### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council held its regular meeting on April 13, 2026, where they addressed several key agenda items including a federal grant for police equipment, financial challenges facing the city, and communications improvements. The meeting featured both routine business and significant discussions about long-term planning and resource allocation. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG):** A federal grant program providing funding to law enforcement agencies for equipment, programs, and criminal justice initiatives. Bellingham received approximately $32,000 for 2025. **Transportation Impact Fees:** Fees charged to new developments to help fund transportation infrastructure improvements necessitated by increased traffic from those developments. **Multimodal Transportation:** Transportation systems that include multiple options like roads, bike lanes, pedestrian walkways, and transit rather than just car-focused infrastructure. **Historic Preservation Commission (HPC):** A city commission responsible for reviewing and protecting historically significant properties and buildings in Bellingham. **Regional Fire Authority (RFA):** A proposed collaboration between the City of Bellingham and Fire Protection District 8 to share fire protection services and resources. **Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program:** A city program requiring landlords to register rental properties and undergo safety inspections to ensure tenant protection. **Surplus Property Sale:** The process by which the city sells property it no longer needs for municipal purposes. **Interlocal Agreement:** Formal agreements between government agencies (city, county, state) to share resources or coordinate services. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hannah Stone | Council President | | Kim Lund | Mayor | | Michael Lilliquist | Council Member, Public Works Chair | | Hollie Huthman | Council Member, Planning Committee Chair | | Lisa Anderson | Council Member, Budget & Finance Chair…