### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council Committee of the Whole met on October 6, 2025, for budget work sessions on police and fire departments, a comprehensive plan overview presentation, and discussion of legislative lobbying guidance. The meeting focused heavily on the city's 2026 budget challenges and the long-term Bellingham Plan for growth management. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Budget Work Session:** Opportunity for City Council to learn details about specific department budgets before formal adoption, allowing for questions and discussion. **Committee of the Whole:** A meeting format where all council members participate in detailed review and discussion of issues before they come to formal votes. **Comprehensive Plan (Bellingham Plan):** The city's 20-year guiding plan that addresses housing, transportation, climate resilience, and growth management, required by state law to be updated every 10 years. **Urban Growth Area (UGA):** Designated boundaries where urban development is planned and supported with city services, a key tool for managing sprawl under Washington's Growth Management Act. **Growth Management Act (GMA):** Washington state legislation requiring cities and counties to develop comprehensive plans to manage population growth and reduce sprawl. **Middle Housing (HB 1110):** State legislation requiring cities to allow four-plex housing and other "missing middle" housing types in residential neighborhoods. **Emergency Management:** City function responsible for planning, response, and recovery during disasters and emergencies, including coordination with other agencies. **Legislative Lobbying Working Group:** A team of the mayor, three council members, and staff who coordinate the city's advocacy efforts with the state legislature. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kim Lund | Mayor | | Hollie Huthman | Council President, Second Ward | | 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 | Council Member, At-Large | | Andy Asbjornsen | Finance Director | | Chief Hewett | Fire Chief | | Chief Mertzig | Police Chief | | Blake Lyon | Planning & Community Development Director | | Elizabeth Erickson | Senior Planner | | Anya Gedrath | Planner | | Iris Nott | Legislative Policy Analyst | ### Background Context Bellingham is facing significant budget pressures in 2026, requiring difficult decisions about service levels and staffing. The city is simultaneously working to adopt an updated comprehensive plan by the end of 2025 to comply with state requirements and manage expected growth of nearly 60,000 new residents in Whatcom County by 2045. The budget discussions revealed the tension between maintaining essential services and managing costs. Both police and fire departments presented budgets that maintain current service levels through strategic cuts and efficiencies, including eliminating a fire recruit academy for one year and reducing emergency management staffing. These represent short-term solutions that will require addressing in future years. The comprehensive plan update represents two years of community engagement involving nearly 9,000 survey responses and extensive public input. The plan must address new state housing mandates while balancing growth with environmental protection and quality of life concerns. ### What Happened — The Short Version The meeting started with budget presentations from police and fire departments, both showing approaches to maintaining core services while making strategic reductions. The fire department eliminated a recruit academy and reduced emergency management staff, while the police department froze several positions. Both chiefs emphasized these were one-time moves requiring future solutions. The second half focused on the Bellingham Plan comprehensive update, with staff providing an overview of the two-year planning process and key changes including new residential zoning categories, urban growth area adjustments, and climate resilience planning. Council members asked detailed questions about specific areas and requested additional information for future meetings. The council unanimously approved a legislative lobbying guide that formalizes the city's approach to state advocacy, establishing a working group structure and clarifying roles for council members in lobbying efforts. ### What to Watch Next - Budget adoption process continues with more department presentations in coming weeks - Bellingham Plan chapter-by-chapter review scheduled for October 13 and October 20 - Public hearing on the comprehensive plan set for November 3 - Selection of three council members for the 2026 legislative lobbying working group in November - Final comprehensive plan adoption required by end of 2025 ---