 --> 02:05:20,080
consideration this afternoon were some

2932
02:05:17,280 --> 02:05:22,080
changes to our rules of procedure. And

2933
02:05:20,080 --> 02:05:26,239
so those rules of procedure ch those

2934
02:05:22,080 --> 02:05:29,599
changes um just reflect what will be um

2935
02:05:26,239 --> 02:05:33,199
implemented next meeting. Um so again

2936
02:05:29,599 --> 02:05:35,119
moving that council um public comment

2937
02:05:33,199 --> 02:05:37,840
period to the beginning of the meeting

2938
02:05:35,119 --> 02:05:40,080
having that change from 15 minutes to 30

2939
02:05:37,840 --> 02:05:43,440
minutes in our procedural rules and from

2940
02:05:40,080 --> 02:05:45,440
3 minutes to 2 minutes. Um there were

2941
02:05:43,440 --> 02:05:48,080
some other

2942
02:05:45,440 --> 02:05:50,719
changes that were

2943
02:05:48,080 --> 02:05:52,880
um fully read into the record this

2944
02:05:50,719 --> 02:05:56,639
afternoon, but most of them are somewhat

2945
02:05:52,880 --> 02:05:59,280
um just semantics about how

2946
02:05:56,639 --> 02:06:01,040
um how that is outlined in the rules.

2947
02:05:59,280 --> 02:06:02,880
wanting to make sure that also the

2948
02:06:01,040 --> 02:06:05,760
council knew, right, these proposed

2949
02:06:02,880 --> 02:06:07,679
changes at this time are just related to

2950
02:06:05,760 --> 02:06:11,199
the public comment period, but that a

2951
02:06:07,679 --> 02:06:13,679
more comprehensive um proposal for um a

2952
02:06:11,199 --> 02:06:16,000
refresh of our rules of procedure will

2953
02:06:13,679 --> 02:06:19,599
be coming forward in the short term. Um

2954
02:06:16,000 --> 02:06:21,920
so there was a motion from the council

2955
02:06:19,599 --> 02:06:23,760
to move to approve the changes to the

2956
02:06:21,920 --> 02:06:26,080
rules of procedure and I so move.

2957
02:06:23,760 --> 02:06:29,040
» Second. Motion's been made by the chair

2958
02:06:26,080 --> 02:06:32,320
and a second by council member Williams.

2959
02:06:29,040 --> 02:06:36,239
Um just wanting to note that that was a

2960
02:06:32,320 --> 02:06:37,760
split vote this afternoon. Actually in

2961
02:06:36,239 --> 02:06:41,520
the

2962
02:06:37,760 --> 02:06:45,199
um in the packet this evening. There are

2963
02:06:41,520 --> 02:06:47,119
the minutes from the July 27th meeting,

2964
02:06:45,199 --> 02:06:49,840
which is when we did consider the

2965
02:06:47,119 --> 02:06:53,920
changes to our or the implementation of

2966
02:06:49,840 --> 02:06:55,520
our council communications um work plan.

2967
02:06:53,920 --> 02:06:57,520
And just noting that that did pass

2968
02:06:55,520 --> 02:07:00,960
unanimously 6-0 with council member

2969
02:06:57,520 --> 02:07:03,760
Huffman absent. Um but that does not

2970
02:07:00,960 --> 02:07:08,000
have to influence the vote this evening.

2971
02:07:03,760 --> 02:07:11,040
I know that um so just for for context

2972
02:07:08,000 --> 02:07:13,840
when the communications plan was adopted

2973
02:07:11,040 --> 02:07:15,360
by the council um there was a motion by

2974
02:07:13,840 --> 02:07:17,440
council member Lilliloquist supported by

2975
02:07:15,360 --> 02:07:21,040
council member Anderson to retain the

2976
02:07:17,440 --> 02:07:23,920
threeminut right time um allotted to

2977
02:07:21,040 --> 02:07:26,639
speakers and that amendment um failed to

2978
02:07:23,920 --> 02:07:29,360
four and then adoption of the work plan

2979
02:07:26,639 --> 02:07:31,920
as a whole passed 6 but in council

2980
02:07:29,360 --> 02:07:33,119
member Husman's absence. So, just wanted

2981
02:07:31,920 --> 02:07:34,960
to clear up the record from this

2982
02:07:33,119 --> 02:07:37,199
afternoon's discussion and committee.

2983
02:07:34,960 --> 02:07:39,280
Um, but we have a motion before us then

2984
02:07:37,199 --> 02:07:41,760
to adopt the changes to rules of

2985
02:07:39,280 --> 02:07:43,920
procedure. Any discussion?

2986
02:07:41,760 --> 02:07:44,239
» Seeing none, all in favor will say I.

2987
02:07:43,920 --> 02:07:46,639
» I.

2988
02:07:44,239 --> 02:07:49,599
» I. Any opposed?

2989
02:07:46,639 --> 02:07:52,400
» Okay. Any abstensions? Okay. Seeing

2990
02:07:49,599 --> 02:07:54,000
none. So, that passes 61.

2991
02:07:52,400 --> 02:07:56,320
Um, with council member Liiloquist

2992
02:07:54,000 --> 02:08:00,880
opposed.

2993
02:07:56,320 --> 02:08:04,239
Okay. Next, we have old and new.

2994
02:08:00,880 --> 02:08:06,400
old and new, which this afternoon um we

2995
02:08:04,239 --> 02:08:09,119
had director Lions speak to an item

2996
02:08:06,400 --> 02:08:11,760
related to the 120day

2997
02:08:09,119 --> 02:08:14,159
notice. Um and I wasn't sure if council

2998
02:08:11,760 --> 02:08:16,400
member Cotton or Liloquist wanted to

2999
02:08:14,159 --> 02:08:18,639
speak at all to what that resolved that

3000
02:08:16,400 --> 02:08:21,040
followup.

3001
02:08:18,639 --> 02:08:23,760
My interpretation was that it was a

3002
02:08:21,040 --> 02:08:25,679
non-issue, but if there's anything you

3003
02:08:23,760 --> 02:08:28,079
wanted to share from from that.

3004
02:08:25,679 --> 02:08:30,000
» Um yes. Uh,

3005
02:08:28,079 --> 02:08:32,719
Director Lion and Julia Burns, the

3006
02:08:30,000 --> 02:08:35,440
rental inspection manager, uh, shared an

3007
02:08:32,719 --> 02:08:38,800
update that resolved our concern around

3008
02:08:35,440 --> 02:08:40,000
um, conforming with uh, state

3009
02:08:38,800 --> 02:08:43,199
requirements around notices of

3010
02:08:40,000 --> 02:08:47,280
non-renewal. Um, and also just to note,

3011
02:08:43,199 --> 02:08:48,880
we received an email asking about

3012
02:08:47,280 --> 02:08:51,520
um,

3013
02:08:48,880 --> 02:08:55,679
uh, the concern around the language

3014
02:08:51,520 --> 02:08:58,320
adopting the state exemption for um, uh,

3015
02:08:55,679 --> 02:09:01,199
basically public housing units. Um and

3016
02:08:58,320 --> 02:09:04,159
just to clarify that is uh consistent

3017
02:09:01,199 --> 02:09:07,119
with state law and is really providing

3018
02:09:04,159 --> 02:09:11,280
really applying to when a tenants um

3019
02:09:07,119 --> 02:09:12,960
income is fluctuating due to or rent is

3020
02:09:11,280 --> 02:09:16,239
fluctuating as a result of their income

3021
02:09:12,960 --> 02:09:18,159
in a public housing project. It's not um

3022
02:09:16,239 --> 02:09:20,400
a landlord in the private market would

3023
02:09:18,159 --> 02:09:21,760
still need to provide a 120day notice

3024
02:09:20,400 --> 02:09:24,560
even if their tenant is on a housing

3025
02:09:21,760 --> 02:09:26,639
choice voucher. So, um, just those two

3026
02:09:24,560 --> 02:09:28,320
pieces of clarity and as was noted after

3027
02:09:26,639 --> 02:09:30,639
this afternoon, if if you have

3028
02:09:28,320 --> 02:09:32,239
questions, the residential landlord

3029
02:09:30,639 --> 02:09:33,599
tenant act can unfortunately sometimes

3030
02:09:32,239 --> 02:09:37,960
be complicated and it's always

3031
02:09:33,599 --> 02:09:37,960
recommended to consult an attorney.

3032
02:09:38,960 --> 02:09:46,040
» Thank you very much. Um, other items

3033
02:09:42,000 --> 02:09:46,040
this evening for old and new?

3034
02:09:47,599 --> 02:09:53,119
» Okay. If not, we had executive session

3035
02:09:51,119 --> 02:09:55,760
this afternoon. There were multiple

3036
02:09:53,119 --> 02:09:57,440
items discussed. So, in executive

3037
02:09:55,760 --> 02:09:59,040
session, the first item was a potential

3038
02:09:57,440 --> 02:10:01,840
property acquisition. This was with

3039
02:09:59,040 --> 02:10:03,760
Rosenblat. Staff provided information on

3040
02:10:01,840 --> 02:10:05,520
a potential Lake Watcom watershed

3041
02:10:03,760 --> 02:10:07,199
property acquisition. It was for

3042
02:10:05,520 --> 02:10:09,760
information and discussion only and

3043
02:10:07,199 --> 02:10:11,440
there was no action taken. The second

3044
02:10:09,760 --> 02:10:13,679
item was also a potential property

3045
02:10:11,440 --> 02:10:15,679
acquisition with Rosenblat. Staff

3046
02:10:13,679 --> 02:10:18,800
provided information on a potential Lake

3047
02:10:15,679 --> 02:10:20,159
Watcom watershed property acquisition.

3048
02:10:18,800 --> 02:10:22,320
with the following action coming

3049
02:10:20,159 --> 02:10:24,639
forward. So, I will now entertain a

3050
02:10:22,320 --> 02:10:26,560
motion to authorize the mayor to close

3051
02:10:24,639 --> 02:10:30,079
the real estate transaction with the

3052
02:10:26,560 --> 02:10:32,960
property owner, Daniel Gibbon, with a

3053
02:10:30,079 --> 02:10:33,679
purchase price of $2,500.

3054
02:10:32,960 --> 02:10:34,400
» Move approval.

3055
02:10:33,679 --> 02:10:35,760
» Second.

3056
02:10:34,400 --> 02:10:37,520
» Motion's been made by Council Member

3057
02:10:35,760 --> 02:10:39,119
Anderson and a second by Council Member

3058
02:10:37,520 --> 02:10:41,040
Liiloquist.

3059
02:10:39,119 --> 02:10:43,599
Any discussion?

3060
02:10:41,040 --> 02:10:44,239
» Seeing none, all in favor will say I. I.

3061
02:10:43,599 --> 02:10:47,040
» I.

3062
02:10:44,239 --> 02:10:49,840
» Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none,

3063
02:10:47,040 --> 02:10:52,079
that passes 70.

3064
02:10:49,840 --> 02:10:54,880
The next item is a litigation matter.

3065
02:10:52,079 --> 02:10:56,960
Oldm versus city of Bellingham at all.

3066
02:10:54,880 --> 02:10:59,360
This was with Phillips. Staff provided

3067
02:10:56,960 --> 02:11:01,679
information on a litigation matter. The

3068
02:10:59,360 --> 02:11:03,599
following action is coming forward. I

3069
02:11:01,679 --> 02:11:05,840
will now entertain a motion to authorize

3070
02:11:03,599 --> 02:11:08,800
the mayor to enter into a settlement

3071
02:11:05,840 --> 02:11:12,159
agreement with Julie with the following

3072
02:11:08,800 --> 02:11:14,719
terms. Dismissal of Oldm v. City of

3073
02:11:12,159 --> 02:11:16,560
Bellingham at all. Watcom County

3074
02:11:14,719 --> 02:11:19,560
Superior Court cause number

3075
02:11:16,560 --> 02:11:19,560
23-2-00618-37

3076
02:11:23,360 --> 02:11:31,040
in exchange for the payment of $115,000

3077
02:11:27,920 --> 02:11:35,360
to Julie Olden plus reimbursement of

3078
02:11:31,040 --> 02:11:38,320
$3,000 in mediation costs to GLP

3079
02:11:35,360 --> 02:11:39,119
attorneys PS incorporated.

3080
02:11:38,320 --> 02:11:41,360
» Moved.

3081
02:11:39,119 --> 02:11:43,520
» Second. Motion's been made by Council

3082
02:11:41,360 --> 02:11:47,199
Member Hamill and a second by Council

3083
02:11:43,520 --> 02:11:49,760
Member Hudman. Any discussion?

3084
02:11:47,199 --> 02:11:50,320
Seeing none, all in favor will say I.

3085
02:11:49,760 --> 02:11:51,199
» I.

3086
02:11:50,320 --> 02:11:54,239
» I.

3087
02:11:51,199 --> 02:11:57,119
» Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none,

3088
02:11:54,239 --> 02:11:58,880
that passes 70.

3089
02:11:57,119 --> 02:12:00,480
The fourth and final item was a

3090
02:11:58,880 --> 02:12:03,440
potential litigation matter. This was

3091
02:12:00,480 --> 02:12:05,199
with Chaplain and CRAM. Staff provided

3092
02:12:03,440 --> 02:12:07,520
information on a potential litigation

3093
02:12:05,199 --> 02:12:09,520
matter. The following action is coming

3094
02:12:07,520 --> 02:12:12,079
forward. I will now entertain a motion

3095
02:12:09,520 --> 02:12:14,320
to authorize the mayor to retain outside

3096
02:12:12,079 --> 02:12:16,639
counsel to represent the city in

3097
02:12:14,320 --> 02:12:18,960
litigation challenging the federal

3098
02:12:16,639 --> 02:12:21,360
office of management and budgets

3099
02:12:18,960 --> 02:12:22,159
proposed rule regarding federal grant

3100
02:12:21,360 --> 02:12:23,119
conditions.

3101
02:12:22,159 --> 02:12:25,679
» Move approval.

3102
02:12:23,119 --> 02:12:28,719
» Second.

3103
02:12:25,679 --> 02:12:30,639
» Motion's been made by council member

3104
02:12:28,719 --> 02:12:33,639
Anderson and a second by council member

3105
02:12:30,639 --> 02:12:33,639
Huffman.

3106
02:12:34,079 --> 02:12:39,280
Any discussion?

3107
02:12:36,719 --> 02:12:39,760
Seeing none, all in favor will say I.

3108
02:12:39,280 --> 02:12:40,560
» I.

3109
02:12:39,760 --> 02:12:43,520
» I.

3110
02:12:40,560 --> 02:12:47,800
» Any opposed or abstensions? Okay. Seeing

3111
02:12:43,520 --> 02:12:47,800
none, that passes. 70.

3112
02:12:48,320 --> 02:12:50,880
Next, we have consent agenda.

3113
02:12:50,159 --> 02:12:52,079
» Approval.

3114
02:12:50,880 --> 02:12:54,000
» Second.

3115
02:12:52,079 --> 02:12:57,199
» Motion was made by council member Hamill

3116
02:12:54,000 --> 02:12:59,360
and a second by council member Williams.

3117
02:12:57,199 --> 02:13:01,440
Any discussion?

3118
02:12:59,360 --> 02:13:01,920
» Seeing none, all in favor will say I.

3119
02:13:01,440 --> 02:13:02,960
» I.

3120
02:13:01,920 --> 02:13:05,840
» I.

3121
02:13:02,960 --> 02:13:08,159
» Any opposed or abstensions? Seeing none,

3122
02:13:05,840 --> 02:13:12,440
that passes 70.

3123
02:13:08,159 --> 02:13:12,440
Final consideration of ordinances.

3124
02:13:12,639 --> 02:13:17,840
» Agenda. Agenda Bill 24999, an ordinance

3125
02:13:15,920 --> 02:13:20,159
related to the preservation of landmark

3126
02:13:17,840 --> 02:13:21,520
trees and extending for an additional 6

3127
02:13:20,159 --> 02:13:23,280
months the interim development

3128
02:13:21,520 --> 02:13:24,400
regulations with respect to landmark

3129
02:13:23,280 --> 02:13:25,520
trees throughout the city.

3130
02:13:24,400 --> 02:13:27,119
» Third and final.

3131
02:13:25,520 --> 02:13:28,560
» Second.

3132
02:13:27,119 --> 02:13:30,159
Motion's been made by council member

3133
02:13:28,560 --> 02:13:33,679
Hamill and a second by council member

3134
02:13:30,159 --> 02:13:35,599
Huthman. Any discussion?

3135
02:13:33,679 --> 02:13:36,400
Seeing none, roll call, please.

3136
02:13:35,599 --> 02:13:36,960
» Holly Huffman,

3137
02:13:36,400 --> 02:13:37,760
» Hi.

3138
02:13:36,960 --> 02:13:38,480
» Dan Hamill,

3139
02:13:37,760 --> 02:13:39,599
» Hi.

3140
02:13:38,480 --> 02:13:40,400
» Skip Williams.

3141
02:13:39,599 --> 02:13:41,440
» Hi.

3142
02:13:40,400 --> 02:13:42,079
» Lisa Anderson.

3143
02:13:41,440 --> 02:13:43,040
» Hi.

3144
02:13:42,079 --> 02:13:43,760
» Michael Liiloquist.

3145
02:13:43,040 --> 02:13:44,560
» Hi.

3146
02:13:43,760 --> 02:13:45,199
» Jay Cotton.

3147
02:13:44,560 --> 02:13:46,159
» Hi.

3148
02:13:45,199 --> 02:13:46,800
» Hannah Stone.

3149
02:13:46,159 --> 02:13:50,920
» Hi.

3150
02:13:46,800 --> 02:13:50,920
» Uh, the motion passes 70.

3151
02:13:52,000 --> 02:14:00,400
» Next up, we have uh agenda bill 255012,

3152
02:13:56,079 --> 02:14:02,079
an ordinance amending BMC 6.15 and BMC

3153
02:14:00,400 --> 02:14:04,960
2.21.010.

3154
02:14:02,079 --> 02:14:07,199
010 regarding the rental registration

3155
02:14:04,960 --> 02:14:10,719
and safety inspection program and

3156
02:14:07,199 --> 02:14:11,440
chapter 6.12 BMC regarding rental

3157
02:14:10,719 --> 02:14:12,880
agreements.

3158
02:14:11,440 --> 02:14:14,320
» Move first and final.

3159
02:14:12,880 --> 02:14:15,599
» All seconded.

3160
02:14:14,320 --> 02:14:17,280
» Motion's been made by council member

3161
02:14:15,599 --> 02:14:19,280
Anderson and a second by council member

3162
02:14:17,280 --> 02:14:21,599
Liiloquist.

3163
02:14:19,280 --> 02:14:24,000
Any discussion?

3164
02:14:21,599 --> 02:14:25,760
Seeing none, all in favor will say nope.

3165
02:14:24,000 --> 02:14:26,880
» Roll call, please.

3166
02:14:25,760 --> 02:14:27,360
» Uh Holly Huffman.

3167
02:14:26,880 --> 02:14:28,079
» Hi.

3168
02:14:27,360 --> 02:14:28,719
» Dan Hamill.

3169
02:14:28,079 --> 02:14:29,599
» Hi.

3170
02:14:28,719 --> 02:14:30,159
» Skip Williams.

3171
02:14:29,599 --> 02:14:31,840
» Hi.

3172
02:14:30,159 --> 02:14:32,800
» Lisa Anderson. I

3173
02:14:31,840 --> 02:14:33,440
» Michael Loiquist.

3174
02:14:32,800 --> 02:14:35,599
» Hi,

3175
02:14:33,440 --> 02:14:36,159
» Jace Cotton. Hannah Stone,

3176
02:14:35,599 --> 02:14:40,040
» I.

3177
02:14:36,159 --> 02:14:40,040
» The motion passes 7-0.

3178
02:14:40,560 --> 02:14:46,239
» And finally, we have agenda bill 250006,

3179
02:14:44,079 --> 02:14:48,159
an ordinance regarding the 1% for art

3180
02:14:46,239 --> 02:14:50,159
program amending Bellingham Municipal

3181
02:14:48,159 --> 02:14:50,800
Code Chapter 4.92.

3182
02:14:50,159 --> 02:14:52,480
» Third and final.

3183
02:14:50,800 --> 02:14:53,920
» Second.

3184
02:14:52,480 --> 02:14:55,520
» Motion's been made by Council Member

3185
02:14:53,920 --> 02:14:58,960
Hamill and a second by Council Member

3186
02:14:55,520 --> 02:15:01,280
Husman. Any discussion?

3187
02:14:58,960 --> 02:15:02,320
Seeing none, roll call, please. Ollie

3188
02:15:01,280 --> 02:15:03,119
Huffman. Hi

3189
02:15:02,320 --> 02:15:03,760
» Dan Hamill.

3190
02:15:03,119 --> 02:15:04,639
» Hi

3191
02:15:03,760 --> 02:15:05,280
» Skip Williams.

3192
02:15:04,639 --> 02:15:06,400
» Hi

3193
02:15:05,280 --> 02:15:06,880
» Lisa Anderson.

3194
02:15:06,400 --> 02:15:07,840
» Hi

3195
02:15:06,880 --> 02:15:08,560
» Michael Lilloquist.

3196
02:15:07,840 --> 02:15:10,320
» Hi

3197
02:15:08,560 --> 02:15:11,280
» Jace Cotton

3198
02:15:10,320 --> 02:15:11,920
» Hannah Stone

3199
02:15:11,280 --> 02:15:15,360
» I.

3200
02:15:11,920 --> 02:15:17,920
» The motion passes 70.

3201
02:15:15,360 --> 02:15:20,000
» Thank you very much.

3202
02:15:17,920 --> 02:15:23,119
So that concludes the regular business

3203
02:15:20,000 --> 02:15:28,560
of the meeting. Noting again that our

3204
02:15:23,119 --> 02:15:30,159
next meeting will be on September 14th.

3205
02:15:28,560 --> 02:15:31,679
So, as I said, that concludes the

3206
02:15:30,159 --> 02:15:33,199
regular business of the meeting, and we

3207
02:15:31,679 --> 02:15:35,599
will now move to the public comment

3208
02:15:33,199 --> 02:15:38,960
period. If you're watching live online

3209
02:15:35,599 --> 02:15:41,040
or on BTV, the broadcast will now end.

3210
02:15:38,960 --> 02:15:45,880
However, you can continue watching via

3211
02:15:41,040 --> 02:15:45,880
Zoom at co.org/cczoom oorgg/ccoom

3212
02:15:46,400 --> 02:15:51,719
or listen via phone by dialing

3213
02:15:48,719 --> 02:15:51,719
2532158782

3214
02:15:53,599 --> 02:15:58,599
and entering meeting ID 8715188525

3215
02:16:01,440 --> 02:16:08,840
and password 9. Again, that's

3216
02:16:04,480 --> 02:16:08,840
co.orgccoom rg/ccoom

3217
02:16:09,119 --> 02:16:13,239
or dial 253-2158782

3218
02:16:15,119 --> 02:16:19,960
and enter meeting ID 871-5188-525

3219
02:16:22,719 --> 02:16:27,760
and password 9 to continue to watch or

3220
02:16:25,679 --> 02:16:30,239
listen live. If you're watching a

3221
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recorded version of this meeting, you

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can view public comment videos at

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meetings.c.org.

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og.