# A Night of Appointments, Transportation, and Civil Rights: Bellingham City Council Moves Forward on Multiple Fronts The Bellingham City Council convened for their regular meeting on June 23rd, 2025, in what proved to be an exceptionally full day of civic engagement that stretched from morning committee sessions through a public comment period that didn't conclude until after 10 PM. Council President Hollie Huthman called the evening session to order at 7:00 PM in the second-floor chambers of City Hall, with all seven council members present for what would become a significant evening in the ongoing work of municipal governance. The meeting carried particular weight as it advanced several key initiatives while also addressing routine but essential municipal business. From transportation improvements and behavioral health programs to civil rights protections and substantial watershed land acquisitions, the council demonstrated the breadth of issues that define modern city governance in Bellingham. ## Mayor's Appointments and Economic Development Mayor Kimberley Lund opened her report with two routine but important appointments to the Transportation Commission, swiftly approved by council to place Andrea Reiter and Jonathan Huegel in three-year terms. But it was her explanation of appointments to the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District Board of Directors that offered residents insight into a lesser-known but significant economic development tool. "The PFD, as it's known, is a little understood instrument for economic development in Washington state," Mayor Lund explained, taking time to educate those present about this independent municipal taxing authority. She highlighted past successes, noting how PFD funding had supported "the construction of the Whatcom Light Catcher Museum building and improvements to our beloved Mount Baker Theater." The mayor's excitement was palpable as she described new opportunities arising from recent state legislation: "It's an exciting time for our PFD as we anticipate taking advantage of the extension to the PFD funding mechanism that was made possible in the state legislature in the 2025 session that just closed." The council unanimously approved both Dr. Shanti Mukherjee and Bruce Tabb to the PFD board, appointments that would also need approval from Whatcom County Council at their July 8th meeting. But Mayor Lund saved her most emotionally resonant comments for last, addressing the draft ordinance supporting LGBTQ+ community members that had been extensively discussed in the afternoon Committee of the Whole session. "I especially want to acknowledge the many members of our trans community who are here tonight," she said with evident warmth. "You live here and you belong here. We hear you. We are glad you are part of our community, and your safety and your well-being are important to us all." Her words carried weight as she continued: "Bellingham thrives when all people can live authentically and without fear. This ordinance upholds our core commitment to provide a safe and welcoming community for everyone in Bellingham." ## Transportation Infrastructure: Data-Driven Decision Making Council Member Hannah Stone's report on the Public Works and Natural Resources Committee meeting revealed the kind of thorough, data-driven approach that characterizes effective municipal governance. The committee had tackled two significant transportation issues, both of which moved forward with unanimous support. The Eldridge Avenue non-motorized pilot project completion represented more than two years of careful study and community observation. Originally approved as a one-year pilot in October 2022, the project removed on-street parking to install bike lanes along this arterial street, and the results told a compelling story of transportation mode shift. "What really was most probably impactful or takeaway from the data collected is the pedestrian counts as well as the bicycle counts in that area, showing a significant increase in utilization of that corridor," Stone reported. The collision data proved encouraging as well, with crash rates falling below national averages for similar arterials. While speed reductions were modest, the safety improvements combined with increased pedestrian and bicycle usage painted a picture of successful infrastructure adaptation. Stone also addressed practical concerns that had emerged during the pilot: "I just wanted to make note that along a corridor like that, when there are deliveries or, you know, an SCC is taking their route, when there is a need to make stops or deliveries, whenever there are bike lanes that under the rules and regulations here, that we're not to block the bike lanes." She explained that delivery vehicles would need to stop in traffic lanes, requiring other cars to yield and go around—a point that had caused some confusion during the pilot period. The committee also approved the 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program, the city's six-year planning and funding document for transportation infrastructure. Stone highlighted one project of particular community importance: the Rainier Avenue bridge replacement over Chuckanut Creek. This bridge, damaged by flooding and currently replaced by a temporary structure, serves residents whose homes would otherwise be completely isolated. "The city has received assurance from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, that they are still committed to funding this project," Stone announced, providing relief for affected residents. ## Alternative Response Team: Innovation in Crisis Response The Committee of the Whole had tackled two significant issues, beginning with continued funding for the Alternative Response Team program—an innovative approach to behavioral health crisis response that has gained widespread support since its January 2023 launch. President Huthman explained that the Alternative Response Team "sends two behavioral health specialists to respond to specific nonviolent behavioral health 911 calls" and takes "a collaborative approach to bringing law enforcement, emergency medical response, human services, and other community responders together." The program operates ten hours a day, five days a week, deployed through Whatcom County Health and Community Services. Council Member Dan Hammill provided crucial context about the program's origins and funding, addressing voters directly: "We made a commitment to make sure that behavioral health funding coming out of the sales tax that was overwhelmingly voted in favor of would be coming from the city of Bellingham. And that's what this is, $375,000 to get started here with this program." Hammill's passion for the program was evident as he described its impact: "I've ridden along with the alternate response team—they're incredible people. And it takes a certain kind of heart and a skill set to be able to pull this off and reduces the 911 calls." He placed the ART program within a broader ecosystem of innovative response services, noting its coordination "in conjunction with the Grace program, the lead program, the Mobile Crisis Outreach team." The council's enthusiasm for expanding the program was clear, with discussions about increasing service hours beyond the current Monday-through-Friday schedule. The 18-month funding agreement, running from January 2025 through December 2026, provides stability for this crucial community safety innovation. ## LGBTQ+ Rights Ordinance: Putting Values Into Action Perhaps the most emotionally charged and significant discussion centered on the draft ordinance relating to equal protection and equal provision of city services regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. This ordinance represented the culmination of extensive community engagement and years of advocacy, building on a June 9th resolution that had reaffirmed the city's commitments to equity and human rights. Council Member Stone, who had shepherded the ordinance development, provided extensive historical context. She traced the evolution from a 2017 ordinance protecting immigrant community members through the recent eight-page resolution addressing broader human rights concerns. "We noticed the gap in some other action taken in the past, that there was no ordinance or chapter in code regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression," Stone explained. The ordinance development process had been thoroughly collaborative, Stone emphasized: "Having reviewed different drafts that were presented, some by members of the community as well as presented legislation from other jurisdictions in the state and in other states, and all of the public testimony that we have received, which has been extremely compelling and impactful... taking that information and then in coordination with the administration and the legal department, trying to come up with a working draft." Stone was careful to address concerns about the pace of consideration: "I don't want it to feel as though this is something that was brought forward and wants to be rushed through." She stressed the desire for meaningful impact: "We want this to be an ordinance that has things in it that are tangible and actually have meaning and impact in the lives of community members here, and that it's not just something that we're looking to rubber stamp or check a box." Council Member Michael Lilliquist offered his perspective on the ordinance's core provisions: "The main core of this proposal is section four, which lists six broad areas that require the city to behave in certain ways to treat members of the community, this community, fairly and justly. Those are requirements of law now upon the city." He particularly appreciated section F, which commits the city to advocacy: "We shall actually take steps to advocate and lobby if there are efforts at the state and federal level, which we can't overturn. But we can certainly advocate and lobby on those issues." The council agreed that additional community input was essential before taking action, with President Huthman noting: "We will probably have at the very least, we will definitely have at the very least, an update at the next council meeting regarding this ordinance." ## Watershed Protection: Substantial Investment in Clean Water The evening's executive session yielded authorization for two significant property acquisitions in the Lake Whatcom watershed, representing over $1.8 million in investment to protect the region's drinking water supply. The council unanimously approved purchasing 60 acres from Mary and James Jansky for $730,000 and 88.80 acres from Skykomish Resources LLC for $1,038,000 plus approximately $35,000 in designated forest land (DFL) compensating taxes. Council Member Lisa Anderson provided important context about the funding source: "Our funds are coming from other areas of taxes, not general fund. It's not funds that we can spend towards anything else other than property acquisition in the Lake Whatcom watershed, and we still have plenty of funds to continue to move forward to protect the property, the land around our lake and our drinking water." Council Member Hammill added perspective on the scope and importance of these acquisitions: "We buy property in the watershed in the county, not just in the city, mostly in the county, actually pretty much almost every other week. And so we spend a lot of money... It's the drinking water supply for 110 [to] 115,000 people. So whenever you turn on your tap when you go home, it's going to come out clean water. And that's because of the work that we're trying to do up here." ## Planning for Bellingham's Future The Planning Committee work sessions addressed fundamental questions about how Bellingham will manage growth and development in the coming decade. Council Member Lilliquist, chairing the committee, explained the shift from neighborhood-specific planning to citywide approaches—a change driven by both technological advancement and state requirements. "Basically, 55 years ago when you mimeographed paper, we developed neighborhood plans for all our neighborhoods," Lilliquist noted. "Since then, those documents have become harder and harder to keep up to date." Modern technology and comprehensive citywide planning for transportation, parks, and utilities had made neighborhood-by-neighborhood planning less critical, though Lilliquist emphasized: "We are not moving away from the idea of neighborhoods, but we are not using them as a basis for our land use planning anymore." The committee also continued discussions about implementing House Bill 1110, which requires cities to allow middle housing on residential lots. The proposed approach involves consolidating "hundreds of residential zones" into three categories: low, medium, and high density. This simplification aims to create consistency across the city while expanding housing opportunities. Perhaps most intriguingly, the committee discussed reintroducing small-scale commercial uses within residential areas. "Basically, that coffee shop in the middle of your neighborhood right now isn't allowed in many places," Lilliquist explained. "And we're reintroducing that idea because it's a good one and it should have been removed in the first place." ## Tenant Protection Ordinances Pass Final Reading The council completed final consideration of three ordinances, with particular significance attached to two new tenant protection measures. The first ordinance prohibits landlords from charging unfair or excessive fees in residential rental agreements, while the second extends similar protections to manufactured and mobile home communities. These ordinances, passing 7-0 on final reading, represent the council's ongoing commitment to housing affordability and tenant rights in a region facing significant housing cost pressures. The third ordinance, relating to the vacation of a platted alley in Fairhaven, also passed unanimously, addressing a routine but necessary land use matter. ## Legal and Administrative Matters The evening's executive session addressed several legal and financial matters requiring council authorization. Beyond the watershed acquisitions, the council approved a $150,000 settlement in a litigation matter, a $31,719.35 payment to resolve a flooding claim against residents Kenny and Kara Wiebenga, and authorization for outside counsel to represent the city in litigation challenging federal grant conditions. Council Member Lilliquist succinctly summarized one settlement: "We flooded their basement, had to pay for it." Such practical accountability demonstrates the city's approach to resolving legitimate claims promptly and fairly. ## A Marathon of Public Engagement The meeting concluded with an extensive public comment period featuring 46 speakers—a testament to community engagement on the issues discussed throughout the day, particularly the LGBTQ+ rights ordinance. While the specific content of public comment isn't detailed in the transcript, the sheer number of participants speaks to the civic investment Bellingham residents have in their local government. The meeting's adjournment at 10:16 PM marked the end of more than twelve hours of public meetings, from morning committee sessions through the evening's formal deliberations and extensive public comment period. This marathon of civic engagement reflects both the complexity of municipal governance and the active participation that characterizes Bellingham's democratic processes. ## Looking Ahead As council members departed after this lengthy day of public service, several significant items remained on the horizon. The July 7th public hearing on utility easement relinquishment and two July 21st hearings—on the Britton Road/Northern Heights annexation and the Barkley Urban Village development—promise continued robust civic engagement. The LGBTQ+ rights ordinance will return for further consideration with additional community input, while implementation of transportation improvements and planning code updates will continue their steady progression through the municipal process. This June 23rd meeting exemplified the breadth and depth of issues that define modern city governance: from routine administrative matters to transformative policy initiatives, from infrastructure investments to civil rights protections. The unanimous votes on most items reflected both council consensus and the careful committee work that had preceded the evening session. For Bellingham residents, the meeting demonstrated their local government's commitment to transparent process, community input, and values-based decision-making. Whether addressing transportation safety, behavioral health innovation, watershed protection, or civil rights, the council's approach emphasized both practical effectiveness and adherence to community values—the dual imperatives that guide effective municipal governance in a diverse and engaged community.

### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council held its regular meeting on June 23, 2025, focusing on multiple transportation infrastructure decisions, behavioral health funding, and housing protection ordinances. The council also discussed a draft ordinance for LGBTQ+ community protections and approved significant watershed land acquisitions. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Public Facilities District (PFD):** An independent municipal taxing authority created solely to fund facilities that enhance economic development, such as the Whatcom Museum and Mount Baker Theater. **Alternative Response Team (ART):** A program that sends behavioral health specialists instead of police to respond to specific nonviolent behavioral health 911 calls, operating 10 hours a day, five days a week. **Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP):** A transportation planning and funding document adopted annually to plan and program funding for city capital projects that improve Bellingham's multimodal transportation network. **Lake Whatcom Watershed:** The protected area around Bellingham's primary drinking water source, where the city regularly purchases land to protect water quality for 110,000-115,000 people. **Designated Forest Land (DFL):** Forested areas that receive special tax treatment; when sold for development, a compensating tax must be paid. **House Bill 1110:** State legislation requiring cities to plan for different types of housing, including allowing multiple middle housing units on residential lots. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kim Lund | Mayor | | Holly Huffman | Council President | | Hannah Stone | Council Member, First Ward | | Dan Hamill | Council Member, Third Ward | | Skip Williams | Council Member, Fourth Ward | | Lisa Anderson | Council Member, Fifth Ward | | Michael Lilliquist | Council Member, Sixth Ward | | Jace Cotton | Council Member, At-Large | ### Background Context This meeting occurred during a period of significant state-mandated changes to local housing policy, with cities required to implement new zoning allowances for middle housing. The council has been working to balance state requirements with local character preferences. Additionally, the city continues its long-standing commitment to protecting the Lake Whatcom watershed, which supplies drinking water to the region. The discussion of LGBTQ+ protections reflects community advocacy following recent state and national political tensions around civil rights protections. ### What Happened — The Short Version The council approved making permanent the Eldridge Avenue bike lane pilot project after reviewing a year of data showing increased bicycle and pedestrian usage. They adopted the 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program, ensuring continued funding for infrastructure projects including the Rainier Avenue bridge replacement. The council approved continued funding for the Alternative Response Team behavioral health program through 2026, costing $375,000 from Justice Project sales tax revenue. Three tenant protection ordinances passed final reading, prohibiting unfair fees in rental agreements. The council also authorized $1.8 million in Lake Whatcom watershed land purchases and settled several litigation matters totaling over $200,000. ### What to Watch Next • July 7: Public hearing on utility easement relinquishment for vacated streets • July 21: Public hearing on 146-acre Northern Heights annexation • July 21: Public hearing on Berkeley Urban Village development regulations • Upcoming updates on the LGBTQ+ protection ordinance after additional community input ---

**Q:** What did the council decide about the Eldridge Avenue bike lanes? **A:** They voted 7-0 to make the pilot project permanent after a year of data showed significant increases in bicycle and pedestrian usage while maintaining parking availability. **Q:** How much is the city spending on Alternative Response Team funding for 2025-2026? **A:** $375,000 over 18 months, funded by the Justice Project sales tax that voters approved. **Q:** Who was appointed to the Transportation Commission? **A:** Andrea Reiter and Jonathan Huegel were both appointed to three-year terms. **Q:** What is the total cost of the two watershed land acquisitions approved? **A:** $730,000 for the Jansky property (60 acres) plus $1,038,000 for the Skykomish Resources property (88.80 acres), totaling $1,768,000 plus approximately $35,000 in forest land compensating tax. **Q:** How many people attended public comment? **A:** 46 individuals provided public comment, and the session lasted until 10:16 PM. **Q:** What does House Bill 1110 require cities to do? **A:** It requires cities to plan for different types of housing and allow multiple middle housing units on all residential lots. **Q:** When was the Alternative Response Team program launched? **A:** January 2023, making it a relatively new but successful program. **Q:** Who are the joint nominees for the Public Facilities District appointments? **A:** Dr. Shanti Mukherjee and Bruce Tabb, nominated jointly by the mayor and Whatcom County Executive. **Q:** What three ordinances passed final reading? **A:** Ordinances prohibiting unfair rental fees in regular housing, manufactured/mobile home parks, and a street vacation ordinance for Fairhaven. **Q:** How does the Alternative Response Team operate? **A:** Two behavioral health specialists respond to nonviolent behavioral health 911 calls, deployed by Whatcom County Health and Community Services. **Q:** What litigation settlement was the largest? **A:** $150,000 in the Land v. City of Bellingham case, dismissed with prejudice against all defendants. **Q:** When does the city need to submit the Transportation Improvement Program to the state? **A:** By July 1st, which is why council approval was needed at this meeting. **Q:** What happened to the LGBTQ+ protection ordinance? **A:** It was discussed but no action was taken; council plans to gather more community input before voting. **Q:** How many residential zones is the city trying to consolidate? **A:** From hundreds of different residential zones down to three types: low, medium, and high density. **Q:** What bridge replacement project remains in the Transportation Improvement Program? **A:** Rainier Avenue bridge replacement over Chuckanut Creek, with FEMA funding confirmed. **Q:** What was the smallest litigation settlement approved? **A:** $31,719.35 to Kenny and Kara Wiebenga for basement flooding damages. **Q:** How long do Alternative Response Team specialists work? **A:** Ten hours a day, five days a week (Monday through Friday), though there's interest in expanding these hours. **Q:** What major planning shift is the city making? **A:** Moving from neighborhood-based plans to citywide planning processes for more equitable and consistent policies. **Q:** What new commercial uses might be allowed in residential areas? **A:** Small-scale residential-commercial uses like neighborhood coffee shops, which aren't currently allowed in many places. **Q:** When will the Citywide Comprehensive Plan be adopted? **A:** At the end of 2025, incorporating all the planning changes being discussed. ---