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### Meeting Overview
The Bellingham City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. All seven council members were present. The meeting focused primarily on committee report-outs from four afternoon committees — Public Works and Natural Resources, Planning, Parks and Recreation, and Committee of the Whole — followed by consent agenda approvals, four budget and code ordinances on final passage, and a public comment period. The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
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### Key Terms and Concepts
**Sewer service extension (outside city limits):** The City of Bellingham generally does not extend its sewer or water services to properties outside city boundaries. However, BMC Section 15.36 allows exceptions when there is a public health and safety justification — such as a failed septic system that is actively contaminating the environment.
**Stormwater vault retrofit:** An infrastructure improvement that upgrades existing underground stormwater collection and conveyance structures to better filter pollutants before they reach a water body such as Lake Whatcom or Little Squalicum Creek.
**Best Management Practice (BMP):** In the stormwater context, a technique or structure designed to reduce pollution in runoff. "Enhanced treatment BMPs" go beyond standard filtration and are used in areas with higher pollution risk.
**Noise variance:** A formal council-approved exception to the city's noise ordinance (BMC 10.24.120), allowing construction or utility work to occur outside of normal permitted hours. Variances are typically granted when nighttime work reduces traffic disruption or safety risks.
**Forest Management Plan:** A document guiding how publicly owned forest land is actively managed — including thinning trees, removing invasive species, managing roads, and promoting species diversity — to protect water quality and ecological health.
**Limited-term advisory work group:** A temporary body created by council resolution to study a specific topic, gather community input, and produce recommendations. It is not a standing board and dissolves after completing its assigned work.
**PROS Plan (Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan):** A long-range planning document, updated every six years, that guides the development and maintenance of parks, trails, open space, and recreation programs. The state requires an up-to-date PROS Plan to maintain eligibility for Washington State recreation and conservation grants.
**Closed record hearing:** A hearing in which the council reviews an existing record (documents, prior testimony) rather than accepting new evidence or public comment. Used in land use appeals and certain quasi-judicial proceedings.
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### Key People at This Meeting
| Name | Role / Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Hannah Stone | Council President, First Ward — presided over the meeting |
| Hollie Huthman | Council Member, Second Ward — chaired Planning Committee |
| Daniel Hammill | Council Member, Third Ward |
| Edwin H. "Skip" Williams | Council Member, Fourth Ward — chaired Parks and Recreation Committee |
| Lisa Anderson | Council Member, Fifth Ward |
| Michael Lilliquist | Council Member, Sixth Ward — chaired Public Works and Natural Resources Committee |
| Jace Cotton | Council Member, At-Large |
| Janice Keller | Deputy City Administrator — provided administration's input on the landlord/tenant work group amendment |
| Kelley Goetz | Deputy City Clerk — read the written a…
