Bellingham City Council Committee of the Whole

Bellingham's City Council Committee of the Whole convened for a brief 50-minute session that addressed two distinct items: a routine legal appointment and a significant policy discussion about immigration enforcement. The meeting demonstrated both the procedural efficiency of municipal governance and the deeper tensions around how cities respond to federal policy changes. The committee unanimously approved Mayor Kim Lund's appointment of attorney Bridget Bryck as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission, filling a role necessitated by potential conflicts of interest when the City Attorney's Office both advises and appears before the commission. This appointment follows the 2023 BMC amendment requiring outside counsel for the commission, replacing counsel who recently relocated overseas. The more substantive discussion centered on a draft resolution introduced by Council Members Williams and Hammill addressing immigration enforcement and civil rights. The resolution, titled "A resolution reaffirming the city of Bellingham's commitment to immigrant rights and civil rights and denouncing federal immigration enforcement actions that endanger public safety and violate individuals constitutional rights in Bellingham and nationwide," sparked a lengthy debate about the purpose and effectiveness of municipal resolutions. Council President Stone raised critical questions about the practical difference between this new resolution and a similar one passed just eight months ago on June 9th. She emphasized the need for actionable items rather than symbolic statements, particularly given the real fear experienced by immigrant community members, including dual citizens considering leaving the country. Stone's perspective as an immigration attorney added weight to her concerns about promises the city cannot keep and the need for tangible actions that demonstrate Bellingham as a welcoming community. The discussion revealed different philosophical approaches to municipal governance during federal policy crises. Council Member Williams advocated for flexibility, arguing that specific commitments in resolutions could limit the city's ability to respond adaptively to changing circumstances. Council Member Hammill emphasized the value of reaffirming commitments given Bellingham's growing population - noting that over 10,000 current residents weren't living in the city when previous immigration-related resolutions were passed. The committee ultimately voted 7-0 to refer the resolution to the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee for further consideration at the February 23rd meeting, with Council Member Hammill serving as committee chair. The discussion highlighted ongoing tensions between symbolic declarations and actionable policies, as well as the challenges of municipal governance in addressing federal immigration enforcement within jurisdictional limitations.

**AB 24827 - Confirmation of Mayor's appointment of Bridget Bryck as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission** - Vote count: 7-0 (unanimous approval) - Staff recommendation: City Attorney's Office recommended approval - Council action: Aligned with staff recommendation - Key specifics: Permanent appointment unless circumstances require change; no annual renewal needed - Practical impact: Provides required outside counsel to avoid conflicts of interest where City Attorney's Office both advises and appears before the Civil Service Commission **Referral of Immigration Rights Resolution to Committee** - Vote count: 7-0 (unanimous approval to refer) - Motion: To refer draft resolution to Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee - Staff recommendation: Not applicable (council-initiated item) - What it means: Resolution will receive committee work session before coming to full council on February 23rd - Process note: Item pushed against new agenda timeline deadlines, requiring coordination with office staff

**Council President Hannah Stone, on the need for actionable items:** "I'm not saying that we're responsible for why they're not feeling safe. But I am uncomfortable with some words that feel very absolute that, you know, we're going to protect you and make you feel safe. I'm telling you, they're not feeling safe right now." **Council Member Williams, on maintaining flexibility:** "We're not dealing with when this happens, this is what we're going to do in a concrete fashion. This is more when this happens, we're going to follow a process to figure out how we're going to respond." **Council Member Hammill, on changed circumstances:** "Eight months ago, ICE was not operating um in the streets as they as they have been in the past month and a half or two. Uh, eight months ago to me is a different world that we no longer reside in." **Council President Stone, on community fear:** "I have clients who are dual citizens, they are US citizens. They're dual citizens in other countries who are considering leaving to return to their home country right now because they feel like they are being targeted and their words hunted in their own community." **Council Member Williams, on the challenge of response:** "And in my last professional life when we were faced with this these kinds of situations, we would always say it's like trying to nail jello to the wall because we got to figure out, okay, what is this and how how can we fight this?" **Council Member Hammill, on community context:** "10 over 10,000 people that live here now did not live in Bellingham. We've seen an increase of about a thousand people per year u might be a little bit more than that. So they they don't have the context largely because they just didn't live here."

## Meeting Overview The Committee of the Whole convened at 2:05 p.m. on February 9, 2026, in a compact but consequential session that touched on both routine municipal business and one of the most pressing social justice issues facing cities nationwide. All seven council members were present, with Council President Hannah Stone chairing the meeting in City Hall's Council Chambers. The afternoon's agenda appeared deceptively simple: confirm a mayoral appointment and handle old and new business. But what emerged during the old and new business segment was a window into how local government grapples with federal immigration policy in real time, and how elected officials balance symbolic action with tangible impact for vulnerable communities. The session lasted just under an hour, but the immigration resolution discussion revealed deep tensions between the desire to provide moral leadership and the practical limitations of municipal power—a conversation that would continue to reverberate through upcoming committee work and public debate. ## Confirming Special Counsel for Civil Service Commission The meeting opened with what City Attorney Alan Marriner described as necessary housekeeping—appointing Bridget Bryck as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission. The need arose because the previous outside counsel "recently relocated overseas," as Marriner explained to the committee. The appointment stems from a 2023 amendment to city code requiring the Civil Service Commission to use outside counsel rather than the city attorney's office. "That was to avoid the potential conflict where our attorneys from our office were both representing and advising the commission and also appearing before the commission in an appeal," Marriner told the council. Bryck, an attorney with Bellingham's Carmichael Clark Law Firm who specializes in municipal law and has advised other municipalities on labor and employment matters, would handle all matters before the commission, including regular business and appeals. The city attorney's office recommended her for the role. The discussion was brief and businesslike. Council Member Michael Lilliquist moved to approve the appointment, with Council Member Hollie Huthman providing the second. Council President Stone confirmed this would be a permanent appointment "unless and until there was a need for a change," not requiring annual renewal. The vote was unanimous, 7-0, with no debate or questions about Bryck's qualifications. Stone noted that Bryck was present at the meeting and offered congratulations on the appointment, drawing light laughter when she added, "assuming that's what you want." ## The Immigration Resolution Emerges The afternoon's tone shifted dramatically when Council Member Edwin "Skip" Williams rose for old and new business. What followed was a 25-minute discussion that laid bare the complexities facing local governments as they respond to federal immigration enforcement actions. Williams, working with Council Member Daniel Hammill, had drafted a resolution titled "A resolution reaffirming the city of Bellingham's commitment to immigrant rights and civil rights and denouncing federal immigration enforcement actions that endanger public safety and violate individuals constitutional rights in Bellingham and nationwide." "Most of you know," Williams began, "at our last meeting, matter of fact, all of you know, council member Hamill announced that he and I have been working on a resolution for the council to consider regarding the challenges we as a city are facing with the current climate being surfaced in our country." Williams handed out revised copies of the draft resolution—a last-minute distribution that would later highlight procedural challenges with the council's new agenda timeline. He outlined four key areas of focus: celebrating the city's history of supporting human and civil rights, addressing current and potential future resistance actions regarding immigration enforcement, reassuring the community that all branches of municipal government remain committed to protecting rights, and encouraging other Whatcom County municipalities to take similar action. The procedural path forward required the resolution to be referred to the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee for a work session, with the goal of bringing it to the full council at the February 23rd meeting. ## Process Challenges and New Timeline Realities The resolution's introduction revealed growing pains with the council's new agenda-setting process. Deputy Administrator Keller explained that ideally, materials would be routed to the council office by Friday—February 13th—but acknowledged "we're all getting used to new deadlines." The reality, Keller noted, was that "something coming up for this, this is a great example, right? coming up today during old and new. The deadline for actually putting this on the February 23rd agenda has actually passed as far as our internal structure." Office staff would work to create a placeholder on the agenda, but it highlighted the tension between the council's desire for thorough advance preparation and the need to respond quickly to urgent issues. Council President Stone emphasized the importance of conducting committee work in open session, stating, "the discussion should occur in open session" to comply with the Open Public Meetings Act. She also announced that for the February 23rd meeting, if council members proposed amendments to the resolution, they should submit those in writing to both the clerk and office manager to ensure accurate documentation. ## A Debate on Substance vs. Symbolism The most substantive exchange came when Council President Stone, acknowledging she doesn't serve on the relevant committee, raised pointed questions about the resolution's purpose and impact. Her concerns cut to the heart of ongoing debates about municipal responses to immigration enforcement. Stone referenced the resolution the council had passed just eight months earlier—on June 9th—reaffirming Bellingham as "a welcoming city where people have a right to live free of discrimination, violence, and systemic barriers that threaten their safety, well-being, and human rights." "Since now, what feels like a short time later, bringing forward another resolution that's sort of reaffirming our position, right? my question and what I'm hearing from the broader immigrant community in particular sort of you know what does that what does that mean and how is this how is this any different than what we said eight months ago," Stone said. Her question reflected a deeper tension: "So just keeping that in mind as well as if there are actionable items, you know, things that we're able to do as a municipality, you know, what are those and are we able to articulate that here or does that live somewhere else in perhaps another resolution or ordinance that the council would consider?" Stone brought personal experience to bear on the discussion, noting her role as an immigration attorney: "Having clients who are dual citizens, they are US citizens. They're dual citizens in other countries who are considering leaving to return to their home country right now because they feel like they are being targeted and their words hunted in their own community." The fear, she emphasized, extended beyond those subject to enforcement action: "This is the reality that there are members of our community who have legal standing right under the immigration laws even to be here who are not feeling safe." ## Williams Responds: Process Over Promises Council Member Williams acknowledged Stone's concerns but defended the resolution's approach as fundamentally different from previous efforts. Rather than locking in specific responses, he argued, the resolution would establish a commitment to ongoing evaluation and action as circumstances evolve. "We're not dealing with when this happens, this is what we're going to do in a concrete fashion. This is more when this happens, we're going to follow a process to figure out how we're going to respond," Williams explained. He characterized this as a departure from past resolutions that might "lock in our response and then that's it." Instead: "We're going to keep going through and figuring out what is our best response to this and what are the actions that we're going to take." Williams used a telling metaphor from his previous professional experience: "we would always say it's like trying to nail jello to the wall because we got to figure out, okay, what is this and how how can we fight this?" The resolution's final "be it resolved" section, Williams noted, commits the city to "speaking out, taking concrete actions to assist members of our community, and using all the tools at our disposal to ensure that the city is never complicit." ## Hammill: Context and Community Growth Council Member Hammill provided historical context for the resolution, noting significant demographic changes since the city's previous immigration-related actions. "In 2017 when we first developed a resolution 2017-10 and ordinance 2017-02-00008, over 10,000 people that live here now did not live in Bellingham. We've seen an increase of about a thousand people per year." This growth meant many current residents lacked context about the city's previous commitments to immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities, Hammill argued. The resolution's "whereas clauses" would demonstrate "that we have developed a body of work that is largely supportive of the immigrant community." Crucially, Hammill emphasized legal boundaries: "I don't see anywhere in here where we have made promises that we would go beyond the authority of what a city can do in the state of Washington." He described the resolution as both "a values statement" and "an articulation as to what what is legal and what is not in the city of Bellingham and any city in the state of Washington." Hammill also positioned the resolution as a test of the council's renewed commitment to committee structure: "this is a gesture to that to see if we can make this work kind of early on in this year to get it started in in the um in that subcommittee and then move it to the committee of the whole at the next meeting." ## Cotton on the Function of Resolutions Council Member Jace Cotton used the discussion to explore different functions resolutions can serve. Beyond expressing values and reaffirming positions, Cotton noted they can function as work plans "focusing the council's attention on specific things that we can do" or as formal letters to other government entities. The draft resolution includes language about communicating with the congressional delegation "about refusing to write additional blank checks to DHS," Cotton observed, representing this letter-writing function. "Maybe we could think about if we are trying to accomplish all three with this resolution or if we want to focus in on one," Cotton suggested, while affirming that "this is an area that the community wants to see us do more good work and I think we have a good track record as a as a city of being responsive to that." ## Stone's Call for Proactive Welcoming Council President Stone concluded her participation by calling for proactive measures to make immigrants feel they belong, rather than simply responding to enforcement actions. She pointed to upcoming World Cup celebrations as an example: "that is a very international event we have members of our community you know who could represent multiple you know countries that would be participating in that event." "I'm not looking necessarily to be responsive to immigration enforcement because as frustrating as it is, you know, our hands are tied in in a lot of respects. But I feel like there's more we can do to actually embrace and celebrate people who are here within our community to make them feel that they belong, which is what we're saying," Stone said. She framed this as additive rather than critical: "So it's not it's not meant to be right to reflect negatively on this effort. It's just a yes and I'm just wanting to call on my colleagues because I know that I am living in a unique situation right now that everyone maybe is not sharing that same weight." ## The Vote and Path Forward The discussion concluded with Council Member Williams moving to refer the resolution to the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee, seconded by Council Member Hammill. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0. The committee, chaired by Hammill, will conduct its work session during the February 23rd council meeting. Council members not serving on the committee can send feedback to Hammill in advance. Stone reminded colleagues that any proposed amendments should be submitted in writing to ensure accurate documentation during the full council discussion. ## Closing and Executive Session With the immigration resolution referred to committee, the meeting moved toward conclusion. Williams acknowledged there had been "some bumps in the road in getting us to this point, but they were not done with any deliberateness. It was just more a matter of oh, there's a deadline now." The committee then transitioned to executive session at 2:40 p.m. to discuss a potential litigation matter—claim number 2025-36—with an estimated duration of 15 minutes. Council members would reconvene in the mayor's boardroom, with Stone planning to return at 3:00 p.m. to formally adjourn. ## What's Ahead The immigration resolution now moves to committee, where it will face deeper scrutiny about the balance between values expression and actionable policy. The February 23rd meeting promises robust public discussion of these issues, as council members grapple with their role in an increasingly polarized national conversation about immigration and civil rights. The procedural challenges revealed during this meeting—particularly around agenda timelines and advance notice—suggest the council is still adjusting to new processes designed to improve transparency and preparation. How well these systems work will likely influence the council's ability to respond quickly to urgent community concerns while maintaining thorough deliberation. For Bellingham's immigrant community and their allies, the committee's work will determine whether the city's response feels adequate to the moment's urgency, or whether additional actions will be needed to translate values into meaningful protection and welcome.

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** BEL-CON-CTW-2026-02-09 ### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council Committee of the Whole met on February 9, 2026, to consider the mayor's appointment of special counsel for the Civil Service Commission and discuss a draft resolution on immigrant rights. The meeting featured a significant discussion about the council's response to current federal immigration enforcement actions. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Committee of the Whole:** A committee that includes all seven city council members, used to discuss items before they go to the full council for final action. Unlike regular council meetings, there is no public comment period during committee sessions. **Special Counsel:** An outside attorney hired to provide legal advice to a specific government body. In this case, needed because the city attorney's office could have conflicts of interest representing both the Civil Service Commission and appearing before it in appeals. **Civil Service Commission:** A city board that handles employment matters for civil service employees, including appeals of disciplinary actions. The commission needs independent legal counsel to avoid conflicts with the city attorney's office. **BMC (Bellingham Municipal Code):** The city's local laws and regulations. BMC 3.16.040 specifically requires city council confirmation for the mayor's appointment of special counsel. **Resolution:** A formal statement of the city council's position or values on an issue. Unlike ordinances, resolutions don't create binding law but express the council's official stance. **Immigration Enforcement Actions:** Federal activities by agencies like ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to detain and remove people without legal immigration status. **Welcoming City:** A designation for communities that adopt policies and practices to support immigrants and make them feel safe and included, regardless of immigration status. **Open Public Meetings Act:** Washington state law requiring government business to be conducted transparently in meetings open to the public. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hannah Stone | Council President, meeting chair | | Bridget Bryck | Attorney with Carmichael Clark Law Firm, appointee for special counsel | | Alan Marriner | City Attorney | | Daniel Hammill | Council Member, Third Ward, chair of Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee | | Edwin H. "Skip" Williams | Council Member, Fourth Ward, co-author of immigration resolution | | Hollie Huthman | Council Member, Second Ward | | Lisa Anderson | Council Member, Fifth Ward | | Michael Lilliquist | Council Member, Sixth Ward | | Jace Cotton | Council Member, At-Large | | Deputy Administrator Keller | City staff member | ### Background Context The meeting addressed two distinct issues. First, the city needed to replace its special counsel for the Civil Service Commission because the previous attorney had relocated overseas. This position exists because of a 2023 change to city code requiring outside counsel to avoid conflicts where city attorneys might both advise the commission and appear before it in appeals. The second and more substantial discussion focused on a draft resolution about immigrant rights. This comes at a time of heightened immigration enforcement activity and community fear. Council President Stone noted that she's hearing from dual citizens who are considering leaving the country because they feel "hunted" in their own community. The council had previously passed a "welcoming city" resolution just eight months earlier in June 2025, raising questions about what additional action is needed. The tension reflects the broader challenge facing local governments: how to respond meaningfully to federal immigration policy when their legal authority is limited. ### What Happened — The Short Version The meeting had two main parts. First, the council unanimously approved appointing attorney Bridget Bryck as special counsel for the Civil Service Commission. This was a routine matter replacing counsel who had moved overseas. The bigger discussion was about a draft resolution on immigrant rights that Council Members Williams and Hammill have been working on. They distributed a revised version and asked to send it to the Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee for further work. The council had an extensive discussion about what the resolution should accomplish. Some members wanted it to reaffirm the city's values and commitment to being welcoming. Others questioned whether it would be meaningful enough, especially since the city passed a similar resolution just eight months ago. Council President Stone shared that she's hearing from community members, including dual citizens, who are scared and considering leaving the area. The resolution was unanimously referred to committee for February 23rd. Council members can send feedback to Committee Chair Hammill before that meeting. The council will then consider it at their evening session. The meeting ended with a brief executive session to discuss potential litigation. ### What to Watch Next • Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee meeting on February 23rd will discuss the immigrant rights resolution • Full council consideration of the resolution at the February 23rd evening session • Council members have until this Friday (February 13th) to submit the final resolution under the city's new agenda timeline ---

## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Meeting ID:** BEL-CON-CTW-2026-02-09 **Q:** Who was appointed as special counsel to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission? **A:** Bridget Bryck, an attorney with the Carmichael Clark Law Firm who specializes in municipal law and labor/employment matters. **Q:** Why does the Civil Service Commission need outside counsel instead of using the city attorney's office? **A:** To avoid conflicts of interest where city attorneys might both advise the commission and appear before it in appeals. This requirement was added to city code in 2023. **Q:** What happened to the previous special counsel? **A:** They relocated overseas, creating the need for a new appointment. **Q:** What was the vote on confirming Bridget Bryck as special counsel? **A:** The committee unanimously recommended approval with a 7-0 vote. **Q:** What is the title of the resolution discussed in old and new business? **A:** "A resolution reaffirming the city of Bellingham's commitment to immigrant rights and civil rights and denouncing federal immigration enforcement actions that endanger public safety and violate individuals constitutional rights." **Q:** Which council members co-authored the immigrant rights resolution? **A:** Council Members Edwin "Skip" Williams and Daniel Hammill. **Q:** What committee will review the immigrant rights resolution? **A:** The Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee, chaired by Council Member Hammill. **Q:** When did the city previously pass a "welcoming city" resolution? **A:** June 9, 2025 - exactly eight months before this meeting. **Q:** What concern did Council President Stone raise about the immigrant community? **A:** That dual citizens who are legally in the U.S. are considering leaving because they feel "hunted" and unsafe in their own community. **Q:** What was Council Member Williams' analogy for dealing with changing federal enforcement? **A:** He compared it to "trying to nail jello to the wall" because you have to figure out what you're dealing with and how to fight it as circumstances change. **Q:** When is the committee scheduled to discuss the resolution? **A:** February 23rd, with full council consideration at the evening session the same day. **Q:** What deadline does the city's new agenda process create? **A:** Items need to be submitted by Friday (February 13th) to be included on the February 23rd agenda. **Q:** What four areas does the resolution focus on? **A:** The city's history of supporting rights, current steps being taken, reassurance to the community, and encouraging other municipalities to take similar action. **Q:** How many people have moved to Bellingham since the city's first immigration resolution in 2017? **A:** Over 10,000 people, at a rate of about 1,000 per year. **Q:** What was discussed in executive session? **A:** Potential litigation matter, claim number 2025-36, for approximately 15 minutes. **Q:** What did Council Member Williams say the resolution commits the city to do? **A:** Remain committed to speaking out, taking concrete actions to assist community members, and using all tools at their disposal to ensure the city is never complicit. **Q:** How should council members provide feedback on the resolution? **A:** Send it to Committee Chair Daniel Hammill in advance of the committee meeting, preferably in writing. **Q:** What legal code requires council confirmation of special counsel appointments? **A:** Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) 3.16.040. **Q:** What did Council Member Cotton identify as three functions of resolutions? **A:** Expression of values, identification of a work plan, and formal communication (like letters to congressional delegation). **Q:** What time did the executive session begin and end? **A:** Started at 2:40 p.m. and was scheduled for 15 minutes, with adjournment at 3:00 p.m., but actually ended at 2:55 p.m. ---