Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting: November 2nd, 2026

The Bellingham City Council regular meeting on November 2, 2026, included budget hearings and several funding and infrastructure actions. Council approved 7–0 an interlocal agreement allowing Whatcom County to reimburse up to $200,000 in eligible costs for Cascadia Village, a planned 40-home tiny-home village on Division Street. The project is estimated to cost about $1.2 million, with the city having committed approximately $900,000; Homes Now is expected to help manage the village. The council also approved 7–0 the 2027 property-tax levy ordinance, which increases the levy by 1%. A winter-shelter plan was presented for information only: the county’s shelter contract runs through February and costs $575,000. The preliminary 2027 city budget was also heard but not adopted. A proposed regional fire authority resolution and ballot measure were delayed for future consideration; no approval vote was taken. The city discussed setting aside one-time funds for nonprofit daytime homelessness services, without stating an amount.

Council approved 7–0 six-month extensions of interim housing and design-review regulations. These rules affect development requirements, including street-frontage improvements and building design, and staff said further refinements are underway. A proposed sale of about 6,500 square feet of vacated alley to abutting property owners for its appraised value of $143,500 was the subject of a public hearing; the transcript does not capture a final vote. Council also approved 7–0 a noise variance for WSDOT’s I-5 pavement-preservation work, allowing night construction on 22 non-consecutive nights during the project period.