# A Meeting of Multiple Priorities: Bellingham City Council Navigates Water Protection, Immigration Policy, and Infrastructure On January 27, 2025, the Bellingham City Council convened for what appeared to be a routine regular meeting but proved to be a pivotal session addressing watershed protection, federal immigration policy, and the city's evolving infrastructure needs. With all seven council members present—including Hannah Stone joining virtually—the meeting demonstrated the council's approach to both immediate civic concerns and long-term strategic planning. The evening's most significant business occurred during executive session, where the council authorized the city's largest land purchase in recent memory, while also addressing contemporary challenges around federal immigration enforcement and local government's role in protecting immigrant communities. ## The $3.65 Million Watershed Investment The meeting's most consequential decision came during executive session, when the council unanimously approved the purchase of 754 acres of Lake Whatcom watershed property from Nielsen Brothers Inc. for $3,650,000, plus an estimated $184,412 in compensating tax and $96,830 in real estate excise tax. This massive acquisition represented what Councilmember Michael Lilliquist called "one of the biggest parcels we bought in as long as I can remember." While the total cost approached $4 million, Lilliquist noted the per-acre cost of barely $5,000 made it "a bargain when you consider all the expense that goes into our need to preserve water quality and treat the water in Lake Whatcom." The property's significance extends beyond its size. As Councilmember Lisa Anderson explained, "there are several drainages and creeks that go through this area and into the lake. So when it comes to phosphorus and reduction, the fact that this won't be in a logging cycle is a huge bonus for the lake." The land hasn't been harvested in over 20 years, meaning the city is acquiring mature timber that will continue protecting water quality for the more than 100,000 people who depend on Lake Whatcom for drinking water. Councilmember Daniel Hammill emphasized the strategic nature of the purchase: "It also is contiguous with some county property that's also protected. The city has been very active in terms of purchasing land in the watershed to protect our drinking water." He noted that such acquisitions occur "pretty much every other meeting," underscoring the city's ongoing commitment to watershed protection. This purchase was linked to a smaller but symbolically important transaction: the surplus sale of a triangular 4,792-square-foot city parcel at Cornwall Avenue and East Pine Street for $7,500. This tiny waterfront remnant, currently used by the Kai Pana Outrigger Canoe Club under a seasonal license, became part of the larger watershed deal when Nielsen Brothers requested its purchase as a condition of selling their forest lands to the city. ## Establishing the Keep Washington Working Act Group In response to changing federal immigration policies, Mayor Kim Lund announced the formation of a new city advisory group focused on the Keep Washington Working Act, Washington state's law restricting local participation in federal immigration enforcement. The council unanimously approved eight community members to serve on this inaugural group: Rebecca Agiewich, Eamon Bollinger, Ian Garconnette, Catalina Hope, Holly Pai, Scott Powell, Crystal Rodriguez, and Abigail Sanuty. Mayor Lund read a comprehensive statement clarifying the city's position on immigration enforcement: "We are committed to ensuring that Bellingham is a place where the rights and dignity of all residents are maintained and protected. This commitment is reflected in many city policy statements and in our day to day actions specific to law enforcement. The Bellingham Police take no enforcement action based on immigration status alone." The mayor emphasized that "Immigration and federal law enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government, not the Bellingham Police," and stated clearly that "We will continue to follow state law." The Keep Washington Working Act, established in 2019, "restricts the extent to which local law enforcement agencies may participate in the enforcement of federal immigration laws." Several city officials and staff will serve in advisory roles on the new group, including Western Washington University Police Chief Katie Potts, Bellingham Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig, Fire Chief Bill Hewitt, Whatcom County Deputy Director Justin Rasmussen, Councilmember Hannah Stone, Assistant City Attorney Sarah Chaplin, and Deborah Bonesa from the Mayor's Office of Strategic Initiatives for Equity and Belonging. The group is expected to begin meeting in the first quarter of 2025, with Mayor Lund noting, "The goal of convening this work group is to hear from community members with direct experience with immigration and related issues. We anticipate it will be an important and certainly very timely dialogue." ## Holly Street Bike Lane Pilot Evolves The Public Works and Natural Resources Committee received an update on the Holly Street bike lane pilot project, which installed protected bicycle lanes through downtown Bellingham in May 2024. Councilmember Hannah Stone, chairing the committee, reported that the pilot had successfully addressed many initial concerns. Traffic congestion concerns were mitigated through adjustments to traffic light cycle lengths, resulting in slower speeds throughout the downtown core—"which is an advantage from the pilot project," Stone noted. Visibility and right-hook conflict issues between bicyclists and turning cars were addressed through the addition of bike bend-ins along the corridor. The most significant modification involved removing streeteries and rechannelizing the stretch from Commercial to Bay Street to accommodate right turn lanes. Despite these adjustments, the pilot demonstrated "additional usage by bicyclists in our community as well as slower speeds," leading to plans for a permanent capital project that would extend the bicycle infrastructure down to Broadway and Eldridge to better connect Bellingham's bicycle network. ## Community Streets Program Launched The council approved the implementation of a new Community Streets Program, designed as "a resident driven initiative that enhances neighborhood safety and livability by addressing traffic concerns on residential streets." This program represents an evolution of the previous Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program, expanding its scope through a collaborative, data-driven approach. The program operates through four focus areas: checklist projects that can be quickly addressed through SeeClickFix reporting; capital projects that may require additional funding and could become Transportation Improvement Program recommendations; neighborhood projects that residents can implement with city coordination, such as street tree planting or traffic-calming murals; and location studies that will divide the city into quadrants for systematic analysis of potential broad-scale improvements. Stone emphasized that "there was a lengthy presentation from staff this morning that I would encourage people who are excited about this program to watch and to look for additional opportunities to participate in the future." ## Lake Whatcom Management Program Renewal The council adopted the Lake Whatcom Management Program's five-year work plan for 2025-2029, representing a collaboration between the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District. This sixth iteration of the plan since 2020 includes two new program areas: climate action and forest management. The plan encompasses $71,187,565 in shared investments over five years, with the city's portion already incorporated into the 2025 budget. Stone noted that "throughout this review process, there's been extensive public comment, and the jurisdictions took some extra time to respond to all of the comments that had been provided and to document that comment." The plan will next be considered at a joint meeting of all three jurisdictions' governing bodies, tentatively scheduled for April 2, 2025. ## Organizational Changes and Labor Relations The council approved significant organizational restructuring, dissolving the Climate Action Committee and creating a new Finance and Budget Committee. Council President Hollie Huthman explained that the dissolution of the Climate Action Committee "is not because the importance of climate action is any less than it was before. It's just that the practice of this city has really been to infuse climate action throughout every department." Lisa Anderson was named chair of the new Finance and Budget Committee, with Michael Lilliquist and Daniel Hammill serving as members. This change reflects the mayor's office recommendation to "elevate and provide structure to city financial actions and stewardship." The council ratified a three-year collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Local 114L, covering 2025-2027. The agreement provides 3% cost-of-living adjustments each year, increases deferred compensation matching to 2%, and enhances longevity premiums to 1.5% at 10 years of service and 2.5% at 20 years. The city will also increase its medical insurance contribution by 6% annually. The council also approved an $84,000 interlocal agreement with Whatcom County to purchase PFAS-free response gear for 46 paramedics funded through the Medic One program, complementing previous purchases for general fund employees. ## Bakerview Encampment Cleanup and Community Service Mayor Lund provided an update on the recent Bakerview encampment cleanup, emphasizing that private property owners took the lead. "Last week, the five owners of private properties on West Bakerview Road and Northwest Avenue hired crews to clean up encampments on their private parcels and made commitments to security plans to prevent reoccurrences," she reported. The cleanup removed over 180 tons of debris from six properties, with all costs paid by property owners. The city's role was limited to convening meetings, providing technical assistance, and coordinating with direct service providers. Lund acknowledged the broader challenges: "We acknowledge that we are operating in a national system that is broken. We acknowledge that there are not enough services to support vulnerable people in our community." On a more positive note, the mayor celebrated community participation in Martin Luther King Jr. Day events, where more than 300 people participated in service projects, assembling over 200 hygiene kits and crafting 35 blankets for local shelters. An additional 323 volunteers participated in habitat restoration work at Squalicum Creek Park with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, planting 500 native trees and shrubs while removing 30 cubic yards of invasive weeds. ## Severe Weather Shelter Partnership The council approved an interlocal agreement with Whatcom County to share severe weather shelter costs, with the county investing the first $450,000 and the city contributing up to an additional $150,000. This partnership emerged after no providers responded to the county's request for proposals to operate the shelter. Ann Beck, Whatcom County's Community Health and Human Services Manager, reported that the shelter had already provided over 1,107 overnight stays involving 172 staff and 104 volunteer shifts, demonstrating the immediate need for such services during winter weather emergencies. ## Looking Forward The meeting concluded with several items set for future consideration. Councilmember Lilliquist reported on the county's justice project, noting the hiring of construction management and specialized expertise for the new jail and behavioral health center. The county is moving toward a progressive design-build delivery model to achieve better cost control and operational integration. Council President Huthman announced that public comment via Zoom would likely resume at the next meeting, following resolution of technical issues that led to its temporary suspension due to hate speech incidents across the state. As the meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM after hearing public comment from eight individuals, the council had demonstrated its commitment to long-term environmental protection through major land acquisition, immediate response to federal policy changes through local organizing, and ongoing attention to infrastructure improvements that serve both current and future community needs. The evening reflected a local government working to balance fiscal responsibility with environmental stewardship, community safety with individual rights, and immediate needs with long-term planning.