Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting: May 18th, 2026

The City of Bellingham, Washington City Council held a regular meeting on May 18, 2026, which included a detailed presentation from the Keep Washington Working Act advisory work group. The group presented recommendations to improve compliance with the state law limiting local law enforcement's role in immigration enforcement. Key procurement-related discussions involved recommendations to enhance data collection processes, improve interlocal agreements with Watcom 911 dispatch, upgrade language access technology including a text-to-911 system with translation capabilities, and develop more effective training programs for both dispatch and police personnel. The council acknowledged the extensive work and committed to prioritizing and implementing these recommendations over time. Additionally, the council discussed a proposed ordinance to lower citywide speed limits to 20 mph to improve public safety, which was approved. The meeting also included updates on potential adjustments to land use application fees to better align with current costs. Motions related to continuing the immigration compliance work and approving the speed limit ordinance were passed unanimously. No direct contract awards or vendor selections were reported, but several policy and procedural improvements were outlined that could influence future procurement and training activities.