Public Works and Natural Resources Committee, Bellingham City Council

**Lake Whatcom Watershed Forest Management Plan (AB 24928)** This was the most substantive policy item of the afternoon. The plan represents a formal framework for managing approximately 12,250 acres of city- and county-owned forested land within the Lake Whatcom watershed — land that serves as the primary buffer protecting the drinking water supply for over 120,000 Whatcom County residents. Public Works Director Joel Font opened with context, noting that while progress on the lake can sometimes feel slow, the city is actively working on multiple fronts simultaneously. Citing draft reassessment data, Font stated that the city is "close to achieving its phosphorus reduction obligations under the Lake Whatcom TMDL" — a significant and notable disclosure. He also outlined a broader suite of ongoing efforts: a climate vulnerability study for the watershed, enhancements to the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) ordinance related to private boat launches (discussed with the Water Resources Advisory Board), summer maintenance projects on watershed properties, and the Homeowner Incentive Program (HIPP) for working with private landowners. Superintendent Mike Pilskin then presented the plan's substance. The Forest Management Plan is a product of a 2024 interlocal agreement between the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County Parks and Recreation, jointly contracting consultant Northwest Natural Resources Group. The plan applies exclusively to city- and county-owned lands and does not impose requirements on private property. Combined, the two jurisdictions' land holdings within the watershed span approximately one-third of the total 36,000-acre watershed. The plan grew out of the 2025–2029 Lake Whatcom Management Program five-year work plan — the first such plan to include forest management as a standalone program area. The planning process involved multiple community engagement phases: online comment collection via the Engage Bellingham platform, stakeholder meetings with forestry and recreation interests, two public forest tours, a BTV video, a presentation to the Lake Whatcom Policy Group (attended by city and county council members and water/sewer district commissioners), and public comment on the draft plan. In Phase 2 engagement, 84% of survey respondents supported the plan's six objectives and vision. There was mixed …

**Council Member Michael Lilliquist (Committee Chair)** Presented summaries of items 2 through 5, moved the sewer extension item, and conducted votes throughout. Asked Paul Reid specifically about noise impacts and neighbor notification for the Ziply Fiber work. Framed the sewer extension within the city's general policy context. Noted the Department of Ecology grant contribution to the vault retrofits project. **Council Member Lisa Anderson** Moved approval of the Little Squalicum Phase 2 contract, expressing support for water quality investments reaching "Salish Sea" and noting appreciation for state partnership funding. Asked the technically practical question about on-call water crew availability during the Ziply Fiber work, demonstrating operational familiarity with utility work. Described the sewer extension as "a little bit routine" given that options had been exhausted. **Council Member Dan Hammill** Moved approval of the Lake Whatcom Vault Retrofits contract. Expressed satisfaction that the Ziply Fiber variance was limited to two nights. Otherwise a limited presence in the transcript. **Paul Reid, Public Works Development Manager** Presented both the sewer extension and noise variance items. Provided technical detail on the Ziply Fiber bore pit approach, existing utility conflicts, potholing requirements, and resident notification requirements. Committed to following up with the water department regarding on-call readiness for the night work. **Jessica Bennett, Capital Group, Engineering Division** Presented the Lake…

**Council Member Lisa Anderson, on the Little Squalicum Water Quality Retrofits project:** "Glad to see this going through every time we move forward with um water quality improvements that go out to Sailor Sea. I think it's money well spent and glad to see we're getting some partnership funding for this." *(Note: "Sailor Sea" is a transcription artifact; Anderson appears to have said "Salish Sea.")* **Council Member Michael Lilliquist, on the sewer extension:** "Our previous action on this …

After this meeting, compared to before: 1. **Committee recommended full Council authorization** for the Mayor to enter into a sewer service extension agreement for 2863 Seaview Circle — a property previously without a pathway to city sewer service despite a failed septic system creating an active environmental hazard. 2. **Committee recommended award of two infrastructure contracts** totaling approximately $2.97 million: $527,276 to Trio Companies LLC for Lake Whatcom Vault Retrofits Phase 1, and $2,446,733 to Premium Services for Little Squalicum Water Quality Retrofits Phase 2. 3. **Committee recommended approval of a noise variance** for Ziply Fiber to conduct nighttime directional boring under Alabama Street on May 18–19, 2026 — work that had not yet bee…

--- ### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council's Public Works and Natural Resources Committee met on May 11, 2026, chaired by Council Member Michael Lilliquist, with members Lisa Anderson and Dan Hammill (sitting in for Jace Cotton). The committee worked through five action items — one had been removed from the agenda before the meeting — covering utility service extensions, two stormwater construction contracts, a noise variance for a telecom project, and a landmark joint resolution to formally adopt the Lake Whatcom Watershed Forest Management Plan. --- ### Key Terms and Concepts **Septic system failure:** A breakdown of an on-site wastewater treatment system — typically a tank and drain field — that processes sewage from a property not connected to a municipal sewer. When a septic system fails, untreated sewage can leak into the ground or surface water, creating a public health and environmental hazard. **Urban Growth Area (UGA):** A boundary established under Washington State's Growth Management Act designating land where urban development is expected or planned. Properties within a UGA but outside city limits may be eligible to connect to city utilities under specific conditions. **Stormwater vault retrofit:** The process of upgrading existing underground structures that capture and filter stormwater runoff before it enters waterways. Retrofits can add or replace filtering media to improve pollutant removal, including phosphorus, without fully replacing the structure. **Phosphorus:** A nutrient that, when present in excess amounts in a lake, triggers algae blooms and reduces water quality — a particular concern for Lake Whatcom, Bellingham's primary drinking water source. Reducing phosphorus loading is a central goal of the city's watershed management efforts. **TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load):** A regulatory calculation, established under the federal Clean Water Act, that sets the maximum amount of a specific pollutant a water body can receive while still meeting water quality standards. Lake Whatcom has a phosphorus TMDL that the city is legally obligated to meet. **Noise variance:** A formal exemption from a local noise ordinance allowing a contractor or entity to conduct work during restricted hours (typically nighttime) for a defined period. The City Council must vote to grant such variances. **Directional boring:** A trenchless construction method in which a machine drills horizontally underground to install conduit or pipe without cutting open the full surface of a road. It requires small entry and exit pits on either side of the obstacle being crossed. **Forest management plan / Ecological forest management:** A planning document that guides how forested land owned by a public agency is managed to achieve multiple goals — in this case, water quality protection, wildfire resilience, wildlife habitat, and climate adaptation. "Ecological" forest management means decisions are based on mimicking natural forest processes rather than imposing a uniform prescription. **Late-succession forest:** A mature forest ecosystem that has developed over a long period without major disturbance, typically characterized by large trees, diverse structure, standing dead wood, and ecological complexity — sometimes referred to as "old-growth characteristics." **Apprenticeship program requirement:** A provision in Bellingham's Municipal Code that requires contractors on larger public works projects to use a certain number of app…