--- ### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council Planning Committee met on the afternoon of May 11, 2026, chaired by Councilmember Hollie Huffman, with Councilmembers Lisa Anderson and Michael Lilliquist also present. The committee considered a single agenda item — Agenda Bill 24929, a resolution to create a limited-term advisory work group to study and make recommendations on the city's landlord and tenant programs. The discussion focused almost entirely on the proposed membership composition of the work group, particularly whether and how to ensure representation of income-constrained renters. --- ### Key Terms and Concepts **Agenda Bill:** A numbered piece of legislation brought before the City Council for consideration. Agenda Bill 24929 is the specific resolution creating the landlord-tenant advisory work group. **Limited-term advisory work group:** A temporary citizen body created to study a specific topic and make recommendations to the City Council. Unlike a permanent commission, it has a defined end date — in this case, approximately one year. **Rental registration and property inspection program:** A City of Bellingham program established in 2015 that registers rental units and conducts property inspections to support safe, quality housing. It currently has 22,578 units registered. **Income-constrained:** A term used during the meeting to describe renters who receive some form of public housing assistance — such as Section 8 housing vouchers or subsidized housing — or who spend more than 30–50% of their income on housing. The committee discussed this term at length, debating its precise definition and how it should apply to work group membership. **Area Median Income (AMI):** A benchmark used in housing policy to measure affordability. Households below 60% or 80% of AMI are typically considered income-constrained or low-income. Councilmember Anderson referenced people at or below 80% or 60% AMI as examples of income-constrained renters. **Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher:** A federal rental assistance program that subsidizes rent for low-income households. Councilmember Anderson cited Section 8 recipients as an example of income-constrained renters she hoped to see represented on the work group. **Motion to table:** A procedural move to set aside a pending motion so that additional work — in this case, refined language — can be done before bringing it back for a final vote. The committee voted unanimously to table Councilmember Anderson's motion so staff could return with cleaner language. **Housing Executive Order:** A directive issued by Mayor Kim Lund in 2024 calling for the creation of this type of advisory work group to study landlord and tenant programs. **Committee of the Whole vs. Committee meeting:** City Council standing committee meetings (like this Planning Committee session) are working sessions where members discuss and vote on recommended action for full Council. No public comment is allowed during committee sessions. Final votes happen at the regular evening Council meeting. --- ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hollie Huffman | Councilmember, Planning Committee Chair | | Lisa Anderson | Councilmember, Planning Committee member | | Michael Lilliquist | Councilmember, Planning Committee member | | Hannah Stone | Council President (presiding over the committee session lineup) | | Jace Cotton | Councilmember (not on this committee but participated in dis…