### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council's Committee of the Whole met on January 13, 2025, to address five key agenda items, including agreements for county jail services, regulations for outdoor dining streeteries, support for federal infrastructure funding, and the implementation of new security measures for evening city council meetings. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Streatery:** An outdoor dining area occupying one or more on-street parking stalls that extends from a restaurant on adjacent private property. **Interlocal Agreement:** A formal contract between governmental jurisdictions to share services or facilities, in this case between Bellingham and Whatcom County for jail services. **Leasehold Excise Tax:** A Washington State tax of 12.84% charged on temporary use of public property for revenue-generating purposes lasting 30 or more continuous days. **Committee of the Whole:** A meeting format where all council members participate as a committee to review and discuss items before they go to the full council for a formal vote. **Right-of-Way Use Permit:** Official permission required to use public street space for commercial purposes like streeteries or construction staging. **National Infrastructure Bank:** A proposed federal financing institution that would provide low-cost loans for infrastructure and housing projects without increasing national debt. **ADA Accessibility:** Requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure parking and structures are accessible to people with disabilities. **Security Screening:** Metal detector and bag inspection process for public safety at government meetings, similar to courthouse security. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Mayor Kim Lund | Mayor (attended virtually due to illness) | | Council President Hollie Huthman | Council President, recused herself from streatery items | | Council Member Hannah Stone | First Ward | | Council Member Daniel Hammill | Third Ward | | Council Member Edwin "Skip" Williams | Fourth Ward, served as President Pro Tem | | Council Member Lisa Anderson | Fifth Ward | | Council Member Michael Lilliquist | Sixth Ward | | Council Member Jace Cotton | At-Large | | Chief Rebecca Mertzig | Police Chief | | Darby Galligan | Senior Planner | | John Coleman | Owner, Homeland Security Operations | | Matt Stamps | Assistant City Attorney | | Janice Keller | Deputy City Administrator | ### Background Context This meeting addressed several significant policy changes for Bellingham. The streatery regulations stem from pandemic-era outdoor dining allowances that the city is now formalizing with proper fees and safety standards. The security screening measures reflect growing concerns about public safety at government meetings, bringing Bellingham in line with security practices already in place at Whatcom County meetings and local courts. The national infrastructure bank resolution represents the city's advocacy for alternative funding mechanisms to address the massive infrastructure needs facing communities nationwide. ### What Happened — The Short Version Council approved a two-year jail service agreement with Whatcom County for $3 million annually. They adopted new regulations and fees for streeteries (outdoor dining areas in parking spaces), including an annual fee of approximately $930 per parking stall plus state taxes. Council endorsed a resolution supporting federal legislation for a national infrastructure bank to fund infrastructure and housing projects. They received an overview of new security screening measures starting that evening, requiring metal detectors and bag inspections for public attendees. The meeting also included discussions about committee restructuring and ADA parking requirements for new development. ### What to Watch Next - Implementation of security screening at the January 13 evening council meeting - Administrative adoption of new streatery design guidelines and notification to existing permit holders - Full council discussion on committee restructuring at the next meeting - Development of alternative ADA parking language for the interim ordinance - Community feedback on the security measures as they are implemented ---