### Meeting Overview The Public Works and Natural Resources Committee of the Bellingham City Council met on September 15, 2025 to consider two major infrastructure and environmental projects. The committee approved awarding a $48.8 million contract for the RG Haley/Cornwall Landfill cleanup and Salish Landing Park development, and granted a noise variance for the Padden Creek fish passage improvement project. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA):** Washington state law requiring cleanup of contaminated sites to protect human health and the environment. **Consent Decree:** A legal agreement between the city and Washington State Department of Ecology that outlines responsibilities and timeline for environmental cleanup. **Fish Window:** A regulatory period when in-water construction work is allowed to protect fish migration and spawning, typically ending September 30th. **Upland Capping:** Environmental remediation technique involving grading contaminated soil and covering with synthetic liner and clean soil cap. **JARPA Permitting:** Joint Aquatics Resources Permit Application process that coordinates multiple agencies for water-related construction projects. **Ordinary High Water Mark:** The boundary between upland and in-water areas, important for determining when special fish protection rules apply. **Eelgrass Mitigation:** Required habitat restoration to compensate for environmental impacts to underwater grass beds important for fish. **Drift Sill:** Rock structures placed in water to prevent erosion and protect shorelines from wave action. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hannah Stone | Committee Chair, First Ward Council Member | | Lisa Anderson | Committee Member, Fifth Ward Council Member | | Jace Cotton | Committee Member, At-Large Council Member | | Joel Pfundt | Public Works Director | | Mike Wilson | Assistant Public Works Director - Engineering | | Craig Mueller | Project Engineer | | Nicole Oliver | Parks and Recreation Director | | Amy Kraham | Senior Assistant City Attorney | | Dan Hammill | Council Member (non-committee member) | ### Background Context The RG Haley/Cornwall cleanup represents the culmination of decades-long efforts to remediate two contaminated waterfront sites. The RG Haley site was formerly a wood treatment facility, while Cornwall was Bellingham's municipal landfill from 1954-1965. Both sites require extensive environmental cleanup before they can become public parkland. This project is significant because it will create the first phase of Salish Landing Park while safely capping decades of contamination. The Padden Creek fish passage project addresses critical salmon and trout migration barriers on the Interurban Trail. The work was delayed by a diesel spill in August, creating time pressure to complete work within the regulatory fish window that protects spawning fish. The committee's approval of 24-hour work authorization ensures the project can meet environmental deadlines even if it means temporary noise impacts for neighbors. ### What Happened — The Short Version The committee unanimously approved awarding the largest environmental cleanup contract in city history—$48.8 million to IMCO General Construction for cleaning up two contaminated waterfront sites and building the first phase of Salish Landing Park. The project came in nearly $12 million under the engineer's estimate. The committee also approved a noise variance allowing 24-hour construction on the Padden Creek fish passage project, which was delayed by a diesel spill and must be completed by September 30th to meet fish protection requirements. ### What to Watch Next - Full Council consideration of both recommendations at the evening meeting - Potential fish window extension for Padden Creek project to October 14th - Start of three-year RG Haley/Cornwall cleanup construction timeline - Community notification if 24-hour work becomes necessary on Padden Creek ---