Here’s why the Bellingham City Council will remain in remote session
Members of the Bellingham City Council, worried that a return to in-person meetings in its cramped City Hall could spark a COVID-19 outbreak, decided to remain in remote session through the end of June.
Council members voted 5-1 on Monday, May 23, to keep their current online format, citing a rise in COVID-19 cases in Washington state and Whatcom County.
Councilman Michael Lilliquist dissented because he wanted the council to meet under a hybrid format using online access and also allowing elected officials, city staff and members of the public to meet in person — with limits on the size of the audience in council chambers.
Councilman Dan Hammill described a recent ambulance ride to the hospital during a bout with COVID-19 that nearly proved fatal.
“I think it’s OK to wait. It’s about us as elected people making decisions that are in the best interest of public safety, and that includes our staff,” he said.
“It’s not about me. I’ve got three shots in my arm and I’ve had (COVID). It’s about the public, and about setting a tone and an example for our constituents that we care about them,” Hammill said.
Monday’s action also finds that a health crisis from the new coronavirus still exists, because an order from Gov. Jay Inslee requires that public agencies meet in person or in a hybrid form without such a declaration by June 1.
Nearly every other public agency in Whatcom County has returned to meeting in person or in a hybrid format.
But the Bellingham City Council — after several lengthy discussions in recent weeks — remains online only.
“We may be done with this pandemic, but it’s not done with us,” Hammill said.
Councilwoman Lisa Anderson said she worried about causing increased infections with a public meeting.
“I’ve known people who have died of COVID. I know people who have long-haul syndrome because of COVID and they’re been dramatically impacted by it,” Anderson said.
When the City Council does return to chambers, Anderson said she’d favor an attendance limit and have seats separated for social distancing in the room that has a capacity of 153 people in a steep, stadium-style audience section.
“I’d like to see limits on the amount of people who are in chambers because I don’t want to see us be a super-spreader. I don’t want to be responsible for creating that environment,” she said.
