City of Bellingham City Council — Committee of the Whole
The June 15, 2026 Committee of the Whole convened at approximately 2:50 PM with all council members present. The public session was brief, consisting of a single agenda category — Old and New Business — before the committee moved into an approximately one-hour executive session covering a property acquisition update and three potential litigation matters. The only substantive public item was a discussion initiated by Chair Hannah Stone regarding the timing and process for appointing council members to the City's legislative lobbying team. Stone proposed amending the legislative lobbying guide — a document prepared by Legislative Analyst Iris Not — to shift the appointment cycle from the annual January reorganization meeting to the interim period between legislative sessions, typically summer. The practical effect would allow appointed council members to participate in preparation activities before the next legislative session begins. Stone indicated that up to three council members serve in this capacity and invited expressions of interest. Four council members indicated willingness to serve: Councilmember Lindquist (returning, having served the prior year), Councilmember Hammill (returning, having served two cycles ago), Councilmember Cotton (conditional on Friday scheduling), and Councilmember Williams (seeking first appointment to the role). Councilmember Khan offered a lighthearted suggestion to use ranked-choice voting to select from the interested members. The council did not finalize appointments at this meeting. The matter was deferred to the next meeting. There was no objection to the proposed guideline language update — recognizing that appointments would occur annually in the summer between sessions — and that change is expected to move forward. The committee then adjourned into executive session to address: a potential property acquisition comprehensive update (with Perelson, approximately 30 minutes); potential litigation involving Chaplin and Cram
**1. Legislative Lobbying Appointments — Deferred** - **Item:** Appointment of up to three council members to the City's legislative lobbying team - **AB Number:** Not assigned - **Staff Recommendation:** Not specified in source documents - **Council Action:** No vote taken. Discussion opened; decision deferred to the next meeting. - **Practical Effect:** Appointments will be finalized at the next Committee of the Whole or regular Council meeting. Four council members expressed interest: Lindquist, Hammill, Cotton (conditional), and Williams. **2. Legislative Lobbying Guide Language Update — Consensus to Proceed** - **Item:** Amendment to the legislative lobbying guidelines to shift appointment timing from the January reorganization meeting to the summer interim between legislative sessions - **AB Number:** Not as…
| Item | Action Needed | Target Date | |---|---|---| | Legislative lobbying appointments (3 seats) | Final appointments to be made | Next Committee of the Whole or Council meeting | | Legislative lobbying guide language update | Administrative update to guidelines (summer appointment timing) | Ongoing — no specific deadline stated | | Executive session — property acquisition | N…