Bellingham City Council Committee Meetings: November 2nd, 2026

The Bellingham City Council committee meetings on November 2, 2026, covered several funding and project matters. The Public Works and Natural Resources Committee approved a recommendation for a Washington State Department of Transportation noise variance for I-5 pavement preservation work: 10 locations over 22 non-consecutive nights between March and December 2027. The county’s winter shelter presentation described a new 90-day seasonal program in partnership with Road to Home, funded with a $575,000 mix of local funds. The shelter contract and opening remain dependent on permitting, with capacity for 60 beds and possible expansion during severe weather.

In Budget and Finance, staff recommended an interlocal agreement with Whatcom County providing $200,000 toward Cascadia Village, a 40-home project with a total budget of $1.2 million and a target opening in early 2027. The hygiene and service hub is expected to be purchased through an existing state contract from Mobile Modular, with a final quote pending. Council also passed the 2027 property-tax levy ordinance, increasing the regular levy by $312,634 (0.9581%). The proposed Regional Fire Authority and related ballot measure were discussed but not voted on; a motion directing staff to draft conditional tax relief was tabled indefinitely by a 6–1 vote. No contract award for the hub or final council action on the Cascadia interlocal agreement was recorded in the transcript.