Bellingham Municipal Code 6.20
On November 4, 2025, an ordinance passed by the Bellingham City Council was codified in the Bellingham Municipal Code (“BMC”) as BMC 6.20.
January 2026 Knowing the Waters
January is the month to put resolutions into action and boost any neglected goals from the previous year to the top of your agency’s queue. This month’s column is an legal checklist of items that your port should review annually.
Building Performance Standards
Do you own buildings that are 20,000 square feet or larger? If so, between June 2026 and June 2028, you will likely have to comply with Building Performance Standards (“BPS”) in the Clean Building Act, Chapter 19.27A RCW, adopted by the legislature in 2019 and amended in 2022 and 2023.
December 2025 Knowing the Waters
The National Retail Federation forecasted that over one trillion dollars will be spent holiday shopping this season. Given the significant personal procurement occurring, it’s fitting that this month’s column discusses port procurement (which is not just limited to the holiday season).
November 2025 Knowing the Waters
Earlier this month ports around the state elected new commissioners. Congratulations to all newly elected commissioners.
September 2025 Knowing the Waters
A question was recently posed by the WPPA Marina Committee. They asked, “Can a port district charge differing moorage rates for customers...
2025 Super Lawyers List Announcement
Congratulations to Frank Chmelik, Jon Sitkin, and Seth Woolson who have been selected to the 2025 WA Super Lawyers List, and Matt Paxton, Tim Schermetzler, and Aaron Haynes who have been selected again this year as honorees of the Rising Stars list!
August 2025 Knowing the Waters
At the end of July, I attended the Commissioner’s Conference at Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine. It was a nice change of pace to attend a conference near my home, not only because I could sleep in my own bed and avoid several hours of travel...
July 2025 Knowing the Waters
It’s an election year, which means election law is front and center. In this month’s column, I will discuss updates to port-specific election laws and revisit some election season tips for port staff, commissioners and candidates to keep in mind.
June 2025 Knowing the Waters
Summertime at the port means increased use of port facilities—port marinas, piers, and boat launches will be filled with recreational boaters, commercial fishers, and whale watchers; port parks will host festivals and events; and general aviation airports will see increased traffic.