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Votes at a glance: Bellingham council approvals and authorizations from June 9 meeting
Summary
The council recorded several unanimous votes on appointments, funding agreements, property purchase authorization, litigation counsel retention and a final ordinance on multifamily tax exemptions; details and next steps listed.
The Bellingham City Council recorded multiple formal actions on June 9. Below are the principal votes, outcomes and next steps.
Votes at a glance
- Appointment: Lisa Marks to the Planning and Development Commission — Motion to approve passed 7–0. (Motion made by Council member Jace Cotton; second by Council member Skip Williams.) The mayor sought the appointment and the council approved it during the meeting’s consent/appointments section.
- Executive session follow-up: Motion authorizing the mayor to purchase a 0.66-acre parcel (AFN 380236504432) from Whatcom County for $15,000 — Approved 7–0. Council discussed the site as a small triangular parcel needed to build a pedestrian trail and retaining wall.
- Litigation counsel: Motion authorizing the mayor to retain special counsel to represent city employees named as individual defendants in Land v. City of Bellingham et al (Urban Chaplain referenced) — Approved 7–0.
- Public works funding: Committee recommendation and motion to authorize the mayor to enter into the construction funding agreement for the Cornwall Avenue landfill cleanup — Approved 7–0. Key funding details presented to committee: a Public Works Board loan of $7,345,000 at 1.71% interest over 20 years with no prepayment penalty; estimated Cornwall cleanup construction cost approximately $30,000,000; the city is 75% responsible for costs pursuant to an interlocal agreement with the Port of Bellingham; repayment from the environmental remediation fund and up to 50% match expected from state Model Toxics Control Act funds.
- Final ordinance: Ordinance amending Chapter 17.82 BMC (multifamily tax exemption program) — Adopted (roll call recorded as unanimous). Council approved amendments to expand eligible areas for 8‑year market-rate and 12‑year affordable housing programs, allow exemptions for co‑living housing, provide a 20‑year exemption for permanently affordable homeownership, allow extensions and update the program to reflect recent state law changes.
- Resolutions and committee approvals: The council unanimously approved a nonbinding, multi‑jurisdictional resolution on 2045 population, housing and employment allocations (7–0), and unanimously approved a resolution reaffirming Bellingham as a welcoming city (7–0). Committee reports on the homeless outreach team, tree program pilot and first‑quarter financial review were presented for information.
What happens next
- Planning & development and other appointments take effect per municipal rules; boards will proceed with membership updates.
- The Cornwall cleanup funding agreement will move forward with procurement and permit steps; staff indicated bids are opening this summer and construction is expected over multiple years.
- The purchase of the waterfront triangular parcel will allow preliminary trail and retaining wall design work to proceed under city staff direction.
- The multifamily tax exemption ordinance will be implemented per ordinance language and state law; staff will carry out program updates and application processes as amended.
Ending: Most actions passed unanimously. Several items will require follow-up administrative steps and, in some cases, further council oversight or reporting.
