Bellingham City Council Committee of the Whole

**Deputy Administrator Longman, on budget corrections:** "This is pretty much every budget cycle. You see one of these memos. These are just, you know, after building the budget, and going through everything, as discussions continue, just things that got slipped through or missed along the way, or have changed in the interim." **Judge Deborah Lev, on DUI trends:** "We have had more .2 and above. So almost three times a little limit like routinely. So those people on a second, third lifetime offenses, like we have to monitor them... that number has gone up and it boggles the mind, frankly, how to me like how it's happening." **Judge Lev, on community court philosophy:** "Our goal is not to, although we could, because we have people who picked up massive amounts of new serious charges, our goal is to try to get them through the program regardless of that." **Council Member Cotton, on technology improvements:** "I really appreciate under the current leadership the embracing of IT and t

# Committee of the Whole Meeting - Budget Season Decisions and Routine Business The Bellingham City Council Committee of the Whole convened on November 3, 2025, for a budget work session and afternoon business meeting. All seven council members were present for the nearly two-hour session that mixed budget deliberations with routine municipal business. ## Meeting Overview The meeting split between a budget work session in the Mayor's Boardroom and regular committee business in Council Chambers after lunch. The budget work session consumed most of the morning, featuring presentations from Municipal Court, the City Council office, and the Mayor's office about their 2026 budget proposals and work plans. The afternoon included routine items like contract renewals and calendar setting, plus brief old/new business. ## Budget Corrections and Adjustments The meeting began with Finance Deputy Administrator Forrest Longman presenting the inevitable budget corrections memo — what he called "pretty much every budget cycle" housekeeping. The changes totaled $429,000 in net additions to the general fund, the most significant being a $266,400 Fleet Fund double-counting error in Parks & Recreation. "These are just, you know, after building the budget and going through everything, as discussions continue, just things that got slipped through or missed along the way, or have changed in the interim," Longman explained. The corrections covered departments from the Museum (a missed 2.7% cost-of-living adjustment) to the Fire Department (adding $100,000 for emergency medical services to Galbraith recreation areas through South Whatcom Fire Authority). Council Member Hammill asked the key question: "Will these be continuing deficits like this that will be a problem next year?" Longman acknowledged the concern but put it in perspective: "We're under half a million dollars deficit... we're also estimating $125 million in revenues, right? So there's a lot of ways that can go either way." The council approved the corrections 7-0. ## Municipal Court's Growing Caseload Challenge Municipal Court Director Tami Bennett and Judge Deborah Lev painted a picture of a court system straining under increasing caseloads and increasingly serious offenses. Their proposed solution: adding a second judicial officer to enable jury trials and additional court sessions. "With the increased caseloads that we've been seeing," Bennett explained, "we were able to make the greatest cut" to supplies (45% reduction) and copying (70% reduction), "but one of the major additions that we're looking at for next year... is appointing a second judicial officer." The court's community court program — the city's response to recriminalizing public drug use — has exceeded expectations but hit capacity constraints. Judge Lev described the challenge: "We thought we could cap it at 10 to 15 but we can't because there are people that need these services." The community court operates every other Tuesday, alternating with mental health court. Participants were initially capped at 15 but now exceed 20, with some staying in the program much longer than the planned 6-8 months. "Unlike other diversion programs, you mess up, you're done, right? That create space. That's not really also the goal of this program," Judge Lev explained. The court's philosophy of "until revoked" means extending program periods by months to help participants succeed. This therapeutic approach comes with costs. The "other services and charges" line item — primarily probation services — continues growing as the court supervises more people on increasingly serious charges. Judge Lev provided stark context about the DUI trends: "The DUIs we are seeing... a very huge chunk of them, 50% or more, are repeat offenders. And the BAC levels are astronomically high. We have had more .2 and above... routinely." She continued: "We've literally had DUIs where people are driving down the street and then fallen unconscious due to drug use while driving and then crashing... many of those while using monitoring." Council Member Stone asked about community court capacity and external service availability. Judge Lev confirmed that while probation serves as the connection point, the program utilizes an interdisciplinary team of community services. The court also announced a new food pantry "available and accessible to not only community court participants, but everyone who may be in need," hoping to reduce theft and shoplifting charges by providing essentials. ## Council Office Budget and Staff Decision Council President Huthman presented the Council office budget, noting the challenge of reducing costs when "81% of our budget is salaries and benefits" with only 10 FTEs. Travel was cut 80%, and various office expenses trimmed. The main decision involved a frozen Legislative Assistant position that has never been filled, costing approximately $105,000 if funded. The position would staff the front desk and assist Legislative Office Manager Jackie Weller. Huthman put Weller on the spot about the workload: "How do you feel about your workload? Does it make sense to have a half time or go without?" Weller diplomatically responded: "Our office could use the assistance, but... we're offering a certain level of support now that is acceptable to you all. I think having this position would free up time for larger projects." Council Member Anderson raised the timing concern: "We do have an election tomorrow that we do not know the outcome of but the potential for potentially three new council members and the onboarding of that and the support that looms over me." After discussion about whether to freeze the position (removing budget authority while keeping the FTE slot for potential future filling) versus leaving it simply unfilled, the council voted 7-0 to officially freeze the position for 2026. ## Mayor's Office: Strategic Initiatives and One City Vision Mayor Lund, joined by Deputy Administrators Janice Keller and Forrest Longman, presented the Mayor's office $3.3 million budget supporting 12 FTEs. They're eliminating 2.5 positions (1.5 currently vacant, including a receptionist and special projects manager, plus the filled climate adaptation manager position). The presentation highlighted the "One City" vision — coordinating work across departments rather than operating in silos. Deputy Administrator Keller described their weekly strategic initiatives meetings: "Sometimes 40 people in this room and it's more of a salon style. So you can come without policy ideas fully baked... and throw it out there." Strategic initiatives include continuing the equity and belonging work, climate action (despite losing the adaptation manager), and public safety coordination. The office leads the citywide encampment team and the Keep Washington Working Act working group. Mayor Lund emphasized downtown revitalization work: "Since taking office, trying to bring vibrancy, safety and a vision for downtown where our small local business community, the people that work there, the people that live there and visit are engaged and feel good about being in our downtown." Communications improvements were highlighted, with Council Member Anderson praising the modernization: "Working in higher education, communication and IT is just so incredibly important... I really appreciate under the current leadership the embracing of IT and the different tools out there that can streamline efficiency." The mayor's team is revamping the council agenda process — moving from paper-based routines dating to 2001 to electronic systems with earlier publication and better public access. Council Member Cotton requested the full work plan details, noting: "The mayor's budget is funny because things just kind of land there because I don't have another home... these are the big picture things... that the community cares about." ## Afternoon Business: Contracts and Calendars After lunch, the committee moved through routine items efficiently. The probation services interlocal agreement with Whatcom County continues a 20-year relationship, with costs averaging 20% annual increases due to more supervised individuals (from 696 at year-start to 823 currently). Adding the Bellingham School District impact fee schedule to the Capital Facilities Plan addresses a technical omission from September's adoption. The fees will be updated next year to align with new housing terminology and state legislation changes. The property tax levy ordinance authorizes a 0.96% increase — below the maximum 1% because the affordable housing portion isn't taking the full increase. This generates an additional $304,818 for 2026. The 2026 council meeting calendar maintains the every-other-week pattern with some adjustments for holidays and space conflicts. The reorganization meeting will occur the same day as the first regular meeting (January 5) due to space constraints and holidays. ## Looking Ahead Council Member Hammill announced the expansion of the Didgwálič mobile medical unit, opening November 10 at First Baptist Church parking lot to serve people with opioid use disorders — staffed and funded entirely by the tribe. Council President Huthman and Council Member Lilliquist expressed interest in participating in the TriFunder CEDS (Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy) 2027-2031 engagement plan interviews, with formal assignment postponed to the next meeting. ## Closing & What's Ahead The committee completed four agenda items in just 15 minutes during the afternoon session, demonstrating efficiency when handling routine business. The meeting concluded with two brief executive session items regarding potential property acquisitions. The budget work session revealed the ongoing tensions between expanding service demands and fiscal constraints, particularly evident in Municipal Court's capacity challenges and the council's decision to freeze an unfilled position. As the city approaches final budget adoption, these conversations illuminate the difficult choices facing local government in balancing community needs with available resources.

### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council's Committee of the Whole met on November 3, 2025, with all seven council members present for a budget work session focused on three departmental budgets: Municipal Court, City Council Office, and Mayor's Office. The meeting also addressed routine administrative items including property taxes and the 2026 meeting calendar. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Committee of the Whole (COTW):** A special meeting format where all council members sit as a single committee to review detailed information, ask questions, and make preliminary decisions before formal votes at evening council meetings. **Community Court:** A specialized therapeutic court program started in 2024 as a prosecutorial diversion for drug-related charges, offering treatment and rehabilitation services rather than traditional prosecution. Currently serves 20+ participants but is at capacity. **Frozen Position:** A budgeted staff position that is temporarily suspended (unfunded) but retained as an FTE on paper, making it easier to restore when budget conditions improve compared to permanently eliminated positions. **Errata and Corrections Memo:** A standard budget document that appears each cycle to address errors, omissions, or changes discovered after the initial budget was prepared, requiring council approval to integrate into the final budget. **Impact Fees:** Charges paid by developers to help fund infrastructure improvements needed to serve new development, such as schools, roads, or utilities. The Bellingham School District collects these fees through the city. **Property Tax Levy:** The annual ordinance setting how much the city will collect in property taxes, limited by state law to a maximum 1% increase per year. For 2026, Bellingham is taking a 0.96% increase. **One City Initiative:** The mayor's office approach to coordinating work across city departments rather than operating in silos, including streamlined processes and better public communication. **Alternative Response Team:** A program that sends behavioral health professionals rather than police to certain mental health crisis calls, representing the city's investment in alternative public safety approaches. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hollie Huthman | Council President, Committee Chair | | 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 | At-Large Council Member | | Kimberley Lund | Mayor | | Judge Deborah Lev | Municipal Court Judge | | Tami Bennett | Municipal Court Director | | Janice Keller | Deputy City Administrator | | Forrest Longman | Deputy City Administrator | | Jackie Weller | Legislative Office Manager | | Eric Johnson | Budget & Treasury Manager | | Elizabeth Erickson | Senior Planner | ### Background Context This meeting occurred during Bellingham's annual budget process for 2026, with the city facing ongoing financial pressures that have required cuts and position freezes across departments. The budget reflects both fiscal constraints and community priorities, particularly around housing, climate action, and alternative approaches to public safety. The Community Court program represents a significant policy shift following the city's decision to recriminalize public drug use, offering a therapeutic alternative focused on treatment rather than punishment. However, the program's unexpected success has created capacity issues that may require expansion. The city is also in the middle of major infrastructure transitions, including planning for a new courthouse in the historic federal building and implementing new technology systems to modernize operations and improve public access to government. ### What Happened — The Short Version The meeting started with approval of budget corrections totaling $429,000 in additional general fund expenses—routine adjustments that happen every budget cycle. The Municipal Court presented their 2026 budget, highlighting their successful but overcapacity Community Court program and proposing to add a second judicial officer. The City Council Office proposed freezing an unfilled legislative assistant position to save $105,000, which council approved. The Mayor's Office presented an ambitious work plan despite budget cuts, including continued investments in climate action, housing initiatives, and the "One City" approach to coordinated government. The afternoon session quickly approved four routine items: renewing the probation services contract, adding school district impact fees to the capital facilities plan, setting the 2026 property tax levy at just under the 1% maximum, and adopting next year's meeting calendar. ### What to Watch Next - The Municipal Court will likely return with requests for expanded Community Court capacity and additional judicial resources in the 2027 budget - The mayor's office plans to release more details about their communication and civic engagement strategic plan - Property tax and budget decisions will be formally voted on at the next evening council meeting - Two council members will be selected to participate in regional economic development planning interviews ---

**Q:** What type of meeting format was used for the budget discussions? **A:** Committee of the Whole, where all seven council members sit together to review detailed departmental information before formal voting at evening meetings. **Q:** How much money did the budget corrections memo add to the general fund? **A:** $429,000 in net additional expenses, including items like museum cost-of-living adjustments and municipal court technology needs. **Q:** What is Community Court and why is it significant? **A:** A therapeutic diversion program for drug-related charges that offers treatment instead of traditional prosecution. It's unexpectedly successful with 20+ participants but is now at capacity. **Q:** How much would the unfilled legislative assistant position cost? **A:** Approximately $105,000 for 2026, which council voted to freeze rather than fund. **Q:** What percentage property tax increase is Bellingham taking for 2026? **A:** 0.96%, slightly below the state-allowed maximum of 1% because they didn't increase the affordable housing portion of the levy. **Q:** Who is Judge Deborah Lev? **A:** The Municipal Court Judge who spoke about Community Court's capacity issues and the need for additional judicial resources. **Q:** What is the "One City" initiative? **A:** Mayor Lund's approach to coordinating work across city departments rather than operating in silos, including streamlined processes and better public communication. **Q:** How many people are currently on probation supervision through the municipal court? **A:** 823 individuals as of last month, up from 696 at the start of the year. **Q:** What major infrastructure project is being planned for the municipal court? **A:** Moving court operations to the renovated historic federal building, with $600,000 budgeted for design work in 2026. **Q:** What pattern is the court seeing in DUI cases? **A:** A dramatic increase in cases with very high blood alcohol levels (often 0.2+) and many repeat offenders, plus more drug-related DUIs. **Q:** How much is budgeted for interpretation services in the Council Office? **A:** $20,000 for translation and interpretation services, representing a significant investment in language accessibility. **Q:** What happens to probation costs as community court expands? **A:** They go up because participants need supervision and testing, but much of this is reimbursed through state therapeutic court funding. **Q:** What major personnel change is proposed for the Mayor's Office? **A:** Eliminating the Climate Adaptation Manager position (2.5 total FTE cuts) while maintaining strategic initiatives and communications staff. **Q:** When will the new Didgwálič mobile medical unit begin operations? **A:** November 10, 2025, at the First Baptist Church parking lot, serving people with opioid use disorders. **Q:** What is the meeting schedule pattern for 2026? **A:** Council will meet every other week except for some unavoidable back-to-back meetings and a longer break in June. **Q:** How does the budget reflect the city's financial situation? **A:** Position freezes and cuts across departments, with careful prioritization of community safety, housing, and climate initiatives despite fiscal constraints. **Q:** What is significant about the school district impact fees? **A:** They need to be updated next year to align with new middle housing types and recent state legislation changes. **Q:** How often do probation costs historically increase? **A:** An average of 20% annually, driven primarily by increasing numbers of people under supervision rather than rate increases. **Q:** What major elections consideration was mentioned for the Council Office? **A:** Potential need for additional support to onboard up to three new council members depending on election results. **Q:** What regional economic development role was discussed? **A:** Two council members will participate in interviews for the Trifunder CEDS 2027-2031 engagement plan, with both President Huthman and Council Member Lilliquist expressing interest. ---