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Real Briefings

Public Works and Natural Resources Committee

BEL-PWN-2024-10-21 October 21, 2024 Public Works Committee City of Bellingham 34 min
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The Public Works and Natural Resources Committee convened for a routine session focused on infrastructure contracts and maintenance projects. The committee unanimously approved four contract awards totaling over $1.5 million, including a significant $1.15 million stormwater treatment project in the Birchwood neighborhood and multi-year contracting agreements for city construction work. Chair Hannah Stone presided over the 34-minute meeting, with all three committee members present and participating in substantive discussions about labor relations, environmental standards, and project timelines. The session demonstrated the city's commitment to proactive infrastructure management through alternative delivery methods like Job Order Contracting, which has completed 48 separate projects worth $5.6 million since 2021. Staff provided updates on the Electric Avenue Bridge emergency repairs, confirming the bridge's return to two-way traffic following $154,000 in temporary fixes. The committee also addressed a noise variance request from the Washington State Department of Transportation for preservation work on I-5 and State Route 542, scheduled for seven non-consecutive nights between July 2025 and September 2026.

**AB 24290 - WSDOT Noise Variance (Approved 3-0):** Approved noise variance for Washington State Department of Transportation roadway preservation work on I-5 and SR 542. Staff recommended approval; committee concurred that nighttime work serves public interest by minimizing traffic disruption and ensuring worker safety. **AB 24291 - Job Order Contracting Services (Approved 3-0):** Awarded contracts to Forma Construction and Dawson Construction for general construction services under the Job Order Contracting program. Maximum $4 million per year per contractor over three years. Staff noted successful track record of 48 completed projects totaling $5.6 million since 2021. **AB 24292 - Overhead Door Repair Services (Approved 3-0):** Awarded contract to Overhead Door of Bellingham for indefini…

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**Labor Relations and Union Coordination:** Council Member Anderson raised concerns about potential unfair labor complaints regarding Job Order Contracting, noting that the city is "giving you a blanket approval for funding" without project-level oversight. She emphasized the need for communication with union leadership beyond just supervisory approval, citing examples from other institutions where similar contracting led to disputes when management and workers disagreed about appropriate work assignments. Staff acknowledged they "historically have not engaged with the bargaining groups for JOC projects" but expressed willingness to explore enhanced communication. This discussion highlighted ongoing tensions between efficient alternative delivery methods and traditional labor relations frameworks. **Environmental Standards and Future Challenges:** The Little Squalicum water quality project generated substantive discussion about evolving environmental standards. Staff explained the difference be…
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**Joel Pfundt, Interim Public Works Co-Director:** Advocated for Job Order Contracting as "very successful for the city for smallish projects" and emphasized its role as "a streamlined alternative delivery method" that enables collaborative project execution. **Mike Wilson, Assistant Director of Engineering:** Confirmed WSDOT's noise variance request includes contact information but no direct resident notification, stating the department "proposed here is not notification" but would keep permits and contact information on-site. **Freeman Anthony, Project Engineer:** Detailed the technical aspects of stormwater treatment, explaining that Birchw…
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**Joel Pfundt, on Job Order Contracting success:** "We've been able to work collaboratively to execute a lot of different contracts, a lot of different projects. And in many, many times we can have discussions and coordinate with the contractor, which speeds the work along and makes it so we can deliver it as efficiently as possible." **Council Member Anderson, on labor relations:** "I just want to make sure that this is successful and a good pathway for us, and that we're not finding that we…
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**Electric Avenue Bridge Replacement:** Grant application cycle ends 2025, with potential funding leading to full bridge replacement by 2027, requiring 6-9 month closure similar to Eldridge project. **Little Squalicum Stormwater Project:** Construction expected to begin Q1 2025, with 3-4 weeks of construction work. Fabrication of treatment vaults may take 2-3 months before on-site work begins. **WSDOT Noise Vari…

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**Electric Avenue Bridge Status:** Bridge returned to full two-way traffic with temporary repairs completed ahead of schedule, providing 5-7 years of weight-restricted use while permanent replacement is pursued. **Job Order Contracting Capacity:** City expanded JOC program to include projects up to $500,000 (previously stayed under $350,000) due to implementation of city apprenticeship program. **Stormwater Treatment Infrastructure:** Approved first phase of multi-phase stormwater treatment system for Birchwood neighborhood, beginning systematic appro…
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# An Afternoon of Infrastructure Decisions: Bellingham's Public Works Committee Tackles Everything from Highway Noise to Water Quality On a late October afternoon in 2024, the Bellingham City Council's Public Works and Natural Resources Committee convened with a packed agenda that would see them navigate everything from interstate highway maintenance to cutting-edge stormwater treatment. Committee Chair Hannah Stone, along with Council Members Lisa Anderson and Michael Lilliquist, settled in for what would become a methodical review of five significant infrastructure matters affecting the city. The meeting, held in council chambers after what Stone apologized for as a brief delay, exemplified the nuts-and-bolts governance that keeps a city running. While the items may have seemed routine on paper, each carried implications for how Bellingham manages its growth, protects its environment, and maintains the systems its residents depend on daily. ## Highway Work Under the Cover of Darkness The committee's first order of business involved a request from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for permission to break the city's nighttime noise ordinance. The state needed to perform roadway preservation work on Interstate 5 and State Route 542, but the only safe and practical way to do it was at night, when traffic volumes were low enough to allow lane closures without causing massive backups. Interim Public Works Director Joel Pfundt explained that the work would target specific trouble spots: the I-5 northbound ramp to King Street, the Ohio Street ramp to I-5 southbound, and a stretch of SR 542 from McLeod Road to Britton Road. "This work is part of a larger set of maintenance preservation projects being performed by WSDOT," Pfundt told the committee. "That's why you'll see that large window of when they're going to be performing the work." The timeline was generous—seven non-consecutive work nights spread across 14 months, from July 2025 to September 2026. Staff estimated it would take about one night each to handle the ramps, and perhaps four nights for the Mount Baker Highway work. Council Member Lilliquist, noting the minimal impact for important work, quickly moved for approval. But Council Member Anderson …
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### Meeting Overview The City of Bellingham Public Works and Natural Resources Committee met on October 21, 2024, chaired by Council Member Hannah Stone with members Anderson and Lilliquist. The committee reviewed five agenda items including a state noise variance, multiple construction contracts, a stormwater treatment project, and received an update on Electric Avenue Bridge emergency repairs. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Noise Variance:** Official permission from the city to work outside normal hours in residential areas, typically granted when public safety or traffic concerns make nighttime construction preferable to daytime work. **Job Order Contracting (JOC):** A streamlined construction method where the city pre-qualifies contractors with fixed pricing for small to medium-sized projects, avoiding lengthy bid processes for each individual job. **Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ):** An on-call contract model where the city agrees to specific pricing but doesn't guarantee specific work amounts, allowing efficient procurement as needs arise. **Enhanced Stormwater Treatment:** Higher-level water quality improvement systems that remove pollutants including nutrients, settled solids, petroleum products, and trash from runoff before it enters waterways. **Apprenticeship Requirements:** State-mandated workforce development rules requiring a percentage of work hours on large projects be performed by workers in formal training programs. **Load Restricted Bridge:** A bridge with weight limits that prevent certain heavy vehicles (like fire ladder trucks) from crossing while allowing most normal traffic. **Emergency Declaration:** A formal resolution allowing the city to bypass normal competitive bidding requirements to address urgent public safety issues. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hannah Stone | Committee Chair, City Council Member | | Lisa Anderson | Committee Member, City Council Member | | Michael Lilliquist | Committee Member, City Council Member | | Joel Pfundt | Interim Public Works Co-Director | | Mike Olinger | Interim Public Works Co-Director | | Mike Wil…
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Transportation & Infrastructure Environmental Budget & Finance Government Operations AB 24290 AB 24291 AB 24292 AB 24293 AB 24294 AB 24302 Dawson Construction Department Of Ecology Faber Construction Forma Construction Overhead Door Bellingham Ram Construction Whatcom Council Governments Wsdot Freeman Anthony Hannah Stone Joel Pfundt Lisa Anderson Michael Lilliquist Mike Olinger Mike Wilson Place Birchwood Neighborhood Place Little Squalicum Creek Apprenticeship Requirements Budget Finance Electric Avenue Bridge Environmental Infrastructure Investment Job Order Contracting Noise Variance Stormwater Treatment Transportation Policy Water Sewer Capacity