Bellingham council approves interlocal to seek JAG funds, accepts committee recommendations and several ordinances

The Bellingham City Council on April 13 approved an interlocal agreement with Whatcom County that allows the city to apply for Fiscal Year 2025 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding and serve as fiscal agent for county partners.

Deputy Police Chief Jay Hart told the council the department expects an allocation of about $32,000 and intends to use the funds to outfit a third police motorcycle with radio and on‑board computer equipment. Hart said the federal application opened late this year and the interlocal is required because the county is a subrecipient.

During the public hearing, Ryan Bowman, who said he is attending the sheriff’s civic police academy, urged council to support the grant, calling county law‑enforcement resources “underfunded” and endorsing creative financing to avoid local tax increases.

Council Member Skip Williams moved to approve the interlocal agreement; Council Member Jace Cotton seconded the motion, which passed on the council vote as recorded 7–0.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda Bill 24876 (JAG interlocal agreement): Motion to approve interlocal agreement; mover: Skip Williams; second: Jace Cotton; outcome: approved; recorded vote: 7–0. - Confirmation: Susanna Akin Lalene to the Arts Commission: motion to confirm; outcome: approved; recorded vote: 7–0. - Surplus timber sale authorization (North Lake Watcom watershed): motion to authorize mayor to enter negotiated contract with Janicki Logging and Construction; outcome: approved in committee and included on council consent/action calls; recorded as passed. - Agenda item: Acceptance of state grant (~$1.68M) for downtown intersection ADA and safety improvements (three intersections): motion to enter interlocal and accept grant; outcome: approved. - Fire Station 10 surplus property sale: motion to authorize entering purchase and sale agreement with Connor McCullum for $590,000; outcome: approved. - Agenda Bill 24867 (temporary alley closures): final ordinance adopted; roll call recorded; one abstention noted. - Agenda Bill 24854 (rental registration and safety inspection fee schedule): final ordinance adopted; roll call recorded; outcome: approved.

Other action and reports

Council received the mayor’s report on the Interstate‑5 slide south of Bellingham and was told northbound lanes were expected to reopen April 16. The council’s Public Works & Natural Resources Committee reported three recommendations: authorizing the surplus timber sale to support forest thinning on North Lake Watcom watershed lands; updating multimodal transportation impact fees and indexing them for inflation; and accepting a state grant to improve downtown signalized intersections for ADA accessibility and safety. The Planning Committee presented results of a 2025 landlord and property manager survey and council directed staff to follow up and explore tenant survey options.

What happens next

Council directed staff to implement the approved interlocal requirements and to continue required public‑notice steps for the JAG application. For several committee items (timber sale, impact‑fee updates, and the ADA intersection grant), staff will proceed with executing interlocal or contract documents and any required public‑notification steps. The council also asked staff to bring follow‑up information on the rental survey and tenant outreach process at a future meeting.

Attribution

Quotes and attributions in this story come from the April 13, 2026 Bellingham City Council meeting record: Deputy Police Chief Jay Hart, Council Members Skip Williams and Jace Cotton, public commenter Ryan Bowman, and Mayor (listed in the record) Mayor Lend.