People who attend Bellingham City Council evening meetings will be screened for weapons when entering Bellingham City Hall
The City is piloting new security measures in 2025 to enhance public safety at Bellingham City Council meetings, including weapons screening for all evening meeting attendees. This and other measures are part of the City’s overall work to create a safer, 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 at a station located in the rotunda. Screening will begin at the Jan. 13 regular Council meeting, with temporary equipment used until a more permanent, walk-through metal detector is available.
For more details about the new security screening, see our January 8, 2025, announcement.
City leaders initiated 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. 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 all meeting attendees: community members, City staff and Councilmembers.
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.
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. Security personnel will not be checking identification or doing any additional screening beyond weapons screening.
The City is piloting and evaluating these measures and will adjust based on what is learned through the process.
What to expect in the screening process
Metal detectors for weapons screening are in use for evening Bellingham City Council meetings, beginning in January 2025. Please see below for a list of items that are not allowed in City Hall. We recommend arriving a few minutes early, being prepared and cooperating with the requests of security staff to streamline your entry into the building.
To ensure a speedy and smooth screening process, thank you for your cooperation in following these guidelines:
Empty Your Pockets: Be ready to empty your pockets and place all contents into a plastic bin provided at the screening checkpoint. This includes mobile phones, music players, and other handheld electronic devices.
Remove Accessories: Please take off large pieces of jewelry, watches, and belts, and place them in the containers provided at the screening points before you are screened. This will help you save time and avoid additional screening.
Present Your Bags and Other Items: Be prepared to submit purses, briefcases, laptops and their cases, backpacks, coats, and any other hand-carried items to security for physical inspection. Additional inspection may be requested by security personnel as needed.
Additional Screening: If the metal detector indicates an alarm, you may be asked to undergo additional screening procedures. Please follow the directions of security personnel, who will guide you through the remaining steps of the screening process.
Retrieve Your Items: Before leaving the security area, ensure you collect all personal belongings. Please be aware that security personnel are not responsible for items left in the screening area.
Prohibited Items
To ensure a smooth entry into Bellingham City Hall for evening Council meetings, do not bring any of the items listed below. If you do bring any of these items you will not be allowed to enter the building. Items prohibited in Bellingham City Hall include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Firearms and ammunition
- Flare guns and/or flares
- Realistic replicas of guns and toy guns
- Other items capable of firing/launching a projectile capable of causing serious bodily injury or death
Edged Weapons and Sharp Objects
- Knives/swords/any edged weapon
- Razors and box cutters
- Bows/arrows
- Other sharp objects capable of causing serious bodily injury or death
Explosives, Flammable Materials, Chemicals
- Lighters
- Explosives and explosive compounds or materials
- Replicas or simulated explosive devices and materials
- Gasoline and other fuels
- Flammable liquids and/or gels
- Hazardous materials (HAZMAT)
Impact Weapons
- Martial arts weapons, including nun chucks and throwing stars
- Night sticks/batons/expandable batons
- Tools including but not limited to axes/hatchets
- Bats/clubs
- Other items capable of causing serious bodily injury or death when used as an impact weapon
Other Items
- Alcohol and unidentified liquids
- Tear gas and self-defense sprays
- Stun guns/tasers/electronic defense devices
- Narcotics/illicit drugs/drug paraphernalia
- Other items that could pose a danger may also be prohibited
