Real Briefings
Bellingham City Council
← Back to All Briefings
Executive Summary
The Bellingham City Council's March 9, 2026 meeting was highlighted by a comprehensive presentation on the results of a 2025 survey of landlords and property managers regarding the city's rental fee regulations implemented in August 2025. The presentation, delivered by Legislative Policy Analyst Iris Knot, revealed significant operational changes particularly among property managers, with Council voting unanimously to refer the matter to the Planning Committee for further discussion.
The meeting also featured the confirmation and swearing-in of Nicholas Henry as Bellingham Municipal Court Judge Position Two, marking a significant expansion of the court's capacity to handle trials. Henry, who has served as municipal court commissioner since January 2022, was confirmed unanimously and sworn in by Judge Debra Lev during the meeting.
Mayor Marilyn Lund provided updates on the city's ambitious day center planning initiative, aiming to open a facility by fall 2026 to serve homeless individuals, particularly in anticipation of the central library branch closure for renovations. The House capital budget has included $1.03 million for the project, though final legislative approval remains pending as the session concludes.
Council Member Hamill reported on his participation in updating the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM), a community resource mapping tool for behavioral health and criminal justice services, with Council voting to receive a presentation on the findings at the April 13 Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee meeting.
The session included routine business with all consent agenda items passing unanimously, along with the extension of interim landmark tree development regulations for an additional six months. The meeting concluded with a public comment period featuring 12 speakers.
Key Decisions & Actions
**AB 24849 - Landlord and Property Manager Survey Results:** Motion by Hamill/Williams to refer further discussion to Planning Committee for a work session - **PASSED 7-0**
**AB 24851 - Transportation Commission Reappointment:** Motion by Williams/Huthman to confirm Jamin Agosti to a first full term on the Transportation Commission, expiring March 13, 2029 - **PASSED 7-0**
**AB 24845 - Municipal Court Judge Confirmation:** Motion by Williams/Hamill to confirm Nicholas Henry as Bellingham Municipal Court Judge Position Two - **PASSED 7-0**
**Sequential Intercept Model Presentation:** Motion by Hamill/Williams to request the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee receive a SIM presentation on April 13, 2026 - **PASSED 7-0**
**Executive Session Property Acquisition:** Motion by Williams/Lilliquist to authorize the Mayor to close real estate transaction with Tracy M. Joelos for $400,000 - **PASSED 7-0** (11.7 acre Lake Whatcom watershed property using restricted watershed preservation funds)
**Consent Agenda:** Motion by Hamill/Williams to approve all consent agenda items including payroll authorizations, meeting minutes, and AP transactions - **PASSED 7-0**
**AB 24843 - Landmark Trees Ordinance:** Motion by Hamill/Anderson for third and final reading, extending interim development regulations for landmark trees for additional six months - **PASSED 7-0** (Roll call vote; became Ordinance #2026-03-005)
Notable Quotes
**Nicholas Henry, on his appointment:**
"Tonight's really not about me. It's really about the people who helped me get here."
**Nicholas Henry, on his role:**
"I feel lucky every single day I get to go to work. It's pretty amazing getting to do something I genuinely love and to serve our community."
**Judge Debra Lev, on Nicholas Henry:**
"Ever since that day, he has demonstrated every day that we are better with him on our court team and I made the right choice."
**Council Member Lilliquist, on property manager compliance:**
"I was really surprised to hear this property managers who was struggling to understand and comply seeing as how it's kind of their day job."
**Council Member Lilliquist, on rental regulations:**
"I do think it's an important thing to understand whether or not we're overregulating or misregulating one group or the other."
**Council Member Anderson, on tenant perspectives:**
"We're really not gathering any information from tenants what potentially the impacts would be with these changes."
**Mayor Lund, on day center priority:**
"This is a top priority for me and it is a goal to have a day center facility in place sometime this fall."
**Council Member Hamill, on rental regulations:**
"There's still a bad culture of at least a few people who are still not treating others fairly."