Bellingham City Council

**Mayor Kimberley Lund, on housing policy:** "It is a long game. We may not see the results of this action for many years to come. But as we heard this afternoon, we are on the right track with decisions and actions that we have taken so far and collectively this is such important work and it is essential for helping Bellingham to be better poised to be a bellingham for all." **Council Member Michael Lilliquist, on budget challenges:** "Despite the mayor's heroic efforts, these are the facts that we're living with." **Council Member Michael Lilliquist, on the comprehensive plan amendment:** "There was a policy change that the council approved on back in November and was admitted from the memo I had admitted from the final draft." **Council Member Daniel Hammill, on the GRACE program:** "Grace is a really important program, along with the lead program, MCOT, ART. and I just want to make it very clear that this reduction of $60,358 will not impact in any way people that are using this

# Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council convened for their regular meeting on December 8, 2025, at 7:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The evening began with ceremonial duties — swearing-in ceremonies for the newly elected and re-elected council members and municipal court judge — before settling into the substantive work of governing. All seven council members were present: Council President Hollie Huthman (Ward 2), Hannah Stone (Ward 1), Daniel Hammill (Ward 3), Skip Williams (Ward 4), Lisa Anderson (Ward 5), Michael Lilliquist (Ward 6), and Jace Cotton (At-Large). This was one of those meetings that captures the breadth of municipal governance — from the routine business of budget amendments and fee adjustments to the momentous adoption of the city's comprehensive plan that will guide Bellingham's growth for years to come. The evening carried a sense of both ceremony and urgency, with council members sworn into office at the beginning and wrestling with housing policy amendments by the end. The meeting concluded at 8:52 PM after fourteen residents offered public comments, with the council having approved everything from cemetery fee structures to a $1.1 million budget amendment, all while maintaining the collaborative tone that has characterized this council's approach to governance. ## Swearing-In Ceremonies Mark New Council Terms The evening began with the formal ceremony that marks the peaceful transition of democratic governance. Judge Deborah Lev first took the oath of office for her role as Municipal Court Judge, administered by Mayor Kimberley Lund. Then Judge Lev administered oaths to four council members beginning new terms: Hollie Huthman for Ward 2, Skip Williams for Ward 4, Michael Lilliquist for Ward 6, and Jace Cotton for the At-Large position. The ceremony carried the weight of tradition, with each official repeating the solemn promise to "support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the state of Washington" and to "faithfully and impartially perform and discharge the duties of the office." Mayor Lund noted afterward the surprising effort required to not accidentally say "I state your name" instead of waiting for the officials to state their actual names — a moment of levity that drew laughter from the chamber. "This is the one time that will actually let you clap for all of our elected officials," Council President Huthman said as applause filled the chamber, marking the completion of the ceremonial beginning to the new terms. ## Mayor Highlights Housing Progress and Civic Complex Vision In her report, Mayor Lund reflected on the year of progress since issuing her housing executive order, which had been the subject of an extensive presentation earlier in the day during Committee of the Whole. "The executive order was issued with direction for all city departments to take immediate actions to increase housing opportunity across Bellingham," she said, emphasizing that while results may not be visible for years, "we are on the right track with decisions and actions that we have taken so far." The mayor also unveiled plans for a significant community engagement opportunity around the Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan. The December 10 meeting at Bloedel Donovan Community Building would present a new vision for the complex as "a lively, connected and diverse campus, filled with locals and visitors who are drawn to a rich offering of new and improved amenities." "So many of us in Bellingham have stories that intersect with the city's civic athletic complex," Mayor Lund said. "Whether taking part in a swim class, making new friends at an adult recreation league, celebrating a high school triumph or playing in that first little league game. This special place has hosted thousands of cherished memories for generations of Bellinghamsters." The mayor described an ambitious reimagining of the facility as "the premier recreation hub in Bellingham for sporting events and so much more" — a place for community gatherings, playground visits, enrichment classes, and walks through the woods. ## Community Streets Program Launches First Year of Neighborhood-Driven Safety Improvements Council Member Hannah Stone, chairing the Public Works and Natural Resources Committee, reported on the debut year of the Community Streets Program, a "resident-driven initiative that enhances safety and livability by addressing traffic concerns on residential streets." The program represents a new approach to traffic calming that puts community members at the center of identifying and prioritizing safety improvements in their own neighborhoods. Staff worked through more than 400 community responses, though about 68% focused on arterial streets, which fall outside this program's scope for residential street improvements. The remaining feedback identified 53 eligible residential areas within the Group A boundary, which clustered into 20 discrete locations for study — all of which fit within the program's capacity to examine up to 25 locations. Five locations stood out for implementation, consolidated into four projects: Tremont Avenue from Cordata Parkway to Meridian Street; McGrath Road to McCloud Road from McCloud Road to Tree Farm Road; a combined project addressing Silver Beach Avenue and Sylvan Street; and Peter Street near Maryland. "The highest concentration of that was in Silver Beach area," Stone noted, with TKS Associates now contracted to move forward with design work for implementation later in 2026. ## Holly Street Bike Facility Study Continues Multi-Year Corridor Transformation The committee also received an update on the ongoing Holly Street Bike Facility Study, which will result in design alternatives for improvements from Ellis to Broadway. This project represents the culmination of more than a decade of planning, originating in the 2014 bike master plan, advancing to design work in 2023, and seeing a pilot project implemented in 2024. Interim improvements were installed along the Holly Street bike lanes this past summer, and the Alternatives Analysis is expected to be completed in spring 2026, with construction likely following in 2027. The corridor presents complex challenges, with "multiple uses that converge" creating pressure points that require careful consideration of traffic flow, parking needs, and safety improvements. Staff identified six segments within the corridor that will need to be addressed through the permanent improvements. Considerations include potentially extending the one-way designation from Bay to Champion to address traffic flow, removing parking from some areas while maintaining it in others, and accommodating the diverse transportation needs of this busy downtown corridor. ## Telecommunications Infrastructure Gets New Franchise Agreement The council approved a 10-year franchise agreement with Forged Fiber 37 LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T, to install and operate fiber optic broadband network components in city rights-of-way. The agreement stems from AT&T and Forged Fiber's acquisition of wholesale fiber assets from Lumen Technologies. Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Public Works over engineering, explained that this represents primarily a behind-the-scenes reorganization between companies, but requires the new franchise for Forged Fiber to own and operate the assets in city rights-of-way. The agreement includes a $100,000 bond — double the normal rate for such agreements — due to Forged Fiber 37 having no prior work experience in Washington state. The 10-year term represents a shift from past practices when such agreements often ran 20-25 years, reflecting current norms for shorter-term franchise agreements that provide more flexibility for future negotiations. ## Police Department Building Gets Major Exterior Repairs The council awarded a $1.5 million contract to Summit Construction Group for exterior repairs to the main police building, addressing water intrusion issues in the facade and flooring problems throughout the main internal hallways. The project had previously been bid with a significant discrepancy between the engineer's estimate and received bids, leading staff to revise the scope and re-bid the work. Carol Rothgar, Assistant Director of Public Works over internal services, reported that the second bidding process yielded much closer alignment, with Summit's winning bid of $1,504,200 coming in just above the engineer's estimate of $1,475,860. The project is subject to the city's apprenticeship program requirements due to its size and dollar amount. ## Medical Services Agreements Receive Annual Updates The Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee, chaired by Council Member Daniel Hammill, recommended approval of two interlocal agreement amendments. The advanced life support services agreement with Whatcom County received its annual funding adjustment, increasing the fiscal impact to just north of $13.9 million — a 2.3% CPI adjustment plus 1% additional increase. "This provides for four paramedic units, EMS captain, community paramedic, and paramedic training based budget," Hammill explained. The committee also approved reducing the city's contribution to the GRACE (Ground-Level Response and Coordinated Engagement) program by $60,358. Hammill was careful to emphasize that "this reduction will not impact in any way people that are using this program for their services." Instead, the reduction aligns the budgeted amount with actual program costs, allowing those funds to be redirected to other human service needs through the Community Development Advisory Board process. ## Tourism and Economic Development Partnerships Continue Council Member Jace Cotton, chairing the Community and Economic Development Committee, guided approval of several tourism and economic development items, beginning with Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism's 2026 budget of $1.49 million. Dylan Dean Boyle presented what Cotton described as "a very entertaining presentation complete with videos" detailing the organization's tourism promotion activities. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee's budget amendments and recommendations also received approval, including increases for FIFA World Cup activities and a comprehensive list of grants supporting community events and tourism attractions. Cotton recused himself from the lodging tax discussion due to a potential conflict of interest related to a budget line item for live music events and his ownership of a music venue. A significant change came in the Regional Economic Partnership agreement, where countywide rural sales tax revenue (economic development investment or EDI revenue) will begin funding economic development activities in 2026, freeing city general fund dollars for other purposes while maintaining the city as "a foundational partner in the regional economic partnership." ## Budget Amendment Addresses Mid-Year Financial Pressures The Budget and Finance Committee, chaired by Council Member Lisa Anderson, recommended approval of the third budget amendment of 2025, authorizing up to $1.1 million in interfund loans from the general fund. The loans include $300,000 to the Medic One fund, $200,000 to the Workers' Compensation fund, and $600,000 to the Health Benefits fund. Finance Director Andy Azbjornson explained that these represent interfund loans expected to be repaid as funding comes back to the city. Additional expenses requiring departmental budget adjustments totaled $4.8 million, though savings from departments not spending their full budgets will likely reduce the actual impact on reserves to around $2 million. Council Member Lilliquist provided context for the budget pressures: "You may have heard the city start out with the $10 million deficit, the mayor's budget closed that to zero and immediately events overtook us and it grew back to $4 million due to unanticipated expenses, expenses beyond our control." Despite these challenges, he noted, "the expectation is in 2026 will be making some more adjustments to the budget in order to keep our reserves healthy." ## Parks Department Expands Services and Implements Fee Adjustments Council Member Skip Williams, chairing the Parks and Recreation Committee, guided approval of two straightforward but significant items. The first established fees for expanded Bayview Cemetery services, including a new option for terro remains — a composting process for human remains that takes place at a licensed facility, with the finished product delivered back to the cemetery in 15-25 pound bags for distribution. Williams explained the new service: "The Bayview Cemetery seeks to do this to respect the final wishes of those customers desiring this." The fee structure is based on staff time required for distribution, estimated at two full-time staff members working one hour, with remains either placed in traditional casket graves or distributed in section 15 of the cemetery. The cemetery fee resolution also formalizes rates for Memorial Garden ground space and donation of memorial benches, with 90 spaces mapped out in the garden providing placeholders for single markers without burial of remains. The second item implemented fee increases for park facility use, representing the first formal fee structure for external for-profit groups using park spaces. "Currently, there is no formal process or fee structure in place for external for-profit groups utilizing the park resources for their activities," Williams explained. The new commercial use permit system includes a $75 application fee (with an additional $75 for expedited processing), plus usage fees of $1 per participant per day for nonprofit organizations and $2 per participant per day for for-profit organizations. The goal is "to ensure equitable cost recovery for the city and improve management of park impacts by these groups." Council Member Anderson clarified the scope during discussion, explaining that the fees target businesses advertising activities at parks as their meeting location, such as fitness instructors using parks instead of gyms. "This is not what the goal of this is" for day care centers taking children to parks for activities, she said, describing such use as "a typical and supported use of the park as a community amenity." The fee structure also provides for annual increases of up to 5% to avoid requiring council approval each year, though Parks Director Nicole Oliver indicated typical increases have been around 3%, with the upper limit providing flexibility. ## Comprehensive Plan Adoption Caps Years of Community Planning The Committee of the Whole session included adoption of the 2025 City of Bellingham Comprehensive Plan, representing the culmination of extensive community engagement, surveys, focus groups, and countless hours of staff work. Council President Huthman noted it was "a little odd to have such a short summary for such a big amount of work," congratulating staff on "a really, really amazing product." Before adoption, Council Member Lilliquist proposed an amendment adding a new housing policy that had been approved by the council in November but inadvertently omitted from the final draft. The new Policy H-10 reads: "Explore creative solutions for creating permanent affordability and community wealth building such as community land trusts, limited equity cooperatives, resident owned communities, and public development authorities." The amendment was approved unanimously, followed by unanimous adoption of the comprehensive plan itself — a document that will guide Bellingham's growth and development decisions for years to come. ## Housing Executive Order Shows Year One Progress The committee also received a progress report on Mayor Lund's executive order expanding housing options in Bellingham, issued in November 2024. The presentation included public accounts from local developers, with members of the Talbot team who developed in the Barkley area and Roselly Throat from Colson Community Land Trust sharing examples of how policy changes are impacting their work. "I think this was a really great review of the work that has been done in some discussion of the work that's going to be happening going forward," Huthman said, encouraging community members to view the presentation video at meetings.cob.org for more detailed information about the housing initiatives. ## Property Transactions and Litigation Authorization During executive session, the council authorized several real estate transactions. They approved the mayor's authority to close on a 3.62-acre property purchase in the Lake Whatcom Watershed from Derek and Amanda Hahn for $289,000, funded through the city's watershed land acquisition program supported by water customer surcharges. The council also authorized sale of surplus city property at 858 East Smith Road — a 0.97-acre parcel with a 2,891 square foot home that previously served as a satellite fire department facility. The property will be sold to Thomas Costa and Janel Cruz for $630,000 plus a $10,000 closing cost allowance, contingent upon the buyers' sale of their current home. In a litigation matter, the council authorized the mayor to sign onto an amicus brief in United States v. New York City et al., though no details about the case were provided in the public session. ## Consent Agenda Includes Recreation Center Planning Grant The consent agenda passed without discussion but included a notable item highlighted by Council Member Stone: authorization to enter an interlocal agreement with the Washington State Department of Commerce for a grant to create a business proposal for a potential intergenerational community recreation center with expanded aquatics. Stone noted the significant community interest in recreation center and expanded aquatics possibilities, connecting this grant authorization to the mayor's earlier announcement about the Civic Athletic Complex master plan community meeting. ## Five Housing-Related Ordinances Pass Final Reading The council concluded its legislative business by giving final approval to five ordinances, all related to housing development and zoning reforms. These included extending interim zoning regulations for single-family and infill housing development for another six months, allowing co-living arrangements in multifamily zones while updating relevant definitions, establishing clear and objective design standards for various types of development, updating accessory dwelling unit regulations, and adopting the 2026 budget. Each ordinance passed unanimously on roll call votes, demonstrating the council's unified commitment to expanding housing options in Bellingham through regulatory reform and strategic investment. ## Closing and What's Ahead Council Member Hammill announced in old and new business that the second Didgwálic mobile medical unit is now operating downtown at Flora and Unity, providing opiate use disorder treatment including methadone and Suboxone. This joins the first unit on Division Street in providing accessible addiction treatment services. The meeting concluded with fourteen residents offering public comments during the public comment period, though the broadcast ended before the public comment session began. The council's next regular meeting is scheduled for December 15, 2025, with two public hearings planned on utility and sewer easement relinquishments. The evening represented a comprehensive display of municipal governance — from ceremonial beginnings through substantive policy decisions to the adoption of long-term planning documents. Through it all, the council maintained its collaborative approach, with unanimous votes on nearly every item and respectful debate when questions arose about budget impacts or policy details.

### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council held its regular meeting on December 8, 2025, where members conducted swearing-in ceremonies for newly elected officials, adopted the 2026 budget, passed several housing-related ordinances, and received progress reports on the mayor's housing executive order and various ongoing city projects. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Tourism Promotion Area (TPA):** A special assessment district where qualifying businesses pay fees to fund tourism marketing and promotion activities. The 2026 TPA budget totaled $1,488,655 for Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism activities. **Interlocal Agreement:** A contract between different government entities (like cities and counties) to share services or costs. Several interlocal agreements were discussed, including ones for emergency medical services and economic development partnerships. **Interim Zoning Ordinance:** Temporary zoning rules that remain in effect while the city develops permanent regulations. Council extended interim housing regulations for an additional six months. **Co-living:** A housing arrangement where residents have private bedrooms but share common areas like kitchens and living rooms. The council approved new regulations to allow co-living in multifamily zones. **Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs):** Secondary housing units on the same lot as a primary residence, such as basement apartments or backyard cottages. Council updated ADU regulations to encourage more affordable housing options. **Community Streets Program:** A resident-driven initiative that addresses traffic safety concerns on residential streets through data collection and community input, with 2025 being the first year of implementation. **GRACE Program:** Ground-Level Response and Coordinated Engagement - a county program that helps frequent users of emergency services through intensive case coordination. **Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC):** A group that recommends how to spend tax revenue collected from hotel and motel stays, typically funding tourism-related events and facilities. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hollie Huthman | Council President, Second Ward | | Hannah Stone | Council Member, First Ward | | Daniel Hammill | Council Member, Third Ward | | Edwin "Skip" Williams | Council Member, Fourth Ward | | Lisa Anderson | Council Member, Fifth Ward | | Michael Lilliquist | Council Member, Sixth Ward | | Jace Cotton | Council Member, At-Large | | Kimberley Lund | Mayor | | Debra Lev | Municipal Court Judge (sworn in) | | Tim Holman | Assistant Director of Public Works (Transportation) | | Nicole Oliver | Parks Director | | Andy Azbjornson | Finance Director | ### Background Context This meeting occurred during a significant period of housing policy reform in Bellingham. Mayor Lund's housing executive order, issued in November 2024, directed all city departments to take immediate action to increase housing opportunities. The various housing-related ordinances passed at this meeting represent the implementation of that directive, aimed at addressing Bellingham's growing housing affordability crisis through regulatory changes that encourage diverse housing types and reduce development barriers. The city is also facing budget pressures, as evidenced by the third budget amendment of 2025 that required interfund loans totaling $1.1 million. Despite starting with a balanced 2026 budget, ongoing expenses beyond the city's control have created fiscal challenges that will require ongoing attention. ### What Happened — The Short Version Council members and a new judge took their oaths of office to begin new terms. The mayor updated council on housing initiatives and upcoming civic complex planning. Committee chairs reported on morning meetings that covered street improvements, police building repairs, tourism budgets, and parks fees. Council approved all committee recommendations including a $1.5 million contract for police building repairs, tourism and lodging tax budgets, and new cemetery services. They passed the 2026 city budget and adopted the new comprehensive plan with housing policy additions. Several housing ordinances received final approval, including rules for co-living arrangements and accessory dwelling units. In executive session, council authorized property purchases and sales worth over $900,000 total. ### What to Watch Next - December 10th community meeting at Bloedel Donovan on the Civic Athletic Complex master plan - December 15th public hearings on utility easement relinquishments - Spring 2026 completion of Holly Street bike facility alternatives analysis - Ongoing implementation of the mayor's housing executive order initiatives ---

**Q:** Who was sworn in as Municipal Court Judge? **A:** Debra Lev was sworn in as the new Municipal Court Judge by Mayor Lund. **Q:** Which four council members took oaths of office for new terms? **A:** Hollie Huthman (Ward 2), Skip Williams (Ward 4), Michael Lilliquist (Ward 6), and Jace Cotton (At-Large). **Q:** What was the total budget approved for Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism's 2026 Tourism Promotion Area? **A:** $1,488,655, covering administration, marketing, and visitor services. **Q:** How much did the council authorize for interfund loans in the 2025 budget amendment? **A:** Up to $1.1 million total: $300,000 to Medic One Fund, $200,000 to Workers Comp Fund, and $600,000 to Health Benefits Fund. **Q:** What is the Community Streets Program? **A:** A resident-driven initiative to address traffic safety concerns on residential streets through data collection and community input, with 2025 being its first year. **Q:** How much did Summit Construction Group bid for the police department exterior repairs? **A:** $1,504,200, which was close to the engineer's estimate of $1,475,860. **Q:** What new housing policy was added to the comprehensive plan? **A:** Policy H-10: Explore creative solutions for permanent affordability like community land trusts, limited equity cooperatives, and resident owned communities. **Q:** What is co-living as defined in the new ordinance? **A:** Housing where residents have private bedrooms but share common areas like kitchens and living rooms, now allowed in multifamily zones. **Q:** How much will the city pay for the Lake Whatcom watershed property from Derek and Amanda Hahn? **A:** $289,000 for the 3.62-acre property, funded by water customer watershed surcharges. **Q:** What is the GRACE program? **A:** Ground-Level Response and Coordinated Engagement - a county program helping frequent users of emergency services through intensive case coordination. **Q:** When is the Civic Athletic Complex master plan community meeting? **A:** December 10th, 6-8 PM at Bloedel Donovan Community Building. **Q:** What interim zoning regulations did council extend? **A:** Regulations for single-family and infill housing development, extended for an additional six months. **Q:** How much will the city receive from selling the surplus property at 858 East Smith Road? **A:** $630,000 plus a $10,000 closing cost allowance, sold to Thomas Costa and Janel Cruz. **Q:** What new cemetery service will Bayview Cemetery offer? **A:** Terramation - composting human remains at a licensed facility, then distributing the resulting material throughout the cemetery. **Q:** How will the new parks commercial use permit fees be structured? **A:** $75 application fee, plus $1 per participant per day for nonprofits and $2 per participant per day for for-profit groups. **Q:** What percentage increase can parks fees have annually under the new resolution? **A:** Up to 5% annually, with 5-10% increases proposed for 2026. **Q:** When is the Holly Street bike facility alternatives analysis expected to be complete? **A:** Spring 2026, with construction likely following in 2027 based on available funding. **Q:** What is the deadline for submitting material for December 15th public hearings? **A:** 10:00 AM on Wednesday prior to the meeting, for inclusion in the published agenda packet. ---