Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting: April 27th, 2026

The City of Bellingham, Washington City Council held a regular meeting on April 27, 2026, which included several procurement and budget-related discussions. Key procurement actions included the approval of a $105 million reappropriation of unused budget authority from 2025 to 2026 to continue funding ongoing projects and programs. The council also approved a $1.7 million budget increase to cover unavoidable costs such as medical compensation and jail housing, as well as a contingent loan of $1.5 million to Medic One. Additionally, the council awarded a construction contract for the Pacific Street Operations Center Fleet Building Improvements project to Highline Construction LLC for $88,459.37, significantly below the engineer's estimate. The council authorized the city to apply for a $500,000 Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant for property acquisition along Squallikum Creek and approved an interagency memorandum of agreement for fish barrier remediation projects with an estimated cost of $280 million for top projects. Transportation improvements were also addressed, with approval of a $36 million plan for bus rapid transit infrastructure enhancements and a memorandum of understanding with the Watcom Transportation Authority for implementation. The council accepted a $96,500 state and local cybersecurity grant to support cybersecurity projects. Lastly, the council received an update on the Central Library interior renovation project, which is funded through a combination of state grants, local real estate excise tax funds, and $2.5 million in private donations. Motions related to these procurement and budget items were unanimously passed during the meeting.