Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting: May 11th, 2026

The City of Bellingham, Washington City Council held a regular meeting on May 11, 2026, during which several procurement and contract award decisions were made. The Public Works and Natural Resources Committee reported awarding two significant contracts: one for the Lake Watcom Vault Retrofits Phase 1 to Trio Companies LLC for $527,276, largely funded by a state Department of Ecology grant, and another for the Little Squallikum Water Quality Retrofits Phase 2 to Premium Services, Inc. for approximately $2.45 million, funded by a combination of water and stormwater utilities and state grants. Additionally, the council approved a noise variance for Ziply Fiber to conduct night work for fiber optic installations and adopted a forest management plan for the Lake Watcom watershed. The Planning Committee approved the creation of a limited-term landlord and tenant advisory work group to study rental housing policies. The Parks and Recreation Committee adopted the 2026 Parks and Recreation and Open Space Plan, a long-range capital and operational guide. The council also passed several budget amendment ordinances to increase appropriation authority for goods and services. These actions reflect ongoing infrastructure improvements, environmental management, and community planning efforts with associated procurement and budgetary implications.