Keep Washington Working Act Advisory Work Group

The City’s limited-term Keep Washington Working Act Advisory Work Group has concluded its work and presented a report and recommendations to the Mayor and Bellingham City Council.

Final report and presentation

About the work group

City leaders are committed to ensuring that Bellingham is a place where the rights and dignity of all residents are maintained and protected. The City’s Keep Washington Working Act Advisory Work Group was a volunteer, limited-term work group established by resolution of the Bellingham City Council to examine the City’s compliance with the Keep Washington Working Act. This act, part of a series of legislative actions to support immigrant rights in our state, was established by the state Legislature in 2019 to acknowledge the important role of immigrants in the workplace and in our state’s economy, and to ensure Washington remains a place where the rights and dignity of all are protected.

The City’s work group included community members with lived experience and/or connections to the immigrant community in Bellingham and people with experience and training in specified fields relating to the goals and requirements of the act. The group researched, discussed and arrived at a shared understanding of the City’s actions to achieve and maintain ongoing compliance with the Keep Washington Working Act and presented a report with findings and recommendations. Per the establishing resolution, the work group terminated and dissolved upon presentation of its report and recommendations.

In September 2024, the Bellingham City Council passed Resolution #24256 to create the Keep Washington Working Act Work Group to research, discuss and arrive at a shared understanding of the City’s actions to achieve and maintain ongoing compliance with the Keep Washington Working Act (KWW).

The work group will:

  • Review the Model Policies, and Training Recommendations for State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies issued by the Washington State Office of the Attorney General.
  • Compare the AGO Model Policy with Bellingham Police policies for compliance with KWW.
  • Review the What-Comm 911 interlocal agreement, and contracting partner agencies’ related policies, practices and procedures, in relation to compliance with KWW.
  • Review the City’s Federal Contact Data and assess the final outcome or result of the contact if possible.
  • Review Bellingham Police policies and procedures regarding interagency responses.
  • Review City’s language access policy for emergency response and related contact with law enforcement or first responders.
  • Review City policies, publications and other public communication to ensure that the term “citizen” is only used when appropriate as a legal status.
  • Evaluate existing City policies and make specific recommendations for improvement in relation to City compliance with KWW, including ensuring on-going compliance.

More details available in the resolution establishing the group:

This group typically meets once every other month. Agendas, minutes, and other meeting materials can be found on the meeting information page.

The work group shall consist of not less than 5 and not more than 9 community members comprised of the following:

  • Lived Experience: At least 3 local residents with general backgrounds or lived experience with strong ties or direct connections to the immigrant community in Bellingham.
  • Community Connections: At least 1 but not more than 3 individuals with experience and training in interpretation/translation, human resources, employment/labor, emergency management, medical services, social services, police services, first response or similar field. Individuals in this area shall not represent the views of their employer.
  • Legal Education: At least 1 but not more than 3 individuals with legal experience and training in immigration, human rights, civil liberties, social services, employment, municipal operations or similar fields. Individuals in this area shall not represent the views of their employer.
  • In the event of a resignation or vacancy, the position will be filled by Mayoral appointment. Unexcused absences of 2 consecutive meetings shall be considered a resignation from the Work group. Substitutes or alternates shall not be allowed for any member.
  • Elected officials and persons employed by the City of Bellingham shall not be appointed to the Work group but may serve as non-voting ex-officio members at the discretion of the Mayor. City representatives from the Mayor’s Office, City Council, Office of the City Attorney, What-comm 911 Dispatch, Police Department and Fire Department may serve on and support the Work group as non-voting ex-officio members. Other individuals or organizations identified by the Mayor may also serve as non-voting ex-officio members. Council confirmation is not required for non-voting ex-officio members.
  • More information about expectations of advisory group members, and of the City in facilitating advisory groups, available on our Facilitating Successful Community Engagement with City Advisory Groups page.

On January 27, 2025, Mayor Lund appointed and the City Council approved the membership of this limited-term workgroup. Those members are:

  • Rebecca Agiewich
  • Eamon Bollinger
  • Ian Garconnette
  • Catalina Hope
  • Holly Pai
  • Scott Powell
  • Krystal Rodriguez
  • Abigail Senuty

Non-voting ex-officio members are:

  • Katy Potts, Western Washington University Police Chief
  • Rebecca Mertzig, Bellingham Police Chief
  • Bill Hewett, Bellingham Fire Chief
  • Justin Rasmussen, Acting What-Comm Deputy Director
  • Hannah Stone, Bellingham City Councilmember
  • Sarah Chaplin, Assistant City Attorney
  • Deborah Bineza, Mayor’s Office Strategic Initiatives Manager for Equity and Belonging

Contact

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