# Bellingham City Council Navigates Spring Business in Wide-Ranging Meeting ## Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council convened on the evening of April 13, 2026, for their regular meeting at City Hall, with Council President Hannah Stone presiding. All seven council members were present, though Lisa Anderson joined remotely while battling a cough. The meeting addressed a diverse array of municipal business, from routine grant approvals and financial reviews to strategic communications planning and property sales, all while spring was bringing renewed energy to the city with the opening of the farmers market and free trees being distributed downtown. The evening session followed an active day of committee meetings where much of the substantive work had been completed, allowing the council to efficiently process recommendations and move forward on several significant initiatives. What distinguished this particular meeting was the emphasis on both immediate operational needs—like police equipment and infrastructure improvements—and longer-term strategic planning around communications and regional collaboration. ## Justice Assistance Grant: Equipment for Police Motorcycle The evening began with a public hearing on the city's application for a federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant of $32,000 for fiscal year 2025. Deputy Police Chief Jay Hart explained that this annual federal grant would be used to equip a third police motorcycle with radio equipment, computer equipment, and necessary accessories to make it fully functional for police use. "It's a federal grant where you apply for every year. It's an annual grant," Hart told the council, noting that the application process had been delayed this year until March instead of the typical September opening. The city serves as the fiscal agent for both Bellingham and Whatcom County under this grant program, with the city distributing the county's share to the sheriff's office. The only public testimony came from Ryan Bowman, who was attending the sheriff's department's citizen police academy. "I am attending the civic police academy that the sheriff's department is hosting over the last six, seven weeks," Bowman said. "It has been enlightening. I highly recommend any of you attend it next year when they do it again." He strongly supported the grant application, emphasizing that creative financing helps prevent costs from flowing down to residents through levies and taxes. Council member Skip Williams mo…