Bellingham City Council will reinstate in-person public comment periods, beginning with the evening Council meeting on Monday, Jan. 13. As this change takes effect, the City is piloting new security measures to enhance public safety at Council meetings.
After suspending public comment in November 2024, City leaders are looking to safely return to in-person public comment during their regular meetings.
“Security needs have substantially changed since City Hall was built in 1939,” Council President Hollie Huthman said. “We are eager to resume the in-person public comment period with new measures to ensure safe and civil public discourse and to create a more welcoming City Hall.”
People who attend evening Council meetings in person will be required to undergo metal detector screening for weapons before entering City Council Chambers. Screening will be conducted by two uniformed, armed security guards upon entry to City Hall in the rotunda. Screenings will begin at the Jan. 13 regular Council meeting, with temporary screening in place until a more permanent metal detector is available later this month.
“We are taking this step with the intention that people attending Council meetings will have an added sense of safety and be able to participate fully, knowing these security measures are in place,” said City of Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund. “Security screenings are becoming more common everywhere we go. Putting in place a layer of protection, like the screenings conducted at County government and court buildings, is a prudent thing to do to enhance safety for community members, City staff and Councilmembers alike.”
The private security firm hired to conduct the screenings is Homeland Security Operations, a Blaine, WA-based company that also provides security services for Bellingham Municipal Court. The company is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or any other federal agencies. Guards will not be checking identification or doing any additional screening beyond weapons screening.
“Our goal is to create a safe environment for everyone, yet we know the presence of security personnel doesn’t bring the same feelings of safety for all. We take that seriously, and as we add these new security protocols to City meetings, we want everyone in our community to know they are welcome at City Hall,” said Mayor Lund.
As the new procedures are implemented, meeting attendees may want to arrive early to allow sufficient time for screening. Doors to City Hall will open at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 13 for the evening Council meeting that begins at 7 p.m. The temporary security process that will be used on Jan. 13 will take more time than the walk-through metal detectors that will be used in the future. In addition, the Jan. 13 meeting includes a public hearing that is likely to draw significant community interest.
At this point, weapons screening in City Hall will only be required during evening Council meetings. Further safety measures, wayfinding and other steps to create a more welcoming City Hall are planned in 2025. The City will be piloting and evaluating these measures and will adjust based on what is learned through the process.
How to give public comment
Community members have many ways to provide feedback to City Council, including during Council meetings:
- People who wish to speak during the general public comment period may sign up to speak to Council for three minutes on any topic they choose. Registration is required, and sign-up sheets are available outside Council Chambers about 30 minutes before the start of each regular Council meeting.
- Community members may also offer public hearing testimony. Public hearings are formal opportunities to comment on specific, scheduled topics during a City Council meeting.
The Council also accepts written public comments and public hearing testimony. To submit a written, general public comment, email the City Council at ccmail@cob.org. Written public hearing testimony may be submitted online. Find upcoming Council meetings, public hearings, and agendas at cob.org/meetings.
