City of Bellingham MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION “JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE”—Information of Interest January 10, 2007 Located on the Web at: http://www.cob.org/mayor/boards_commissions/neighborhood/just-so-you-are-aware.htm

• Bellingham community celebrates the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. • Neighborhoods work on plan amendments using Planning Academy grants • Waterfront Redevelopment update • Old Town urban village community planning moving forward in 2007 • Park and Recreation updates • Environmental information and programs for neighborhood meetings • Silver Beach neighborhood focuses on Lake Whatcom issues • Important joint meeting on Lake Whatcom • Public Works projects in the neighborhoods • Reminders: Small and Simple Grants and Green Power Initiative • Blow’n in the wind…ways to keep your neighborhood free of recycling litter • Hear Mayor's priorities, visit Columbia neighborhood, on January Inside Bellingham

Bellingham community celebrates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. January 15 is a holiday for the City of Bellingham, in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A ceremony in celebration of his life and his message is planned for noon to 1 p.m. Monday, January 15 at Bellingham City Hall. The event will be aired on BTV10.

Bellingham Mayor Tim Douglas said it is essential that this day not be “just another shopping day.” “This day is intended to be a King celebration celebration, with community gatherings, speeches and music, all airs on BTV10 intended to inspire and elevate the human spirit with the ideas Dr. King stood for,” he said. 9:00 p.m. Mon. Jan. 15 1:30 p.m. Tues. Jan. 16 “Imagine if all of us who are worried about injustice all over the 9:30 p.m. Wed. Jan. 17 world could do something to change it. This celebration is for us 8:30 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18 to imagine together a world of compassion, honesty and 9:30 p.m. Fri. Jan. 19 fairness, and inspire us to take the very steps that will make those dreams a reality.”

Douglas spear-headed this annual celebration at City Hall in 1993 during his earlier term of office. Now in its 15th year, the ceremony features remarks by community leaders and youth and the Kulshan Community Chorus.

This event is for the whole family, hosted by the City of Bellingham, and sponsored by the Northwest Central Labor Council, the Whatcom Human Rights Taskforce, the Community Food Co-op, the Kulshan Chorus, the Bellingham YMCA, Egress Studio and Stratton Kehl Publications. Thanks to all the volunteers who make this celebration so special and meaningful for all!

Neighborhoods work on plan amendments using city grant funds Eighteen Bellingham neighborhoods have opted to use the Planning Academy for Neighborhoods grant of $2,500 to develop and propose a neighborhood plan or code amendment at the end of 2007. In addition, several proposals submitted by neighborhoods for review in 2006 have been initiated by Planning Director Tim Stewart. Notice regarding those proposals will be sent out as soon as possible, along with more information on how all of this work will be supported by city staff and resources.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 1 of 5

Waterfront redevelopment update In January and February, Port and City staff will be working with the newly hired consultant team led by Collins-Woerman of Seattle. The staff and consultants will conduct various market analyses, transportation impact tests and other “reality” testing of the land use and financial assumptions contained in the Draft Framework Plan for the New Whatcom Redevelopment area. This work will fine-tune the land use, density, transportation and other assumptions that will be tested by the Environmental Impact Study anticipated to begin in March.

Old Town urban village community planning moving forward in 2007 Redevelopment opportunities for Old Town have been the subject of several community planning efforts including the American Institute of Architect’s Regional Urban Design Assistance Team (R/UDAT), Whatcom Creek Waterfront Action Program, the City Center Master Plan, and the Community Forum on Growth Management. Old Town is a vital link between the Central Business District and the waterfront and has been identified as a future urban village in the Comprehensive Plan, a strategy for accommodating growth.

In 2005, the City came together with the community, with strong participation from the Lettered Streets and Central Business District Neighborhoods, to develop a plan for Old Town. This planning effort looked at the broader Old Town area, which includes parts of the Lettered Streets and Central Business District neighborhoods. As the area evolves over time, the community has identified a number of characteristics in Old Town they wish to maintain. These characteristics include view corridors and vistas, natural features, historic resources, small businesses, as well as opportunities for a range of housing and pedestrian amenities.

Building on the feedback received in 2005, staff will recommend amendments to both neighborhood plans (CBD and Lettered Streets) and propose development regulations for the creation of an urban village in Old Town. These proposed amendments will be brought forward for Planning Commission and City Council consideration in 2007. For more information, contact Tara Sundin, Planning & Community Development Department, 360-676-6880.

Parks and Recreation updates • The Park Operations Grounds Division has been hard at work cleaning up after storm damage. Over 100 trees in Lake Padden alone fell over near trails during the wind storms in the fall of 2006. See the January issue of Inside Bellingham on BTV10 to learn about this damage and listen to Steve Nordeen of our Parks and Recreation Maintenance Division talk about precautions to take during such storms (like not using wooded trails during severe wind storms).

• Special thanks to the Columbia Neighbors for doing a Squalicum Beach clean-up after the storms

• The first of several city-wide outreach meetings presenting information about the acquisition process for greenways, parks and trails, and soliciting input from citizens was once again postponed for bad weather. Several such community meetings are planned that will involve the public in discussions with Parks and Recreation Department staff, Greenway Advisory Committee, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and City Council members. Participants will have the opportunity to share their opinions about what projects are most needed in their neighborhoods and city-wide, what land might be available and appropriate for such projects, and what other ideas and suggestions they have for maximizing the value of new Greenway Levy funds as well as money from park impact fees and other sources. Stay tuned for the dates of these community meetings.

• The Winter Leisure Guide is out and registration for Winter recreation programs has begun. You can also view our Parks program offerings and register online at http://www.cob.org/ezreg

• The new playground at Lake Padden Park is completed and open to the public!

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 2 of 5

Environmental information and programs for neighborhood meetings— call us for speakers! The work of the Environmental Resources Section of our Public Works Department is focused in three areas related to the environment: Policy, Education and Restoration. These are of great interest to neighborhood residents. City Staff from the Environmental Resources Section are available to speak to neighborhood groups on these work areas as well as on a variety of topics such as the Lake Whatcom Program, Lake Whatcom Land Acquisition, how our waste water plant and storm drainage systems work, as well as restoration of City streams, climate protection, and other topics of interest. For information on topics and speakers, contact:

Silver Beach neighborhood focuses on Lake Whatcom issues The Silver Beach Neighborhood Association has renewed its efforts to learn about and develop stewardship strategies for their neighborhood regarding Lake Whatcom. They are considering how their work on their neighborhood plan can address lake issues since Silver Beach is the City neighborhood that is completely within the watershed. Lake Whatcom, the source of drinking water for over 85,000 Bellingham and Whatcom county residents, is important to all our citizens, and work to protect lake health is a top priority for city government in 2007. We thank the Silver Beach neighborhood for their efforts on this issue that is essential to the future of our community. For more information, contact Mike Johnston: [email protected] or call 360-393-8408. City liaison for this effort is Clare Fogelsong, Environmental Resources Manager: Clare G Fogelsong/pw/cob or call 676 6961.

Important joint meeting on Lake Whatcom On January 24, 2007 the City Council will join with the County Council and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Commissioners to hear staff presentations and to then discuss issues related to the Lake Whatcom Management Program. The meeting begins at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. For an agenda, contact Clare Fogelsong, or go to our website: http://www.lakewhatcom.wsu.edu/display.asp?ID=7

Public Works Projects in the neighborhoods—new and updated project info Alabama Hill • The installation of a traffic circle on Texas Street at Michigan Street is nearing completion. Work that remains is landscape restoration.

Birchwood and Columbia • Work on a new water line under the Eldridge Street Bridge is near completion. This water line will replace an older section of line that crosses under Squalicum Way. This section of line represents the last piece in a long-term water system upgrade that will help improve fire flow to the area.

Columbia • West Street: Construction of pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements is nearing completion. The pervious asphalt trail, median and the start of the landscaping is complete. The final lift of pavement will not be placed until next spring due to weather concerns.

[Take an opportunity to get to know the Columbia Neighborhood—tune in to December’s Inside Bellingham on BTV10]

Columbia/Cornwall • Pedestrian improvements at Victor and Meridian are under way. The poles have been installed and the flashing warning system will be completed by the end of January.

Happy Valley

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 3 of 5

• The project located at Donovan Avenue and 30th Street to provide curb, gutter, and sidewalk arterial improvements is substantially complete. • Pedestrian improvements at Donovan and 21st Street: Public Works is installing a flashing warning system for a Pedestrian Crossing similar to those installed on Lakeway, Samish and Bill McDonald Parkway. The poles have been installed and the warning system will be installed as soon as the concrete and pavement marking work is complete. This work is weather dependent but should happen by late winter.

Happy Valley/WWU • Pedestrian improvements at Bill MacDonald Parkway and Birnam Wood Apartments are under way. The poles have been installed and the flashing warning system will be installed as soon as the concrete and pavement marking work is complete. This work is weather dependent but should happen by late winter.

Mount Baker • Pedestrian improvements at Barkley Boulevard and Chandler Parkway are under way. The poles have been installed and the flashing warning system will be installed as soon as the pavement marking work is complete. This work is weather dependent but should happen by late winter.

Puget • Construction work on Fraser Street (between Puget and Lincoln Streets) project involving pedestrian and bike, drainage, and roadway surface improvements is substantially complete. Pavement markings will be installed as soon as the pavement dries out enough for placement. • New traffic circles on Nevada Street are near completion. All that remains are punch-list items.

Roosevelt • Demolition of the store at the intersection of Woburn and Alabama will allow for traffic flow improvements at this busy intersection, enhancing safety and providing better circulation. Demolition is complete and the site should be cleaned up and stabilized for the season this month. • Installation of traffic circles in the 1600 block of Texas Street is near completion. Work that remains is landscape restoration.

Samish • Work on a new traffic-calming pedestrian crossing and sidewalk extension for Connelly Road just east of the Interstate 5 ramps is almost complete. Weather has delayed our completion on this segment; however, pavement markings will be installed as soon as the pavement dries out enough for placement.

See City Public Works Department website for more information about capital projects under construction: http://www.cob.org/pw/curconst/index_current.htm.

Reminders

Small and Simple Grants Applications for the next round of the City's Small & Simple Grant Program will be available on January 16, 2007. The deadline for grant applications will be March 15, 2007. Small & Simple Grants fund up to $2,500 for neighborhood sponsored projects that have a general public benefit. Some fund matching is required. In 2007, grants will only be available to organizations (not individuals). Grant application packets and information will be posted on the city’s website at www.cob.org. For additional information contact Travis Cary @ 676-6880, [email protected].

Green Power Neighborhood Challenge—Still time to sign up! Columbia Neighborhood is still in the number one spot, but Fairhaven has moved into second place in the percentage of electricity customers signed up to buy “green” electricity with Puget Sound Energy.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 4 of 5

When the campaign is over, the two neighborhoods with the highest percentage of electricity accounts signed up for Green Power will receive $1000 each.

Green Power is electricity produced from unlimited sources such as the sun, wind, and biomass. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to win $$ for your neighborhood association. At the same time, you will be supporting the development and use of renewable energy resources. The campaign ends in February.

To sign up to buy Green Power call PSE at 1-800-562-1482. Contact Alex Ramel from Public Works with questions about the challenge: 676-6961.

Blow’n in the wind…ways to keep your neighborhood free of recyclables litter A York neighborhood resident asked us to provide our readers with information on how to secure your recyclables on pick up day. Wind can blow bins and “toters” over and blow newspapers and other recyclables around the neighborhood. These are a mess to clean up. Here are some practical suggestions from the Sanitary Service people: • Avoid putting out bins on windy days if you can wait for the next pick up. • If you need to put them out, place the bins in a row; don’t stack. • Place the bins away from toters for easier collection by the automated trucks. • Place a rock or brick on top of the paper bins; don’t use bungie cords! • For increased security, put the papers in a brown paper bag, lay on its side in the bin, and then put the rock or brick on top • Place a rock or brick on top of all toter bins….make sure it is heavy enough to hold down the lid in the wind. • Important: Bag all garbage, especially Styrofoam popcorn and peanuts

For more help with recycling questions visit www.ssc-inc.com,

Mayor's priorities, Columbia neighborhood, on January Inside Bellingham Hear Mayor Tim Douglas' 2007 priorities, visit the Columbia neighborhood, find out about storm damage in our parks, see how your tax dollars are being spent on capital projects, and more, on the January episode of Inside Bellingham.

Inside Bellingham airs on BTV10 several times each week and is available to watch on line, too. For BTV10 schedule information and access to on-line television programs, visit the city's website at http://www.cob.org/.

The January episode features: • Mayor Tim Douglas lists City priorities for 2007 • Visit the historic Columbia neighborhood • View Public Works' Capital Projects and see how your tax dollars are being spent • Andy Rowlson is one important guy to City staff... find out why • See the storm damage and clean up in city parks • Inside Bellingham revisited: clips from our favorite stories last year.

Inside Bellingham, produced by the City of Bellingham, gives viewers an inside peek into city government programs, services, activities and people.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 5 of 5

City of Bellingham MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION “JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE”—Information of Interest February 14, 2007 Located on the Web at: http://www.cob.org/mayor/boards_commissions/neighborhood/just­so­you­are­aware.htm

• Neighborhoods work on traffic issues • Bellingham applauded for pollution reduction through Green Power • You can help! ­­ Green Power Neighborhood Challenge • Planning and Community Development updates o 2007 Neighborhood Plan Amendment Process o 2007 – 2008 Neighborhood Planning Underway o Waterfront Advisory Group (WAG) meets February 21 o Shoreline Master Program moves along • A note from the Library Director • New BTV10 Feature—The Bellingham Public Library, the rest of the story • MNAC discusses public involvement report • Parks storm damage—the work continues • Lake Whatcom stormwater meeting February 28 • Public Works projects in the neighborhoods • City Recieves Financial Reporting Award • Fairhaven Harbor Project – Decision may limit height

Reminder The deadline for the Mayor’s Small and Simple Grant applications is March 15, 2007. Small & Simple Grants fund up to $2,500 for neighborhood sponsored projects that have a general public benefit. Some fund matching is required. In 2007, grants will only be available to organizations (not individuals). Grant application packets and information will be posted on the city’s website at www.cob.org. For additional information contact Travis Cary @ 676­6880, [email protected].

Neighborhoods work on traffic issues Most Bellingham Neighborhood Associations are busy this spring working on traffic issues:

• Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program: The neighborhood associations are starting work with our Public Works Department to identify and resolve their “Top 3 Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program” priorities for residential (not arterial) streets. We hope this annual neighborhood review for the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program will both empower and educate residents to solve some of their traffic issues. Once they provide their 3 priorities to our Public Works Department, staff will study the traffic issues at the locations indicated. Staff will then work with the neighbors to either solve the problem through education and enforcement or, if a street qualifies, to design an appropriate traffic calming improvement. You can look on our website for information about the program at http://www.cob.org/pw/NTSP.htm . We will be posting the names and contact information of the traffic point person for each neighborhood on our website so that you may contact that individual with traffic safety concerns in your neighborhood. Look for this list in early March as well as our staff talk about the program on March BTV10’s Inside Bellingham.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 1 of 10 • Six Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): Additionally, our Public Works Department has requested the neighborhood associations’ assistance to identify the neighborhood’s top traffic improvement priority listed in the City’s Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element but not already listed on the Council approved 2007 – 2012 TIP.

Bellingham applauded for pollution reduction through Green Power

The City of Bellingham is gaining national attention for efforts to curb pollution that causes the planet to warm. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recently updated national Top 10 list for various types of organizations purchasing green power ranks Bellingham 7th among local governments, and is topped only by local governments serving larger populations. Bellingham is among the largest local governments in EPA's partnership to supply 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.

We purchase 100 percent "green" power for all city operations which, according to the EPA, places our community among the top green power purchasers in the nation, and, when combined with green power purchases by Western Washington University and Whatcom County, prevents nearly 34,000 tons of carbon dioxide pollution ­ the equivalent of taking 3,700 cars off of the road for the entire year.

Research shows that buying 100 percent green power is the most significant step the City of Bellingham can take to protect the climate, eliminating more than 65 percent of the global warming pollution caused by municipal operations.

City officials expect many benefits from this purchase in addition to reducing its own pollution by displacing demand for conventional electricity, creating a greater market for development of additional green power sources, and helping to raise awareness and encourage residents to take similar actions in their homes and businesses.

"Scientific data clearly indicate that global warming will affect the lives of Bellingham residents in the future," Bellingham Mayor Tim Douglas said. "Sea elevation changes and protecting our drinking water supply are just two examples of the challenges that lie ahead. We need to take thoughtful, deliberate steps to help reduce our impacts on our planet. Purchasing green power is one of those steps."

The Bellingham City Council voted unanimously in August 2006 to buy enough green power to supply 100 percent of the city's electrical usage beginning in January 2007. The city's purchase will amount to approximately 25 million kWh annually.

"Green power" includes electricity that is partially or entirely generated from clean, renewable resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low­impact hydro. Green power is considered cleaner than conventional sources of electricity and has lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a greenhouse gas linked to global warming. Green power purchases accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide. [For more information on EPA's Top 10 local government list, visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/partners/top10localgov.htm.]

You can help! Green Power Neighborhood Challenge – deadline approaching Neighborhood Associations are in competition to encourage their residents to sign up for Green Power. $1,000 for community projects will go to the two neighborhoods with the highest percentage of residential electric participants signing up to buy “green power” from Puget Sound Energy” by

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 2 of 10 February 28, 2007. Columbia Neighborhood is in first place as we move to the end of the Challenge. Fairhaven is in second place. Volunteers from more than 12 neighborhoods have been letting their neighbors know about this opportunity and they are having a big effect: Almost 2000 Bellingham residents are signed up for Green Power!

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to win $$ for your neighborhood association. At the same time, you will be supporting the development and use of renewable energy resources. Green Power costs as little as an additional $4 a month. To sign up, call a PSE energy advisor at 1­800­562­1482, or visit the website at www.pse.com/solutions/greenpower_signuphome.aspx

Planning and Community Development updates

2007 Neighborhood Plan Amendment Process For the neighborhood plan amendments proposed for 2007, the Planning Commission has now reviewed and recommended for or against “docketing” by the City Council. Docketing means the amendment would be studied by staff and discussed further with the neighborhoods. Then staff will prepare a final recommendation for the Planning Commission and City Council for action during 2007. The “docketing” recommendations will be going to the City Council for their review on March 12th. All the amendment proposals are available online at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/2007NeighborhoodPlanAmendments.htm.

2007 – 2008 Neighborhood Planning Underway For those of you working on your neighborhood plans: • Any neighborhood that has scheduled public meetings, or wants to distribute updated information regarding their 2007 neighborhood planning activities, is invited to send to Nicole Oliver ([email protected]) documents for publication on the city's neighborhood pages. • GIS maps and mailing lists are also available. Contact Kathryn Hanowell, Neighborhood Services Coordinator, for information regarding these ([email protected] or call 676­6855 X305). • We are in the process of assembling a resource list to further assist neighborhoods with this project. • Also, we will be scheduling a workshop in early April and again in September to assist our neighborhood associations with their work, provide technical assistance, and allow neighborhoods to share ideas. Stay tuned for a schedule and let Nicole know of your ideas and needs for this meeting.

Waterfront Advisory Group (WAG) meets February 21 The WAG will meet Wednesday, February 21 st . Their agenda includes follow up work on input from the public open house held earlier this month on the plan update of Fairhaven Scheme of Harbor Improvements. WAG will also discuss the Shoreline Master Program after an update from Staff on the status of the Program.

Shoreline Master Program moves along Speaking of the Shoreline Master Program, the Planning Commission recommendations on the update to the Shoreline Master Program is set to be finalized in late March, and we anticipate starting City Council review in April.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 3 of 10 A note from the Library Director The Bellingham Public Library Board received approval from the City Council on January 22, 2007 to begin planning for a replacement Central Library on the current library block. The process has just begun; site selection was the first step!

You may be unaware of the many ways the library is “present” in our citizen’s lives: library and information services are available through the Fairhaven Branch on the south side of town; the Central Library in downtown Bellingham; through “virtual” library services provided through our website; three convenient drop boxes at area Haggen grocery stores; and, through twenty­nine personalized monthly library visits to city retirement, nursing, and assisted living facilities.

While the Board was actively working to narrow their top site choices for the Central Library, staff was busy preparing a report entitled “Comprehensive Citywide Library Services”. We were pleased to have participation on the committee by a member of the Cordata/Guide Meridian neighborhood. The resulting report is a companion to the library’s “Facilities Needs Assessment” and to the “Fairhaven Library Condition Assessment”. All reports are available on the library’s website at www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org.

I’d also like to direct you to the link on the right side of our homepage called “Library Planning News”. Here you will find links to all the information we’ve been reviewing, discussing, and providing throughout this complex process.

Our next steps will include a final review and recommendation from the Fairhaven Branch Assessment, a recommendation on increased library services for the north side, planning for interim library services while the Central Library is moved to interim quarters, and much more.

We are just beginning, and are eager for your feedback, questions, and comments about library services for the future! Please contact me at [email protected] for more information. ­­Pam Kiesner, Library Director.

Bellingham Public Library: the Rest of the Story! New BTV10 Feature The Bellingham Public Library has been in the news a lot lately. A site has been chosen to build a new central library, and the citizen members of the Library Board are discussing plans for comprehensive citywide library services. Why does Bellingham need a new central library? Be sure to watch the new BTV10 feature, Bellingham Public Library: the Rest of the Story to learn more!

Program days and times for the month of February: Mondays ­ Noon Wednesdays ­ 630PM Fridays ­ 7PM Saturdays ­ Noon

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 4 of 10 Want the latest news about facilities planning at the Bellingham Public Library? Check out the information on the library’s website under “Library Planning News” at http://www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org

MNAC hears results from public involvement assessment

During 2006, city officials initiated several projects to improve the effectiveness of efforts to involve people in key city decisions. Improvements are intended to be research­based, using both qualitative and quantitative research to identify public involvement strengths and weaknesses. One of these efforts was the Public Involvement Assessment, in which 116 neighborhood leaders, members of City boards and commissions and City staff participated in detailed qualitative surveys and interviews, in a project led by Dumas and Associates.

Mayor Mark Asmundson prompted this initiative early in 2006, due to his concerns that, despite significant investment in time and resources in the City’s citizen involvement efforts, results sometimes were ineffective or even counterproductive. Residents have much at stake in major decisions affecting them. Mayor Tim Douglas shares Mayor Asmundson’s desire to make improvements in our processes, and has stated that he wants to make sure we don’t simply add more activities. Everyone’s time is precious, he said, so we must use it wisely as we shape our community’s future together.

City staff and Mary Dumas presented an overview of our public involvement research and the results and recommendations from the Public Involvement Assessment to the Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Committee on Feb. 14. The full report can be viewed on the Mayor’s Office section of the city’s website at www.cob.org. For more information, contact Janice Keller, Communication Manager, at 676­6979.

Parks storm damage—the work continues Our Parks department has been busy handling the damage done to our parks during this winter’s storms. Below is a list of the department’s response to November 15 th ’s wind storm and their continued efforts: • From November 15 to November 30, 2006 we had 36 calls or e­mails requiring immediate inspection, removal or for trees to be put on a priority list. These calls included trees or parts of trees on vehicles, houses, roads and trails. • We did not have the staff resources to handle all cases and so asked homeowners to contact their insurance companies to handle their situation. • We closed the community parks until we could get parking lots clear and trails open and safe for use. • Of the neighborhood parks, Elizabeth Park in the Columbia Neighborhood was hit the hardest with some very large trees or parts of trees down. • Lake Padden Park (Samish neighborhood) had over 100 trees down over trails. This does not include all the trees down within the park boundaries. • All of our parks suffered some type of damage. At this point all parking lots are open, the trails are clear and we recently have moved on to opening the turf areas that were closed due to storm damage. • We also handled other types of damage: o Turf areas in all major parks and some secondary ball fields suffered tire damage by cars doing “doughnuts.”

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 5 of 10 o Many trails experienced trail wash outs due to clogged culverts, excessive rain and debris filling drainage lines. o The snow in late December caused significant damage to evergreen trees such as pine, hemlock and fir trees. Boulevard Park was hit especially hard. o There is structural damage to the main bridge at Arroyo Park.

• Costs to the City to address this damage as of 12­15­06 include:

Labor Equipment Community Parks $22,223.00 $2,520.00 Institutional Parks $12,035.00 $ 948.00 Neighborhood Parks $ 5,397.00 $ 437.00 Open Space $ 3,217.00 $ 383.00 Trails $ 9,822.00 $1,327.00 Utility $ 914.00 $ 120.00 Right of Way $ 151.00 $ 19.00

We will continue to work during 2007 to repair our existing assets. This will be our major focus. As we work on trees, trails, developed parks and open space we will have a better assessment of the damage that occurred during this round of storms as well as the budgetary impact of the repairs.

Lake Whatcom storm water issues meeting February 28 th On February 28th the City Council, County Council and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Commissioners will convene a meeting of the Lake Whatcom Joint Councils to hear presentations on Stormwater Best Management Practices. Presenters with different perspectives have been asked to respond to several questions of interest to the Joint Councilmembers. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Staff contact is Clare Fogelsong at 676­6961. We encourage all interested to attend.

Public Works Projects in the neighborhoods—new and updated project info

Birchwood • We are working on the design for various pedestrian safety improvements in the Birchwood neighborhood. These include curb, gutter and sidewalk on Birchwood Avenue west of Meridian Street including an east bound right turn lane. Also in the design stage are curb, gutter and sidewalks for the south side of Birchwood Avenue adjacent to Morrie’s Drive­In. • We are also working with Whatcom County to select a design consultant for an extension of Illinois street to Marine Drive along Timpson Way to divert truck traffic from Oeser Cedar and Morse Steel from residential area to its designated truck route.

Birchwood and Columbia • A new replacement water line under the Eldridge Street Bridge is being tested. This water line will replace an older section of line that crosses under Squalicum Way. This section of line represents the last piece in a long­term water system upgrade that will help improve fire flow to the area.

Birchwood and Guide Meridian

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 6 of 10 • Northwest Avenue/I­5 Pedestrian Improvements: After a well attended neighborhood meeting earlier this month, we are moving forward with the next phase of design to provide pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Northwest between McLeod and Bakerview Roads. This is a major walking route for school children traveling to and from Shuksan Middle School so this is a priority project. We also plan to improve traffic flow in the area, especially at the I­5 interchange. To do so, we will work closely with the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Central Business District • We have several projects in the design stage for the Central Business District including: o Work on the Federal Building to improve life safety elements of the building, make it more attractive to tenants, and enhance historic preservation of this Bellingham land mark. o A Flora Street Streetscape for this Arts District corridor to increase citizen safety, mobility, improve lighting and generally enhance the downtown. o Construction of Holly Street Streetscape from Ellis to State Street for which we have recently opened bids. o The new Art and Children’s Museum at the site of the former Employment Security Building on Grand Avenue is in the design stage. As is typical for major facility construction for the City, our engineers work with the stakeholders (in this case the Public Facilities District Board and our arts community) and manage the construction of such projects. • We have completed installation of radiant heat in the Depot Market Square building and are completing other details. • With the grouting and completion of the retaining wall, our work is now finished on the Holly Street Bridge to extend the service life of the sewer main and bridge and increase safety.

Columbia • West Street: This project is to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and the street itself between Squalicum Parkway and North Street. The pervious asphalt trail for pedestrian and bicycle safety, the first layer of asphalt and the median are complete. A period of dry weather is required before the second layer of asphalt is laid and the traffic lanes and pedestrian cross walk markings on Squalicum installed.

o City Crews will be out to put a solid yellow sign in the middle of the traffic circle at the intersection of West and North Streets. The sign helps identify that there is a traffic circle in the middle of the intersection. Motorists need to remember that the stop signs are in force. o The Conservation Corp will begin the landscape restoration planting soon, using a variety of native plants. These will go in the areas with wood chips. Preliminary start date is Feb 19th. o Look for another 1 1/2 inches of asphalt to be placed on the road. This will bring the pavement up to the level of the catch basin grates and will complete the paving. (Asphalt production plants have been closed due to the poor weather but are scheduled to reopen in March.) o After the paving is complete the new lane markings on Squalicum will be installed; this includes the pedestrian activated cross­walk.

Happy Valley

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 7 of 10 • We are waiting for dry weather to complete pedestrian improvements at Donovan and 21st Street and at Bill MacDonald Parkway and Birnam Wood. The flashing warning system for pedestrian crossings (similar to those installed on Lakeway, Samish and Bill McDonald Parkway) will be installed as soon as the concrete and pavement marking work is complete which requires a period of dry weather.

Lettered Streets • As part of our annual sewer replacement program to assure the long term system health and service to the public, we are near completion of repair to the sewer lines on Dupont Street.

Mount Baker • Pedestrian improvements at Barkley Boulevard and Chandler Parkway—still waiting for dry weather to allow for cross walk pavement markings after which the flashing warning system will be installed. • We’re moving ahead with the design of the second phase of Sunset Drive improvements (from Woburn to McLeod). Existing 2­lane highway will become 4­lane with curbs, gutters, sidewalks and bicycle lanes on both sides with the center two­way left turn lane. This will improve traffic flow and safety on this heavily traveled arterial and State highway.

Puget • We’re also waiting for dry weather to complete pavement markings on Phase I of our Fraser Street Improvement Project (Between Puget and Lincoln Streets). We are beginning the design work on Phase II which is on Puget Street south of Fraser. This project is to improve pedestrian and bike safety as well as to enhance storm water treatment. We will also resurface the roadway.

Roosevelt • We are getting close to finishing the clean­up work on the Dixon Grocery Demotion at Woburn and Alabama. This is being done to provide space for turn lane improvements at this busy intersection to improve circulation and safety.

Samish • San Juan Boulevard, Phase I: We are beginning the design process for this new street to provide a connection between Yew Street and I­5 in the Samish neighborhood. This project has many challenges as the street would route through a forested area with stream crossings. • Another project to provide needed infrastructure to Samish Hill is the construction of a new Upper Yew Street Water Reservoir. This will be a 2.5MG potable water reservoir for service to areas to elevation of 873 feet. We are in the design phase using CH2MHill engineering consulting firm’s expertise.

Silver Beach: • We are working on the design for storm water handling improvements for East Oregon Street on the North Shore of Lake Whatcom, on East Maryland, on East North Street, and on Hayward Drive. These projects are part of our efforts to improve water quality in Lake Whatcom. Construction planning is time­sensitive since this is in our watershed. • We are also beginning the design work on improvements on Northshore Drive from Britton Road to Alabama Street. This project is to replace a failing storm water system and will include resurfacing the street. We will determine if a sidewalk can be added without impacts to the watershed. Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 8 of 10 See City Public Works Department website for more information about capital projects under construction: http://www.cob.org/pw/curconst/index_current.htm.

An indicator of good government: City receives 6th consecutive financial reporting award The City of Bellingham was recently honored with an award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). For the sixth consecutive year, the City has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting in recognition of its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for 2005.

Finance Director Therese Holm explains that the award is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Standards for receiving the award include demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate the city’s financial status and to motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.

Rating agencies, such as Moody’s, considered the award when determining the City's bond rating. The City currently has a very favorable Aa3 bond rating from Moody's on its voted debt and an A1 rating on non­voted debt. The strong bond ratings allow the City to repay bonds it issues at lower interest rates.

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 15,000 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, Ill., and Washington, D.C. For more information, contact the Finance Department at 676­6900. To view the 2005 annual report, go to www.cob.org/finance.

Decision may limit building height for Fairhaven Harbor project

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 9 of 10 The Fairhaven Harbor project developers must modify their plans to lower building heights, or go back to the drawing board and resubmit plans with a new environmental evaluation that considers the 10­story buildings currently proposed, according to a decision issued by the City's Planning & Community Development Director, Tim Stewart. The decision approved with conditions an amendment to the Design Review Permit issued for Fairhaven Harbor, a mixed use development proposed for 8th & Harris. The applicant, Ted Mischaikov for 8th & Harris Holdings, LLC, already has a completed Planned Contract, Shoreline Conditional Use Permit, and Design Review Permit for the project.

The approval of the amendment to the Design Review Permit was issued on the condition that the building design adheres to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Checklist and Determination of Nonsignificance completed for the project in December 2004. The SEPA checklist identified building height at no more than 85 feet above mean sidewalk elevation. Therefore, Stewart concluded that the new design should be approved, but that the building plans must be modified to be consistent with the 85 foot height restriction (currently the proposal includes one building of 102 feet).

The applicant has 14 days (from the decision) to either accept the amended Design Review Permit and proceed with the project or to withdraw the application to amend and resubmit the application with a revised SEPA checklist that evaluates the environmental impacts of a building taller than 85 feet, he can appeal the decision to the Hearing Examiner, or he can withdraw the application and proceed under the original Design Review Permit.

The City will consider reasonable requests to extend this 14­day deadline to allow the Applicant more time to determine a course of action. If the Applicant declines to take any of the above actions, the City will consider the amended Design Review Permit, DRC2004­00033A, in effect and the original Design Review Permit, DRC2004­00033, as withdrawn. For more information, see the city's website at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/fairhaven­harbor.htm

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 10 of 10 City of Bellingham MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION “JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE”—Information of Interest March 14, 2007 Located on the Web at: http://www.cob.org/mayor/boards_commissions/neighborhood/just-so-you-are-aware.htm

• Remembering Joan Beardsley

• Bicycle Patrols enhance enforcement efforts in the CBD • Neighborhoods work on traffic issues • Parks and Trails work parties • The “wearing of the green” Bellingham style o Neighbors protect watersheds through safe gardening practices o Clean and Green neighborhoods—transfer station for yard waste open o “Green light bulb” campaign—we’re winners! o Green Power winners to be announced • Planning and Community Development updates
Neighborhood Planning—Technical Assistance Workshop April 3 rd
Shoreline Master Program
Waterfront Redevelopment—Scoping for Environmental Impact Statement to start in April • Public Works projects in the neighborhoods • Letterd Streets neighborhood, library, Lake Whatcom and more on Inside Bellingham – BTV10 • Bellingham Public Library special programs of interest—BTV10, read your favorite poem, learn about Tai Chi, library planning, Fairhaven Branch facility study. • Neighbors work to prevent mail theft

Reminder NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS REVISION WORKSHOP—TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE / Q & A April 3 rd , 4PM to 6:30PM, Fireplace Room, Municipal Court Building (Halleck and C Streets, enter on Halleck)

Remembering Joan Beardsley

Hello!, I’m Joan Beardsley, and I’d like to talk to you about…….

Joan Beardsley was an undaunted and committed advocate for neighborhoods. When she believed it was necessary to put a broader community goal above a neighborhood’s particular concern, she was also an undaunted and committed advocate for what she believed to be the greater community good.

In the days immediately prior to leaving for her treatment in Little Rock, even though her energy level was challenged, Joan was at the Silver Beach Neighborhood Association talking about Lake Whatcom Watershed stewardship. She explained her mission with these neighbors:

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 1 of 10

• I only want to congratulate them for recognizing that the city can't solve this problem without all its citizens working together on it.

Her watershed stewardship commitment extended throughout the City:

• My message is, we all live in a watershed!

• I would hope as any neighborhood in the city works on their plans that they will clearly mark their watershed boundaries and to help neighbors start to be watershed conscious. …. I am not suggesting redrawing neighborhoods, but adding this new level of topographical and enviro nme ntal meaning to neighbors’ awareness by including watershed maps for each neighborhood plan.

Joan advocated for neighborhood based planning processes, regardless of how controversial these might be, for example, height and bulk issues.

• This issue has bedeviled all neighborhoods with worry because they are not sure just how much control they will have…… I was terrifically pleased to talk with Tim (Stewart) and get his perspective that neighborhoods do have the right to include such guidelines (in their neighborhood plan proposals) provided they advance the goals of the city for reasonable infill within maintaining neighborhood character

On these issues, and on the many others she worked to address, we can all honor and respect her life by continuing our good work for our neighborhoods and for our broader community. Services for Joan have been announced in the Bellingham Herald.

************************

Bicycle Patrols enhance enforcement efforts in the CBD New police officers added to the Bellingham Police Department have increased emphasis on addressing chronic issues downtown, and those efforts already are paying off. Bicycle patrols, reintroduced downtown at the end of December, are a patrol strategy that allows officers more agility and quicker access to problems.

In the first two months of 2007, we already have seen a dramatic increase in enforcement of the kinds of nuisance crimes that affect the quality of life for downtown shoppers, workers and residents. For example, in the first two months of 2007, police have issued more citations for liquor law violations than during the same period in 2006. The Bellingham Police Department has received numerous compliments from business representatives and citizens in appreciation for this additional police presence.

Neighborhoods work on traffic issues

• Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program (NTSP) : Each neighborhood association has now named a Transportation Contact (‘point person’) to work with the City on neighborhood transportation issues, specifically the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program. Neighbors can let Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 2 of 10

their neighborhood traffic contact know their residential street traffic concerns. The neighborhood will then review these concerns and advise our Public Works department of their “Top 3 Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program” priorities for residential (not arterial) streets. Staff will study the traffic issues at the locations indicated and work with the neighbors to either solve the problem through education and enforcement, or, if a street qualifies, to design an appropriate traffic calming improvement.

You can look on our website for information about the program at http://www.cob.org/pw/NTSP.htm or on the Neighborhood Page on our website at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/neighborhoods/neighborhoods.htm.

• Six Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): 18 Neighborhood Associations submitted their number one TIP priority projects to the City for consideration for inclusion in the Six Year Transportation Improvement Program. This list of transportation capital improvement projects is revised every year. The neighborhoods’ priorities will be helpful to staff, the Public Works Advisory Committee, and the City Council as they update the TIP for 2008 and seek funding for those projects. TIP projects typically cost between $200,000 and several million dollars each.

Parks and Trails work parties

An opportunity for exercise and neighborhood park and trails improvements:

Connelly Creek with NSEA March 17 th , 9:00 – noon Parks and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association join forces to free native plantings from invasive reed canary grass. Parking at the west end of the Food Pavilion parking lot; walk west along Fairhaven Parkway and follow signs to site.

Whatcom Creek Trail March 17 th , 10:00 - noon Join the Bellingham Kiwanis on the Whatcom Creek Trail behind City Hall. The club holds regular work parties at the site, removing invasive plants and planting native plants. Meet at the site, along the creek between Grand and Commercial.

Civic Field Trail March 31 st , 10:00 – noon Join Carl Cozier Elementary families as they mulch and restore a natural area they’ve been working on along the Civic Field Trail. Park on Civic Field Way behind Joe Martin Stadium.

Work with a Park Steward * Park Steward Niki Thane holds monthly work parties at Robin’s Hollow on Old Village Trail (between H & I Street) the first Saturday of the month from 10-12 noon

* Neighbors join forces at Franklin Park, working on the natural area at the west end of the park, the second Saturday of the month from 9-12 noon

* Spring is a busy time at Gossage Garden, located at Cornwall & Alabama. If you have some spare time give Judy Buchanan a call at 734 -6639; she could use your help with pick up, planting, mulching, weeding, and pruning in Gossage Garden.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 3 of 10

For more information contact our Greenways Volunteer Coordinator, Rae Edwards, at 676-6801 or email at [email protected].

The” wearing of the green”— Bellingham style How proud we are of all our community does to protect the environment

• Neighbors protect watersheds through safe gardening practices It is almost spring and for many of us that means yard work! As you prepare your gardens and flower beds for spring planting, please remember that most soils do not need additional phosphorus for healthy plant growth. And for those in the Lake Whatcom watershed, please remember there is a ban on the use of fertilizers containing phosphorus . Instead, look for the “Lake Whatcom Blend” and other phosphorus free fertilizers at select garden supply stores in Bellingham and Whatcom County.

Please help us protect our drinking water source, don't use phosphorus on your lawns and gardens and do use the Clean Green facility for disposal of your yard waste. Contact Clare Fogelsong at 676- 6961 for more information. Speaking of the Clean and Green facility……

• Green and clean neighborhoods—transfer station for yard waste open Let your neighbors know that the Clean Green Transfer Facility for residential yard waste is now open. Bellingham and Whatcom County citizens can bring their residential yard waste to the corner of Lakeway and Woburn Streets on Saturdays and Sundays between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. The fee for disposal of residential yard waste at the transfer station is $2 per load.

Acceptable yard waste includes: • Grass clippings, leaves and garden trimmings • Shrub and hedge trimmings • Limbs less than 4 feet long and 8 inches in diameter

We will not accept: • Contractor or commercial loads • Rocks, garbage, roots or root balls • Lumber, construction or land clearing debris • Hazardous materials • Sod

Safety tips when accessing the Clean Green facility: • Enter the site from Woburn Street just north of Lakeway Drive • Be careful while driving and backing-up on site • Watch out for others • Passengers and pets must remain in the vehicle • Please keep your loads free of nails and other unacceptable materials • Be aware of traffic conditions at the intersection of Lakeway Drive and Woburn Street

Materials accepted at the site are processed and converted to compost. This is a widely used public program so please be efficient, courteous and careful when using the facility. For more information, call the Bellingham Public Works Department at 676-6850.

• “Green light bulb campaign”—we’re winners!

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 4 of 10

We walk our environmental talk in Bellingham, We rank among the top cities in the nation for purchases of energy-efficient light bulbs, according to recent light bulb sales tracked by organizers of 18Seconds.org. To view Bellingham's ranking, visit http://green.yahoo.com • Green Power winners to be announced The two neighborhood association winners of $1,000 each for the Green Power competition will be announced on Earth Day, April 21. These are the two neighborhoods with the highest percentage of neighborhood residential electric power users buying “green power” from Puget Sound Energy. Thanks to the volunteers from more than 12 neighborhoods who encouraged their residents to sign up for Green Power!

Green Power (electrical power generated from renewal energy sources) costs as little as an additional $4 a month. To sign up, call a PSE energy advisor at 1-800-562-1482, or visit the website at www.pse.com/solutions/greenpower_signuphome.aspx

Planning and Community Development updates

2007 Neighborhood Plan Amendment Process—April 3 rd Technical Assistance Workshop • For those of you working on your neighborhood plans two Question & Answer sessions will be scheduled during the year with city staff from Planning, Parks and Public Works to provide an efficient and informative venue for asking and answering questions.

Workshop 1: Tuesday, April 3, 4 PM to 6:30 PM (snacks provided). Fireplace Room, Halleck and C Streets (enter through the Halleck Street side). Workshop 2: To be scheduled for early September

Please contact Nicole Oliver ( [email protected] , 676-6982) for ideas or with questions you wish to have answered in the session so that we can make sure the help you need is available.

• Any neighborhood that has scheduled public meetings, or wants to distribute updated information regarding their 2007 neighborhood planning activities, is invited to send to Nicole Oliver ([email protected]) documents for publication on the city's neighborhood pages.

Shoreline Master Program – The Planning Commission will complete their review of the final draft update document in April and send their recommendations on to the City Council in May. This has been an enormous undertaking and Bellingham is one of the first cities in the state to update their Shoreline Master Program under new Dept. of Ecology guidelines.

Waterfront Redevelopment Project – The project is gearing up again following a period of “reality-testing” of the Draft Framework Plan, in anticipation of formulating alternatives to study in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS scoping is set to start in April. The Waterfront Advisory Group meets March 21 st at 6:00 p.m. in the Harbor Center Conference Room to get updated on the progress and the upcoming project schedule.

County Council approved EDI funding for Waterfront – on Tuesday, March 13 th , the County Council voted 6-1 to confirm a recommendation from the Economic Development Investment board to grant at least $1.1 million of EDI funds over five years for the waterfront project. This funding will likely be used for a specific project, yet to be determined.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 5 of 10

Public Works Projects in the neighborhoods—new and updated project info

Birchwood • Working with Whatcom County, we have selected a consultant (Wilson Engineering) to design an extension of Illinois street to Marine Drive along Timpson Way to divert truck traffic from Oeser Cedar and Morse Steel from residential area to a designated truck route (Marine Drive).

Birchwood and Columbia • We are in the final stages of testing a new replacement water line under the Eldridge Street. This water line will replace an older section of line that crosses under Squalicum Way. This section of line represents the last piece in a long-term water system upgrade that will help improve fire flow to the area.

Birchwood and Guide Meridian • Northwest Avenue/I-5 Pedestrian Improvements: We have distributed a summary of the public comments received after a well attended neighborhood meeting earlier this month. We continue to work with our consultant and WSDOT on the design for pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Northwest between McLeod and Bakerview Roads. This is a major walking route for school children traveling to and from Shuksan Middle School. We also hope to improve traffic flow in the area, especially at the I-5 interchange.

Central Business District • Arts District Projects: We have several projects in the Central Business District including: o “Streetscapes” in various areas o Art and Children’s Museum o Mt Baker Theater Lighting improvements

• Holly Street Corridor (Ellis to State) Improvements per the City Center Master Plan: Our contractor, Strider Construction will soon begin work on this project after a public meeting on March 19.

Columbia • West Street (between Squalicum Parkway and North): Landscape restoration is in progress. Look for another 1 1/2 inches of asphalt to be placed on the road as soon as weather permits. This will bring the pavement up to the level of the catch basin grates and will complete the paving.

Guide Meridian: • Meridian Street Water & Sewer Extension: As a part of the WSDOT upgrades on the road way between Horton and Ten Mile Road, we will install water and sewer extensions. We are in the process of requesting construction bids.

Happy Valley • We are still waiting for dry weather to complete pedestrian improvements at Donovan and 21st Street and at Bill MacDonald Parkway and Birnam Wood student housing facility. The flashing warning system for pedestrian crossings (similar to those installed on Lakeway, Samish and Bill McDonald Parkway) will be installed as soon as the concrete and pavement marking work is complete which requires a period of dry weather.

Mount Baker

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 6 of 10

••• Pedestrian improvements at Barkley Boulevard and Chandler Parkway—still waiting for dry weather to allow for cross walk pavement markings after which the flashing warning system will be installed. • We’re preparing to survey for the replacement of three culverts on James Street to make a wider and safer crossing to accommodate future road improvements.

Puget • Phase I of our Fraser Street Improvement Project (Between Puget and Lincoln Streets) is now complete. We presented the designs for Phase II (Puget Street south of Fraser) to the neighborhood association earlier this month. This project is to improve pedestrian and bike safety as well as to enhance storm water treatment. We will also resurface the roadway.

Roosevelt • Woburn and Alabama turn lane improvements: With the completion and clean up of the demotion of Dixon Grocery, we’re designing the turn lanes for this busy intersection to improve circulation and safety.

Samish • As reported last issue, the City is proceeding with the design of the first phase of a new connector street, San Juan Boulevard, with our consultant, HDR Engineering of Burlington. This is a badly needed and long awaited connector street between Yew Street and I-5 over the Samish Hill (work with the neighborhood to identify and purchase the street corridor began in the ‘80s).

After receiving public input, we have decided that Phase I of this project will be the design of a minimum two lane street through the established hillside right of way corridor (with its many topographical challenges). The City will be obtaining permits for the full footprint of the street to construct bicycle and pedestrian facilities at a later date. This allows us to use the limited funding available to open this transportation corridor and thereby be able to leverage future grant funding for phase II construction. And, as development occurs, the street would be completed to full standards including the facilities for pedestrians and bicycles. We had considered building part of the street to full standards, but this would not have been a practical or useful street for residents. As part of the design, the public will have the opportunity to provide input prior to construction.

Silver Beach: • Northridge Detention Basin Retrofit: This project includes retrofitting the outfall from an existing pond site located on Northridge Way within the Brentwood Subdivision in order to improve the quality of runoff and storm water entering Lake Whatcom from this residential area.

• Pullman Road and Drainage Improvements: We’re doing the design work for the replacement for a failing storm water system and for a structural overlay of the street

See City Public Works Department website for more information about capital projects under construction: http://www.cob.org/pw/curconst/index_current.htm .

Lettered Streets neighborhood, Library, Lake Whatcom and more, on Inside Bellingham, BTV10

Take a whirlwind tour of the Lettered Streets neighborhood, hear more about library planning, see what firefighters do in between emergencies, and more, on Inside Bellingham.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 7 of 10

Inside Bellingham airs on BTV10 several times each week and is available to watch online, too. For BTV10 schedule information and access to on-line television programs, visit the city's website at http://www.cob.org/. The latest Inside Bellingham features: • A whirlwind tour of the Lettered Streets, Bellingham's oldest neighborhood; • A look at Lake Whatcom, the precious source of our drinking water; • A peek at what firefighters work on in between emergencies; • A visit to the library to learn about plans for a new building and expanded services; • The oldest brick building in all of Washington State and plans to protect it, • And more!

Inside Bellingham, produced by the City of Bellingham, gives viewers an inside peek into city government programs, services, activities and people.

Bellingham Public Library special programs of interest —BTV10, read your favorite poem, learn about Tai Chi, library planning, Fairhaven Branch facility study.

March into spring with these programs from our public library:

• On BTV10 -- Bellingham Public Library: the Rest of the Story! A site has been chosen to build a new central library, and the citizen members of the Library Board are discussing plans for comprehensive citywide library services. Why does Bellingham need a new central library? Be sure to watch the new BTV10 feature, Bellingham Public Library: the Rest of the Story to learn more.

The schedule of airing this program is posted on our website at http://www.cob.org/documents/btv10/btv10-program-schedule.pdf

You can also find the latest news about facilities planning at the Bellingham Public Library on the library’s website under “Library Planning News” at http://www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org

• Bellingham Reads... Your Favorite Poem! In honor of National Poetry Month, we invite you to select a poem that moves you and share it with those attending our Library’s book club, Bellingham Reads on April 25. Everyone is welcome. Contact Suzanne Carlson-Prandini at (360) 676-6860 for more information.

Wednesday, April 25th, 2007 at 7pm in the BPL Lecture Room

• Library Planning News Brown Bag Lunch Series

Want to learn more about Library Planning in Bellingham? Bring your lunch and join us Tuesdays in March for information and conversation regarding the library planning process!

March 20th: Fairhaven Condition Assessment and improvement plans March 27th: Citywide Library Services study and a north side presence

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 8 of 10

Each session is from 12:15 to 12:45 in the Lecture Room at the Bellingham Public Library. Sessions will include a presentation by library administration and an opportunity for questions and input from the public.

• Community Partnership Series Introduction to Tai Chi : Strength through Relaxation. Instructor is Bob Lau, a Certified Tai Chi Arthritis Instructor with the Worldwide Chinese International Martial Arts Association.

Wednesday, April 11th from 2:00 - 3:00 pm in the Auditorium of the Fairhaven Branch Tuesday, May 1st from 7:30-8:30 pm in the Fireplace Room of Fairhaven Branch.

Contact the Fairhaven Branch Library at (360)676-6877 or Donna Grasdock, Fairhaven Specialist, at [email protected], for more information.

• Fairhaven Branch Library Condition Assessment Public Presentation

What are the plans for improvements to the Fairhaven Branch Library? Come to the Public Presentation at the Fairhaven Branch Library and find out! BOLA Architecture + Planning, Library Administration, and City Facilities staff will present the latest information and take your questions about plans for improvements at the Fairhaven Branch Library.

Thursday, April 5th at 6:30pm in the Fireplace Room at the Fairhaven Branch Library

Neighbors work to prevent mail theft

One of the useful purposes of neighborhood “Block Watch” groups is to monitor for mail theft. Neighborhood Associations and their Block Watch groups also help to educate their neighborhood about prevention of mail theft. (For more information on Block Watch efforts –to join or to form a block watch team—contact Officer Tara Fleetwood of the Bellingham Police Department, 676 6924 or [email protected] )

Advice from the Bellingham Police Department Crime Prevention Unit on minimizing risk of mail theft:

Sending mail:

 Use mail slots at your post office to mail letters, or give them to a letter carrier.

 Don’t send cash in the mail.

Receiving mail:

 Pick up your mail promptly after delivery. Don’t leave it in your mailbox overnight.

 Do not have books of checks mailed to your residence; pick them up directly from your bank.

 Tell your post office when you will be out of town, so they can hold your mail until you return.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 9 of 10

 If you do not receive a check or other valuable mail you’re expecting, contact the issuing agency immediately.

 Consider a mail slot, locking mail box at your residence, or a post office box.

 If you change your address, immediately notify your post office and anyone with whom you do business via mail.

Consult with your local postmaster for the most up-to-date regulations on mailboxes, including the availability of locked centralized or curbside boxes:

o Prospect office: 752-9825 o Barkley office: 752-9824

If you believe your mail was stolen, report it immediately to your local postmaster or nearest Postal Inspector. You’ll be asked to file a formal complaint using PS Form 2016, Mail Theft and Vandalism Complaint.

By analyzing information collected from the form, Postal Inspectors may determine whether your problem is isolated or part of a larger mail theft problem in your neighborhood—and it may help Inspectors locate and apprehend the thieves.

The postal inspection service office that serves Bellingham can be contacted at: Postal Inspection Service, PO Box 400, Seattle, WA 98111-4000

Phone: 206-442-6300 Fax: 206-442-6304

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 10 of 10

City of Bellingham MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION “JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE” – Information of Interest April 11, 2007 Located on the Web at: http://www.cob.org/mayor/boards_commissions/neighborhood/just­so­you­are­aware.htm

• Former Councilmember Don Gischer appointed interim 4 th Ward representative • Parks and Recreation projects updates & working with a Park Steward • Crime prevention help from BPD—Identity theft Shred­a­thon on April 28—Graffiti, report promptly, wait for police, then cover it! • Planning and Community Development­­status reports from the Neighborhoods on 2008 Neighborhood Plans Work • Making Neighborhoods” Elder Friendly” • Neighborhoods work on traffic issues • More Parks and Trails work parties • Public Works projects in the neighborhoods • Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program priorities due April 30 • Whatcom County Lake Whatcom Comprehensive Storm Water Plan Public Meeting • Earth Day­­three “Green Power Challenge” neighborhood winners! • Jazz and poetry at Bellingham Public Library • BTV10 Inside Bellingham—Speed bumps & humps, unwelcome intruders, the health of our water supply, the return of the bike patrols, and more

REMINDERS Transfer station for yard waste open at Lakeway and Yew Whatcom County Public Meeting on Lake Whatcom Comprehensive Storm Water Plan on April 17, 6:30 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Beach Pavilion New Whatcom Project—Public Information Meeting – April 18, 6­8 p.m. Bellingham Cruise Terminal Earth Day, Green Power Challenge Winners at Bellingham Farmers Market, April 21 New Whatcom Project—Public Scoping Hearing for the Environmental Impact Statement—Wednesday, April 25, 6­9 p.m., Bellingham Municipal Court, 2014 C Street Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program “Top Three” due April 30 City Council 6 Year Tip Priority Public Hearing ­­ May 7

Former Councilmember Don Gischer appointed interim 4th Ward representative On April 4 th , the Bellingham City Council appointed Don Gischer from a field of nine candidates to fill the vacant Ward 4 seat. The position was left vacant by the death of Joan Beardsley on March 12 th .

Gischer, a nine­year resident of the Alabama Hill neighborhood and retired mill worker, served on the Bellingham City Council from 1984 to 1996, representing the 1 st Ward.

Gischer has experience working with water quality, economic development, neighborhood and environmental issues.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 1 of 9 The Ward 4 position will be up for election in the November 2007 general election. Gischer will serve until the person elected in the general election takes office on November 27 th , which is the date the election results are expected to be certified.

That same day, the City Council also adopted a resolution honoring Joan Beardsley for her commitment to public service and her dedication to the citizens and City of Bellingham.

Parks and Recreation Projects Updates:

Puget: Skatepark expansion at Civic Field Complex: Part of the Civic Athletic Complex Improvement Project, the Skatepark expansion construction starts this week. Although the contractor will try to keep the remainder of the park open as much as possible, please use caution in the area. Work is scheduled for completion in August of 2007. The project is funded with Civic Bond funds, which are being repaid with Real Estate Excise Tax revenues.

Birchwood (near Columbia) : The Coast Millennium Trail, Squalicum Connector is under construction. This project is to build a trail from Squalicum Way through Squalicum Creek Park to the Bay to Baker Trail near Birchwood Park. The contractor is scheduled to complete work in July 2007. The project is funded with a Washington Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant with matching local funds from Beyond Greenways.

Birchwood (near Columbia): Squalicum Creek Park – Phase 1: City Council has awarded the bid for phase one construction of Squalicum Creek Park. Work will begin by May 1 st and is scheduled for completion in early 2008. Phase one includes building demolition and utility infrastructure, one combination baseball/softball field, restrooms, parking, connecting pathways, landscaping, and grading,. The project is funded with a combination of Olympic Pipeline Settlement, Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program Grant, Real Estate Excise Tax and City Sewer Funds for the public restrooms.

Roosevelt & Puget: Whatcom Creek Trail – Racine to Fraser: We’re adding a new section of Whatcom Creek Trail! Construction will start in May and be completed by this fall. The project includes a bridge across Whatcom Creek with a trail connecting the main route of Whatcom Creek Trail to the Civic Athletic Complex. The project is funded with the Beyond Greenways levy.

Samish: Lake Padden Park – new playground equipment installed: Check out the new playground equipment at Lake Padden Park. Completed in December, this work was part of our 2006 playground replacement program which also included new playgrounds at Broadway Park and at Civic Athletic Complex next to the Aquatic Center near Carl Cozier Elementary School.

Work with a Park Steward: An opportunity for exercise and neighborhood park and trails improvements:

• Lettered Streets: Park Steward Niki Thane holds monthly work parties at Robin’s Hollow on Old Village Trail (between H & I Street) the first Saturday of the month from 10:00 a.m. to noon

• Lettered Streets by Sunnyland: Spring is a busy time at Gossage Park, located at Cornwall & Alabama. If you have some spare time give Judy Buchanan a call at 734.6639; she could use your help with pick up, planting, mulching, weeding, and pruning.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 2 of 9 • York: Neighbors join forces at Franklin Park, working on the natural area at the west end of the park, the second Saturday of the month from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon

For more information contact our Greenways Volunteer Coordinator, Rae Edwards, at 676­6801 or email at [email protected]. Crime prevention help from Bellingham Police

• Identity Theft—shred­a­thon! Saturday, April 28 th 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Office Max, 1055 E. Sunset ID theft is a growing problem in our communities. To bring awareness of the problem, Bellingham Police has teamed up with Washington’s Law Enforcement Group against ID Theft better know as LEGIT to host a free “Shred­A­Thon.” at the Office Max located at 1055 E. Sunset Drive. Consumers are invited to bring 3 garbage bags per person of sensitive documents for free shredding. Documents will be destroyed on site by an industrial shredding machine. For more information contact Officer Mark Young BPD @ 676­6924 or [email protected]

• Graffitti – report promptly, wait for police, then cover it Defacing walls and other property is a crime classified as "Malicious Mischief" (damage to property). Although graffiti may be at times “creative”, when done without the explicit permission of the property owner it is a crime and contributes to the denigration of the neighborhood and community.

Our Police Department reports that graffiti is most often committed by individuals working independently, not by groups or “gangs”. This makes it more difficult to identify an offender unless the police are called to an incident in progress.

Regardless, it is very important that we receive reports of graffiti from victims. This enables our police department to identify crime patterns, focus neighborhood watchfulness, and to better the chances of apprehending the perpetrator. Call 911 if an event is in progress. If afterwards, report the graffiti to our police department Station Officer at (676­6840).

Once reported, it is important that the property owner cover the graffiti promptly. This has been shown to discourage graffiti. For further information contact: Bellingham Police Crime Prevention at 676­6924.

Planning and Community Development­­Status reports from the Neighborhoods on 2008 Neighborhood Plans Work

Alabama Hill: Alabama Hill’s planning committee is moving forward. Members are taking on new issues and after the workshop on April 3 rd new energy is bubbling over. The committee has been able to maintain an every­other­week meeting time and questions for our next surveys are coming forth. Finally, plans for a postcard notice mailing to the neighborhood will be ready by April 17 th .

Edgemoor: They had their first “official” Neighborhood Plan Update meeting in March to lay out their planning process. Step one is to design and send out a survey to every owner/resident in the neighborhood to obtain information relevant to Edgemoor’s particular situation. They will then use the results from that survey and those of two previous “Visions of Edgemoor” surveys to compile draft policies and outline a draft plan. Next, they will hold neighborhood meetings, get feedback on the draft, and develop a final proposal to submit to the Planning Department before December 1 st .

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 3 of 9 Fairhaven: They submitted a Development Code Amendment on December 1, 2006 to the Planning Department and have been notifying stakeholders of a Public Meeting on April 26 th on this proposal.

They are also working on their Neighborhood Plan. Glenn Denkler has volunteered to lead the effort.

Fairhaven Neighbors also mailed out a total of 1,080 surveys to property owners and merchants and renters in Fairhaven. They will have worksheets inviting written responses and suggestions, as well as a timeline and Q &A for their update process with the goal of submission of a document to Planning Department December 1, 2007.

Guide Meridian/Cordata: Their planning committee has met once plus attended the City's Tech Seminar on April 3 rd . At their next meeting they will organize a formal outline to their plan. They will then briefly document information under each category as they envision it or know it to be.

Roosevelt: Roosevelt will begin outreach planning with a meeting pm April 17 th . They are looking closely at how the other neighborhoods are approaching the process and expect to be in full swing in their process by this fall.

Samish: Samish did the bulk of their work last year and submitted their proposal which is docketed for review by the Planning Commission in 2007.

Sehome: Sehome mailed or hand delivered meeting notice to all property owners, residents, and businesses, resulting in more than 90 attending their Step 1 (of 5) outreach meeting, with more submitting input via forms available at www.sehome.org. In Step 2, committees will incorporate all input received into a plan outline, to be presented for review in Step 3 in July. Sehome will be approaching other neighborhoods with similar architectural histories and futures about cross­ neighborhood design standard development.

Silver Beach: They are redrafting their entire plan due to its age and obsolete names. In December they established committees to gather information and determine data gaps. Their schedule includes monthly meetings, a rough draft by June 1s t (with a mailing), firm draft September 1 st (with a mailing), consensus­building through the fall and a consensus document by November 30 th .

South Hill: They are working with the Planning Department to prepare a mailing for an all­ neighborhood meeting on May 2 nd regarding the neighborhood plan text amendment that was submitted December 1, 2006. This will be reviewed by the Planning Commission in June or July 2007. The text amendment concerns policy language that emphasizes the neighborhood value of view preservation, and references the need for more determined height and bulk limitations throughout the neighborhood. They are also developing a neighborhood input process to submit a proposal in December 2007 for a neighborhood plan update in 2008.

Other neighborhoods: Other neighborhoods are also working on their neighborhood plans to submit to the City for review. Their effort was demonstrated when 75 association committee members turned out for the April 3 rd Technical Assistance Workshop on Neighborhood Plan Amendment Process. Contact your MNAC representative or other neighborhood association leadership to find out how to take part in this important citizen involvement process. You can find Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 4 of 9 your representative by going to http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/neighborhoods/neighborhoods.htm. A second workshop will be held in September when neighborhoods are further along in the process.

Making neighborhoods “Elder Friendly” – a new initiative of the Area Agency on Aging The population of people over age 65 in our country will double over the next 25 years. To meet this challenge, the Northwest Regional Council (NWRC), the Area Agency on Aging for Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan and Island Counties, is beginning an outreach effort to promote dialogue on how to make our communities more ‘Elder Friendly’.

Making communities ‘Elder Friendly’ involves assessment of policies, programs and services including transportation, housing, land use planning, public safety, parks and recreation, workforce development and volunteerism/civic engagement, to name a few. The Area Agency on Aging hopes to work with neighborhood associations to promote “elder friendly” neighborhoods as well as with local government. Contact Richard Dietz at Northwest Regional Council, 360­676­6749 for more information.

Public Works Projects in the neighborhoods—new and updated info

Birchwood • On April 17 th , Public Works staff will be present at the neighborhood meeting to review the designs for curb, gutter, and sidewalks on Birchwood Avenue west of Meridian Street including an eastbound right turn lane as well as future plans for a roundabout on Northwest Avenue. In addition, an update on the design for the extension of Illinois street to Marine Drive along Timpson Way to divert truck traffic from Oeser Cedar and Morse Steel from residential area to a designated truck route (Marine Drive).

Birchwood and Columbia • The waterline replacement under the Eldridge Street bridge is complete.

Birchwood and Guide Meridian • Northwest Avenue/I­5 Pedestrian Improvements: Work continues on the design and budget for pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Northwest between McLeod and Bakerview Roads. This is a major walking route for school children traveling to and from Shuksan Middle School. We also hope to improve traffic flow in the area while providing for improved pedestrian and bicycle safety. We have recently been informed that WSDOT will be submitting for grant funding for the dual roundabout option presented to the neighborhood earlier this year. If this grant is successful, there is potential that at least one of the roundabouts, at the Interstate­5 northbound ramp, could be constructed together with the pedestrian improvements.

Sehome, York, and the Greater Central Business District: • We held a neighborhood meeting in March to unveil the Holly Street Corridor (Ellis to State) Improvements pursuant to the City Center Master Plan. The project consists of streetscape improvements along upper Holly Street between Ellis Street and Railroad Avenue. Included in the project is the replacement of all curbs, gutters and sidewalks, the addition of new traffic signals and street lighting, together with new street plantings, utility work and road resurfacing. Preliminary work is underway, and construction should be ramping up to full activity in the next couple of weeks.

Central Business District: Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 5 of 9 • The Arts District Projects continue including streetscape improvements for several areas, as well as significant progress on a new Art and Children’s Museum and on the next phase of Mount Baker Theatre (MBT) renovations including lighting improvements. City Council recently approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) laying out a funding plan for the museum and theatre projects. Parties to the MOU include the City, MBT Board, Whatcom Museum Society, Campaign for the Arts, and Bellingham­Whatcom Public Facilities District.

Columbia • The final paving on West Street will be completed this week. Soon after, the pavement markings will be installed after which the project will be complete.

Guide Meridian: • We are still working with WSDOT on construction bids for road improvements between Horton and Ten Mile Road. Our part is to install water and sewer extensions. • Dry weather is allowing the installation of the three way pavement markings at Kellogg and Eliza.

Happy Valley • Pedestrian improvements at Donovan and 21 st Street are complete. We are repairing a pavement failure near a storm water vault and also dealing with a large puddle at the Cowgill intersection. • Dryer weather will now allow us to complete concrete and pavement marking work for the installation of flashing warning system for pedestrian crossings on Bill McDonald Parkway near the Birnam Wood dormitories.

Happy Valley/South • We’re working on the surveying, base maps and design work to replace the existing culvert for Padden Creek at 30 th Street to improve fish passage.

Lettered Streets • We’re beginning the design of storm water handling improvements at Astor and C streets

Meridian • We’re accomplishing the survey work for a culvert replacement on Prince Avenue at Spring Street. This is preliminary work to designing the structure.

Mount Baker • Pedestrian improvements at Barkley Boulevard and Chandler Parkway—continued dry weather will allow us to install cross walk pavement markings after which the flashing warning system will be installed. • We are completing the survey and base maps this month to replace three culverts on James Street • Sunset Drive Improvements east of Woburn: We’ve done a wetland inventory to determine necessary mitigation measures before design and construction of a widened and improved major arterial next year.

Puget • Phase II of the Fraser Street Improvement Project (Puget Street south of Fraser) will improve pedestrian and bike safety as well as to enhance storm water treatment is in the final design stage.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 6 of 9 Roosevelt • For the Woburn and Alabama Intersection Improvements we’re now designing storm water aspects for construction this summer. Included in the design is a “pocket park” concept proposed by the neighborhood association.

Samish: • San Juan Boulevard, Phase I: We’ll soon begin our wetland inventory and are doing the necessary joint planning with WSDOT and the Federal High Way Administration to begin the design on this complex project. • Yew Street Upper Reservoir: To install this 1.3 million gallon water reservoir as part of infrastructure development for Samish Hill, our next step is to work on right of way acquisition for tank location.

Silver Beach: • We have a number of projects in the Silver Beach neighborhood/Lake Whatcom Watershed to improve the quality of run off and storm water entering Lake Whatcom. We have a Northridge Detention Basin Retrofit, Pullman Road and Drainage Improvements, and work on East Maryland Street, E. North, E. Oregon, and Hayward Drive water quality.

Whatcom Falls: • All of Bellingham will benefit from this project to replace the filter media and upgrade the infrastructure of the Water Treatment Plant Filter. Our challenge is to accomplish this without disrupting the flow of potable water from the plant to our citizens.

See City Public Works Department website for more information about capital projects under construction: http://www.cob.org/pw/curconst/index_current.htm.

Neighborhoods traffic safety program priorities due April 30

• Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program (NTSP): Neighborhood Associations are reviewing residential street traffic concerns and will advise our Public Works department of their “Top 3 Neighborhood Traffic Safety” priorities by April 30 th . Staff will study the traffic at the locations indicated and work with the neighbors to either solve the problem through education and enforcement, or, if a street qualifies, to design an appropriate traffic calming improvement.

See our website for contact information for your neighborhood traffic contact person or for more information about the program at http://www.cob.org/pw/index.htm or on the Neighborhood Page on our website at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/neighborhoods/neighborhoods.htm.

• Six Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): The neighborhoods’ TIP priorities are under review the Public Works Advisory Committee and staff. These will be reviewed by the City Council as they update the TIP for 2008 and seek funding for those projects. A public hearing on the TIP priorities is scheduled before Council for May 7t h. TIP projects typically cost between $200,000 and several million dollars each and so a City wide prioritization process must occur annually to determine which projects will be on the TIP list for long term planning and funding.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 7 of 9 Whatcom County Public Meeting—Lake Whatcom Comprehensive Storm Water Plan—April 17 A 2 nd public meeting on The Lake Whatcom Comprehensive Storm Water Plan will be held on Tuesday, April 17th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Bloedel­Donovan Beach Pavilion.

Topics of discussion will include project background and status, driving factors including regulatory requirements in association with Phase II NPDES, problems identified, alternatives under consideration (both watershed­wide and location specific), and funding options and considerations.

Please contact Sue Blake at the Whatcom County Public Works at 715­7450 or via e­mail at [email protected]

Three Green Power Challenge neighborhood winners! Thanks to the Northwest Clean Air Agency, an additional neighborhood will be eligible for a Green Power Challenge award of $1,000. Awards go to the three neighborhoods with the highest percentage of residential electric power users buying “Green Power (electrical power generated from renewal energy sources) which costs as little as an additional $4.00 a month.

Exciting news: The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has notified us that Bellingham has the highest percentage of electrical green power users on the EPA’s list of Green Power Communities! More than 11% of all of the electricity use in Bellingham is now from Green Power. This is the equivalent of taking about 4,200 cars off of the road.

On Earth Day, Saturday, April 21 st , at 12:00 p.m. at the Bellingham Farmers Market, Mayor Douglas will announce the neighborhood association winners. There will be cake, kids’ activities and free CF light bulbs from the Northwest Clean Air Agency. Anyone who brings someone in to sign up for Green Power that day will receive a free T­shirt. Otherwise, to sign up, call a PSE energy advisor at 1­800­562­1482, or visit the website at www.pse.com/solutions/greenpower_signuphome.aspx

Jazz and Poetry at Bellingham Public Library • Looking at: Jazz! Film and Discussion Series ­ Session 4: The Jazz Swing Era Friday April 20, 2007 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the Lecture Room of the Bellingham Public Library. Featured Film Benny Goodman: Adventures in the Kingdom of Swing. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Free ­ Tickets required, but unclaimed seats released at 6:50 p.m., film begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Lecture Room of the Bellingham Public Library.

• Bellingham Reads . . . Your Favorite Poem! In honor of National Poetry Month, we invite you to select a poem that moves you and share it with those attending our Library’s book club, Bellingham Reads on April 25 th . Everyone is welcome. Contact Suzanne Carlson­Prandini at (360) 676­6860 for more information. (Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 7:00pm in the BPL Lecture Room )

Speed humps, unwelcome intruders, health of our water supply, the return of the bike patrols, and more on Inside Bellingham Now showing on BTV10’s Inside Bellingham: • Speed humps – Who puts them on our streets and why? • Reed Canary Grass is an unwelcome intruder in city parks. • Kim Spens on the health of our only drinking water supply – Lake Whatcom • Bike patrols return to the downtown – And more! Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 8 of 9 BTV10 airs several times each week and is available to watch online, too. For BTV10 schedule information and access to on­line television programs, visit the city's website at http://www.cob.org/.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 9 of 9 City of Bellingham MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION “JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE” – Information of Interest May 9, 2007 Located on the Web at: http://www.cob.org/mayor/boards_commissions/neighborhood/just­so­you­are­aware.htm

• Lake Whatcom water quality is declining—become informed, be an active steward • Silver Beach neighborhood planning to address Lake Whatcom Concerns • City wide Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness Committee formed • Emergency planning featured on BTV10’s May “Inside Bellingham” • Planning and Community Development – reporting in! o Shoreline Master Planning, Waterfront Redevelopment, public hearings on neighborhood plan amendments, Old Village Trail • Public Works projects in the neighborhoods • Neighborhood transportation planning moving ahead • Award winning Taylor Dock • CBD, Fairhaven, Columbia neighborhoods are “Green Power Challenge” winners! • More winners—AmeriCorps volunteers on Whatcom Creek • Bellingham neighborhoods plan seventh annual National Night Out Against Crime – August 7, 2007 • BTV10 Inside Bellingham—and more • An opportunity to build leaders — Leadership Whatcom • EverybodyBike! REMINDERS Transfer station for yard waste open at Lakeway and Yew May 13 — Mother’s Day — Sculpture Show – Lifetime Community Achievement Award honors the late Joan and Dick Beardsley — 1 to 4 p.m. “Old Village Trail” – Open House – Review of Final Design Improvements­­ Tuesday May 15th 7 p.m. Mayor’s Board Room, 2 nd Floor of City Hall Bike to Work and School Day is Friday, May 18 th! For information on biking events throughout the month go to: http://www.everybodyBIKE.com

Lake Whatcom

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 1 of 10 Lake Whatcom water quality is declining — become informed, be an active steward of Lake Whatcom

Lake Whatcom is the source of drinking water to some 95,000 people in Whatcom County, including the 82,000 served by the City of Bellingham. The health of this tremendously important resource is declining, and at a pace that is faster than expected.

Bellingham’s drinking water is safe, but algae growth is making it less appealing and is requiring more expensive treatment to keep it safe.

Local governments are working hard to study the lake and make wise decisions about its future. We have made Lake Whatcom protection efforts a top priority for 2007, and will consider rigorous steps to protect our lake. These steps will include protecting more undeveloped land in the watershed, improving storm water treatment, and helping watershed residents become better stewards of the lake.

The information linked to this page is designed to help people understand the challenges we face as we work together to preserve and enhance Lake Whatcom. http://www.cob.org/pw/lw/index.htm

Silver Beach neighborhood planning to address lake issues Recognizing their special role in protecting Lake Whatcom, the Silver Beach neighbors hope to include in their neighborhood plan measures to protect our precious source of drinking water.

Silver Beach is the only city neighborhood bordering the shores of Lake Whatcom. Neighborhood leaders are raising many questions for their residents and property owners to ponder as they seek consensus for neighborhood plan updates and try to support further lake protection efforts:

• Have we limited impervious surfaces to the degree necessary? • Can we afford to have even one more house built in the watershed? • Does every home need a lawn?

Neighborhood leaders also will explore values around recreational uses vs. lake protection and intergovernmental actions to draw state and federal attention and funding to solve lake issues.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 2 of 10 “These are among the many contentious questions we will be grappling with over the next several months as we try to help chart a course to a healthy lake. It is our hope that when future generations look back on this decade, they will applaud the leadership and the selfless vision guiding it. They will recognize that rather than settling for half measures, our city leaders and neighborhood residents have insisted on the hard work necessary to preserve the lake for generations whose grandparents have yet to be born.” Mike Johnston, President, Silver Beach Neighborhood Association

To participate in the Silver Beach Neighborhood Association and its plan update work contact Mike Robinson, MNAC representative at [email protected].

City­wide neighborhood disaster preparedness committee formed We have asked all 21 of our neighborhood associations to participate in a city­wide planning process to build and strengthen disaster readiness among neighbors. This is because, in a disaster, your most immediate source of help will be your neighbors. As Katrina and other major disasters have shown, our first responders are simply not able to handle all the significant citizen and community needs in a disaster — communication and infrastructure systems go down; damage can overwhelm our emergency response capabilities. Knowing what to do in the first hours of a disaster response may help you save a life, reduce the severity of possible injuries, and reduce the amount of damage the neighborhood sustains.

Our emergency management staff is working with a committee of neighborhood association representatives to plan for implementing a step by step program for neighborhood readiness called “Map Your Neighborhood (MYN)”. They will hold their first meeting this month and from there begin the work of neighborhood disaster preparedness. Stay tuned…we’ll report their progress in future editions! (See also BTV10’s May edition of “Inside Bellingham” for more about our disaster preparedness).

Emergency planning highlighted on BTV10’s May “Inside Bellingham” Filmed in the Guide/Meridian/Cordata neighborhood, the May episode of Inside Bellingham highlights individual and community emergency preparedness, lake­friendly gardening, tips for cyclists and motorists to share the road, and more.

Inside Bellingham airs on BTV10 several times each week and is available to watch on­line, too. For BTV10 schedule information and access to on­line television programs, visit the city's website at www.cob.org. Inside Bellingham, produced by the City of Bellingham, gives viewers an inside peek into city government programs, services, activities and people.

Planning and Community Development—reporting in!

Shoreline Master Program heads to City Council The Planning Commission finalized their recommendations on the update to the Shoreline Master Program. Those recommendations will now be forwarded to the City Council on Monday, June 4th. The Council will conduct at least one public hearing before finalizing the document and sending it on to the Department of Ecology for final review and approval. For further information, contact Steve Sundin, [email protected].

Waterfront Redevelopment Project

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 3 of 10 On Monday, May 7 th , Karen Morse, president of Western Washington University, provided a presentation to the City Council on WWU's planning efforts regarding the waterfront. WWU secured $1 million from the state legislature to continue working on a plan for a university presence on the waterfront. Also on Monday, Len Johnson, the city's Waterfront Redevelopment Manager, provided a waterfront project update to the City Council. This update is the first of monthly updates to keep City Council appraised of the progress as the project enters the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) phase, and ultimately, the regulatory approval phase scheduled to begin by the end of the year. The deadline for public comment on the EIS scoping is May 11 th . All public comments should be addressed to [email protected].

Upcoming Public Hearings on Neighborhood Plan Amendments On Thursday, June 7 th , two public hearings with the Planning Commission are scheduled for 2007 Neighborhood Plan Amendments in the Puget and Guide Meridian neighborhoods. For details on those proposals, click on those respective neighborhoods from the see the city's neighborhood page at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/neighborhoods/neighborhoods.htm

Lettered Streets (to Columbia) Old Village Trail design ready The Old Village Trail travels between Maritime Heritage Park in the Lettered Streets Neighborhood, and Elizabeth Park in the Columbia Neighborhood (see Old Village Trail Location Map, 390K PDF). In 2003 the Lettered Streets Neighborhood Association applied for and was awarded a Neighborhood Initiatives Program (NIP) grant by the Planning and Community Development to make improvements to the trail.

$160,000 in Community Development Block Grant NIP funds was allocated for the project, and since that time Planning & Community Development, Parks and Public Works Department staff have worked with residents, property owners, and interested citizens to develop a master plan for improvements to the trail.

The public is invited to a May 15 th open house to review and give final comments to construction drawings/design for the trail (7 p.m., Mayor’s Board Room, City hall). Questions should be directed to Katie Franks, Planning & Community Development, 676­6855 ext. 106 or [email protected]. See also our website, http://www.cob.org/pcd/cd/neighborhoods/nip_current_projects_ovt.htm

Public Works Projects in the neighborhoods—new and updated info

Various:

• We have a number of annual programs to improve and maintain our basic public utilities. This includes sewer system replacements and rehabilitation in areas where we have a history of maintenance problems. We also work to repair bridges including crack repair as identified in the 2006 bridge inspection report. We also do install/replace pavement markings, paint stripes, and repair street surfaces, with a lot of this work happening during the better weather of spring, summer, and early fall.

Birchwood • In April, Public Works staff attended the Birchwood Neighborhood Association meeting to: o review the designs for curb, gutter, and sidewalks on Birchwood Avenue west of Meridian Street including an eastbound right turn lane; o future plans for two roundabouts on Northwest Avenue;

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 4 of 10 o an update on the design for the extension of Illinois street to Marine Drive along Timpson Way to divert truck traffic from Oeser Cedar and Morse Steel from residential area to a designated truck route (Marine Drive). Staff responded to questions and comments and invited the public to submit comments to our Public Works staff:

Birchwood and Guide Meridian • Northwest Avenue/I­5 Pedestrian Improvements: We reviewed this project with Birchwood neighbors at their April meeting. This dialogue with neighbors to develop effective improvements for pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic movement in this busy area is an important part of our planning and design work for these projects on Northwest between McLeod and Bakerview Roads. This is a major walking route for school children traveling to and from Shuksan Middle School.

Sehome, York, and the Greater Central Business District: • The Holly Street Corridor (Ellis to State) Improvements pursuant to the City Center Master Plan are now under construction. We are periodically publishing notices regarding traffic disruption on Holly Street during this work. Included in the project is the replacement of all curbs, gutters and sidewalks, the addition of new traffic signals and street lighting, together with new street plantings, utility work and road resurfacing. Most of the curb and sidewalk on the south side of the road has been removed. Work on the utility trench is in progress so that our contractor can install storm drainage improvements and utility crossings.

Central Business District: • The Arts District Projects continue including streetscape improvements for several areas, as well as significant progress on a new Art and Children’s Museum. We expect to open bids for both the architectural and streetscape designs on June 7 th . Meanwhile, we are nearing the end of the design stage on our project to improve the life safety elements of our historic downtown Federal Building and make it more attractive/useable to new tenants.

Columbia • Our West Street project designed to make West Street between North and Squalicum Parkway safer pedestrian and bicycle use, provide better drainage and roadway improvements is almost ready for final inspection.

Guide Meridian: • Our joint planning of water and sewer extensions as the State Department of Transportation does improvement work for the Guide Meridian between Horton Road and Smith Road continues. The project was recently awarded by WSDOT to Imco Construction of Bellingham. • The three­way stop at Kellogg and Eliza has been installed including 24­hour flashing beacons and stop bars. Summer extra labor crews will install the planned crosswalk markings as time and weather permits. • We are beginning the planning of a project to upgrade the sanitary sewer (wastewater) system pump station on Horton Road. This is needed to increase capacity to handle growth in this area of the City.

Happy Valley • We are still monitoring pavement settling issues on near a storm water vault installed last year on 30 th Street. Our crews will be doing streetscape work at the end of 32nd Street this month with landscaping to follow. Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 5 of 10 Happy Valley/South • We are working on the surveying, base maps and design work to replace the existing culvert for Padden Creek at 30 th Street to improve fish passage.

Mount Baker • Pedestrian improvements at Barkley Boulevard and Chandler Parkway including pavement markings and a flashing warning system are now complete • Our planning and design work to replace three culverts on James Street requires significant coordination with Bay to Baker Trail planning, future roadway improvement planning and the possibility of development proposals for James. Part of the design will also include protection of wetland and streams in the area. • Sunset Drive Improvements east of Woburn: For this major project, we have completed right of way acquisition for 50 percent of the parcels needed to accomplish this state highway/major arterial improvement. This project is scheduled for construction in 2008.

Puget • Phase II of the Fraser Street Improvement Project (Puget Street south of Fraser) will improve pedestrian and bike safety as well as to enhance storm water treatment is in the final design stage. This project also requires us to look at impacts to Lincoln and Whatcom Creeks for all phases of the project. • We’ll be reviewing the design progress of San Juan Boulevard with the neighborhood this month.

Roosevelt • Our prep work for the Woburn and Alabama Intersection Improvements to provide dual right turn lanes and provide adequate stormwater handling continues at this location of heavy traffic volumes.

Samish: • San Juan Boulevard, Phase I: We’ll soon be submitting documentation of our wetland inventory and issues for review by various agencies on this complex project. • Yew Street Upper Reservoir: We’re ready to begin implementing the design for this 1.3 million gallon water reservoir as part of infrastructure development for Samish Hill.

Silver Beach: • Silver Beach and Alabama Hill neighbors especially will be interested in our new and very informative Steward’s of the Lake publication available on our website – www.cob.org

• We continue work on a number of projects in the Silver Beach neighborhood/Lake Whatcom Watershed to improve the quality of run off and storm water entering Lake Whatcom. We have a Northridge Detention Basin Retrofit, Pullman Road/Maryland alley street and drainage Improvements, and work on East Maryland Street, E. North, E. Oregon, and Hayward Drive water quality.

Whatcom Falls: • Our project to replace the filter media and upgrade the infrastructure of the Water Treatment Plant is moving right along. Filter #1 is complete and on­line. Filter #2 is in progress. All of Bellingham will benefit from this project to replace the filter media and upgrade the infrastructure

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 6 of 10 of the Water Treatment Plant Filter. Our challenge is to accomplish this without disrupting the flow of potable water from the plant to our citizens.

See City Public Works Department website for more information about capital projects under construction: http://www.cob.org/pw/curconst/index_current.htm.

Neighborhood participation in transportation planning moving ahead

• Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program (NTSP): By our April 30 th deadline, 17 Neighborhood Associations submitted their 2007 top three residential street locations for Public Works to study. Public Works staff will conduct traffic counts at the residential street locations indicated and work with the neighbors of qualifying locations to either solve the problem through education and enforcement, or, if a street qualifies, to design an appropriate traffic calming improvement.

See our website for contact information for your neighborhood traffic contact person or for more information about the program at http://www.cob.org/pw/index.htm or on the Neighborhood Page on our website at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/neighborhoods/neighborhoods.htm.

• Six Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): The Draft 2008­2013 TIP priorities list was subject to a public hearing before City Council on May 7th . The City Council continued the discussion of the Draft 2008­2013 TIP to a May 21 st work session and left the public comment period open. This was the first year that Neighborhood Associations were asked to identify the priority for their neighborhood, as listed in the Transportation Element of the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan, as an important part of the information considered by staff and elected officials in establishing funding priorities for transportation infrastructure projects. The City is required to adopt and submit a six year TIP to the State of Washington by July 1s t of each year and neighborhood input will continue to be an important part of this annual process.

Our Taylor Street Dock—a winner outside Bellingham, too!

The City’s Taylor Street Dock, which is near the Fairhaven end of the South Bay Trail, was presented with an “Award of Excellence” from the Washington Recreation & Park Association (WRPA) at their annual conference in Blaine last month. This award is part of the WRPA’s Professional and Spotlight awards that are a coveted honor for the individuals and organizations of the Parks and Recreation profession. The awards honor public agencies and individuals for outstanding and unique achievement. Taylor Street Dock is certainly that. If you have yet to visit this dock, it is at the foot of Taylor Street near the Chrysalis Hotel, and includes a small gateway park. Once on the dock, you walk out and over the water of South Bellingham Bay coming back to land again at a short trail link to Boulevard Park. This may now be our busiest trail, for commuters and recreational users.

Congratulations to the community leaders who had the vision to see the possibility in this historic structure and in the design that adapted the dock as a Parks and Trails amenity. Congratulations also to the many dedicated staff who worked to bring this vision to fruition, and to the volunteers and citizens who are boosters, users, contributors to our community’s outstanding park and trail system.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 7 of 10 Columbia, Fairhaven, and the Central Business District win Green Power Challenge These three neighborhoods earned $1,000 from Puget Sound Energy and the Northwest Clean Air Agency for having the highest percentage of residential electric power users buying “Green Power” (electrical power generated from renewal energy sources) which costs as little as an additional $4.00 a month. To sign up for green power, call a PSE energy advisor at 1­800­562­1482, or visit the website at www.pse.com/solutions/greenpower_signuphome.aspx

More winners—AmeriCorps volunteers on Whatcom and Baker Creeks You may have seen our 13 Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) members working on restoring fish and wildlife habitat along city streams. Our City WCC crews have now been recognized by the Washington Department of Ecology as “Outstanding Crew of the Quarter”. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0706015.pdf

This year, the crews have been working on three major in­stream projects located along Whatcom and Baker creeks. As part of the WCC Program, crews also plan and organize an annual community service project. Last January, members of the City­sponsored crew organized an infant food and supply drive for the Bellingham Food Bank in celebration of Martin Luther King Day which raised nearly $12,500.

“This year’s Washington Conservation Corps Crews just amazed us with their positive attitude and can­do approach. They are an integral part of the City of Bellingham’s restoration program, and working with them on a daily basis has been a real pleasure,” said City of Bellingham Environmental Coordinator Sue Madsen, who oversees the work of the WCC crews.

Bellingham WCC members include Elizabeth Anderson, Andy Barry, Rebecca Britten, Cassidy Geppert, Tanya Hladik, Adam Jackson, David Lofgren, Vanessa Lott, Chris Matson, Kaci Radcliffe, David Row, Kevin Walters and Lauren Williamson.

Bellingham neighborhoods plan seventh annual National Night Out Against Crime – August 7, 2007

For the seventh year running, Bellingham neighborhoods and Police and Fire Departments will be involved in the National Night Out Against Crime program. National Night Out is celebrated in communities nationwide and teams Police and Fire agencies with community leaders, civic groups and local businesses to promote safe and healthy neighborhoods.

National Night Out activities are designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate participation in local anti­crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and community partnerships, and send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. These neighborhood and block parties are just plain fun with cookouts, potlucks, or ice cream socials.

National Night Out is a great opportunity for demonstrating neighborliness and neighborhood commitment to crime prevention. To schedule an event in your neighborhood or for further information contact Officer Tara Fleetwood at 676­6924 or email at [email protected] or your neighborhood association leadership. You can find their contact information at our website for the Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission: http://www.cob.org/documents/mayor/boards­ commissions/neighborhood/2007%20MNAC%20Roster_Public_ABN.pdf

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 8 of 10 An opportunity to build leaders – Leadership Whatcom For the many volunteers working on behalf of their neighborhoods, you may be interested in an opportunity to build even better leadership skills through the Leadership Whatcom Program. The Leadership Whatcom program brings together both experienced and “emerging” community leaders from throughout Whatcom County. The views, ideas, and experience of the participants/trainees are an important part of the learning experience meant to develop even better team­building, problem­ solving and collaborative approaches to your neighborhood work. Also, you will take a real look at community issues affecting Whatcom County, making this more relevant to your needs and more interesting. The program includes field visits to urban and rural Whatcom County, in­class training, interaction with community leaders, and small group community projects chosen by participants.

Leadership Whatcom is now taking applications for the next program series. Up to 24 participants meet one Friday each month for ten months, September through June (excluding December). Application deadline for the 2007­08 year is Friday, May 18th . Application forms, program objectives and perspectives of those involved in the program can be found on the website. http://www.leadershipwhatcom.org

And…short course on productive public conversations (such as occur at neighborhood meetings!) Neighborhood associations often draw together large numbers of residents to discuss issues, sometimes controversial, and with many view points. To provide meeting leaders with a toolkit of skills and resources in support of productive and civil large­scale discussions, Leadership Whatcom is also offering an evening training. This event will be Thursday, May 17 th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pre­ registration is required, so contact Leadership Whatcom. Please RSVP to Allison Roberts at 715­ 1061 or [email protected]

Also from the Whatcom Coalition… Strategies to Address Poverty Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities is holding a community summit on poverty in Whatcom County. Hear what was learned from the recent Whatcom Prosperity Project client survey, Friday, June 1 st , 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please RSVP by May 23r d to Allison Roberts at 715­1061 or [email protected]

EverybodyBike: a month of fun and prizes in Whatcom County!

Celebrate National Bike Month in May. EverybodyBike is a month of fun and prizes for everyone on two wheels. Anyone who bikes or walks to destinations in Whatcom County instead of driving for at least three trips during May is eligible to win terrific prizes, including a trip to bike­friendly Holland, a new bike, luxury dinners and more. Kids can win a new bike, a rock­wall party at the YMCA and other cool stuff! If you’re new to bike transportation, you’ll have additional prizes that you can win.

Bike anywhere! Any bike or walking trip that replaces a car trip counts. Try biking to work or school, and once you’re there – why not bike to lunch? Parking will be so much easier! Do you live too far from work to ride your bike? Try biking for your errands or to visit friends on the weekend.

Enter to win by recording your biking and walking trips at http://www.everybodyBIKE.com/ before June 7 th .

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 9 of 10 EverybodyBike includes the celebration of Bike to Work and School Day on May 18 th as well as a whole month of fun events to help you get rolling. You can find these events through the calendar on the website above.

Published monthly by the City of Bellingham’s Mayor’s Office Page 10 of 10 City of Bellingham MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION “JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE” – Information of Interest June 13, 2007 Located on the Web at: http://www.cob.org/mayor/boards_commissions/neighborhood/just­so­you­are­aware.htm

• City CAO accepts job in Colorado • Neighborhood disaster preparedness program moves ahead • Planning and Community Development news — annexation, waterfront, shoreline master program • Notes from our hardworking neighborhoods • Neighborhood Night Out Against Crime—August 7 th • Public Works in the neighborhoods • Coast Millennium Trail Squalicum connector opens to the public • When to park on a sidewalk: Never • Share the trail…tips for making our wonderful trails safe and friendly for all • Share the journey—Paddle to Lummi • Protecting our Watershed • Living with wild animals • BTV10—downtown, Lummi healing pole, wild animals, fireworks, and more!

Reminders 4 th of July: Fireworks are only legal from 9 a.m. to midnight on July 4 th ! See Inside Bellingham on BTV10 for more information

July 16 th 7 p.m.: Public Hearing on 2007 draft Shoreline Master Plan in City Council Chambers

City CAO accepts job in Colorado City of Bellingham Chief Administrative Officer Malcolm Fleming has accepted the position of City Manager for the City of Louisville, Colorado, just outside Boulder. The move brings the Fleming family closer to parents and other family nearby. In a note to his city colleagues, Fleming expressing mixed feelings about leaving a city he has grown to love. "This year will bring major transitions for the City of Bellingham and we are in the midst of numerous major projects. I love working with all of you on these challenges. This is the strongest (and most fun!) team I have ever worked with and I feel that together we have and you will continue to make a huge, lasting and positive difference in Bellingham's future," he said. During Fleming’s two years, he has worked extensively on waterfront redevelopment, including ensuring that plans are consistent with the community's vision, as well as helped stabilize the city's financial status, and improved public involvement and the city's relationship with neighborhoods. Topping the list of priorities in his new position are tackling fiscal challenges, encouraging public involvement in Louisville downtown development, diversifying the city's economy and managing population growth. He also faces familiar political transitions in Louisville, where the Mayor and three City Council positions are up for election this fall. Fleming said he will begin his new position August 15, and expects to remain with the City of Bellingham through the end of July.

Page 1 of 10 Neighborhood disaster preparedness program moves ahead Nineteen neighborhoods sent representatives to participate on a city­wide steering committee charged with developing a strategy for implementing “Map Your Neighborhood” (MYN). MYN provides straightforward instructions to a contiguous group of residents to prepare for and work together during a disaster to get through the crisis. Remember that a disaster is when all systems, including communications and first responders, cannot function effectively because of the magnitude of the event such as a devastating earthquake. MNAC had reviewed MYN and recommended that the City adopt this neighborhood­based disaster preparedness program.

The City’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is working with the steering committee. In May, the Committee recommended:

• Neighborhood Associations lead the effort, with support from OEM, determining how to organize their neighborhood geographically and implement a training program for residents. • Use a team approach to training, building on already trained neighborhood residents, expanding that cadre, and using OEM assistance as needed.

Some of our neighborhoods, notably Guide Meridian/Cordata and Columbia, are early out of the starting gate. We expect their early implementation work to provide helpful information for other neighborhoods on how to get MYN to every household. For more information about MYN, contact the Office of Emergency Management at [email protected] or 676­6933.

Planning and Community Development news of interest

Annexation – Presentation to City Council City staff will present an overview of annexations and urban growth area (UGA) planning in Bellingham on Monday, June 18 th at Council’s regular evening meeting at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. The presentation will include a look at the legal and policy framework around annexations, and the status of land use, transportation and parks planning efforts in the UGA. Additionally, staff will present the results of a financial impact model that estimates the cost of providing city services to UGA areas over time. For more information, contact Nicole Oliver in the Planning and Community Development Department, 676­6982, [email protected].

Waterfront Advisory Group The WAG meets Wednesday, June 20 th at 6:00 p.m. in the Harbor Center Conference Room, 1801 Roeder. The agenda will include the latest schedule for the waterfront redevelopment project, and other project updates. This meeting is open to the public. For more information, contact Andi Dyer in the City's Waterfront Redevelopment office at 738­7408.

Shoreline Master Program Ready for Public Hearing July 16 Updated regulations affecting all development within 200 feet of significant shorelines in Bellingham were introduced to the Bellingham City Council on June 4 th . Those shorelines include Bellingham Bay, Chuckanut, Whatcom, Squalicum Creeks and the mouth of Padden Creek, Lake Padden and Lake Whatcom within the city limits. The draft is based on numerous public meetings, work sessions, and extensive public comment. The SMP builds on the planning efforts of the Waterfront Futures Group, the 2005 Comprehensive Plan, the Critical Areas Ordinance, the waterfront redevelopment planning effort, and recommendations from the Planning Commission. The public can view the extensive comments received to date on the document on the Public Comment Tracker which charts how and where that comment was incorporated and if not, why. The Draft 2007 SMP and Tracker are available on the City’s website at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/environment.htm, Hard copies are available at City Hall,

Page 2 of 10 Planning Department. Contact Steve Sundin, (360) 676­6982. Please send written comments to the Planning Department at 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, 98225 or via email at: [email protected]. Comments will be accepted up until the Public Hearing on July 16, 2007. Notes from our hardworking Neighborhoods! Our neighborhoods do wonderful work for their community. To learn more about your neighborhood’s activities, contact your Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Representative listed on our “Neighborhoods” web page at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/neighborhoods/neighborhoods.htm.

Alabama Hill: Alabama Hill is developing their process for neighborhood involvement in their neighborhood plan update work. They have added the implementation of the City initiated neighborhood disaster preparedness program, Mapping Your Neighborhood (MYN), to their agenda. Alabama Hill is also working to improve their communications with the neighborhood stakeholders – updating yard signs, improving their website, use of group emails, etc. The association will have their annual picnic and National Night Out Against Crime on the same evening.

Birchwood: On May 22 over 40 stakeholders attended Birchwood’s first neighborhood plan update meeting. The committee recorded participants’ input on various topics. This information will be combined with input from past general membership meetings. Deadline for comments is June 15 th . The committee is looking at a 2­year process which will likely deal with formatting and housekeeping for this December and more extensive proposals for next year. To comment or receive more information email Kurt Baumgarten at [email protected]. The next meeting will be announced as soon as scheduled (see www.northernneighbors.org). Birchwood is also moving forward with MYN and has two volunteers leading the effort.

Central Business District: The Downtown Renaissance Network serves as the neighborhood association for the central business district. With many new residential facilities in the neighborhood, DRN has worked to include residents on their board and in their deliberations on their mission: Enhancing, promoting, and advocating for the healthy maintenance, improvement and development of Bellingham's City Center. They will be busy this summer with the third “Downtown Sounds” summer alley concert series, held every Wednesday beginning mid­July from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the alley between Holly Street and Bay/Champion.

Columbia: In cooperation with the Cornwall Park Neighborhood Association, Columbia has met with business and property owners of the Fountain District, as well as residents of neighboring streets to begin a dialogue for pursuing their vision for the Fountain District, an important area for both neighborhoods. In partnership with ReStore, they also are working on the Fountain Park itself (Broadway at Meridian). ReStore is recruiting volunteers for a collaborative process to develop plans this year for improving the park. The goal is to implement the improvements the following years. Columbia has two volunteers heading up their neighborhood disaster preparedness (MYN) program. Also, Birchwood and Columbia neighborhoods organized a photo opportunity and walk along the newly completed Coast Millennium Trail link from West Street at Squalicum Way to Birchwood Park through the soon to be built Squalicum Creek Park

Cornwall Park: In addition to the focus of neighborhood planning efforts on the Fountain District and Fountain Park, Cornwall Park Neighborhood Association has a dedicated group of volunteers working on historical designation of the Broadway Park Plat. This is an area of the neighborhood around Broadway Park that was platted and built out in the early part of the 20 th century. Cornwall Park received a Small and Simple Grant from the City to care for the trees on the Broadway traffic medians and, among other things, plant about 1,000 bulbs. They are looking for volunteers to help with this effort and with their MYN project for neighborhood disaster preparedness.

Page 3 of 10 Edgemoor: The Edgemoor Neighborhood Association’s Neighborhood Plan Update Committee is ready to mail their survey to neighborhood stakeholders for input into the neighborhood plan update process. The Association has formed a new and official committee to work on their neighborhood disaster preparedness project implementing MYN. Edgemoor representatives also participate in the Coalition for Southside Neighborhoods to work on issues of common concern.

Fairhaven: Fairhaven Neighbors association has several active subcommittees working on their neighborhood plan. Their website is updated regularly with their progress, draft language, input and comments from stakeholders. They continue to work towards an effective means for developing a consensus on development code changes regarding building height and bulk. Fairhaven is an area of Bellingham near and dear to many; their efforts have drawn lots of attention in the media and from other associations. In that regard, as members of Coalition of Southside Neighborhoods (CSN), they are co­hosting a neighborhood meeting with the Planning Department in June and a candidates’ forum in July. They are also beginning to formulate their approach to MYN (neighborhood disaster preparedness).

Guide Meridian/Cordata: Suffice it to say this neighborhood association might rest on their (advocacy) laurels with the City’s acquisition of a 20 acre parcel for development of a major park on the City’s north side. But this group does not rest! They have their first big neighborhood picnic on Saturday June 30 th , from noon to 4 p.m. at Whatcom Community College. They will kick off their neighborhood disaster preparedness efforts and have fun and fellowship including food, frivolity and live music featuring the Northern Lights Jazz Orchestra and the Carnival Drum Line. A City Small and Simple Grant is helping with these expenses. Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood Association has an active neighborhood plan committee which will distribute a neighborhood­wide stakeholder survey in June. After compilation and analysis, the neighborhood survey data will help inspire ideas when forming the Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood Plan proposal. A neighborhood plan amendment correcting out of date information in the Guide Meridian Neighborhood Plan was submitted and docketed and has already been heard by the Planning Commission.

Happy Valley: The HVNA is working to develop a "low impact development overlay" to their neighborhood plan to deal with issues related to development, land use, as well as restoration and preservation of our infrastructure, and conservation of neighborhood functionality and character. After two neighborhood wide meetings, they continue work to develop neighborhood input and consensus in order to propose language and a map to revise/add to the current Happy Valley Neighborhood Plan. They completed a successful project with the school district and City on a safe route to school for Larrabee Elementary. This neighborhood needs volunteers to head up their neighborhood disaster preparedness (MYN) efforts.

Lettered Streets: The Lettered Streets Neighborhood Association has been busy! On the neighborhood plan side, they have held a series of neighborhood meetings for input and review of draft proposals. Their 2007 docketed proposal goes to the Planning Commission for Public Hearing on Thursday, August 2, at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers. Lettered Streets volunteers work on many neighborhood parks and green spaces. After obtaining City permission, they have put in a "temporary" park ("Parklette", according to Mayor Tim Douglas) at C and Holly, using donated materials from Parberry’s and Northwest Recycling. Their dedicated volunteers also prepared Gossage Garden for the Whatcom in Bloom contest, cleaned up the Old Village Trail, and cleaned out blackberries from the B Street Wayside Park. We hope they will be able to find time in the coming months to recruit volunteers for neighborhood disaster preparedness (MYN).

Meridian: We are seeking volunteers to start a neighborhood association for the Meridian Neighborhood. Meridian Neighborhood is the only neighborhood in Bellingham without a neighborhood wide association. It is the area of Bellingham that includes the area North of I­5

Page 4 of 10 from Bellis Fair Mall North to Kellogg Road and East to Landon Way. Contact Kathryn Hanowell, Neighborhood Services Coordinator, at 676­6979 or [email protected] for further information.

Mt Baker: This large neighborhood begins at the Rail Road Trail and includes territory both South and North of the Sunset Drive/Mount Baker Highway from I­5 to the City limits. Barkely Village and the residential neighborhoods around Northridge Park are major features of the neighborhood as well as the commercial, light industrial, and multi family residential areas near Sunset Drive/Mt Baker Highway. As a way to grow membership and interest, their leadership hopes to initiate a vigorous neighborhood disaster preparedness program.

Puget: After a successful general membership meeting in May, the Puget Neighborhood Association’s neighborhood plan update committee is meeting regularly through the summer, educating themselves about the current plan, and working on a process to gather broader neighborhood input. A neighborhood committee on disaster preparedness is getting organized for this significant work.

Roosevelt: Along with various neighborhood churches, Roosevelt Neighborhood Association is co­sponsoring a Fourth of July picnic at Roosevelt Park. Roosevelt is starting a summer reading program for children of the neighborhood. They are discussing potential neighborhood plan amendments as well as their “National Night Out” event on August 7 th , also at Roosevelt Park. They will begin their work on Neighborhood disaster preparedness (MYN) at their June meeting as well as a service program called “Time Banking”.

Samish: The Samish Neighborhood Association submitted a plan amendment proposal for docketing in 2007. The neighborhood's first public meeting was held in May with over 50 stakeholders in attendance. The City planning staff took comments on the proposal. The planning staff is considering these comments as they review the proposal. They will share the results of the review sometime in late June or July along with whatever recommendations they will be making to the Planning Commission. This amendment is scheduled for public hearing before the Planning Commission on July 27 th .

Sehome: Sehome has four active neighborhood plan update committees: Samish Way Urban Village, Architectural Design Guidelines, Traffic & Parking, and Historic Preservation. They will present committee progress at their next general meeting in mid­July, date to be announced on www.sehome.org. The Sehome Association’s work on the Samish Way urban village visioning process includes collaboration with York and Samish neighborhoods. As part of this they are investigating starting a local Samish Way business association in order to bring these stakeholders to the visioning process. Also, the neighborhood association is recruiting volunteers to work with other trained members on implementing the new disaster preparedness efforts.

Silver Beach: At their general membership meeting in May, neighborhood association members were treated to a comprehensive history of the Silver Beach Neighborhood. Alfred Arkley, working with Museum Archival staff and an enthusiastic neighborhood committee, assembled a power point of Silver Beach facts and pictures from before the arrival of Europeans to the present time. They learned about the White City Amusement Park, the Bloedel Mill, the original Silver Beach School house among other interesting facts. This active neighborhood association has committees working on their neighborhood plan update proposal as well as neighbor to neighbor Lake Whatcom Stewardship efforts. They also have volunteers to head up their neighborhood disaster preparedness work with MYN.

South: Following a successful annual meeting in April, the South Neighborhood Association (SNA) is working on a neighborhood stakeholder survey to distribute in late summer. Their focus is on the land use and parks and open space element of their neighborhood plan. Board members have been hosting mutually informative neighborhood tours with Planning staff. Their

Page 5 of 10 leadership is in close contact with staff regarding the consultant being chosen to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Fairhaven Highlands, a development proposed for an area of the South neighborhood that includes a forested wetland. South Neighborhood Association is gathering input to submit for the scoping process of this EIS. SNA continues to play an active role in the Coalition of Southside Neighborhoods (CSN) inviting City staff to talk with them about neighborhood association roles and responsibilities on June 19 th and organizing a candidate forum on July 19t h . Later in the fall, CSN plans to sponsor workshops on topics contained in the EIS of Fairhaven Highlands.

South Hill: Responding to the input from over 95 neighbors attending their special public meeting, South Hill Neighborhood Association has strengthened the language in their 2007 neighborhood plan amendment proposal. The association has formed a subcommittee to work on issues of trees and view, also in response to the input at that meeting. Their historic preservation committee is organizing a public tour of historic homes in the South Hill neighborhood on Saturday, July 28 th . They have recruited volunteers to work on neighborhood disaster preparedness as well as on an inter­neighborhood design review issues committee, organized by Allen Matsumoto, of the Sehome Neighborhood. South Hill is helping organize a candidate’s forum in July along with other members of the Coalition of Southside Neighborhoods

York: In June, York Neighborhood Association’s volunteers organized and carried out their annual “Dumpster Day” — a day for residents to discard large trash and furniture in a central dumpster provided at no charge by Sanitary Services Corporation (SSC). Volunteers scour the neighborhood with a truck, load unwanted items discarded by departing students and other residents, and haul them to the dumpster. Other current York activities include work on the master planning for Franklin Park, utilizing a Neighborhood Improvement Grant from the City; updating the neighborhood plan (a survey will soon gather residents’ and business owners’ input) and work toward historic designation of parts of the neighborhood. York is collaborating with Sehome and Samish neighborhoods on visions for a Samish Way urban village concept. Two York volunteers head up their neighborhood disaster preparedness implementation. In August, York will host their annual Neighborhood Night Out Against Crime on August 7 th . We congratulate this association for all their years of fine work for their neighborhood and community! ‘

Neighborhood Night Out Against Crime – August 7, 2007 Many neighborhoods and block watch groups will be celebrating National Night Out Against Crime to promote safe and healthy neighborhoods, strengthen neighborhood spirit and community partnerships with public safety agencies. Neighborhoods organize cookouts, potlucks, or ice cream socials.

To schedule an event in your neighborhood or for further information contact Officer Tara Fleetwood at 676­6924 or email at [email protected] or your neighborhood association leadership. You can find their contact information at our website for the Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission: http://www.cob.org/documents/mayor/boards­ commissions/neighborhood/2007%20MNAC%20Roster_Public_ABN.pdf Public Works in the Neighborhoods We want to make sure you knew that City Council has approved the 2008­2012 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) where major arterial street, sidewalk and bicycle lane needs get prioritized and funded. Most neighborhoods reviewed the current TIP and advised us on their number one transportation improvement priority. Since these priorities usually cost between $100,000 and several million dollars, they must be looked at from a community wide standpoint and prioritized. This process involves a number of review steps before Council makes its final decision on projects. Please see the Public Works Website for the Council’s approved 2008­ 2012 TIP at http://www.cob.org/pw/transportation.htm, or, contact Chris Comeau, of our Public Works Department at [email protected].

Page 6 of 10 Holly Street Gateway Improvements

Holly Street is truly the “gateway” into downtown Bellingham and the need for repair of sidewalks and uneven pavement has been increasing yearly.

The Holly Street Gateway Improvements will be made along the entire corridor from Lakeway//Ellis to State Street and will include replacement of all curb, gutter and sidewalk, the addition of new traffic signals and street lighting, as well as new street plantings and road resurfacing. Sidewalk bulb­outs will be provided at several intersections, improving pedestrian safety at street crossings.

Fairhaven: At our Post Point Waste Water Treatment Plant, we are beginning repair and maintenance work on the emergency outflow pipe which is in poor condition. Our contractor will be sequencing the work to avoid impact on the treatment plants operations and use of the Port of Bellingham’s Marine Park.

Guide Meridian/Cordata: The Meridian Street – Water and Sewer Extension Project: will be part of the Washington State Department of Transportation Work to improve this very busy arterial and State Highway.

Coast Millennium Trail Squalicum Connector Opens to the public Our Parks and Recreation Department has completed construction on the Coast Millennium Trail Squalicum Segment and the trail is now open to the public. This segment completes a trail link from West Street at Squalicum Way to Birchwood Park through the soon to be built Squalicum Creek Park. The Birchwood and Columbia Neighborhood Presidents have organized a walk and photo opportunity to help celebrate this important milestone in the history of their two neighborhoods.

This project is one of three trail connections recently completed by the City as part of the Coast Millennium Trail route. The other trail connections are located on the north end of the City at Little Squalicum Park and at the north end of Arroyo Park near Chuckanut and Samish Roads.

The master plan of the Coast Millennium Trail is comprised of a corridor of on­and­off street pedestrian/bicycle facilities extending northward from northwestern Skagit County to White Rock, British Columbia. The planned main route is roughly fifty miles in length, much of it along quiet back roads and existing multi­use trails. The CMT route passes through three state parks (Larrabee, Birch Bay and Peace Arch) and a number of city and county parks and natural areas, as well as running close to the Bellingham Bay shoreline in many locations.

The CMT project master plan was developed as a countywide planning effort of representatives of Whatcom County, the Cities of Bellingham, Ferndale and Blaine, the Port of Bellingham, Washington State Parks, Whatcom County Council of Governments, the Trillium Corporation and others. Representatives from Lynden, the Lummi Nation, Whatcom Transit Authority, Bellingham/Whatcom County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and other organizations also contributed to the effort.

When to park on sidewalk: never! A frequently asked question is whether it’s okay to park on sidewalks in a neighborhood with “rolled” curbs. Parking on the sidewalk is illegal and creates an unsafe situation for pedestrians – especially for people in wheelchairs or parents with strollers — and it damages the curb and sidewalk.

Page 7 of 10 What about where there is no sidewalk but a shoulder used by pedestrians? Answer: Unless the shoulder is marked, “NO PARKING”, shoulder parking is permitted.

Share the trail….tips for making our trails safe and friendly v All Trail Users: o Be aware and respectful of other trail users. o Represent your sport/activity well to the community. o Keep trails clean. o Stay on trails; do not create informal paths into sensitive areas. o Use crosswalks with caution. v Yield: o Bicyclists yield to pedestrians and horses. o Pedestrians yield to horses (clearly alert horseback riders when approaching from behind). v Walkers: o Stay to the right of an imaginary line down the center of a trail. o Allow room for other trail users passing, do not go three or more abreast on trail. o Move to the right when a passing trail user shouts “Passing on your left”. If walking your pet, pull him close to allow safe passing. v Runners: o Alert trail users when passing from behind. v Bikers: o Alert trail users by voice (“passing on the left”) and/or bell before passing from behind. o Travel at a speed that respects the safety of others. v IPOD/headphone/cell phone users: o Adjust volume to hear alerts from passing trail users. v Dog Owners: o Dogs should be under control in off­leash areas. o Dogs should be on­leash and under control in on­leash areas.

Share the journey—Paddle to Lummi Every year, members of more than seventy coastal Native American Nations from Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon travel by canoe to participate in a five day­long celebration of native traditions. The Canoe Journey may take several weeks and involve many tribal members.

This year, the Lummi Nation is hosting the event. The canoes will arrive on July 30, and through August 4, the Lummi community will house and feed 6­13,000 attendees each day. It is a huge undertaking for a relatively small tribe.

The Paddle to Lummi Community Connections Committee is supporting tribal efforts and seeks volunteers to assist with the event. This is a great cultural event for the whole community. Consider participating in these activities:

Whatcom Museum, Sunday, July 1, 2­4 p.m. Lummi Nation members will share the history and cultural significance of the journey.

An Honoring Event. Saturday, July 7t h , Boulevard Park, noon­5 pm. Canoes from local tribes will make landings followed by an honoring ceremony of first inhabitants with Bellingham’s Mayor and other dignitaries. There will also be entertainment, a Native art sale, and talking circles.

The Canoe Journey Celebration. July 30­Aug 4. Lummi Reservation.

Page 8 of 10 If you’re interested in volunteering to help with the Paddle to Lummi, please contact Beth Brownfield (738­8899, [email protected]) or Kara Black (676­2300, [email protected])

We can protect our watershed! Whether we live in the Lake Whatcom Watershed (our precious source of drinking water) or on Squalicum Creek or Padden Creek or any other drainage area, we need to do our part to protect our particular watershed. One of the most important measures is to prevent excessive phosphorus from finding its way to the water body (lake or stream), where overgrowth of algae can occur, blocking sunlight from other plants and aquatic life, killing them or limiting their growth.

• Lawns and gardens: Fertilize only when necessary and with a phosphorous­free fertilizer; use native ground covers not requiring fertilizer, plant or leave vegetated buffers along water ways and lakeshores. • Your car: Wash using on pervious surfaces using only phosphorus free products. Better yet, take your car to a car wash that recycles the water and sends to the wastewater plant. • Waste: If you have septic, maintain it properly. Use only phosphorus­free detergents.

Individual decisions on ordinary tasks can have a significant effect on our environment. Thanks for doing your part!

Living with wild animals We often enjoy the wildlife that wanders into our yard. However, wildlife can become a problem for gardens or because of noise from barking dogs doing what comes quite naturally when they respond to intruders of any species. In Washington State, trapping and relocating wildlife is illegal. (See Washington Fish and Wildlife regulations: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=232­12).

There are a few fairly simple things you can do to help keep wildlife out of your yard and gardens. • Fencing: For large gardens, a fence is the best option. Basic chicken wire and posts will do the trick as long as the wire is sunk into the ground to keep animals from digging under the fence to get at the young growing plants. For deer, the fence needs to be a minimum of 6 feet tall. • Repellents: Flower beds can be protected by a product called KritterRidder. It is a safe non­toxic pellet that can be sprinkled in and around the garden or anywhere an animal, including cats and dogs, is a problem. The pellets smell bad to animals (not humans!) and also stick uncomfortably to the bottom of their feet. These and other products are readily available at hardware and farm stores. • Catching them in the act: A hose works well. You can make a clapper out of 2 pieces of wood hinged together that sounds like a gun when clicked together vigorously. The clapper can work well with coyotes. Note: discharge of a firearm in the City is illegal! • Garbage: Keep garbage cans securely closed and cover compost piles. • Secure pet doors: Lock pet doors at night if possible to keep out skunks, raccoons or possums. • Foundations and Porches: Secure foundation and other openings to areas of the house that offer protection to pets. • Pet food: Avoid feeding pets outside, if possible or feed and retrieve any uneaten food and the food bowl. Encourage your neighbors to do the same. • NEVER EVER feed wildlife. They will become dependant and territorial, which can put you, your family and pets in danger.

Page 9 of 10 A great resource is the book, “Living with Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest” by Russell Link, a Fish and Wildlife officer. See also this month’s edition of Inside Bellingham on BTV10!

June Inside Bellingham—Downtown, Lummi healing pole, urban wildlife, and much more

Inside Bellingham, produced by the City of Bellingham, gives viewers an inside peek into city government programs, services, activities and people. This month we feature: • A visit to Bellingham’s central business district • A Lummi master carver introduces a new healing pole • Keeping cars off the road to help keep pollution out of Lake Whatcom. • Holly Street ­ the gateway to Bellingham’s downtown • A local agency helps handle urban wildlife • Bellingham’s fireworks laws • Check the Leisure Guide for a summer of fun!

Inside Bellingham airs on BTV10 several times each week and is available to watch on­line, too. For BTV10 schedule information and access to on­line television programs, visit the city's website at www.cob.org.

Page 10 of 10 City of Bellingham MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION “JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE” – Information of Interest July 2007 Located on the Web at: http://www.cob.org/mayor/boards_commissions/neighborhood/just­so­you­are­aware.htm

• Kudos! Guide Meridian/Cordata picnic promotes neighborhood disaster preparedness • Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness Committee moves ahead • City, college libraries form partnership to serve community • “Red Tail Reach” restoration project • Shoreline Master Program ready for public hearing July 16th • Neighborhood Night Out Against Crime—August 7 th • Public Works in the neighborhoods • Summer volunteers needed for Parks: Fairhaven, Woodstock, Boulevard, Little Squalicum • Paddle to Lummi – Canoe Journey Celebration – July 30 th to Aug 4 th • July BTV10—York Neighborhood, Bellingham Bay Cruise, Trails, Paddle and Potlatch, Dumpster Day, and more!

Reminders Our neighborhoods do wonderful work for their community. To learn more about your neighborhood’s activities, contact your Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Representative listed on our “Neighborhoods” web page at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/neighborhoods/neighborhoods.htm

July 16 th, 7 p.m. Public Hearing – 2007 draft Shoreline Master Plan—City Council Chambers

Kudos! Guide Meridian/Cordata picnic promotes neighborhood disaster preparedness Over 320 residents attended the Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood Association’s first annual neighborhood picnic to promote disaster preparedness and build community. With many new residents to the City, the Guide Meridian/Cordata is a rapidly developing and diverse neighborhood of significant commercial areas, condominiums, and multi­ and single­family housing, bordered by I­5 and the Guide Meridian (next to Bellis Fair Mall).

With nearly $1,300 in donated door prizes, wonderful entertainment from the Northern Lights Jazz Orchestra and the City of Samba Drum Line, great weather and venue, this was a major accomplishment. Over 35 area merchants donated services, door prizes and almost all of the 500 hot dogs and strawberry shortcakes.

Chair of the event, Pamela Sorensen, reported that “this was our neighborhood’s way to introduce our residents to the idea of disaster preparedness and the upcoming Map Your Neighborhood (M­Y­N) disaster preparedness program. The word is out and we are looking forward to empowering our area residents to be prepared for anything.” Flyers representing 13 facets of disaster preparedness were spread around the vendor booths, along with 500 first aid kits provided by Madrona Medical Group. Pam reports that there are many folks to thank, given almost 200 volunteer hours, thousands of dollars of in­kind donations and the support of the City of Bellingham through a Small and Simple Grant, the Bellingham Office of Emergency Management, and Whatcom Community College which provided an excellent outdoor venue in the heart of the neighborhood.

Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness Committee moves ahead At their second meeting, volunteers representing most of our 23 neighborhoods shared their progress on initiating the Mapping Your Neighborhood Program (MYN) through their neighborhood association. Like Guide Meridian/Cordata, many will initiate at their summer picnic or at National Night Out events in the neighborhood. Others have already begun mapping and identifying sections of their neighborhood from 5 to 30 households deep, to form “MYN pods” to prepare households to work together during the disaster and its aftermath. Such preparation is essential for wellbeing and quick recovery, when first responders have very limited ability to help because of the magnitude of the disaster (weather, earthquake, etc).

City, college libraries form partnership to serve community The Bellingham Public Library (BPL) and Whatcom Community College Library (WCCL) are working jointly for better library service to the community. Beginning in August, community members and WCC students, especially those on the north side of Bellingham, will be able to

• Pick up library materials they have reserved from the BPL during the hours the campus library is open. They simply designate WCC as their pick up venue when reserving.

• Drop off returned public library materials at book drops on the college campus as well as in the college library itself. The drive­up book drop is conveniently located in the campus parking lot and is available 24 hours a day. When the campus library is open, materials may also be dropped off inside the building, either in the entry or inside the library.

This new service is of special benefit WCC students who will be able to use the considerable library resources of BPL from their own campus library.

The goals of this partnership are threefold: to provide more convenient access to public library materials for community members on the north side; to develop an ongoing joint partnership between the academic and public libraries in the community; and, to provide a joint service that will support community energy savings.

“Red Tail Reach” restoration project Our Environmental Resources team is working on a significant fish and wildlife restoration project located along Whatcom Creek in the Puget Neighborhood, across the creek from Roosevelt. The 5.7 acre project site is located east of I­5 on the south bank of Whatcom creek behind Haskell Business Park.

Human alterations in the Whatcom Creek watershed have had the greatest impact on habitat for juvenile Chinook and coho salmon, as well as steelhead and coastal sea­run cutthroat trout. Therefore restoration efforts are targeted towards improving conditions

Page 2 of 7 for these species. However, Whatcom Creek also provides habitat for pink and chum salmon, resident rainbow and cutthroat trout, sculpin, stickleback and lamprey. This project, like most other restoration projects, will also replace invasive, non­native plant species with a diversity of native shrubs and trees. The project involves excavating over 25,000 cubic yards of fill to develop oxbows, side channels, flood plain area, wetlands and uplands for this section of the creek. The design is meant to mimic two overlapping "historic" channel alignments that have been cut off by the existing channel, creating “off channel” rearing habitat for juvenile coho salmon. A three­acre flood plain wetland habitat which will be inundated during floods will provide riparian habitat. Large woody debris on site such as downed trees and other debris will be incorporated into the creek to create scour pools primarily for Chinook and steelhead. Although the Red Tail Reach project is designed to restore and protect habitat it will share the site with a new section of the Whatcom Creek Trail.

The project funding and property dedication come from the Olympic Pipeline settlement. For more information contact Renee LaCroix at 676­6961 or [email protected].

Shoreline Master Program ready for public hearing July 16 th – City Council Chambers – 7 p.m. An update to the regulatory plan for our shorelines of significance (Bellingham Bay, Chuckanut, Whatcom, Squalicum Creeks and the mouth of Padden Creek, Lake Padden and Lake Whatcom) continues through the summer. The draft master plan is the result of numerous public meetings, work sessions, and extensive public comment, and is based on the planning efforts of the Waterfront Futures Group, the 2005 Comprehensive Plan, the Critical Areas Ordinance, the waterfront redevelopment planning effort, and recommendations from the Planning Commission.

You can review the draft SMP on the website, along with the extensive comments received to date on the “Public Comment Tracker” which charts how and where that comment was incorporated and if not, why. See the city's website at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/environment.htm, Hard copies are available at City Hall, Planning Department. Contact Steve Sundin, (360) 676­6982. Please send written comments to the Planning Department at 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, 98225 or via email at: [email protected]. Comments will be accepted up until the Public Hearing on July 16, 2007.

Neighborhood Night Out Against Crime – August 7, 2007 For the seventh year running our Police and Fire Departments and our neighborhoods will be involved in the National Night Out Against Crime program on August 7 th . National Night Out is celebrated in communities nationwide to promote safe, healthy neighborhoods. Activities are designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate participation in local anti­crime programs, and strengthen neighborhood spirit and community partnerships.

From 6 to 10 p.m. August 7 th , residents throughout Bellingham and across the nation are asked to turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and police. Many neighborhoods throughout Bellingham will be hosting events such as block parties, cookouts or ice cream socials.

Also please mark you calendar and plan to join us for the 3rd annual Crime Prevention Information Fair on July 21s t at Lowe’s Home Improvement Center 1050 E. Sunset. The

Page 3 of 7 event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There will be displays from a variety of Law Enforcement and business organizations, an on­site shred truck and a bicycle rodeo for kids.

To schedule an event in your neighborhood or for further information concerning this event, contact Officer Tara Fleetwood at 676­6924 or email at [email protected] or your neighborhood association leadership. You can find their contact information at our website for the Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission: http://www.cob.org/mayor/boards_commissions/neighborhood/mnac.htm

Public Works in the Neighborhoods

Birchwood: • The West Illinois Street Extension project to divert truck traffic from residential areas requires ongoing coordination with Whatcom County, Bellingham Technical College, and Morse Steel. It involves a creek crossing and a railroad spur relocation. We’re working on design and funding issues. • Pedestrian improvements including curb, gutter, and sidewalk on Birchwood Avenue west of Meridian Street. This will improve pedestrian safety at this location. Our next steps are to complete the design and bid the project. • Similar pedestrian improvements for Birchwood Avenue adjacent to Morries Drive In are being planned; mitigation of impact on parking for local business and right of way acquisition are challenges.

Central Business District: • The construction of a new Art and Children’s Museum in coordination with the Public Facilities District is proceeding with a bid awarded to Ebenal General Construction. A groundbreaking “block party” is being planned for early August to celebrate this milestone. • Historic Buildings Work: o We are designing an upgrade to the electrical/HVAC systems and making acoustic improvements of the Mount Baker Theater. Our current planning focus is on timing, storage and construction staging. The theatre will need to be closed for the construction in 2008. o Using a federal grant, we are working on the historic Federal Building to improve life safety elements of the building and make it more attractive to potential new tenants. This requires coordinating our work with the National Park Service and to follow Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation. • Bay and Holly Streetscape Improvements: This project to improve citizen safety, mobility, improve lighting and enhance the downtown is in the design and review stage. Stay tuned for public input opportunities. • West Champion Streetscape and water main replacements: This project will include lighting, sidewalk and landscaping improvements on a half block of Champion Street between Grand Avenue and Prospect Street as well as water main replacement and street resurfacing through the corridor. • Annual street overlay program includes these downtown streets: North State Street from Ivy to Cedar; South State Street (Boulevard) from Bryant to 12th (South Hill and Fairhaven); West Champion Street from Cornwall to Prospect

Page 4 of 7 Columbia: The following sidewalks are scheduled to be replaced in the Columbia neighborhood: Walnut Street ­ Connecticut to Illinois; Connecticut Street ­ Meridian to Peabody. Northwest to Elm, and Walnut to Elizabeth; Utter Street ­ North to Connecticut; Jefferson Street ­ Lynn to Jaeger; Lynn Street ­ North to Jefferson; Kulshan Street ­ Monroe to Jefferson; Elizabeth Street ­ Washington to Jefferson; Monroe Street ­ Elm to Jaeger; Washington Street ­ Henry to Victor and Elm to Utter; Park Street ­ Madison to Broadway.

Fairhaven: Our project to repair the secondary outfall pipe at the Post Point Sewer Treatment Plant is under way. The City is coordinating with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad for the first step of the pipe crossing when it is "bored" under the railroad tracks.

Guide Meridian/Cordata: A number of major projects are proceeding in this neighborhood including the design for an upgrade of the Horton Road Sewer Pump Station to accommodate flows from north Bellingham to the Sewer Treatment Plant. Construction of water main improvements has begun for Meridian Street in coordination with the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Happy Valley: We’ve completed repair of a failing section of pavement near a storm water vault location on Donovan Street. The City also completed some streetscape enhancements to the road end at 32nd Street and Old Fairhaven Parkway. Additional plantings at this location will take place this fall.

Lettered Streets: Design continues for a small project to improve storm water facilities at C and Astor Street and overlaying the street at Dupont and F Street (part of our annual overlay program).

Mt Baker: The Woburn to McLeod reconstruction of Sunset Drive into a multi­lane roadway with sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and bike lanes is quite complex, requires much right of way acquisition work as well as some wetland mitigation measures.

Puget: Bids were opened on July 13 th for our project to improve pedestrian and bike safety, enhance storm water treatment and resurface the roadway on Puget Street South of Fraser. Our annual street overlay program includes these Puget Neighborhood Streets: Orleans Street, Lakeway north to Potter; Potter Street from Lincoln west to King.

Roosevelt: This project to construct dual right turn lanes and storm water treatment facilities at the corner of Woburn and Alabama was bid with the Puget project above. This project will improve traffic circulation and safety at this busy intersection. We are also doing a pavement overlay as part of our annual program on Moore Street from Illinois north to Indiana.

Samish: San Juan Boulevard, Phase I will provide a transportation connection between Yew Street and Interstate 5 and divert some traffic off Lakeway. The terrain for the roadway involves various environmental analysis and permits because of wetlands and other topographical features subject to the City’s Critical Areas Ordinance regulations. Also proceeding in Samish neighborhood is right of way and design work for a new Yew Street 2.5 million gallon water reservoir, an important infrastructure enhancement for this growing neighborhood.

Page 5 of 7 Sehome: The following Sehome streets are scheduled to receive asphalt overlay as part of our annual roadway maintenance program: Chestnut from Garden to Ellis which includes sidewalk replacement; Laurel Street between Indian and Jersey; North State Street from Ivy to Cedar; South State Street (Boulevard) from Bryant to 12th.

Silver Beach: We have a number of important water quality projects going on in the watershed to deal with storm water run off: A storm water facility for Hayward drive to include a filtering system, and East Oregon and East North Street storm water quality treatment facilities are expected to be done in 2007, as are Pullman Road drainage improvements. A retrofit of the Northridge Detention Basin to deal with outfall from an existing pond will need to be delayed until the 2008 watershed construction window (May to September) as will the construction of storm water facilities on East Maryland to improve the quality of runoff going into the lake.

Sunnyland: The east side of James Street from Iowa north to Alabama will be overlaid and this work includes sidewalk replacement.

York: (learn more about York Neighborhood on July Inside Bellingham on BTV10) The following streets are scheduled to receive asphalt overlay as part of our annual roadway maintenance program: Ellis Street from Lakeway to Gladstone; Humboldt Street, Potter north to Gladstone; Ellis Street from Lakeway to Gladstone. Garden Street from Magnolia to Holly will have sidewalks replaced.

SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT S&S Concrete is the contractor for our annual Sidewalk Replacement Program noted above. $255,208.00 is budgeted for 2007.

PAVEMENT OVERLAY Each year the City conducts a survey of streets to determine those with the greatest need for maintenance. Streets scheduled to receive asphalt overlay in 2007 are noted above by neighborhood. The 2007 budget for this work is $1,522,461.00. Wilder Construction is the contractor. For information on both the Sidewalk Replacement and the pavement Overlay programs, contact Project Engineer Derek Holzl by phone 676­ 6961 or email [email protected].

Summer volunteers needed in parks for summer work parties Lend a hand keeping Bellingham Parks green. We provide the gloves, tools and direction. For more information call Rae, Tracy, or Joe at 676 6801.

Fairhaven Park Give new planted areas some TLC; help Keller Williams Realty staff & clients weed out invasive plants to improve the riparian habitat along Padden Creek, a salmon bearing stream. Enter Fairhaven Park at the entrance off Chuckanut Dr. and park by the tennis courts at the back of the park. Wednesday, July 18t h from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Woodstock Farm Woodstock Farm is still in need of help to remove invasive plants, such as English ivy and holly. Help bring this historic site to its full potential. Walk or bike to the farm from North Chuckanut Trailhead. Car access to the site is restricted. Wed, August 1 st from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Wed, August 22nd from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Page 6 of 7 Boulevard Park Join a weeding and brush cutting work party to prepare for future plantings near the rocky headlands between the docks at Boulevard Park. Park at the lower parking lot at Boulevard Park near the south end. Wed, August 8 th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Wed, August 29t h from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Little Squalicum Park Help weed, remove blackberries, and mulch. Take a right off Eldridge before the Cocoanut Grove into the new parking lot of Little Squalicum Park. Wed, July 25t h from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Wed, August 15 th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Paddle to Lummi — Canoe Journey Celebration On July 30th , the Lummi Nation is hosting an annual long distance canoe event in which members of more than 70 coastal Native American Nations from Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon travel by canoe for a five­day­long celebration of native traditions. The Canoe Journey may take several weeks, especially for those paddling from as far away as the Aleutian Islands and Queen Charlottes.

The canoes will arrive on July 30 th , and through August 4 th , the Lummi community will house and feed 6,000 to 13,000 attendees each day. It is a huge undertaking for a relatively small tribe.

The Paddle to Lummi Community Connections Committee is supporting tribal efforts and seeks volunteers to assist with the event. If you’re interested in volunteering to help with the Paddle to Lummi, please contact Beth Brownfield (738­8899, [email protected]) or Kara Black (676­2300, [email protected])

BTV10 Inside Bellingham: July program highlights York Neighborhood, waterfront cruise, trails and more

Visit the York Neighborhood, cruise Bellingham Bay, trek the Coast Millennium Trail, make plans for National Night Out Against Crime, and more by watching the July episode of Inside Bellingham.

Inside Bellingham airs on BTV10 several times each week and is available to watch on­ line, too. For BTV10 schedule information and access to on­line television programs, visit the city's website at www.cob.org. Inside Bellingham, produced by the City of Bellingham, gives viewers an inside peek into city government programs, services, activities and people.

Page 7 of 7

City of Bellingham MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION “JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE” – Information of Interest August 2007 Located on the Web at: http://www.cob.org/mayor/boards_commissions/neighborhood/just-so-you-are-aware.htm

• Mayor Douglas appoints new Executive Director of the Whatcom Museum and new Administrative Officer • School is starting: think safety! • Historic preservation grant assistance for Lettered Streets, York, and South Hill • South Hill historic home tour raises interest in preservation • Planning and Community Development news — development code project, draft Shoreline Master Program, urban village for Old Town, Lettered Streets Plan Amendment • National Night Out 2007 is a HUGE success! • More on Map Your Neighborhood — Train the Trainer • Q: What’s happening on Whatcom Creek? A: Many volunteers at work • New climate protection web pages • City partners with NWCAA at Northwest Washington Fair • Libraries’ partnership begins • Public Works in the neighborhoods • Summer volunteers still needed for Parks summer work parties • August Inside Bellingham on BTV10

Reminders Please do your part to conserve water during summer dry season! Think about back to school safety — watch for kids and drive carefully and slowly on school routes. Check out our new climate change website at: http://www.cob.org/pw/environment/climate/index.htm Learn about your neighborhood at: http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/neighborhoods/neighborhoods.htm Exercise your right to vote by August 21 for City and County primary races

Mayor Douglas appoints new Executive Director of the Whatcom Museum and new interim Administrative Officer

Mayor Tim Douglas has made two important City management appoints, Patricia M. Leach as Executive Director of the Whatcom Museum of History & Art and Linda Storck as interim Administrative Officer.

Whatcom Museum’s new director Patricia Leach comes to the Museum with over 25 years of experience in the field of nonprofit museum administration, including serving as CEO and President of the Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The Hermitage is one of the nation's largest and oldest historic site museums containing 1,120 acres and a campus of 38 buildings. Under her direction, the Hermitage became Nashville's first Smithsonian Institution Affiliate Museum and a member of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. Leach has a Bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of California at Davis and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California. In California, Leach directed six museums, including the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, the Redding Museum of Art & History, and the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. Leach begins October 1st at an annual salary of $105,024.

Mayor Tim Douglas has appointed Linda Storck, current Judicial and Support Services Director, as Administrative Officer. Linda will serve in this capacity until the end of the year, assisting city management during the transition period to a new Mayor. Linda has a strong business administration background and 22 years of service with the City. She served first in our Finance Department, and then in her current role, where she is administrator of the Municipal Court and manages various administrative support functions for the City.

Linda's primary responsibilities will be helping the city's leadership team stay on top of their 2007 work plan and advance the priorities identified by the City Council in its Goals and Objectives. Linda will help us complete the 2008 preliminary budget and present it to City Council. She will guide the creation of a strategic economic development plan for consideration by the City Council. This will reflect our survey of local businesses and the City’s desire for living wage jobs and a sustainable economy.

Linda will continue some of her current project work as part of the management team such as work on city space needs analysis. She will prepare a transition plan to meet the information transfer needs of both a new Mayor and the City Council. She also will support the work of neighborhood outreach and citizen involvement, including attending Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission meetings.

With significant experience working with people throughout city government, Linda offers a wealth of knowledge, leadership and exceptional organizational skills. This is a great opportunity for our neighborhood leadership to become acquainted with another important member of the city’s senior staff.

School is starting: Think safety! Vehicle congestion around schools is one of the biggest safety issues for kids. If fewer parents drove their kids and more kids walked and biked - kids would be safer! Here are a few tips:

Teach children to be safe pedestrians: • Walk on the sidewalk. • If there is no sidewalk, always walk facing traffic. • Cross only at corners or marked crosswalks. • Stop, look, and listen before crossing the street. • Look left, right, left before crossing the street. • Look and listen WHILE crossing the street. • Always walk, do not run, across the street. • Make sure drivers see you before crossing the street.

Parents need to lead by example: • Use crosswalks. • Follow pedestrian safety rules. • When driving:

Page 2 of 10 o Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. o Don't park on or within 20 feet of a crosswalk. o Obey speed limits (school zone speed limit is 20 mph). o Hang up your cell phone. o Be patient. o Don't idle your engine for longer than 30 seconds (cleaner air for kids to breathe, less wear and tear on your car). o If you are dropping your child off at school and park on the side of the road, always have your child exit the car on the side away from traffic - don't let your child dash between cars to get across the road. o Remember: children are not adults - they see and hear differently than adults - children have only two-thirds the peripheral vision as adults and have difficulty judging distances and speeds.

Historic preservation grant assistance for Lettered Streets, York, and South Hill neighborhoods The City of Bellingham recently received a Preserve America Grant, a highly-competitive federal grant promoting community efforts to preserve and enjoy our cultural and natural heritage First Lady Laura Bush designated Bellingham as a “Preserve America” community and awarded the $150,000 grant at a Capital Hill ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The grant will be used for professional preservation consultant services to conduct a survey of historic homes and to help train and coordinate student and neighborhood volunteers to take photographs, describe architectural elements, and complete historical research. Information and photos from the survey will be entered into the State's Historic Property Database, the City's Geographic Information System, and the Whatcom Museum/Bellingham Public Library’s on-line database of historic images.

The project will involve community volunteers as well as staff from the Bellingham Public Library, Western Washington University's Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, the Washington State Archives, and the State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.

We recently updated our historic preservation ordinance and became a Certified Local Government (CLG). We have offered public preservation training workshops and other outreach programs to involve neighborhoods in preservation planning.

For more information about the project contact Katie Franks, Planning & Community Development: 676-6880, or [email protected]. Additional information about the grant project can be found at www.cob.org/pcd/cd/historic/index.htm.

South Hill historic home tour raises interest in preservation South Hill is one of Bellingham's oldest and most architecturally diverse neighborhoods. Over the last two years, the South Hill Neighborhood’s Historic Preservation Committee investigated the histories and architecture of several South Hill homes and developed the idea of a home tour to raise community interest in historic preservation.

With help from a City Small and Simple Grant, the July home tour, “Restorations, Renovations and Rehabilitations” featured five homes, built between1890-1938. These homes illustrate how renovations to meet current living styles can be accomplished while

Page 3 of 10 retaining the home’s original design and historic character. Effective publicity and creative marketing efforts resulted in ticket sales to over 250 people. Proceeds will help fund historical research in South Hill.

Sue Hynes, chair of the tour committee and the Historic Preservation Committee, reported that committee work and more than forty volunteer tour docents were the keys to the tour's success. “We also hope to work with other neighborhoods and the City to further historic preservation in Bellingham, as well as sponsor another tour next year,” said Hynes. Great work, South Hill!

Planning and Community Development news

MNAC briefed on development code project Marilyn Vogel, Senior Planner, presented an overview of our development code update project at the July meeting of MNAC. Marilyn explained that we need to reorganize and classify the various code provisions so that all stakeholders can easily find and identify relevant regulations and requirements. After the code is reorganized, staff plans to take a look at the substantive provisions of the code. We will solicit ideas from the neighborhoods and public about what they would like to see changed and work with all stakeholders to revise in accordance with the needs and values of the community and with state law.

This is a multi (three) year project for staff. Marilyn explained that the gains from having an accessible, understandable, and updated code make this project worth the commitment of time.

City Council Continues Review of Draft Shoreline Master Program Following the public hearing on July 16th, the first issue-specific City Council work session on the Shoreline Master Program update was held Monday, August 6th at the regular City Council afternoon meeting. Further City Council work sessions are scheduled for August 20th, September 10th and a final work session tentatively scheduled for September 17th. The August 20th work session will address the issues of nonconforming uses in the shoreline areas as well as new boundaries for new buffers and shoreline jurisdiction areas that may result from future restoration projects, also referred to as "hold restoration harmless." For the latest information, see the city's website at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/environment.htm, or email: [email protected].

An Urban Village for Old Town Old Town, the area from Bay to Broadway along Holly and adjacent streets has been the subject of several community planning efforts over the years. Old Town is a vital link between the Central Business District and the waterfront and has been identified as a future urban village in the Comprehensive Plan, a strategy for accommodating growth.

Old Town already has a number of components for the creation of an urban village such as transportation, walk-ability, open space (Maritime Heritage Park), and a mix of residential and commercial uses. Needed, however, is a master plan (Sub-Area Plan) and supporting development regulations to encourage and guide development towards the community’s vision for Old Town. This vision was developed in 2005 through a series of neighborhood and community meetings on the Old Town area, which includes parts of the Lettered Streets and Central Business District neighborhoods.

Page 4 of 10 As the area evolves over time, the idea is to maintain a number of characteristics in Old Town. These include view corridors and vistas, natural features, historic resources such as the landmark buildings of the area, as well as small businesses. Also, the plan would provide for a range of housing and pedestrian amenities.

Staff is in the process of presenting an overview of the Sub-Area Plan (developed after the community work of 2005) to various stakeholder groups for feedback. This presentation is posted on the City's web-site at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/OldTownSub-areaPlanning.htm. The proposed Sub- Area Plan and development regulations will be brought forward to the Planning Commission for their consideration in November.

For more information, contact Tara Sundin, Planning & Community Development Department, 360-676-6880.

Lettered Streets Plan Amendment combined with Old Town Sub-area Plan On August 2nd, the Bellingham Planning Commission voted to continue discussion of the Lettered Streets Neighborhood Plan Amendment proposal to downzone a portion of the neighborhood from Multi-Family to Single Family in order to combine the review with the Old Town Sub-area Planning now underway. This will allow a more integrated approach to the neighborhood’s rezone request when considered in conjunction with the proposed up-zone of the Old Town area. Old Town is scheduled to come to the Planning Commission this fall. Contact Kurt Nabbefeld at [email protected] for more information.

National Night Out 2007 is a HUGE success! On Tuesday, August 7th, nearly 50 celebrations took place across the city to promote safe neighborhoods and take a stand against crime. The official numbers are not yet in, but despite the weather, hundreds of citizens gathered on what proved to be a successful evening.

Events ranged from salmon feasts and BBQs to Ice Cream and Root Beer Floats as neighbors met for food, socializing and good old-fashioned neighborly chit chat. As usual, some events were small and took place in backyards, while others commandeered large parks and blocked off cul-de-sacs.

The theme of NNO 2007 was “Map Your Neighborhood” with several groups discussing the benefits of organizing for disaster preparedness block by block, much like a neighborhood Block Watch is organized. Other neighborhoods requested guest speakers from the Bellingham Police Department, Fire Department, Whatcom Humane Society, Department of Homeland Security and Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center. Volunteers from these organizations gave their time to answer questions about their role in the community and the resources that they provide to citizens.

The success of this year’s NNO is largely credited to the collaborative efforts of neighbors such as yourself, Block Watch Captains, and the Association of Bellingham Neighborhoods. Hats off to everyone who came out that night to show support for the health and well being of great neighborhoods that make Bellingham so unique!

Page 5 of 10 More on Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) Disaster Preparedness Program—Train the Trainer coming up! On Sept 27, our Emergency Management Office is cosponsoring with Whatcom County Department of Emergency Management a MYN Train-the-Trainer class by program author LuAn Johnson. LuAn is an inspirational and practical speaker. We encourage you to sign up your MYN leadership to take this class, which will be on Thursday, Sept. 27th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., site to be announced.

The MYN program breaks neighborhoods into groups from 5 to 30 households to train and prepare for and work together during a disaster. To book a MYN training session for your “micro-neighborhoods”, contact Don Davis, Emergency Management Specialist, City of Bellingham Office of Emergency Management, 360-676-6933 or [email protected]

Q: What’s happening on Whatcom Creek? A: Many volunteers at work! Walking along Whatcom Creek Trail this summer you may have seen many folks at work along the creek. They are part of an on-going effort to improve salmon and other wildlife habitat, by removing invasive plant species and planting “natives”.

• March and June brought the Bellingham Kiwanis to their adopted area behind City Hall to weed and mulch. • In April, Mike & Elaine McRory led the Koma Kulshan Chapter of the Native Plant Society in removing bindweed and other invasive plants between Dupont and Grant. • In July, City of Bellingham Washington Conservation Corps crews were working up-stream from Holly, removing invasive plants. Crews are continuing to maintain and clean up riparian restoration sites along Whatcom Creek and other City streams. (See Inside Bellingham on BTV10 for a wonderful feature on the Red Tail Reach project!) • In late July, Parks staff, joined by Parks & Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) volunteers, removed invasives such as clematis, ivy, and bindweed (morning glory) and created view and safety corridors along the southwest side of the creek near the Environmental Learning Center in Maritime Heritage Park as well as further up the creek near Grand. This group has also been cleaning, relocating, and replacing plexiglass on the interpretative signs originally designed by Columbia Elementary students.

Wondering what wildlife could live along such an urban stream? Take a little time to walk the trail and you will see and hear the creatures that reside or visit the restored riparian habitat along Whatcom Creek. Look for signs of beaver activity between Dupont and Grand. In the early evening you will see swallows swooping and diving over the creek, feeding on flying insects; bushtits making sack-like nests in the spring; Caspian terns squawking loudly overhead throughout the summer; chickadees and kinglets feeding on insects in the trees much of the year. Cavities in the dead snags along the stream provide nesting sites for Hairy, Downy and Pileated woodpeckers. These are just a few of the riparian visitors that can be found along the creek, and you might even catch sight of a river otter.

Look for the first returning salmon starting with Chinook salmon late this month, followed by Chum and Coho in November and December. Seals and gulls forage in the lower

Page 6 of 10 reaches of the creek. The estuary (across from the old ReStore Building) is the place to observe Great blue herons and occasionally smaller Green herons hunting the shoreline year round, while Belted kingfishers dive for smaller fish. Goldeneyes feed in the winter, Canada geese can be seen in the spring and summer and steelhead trout return in the spring.

Would you like to help Whatcom Creek? Call Rae Edwards, Bellingham Parks Volunteer Coordinator at 676-6801, ext. 24 or Lindsay Taylor, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association Volunteer Coordinator, 715-0283.

New climate protection web pages Bellingham is becoming a model community for our response to climate issues. Our focus is to involve the entire community in actions that will effectively address Bellingham’s contribution to global climate changes. Bellingham citizens have the ability to directly affect the sources of pollution linked to global warming and climate change, including energy use, transportation and waste. City government is leading the way by taking action that reduces global warming pollution from our operations and by building partnerships that can help the community create solutions. Visit the new Climate protection website at http://www.cob.org/pw/environment/climate/index.htm to learn more about Bellingham's climate protection efforts and much more.

City partners with NWCAA at Northwest Washington Fair Each year the City of Bellingham hosts a booth at the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden to raise awareness about Lake Whatcom issues and the importance of protecting our precious water resource. Sharing the booth this year is Northwest Clean Air Agency with information about energy conservation and climate change. Visit the booth Monday morning, or Tuesday or Thursday evening and say hello to the new Director of the Northwest Clean Air Agency and former Bellingham Mayor, Mark Asmundson. Visitors to the booth can receive a free compact fluorescent light bulb and learn ways to reduce energy consumption at home. The Northwest Washington Fair runs from Monday, August 13th through Saturday, August 18th. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 10:00 p.m. each day.

Bellingham Public Library and Whatcom Community College Library Partnership Begins Patrons of the Bellingham Public Library and Whatcom County Library System may begin returning their checked out materials to the Whatcom Community College starting August 1st. A drive up book drop is conveniently located in the campus parking lot and is available 24 hours a day.

When the campus library is open, materials may also be dropped off at the library building, either in the lobby or inside the library. The WCC library is located on Cordata Parkway and the closest short-term parking lot is the visitor parking in front of the Laidlaw Center on W. Kellogg Road. Parking is also available in any of the adjacent campus lots.

Whatcom Community College Library will be closed August 17th through September 24th between summer and fall quarters. During this time, patrons may continue to return their items to the book drop located in the campus parking lot.

Page 7 of 10 Beginning September 24th, patrons of the Bellingham Public Library and Whatcom County Library System will be able to designate Whatcom Community College Library as one of the several community locations for holds pickup when using the online catalog.

After being notified of the availability of materials, patrons may pick up their holds during the hours the campus library is open. Using self-check equipment, patrons will be able to check out their own materials. Campus library hours are Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (during the Academic year) and Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (during the summer).

“This partnership saves energy, and provides convenient access to your public library materials,” said college library Director Linda Lambert and public library Director Pam Kiesner in a joint statement.

For more information or to comment, contact the Bellingham Public Library at 360-676- 6860 or log on to their website at www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org.

Public Works in the Neighborhoods Once again we express our appreciation for the public’s patience with the considerable street overlay work going forward on some of our major arterials such as Woburn, James, and Holly as well as within various neighborhoods. The result should be well worth the inconvenience in both safety and aesthetics.

Birchwood: Our projects in design and planning in Birchwood include the West Illinois Street Extension, curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements for the north side of Birchwood Avenue west of Meridian Street.

Central Business District: • The groundbreaking “block party” including a street dance and music by the Atlantics was a fitting way to break ground for our new Art Museum and Children’s Museum. Significant efforts by citizen volunteers have contributed immensely to moving this project forward. • Annual street overlay program includes these downtown streets: North State Street from Ivy to Cedar; South State Street (Boulevard) from Bryant to 12th (South Hill and Fairhaven); West Champion Street from Cornwall to Prospect

Columbia: A reminder that the following sidewalks are scheduled to be replaced in the Columbia neighborhood: Walnut Street - Connecticut to Illinois; Connecticut Street - Meridian to Peabody. Northwest to Elm, and Walnut to Elizabeth; Utter Street - North to Connecticut; Jefferson Street - Lynn to Jaeger; Lynn Street - North to Jefferson; Kulshan Street - Monroe to Jefferson; Elizabeth Street - Washington to Jefferson; Monroe Street - Elm to Jaeger; Washington Street - Henry to Victor and Elm to Utter; Park Street - Madison to Broadway.

Fairhaven: Work on the repair of the secondary outfall pipe at the Post Point Sewer Treatment Plant is to the point where we have fenced off the trail to provide security to the treatment plant from the construction area. In addition, transplanting the eel grass from the pipeline area to the Post Point Lagoon proceeded smoothly last month. Work is proceeding on the "land” portion of the pipe leading from the plant to where it is being "bored" under the railroad tracks.

Page 8 of 10 Guide Meridian/Cordata: We continue the design work for an upgrade of the Horton Road Sewer Pump Station to accommodate flows from north Bellingham. This month, work on water main improvements and construction on Meridian Street by the Washington State Department of Transportation will be done at night.

Lettered Streets: We’ll be bidding a small project to improve storm water facilities at C and Astor Street. We also are overlaying the street surface at Dupont and F Street intersection (part of our annual overlay program).

Mt Baker: Stay tuned for updates on the major reconstruction of Sunset Drive from Woburn into a multi-lane roadway with sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and bike lanes.

Puget: Council awarded the bid for our project to improve pedestrian and bike safety, enhance storm water treatment and resurface the roadway on Puget Street South of Fraser. Street overlay projects include these Puget Neighborhood Streets: Orleans Street, Lakeway north to Potter; Potter Street from Lincoln west to King.

Roosevelt: (Learn more about Roosevelt Neighborhood on August Inside Bellingham on BTV10). The Woburn at Alabama project to construct dual right turn lanes and storm water treatment facilities will improve traffic circulation and safety at this busy intersection. The bid was awarded to RAM construction. Pavement overlay work is on Moore Street from Illinois north to Indiana.

Samish: Right of way and design work proceeds for a new Yew Street 2.5 million gallon water reservoir, an important infrastructure enhancement for this growing neighborhood. Design work is proceeding on San Juan Boulevard, Phase I will provide a transportation connection between Yew Street and Interstate 5 and divert some traffic off Lakeway.

Sehome: Thanks for your patience as we do asphalt overlay work on Chestnut from Garden to Ellis which includes sidewalk replacement; Laurel Street between Indian and Jersey; North State Street from Ivy to Cedar; South State Street (Boulevard) from Bryant to 12th. The Holly Street Gateway project is also part of the continued neighborhood work.

Silver Beach: Water quality projects going on in the watershed to deal with storm water run off include a storm water facility for Hayward Drive to include a filtering system, and East Oregon and East North Street storm water quality treatment facilities are expected to be done in 2007, as are Pullman Road drainage improvements. A retrofit of the Northridge Detention Basin work and the construction of storm water facilities on East Maryland will need to be delayed until the 2008 watershed construction window (May to September).

Sunnyland: Work on asphalt overlay on the east side of James Street from Iowa north to Alabama and sidewalk replacement proceeds ahead. Thanks for driving carefully and safely there.

York: In addition to all the work going on in the Holly Street Gateway (downtown approach) area to create an improved streetscape, the following streets are receiving asphalt overlay as part of our annual roadway maintenance program: Ellis Street from Lakeway to Gladstone; Humboldt Street, Potter north to Gladstone; Ellis Street from Lakeway to Gladstone. Garden Street from Magnolia to Holly will have sidewalks replaced.

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For information on these and other projects, contact Ravyn Whitewolf at [email protected]. For information on both the Sidewalk Replacement and the pavement Overlay programs, contact Project Engineer Derek Holzl by phone 676-6961 or email [email protected].

Summer volunteers still needed for parks summer work parties Lend a hand keeping Bellingham Parks green. We provide the gloves, tools and direction. For more information call Rae, Tracy, or Joe at 676-6801.

Woodstock Farm Woodstock Farm is still in need of help to remove invasive plants, such as English ivy and holly. Help bring this historic site to its full potential. Walk or bike to the farm from North Chuckanut Trailhead. Car access to the site is restricted. Wed, August 22nd from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Boulevard Park Join a weeding and brush cutting work party to prepare for future plantings near the rocky headlands between the docks at Boulevard Park. Park at the lower parking lot at Boulevard Park near the south end. Wed, August 29th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Little Squalicum Park Help weed, remove blackberries, and mulch. Take a right off Eldridge before the Cocoanut Grove into the new parking lot of Little Squalicum Park. Wed, August 15th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

BTV10 Inside Bellingham: August program highlights Roosevelt Neighborhood, Red Tail Reach restoration, pesticide-free gardening, new Downtown street sweeping program, and more!

Visit the Roosevelt Neighborhood, including the new Red Tail Reach restoration project, “Get Movin’” at Civic Field, learn to garden without pesticides, make way for street sweeping downtown, and find out about the City’s Crime Prevention Fair, and more by watching the August episode of Inside Bellingham.

Inside Bellingham airs on BTV10 several times each week and is available to watch on- line, too. For BTV10 schedule information and access to on-line television programs, visit the city's website at www.cob.org. Inside Bellingham, produced by the City of Bellingham, gives viewers an inside peek into city government programs, services, activities and people.

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City of Bellingham MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION “JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE” – Information of Interest September 2007 Located on the Web at: http://www.cob.org/mayor/boards_commissions/neighborhood/just-so-you-are-aware.htm

• School is starting: Think safety! • Keep your sidewalk travel friendly • Cornwall Park Renovation Public Meeting Planned • Welcome back WWU! • Bellingham’s Comprehensive Plan compliant with Growth Management Act • Associations continue neighborhood plan update work — Technical Assistance Workshop on September 18 • Other Planning and Community Development news — Old Town Master Plan, Samish neighborhood plan, draft Shoreline Master Program • Inside Bellingham on BTV10 — September Program — Mayor Tim on City priorities, South Hill neighborhood, historic preservation, and more….. • Neighborhoods take part in disaster preparedness drills and education • Parks and Recreation news • Celebrate Arbor Day at Elizabeth Park • Volunteer for watersheds! • Public Works in the neighborhoods • Neighborhoods and RE Store partner on Fountain Plaza Design Charettes • September Events at Bellingham Public Libraries

Reminders September 18 Technical Assistance Workshop for Neighborhood Planners 6:30 p.m. at Municipal Court Think school safety — watch for kids and drive carefully and slowly on school routes. Learn about your neighborhood at: http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/neighborhoods/neighborhoods.htm League of Women Voters Candidate Forum — Wednesday, October 3, 6:30 p.m., Municipal Court Building at “C” between Girard and Halleck Streets

School is starting: Think safety! Vehicle congestion around schools is one of the biggest safety issues for kids. If fewer parents drove their kids and more kids walked and biked - kids would be safer! Here are a few tips: Teach children to be safe pedestrians: • Walk on the sidewalk. • If there is no sidewalk, always walk facing traffic. • Cross only at corners or marked crosswalks. • Stop, look, and listen before crossing the street. • Look left, right, left before crossing the street. • Look and listen WHILE crossing the street. • Always walk, do not run, across the street. • Make sure drivers see you before crossing the street. Parents need to lead by example: • Use crosswalks. • Follow pedestrian safety rules.

• When driving : o Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. o Don't park on or within 20 feet of a crosswalk. o Obey speed limits (school zone speed limit is 20 mph). o Hang up your cell phone. o Be patient. o Don't idle your engine for longer than 30 seconds (cleaner air for kids to breathe, less wear and tear on your car). o If you are dropping your child off at school and park on the side of the road, always have your child exit the car on the side away from traffic - don't let your child dash between cars to get across the road. o Remember: children are not adults - they see and hear differently than adults - children have only two-thirds the peripheral vision as adults and have difficulty judging distances and speeds

October 3rd is "International Walk to School Day" – a great opportunity to encourage kids and their parents to walk to school. For information about the event, or local "Safe Routes to School" programs, please contact Kim Brown, Transportation Options Coordinator at 676-6961.

Helpful websites: "International Walk to School Day" - http://www.iwalktoschool.org/ "Safe Routes to School" - http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/

Keep your sidewalk travel friendly In many of our neighborhoods we are seeing some lovely landscape and garden work in the front yard and parking strip, replacing traditional lawns. Well-thought-out and maintained plantings enhance the streetscape and make neighborhood walks more interesting. However, no one appreciates being smacked in the eye with a branch from a climbing rose, a holly, or even an evergreen; nor having to navigate around spill over dirt and beauty bark. Unmanaged sidewalk-side landscaping can also obstruct the vision of drivers and bikers, and make commuting home by foot after dark an uneasy walk. (Make sure tools and toys are off the sidewalk, especially after dark).

So, think through the maintenance issue with your front yard landscaping. Once in place, make sure it doesn’t impede pedestrian passage, obstruct vision, or pose any kind of a hazard. Then we can all enjoy the fruits of your creativity and labor!

FYI: Bellingham Municipal Code requires that sidewalks be clear of obstructions to a height of 8 feet over the sidewalks, 15 feet over streets and to the edge of sidewalks. All trees, hedges, billboards, or other natural or man-made obstructions, such as fences, buildings, improvements, and landscaping, are not to interfere with visibility of traffic approaching an intersection in order that travelers have sufficient time to bring a motor vehicle driven at a reasonable speed to a full stop before the intersection is reached.

Cornwall Park Playground Renovation Public Meeting Planned

The public is invited to an informal meeting to view and comment on a preliminary plan of the proposed conceptual playground layout to replace the existing playground on the

Page 2 of 10 south end of Cornwall Park. The meeting will be held on October 9 th from 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Cornwall Park North Picnic Shelter near the Spray Park.

The existing playground equipment on the south end of is old, weathered, and does not comply with safety guidelines and ADA requirements. Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department has budgeted for, and is currently designing, a new playground for preschool children in Cornwall Park over the site of the old playground near the horseshoe pitching area. Please call Jonathan Schilk, Landscape Architect, at (360) 676-6985 for more information.

Welcome back, Western! The population of Bellingham will grow by 9,000 as students return to Western Washington University. Western typically has 13,000 students in the fall and 3,200 summer students. Many Western students live off campus. Thanks to the many of you who welcome them into your neighborhood and work with those who may need to learn how to live as good neighbors.

York, Sehome, and Happy Valley Neighborhood Associations have formal programs to engage with students in their neighborhood and to work together to prevent disruptive parties, avoid parking problems, etc. These neighborhood associations, the Campus Community Coalition, and City Neighborhood Services also contact landlords by letter, as Western comes back into session, to remind them of all they can and should do to help their tenants be good neighbors.

For more information on the work of the Campus Community Coalition, contact Lara Welker at (360) 650-6863 or email Lara at [email protected] .

Bellingham's Comprehensive Plan compliant with Growth Management Act The Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board has found that the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan is now compliant with the Growth Management Act (GMA).

In January of this year, the Board reviewed the City's Comprehensive Plan and found it was internally consistent except for a discrepancy between the ELOS standards used in portions of the City's Parks & Recreation Plan and those used in the Comprehensive Plan's Capital Facilities Chapter. On May 7th , the City Council approved an ordinance that corrected the inconsistency by adopting a uniform ELOS standard of 47.5 acres per 1,000 residents in both the Park Plan and the Capital Facilities Chapter. The City's land supply analysis and its financial analysis of the cost of providing park and recreation facilities already used the ELOS standard of 47.5 acres per 1,000 residents, so these portions of the Comprehensive Plan did not need changing to eliminate the inconsistency.

This Board's decision ends the appeal filed by Donna and Harold Macomber, Helen Green and Larry Horowitz.

To view the Order Finding Compliance, see the City's website at: http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/growth/comp-update.htm

Page 3 of 10 Associations continue neighborhood plan update work – Technical Assistance Workshop on September 18, 6:30 p.m. On Tuesday, September 18 th , staff from Planning & Community Development, Public Works, and Parks & Recreation will be in attendance to answer questions and provide feedback and assistance for neighborhood associations working on plan revision proposals for submittal by December 1, 2007. The agenda will include:

Review of original parameters for city initiation of a plan amendment (demonstrated neighborhood support, consistency with the Comprehensive Plan and no significant reduction of housing units)
Clarification of when a neighborhood plan change requires a corresponding code change (i.e. South Hill Neighborhood Plan amendment)
Overview of how other city staff, in addition to planners, are responsible for commenting and modifying relevant areas of any plan revision proposal (i.e. Samish Neighborhood Plan update)
Break out Q&A sessions by region to assigned planners (North, South, East, West) and other city staff (Storm water, Transportation, Parks, etc.)
We also expect to provide a professional resource to provide ideas and tips on handling general neighborhood/stakeholder meetings

To contact your neighborhood association if you are interested in the work they may be doing on their plan, check our website at: http://www.cob.org/documents/mayor/boards- commissions/neighborhood/2007-MNAC-Roster-Public-ABN.pdf .

Other Planning and Community Development News

Old Town Master Plan Moving Forward The draft sub-area plan and development regulations for the Old Town area will be presented at a neighborhood meeting on September 26th at 6:00 p.m. in the Bellingham Public Library Lecture Room, 210 Central Avenue. Staff contacts are: Tara Sundin, [email protected] , and Chris Koch, [email protected] , 676-6880.

Samish Neighborhood Plan Update The Samish Neighborhood Plan update proposal went to the Planning Commission for a public hearing on September 6 th . The Planning Commission will conduct a work session on the proposal on September 20 th at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Staff's report contains 24 recommendations regarding the many proposed changes contained in the draft proposal submitted by the neighborhood. Staff contact: Pat Carman, [email protected] . To view the draft proposal, see http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/SamishNbrhd.htm .

City Council continues work on DRAFT Shoreline Master Program After a cancellation of a work session on September 10 th due to an error in the packet, the City Council has scheduled three more work sessions in order to finish their review of the DRAFT Shoreline Master Program. They are scheduled on the following regular city council afternoon committee meeting dates. Actual times will vary and will be published in the City Council agenda prior to each Monday's meeting: September 17 th : Nonconformity and hold restoration harmless. September 24 th : Interface between Shoreline Master Program and Critical Areas Ordinance regarding buffer standards. October 8 th (tentative): New Whatcom redevelopment area. Staff Contact: Steve Sundin : [email protected] .

Page 4 of 10 September Inside Bellingham — Mayor Tim on City priorities , South Hill Neighborhood, historic preservation, and more…

Inside Bellingham is an award-winning series produced by the City of Bellingham that gives viewers a peek inside city government programs, activities and people. The September episode features Mayor Tim with an update on city priorities, South Hill Neighborhood, historic preservation grants, ground breaking for a new art and children’s museum, the Mount Baker Theatre season and more!

Episodes of Inside Bellingham air on BTV10 several times per week. See the BTV10 program schedule for current times or watch on line at http://www.cob.org/btv10/inside-bellingham.htm

Neighbors take part in community disaster preparedness drills and education A statewide earthquake and tsunami initiative is one of several events planned locally for National Preparedness Month, designed to encourage everyone – including homeowners, businesses, schools, health care providers and government agencies – to review and practice emergency response plans and 9-1-1 procedures. The earthquake drill is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 19 th at 10:15 a.m.

The other Preparedness Month event is Storm Preparedness Day on September 26 th . The focus of this day is to encourage everyone to prepare for the effects of severe weather events in advance and to emphasize the use of weather radios for emergency warning information.

The City of Bellingham Office of Emergency Management and Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Division of Emergency Management work together to prepare for disasters and encourage residents to participate in National Preparedness Month events. Emergency officials also encourage participation in two volunteer-based programs:

Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) teaches neighbors (from 5 to 30 households) how to work together to prepare and take care of themselves and their neighbors after a disaster.
On September 27 MYN Program Developer, LuAn Johnson of the Washington State Department of Emergency Management will present a dynamic train-the-trainer program to prepare neighborhood preparedness committees to implement this program.
To book a MYN training session for your “micro-neighborhoods,” contact Don Davis, Emergency Management Specialist, City of Bellingham Office of Emergency Management, 360-676-6933 or [email protected]

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) educates people about emergency preparedness, local hazards, and basic disaster response skills including hands-on training in fire suppression, first aid and search and rescue.

For more information about these programs and more, follow the links from Bellingham’s Office of Emergency Management website, http://www.cob.org/fire/emergency.htm , or contact the City of Bellingham Office of Emergency Management at 676-6933.

Page 5 of 10 Parks and Recreation news In the Puget Neighborhood: the Whatcom Creek Trail connector to the Civic Athletic Complex is finished and open, the skate park addition at Civic Field is finished and open. The Whatcom Independent Mountain Pedalers (WHIMPs) are beginning work on revising the dirt jump park (just north of the skate park at Civic Field complex) with donation of equipment and labor from Ram Construction.

We have started construction on the South Boulevard frontage improvements on 10th Street. (South Hill)

Fairhaven, South Hill, Sehome: Walkers on the South Bay Trail can now enjoy a coffee or other refreshment at Wood's Coffee House in Boulevard Park. This type of facility is a first for Bellingham Parks and Recreation (outside of Civic Field) and is part of our initiative to enhance the people friendliness of our parks. If you take advantage of this new facility, remember to leave all litter in trash cans or otherwise pack it out.

Another first: We acquired 5 acres of open space outside of the City limits west of Guide Meridian/Cordata neighborhood as our first Greenway purchase in that area.

Celebrate Arbor Day at Elizabeth Park

Celebrate the magnificent trees of Elizabeth Park on Arbor Day, Saturday, September 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mayor Tim will read a proclamation announcing October as Urban Forestry Month at noon. This free event offers guided tree walks around Elizabeth Park at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. by local tree experts John Wesselink and James Luce. Bellingham Park's arborist will provide a tree climbing demonstration. Local groups will share ways you can help make our community more wildlife friendly from making a bird nesting box to planting trees as part of salmon habitat restoration.

Partners in this event include: Backyard Habitat Mentors, Bellingham Community Wildlife Habitat Project, Bellingham Parks & Recreation, Department of Natural Resources, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, North Cascades Audubon Society, Tree Keepers, and Whatcom Land Trust.

Volunteer for watersheds! Silver Beach Neighborhood Association is busily working on concerns regarding watershed protection for Lake Whatcom. This volunteer effort is part of a greater county- wide effort. A growing number of volunteers work to keep all our streams, lakes, and the marine waters of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and Puget Sound clean and full of life.

These volunteers are trained through the Watershed Master/ Beach Watchers program which provides education on our beaches, streams, forests, and agricultural lands. Participants learn about marine biology, coastal geology, wildlife, urban growth, and local issues from an objective, scientific point-of-view. Water is central to agriculture and fisheries, the environment, as well as the individual households of our towns and cities.

The WSU Whatcom Extension Watershed Master/Beach Watcher Program invites you to become a part of their team. They are trained, committed, and supported volunteers preserving clean water, fish, and wildlife for the future. In exchange for 100 hours of instruction, you’ll return 100 hours of volunteer service working on projects of your choice. For more information, please call Cheryl Lovato Niles at 676-6736, or email [email protected].

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Public Works in the Neighborhoods Once again we express our appreciation for the public’s patience with the considerable street overlay work going forward on some of our major arterials such as Woburn, James, and Holly as well as within various neighborhoods. The result should be well worth the inconvenience in both safety and aesthetics.

Birchwood: • Design work on sidewalk improvements on Birchwood West of Meridian Street continues for construction in 2008.

Central Business District: Lots of projects in the Central Business District: • Art and Children’s Museum – excavating and doing foundation work already! • Preliminary design work nearly complete on Federal Building renovations to improve life safety elements and make more tenant friendly. • Getting ready to open bids for Champion Street water main and streetscape improvements. • See BTV10 Inside Bellingham for information on the Mount Baker Theater improvements to be underway early next year. • Completed public display and selection of light standards for use in future "arts district" improvements on Champion, Flora, Grand, Bay, and Holly Streetscape improvements (per CBD master plan).

Columbia: • The contractor prepares to begin sidewalk replacement activities in September, affecting many streets in the neighborhoods.

Fairhaven: Work progresses on the repair of the secondary outfall pipe at the Post Point Sewer Treatment Plant (fenced off the trail to provide security to the treatment plant from the construction area); completed segment under the railroad tracks. Marine Park will be closed the month of September for the completion of this important infrastructure improvement.

Guide Meridian/Cordata: • Horton Road Pump Station Upgrade: We continue the design work to accommodate flows from north Bellingham. • Meridian Street Water & Sewer Extension: water main extension is nearly complete and testing underway. (Joint project with Washington Department of Transportation). • Street resurfacing work on Northwest Drive is complete and design work continues for sidewalk and roundabout improvements between the Interstate ramp and Bakerview Road.

Lettered Streets: Bids for a small project to improve stormwater facilities at C and Astor Street were issued on September 6 th .

Mount Baker: Design of Phase II of Sunset Drive from Woburn to McLeod is progressing. This is a huge and complicated process and we are working with homeowners to design driveways off the expanded roadway. We’re working with WSDOT on channelization plans and environmental permitting.

Page 7 of 10 Puget: Work on pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Puget Street is progressing quickly.

Roosevelt: We are waiting for our contractor to begin the complicated project (a small work area with many utilities and heavy traffic volumes) at Woburn at Alabama. This project is to construct dual right turn lanes and storm water treatment facilities to improve traffic circulation and safety at this busy intersection.

Samish: We are working on SEPA and critical areas permit requirements for the new Yew Street 2.5 million gallon water reservoir, an important infrastructure enhancement for this growing neighborhood. We are plugging away at design and preparation work on San Juan Boulevard, Phase I, to provide a transportation connection between Yew Street and Interstate 5 and divert some traffic off Lakeway.

Sehome/York/CBD: Thanks for your patience with diverted traffic as we accomplished significant work on the Holly Street Gateway project at Ellis and Lakeway. Work on the street is proceeding swiftly, with the installation of pavement markings and completion of the pavement resurfacing.

Silver Beach: We have seven water quality projects going on in the planning or execution stage in the watershed to retrofit treatment of stormwater run off: installation of a "Filterra" stormwater unit on Hayward Drive, stormwater quality treatment facilities on East Oregon and East North Street, and a vault system for treating water from the Pullman Road street improvements. In addition, the planning work for a retrofit of the Northridge Detention Basin and the construction of stormwater facilities on East Maryland is taking place for construction next year.

Sunnyland: Bumps are now out of the intersection of James and Alabama as we near completion on asphalt overlay on the east side of James Street from Iowa north to Alabama. Sidewalk replacement work to come.

For information on these and other projects, contact Ravyn Whitewolf at [email protected] or 676-6961.

Neighborhoods and RE Store partner on Fountain Plaza Design Charettes Columbia, Cornwall, and Lettered Streets Neighborhood Associations have been working with the RE Store to enhance the Fountain Plaza site (corner of Meridian and Broadway). They have been researching the history of the site and gathering ideas for appropriate designs for the site. The committee plans a series of design charettes this fall:

Sept 13 th - Thurs - 7-9 p.m. Define how the local community uses space now and desired uses; discuss barriers & brainstorm solutions; share historical use of site and historical views of the district.

Sept 27 th - Thurs - 7-9 p.m. Focus on the Fountain: What do people envision? How would they like to see the fountain re-created?

Oct. 11 th - Thurs - 7-9 p.m. Overall Site Design for the Fountain Plaza - How would the community like to see the entire plaza re-created?

Page 8 of 10 Nov 7 th - Weds - 7-9 p.m. Finalize the vision by showing 3 different possible plans and taking final comments to refine the final vision.

The meetings will take place in the main parish hall at the Fountain Community Church on Broadway and Halleck, right next to the plaza, thanks to Rick Quall and his parish.

We will make the final 3 plans available on RE Store and RE Sources websites and present our final concept at neighborhood association meetings in November/December.

Questions can be directed to Jason Darling, Outreach and Marketing Manager for RE Store via email: [email protected] or phone (360) 734-7161

September library programs at Bellingham Public Libraries

Family Events Family Movie Night at Your Library - Read the Book, Watch The Movie! Friday, September 14, from 7-9 p.m., Auditorium at the Fairhaven Branch Library. Undead pirates, kidnapped maidens and scallywags abound in this adventure filled film based on an amusement park ride.

Family Story Night with the Bellingham Storyteller's Guild Friday, September 21, from 7-8 p.m., Fireplace Room at the Fairhaven Branch Library. Bellingham Storyteller's Guild tell Family Stories for ages 6 & up (including adults!).

Jammies and Stories Monday, September 24, from 7:30-8 p.m., Fireplace Room at the Fairhaven Branch Library, Come dressed in your jammies and enjoy stories about school! Refreshments provided by the Food Pavilion.

Contact the Fairhaven Branch Library at (360) 676-6877 for more information.

Adult Events Bellingham Reads! Wednesday, September 26 th at 7:00 p.m., Lecture Room at the Central Library. Enjoy a good book followed by good conversation as we discuss Sherman Alexie’s novel Flight about a troubled, orphaned Indian teenager who, on the verge of committing an act of violence, finds himself hurtled through time and into various bodies, before returning to himself, forever altered by his experiences.

Mt. Baker – the stories behind the beauty Friday, September 28, 2007 at 7:00 p.m., Lecture Room at the Central Library. Join Local Author Virgina Hoyt for a slide show of the unique history of life around the North Fork of the Nooksack River. These are based on the remarkable reminiscences of Jake Steiner, whose family homesteaded here in 1893. Virginia Hoyt has captured that history in this slide show and in two books she has authored: Stories the Forest Tells (written for children) and Mount Baker: the stories behind the beauty (written for adults). These books will be available for purchase after the slide show.

For more information, contact Suzanne Carlson-Prandini, 360.676.6860

Teen Events

Page 9 of 10 Animé at your Library Wednesday, September 12 th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Dodson Room in the Children’s Department at the Central Library: Do you like Japanese animation & comics? The Library Animé Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month to watch and talk about anime. Munchies provided. Monthly animé is sponsored by Operation Anime, FUNimation Entertainment. No need to know about animé to attend! For all teens 12 to 18. Info at: www.operationanime.com .

Got Games? Monday, September 17 th from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; Dodson Room in the Children’s Department at the Central Library: Join us for pizza and games, games, games! All teens 12 to 18 are welcome.

Twilight Prom Saturday, September 22, from 3 to 5 p.m., Fireplace Room at the Fairhaven Branch Library: Celebrate Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series and new book Eclipse at Bellingham’s first Twilight Prom . We’ll choose our favorite Edward, Jacob and Bella, vote on the best prom dress, and challenge our knowledge of the series. Door prizes and refreshments provided. For fans of all ages whether or not you have read the entire series. Info at www.bplteensread.wordpress.com.

For more information on these and other programs contact: Jennifer Lovchik, 360- 676-6860, [email protected]

Children’s Department Events Baby Storytime Birth – 20 months (with adult). Simple stories, songs, finger and lap play and creative movement. Mondays, September 10 th through November 12 th , 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. and 11:00 to 11:30 a.m., Dodson Room in the Children’s Library.

Little Storytime Birth – 3 years (with adult). Lots of fun stories, songs, and creative movement. Tuesdays, September 11 th through November 13 th ; 10:05 to 10:35 a.m. and10:35 to 11:05 a.m., 11:05 – 11:35 a.m.; Dodson Room in the Children’s Library.

Raccoon Time Ages 2 ½ - 4 years. Stories, songs, the Hokey Pokey and a craft! Thursdays, September 13 th through November 15 th , 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. and 11:00 to 11:30 a.m., Dodson Room in the Children’s Library.

BIGGER Storytime Ages 4 – 8. For children ready to separate from their parent for their own thirty minutes of fun and information. Wednesdays, September 12 th through November 14 th , 3:00 to 3:30 p.m., Dodson Room in the Children’s Library.

For more information, contact Bethany Hoglund, (360) 676-6864, [email protected]

Page 10 of 10

City of Bellingham MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION

City of Bellingham Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission “JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE” – Information of Interest October 2007 Located on the Web at: http://www.cob.org/mayor/boards_commissions/neighborhood/just-so-you-are-aware.htm

• Mayor Douglas names new Neighborhood Services Coordinator • Lettered Streets wins three Whatcom in Bloom awards • Planning and Community Development news —Technical workshop; Fairhaven Highlands EIS Consultant, Old Town Master Plan, Samish Neighborhood Plan Update, Shoreline Master Plan • Columbia — Cornwall — Lettered Streets Final two Fountain Plaza Design Charettes • A message from Officer Fleetwood: 8 Rules for Child Safety • Consider participating in the 2008 Bellingham Police Citizen’s Academy • Inside Bellingham on BTV10 — October Program features Happy Valley and a “Walking School bus” • Neighborhood disaster preparedness moves ahead • Parks and Recreation news—Old Village Trail Project, volunteer opportunities • Keeping neighborhoods fall fresh, clean and green • Clearing Restricted in Lake Whatcom Watershed began October 1 • Downtown Parking restrictions enforced for street sweeping • Public Works in the neighborhoods (see your neighborhood’s projects) • Library hosts open houses about new building • Thank you from your editor—Kathryn Hanowell

Reminders Clean and Green accepts Fall Yard Waste Clearing Restricted on Lake Whatcom Installation of Whatcom Centennial Story Pole—October 12, 4PM Whatcom County Courthouse Find October Bellingham Public Library programs at : http://www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org/bpl/source/data/events/events_oct_07.pdf Learn about your neighborhood at: http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/neighborhoods/neighborhoods.htm CITY AND COUNTY ELECTIONS! DON’T FORGET TO VOTE—NOVEMBER 6

Mayor Douglas names new Neighborhood Services Coordinator Mayor Douglas named Linda Stewart as our new Neighborhood Services Coordinator. Linda has extensive experience working with neighborhood associations. This work includes the design of a nationally recognized “neighborhood walkability” assessment for Olympia neighborhoods as well as serving as an advisor to organizational leadership, working in partnership with neighbors and government on crime prevention, land use, planning and development. She has been both an employee (Thurston County Public Health Department and King County Parks, Planning and Resources) and an elected official (Highline School Board) of local government. Her career represents many achievements in building and supporting community partnerships.

Though a relative newcomer to Bellingham, Linda was able convey to the interview panel and Mayor Douglas that she has already learned a lot about Bellingham and its neighborhoods. A panel of four neighborhood association members and four staff members interviewed the top eight applicants before presenting recommendations to Mayor Douglas for his interview process.

Linda will officially assume her position on October 22. Please welcome her as she puts her considerable talents to work on behalf of our neighborhoods and community.

Lettered Streets wins three Whatcom in Bloom awards Lettered Streets Neighborhood Association has mounted a number of efforts to beautify sections of their neighborhood. Lettered Streets is one of the City's oldest neighborhoods. Their work is now receiving community recognition. Their work on Gossage Garden and the Parklette at C and Holly Streets earned them 2nd and 3rd place in the Community Gardens category in this year’s Whatcom in Bloom. The Parklette also won a special award for “Best Use of Recycled Material” and a $75 gift from the RE Store. Sponsored by Whatcom County Parks, Whatcom in Bloom recognizes beautification projects throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County.

For years, Lettered Streets Neighborhood Association has provided volunteers to maintain and improve the landscaping of Gossage Garden (F Street at Cornwall and Alabama). With flowers, soil, and labor donations from The Garden Spot and Northwest Recycling (some pieces are from GP’s waterfront site), neighbors cleaned up and landscaped the Parklette on Holly and C. Thanks especially to Judy Buchanan (Gossage Garden) and Michael McAuley (Parklette) for your dedication to neighborhood beautification. Additional funding was provided through a City Small and Simple Grant. Lettered Streets’ latest project is the B Street Wayside at the Holly Street Wayside at the Holly Street gateway along Whatcom Creek.

Planning and Community Development News

Over 50 attend Neighborhood Plan Update Technical Workshop Neighborhood volunteers recently had an opportunity to meet with Planning, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation staff as they continue to work on their proposals to update or revise their neighborhood plans. Planning Director, Tim Stewart, answered commonly asked questions before the participants broke into interest groups to obtain information to help them move forward with their work. Staff was present to answer questions on the development code, transportation planning, public involvement processes, parks master planning, as well as specifics of neighborhood plans.

Each neighborhood is at a different place in their work and although one size does not fit all, there is much commonality and the opportunity to come together and learn from each other appears to be valuable for the participants.

Consultant Hired for Fairhaven Highlands EIS City officials have hired a consultant to conduct an environmental assessment of Fairhaven Highlands, a process that will be managed by the City and funded by the company proposing to develop the property. Conducting an environmental impact statement is the first step in understanding the potential environmental impacts of the proposed development, and is expected to include opportunities for the public to participate.

The City issued a Request for Proposals for the EIS consultant. City staff unanimously selected ESA Adolfson & Associates due to their extensive experience preparing EISs under three-party agreements, and their demonstrated ability to provide an objectively developed document. PCD Director Tim Stewart is the City's SEPA official for the project. All documents related to the EIS, including additional studies and reports, are posted on the city's website and will be continually updated as the process proceeds.

Page 2 of 11 See http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/growth/fairhaven-highlands.htm for details, or contact Katie Franks at [email protected] for more information. To be a party of record on this process, please contact Fiona Starr at [email protected] . Both Katie and Fiona can be reached at the Planning & Community Development Department at 676-6982.

Old Town Master Plan Moving Forward At long last, the Old Town Master Plan is heading to the Planning Commission on November 8th. A well-attended neighborhood meeting was held in late September. The Lettered Streets Neighborhood Association held its own meeting to review the draft plan as well. Documents are available for viewing online at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/OldTownSub-areaPlanning.htm Staff contacts are: Tara Sundin, [email protected] , and Chris Koch, [email protected] , 676-6880.

Samish Neighborhood Plan Update An updated draft of the Samish Neighborhood Plan Update is available online at http://www.cob.org/pcd/planning/SamishNbrhd.htm . The Planning Commission will continue its work on this item on October 25th at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Staff contact is Pat Carman, [email protected] , or 676-6982.

City Council continues work on DRAFT Shoreline Master Program The next work session for this item is scheduled for the regular City Council meeting on Monday, October 15 th in the afternoon. The topic will be a continued review of Nonconformity and Hold Restoration Harmless, as well as the interface between the Shoreline Master Program and the Critical Areas Ordinance. Staff contact is Steve Sundin, [email protected] .

Columbia – Cornwall – Lettered Streets Final two Fountain Plaza Design Charettes The last two charettes for the Columbia—Cornwall--Lettered Streets Neighborhood Associations and the RE Store for revitalizing the Fountain Plaza site (corner of Meridian and Broadway) are coming up.

Oct. 11 th - Thurs - 7-9 p.m. Overall Site Design for the Fountain Plaza - How would the community like to see the entire plaza re-created?

Nov 7 th - Weds - 7-9 p.m. Finalize the vision by showing 3 different possible plans and taking final comments to refine the final vision.

The meetings will take place in the main parish hall at the Fountain Community Church on Broadway and Halleck, right next to the plaza, thanks to Rick Quall and his parish.

The final 3 plans alternatives will be available on the RE Store and RE Sources websites a final concept at neighborhood association meetings in November/December.

Questions can be directed to Jason Darling, Outreach and Marketing Manager for RE Store via email: [email protected] or phone (360) 734-7161

A message from Officer Fleetwood: 8 Rules for Child Safety Officer Fleetwood provides this “8 Rules for Safety” for parents to share with their school age children in a conversation about their safety. Please view this as an opportunity to discuss safety and build your child's confidence in their ability to distinguish safe people from unsafe ones and to seek help from a safe adult when necessary.

Page 3 of 11 Tara advises: “As parents, it is important for us all to remember that we are responsible for teaching our kids how to listen to their intuition about safety. Please call (360-676-6924) or e-mail me, [email protected] to discuss this further.”

8 Rules for My Safety

1. I will always check first with the person in charge before going anywhere – even with someone I know.

2. I will check with my parents before I accept anything from anyone – even if I know them.

3. I take at least one friend with me when I go places or play outside.

4. I know my full name, mailing address, telephone with area-code, and my parents’ names/work/cell numbers.

5. I will say “NO” if someone tries to touch me or treat me in a way that makes me feel scared, uncomfortable or confused.

6. I know that I can tell my parents if I feel afraid, uncomfortable or confused.

7. It’s okay to say “NO” sometimes, and I know how to find someone to help me.

8. I am strong, smart and I have the right to be safe!

X______Signature of Child

Consider participating in the 2008 Bellingham Police Citizens’ Academy

The Bellingham Police Department is accepting applications for its Citizens’ Academy 2008.

The Citizens’ Academy is a 12-week program designed to help Bellingham residents increase their understanding of how the Police Department works within the community. Instructors are police officers and other department personnel who use their particular subject expertise on the following topics: Firearms, Patrol Procedures, SWAT, Use of Force, Investigations, Narcotics, Traffic, K-9, and Crime Prevention.

Participants gain an understanding of the daily decisions the officers must make in the line of duty. Participants also tour the Bellingham Police Department, Whatcom County Jail, and the 911 Communications Center.

Citizens eligible to apply for the Academy must be 18 or older, and live and/or work in Bellingham. Participation in the Academy includes a commitment to attend all the training sessions. Applicants must complete and pass a background check prior to acceptance. There is no cost to participate in the Citizens’ Academy.

Winter 2008 classes will start Tuesday January 8th continuing for 12 weeks. The classes are held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Bellingham Police Department's Training Room. Applications are

Page 4 of 11 available on our web site at www.cob.org/police and must be mailed to Officer Tara Fleetwood c/o Bellingham Police Department at 505 Grand Avenue Bellingham WA 98225 no later than November 30, 2007.

For more information call Crime Prevention Officer Tara Fleetwood at (360) 676-6924 or email at [email protected] .

October Inside Bellingham — Visit the Happy Valley Neighborhood, see a "walking school bus," and learn more about other public safety services. These stories and more are featured on the October episode of Inside Bellingham .

Inside Bellingham is an award-winning series produced by the City of Bellingham that gives viewers a peek inside city government programs, activities and people. Episodes of Inside Bellingham air on BTV10 several times per week. See the BTV10 program schedule for current times or watch online at http://www.cob.org/btv10/inside-bellingham.htm

Neighbor disaster preparedness moves forward On September 27 th , the City of Bellingham Office of Emergency Management and Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Division of Emergency Management sponsored a “Train the Trainer” workshop to prepare neighborhood committees to introduce our “Map Your Neighborhood” (MYN) disaster preparedness program to their neighborhood. MYN teaches neighbors (from 5 to 30 households) how to work together to prepare and take care of themselves and their neighbors after a disaster. Our Emergency Management Staff and the City-wide MNAC committee working on MYN call these groups of neighbors “Micro-Neighborhoods”.

Training our Trainers was Dr. LuAn Johnson, the author of MYN. LuAn explained that generally the citizens of a city are often slow adopters of programs like MYN. However, we had 55 Bellingham residents representing 17 neighborhoods attend. We are off to a great start.
To book a MYN training session for your “micro-neighborhoods,” contact Don Davis, Emergency Management Specialist, City of Bellingham Office of Emergency Management, 360-676-6933 or [email protected] . He will put you in touch with your neighborhood’s MYN chair to help you organize your “Micro Neighborhood” and provide training for you and your neighbors.

For more information about these programs and more, follow the links from Bellingham’s Office of Emergency Management website, http://www.cob.org/fire/emergency.htm , or contact the City of Bellingham Office of Emergency Management at 676-6933.

Parks and Recreation news

Old Village Trail Work is scheduled to begin this month on the Old Village Trail Improvement Project. This project is the product of a Neighborhood Initiative Program Grant requested by the Lettered Street Neighborhood Association to improve this beloved pedestrian trail link developed in the 1970s.

Old Village Trail is a seven-block urban trail that combines public Right of Way with pedestrian walkways through Old Town, one of the City’s oldest urban areas. The trail runs between Maritime Heritage Park and Broadway Avenue on Bancroft and Clinton Streets, then to Elizabeth Park via sidewalks. Over time many of the bollards that were originally located to keep vehicles off the pedestrian areas have deteriorated or are missing, allowing vehicular traffic to encroach in numerous places along the trail. Because the Old Town area has been the focus of recent revitalization efforts,

Page 5 of 11 additional pressures on the trail have been created by adjacent housing and commercial development.

Specific improvements include repair of deteriorated pavement, way-finding signs, landscaping, and the addition of a safety crosswalk at F Street. The project will also provide better buffering from adjacent uses, preserve wildlife corridors and eradicate various invasive plants, replacing these with more desirable ones. (The project does not include improving the trail between D Street and E Street due to a pending adjacent mixed-use development.)

The Old Village Trail Improvement Project has been a partnership between various City departments, the Lettered Streets and Columbia Neighborhood Associations, neighbors adjacent to the trail, and many citizen volunteers. Construction is planned for completion in early 2008.

For more information, contact either Katie Franks in the Planning and Community Development Department, or Jonathan Schilk in the Parks and Recreation Department.

Volunteer for our parks! Volunteers contribute to the maintenance and enhancement of Bellingham’s growing trail system by restoring wildlife habitat, controlling for litter and safety hazards, helping with “service learning” projects and trail building. There are many ways to get involved and it is rewarding and fun. Upcoming opportunities as listed below and more information is available on our website: http://www.cob.org/parks/volunteer/index.htm.

Squalicum Creek Park — October 13 th ~ 10am-12pm Help the Kulshan Kiwanis weed, mulch & plant along the Bay to Baker Trail. Park at the end of Firwood Street: walk across the Bay to Baker trail to the site.

Euclid Park — October 20 th ~ 9am-12pm Join us in a battle against the invasive English ivy! Going east on Lakeway, take the first major left after Oriental Ave. Follow Euclid Ave until you see our work party sign. Parking is limited, so bike or carpool if you can.

South Bay Trail — October 20 th ~ 1-3pm Mulch & weed plantings along the South Bay Trail with Village Books. Park in Fairhaven & catch the trail at 10th & Mill. Then follow the trail to Douglas St.

Make a Difference Day — October 27 th ~ 9am-12pm Join volunteers throughout the community assisting with a wide range of projects. Contact the Whatcom Volunteer Center for more information: 734-3055

Franklin Park Work with local community members to restore native plants along the hillside. We’ll be planting & mulching! Park is located off Ellis at corner of Whatcom & Grant. Parking is available on street.

Squalicum Creek Park We’ll be planting shrubs & trees for the new park with the Public Works, Environmental Resource’s Washington Conservation Corps Team . Park at lot off Squalicum Parkway opposite West St.

Connelly Creek — November 3 rd ~ 9am-12pm The Bellingham Parks Volunteer Program and the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association join forces to free native plantings from invasive reed canary grass. Parking at the west end of the Food Pavilion parking lot; walk west along Fairhaven Parkway & follow signs to site.

Page 6 of 11

Woodstock Farm — November 3 rd ~ 12-3pm Weed & plant a new watershed friendly garden with Surfriders at Woodstock Farm. Park at the North Chuckanut Trailhead & wait for shuttle to farm.

FYI — Greenways Advisory Committee Vacancies : The Greenways Advisory Committee will have two upcoming vacancies. Anyone interested can obtain an application from the Mayor's Office, or at: http://www.cob.org/mayor/boards_commissions/index.htm "

Keeping neighborhoods fall fresh, clean and green Fall is in the air and if your garden looks past its peak, it's time to clean up. The first thing you want to do is get rid of all the dead and dying plant debris. So, what do you do with that big pile of yard waste? In Bellingham there are several options:

Clean Green Transfer Station The Bellingham Clean Green Transfer Station accepts residential yard waste from Whatcom County residents. The site is operated by the Bellingham Public Works Department as one of Whatcom County's waste management programs. The fee for dumping at Clean Green is $2 per load. A load is defined as a pick-up truck, garbage bag, trailer or bundle. A pick-up truck with a trailer will be charged as two loads.

The Clean Green Transfer Station is located on Woburn Street near the corner of Lakeway and Woburn Streets and is open 8:30 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays through November. Materials accepted are grass clippings, garden clippings, limbs 8 inches or less in diameter and less than 7 feet in length, vines, leaves and other natural vegetation. For more information, please call the Bellingham Public Works Department at (360) 676-6850 or http://www.cob.org/pw/solidwaste.htm .

Home Compost Compost is one of nature's best mulches and soil amendments, and you can use it instead of commercial fertilizers. Best of all, compost is cheap. You can make it without spending a cent. Using compost improves soil structure, texture, and aeration and increases the soil's water-holding capacity. For more information about compost, call WSU Cooperative Extension office at 676-6736.

FoodPlus Recycling Materials collected in this program are delivered to Green Earth Technologies (GET) in Lynden for composting. Composting is a natural process that breaks down organic materials turning them into a rich and beneficial soil amendment. For more information about the FoodPlus Recycling program contact Sanitary Service at 734-3490 or visit their website at www.ssc-inc.com .

We need your help The City would like to ask your assistance in keeping our storm drains clear to avoid flooding when those winter rains begin. If you see a storm drain in your neighborhood covered with leaves and other debris, take a moment to clean it off using a shovel or broom . Be sure you stay on the sidewalk and not in the roadway when clearing the drain.

Clearing restrictions in Lake Whatcom Watershed began October 1 Annual restrictions on land clearing, adopted by the City of Bellingham to protect Lake Whatcom, become effective on October 1.

The Silver Beach Ordinance, adopted in 2001, is in effect from October 1 through April 30. This regulation places conditions for land-disturbing activities with exposed soil areas greater than 500

Page 7 of 11 square feet. In order to be in compliance, contractors and homeowners must apply approved soil- coverage techniques including: • Grasses that are well established and without erosion potential. Sod is acceptable. No soil or earth may be visible. • Wood chips, mulch or straw that fully covers the exposed area to a minimum depth of 3" and prevents erosion from the site. • Crushed rock or gravel not less than ¾" in aggregate size and a minimum of 4" deep. • Finished landscaping that, through a combination of plantings and/or mulching, prevents erosion and captures runoff.

The ordinance does not provide for time extensions. Sites that are out of compliance on October 1 may be subject to penalties of up to $1,500 per day of non-compliance. For more information about the ordinance contact Bill Reilly at 676-6961 or email [email protected].

Downtown parking restrictions enforced for street sweeping Starting Oct. 23, vehicles parked downtown in "No Parking" areas on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., (hours of downtown street sweeping), will receive parking tickets.

Growth in the downtown area, including the addition of residences, has made sweeping increasingly difficult for our crews because of cars left parked overnight. We need cleared streets to be able to sweep clean.

Street sweeping improves community appearance, helps keep heavy metals and other pollutants from entering local waterways, and reduces localized flooding during heavy rains by keeping storm drains and gutters clean and free of debris.

In July, the City started a scheduled street sweeping program in the downtown area. Signs were installed marking areas affected by the new program. Streets are swept weekly between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with north-south streets swept on Tuesdays and east-west streets swept on Wednesdays. Downtown alleys are scheduled to be swept on the first Tuesday and Wednesday of each month.

Since the start of the program in July, the City has refrained from enforcing the "No Parking" zones to allow area residents and business to adapt to the change. Illegally parked vehicles have thus far only been posted with reminder notices not to park in the area during sweeping hours. Unfortunately, some drivers continue to park in the "No Parking" areas, which has limited the City's ability to effectively sweep streets. So, on October 23 rd , the parking restrictions will be enforced and $20 fine levied on violators.

Flyers with a map of the sweeping routes and information about the program are available at www.cob.org , at downtown businesses and properties and at City Hall, 210 Lottie Street.

Public Works in the neighborhoods Thanks to Ravyn Whitewolf, Engineering Manager, for providing this monthly summary of public works projects in the neighborhoods. Thanks to our citizens for your patience as we complete our good weather overlay and sidewalk repair work!

Birchwood:

• Birchwood west of Meridian: Design work for curb, gutter, and sidewalk improvements is progressing. We are working with property owners to look at options to reduce impact of construction on existing trees. Construction to take place in 2008.

Page 8 of 11 • West Illinois Street extension to Marine Drive along Timpson Way: This project to divert truck traffic to the designated route requires coordination with Whatcom County, the Bellingham Technical College, Oeser Company, and Morse Steel. It involves a creek crossing and railroad spur relocation. These aspects will take time to work through. Nevertheless, we expect a design report from the consultant in November.

Central Business District: • Champion Street water main and Bay and Holly Streetscape Improvement: This project will improve citizen safety, increase mobility, improve lighting and enhance the downtown. We will begin construction on the Champion Street part of this project this month and continue to proceed with the design work on the Bay and Holly Streetscape for construction in 2008. • Federal Building Renovations: Lots of design and logistics work to this project as our schedule must consider the need for federal agencies to relocate. Construction project bidding will occur soon and construction work will happen in 2008. • Railroad Avenue/Depot Market Square: We are doing design work to partially improve the leased space at Depot Market Square as well as work on a permanent covered bicycle storage facility on Railroad Avenue by the square. • Art and Children’s Museum: Coordinating with the Public Facilities District, we have completed the excavation for the basement, foundation, and footings. We’ll soon begin the underground electrical and plumbing work and excavate the elevator shaft.

Columbia: • Sidewalk replacement work continues into November.

Fairhaven: Repair and Replacement of the Post Point Sewer Treatment Plant Secondary Emergency Outfall Pipe: We completed the marine segment of our pipe installation on 9/20 when the pipe was “sunk” into Bellingham Bay without incident. We are now completing the process of restoring landscaping in Marine Park and at the Plant itself.

Guide Meridian/Cordata: • Horton Road Pump Station Upgrade: We continue the design work to increase the capacity of this pump station to accommodate flows from north Bellingham. • Meridian Street Water & Sewer Extension: Testing is underway for the completed water main extension; sewer main construction is next. This is a joint project with Washington Department of Transportation. • Street resurfacing work on Northwest Drive is complete and design work continues for sidewalk and roundabout improvements between the Interstate ramp and Bakerview Road.

Lettered Streets: • Storm water facilities improvements at C and Astor Streets: Expect construction to begin in November.

Mount Baker: • Bakerview and Irongate Traffic Signal: We’re still scoping this project; stay tuned at efforts to provide for increased vehicular safety for vehicles exiting the Irongate Industrial park onto Bakerview. • Phase II of Sunset Drive improvements (Woburn to McLeod): This complicated project is progressing with the completion of acquisition of 31 of 55 parcels and relocation of two homes in September. We are proceeding with the wetland mitigation design.

Page 9 of 11 Puget: • Puget (South of Fraser Street) Pedestrian and Bike Improvements: Sidewalks are graded and road paving work is complete on this part of Puget Street. Now we begin the considerable work to construct bicycle lanes, curbs, gutters and sidewalks on Fraser Street from Puget to the Regency Court Apartments. There are considerable permit challenges due to physical and environmental issues, including the need for wetland protection. This last project is Phase 3 of a multi year project to provide better transportation safety in this high use area.

Roosevelt: • Woburn/Alabama Intersection Improvements: We have begun construction! We have completed excavation of the rain garden and grading of new sidewalk area behind existing curb. Storm drain enhancements, grinding and paving of Woburn Street in that area is next.

Samish: • San Juan Boulevard, Phase I. We are plugging away at the preparation and permitting work for this complicated project with many environmental and construction challenges. • Yew Street Upper Reservoir: This 2.5 million gallon water reservoir and infrastructure enhancement for this growing neighborhood is in design stage while we establish transmission, distribution and access easements and plan the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) and Critical Areas Ordinance compliance processes.

Sehome/York/CBD: • Almost done with Holly Street Gateway project from Ellis and Lakeway to Railroad. Street resurfacing is done, cross walks are in; light fixtures and “under grounding” of utilities are next.

Silver Beach: • East Oregon and East North Street storm-water quality treatment facilities: We are done! • Lake Whatcom-Hayward Drive Water Quality: We’ll be installing a prototype “Filterra" storm- water unit as soon as we can resolve under ground utilities issues. • Pullman Road and Drainage Improvements: Construction is substantially complete including installation of alumina/sand filtration systems. All disturbed areas are covered with straw to avoid water quality issues for the Lake. • Northridge Detention Basin Retrofit: This important project is to enhance storm-water treatment that will flow into Lake Whatcom from and existing pond site located off Northridge Way within the dense Brentwood Subdivision. We are working with homeowners’ association on land issues prior to proceeding further with design. • East Maryland Water Quality: The construction of stormwater facilities on East Maryland will wait for the allowable time frame for watershed construction work in 2008. • Improvements to Northshore Drive from Britton to Alabama Street: To a project to replace a failing storm water system and complete a structural street overlay, we hope to add a sidewalks (if we can avoid impacts to the lake). We’re in the design phase.

Sunnyland: • James Street 2008 Enhanced Pedestrian Crossings: These enhanced crosswalks are planned for James Street at the intersections of Kentucky and Carolina Streets and will include concrete bulb-outs, solar powered actuated crossing arms and drainage improvements. Part of our annual pedestrian enhancement program for arterial streets, design work will begin this winter with construction next year.

For information on these and other projects, contact Ravyn Whitewolf at [email protected] or 676- 6961.

Page 10 of 11

Library hosts open houses about new building Community leaders expect to make more key decisions during the coming months on future library facilities and services, and they want to hear from you. What works well for you at the current library? What doesn't work? What services do you want from the library in the future?

A public open house on October 23 rd will provide an opportunity for Bellingham citizens to get involved in the next phase of developing our new central library. At this meeting library officials will review decisions so far and invite participants to brainstorm about facilities and services and help shape library services proposed for the future. Other opportunities to participate will include an online survey, touring library facilities and more.

Library board members have proposed building a new library on the block of the current library downtown and making much-needed renovations to the Fairhaven Branch Library. These improvements are proposed to be funded by a library bond levy, expected to be presented to voters as early as spring 2008.

"Library use continues to be record-breaking, and while demand for services and resources continues to climb, our facilities are stretched to their limits," Library Director Pam Kiesner said. "We want people to tell us their vision for a new central public library: how it should look and feel, and what facilities and services should be offered in the future."

The library has contracted with Thomas Hacker Architects of Portland, Oregon, a firm that has designed more than 30 libraries throughout the country. In partnership with Bellingham's RMC Architects the Hacker team will develop recommendations for library services and facilities that respond to the community's needs. These recommendations are expected by early 2008.

The open houses are scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. October 23, in the Council Chambers at Bellingham City Hall. For more information, visit www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org or call the Bellingham Public Library at 676-7794.

Thank you from your editor As I leave service with the City of Bellingham, I want to express what a pleasure it has been to meet and work with so many dedicated and competent neighborhood volunteers. Your service is a gift to our community and represents citizen democracy at its best.

Your discussions about neighborhood character, quality of life, neighborhood improvements, parks, transportation, or zoning and growth issues are all important to your neighborhood and community. The fact that your work includes significant efforts to include a broad group of stakeholders in discussion of concerns adds to your credibility. You create people connections with your welcoming picnics and celebrations. Finally, your willingness to gather neighborhood volunteers for work projects, whether crime prevention, disaster preparedness, or park and trail improvements, creates a sense of ownership of the assets and affairs of the community.

I feel so fortunate to have been a part of helping to strengthen the connection of neighbor’s work with that of our fine staff in our City’s public service. -- Kathryn Hanowell

Page 11 of 11

City of Bellingham MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION

“JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE” Newsletter – November 2007 Electronic version located at: http://www.cob.org/government/public/boards-commissions/neighborhood/jsyaa.aspx

NEWSLETTER CONSTRUCTION ZONE!! We’re revising our newsletter format and design to make it a more efficient information- sharing tool. The revision process will include an overall redesign and name change. Input on proposed designs is being collected from neighborhoods now, with projected roll-out of the revised newsletter in January 2008. During November and December, you’ll see an abbreviated version of the “Just So You Are Aware” newsletter. Thanks for your patience during construction!

• Mayor Dan Pike Takes Office • Bellingham Joins Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA) • Hundreds Participate in Library Services Discussions • Planning and Community Development News • Public Works in the Neighborhoods

Mayor Pike Takes Office

At a ceremony in City Council Chambers on Tuesday, November 27, newly- elected Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike outlined several projects he expects to accomplish during his first 100 days in office, including taking steps to improve the City's development permit system, protect the Lake Whatcom Reservoir, and demonstrate progress on waterfront redevelopment.

In his remarks, Pike reflected on his love for Bellingham, his enthusiasm for his new job as Mayor, and his faith in our community's ability to work together to keep Bellingham livable, healthy and strong. Pike is committed to bringing a spirit of respect, civility and inclusion to City government.

"It is clear that to move forward on so many important issues all at once there is a huge amount of work for the City and the Council. What is even more clear, however, is that the citizens of Bellingham want to do just that," he said.

"It will be the core challenge of my administration to organize, prioritize and sustain open and transparent processes to ensure the community pulls together and makes real progress. Nothing will come easy, there will be many tough decisions that must be made by the City Council and the community, but the rewards of our labor will be great."

Mayor Pike welcomes your comments at [email protected] or by contacting his office at 676-6979 .

The full text of Mayor Pike's remarks can be found on the City's website at www.cob.org Tuesday's swearing in ceremony for Mayor Pike and new Ward 4 Council representative Stan Snapp is airing on BTV10 and the video is posted to view on the City's website as well.

Bellingham Joins Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA)

Bellingham has become a City Member of Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA), a national non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations. Created in 1975, the organizational mission of NUSA is to build and strengthen neighborhood associations and promote productive communication and collaboration between those associations and both the public and private sector.

NUSA maintains a stable membership base of more than 1,000 and is governed by a 27-member Board of Directors, representing multiple states and cities. Since 1984, NUSA has recognized the commitment of neighborhoods and neighbor-friendly individuals or enterprises by awarding “Neighborhood of the Year” and “NUSA Notables” Awards. These are the only national awards given on an on-going basis to neighborhood organizations. NUSA also publishes a quarterly newsletter targeted to the needs of neighborhood organizations and is pursuing new programs and initiatives in response to the evolving concerns of members.

For more information on NUSA, check out their website at www.nusa.org

Planning and Community Development News

Old Town Urban Village Planning The Old Town Sub-area Plan was the subject of an extensive work session with the Bellingham Planning Commission on November 15th. The Commission discussed the proposed floor to area ratio, building height limits and financial analysis at their meeting, and will continue to analyze the plan on Thursday, December 6th at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers. For more details see http://www.cob.org/government/departments/pcd/old-town.aspx.

2 Neighborhood Plan Amendments Approved The City Council approved three neighborhood plan amendments on November 19th for the Puget, Samish and Guide Meridian/Cordata neighborhoods. The Puget amendment involved a site-specific rezone to allow a multi-use development with residential and retail on Lakeway Drive near the entrance to Civic Field. The Samish neighborhood substantially rewrote their plan, with the exception of the land use sections, and the Guide Meridian/Cordata neighborhood made minor factual changes and officially added “Cordata” to their neighborhood’s name. Much was learned during the public process that will help guide the 2008 plan amendments.

Proposed Plan Amendments Due December 3rd Proposals for 2008 Neighborhood Plan amendments are due to the Planning & Development Department by Monday, December 3rd at 5:00 p.m. Proposals will be judged for initiation by a team of planning, public works and parks staff, and recommendations regarding which proposals to initiate are expected to be completed by January.

WAG Meeting, Wednesday, December 12th A Waterfront Advisory Group (WAG) meeting will be held on December 12th, 2007 between 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm at the Squalicum Boathouse, 2600 Harbor Loop.

The public is encouraged to attend this meeting. For more information, contact the city’s Waterfront Redevelopment Office at [email protected] .

Hundreds Participate in Library Services Discussions

Library and City officials extend a hearty thank you to all who participated in community conversations this fall about the next phase of developing a new central library and library services citywide. Hundreds of community members participated by attending open houses and focus groups, filling out surveys and learning more about community library needs and uses.

The feedback we gathered through these efforts is posted on the Bellingham Public Library website. Public open houses held in October are available to view on line and on BTV10. Links to all these resources can be found at www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org .

Library and City officials will review this feedback, along with the results of other studies, and present recommendations for library services and facilities that respond to the community's needs. Thomas Hacker Architects and Bellingham's RMC Architects are assisting in this effort, and we expect to make recommendations to the Library Board, the Bellingham City Council and the community in early 2008.

3

Public Works in Our Neighborhoods – Project Updates

Birchwood • West Illinois Street Extension - Draft 30% design report from consultant under review.

Central Business District • Bay and Holly Streetscape Improvement – Design kick-off held in late October and design process is underway. • Champion Street Water main and Streetscape Improvement – Completed water main installation; next step is to pour the new sidewalk and landscape the area. • Mount Baker Theatre Lighting and Electrical – Architectural bids open 12/13/07.

Lettered Streets • C and Astor Street Stormwater Quality Retrofit – Project complete!

Mount Baker • Bakerview and Irongate Traffic Signal – Traffic count and project design in progress.

Puget • Fraser Street Pedestrian and Bike Improvements – Geotechnical investigation complete; design in progress.

Roosevelt • Woburn and Alabama Intersection Improvements – Project complete!

Silver Beach • Lake Whatcom – E. Oregon Water Quality – Project complete! • Northshore Road Drainage Improvements – Met with neighborhood association board; will complete stormwater report when design alternative is determined. • Lake Whatcom – E. North Water Quality – Project complete! • Pullman Road Drainage Improvements – Project complete!

Multiple Neighborhoods • Cornwall and F Street Water Main Replacements – Project design and lay-out in progress.

Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant? - Henry David Thoreau

4

City of Bellingham MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION

“NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS” Newsletter – December 2007 Electronic version located at: http://www.cob.org/government/public/boards-commissions/neighborhood/jsyaa.aspx

NEWSLETTER REVISION PROJECT UPDATE - Our newsletter revision is nearing completion, thanks to the help of many residents who offered input on changing the name and design. Note that the name has been changed to “ Neighborhood News .” Projected roll-out of the revised newsletter is January 2008. Thanks for your patience during construction!

• Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA) “Neighborhood of the Year” • Parks, Recreation and Open Space • Planning and Community Development News o 21 Applications Received for Neighborhood Plan Amendments o 2008 Small and Simple Grants o 2nd Old Town Sub-Area Plan Meeting o Fairhaven Highlands EIS Scoping Meeting • Public Works in Neighborhoods o Central Business District/Champion Street Update o Happy Valley/Old Fairhaven Parkway Street Light Replacement o Multiple Neighborhoods/Sewer Replacement Project

Neighborhoods, USA 2008 Neighborhood of the Year Award

Bellingham is a City Member of Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA), a national non- profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations. The mission of NUSA is to strengthen neighborhood associations, promote productive communication and encourage collaboration between neighborhoods and both the public and private sector.

Each year the NUSA Board solicits nominations to recognize the commitment of neighborhoods and neighborhood friendly individuals or enterprises in awarding "Neighborhood of the Year" (NOTY) and "NUSA Notables" Awards. The NOTY awards have been presented since 1984 as a collective "thank you" for the hard work of nominated neighborhoods and are the only national awards given on an ongoing basis to neighborhood organizations for their self-help initiatives. NOTY Award categories are: • Physical Revitalization/Beautification – Single Neighborhood • Social Revitalization/Neighborliness – Single Neighborhood • Multi-Neighborhood Partnerships

Nominations for the 2008 Neighborhood of the Year Award are being accepted now through March 1, 2008. For information about the NUSA Neighborhood of the Year Award, please refer to the NUSA website at www.nusa.org .

Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan Update

The City will be updating its 6-Year Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan in 2008, culminating in an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. The first public meeting will be February 6, 2008, 7-9 pm, at the Squalicum Boathouse, 2600 Harbor Loop. This will be a workshop-style meeting to help determine future needs for park, recreation and open space land and facilities. In addition to several public meetings, both a telephone and web-based public opinion survey will be conducted. For more information, contact Leslie Bryson, Parks and Recreation Development Manager, at 360-676-6985.

Planning and Community Development News

City Receives 21 Applications for Neighborhood Plan Amendments

The City received 21 applications for Neighborhood Plan amendments, all of which can be found on the City’s website at: http://www.cob.org/services/neighborhoods/community- planning/neighborhoodplanning/2008-npas/index.aspx

2008 Small and Simple Grant Program

The City of Bellingham is now accepting applications for the 2008 Small and Simple Projects fund. This program funds up to $2,500 for projects that provide a city-wide benefit. Neighborhood associations, community organizations, schools and similar groups and agencies are eligible for these funds. Applicant organizations must have a valid Federal Tax ID Number. Individuals are not eligible for funding at this time.

Examples of eligible projects include park improvements, tree planting, neighborhood signs, community events, music performances, production of promotional materials, community support programs, and similar activities that can demonstrate a city-wide benefit.

For additional information and application materials, see the Small and Simple Grant Program links on the City's website at http://www.cob.org/services/neighborhoods/resources/grants-funding.aspx .

2 The deadline for Small and Simple applications is 5 p.m. Friday, February 15, 2008.

For more information about Small and Simple Grants contact Travis Cary, City of Bellingham Planning & Community Development Department, (360) 676-6880, [email protected] .

Planning Commission Holds 2 nd Public Meeting on Old Town Sub-Area Plan

The Bellingham Planning Commission will hold an additional public hearing on January 17, 2008 at 7:00 in the City Council Chambers. A Summary of Proposed Changes to the November 8th Old Town Sub-area Plan packet will be available on January 10, 2008 in the Planning & Community Development Department in City Hall, or on the city's website at http://www.cob.org/government/departments/pcd/old-town.aspx .

Scoping Meeting set for Fairhaven Highlands (Chuckanut Ridge) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

A public hearing has been set for Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Bellingham Municipal Court building to hear public comment on the scoping notice recently released for the environmental study of the Fairhaven Highlands project. The notice included a Determination of Significance which requires that an EIS be conducted. Tim Stewart, the City's SEPA Official, will be reviewing all public comment submitted by January 23rd before issuing the final scoping notice. Send comments on this project to Nicole Oliver, Planning & Community Development, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, 98225, or via email to [email protected] .

Information about Fairhaven Highlands can be found on the City’s website at: http://www.cob.org/government/departments/pcd/fairhaven-highlands.aspx

Public Works in Our Neighborhoods – Project Updates

Central Business District

Champion Street - Besides the visible work being done on this project, such as the replacement of curb and sidewalk, there is also work being done on underground utilities (replacement of water lines and electrical work) in anticipation of the pavement overlay that will happen when the weather improves in the spring. Although the work on the underground utilities took longer than expected due to bad weather and unexpected underground obstructions, the utility work is now complete. The curbs have been poured and construction of new sidewalks should be complete by mid-January, weather permitting.

3

Happy Valley

The Old Fairhaven Parkway Street Light Replacement Project will commence in mid-January. Written project notification was mailed to neighbors abutting the project area. Residents can expect trenching along Old Fairhaven Parkway from 12th Street to the Interstate 5 interchange.

Multiple Neighborhoods

A sewer replacement project will commence in late January and run through the end of April. Residents can expect intermittent traffic control, open trenching, and heavy equipment during this time. Specific neighborhoods that will see work are:

South Hill - 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Streets Downtown - South State Street, North Forest Street, West Holly Street, Champion/Bay Street Area Lettered Streets - F Street Columbia - Alleys at Victor/E. North Street and W. Connecticut/Elm Street Silver Beach - Electric Avenue at Flynn Street Mt. Baker - James Street

For more information about Public Works Projects, please contact: Ravyn S. Whitewolf, P.E., Engineering Manager, City of Bellingham Public Works Engineering Division, (360)676-6961

Happy New Year!

4

City of Bellingham MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION

“NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS” January 2008 http://www.cob.org/government/public/boards-commissions/neighborhood/news.aspx

NEWSLETTER REVISION PROJECT UPDATE - Our newsletter revision project is nearing completion. Thanks for your patience during construction!

• New City Telephone Numbers • City Council Approves Mayor’s Growth Boundary Resolution • Transportation Planning Deadlines • Parks, Recreation and Open Space – Public Involvement • Planning and Community Development News • Public Works in Neighborhoods

New City Telephone Numbers

The City of Bellingham is changing its telephone numbers over the next few months, as part of a process to phase-in installation of a new, more efficient telephone system.

The new system will ensure reliable communications and continued telephone access to city services for residents and businesses. Throughout the change, the city's most frequently dialed telephone numbers will automatically forward to the new numbers.

The new system combines most of the current 15 different phone prefixes into one - 778 - and allows for growth over the next five to seven years. When completed in February, new telephone numbers for all city departments and services will primarily range between 778-7000 and 778-8999.

A complete list of updated City telephone numbers can be found on the City’s website at: http://www.cob.org/documents/issues/new-phone-numbers.pdf .

City Council Approves Growth Boundary Resolution

On January 28th, the City Council approved Mayor Dan Pike's resolution to rethink the City of Bellingham's growth boundaries that were defined by the 2005 Comprehensive Plan. The Mayor's resolution states that the city will support smaller urban growth boundaries as Whatcom County makes the final decision on the city's growth plan. Additionally, the council directed two additional resolutions, drafted by Louise Bjornson and Jack Weiss, to be considered further by the council planning committee. Those resolutions each look at how fulfilling our growth plan could be implemented within the existing city limits. For more information about this meeting and future discussion of this topic at council, log on to the City Council’s webpage at: http://www.cob.org/government/council/meeting-materials.aspx .

Neighborhood Transportation Planning Deadlines

Residents interested in helping determine traffic priorities for their neighborhood should contact their neighborhood association president or Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission (MNAC) representative. A list of MNAC representatives can be found on the City’s website at: http://www.cob.org/documents/mayor/boards-commissions/neighborhood/mnac- roster.pdf .

Approaching deadlines for submitting neighborhood transportation priorities are:

March 1, 2008 – 6-Year Transportation Improvement Plan (6-Year TIP)

April 1, 2008 – Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program (NTSP)

Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan Update

The City is updating its 6-Year Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan in 2008, culminating in an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. The first public meeting will be February 6, 2008, 7-9 pm, at the Squalicum Boathouse, 2600 Harbor Loop. This will be a workshop-style meeting to help determine future needs for park, recreation and open space land and facilities. In addition to several public meetings, both a telephone and web-based public opinion survey will be conducted. For more information, contact Leslie Bryson, Parks and Recreation Development Manager, at 360-676-6985.

Planning and Community Development News

Old-Town Urban Village Plan Heads to City Council

The Old Town Sub-area Plan and development regulations were approved by the Planning Commission and set for a City Council public hearing on February 25th at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Additionally, the related Lettered Streets neighborhood plan amendment that downzones parts of the neighborhood from multi-family to single-family was also approved and will be considered by Council in March. Contact Chris Koch ([email protected]) or Tara Sundin ([email protected]) for details. The final approved draft of the sub-area plan and regulations will be available February 11th on the city's website at http://www.cob.org/government/departments/pcd/old-town.aspx .

2 Fairhaven Highlands EIS

The scoping hearing for the Fairhaven Highlands Environmental Impact Statement produced extensive public comment from the approximately 200 citizens in attendance. This public comment will be reviewed by the EIS consultant and the SEPA official, Tim Stewart, and will help formulate the final scoping document for the environmental analysis. A video of the four-hour hearing is available on the project's website at http://www.cob.org/government/departments/pcd/fairhaven-highlands.aspx , as well as copies of the presentations and public comment. Contact Nicole Oliver ([email protected]) for details.

Waterfront Advisory Group Meeting

The next Waterfront Advisory Group (WAG) meeting will be February 6, 2008, 6-8pm, at the Harbor Center Conference Room, 1801 Roeder Avenue. For more information, contact Andi Dyer, Waterfront Redevelopment and Public Works, 360-778-8103.

2008 Small and Simple Grant Program

The City of Bellingham is accepting applications for the 2008 Small and Simple Projects fund. This program funds up to $2,500 for projects that provide a city- wide benefit. Neighborhood associations, community organizations, schools and similar groups and agencies are eligible for these funds. Applicant organizations must have a valid Federal Tax ID Number. Individuals are not eligible for funding at this time.

Examples of eligible projects include park improvements, tree planting, neighborhood signs, community events, music performances, production of promotional materials, community support programs, and similar activities that can demonstrate a city-wide benefit.

For additional information and application materials, see the Small and Simple Grant Program links on the City's website at http://www.cob.org/services/neighborhoods/resources/grants-funding.aspx .

The deadline for Small and Simple applications is 5 p.m. Friday, February 15, 2008.

For more information about Small and Simple Grants contact Travis Cary, City of Bellingham Planning & Community Development Department, (360) 676-6880, [email protected] .

3 Public Works in Our Neighborhoods – Project Updates

Birchwood

West Illinois Street Extension Update – Private rail spur relocation plans confirmed.

Central Business District

Champion Street Water Main and Streetscape Improvement Update – Street landscaping and decorative fencing installed. New street lights and street resurfacing coming soon.

Fairhaven Post Point Outfall Warranty Work to Commence in February

Silver Beach Northshore Road and Drainage Improvements Project Planning Update – Creating green specifications and preliminary plans; neighborhood open house will be announced soon.

Sunnyland James Street 2008 Enhance Pedestrian Crossings Update – Base maps complete; project design beginning soon.

Multiple Neighborhoods Cornwall Avenue and Water Main Replacements – Part of a replacement program to assure long-term system health and support high quality public service. The overlay will include new crosswalks and possible bike lane. Planning to minimize impact on parade route is underway.

Project area includes: Cornwall Avenue from Chestnut to W. Illinois and F Street from Cornwall to Dupont Street. Cornwall Avenue between York Street and East North Street will be completely resurfaced.

Northwest Avenue Pedestrian Improvements - Due to right of way issues, construction is delayed until 2009.

Sewer Replacements –

A sewer replacement project will commence in late January and run through the end of April. Residents can expect intermittent traffic control, open trenching, and heavy equipment during this time. Specific neighborhoods that will see work are:

South Hill - 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Streets Downtown - South State Street, North Forest Street, West Holly Street, Champion/Bay Street Area Lettered Streets - F Street

4 Columbia - Alleys at Victor/E. North Street and W. Connecticut/Elm Street Silver Beach - Electric Avenue at Flynn Street Mt. Baker - James Street

For more information about Public Works Projects, please contact: Ravyn S. Whitewolf, P.E., Engineering Manager, City of Bellingham Public Works Engineering Division, (360) 676-6961.

Arbutus Place-Clark Point Sewage Lift Station Improvements

SEE INFORMATION FLYER ON SEPARATE ATTACHMENT

5 City of Bellingham wa s h i n g t o n M A RC H 2 0 0 8

Neighborhooda newslette r f o r b e l l i n g h a m n e i g h bNews o r h o o d s Neighborhood Planning Efforts Tackling the toughest of challenges In 2007, the city received seven In addition to Sehome, the City will neighborhood update proposals from initiate a master planning process in the neighborhood associations and 16 from Samish Neighborhood. Last year, the property owners and city departments. City processed a substantial rewrite of the Tim Stewart, Planning and Community Samish Neighborhood plan, but did not Development Director, and his staff reviewed address the land use sections. “Given the all proposals, and have announced their desire by major property owners to rezone, In this issue recommendations. and the need for the land use and public infrastructure to be planned concurrently 2 Parks, Recreation In order to be initiated, the proposals with any change in zoning, this area needs a had to meet three criteria. One, they true master planning effort to be successful,” and Open Space – had to be consistent with Bellingham Stewart said. Public Involvement Comprehensive Plan. Two, they had to demonstrate majority consensus. Last, Also initiated for review was the Silver amended plans had to maintain the Beach Neighborhood Association Plan 2 City News Highlights neighborhood’s infill targets. proposal, submitted by the Silver Beach Neighborhood Association. Planning “Two neighborhoods have really Director Stewart states that supplemental 3 Planning and advanced to a high level of neighborhood work will be completed by the neighborhood Community planning,” said Stewart. “The Sehome and this year. While the City is hopeful that this Samish neighborhoods have worked very plan update will be completed in 2008, it is Development News hard and are ready to tackle our toughest likely that the process will roll over into 2009. planning challenge: How do we infill and enhance our neighborhood character?” On Thursday, February 14th, the 3 Public Works in The City expects to devote significant staff Planning Commission voted to initiate the Neighborhoods resources to the development of the Samish Guide Meridian neighborhood plan update Way Urban Village, creating a complete as well, encouraging the neighborhood to update to the Sehome Neighborhood Plan, continue to work with staff to complete 4 Clean Green including capital facilities and development the work they had started with their draft regulations. proposal. Opening for Spring

A letter from Mayor Dan Pike

Since taking office in November, one several upcoming activities will further of my priorities has been to get out and support this. discuss how we at City Hall can show real, meaningful progress in providing I believe it’s important to listen and innovative leadership, supportive respond to the needs of our community guidance and quality customer service and will lead the charge to do so for our community. The feedback I’m whenever possible. During this Dan Pike getting is overwhelmingly positive, so February’s meeting of the Mayor’s Mayor of Bellingham I believe we are on the right track, and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Mayor’s Letter CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Neighborhood Advisory Commission (MNAC), I had the pleasure of announcing plans for a Code and Character Taskforce, as well Park, Recreation and as a community workshop series, “Green Bellingham: Achieving Infill, Enhancing Open Space Plan Update Character.” These activities The Planning Commission is will support community holding a public hearing on Thursday work to find ways to preserve March 6 for the North Bellingham Trail character while promoting Plan, which has been proposed for an best environmental practices. amendment to the Park Chapter of the comp plan. There will also be a City Not only are the Taskforce council public hearing on this item later and resulting workshop series this year. The draft plan was developed Parks in Our part of my 100-Plan to support with community wide citizen input and Neighborhoods Bellingham neighborhoods, multi-agency involvement, including they illustrate the City’s technical assistance from the National Project Updates ongoing commitment to Parks Service. A copy of the plan is collaboration with our available on the City website: www.cob.org. CORDATA PARK community. It is my belief The City is seeking input in the that by working together we Watch the City website for an master planning for a recently will increase local capacity opportunity to take the online survey and acquired 20 acre park in north to tackle some our toughest give your input for the Park, Recreation Bellingham known as “Cordata planning challenges. and Open Space Master Plan update. Park.” Citizens are invited to participate in steering committee The goal of this survey is to learn what meetings to be held on the 2nd I am proud of our ability residents need from the parks and how Thursday of every month in the to develop such an innovative residents would prioritize some of the park Chapel Room of the Birchwood approach to supporting improvements that have been suggested neighborhoods, while Presbyterian Church, 400 in the update of the Park, Recreation and Meadowbrook Court, beginning maintaining our high level of Open Space Plan. The City is gathering customer service. March 13, 2008 from 7-9pm. For citizen feedback about Bellingham Parks to more information, visit the City’s help guide the plan update. Resident input website at www.cob.org/parks Stay tuned for news will help to shape how the city decides what about the Taskforce and changes to make over the next 6-20 years. workshop series. If you’re not already a member, consider joining your neighborhood association, connecting with City News Highlights your neighbors, and helping to build a better Bellingham! If Visit www.cob.org for all current city news releases. Here are recent highlights: you already participate in your City announces telephone number Mayor appoints interim police chief neighborhood association, transition City telephone numbers are thank you and keep up the Mayor Dan Pike selected Todd Ramsay changing as a new telephone system is good work! as interim Chief of the Bellingham Police installed. Department, replacing former Police Mayor Dan Pike Chief Randy Carroll who retired at the Historic resource survey studies three end of January. Bellingham neighborhoods Three Bellingham neighborhoods - Lettered Streets, York and South Hill - are the focus of a project to document their history. Planning and Community Public Works in Development News Our Neighborhoods Planning Academy & For more information on the Project Updates Task Force and Planning Academy, Code and Character contact Nicole Oliver at the Planning & Birchwood Taskforce Community Development Department, West Illinois Street Extension 778-8353, [email protected]. Update – Additional soils testing The goal of a second city-sponsored completed; The relocation of the Planning Academy, scheduled for spring City-sponsorship of private BNSF rail spur is also 2008, is to explore innovative ways for complete, resolving potential Bellingham to achieve infill, protect Design Charrettes: major obstacles to the project. neighborhood character, and encourage sustainable development. Mayor Pike Sunnyland and Fairhaven Central Business District appointed a 9-member Code and A design charrette is a public Character Taskforce to assist staff in Railroad Avenue Covered Bike involvement tool to enable stakeholders Facility – Proceeding with designing the scope and curriculum for to collaborate with a group of designers replacement of existing temporary this series of community workshops, to formulate a design solution. An bike rack in this location. which is titled Green Bellingham: Achieving undeveloped parcel of land in the Infill, Enhancing Character. Sunnyland neighborhood, formerly owned Champion Street Water Main and Streetscape Improvement by the Department of Transportation, was – Decorative fencing and plants “I have chosen the members of the topic of the Sunnyland Neighborhood’s installed; new street lights will be the taskforce to represent diverse proposed plan amendment. “We community stakeholders,” Mayor installed and street resurfacing will recommend a city-sponsored design occur this spring. Pike said. “These include community charrette as a condition of processing this health, neighborhoods, local economies, rezone,” said Stewart. “It will reinforce the NOTE: The City expresses sincere and green developers/builders. I am neighborhood’s involvement in this terrific appreciation to business owners/ very optimistic that as a community infill project, and will support a better final operators for remaining supportive we can work together to find ways to result for the community.” of this project and to everyone preserve character while promoting best for continuing to visit businesses CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 environmental practices.” while work was being completed.

Fairhaven Post Point Alternative Outfall: Bellingham Police Department’s Warranty work completed! Community Oriented Policing The Bellingham Police Department within our community, by assigning Silver Beach continues to implement “Community problem-solving responsibility to personnel Northshore Road and Drainage Oriented Policing” philosophy, which is based on geographic assignments. Improvements Project Planning a combination of traditional policing and Update – Neighborhood Open community problem solving. To implement this project, Bellingham House to review project plans Police Sergeants have been assigned to scheduled for 3/20/08. This project illustrates the commitment specific neighborhoods. Here is how to of Bellingham Police Department to contact the Sergeant assigned to your Sunnyland creative problem solving partnerships neighborhood: James Street 2008 Enhanced Pedestrian Crossings Update – Number Sergeant Name Associated Neighborhoods Preliminary design underway, as scheduled. Public Works staff 778-8638 Aiumu Alabama, Lettered, Roosevelt, Silver Beach, Sunnyland will bring draft plans to a future 778-8673 Gitts Birchwood, Columbia, Cornwall, Guide Meridian, Meridian, Mt. Baker neighborhood to discuss once the 778-8674 Grunhurd Alabama, Lettered, Roosevelt, Silver Beach, Sunnyland design is complete. 778-8687 Johnston CBD, Puget, Samish, Whatcom Falls, York CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 778-8694 Lanham CBD, Puget, Samish, Whatcom Falls, York 778-8759 Slodysko Birchwood, Columbia, Cornwall, Guide Meridian, Meridian, Mt. Baker 778-8763 Stokes Edgemoor, Fairhaven, Happy Valley, Sehome, South, South Hill 778-8765 VanderYacht Edgemoor, Fairhaven, Happy Valley, Sehome, South, South Hill W ILLINOIS ST

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H Holly Street Streetscape – Concrete restoration pending. NOTE: The City expresses City-sponsorship of Design Charrettes continued sincere appreciation to business CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 owners/operators and residents for remaining supportive of this The city will sponsor a second design this rezone an asset to the adjacent project and to everyone for charrette as a condition of processing a neighborhood and historic commercial continuing to visit businesses long-awaited rezone in Fairhaven, across district,” Stewart said. while work was being completed. from Padden Lagoon. The property Old Fairhaven Parkway 2006 owners worked in conjunction with For additional information regarding Street Lighting Replacements – the Fairhaven neighborhood last year the city’s recommendations for the Construction initiated, on to request a rezone from industrial to 2008 Neighborhood Plan Amendment schedule. mixed use. “We want to ensure that the proposals, see www.cob.org or contact Greg neighborhood is involved in making Aucutt, [email protected]. Sewer Replacement Project Update – Construction is underway. Because of numerous areas affected, road impacts for Clean Green this project can be found in the opening signals “road closures and restrictions” notice posted each week the spring is on the way “news” section of the City’s web Beginning Saturday, March 1, The facility will be open weekends site at www.cob.org. Bellingham and Whatcom County citizens through November 30, 2008. For more For more information about can bring residential yard waste to the information, please call the Bellingham Public Works Projects, please corner of Lakeway Drive and Woburn Public Works Department at 778-7700, contact: Ravyn S. Whitewolf, Street in Bellingham on Saturday or or check the news section of the city’s web P.E., Engineering Manager, City of Sunday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and site: www.cob.org. Bellingham Public Works Engineering 4:00 p.m. for disposal. The fee for disposal Division, (360) 778-7900. of residential yard waste at the transfer station is $2 per load. City of Bellingham wa s h i n g t o n A PR I L 2 0 0 8

Neighborhooda n e w s l e t t e r f o r b e ll ingham neighboNewsr h o o d s

Council Approves Old Town Plan City Council approved the Old Town The Old Town Plan will: Sub-Area Plan and Development Regulations on March 17, 2008. The public’s significant • Include design guidelines that contribution to this multi-year planning reinforce and highlight Old Town’s effort was instrumental in formulating the historic past; final plan components. • Increase allowable density; In this issue Old Town is a vital link between the • Allow a healthy and diverse mix of Central Business District and the waterfront residential and commercial uses; 2 Public input for North and is identified as a future urban village Bellingham Park in the Comprehensive Plan, Bellingham’s • Encourage a safe, convenient and strategy for accommodating growth. The attractive pedestrian experience; plan can provide a template for how other 2 Parks in Our proposed urban villages can capture and • Protect key view corridors and enhance their unique qualities, and improve landmark buildings with strategic Neighborhoods overall livability. height and bulk limits; • Provide predictability for the 3 Planning and While Old Town has many attributes community and potential investors. necessary for the creation of an urban Community village, a master plan (Sub-Area Plan) and For more information and to see the Development News supporting development regulations are current draft documents, see the City’s needed in order to encourage and guide website at www.cob.org or contact Tara Sundin development. Since 2005, the City has at the Planning & Community Development 3 Public Works in worked with the community to develop a Department, 778-8392, [email protected]. Our Neighborhoods plan for Old Town. This planning effort looked at the broader Old Town area, which includes parts of the Lettered Streets and 4 small and Simple Central Business District neighborhoods. Grant Awards

Mayor 5 Neighborhood A letter from Dan Pike Traffic Calming

Last month, I reported to the City We have made solid and meaningful Council and the Bellingham Community movement toward our intended outcomes on progress made during the first 100 and in a couple instances we broadened days of my term as Mayor. The 100-Day our original action steps, to be more far- Plan was essentially an act of good faith reaching. I hope you will take a moment to by my administration to our community. review my 100-Day Plan report, posted The function of the Plan was to drive on the City’s website at www.cob.org Dan Pike meaningful steps toward addressing the Mayor of Bellingham issues our community cares deeply about. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Public input continues Mayor’s Letter CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 for north Bellingham Park We are working diligently The City continues to seek input Court, from 7-8:30 p.m. on the second to promote the transparent and in the master planning for a recently Thursday of each month as follows: inclusive government principles acquired 20-acre park in north Bellingham that are, and will continue to be, known as “Cordata Park.” • Thursday, April 10, 2008 central to my administration. We • Thursday, May 8, 2008 believe that ready accessibility Interested residents are invited to • Thursday, June 12, 2008 to information is an important participate in monthly steering committee • Thursday, July 10, 2008 component. In March, the meetings through August. Discussion Monday afternoon City Council topics will include design elements of the • Thursday, August 14, 2008 committee meetings, and the park, naming the park, and trail alignment For more information, please contact: Monday evening regular meetings through the park. City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation, that follow them, began airing 778-7000, [email protected] or visit the city live on BTV10. These meetings Meetings will be held in the Chapel website at www.cob.org. repeat several times each week and Room of the Birchwood Community are posted to view on the City’s Presbyterian Church, 400 Meadowbrook website. One more illustration of Parks in Our Neighborhoods Project Updates our commitment to public participation and input was the Alabama Hill: 2009. Design features include parking, March launch of the “Code and Big Rock Trail will be a 6’ wide crushed restroom facilities, playground, trails and Character Task Force.” The Task gravel trail connecting Big Rock Park trail connections. Public Meeting will be Force was designed to bring and the Klipsun Trail near Barkley Blvd announced. together a diverse group of and is currently in design. Construction community members to help us is expected to begin early May and be South Neighborhood: develop curriculum for Planning complete by the end of September 2008. Inspiration Point Overlook - Academy II – Green Bellingham: Reconstruction project involves an Achieving Infill; Enhancing Birchwood: existing overlook, near Woodstock Farm, Character, scheduled to begin later Squalicum Creek Park Phase One is to Chuckanut Bay. Site access planning this month. This year’s planning currently in construction phase, which is for vehicle and pedestrian access. academy will be dynamic and expected to be complete spring 2008. Construction planned for Spring 2009. community-centered and will set The project includes a new irrigated and Public Meeting will be announced. the stage for neighborhoods and drained baseball field, restroom facilities, other community stakeholders parking lot, paths, landscaping, and Whatcom Falls: to collaborate on neighborhood utility services. Whatcom Falls Park Lower Restroom design infill and character. and Playground. Construction planned Columbia: for June 2008. Construction complete by These are but two examples Carl Lobe Park renovation is currently mid-September. out to bid. Construction start is estimated of new initiatives and action steps to begin early July and end mid-August York: that will be rolled out this year to 2008 Franklin Park Site Development Plan is involve and inform about ongoing currently in design and includes these City efforts to always set a high Cornwall: park improvements: a new playground, standard for quality public service Cornwall Park South Playground lawn regrade, new internal path delivery. The effort to realize our renovation is currently out to bid. system, park shelter, basketball court objectives will be remarkable but Construction start is estimated to begin resurfacing, landscaping, and other park I know we are up to the challenge. mid-August and end late September amenities. Anticipate the project will be This community has clearly 2008. put out to bid summer 2008. articulated its values, and we at City Hall will continue to work Mount Baker: For more information, please contact: collaboratively to manifest them. Northridge Park Phase Two is currently Jonathan Schilk, Landscape Architect, City of in predesign mode. Park staff is in the Bellingham Parks and Recreation, 778-7000, Mayor Dan Pike process of selecting design consultants. [email protected] Construction is expected to occur in Planning and Community Public Works in Development News Our Neighborhoods Planning Academy II The Planning and Community Project Updates Development Department conducted an Encourages Collaboration extensive mailing in February notifying all Central Business District and Creativity property owners and current residents of Railroad Avenue Covered Bike the project and related photographic and Facility – Only one bid was Green Bellingham: Achieving Infill; survey work. The consultant team and received and was well over the Enhancing Character is a series of volunteers will provide informative flyers budget. The City will purchase evening workshops on urban infill and to explain the nature of the project. bike racks for installation without neighborhood preservation that the City a shelter. is hosting beginning Wednesday, April Surveyors are instructed to respect 30th which will run through the month Champion Street Water Main private property and take photos only from and Streetscape Improvement – of May. Each neighborhood may appoint the public right of way. It is anticipated Street resurfacing is complete. two representatives to attend the entire that the “alley photography” will continue Pavement markings scheduled for Pre-registration is required for all series. through the month of April. week of 3/31 -4/6. participants. For more information, please contact: Art and Children’s Museum – In addition to neighborhood Katie Franks, Development Specialist II, City Tilt panels for the east wall were appointees, the Mayor-appointed Code of Bellingham, Planning and Community poured and erected; west wall and Character Task Force is helping Development Department, 778-8388, kfranks@ scheduled for first week of April. to design the curriculum and identify cob.org stakeholders who will be invited to attend Guide Meridian/Cordata the workshops. Participants will include Meridian Street Water and Sewer representatives of Bellingham business Extension (State Department of and education communities. Planning Transportation Project) – Sewer Academy II sessions will also include main construction to commence two Open Houses where any interested soon. citizen may stop by and provide feedback Orientation to House & on the various infill strategies that will be Property History Research Puget explored during the Academy. The goal Bike and Pedestrian of Planning Academy II is to provide a Saturday April 5th, 2008 Improvements – Pervious “toolkit” of creative and innovative forms sidewalk installation complete; Bellingham Public Library / of residential infill that build and enhance rain garden planting to commence Lecture Room community. soon. 210 Central Avenue - 778-7323 For more information, please contact: Nicole Oliver, Communication Coordinator Morning Session: Roosevelt with the Planning & Community Development 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Woburn and Alabama Intersection Department, 778-8353, [email protected]. Improvements – Installed • Access information from local resources pavement markings; landscaping and title companies to start after rain garden repair; • Use resources at the Washington State Roosevelt Neighborhood Survey of Northwest Regional Archives, the Association installing bench. Historic Resources Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, the Whatcom Museum Photo Archives and The Planning and Community the Bellingham Public Library Silver Beach Development Department, in coordination Northshore Road and Drainage with the Whatcom Museum and Afternoon Session: Improvements – Open house for Bellingham Public Library, is sponsoring 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm residents and interested parties a survey of historic resources in the held on 3/20/08; project out to bid Lettered Streets, York, and South Hill • Consultants for the Preserve America soon. Neighborhoods. Historic Resource Survey & Inventory will provide answers to questions CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Part of the survey involves volunteers may have neighborhood volunteers taking For more information and/or to register photographs of buildings from the contact: Katie Franks, Planning and alleyways, where accessible. Community Development Department, 778-8388, [email protected] Water Main Flushing Begins Public Works in The Public Works Department has • If your water looks rusty - do not run Our Neighborhoods started its annual water main flushing the hot water; wait a few minutes and program, with a pilot program using new run the cold water for a short time. Project Updates technology in the area above Silver Beach • If the water does not clear - wait a few Avenue north to Roma Road and between more minutes and try again; continue Chandler Parkway and Britton Road. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 until the water clears.

Sunnyland The pilot program will take place • IMPORTANT NOTE: Avoid washing James Street 2008 Enhanced Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to white clothes when your water is Pedestrian Crossings – Presented 4:00 p.m. throughout the month of April. discolored as it may cause staining. to Sunnyland Neighborhood The regular flushing program will begin Association on 3/18/08; project out in May. City-wide flushing locations will For questions or concerns regarding the to bid on 4/3/08. be announced through local media in late flushing program, contact: City of Bellingham April. Public Works Department , 778-7000

Multiple Neighborhoods • Flushing the water lines may cause 2006 – 2007 Sewer discoloration from minerals and Replacements – Construction sediments that are being flushed out. in South Hill commenced in February and nearing completion. Old Fairhaven Parkway 2006 Street Lighting Replacements – Small and Simple Grant Awards Construction underway; new light The Mayor has awarded 21 Small neighborhood radio programming, street standards erected; work on street and Simple grants to local organizations, tree planting, Pickett House repairs, poetry crossings commencing soon. totaling $40,000. Forty-two grant and art events, installation of a labyrinth at Cornwall Avenue and Water applications were received, requesting Fairhaven Park and a pavilion at Boulevard Main Replacements – Began more than $92,000 in matching funds. Park, and soccer goals for an elementary construction on 3/17/08; update Applications were submitted by a wide school playfield. to Sunnyland Neighborhood variety of neighborhood and community Association on 3/18/08; Public organizations. For a complete list of grant awards, see the Works is soliciting input on City’s web site at: www.cob.org. pavement markings, specifically The Small and Simple Grant program bike lane, as part of the final provides financial assistance to an array restoration. of activities and projects, including

Information about these and other Public Works projects can be found in the “road closures and Neighborhood Programming restrictions” notice posted each The American Museum of Radio listeners what’s great about their week in the “news” section of the City’s web site at www.cob.org. and Electricity (AMRE) was awarded a neighborhood and what gives their Small and Simple Grant for 2008. Grant neighborhood its own unique identity. For more information about Public funds will be used to produce a series Works Projects, please contact: of programs that highlight Bellingham’s AMRE staff will contact neighborhood Ravyn S. Whitewolf, P.E., Engineering neighborhoods. Programming will be representatives in May, with recording and Manager, City of Bellingham Public broadcast on the museum’s radio station, production of the series to begin in June. Works Engineering Division, 778-7900 KMRE-LP 102.3 FM. Broadcast will take place as part of KMRE’s fall lineup starting in September. Neighborhood programming will be designed to showcase the distinct features For more information, please contact the of each neighborhood. Programming museum at 738-3886 or visit the museum made possible by the Small and Simple website at www.amre.us. Grant will provide an opportunity for community members to tell KMRE’s Public Meeting for Whatcom Youth Neighborhood Traffic Calming Service Day Awards Ceremony Time: 6:30–8:30pm Why are these traffic Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 Saturday, April 26, 2008 Location: Municipal Court Building calming measures being 1:00 PM-3:00 PM Address: 2014 ‘C’ St., Bellingham, WA proposed? Bellingham Boys & Girls Club The Public Works Department will In 2007, neighborhoods requested 1715 Kentucky Street hold an open house public meeting to that these residential streets be evaluated You are invited to a community present and discuss proposed traffic for traffic calming measures available awards ceremony recognizing the calming measures on the following through the Neighborhood Traffic Safety work and dedication of Whatcom residential streets in Bellingham: Program (NTSP). The City has counted, County youth towards strengthening evaluated, identified particular issues, and our community and world. Hear Sunnyland Neighborhood: is proposing solutions on each one of the stories of creativity and change while King Street between Kentucky & Texas streets listed above. supporting the engagement of youth Grant Street between Virginia & in Whatcom County. Alabama Why should you attend? Do you know of a youth (age 5-25) This will be your opportunity to see Columbia Neighborhood: or youth-focused club that should East Victor Street the proposed traffic calming measure for between Meridian & be recognized for their community Northwest the problem identified on each street and efforts? Contact Adrienne Battis to share your opinion with Public Works at 738-1196. Birchwood Neighborhood: staff and others who may be affected. All Alderwood Avenue between Cherrywood property owners on these streets receive A project of the Whatcom Family & & city limits meeting notices mailed 14 days in advance Community Network. of the meeting. Roosevelt Neighborhood: Pacific Street between Alabama & What happens after Maryland the meeting? Photo competition Amateur and professional What is “Traffic Calming”? Unless there is majority opposition photographers of all ages are invited to the proposed traffic calming solution, In situations where local or cut- to participate in the “Essence of construction will occur in the summer through traffic is causing problems, Bellingham” photo competition, the of 2008. speed humps, traffic islands, chicanes, third annual opportunity for people to capture and share images of or diverters can be installed to slow cars If you can’t attend the meeting and want traveling too fast for local residential to comment, contact: Chris Comeau, Bellingham life. The competition is conditions. Transportation Planner, City of Bellingham sponsored by the Mayor’s Office and Public Works Department, 778-7900 Whatcom Museum.

OR Send written comments to: Winners receive special [email protected] until 5:00pm, recognition by Mayor Dan Pike Wednesday April 23, 2008 and the Bellingham City Council, have their work on public display, featured on BTV10 and the City of Bellingham website, and added to the Museum’s photo collection.

The deadline for entries is May 15, 2008.

Complete contest details and entry forms are available at www.cob.org/eob on the City’s website, along with winning photographs from past competitions. City of Bellingham wa s h i n g t o n m a y 2 0 0 8

Neighborhooda newsletter for bellingham neighborhoodsNews City Launches Planning Academy The first session of the second city- This year’s Planning Academy, hosted Planning Academy was held modeled after a similar series offered by on April 30. Titled Green Bellingham city officials in 2006, includes four evening - Achieving Infill, Enhancing Character,the workshops. Written materials from each purpose of this series of workshops is to session also will be posted on the city engage community members in creating a website and all sessions will be videotaped “toolbox” of alternative housing types that and shown on BTV10; check the BTV10 may be integrated into appropriate areas program schedule for airtimes by visiting In this issue of existing and new neighborhoods. Input www.cob.org . from the Planning Academy sessions will 2 Big Rock Trail be used to develop recommended code Planning Academy amendments that will be forwarded to the Open House Planning Commission and City Council Public Open Houses for consideration later this year. Interested Bellingham residents are 2 Parks in Our invited to two afternoon open houses With the help of the Code and designed to highlight the work of this Neighborhoods Character Task Force, appointed by year’s Planning Academy. Mayor Dan Pike earlier this year, city 3 Planning and officials identified a broad variety Open houses scheduled downtown of organizations and professions to from 11:30 - 1:30 p.m. on May 22 & Community participate in Planning Academy sessions. 30 will provide participants with access Development News In addition to representatives from to Planning Academy staff and materials, Bellingham neighborhood associations, and provide opportunities for people to participants include builders, contractors, contribute to the dialogue. Both sessions 3 Public Works in realtors, financial professionals, will be held at 1320 Cornwall Avenue Our Neighborhoods architects and designers, representatives (formerly Kendrick’s Billiards). from government agencies, cultural organizations, economic and business For more information about the Planning 4 WWU Emergency groups, educators, health organizations Academy, contact the Bellingham Planning and others. Pre-registration was required and Community Development Department at Whistle Test and response was remarkable, with all 100 778-8300. available seats being filled. 4 Home Rehabilitation Program A letter from Mayor Dan Pike

When I took office in November, I will and commitment to collaboration expressed my hope to play an important here in Bellingham, particularly in our role in moving our community forward. I neighborhoods and neighborhood also acknowledged that I could go nowhere associations. Dan Pike without your involvement and support. Mayor of Bellingham Fortunately, there is no shortage of good CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Public invited to May 7 Mayor’s Letter CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Big Rock Trail open house Our community is involved The public is invited to view plans Subdivision. The proposed trail is designed in making critical decisions for the proposed Big Rock Trail Project to use existing footpath alignments where about waterfront redevelopment, at an open house planned for 7-8:30 p.m. feasible. Certain other existing footpaths May 7 at the Bloedel Donovan Park Beach are planned to be eliminated as part of this protection of water quality and Pavilion. trail project. about how we grow. Only through your continued involvement and The proposed 6-foot-wide gravel trail Construction is planned to begin July participation can we design and will generally run from a point where 2008 and be completed by September implement sustainable ways to it intersects the existing gravel trail to 2008. This trail project is funded with keep Bellingham livable, healthy Silver Beach Elementary School, then Street Funds. For more information about northwards for approximately 1,300 feet the trail project, visit the City’s website: and strong. to the Klipsun Trail, near the Springland www.cob.org

The motto E Pluribus Unum, from the great seal of the United Parks in Our Neighborhoods Project Updates States, means, “from many, one.” It is out of our diverse Plan ahead for park a new wood “porch” structure. Some backgrounds and our common parking areas will also be closed to the values that we can navigate closures during busy public. The restrooms are expected to through our challenges. We all remain open during construction. Some construction season traffic delays while entering the Park value our environment and love Some of Bellingham’s most frequently are expected while excavated soil is our children. We want good visited parks and trails may have removed from the site and construction jobs and homes we can afford. construction-related restrictions while materials are delivered to the site. By focusing on larger, more receiving much-needed improvements Construction noise is also expected this spring and summer. Before making during the hours of 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. while important areas where we are in plans, we suggest that residents check construction is underway. For more general agreement, and which with the Bellingham Parks and Recreation information, contact Gina T. Gobo, provide a foundation for our Department about which parks have Project Engineer, at (360) 778-7000 or progress working together, we can construction activities underway that may by email at [email protected]. accomplish what none of us can affect their events. Carl Lobe Park do alone. Closures and restrictions are expected at The playground will be renovated during the following parks this spring and summer the months of May, June and July I encourage you to keep up while construction is underway: 2008. We expect traffic along Eldridge the great work in neighborhoods, Avenue to be briefly impacted while seek opportunities to collaborate, Big Rock Trail making connections to the stormwater A new trail link between Silver Beach system. Henry, Victor and Madison recognize each other for all the Elementary School Trail and Klipsun Streets will also experience some brief great work being done and make Trail (Springland Subdivision Area) is impacts to traffic during construction. time to celebrate spring in our City anticipated to begin construction early Playground improvements consist of of Bellingham. July and be complete by the end of the installation of a tot swing, a small September 2008. Parking adjacent to play structure, and a play steam engine. Big Rock Garden will be significantly For more information contact Jonathan limited during this period. For more Schilk, Landscape Architect, at (360) Mayor Dan Pike information contact Jonathan Schilk, 778-7000 or by email at [email protected] . Landscape Architect, at (360) 778-7000 or by email at [email protected]. Civic Stadium The north and south grandstands at Boulevard Park Civic Stadium will be closed to the public A portion of the north end of Boulevard from July 9 to August 29, 2008 while Park will be fenced off and closed to the concrete repair and seating replacement public from August through October work is underway. Some parking stalls 2008 while construction is underway on in the Civic Field Parking lot will also be

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 WWU to Test Emergency Whistle Western Washington University plans During an actual emergency, the steam to use the historic “Big Ole” steam whistle whistle will indicate there is an emergency installed on campus as an emergency affecting campus and will be a signal that whistle and it will be tested between 1 WWU students, faculty and staff should and 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 4. check their cell phones (text messages) or e-mail for emergency messages via During the test, the steam whistle the Western Alert emergency – which emits a loud piercing noise – will notification system. Emergency be sounded several times to ensure it is messages also will be available functioning properly and to measure on the University’s homepage where it can be heard. and at its Emergency Communications Web site at: The whistle will probably be heard http://news.wwu.edu/go/site/1539/ throughout campus and in nearby neighborhoods.

Council meetings airing Tune into May Inside Public Works in live on BTV10 improve Bellingham for traffic Our Neighborhoods access to government safety and artist profiles Project Updates Committee meetings of the Meet the winners of the 2008 Mayor’s Bellingham City Council now air live as Arts Award, learn more about traffic and Central Business District they occur on BTV10. They also replay on sidewalks in your neighborhood, and Federal Building Renovations – BTV10 several times each week and are see how public safety officials are helping Bid awarded on 4/14/08 by City posted to view on the city’s website. teenagers drive safely. These stories and Council to Ebenal General; project more will be featured in the May episode scheduled to begin in May. “Making these meetings and the of Inside Bellingham. information contained in them more Meridian accessible to the public helps achieve Inside Bellingham airs on BTV10 Prince Avenue Bridge Replacement Council’s goals to provide open, several times each week and is available to – A drilling rig will be at the scene to conduct design- transparent government and improved watch on-line. For schedule and access to level geotechnical testing in early communications about City services,” on-line programs, visit the city’s website at May. Bellingham City Council President www.cob.org . Inside Bellingham, produced Barbara Ryan said. by the City of Bellingham, gives viewers Puget an inside peek into city government Bike and Pedestrian She said the committee meetings host programs, services, activities and people. Improvements – Pervious rich discussions among Council members, sidewalk installation complete; the Mayor, city staff and others, and set “Essence of Bellingham” planting rain gardens in May. the stage for Council decisions voted on during regular Council meetings. photo competition Sunnyland deadline May 15 James Street 2008 Enhanced Community response to this new Pedestrian Crossings – Bid service has been positive since it began in Amateur and professional photogra- awarded on 4/14/08 by City early March. For more information, visit phers of all ages are invited to participate in Council to Colacurcio Brothers. the city’s website at www.cob.org or contact the third annual “Essence of Bellingham” Construction to begin in May. the City Council office at 778-8200. photo competition. Complete contest details and entry forms are available on Multiple Neighborhoods the city’s website at www.cob.org, along with 2006 – 2007 Sewer winning photographs from past competi- Replacements – South Hill area tions. For more information, contact construction close to completion; the Mayor’s Office at 778-8100. Lettered Streets work to continue in May. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Home Rehabilitation Program Public Works in The Home Rehabilitation Program We can help homeowners save on heating Our Neighborhoods (HRP) offers zero and low interest loans bills by insulating attics and crawlspaces, for low to moderate income homeowners and replacing single-pane windows with Project Updates with homes located inside Bellingham city double-pane low ‘E’ windows. We offer limits. The program’s goal is to maintain help with accessibility to your house by existing housing stock by helping adding ramps, handrails and grab bars CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 homeowners with their renovation where they are needed. The financial Cornwall Avenue and Water projects. After qualifying financially, qualification process typically lasts one or Main Replacements – Meetings HRP staff provides help with writing a two months, and the construction phase underway with Sunnyland, scope of work, selecting contractors and about 6 months. monitoring progress of the work. HRP Cornwall Park and Lettered For more information or if you are repairs focus on health and safety issues Streets to discuss overlay plans interested in having a staff person present for pedestrian crossings and first. Renovation projects can include information to your neighborhood, contact bike lanes, with final decisions roof replacement, electrical upgrades, Lisa Manos, City of Bellingham Housing submitted to City Council for plumbing repairs and door replacement. Programs Specialist, at 360-778-8300. consideration later this spring. Old Fairhaven Parkway 2006 Street Light Replacement – Parks in Our Neighborhoods Project Updates Electrical construction complete.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Whatcom Creek Trail The segment of Whatcom Creek Trail closed to the public. The track and field from Maritime Heritage Park to Dupont will be open to the public during this Street along the south shore of the time. For more information about this Creek will be closed to the public from project contact Gina T. Gobo, Project April 21 through June 30, 2008, while Engineer, at (360) 778-7000 or by email construction is underway on retaining at [email protected] . wall repairs and trail realignment. For more information about this project Cornwall Park South contact Gina T. Gobo, Project Engineer, Playground at (360) 778-7000 or by email at ggobo@ The playground at the south end cob.org . of Cornwall Park will be renovated beginning August 16 until mid- Whatcom Falls Park October 2008. Access to nearby Information about these and other The entrance to Whatcom Falls Park parking and the horseshoe throwing Public Works projects can be via Silver Beach Road will be closed area will be significantly limited during found in the “road closures and to the public on one day only in early this time period. Improvements consist restrictions” notice posted each July while construction is underway of demolition, site grading, paving and week in the “news” section of the on a new playground and restroom the installation of a tot swing, a small City’s web site at www.cob.org. building. The public parking area near play structure, and two stationary the fish hatchery will also be closed to bouncers. For more information contact For more information contact: the public. The closure is tentatively Ravyn S. Whitewolf, P.E., Engineering Jonathan Schilk, Landscape Architect, scheduled for the first week in July Manager, City of Bellingham Public at (360) 778-7000 or by email at jschilk@ 2008 and is expected to last from 7 a.m. Works Engineering Division, 778-7900 cob.org . to 6 p.m. on one day only. Local access for residents living within the project area Joe Martin Stadium will be provided. Flaggers will be on site The Joe Martin stadium field and to direct local traffic. Additional delays restrooms will remain open for are expected throughout June, July and scheduled events while work is August while construction progresses. underway to replace the fence at the For more information about this project entrance to the Stadium. Some areas of contact Gina T. Gobo, Project Engineer, the entrance plaza and lawn area will be at (360) 778-7000 or by email at ggobo@ used for storage of construction material cob.org . and equipment and will be restricted from public use. For more information about this project contact Gina T. Gobo, Project Engineer, at (360) 778-7000 or by email at [email protected] . City of Bellingham wa s h i n g t o n JU N E 2 0 0 8

Neighborhooda n e w s l e t t e r f o r b e l l i n g h a m n e ighborhoodsNews City Awarded for Environmental Leadership Bellingham continues to receive “We are thrilled to receive this award regional and national attention for and continue our progress together to leadership in environmental protection. address global climate change at the local City officials were honored in May with level,” said Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike. two new awards: “This award formally recognizes the commitment we have made and the effort In this issue International leaders we have devoted, and reminds us that we recognize Bellingham for have more steps left to take.” 2 Parks in Our Neighborhoods climate protection Washington CEO The City of Bellingham was honored Magazine “Green at the ICLEI Local Action Summit in Washington” Award 2 samish Way Urban Albuquerque, New Mexico, for designing Village Master Plan a climate action plan. This international The City of Bellingham came in award is part of the ICLEI-Local first place, over the City of Seattle, as Governments for Sustainability’s Five Washington CEO Magazine’s greenest city, 3 Public Works in Milestone climate protection process. winning the Green Washington Award in the “government” category. Our Neighborhoods “Bellingham is one of an elite group of local governments who have shown “This award is testament to the 4 Planning Academy II the leadership it takes to achieve the level commitment of city staff and the of greenhouse gas emissions reductions community to do our part to reduce that the world’s scientists say we need,” greenhouse gas emissions in Bellingham,” 5 Neighborhood said Michelle Wyman, Executive Director said Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike. of ICLEI-Local Governments for Families and Kids Sustainability. Details about both awards can be found on Invited to “Get Movin” the city’s website at www.cob.org 5 Family event planned A letter from Mayor Dan Pike at Sehome Arboretum

The redevelopment of our Waterfront This is not an easy process. But our District is an extraordinary project for community is gifted with two attributes Bellingham. As everyone knows, this is a that will facilitate our success. remarkable opportunity for us: to create a beautiful mixed-use neighborhood, to The first is our active and engaged attract the right blend of blue-, white- citizenry. The voice of the community has and “green-” collar jobs, and to define clearly been expressed in the vision of Dan Pike Bellingham regionally, nationally and the Waterfront Futures Group, which Mayor of Bellingham internationally as an icon of a green, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 sustainable community. Samish Way Urban Village Mayor’s Letter CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Master Planning Underway is the template for the City’s work. The city-directed master- • June 5th - Introduction & Character Today that vision is kept alive planning of Samish Way Urban (including transition areas and plan by the citizens who make up the Village is now underway. Creation boundaries) Waterfront Advisory Group. of the Samish Way Urban Village, which stretches along Samish Way from Bill • June 12th - Public Realm: Streets, Trails This waterfront development McDonald Parkway and Ellis Street, is a & Plazas project is essentially a “place- goal listed in Bellingham’s Comprehensive • June 19th - Development Character: making” exercise; our community Plan. This project is an opportunity Permitted Uses, Design and Scale is creating another unique for property owners, business owners, • July 10th - Summary of Input and neighborhood. Our second residents and other stakeholders to create Discussion of Alternatives strength is the abundance of a vision that will guide redevelopment by special places – neighborhoods, encouraging a healthy mix of uses, a safe It is anticipated that a draft master parks, public gathering spaces and attractive pedestrian experience, and plan and development regulations will – that we have already created. We providing predictability for developers and be completed by the end of 2008, and know how to do this. We’ve done residents. it before. incorporated into the neighborhood plan update in 2009. For details, search for The community is invited to Samish Way Urban Village at: www.cob. I feel good about the work participate in four public meetings to org. the Port, City and community are gather input that will be used to create doing. The City is working closely a master plan and new development For more information, please contact: with the Port to identify the best regulations for the revitalization of the Darby Galligan, Development Specialist first steps to take together – to area. These meetings will take place on II, Bellingham, Planning & Community identify those first steps that make Thursdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., at the Elks Development, (360) 778-8389 or email the most sense. Lodge, 710 South Samish Way. The dates [email protected] and topics for the meetings are as follows: We share a vision of what our new neighborhood will look and feel like. I believe very strongly that citizens and governments together will deliver that vision. Parks in Our Neighborhoods Project Updates Mayor Dan Pike 2008 Park, Recreation and present information on a feasibility study of proposed enhancements to Open Space Plan Update the Boulevard Park Shoreline and a Watch the June episode of The proposed 2008 Park, proposal to build a new over-water Inside Bellingham on BTV10 Recreation, and Open Space Plan walkway connecting Boulevard Park to for Mayor Pike’s waterfront has been reviewed by the Bellingham the Waterfront District. redevelopment update and City Council and will be submitted for Civic Stadium Grandstands more. Check www.cob.org a comprehensive plan amendment. A public hearing is scheduled before the Closed During Repairs for the BTV10 schedule. Planning Commission on July 17, 2008. The north grandstands at Civic Stadium The proposed plan can be viewed on will be closed to the public from June 9 the City’s website at: http://www.cob. to August 29 and the south grandstands org/government/departments/parks/ will be closed from July 9 to August projects/2008-pro-plan-update.aspx 29, while concrete repair and seating replacement work is underway. The Boulevard Park Shoreline track and field will be open to the public A public meeting will be held on during these times. June 26, 2008 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Library Lecture Room, Whatcom Creek Trail 210 Central Avenue, Bellingham, to Connection Work Begins Construction will begin in mid-June on the Whatcom Creek Trail connection Silver Beach Preserve Public Works in Needs Your Help! Our Neighborhoods The Silver Beach Preserve Seven cedar trees in the Silver Beach Project Updates located north of Academy Street and preserve have been stripped of bark, south of Barkley Boulevard, east of Sylvan threatening their survival and the survival Street and west of Chautaqua Avenue, of the wildlife that depend on these Central Business District was purchased under the Lake Whatcom majestic trees. Other trees have been Depot Market Leased Space Watershed Land Acquisition Program. damaged by saws and hatchets, including a Improvements – The Preserve is a finely balanced system, maple that fell over due to saw damage. Construction in progress. with its canopy of trees, shrubs and Guide Meridian/Cordata groundcover that slow rain water and filter Several bicycle ramps have been Meridian Street Water & Sewer pollutants. removed over the last year, as the City Extension – Sewer main continues efforts to maintain the safety construction in progress; signal and beauty of this unique forest. Bike work at Horton Road is complete. ramps are prohibited because they degrade The State is also moving lanes to the trail surface and create hazardous allow for construction of remaining conditions for people walking on the trails. improvements.

The Parks Department will be Puget improving the trail system this summer Pedestrian and Bike to enable local residents to safely Improvements – Rain gardens enjoy the Preserve. The City will planted; project complete. also be installing signs asking people to be good stewards by staying on Silver Beach established trails and reporting any Northshore Road and Drainage harmful activity by calling 911. Improvements – Project out to bid end of May. For more information, please contact: Joy Monjure, Communications Coordinator, Sunnyland Bellingham Public Works Department, email James Street 2008 Enhanced [email protected], or phone: 360-778-7900 Pedestrian Crossings – Construction started in May.

Multiple Neighborhoods 2006 – 2007 Sewer Replacements – South Hill area between Racine Street and I-5 along the complete; Columbia replacements south shore of the creek and continue Entrance to Whatcom Falls Park beginning soon. through September. Closed for One Day The entrance to Whatcom Falls Park CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Cordata Park Planning Meeting via Silver Beach Road will be closed to A public meeting regarding the the public for one day in early July for annexation and master planning of delivery of a new prefabricated restroom Cordata Park is scheduled on June building. Access will be provided for 12, 2008, at 7 p.m. at the Birchwood local traffic. The public parking area Presbyterian Church Chapel Room, 400 near the fish hatchery will also be Meadowbrook Rd. Future meetings to closed to the public. Additional delays discuss the park master plan will be held are expected throughout June, July and on July 10 and August 14 at this same August while construction progresses on time and location. the restroom and new playground.

Whatcom Creek Trail Closure For more information about Parks and Whatcom Creek Trail from Maritime Recreation, contact Leslie Bryson, Design Heritage Park to Dupont Street and Development Manager, Bellingham along the south shore of the creek is Parks and Recreation Department, 360- currently closed while repairs and trail 778-7000 improvements are underway. Please avoid this area until construction is complete in mid-July. Public Works in Planning Academy II Concludes Our Neighborhoods More than 100 people attended each what can be done to improve successful of the four sessions of fun and learning at implementation. Participants were Project Updates Planning Academy II (PAII), Wednesday invited to discuss perceived benefits evenings, April 30 to May 28. Anyone not and drawbacks of neighborhood CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 able to attend the evening sessions was infill development and associated able to visit the PAII classroom during two social, economic, and environmental Cornwall Avenue and Water Main open houses on May 22 and May 29, to implications. Replacements – Contractor view and comment on housing types and completed water line installation concepts discussed. Planning staff will now analyze the and pavement restoration feedback collected during PAII and between Alabama and Chestnut PAII introduced and explored 10 formulate recommended amendments Streets in time for parades; water different housing types, all of which are to the Bellingham Municipal Code for main installation from Alabama available for viewing online at www.cob. Planning Commission review this fall. Street north commenced end of org. May; Parking Commission voted For more information, please contact: to support bike lane proposal Nicole C. Oliver, Communication Coordinator, in May; City Council hearing on The goal of PAII was to introduce for community discussion concepts and Bellingham Planning & Community removing parking on west side of Development, (360)778-8353, or email Cornwall for bike lanes scheduled issues surrounding the development [email protected]. for 6/23. of neighborhood infill housing and

2008 Neighborhood Traffic Safety Improvements (Sunnyland, Lake Whatcom How can we responsibly Columbia, Birchwood, and Roosevelt) – Open house for Watershed Waste dispose of Yard Waste? adjacent residents provided Collection Event a Dumping on city property is illegal approval of design concepts Success and can cause the spread of invasive non- with exception of recommended native plant species so please do one of the treatments for E. Victor Street City of Bellingham and Whatcom following: and traffic circle on Grant Street; County continue working together to Public Works is reviewing protect Lake Whatcom. On Saturday, May Clean Green is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. alternatives for E. Victor treatment 10, they collaborated on a watershed-wide every Saturday & Sunday, spring, summer with residents and will proceed household hazardous waste collection and early fall, at the corner of Woburn & with design. event, collecting 22,482 pounds of Lakeway Drive for only $2.00. Cash only. hazardous waste from watershed residents. For more information about Clean Green, Old Fairhaven Parkway 2006 call Public Works Operations at 778-7700. Street Light Replacement – Collection sites at Bloedel Donovan Project complete. Food Plus Park and the Sudden Valley Dance Barn is a service offered by Sanitary Services that includes food and yard Information about these and other allowed over 300 watershed residents to dispose of an assortment of items, waste pick up twice a month for $8.00. Public Works projects can be Information is at http://www.ssc-inc. found in the “road closures and including more than a ton of phosphorus- containing fertilizer, 4,216 lbs. of pesticides com/recycling_residential.php#foodplus or restrictions” notice posted each call 734-3490. week in the “news” section of the and poisons, 110 lbs. of florescent lamps, City’s web site at www.cob.org. and 5,900 lbs. of oil-based paint. Over Learn how to compost yard waste and 6,200 lbs. of latex paint collected at the use it to improve the soils of your garden. For more information contact: event will be re-used. Check out the composting classes and Ravyn S. Whitewolf, P.E., Engineering programs at the WSU Extension office on Manager, City of Bellingham Public For more information, visit the Whatcom Forest and on line at http://whatcom.wsu. Works Engineering Division, 778-7900 County website: http://www/co.whatcom. us/publicworks/pdf/solidwaste/toxics_ edu/ag/compost/mrcprogram.htm, or call disposal2006.pdf and the Washington 676-6736. Toxics Coalition site: http://www.watoxics. org/ Have Questions or would like to do more? The Parks Volunteer Program could use your help! Our website is http://www.cob. org/government/public/volunteer/parks/ index.aspx or call Rae Edwards, Parks Volunteer Coordinator, at (360) 778-7105 Neighborhood Families and Kids Plan Now for National Invited to “Get Movin” Night Out Against Crime Get Movin’ Whatcom is just around For more information check out: www. The 25th Annual National Night GetMovinWhatcom.org or contact the corner! Get Movin’ challenges kids Out Against Crime is Tuesday, August and families to commit to being physically Allison Roberts at (360) 715-1061 or email [email protected]. 5, 2008. The event is designed to active five times a week, 30 minutes a day, encourage safety in our neighborhoods for one month. It’s a fun, easy, and free by supporting drug and crime prevention way to keep everyone busy and fit over the efforts. An expected 34 million people summer. in more than 10,000 communities across the nation will join forces on National Your neighborhood association Night Out to promote police-community can host a Get Movin’ event and also partnerships. encourage kids and families to pre- register for this free summer program Your neighborhood can participate by going to www.cob.org/ezreg or by holding a block party, BBQ, or ice download the registration form from cream social. www.GetMovinWhatcom.org. Event participants get free entry into a month of For further information about organizing a events throughout the county from June National Night Out event, contact Richard 21 to August 2. Maneval at (360) 671-9559 or email [email protected]. A free Get Movin’ Kick-Off Event is scheduled for June 21 at Civic Field from Civic Field from 12 - 3 p.m. and the free Finale Event at Kids Fest will be held on August 2, all day, at Bloedel Donovan Park.

Family event planned at Sehome Arboretum June 7

The public is invited to “It’s Your Birding by Ear: June is a great month for Enjoy “Grandpa’s Geetars” from 2:30 to Arboretum,” an event sponsored by the experiencing the wonderful sounds of local 3:30 p.m., a bluegrass and old time band, in City of Bellingham, the Sehome Arboretum resident birds and their far-traveled visitors. the Outdoor Learning Center. Board of Governors and WWU “Outdoor Learn to use your ears to identify thrushes, Science Learning Resrouces” students, on warblers, flycatchers, woodpeckers and Access the Sehome Hill Arboretum off Bill Saturday, June 7, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the more. McDonald Parkway across from 25th Street. Sehome Hill Arboretum. The event will The headquarters for “It’s Your Arboretum” include guided tours as well as fun and Plants Both Welcome and Not: Have will be in the Outdoor Learning Center educational activities for all ages. you ever wondered what happens after a located on the Huntoon Trail in the western clear cut? If so, you’re invited to join native part of the Arboretum. Look for signs “It’s Your Arboretum” will include plant specialists from Plantas Native LLC, in directing participants. Parking is available activities for all ages, including the an exploration of the regenerative patterns in designated areas at the base of the hill as following tours: right here in “Your Arboretum.” well as the upper parking lot. Geologic Tour: See evidence in the rocks Each of these tours will be conducted at 1 For more information, please contact: of a 50-million-year-old massive floodplain. Bellingham Parks & Recreation Department Follow the geologic history of this ancient p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. so participants at (360) 778-7000. river system that includes coal deposits have the opportunity to attend all three. through the effects of a more recent mile- thick ice sheet that sculpted the present For youngsters there will be face painting, shape of Sehome Hill. t-shirt stenciling, tactile walks and story telling. City of Bellingham wa s h i n g t o n J U L Y 2 0 0 8

Neighborhooda n e w s l etter for be ll ingham neighborhoodsNews A Reminder from the Fire Marshal about Fireworks Safety In the City of Bellingham the legal consequences for injuries or fires caused discharge date is July Fourth by irresponsible use of fireworks. between 9am and Midnight. Consequences range from being charged with malicious mischief to assault or a gross Every year fireworks injure people misdemeanor charge for possession of and cause vegetation and structure fires. illegal explosive devices, such as fireworks In this issue Whenever you light a firework device be that have been tampered with or altered. A aware of your surroundings. Avoid areas gross misdemeanor can bring a fine of up to with dry grass or dry vegetation. Position 2 downtown $5,000 and/or one year in prison. fireworks so they will not land on or near a Litter Pickup home or building. Be sure spectators are at a safe distance. Devices illegal to possess 2 Summer Graffiti We need your help, in addition to our in Washington State: enforcement of the fireworks law, to make Fire Crackers/Chasers, Altered Removal Program this Independence Day safer for all. Fireworks, Cherry Bombs, Bottle Rockets, Homemade Devices, Tennis 3 Public Works in To celebrate safely Balls, Bombs Missiles and Rockets, remember: M-80s, M-100s and larger Pipe Bombs. Our Neighborhoods Be Prepared -- Use only legal fireworks Talk with your family and guests about purchased at licensed stands. Store them the fireworks law for your area. Be sure to 3 Community out of children’s reach. discharge all fireworks devices so there are no leftovers. The charge for possession or Car Sharenning Be Safe -- Only adults should light discharge of fireworks outside legal date is Academy I fireworks. Light one firework at a time and a misdemeanor. move away quickly. Use eye protection, 4 Parks in Our never relight a dud and always keep water Visit our Fireworks Safety website, Neighborhoods handy. http://www.cob.org/services/safety/ education/fireworks.aspx Be Responsible -- Soak used fireworks in water and clean up firework debris. For more information, please contact: Jason Napier, Fire Marshal, Bellingham Fire Persons using fireworks must Department, [email protected], or Phone: remember that there may be legal 360-778-8420. A letter from Mayor Dan Pike

Bellingham is home to world-class Complex (which includes the Arne Hanna park and recreation facilities, including a Aquatic Center), Lake Padden Public diverse set of public parks and open spaces, Golf Course, and various buildings Dan Pike and an extensive trail system. The City available for community use. Mayor of Bellingham also owns and operates the Civic Athletic CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Downtown Renaissance Mayor’s Letter CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Network Launches Litter People are often unaware of the connection between Prevention Program recreation and leisure and quality The Downtown Renaissance Network businesses and property owners to become of life. Programs, services, events (DRN) has received a grant to support involved and engage their employees and and opportunities offered by implementation of the National 2008 customers.” our local, state and national Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. park and recreation agencies “The Cigarette Litter Prevention positively impact us in many Keep America Beautiful’s Cigarette Program will support our community ways. For example, how many Litter Prevention Program was developed improvement efforts and give the of us can recall times when we after identifying cigarette litter (cigarettes, downtown district in Bellingham greater participated or watched our packaging and lighting material) as the positive visibility.” children participate in a recreation most littered items found in clean ups or sports activity organized by around the country. Best practices in The Downtown Bellingham the local park and recreation the U.S. and abroad were studied, field- Cigarette Litter Prevention Program will agency? Those experiences testing was conducted in 13 communities launch in July after the Cigarette Litter enrich lives, build character, around the country and results confirmed Prevention Team meets and finalizes promote community and foster the program will be a success in any size plans for the program. Details on the relationships. community. Cigarette Litter Prevention Program will be available at DRN’s website, www. In addition to enjoying DRN will assemble a Cigarette downtownbellingham.com, at the time of Bellingham’s public parks, open Litter Prevention team to implement the the program’s launch. space, and trails, it’s important program this summer, says Kirsten Walker, to remember that responsible Executive Director of DRN. “Cigarette For more information, please contact: stewardship is necessary if we are litter is definitely a growing problem for Kirsten Walker, Executive Director, Downtown to preserve these resources for our community,” says Walker. “We will Renaissance Network, 360-527-8710, or future generations. Volunteering be encouraging the City of Bellingham, [email protected]. on a park, trail or open space project, or in a recreational program, is a great way to get involved and get some exercise while you’re at it! Youth and Bellingham Police Partner on Summer Graffiti Clean Up Program July is Parks and Recreation Month. What a great time to get Bellingham Police Department and Graffiti is considered a nuisance crime, off the couch, stay active, and Northwest Youth Services (NWYS) are and property owners are compelled under seek every opportunity to enjoy joining forces to combat graffiti throughout the Bellingham Municipal code to clean up the range of park and recreation Bellingham. In collaboration with the any graffiti on their property. The purpose opportunities available throughout NWYS Summer Jobs program, three of this summer program is to provide the City and our region. youth and two officers will team up for the property owners with an opportunity summer in an effort to paint over graffiti. to contact the police for assistance with graffiti clean up. Officers have already been The program will operate June 30th contacting local business owners, property Mayor Dan Pike through August 8th. This partnership owners and homeowners to obtain is a great way for youth and the police permission to paint over existing graffiti department to work together, while on private property. Supplies and labor providing a service to the community. are provided at no charge to the property owner.

If you would like your property to be included in this program, please contact Officer Jeremiah Smith with the Bellingham Police Department. He can be reached by phone at 360-778-8760, or by email: [email protected]. Check it Out! Public Works in Community Car Share Adds Truck Our Neighborhoods and Expands Service to Fairhaven Starting in July, Community Car Share Project Updates (CCS) of Bellingham will add a truck to its CCS offers four different individual rate fleet and locate a car in Fairhaven Village, plans and two plans for businesses to Mount Baker bringing the total vehicles available to maximize driving dollars. These include Sunset Drive Reconstruction Bellingham residents to three. a ‘Truck Only’ plan for people who don’t Phase II: Advertising for bids in need to use CCS cars, an ‘Occasional Use’ early July. The new truck, a 1991 Chevy S-10, is plan for members who drive very little, located on Railroad Avenue, adjacent to and a ‘Destination Plan,’ for drivers who Puget the Whatcom Transit Authority (WTA) plan to go to a location and stay a while. Whatcom Creek – Red Tail Reach: bus depot. Applications are being accepted and most Project went out to bid in late drivers can begin driving within a week. June. CCS relocated its 2000 VW Beetle, powered by biodiesel fuel, to Fairhaven, Community Car Share’s website, www. Roosevelt near 11th & Harris. This location was communitycarshare.org, has all the Woburn Alabama Intersection chosen because it is conveniently located details. Those interested can get a free Improvements – Rain garden for residents of the Fairhaven area, and is one-on-one consultation to help them and site landscaping complete. Project complete! close to WTA’s high frequency (15-minute determine if car sharing is right for service) Red GO Line from the downtown their situation 360-389-6551, lorraine@ Silver Beach bus station. commuitycarshare.org. Northshore Road and Drainage Improvements – Council awarded Many people in Bellingham have bid to Interwest Construction in expressed interest in becoming CCS June. members if a truck became available for trips to Clean Green or for moving Sunnyland bulky items, or if a vehicle was located James Street 2008 Enhanced closer to their neighborhood. Lorraine Pedestrian Crossings – Wilde, Community Car Share’s General Construction nearing completion, Manager, exudes “There are just too pending installation of overhead many good reasons to share a car, why About Community lights. wouldn’t we all do it? And now we have a truck and are expanding into our first Car Share Multiple Neighborhoods neighborhood! Someday we’ll be able Community Car Share (CCS) provides 2006 – 2007 Sewer to reach out to all of Bellingham’s 23 affordable car sharing to the Bellingham Replacements – Alleys in neighborhoods.” public and business community. Their Columbia Neighborhood mission is to encourage and enable complete; Forest Street open cut work is complete. Using any of the CCS vehicles is as simple members to use alternative transportation as making a reservation on the CCS web options while reducing personal vehicle Cornwall Avenue and Water Main site, then walking, biking, or riding a ownership. Their focus is on hybrid and Replacements – Road grinding WTA bus to a car share location. “Wheels biodiesel vehicles, convenient locations, to prepare for overlay started late When You Need Them” is the CCS a not-for-profit motive, and building June; resurfacing scheduled to motto. Car sharing reduces the number personal relationships within the begin in July. of automobiles owned personally without community. losing access when a vehicle is really Information about these and other necessary. The insurance agency AAA Public Works projects can be estimates the average cost of automobile found in the “road closures and ownership to be over $9,000 annually. The restrictions” notice posted each rising cost of fuel has likely significantly week in the “news” section of the increased that number in recent months. City’s web site at www.cob.org. Car share members save thousands of For more information contact: dollars per year while reducing their Ravyn S. Whitewolf, P.E., Engineering environmental impact on the planet. Manager, City of Bellingham Public Works Engineering Division, 778-7900 Neighborhood News July is Parks and will be on vacation in August, Recreation Month! returning September 1. Parks and recreation facts: • Meaningful leisure activity is an • Parks and recreation opportunities Whether you are an avid participant essential source of self-esteem and encourage citizens to become or casual observer, enjoy the benefits of positive self image. engaged in their community -- as your Bellingham Parks and Recreation • Exercise can help prevent many volunteers, stewards, advocates and Department during the month of July and diseases and promotes a healthy students. throughout the year! lifestyle. • Parks and recreation services motivate • Recreating together builds strong business relocation and expansion in families, the foundation of a strong the community. community.

Parks in Our Neighborhoods Project Updates

Birchwood: Squalicum Creek Park: Silver Beach: Big Rock Trail Guide Meridian / Cordata: A public Phase One construction is almost construction is expected mid-July meeting regarding the master planning complete. Remaining work includes the through the end of September. The and naming of the new park property in paving of the Phase One parking lot. project will construct a gravel trail Cordata is scheduled on July 10 at 7pm between Big Rock Park and the Klipsun at the Birchwood Church Chapel Room, Playground Projects: The following Trail, providing neighborhood access to 400 Meadowbrook Rd. The final public projects will replace and update Northridge Park. meeting will be on August 14, same time the existing playgrounds, improve and location. accessibility, comply with current playground safety standards, and include Puget: The south grandstands at Civic pedestrian amenities. Central Business District: The Stadium will be closed to the public July segment of Whatcom Creek Trail from Columbia: Carl Lobe Park Playground 9 - August 29 while concrete repair and Maritime Heritage Park to Dupont Street construction is expected mid-August seating replacement work is underway. along the south shore of the creek is through in mid-October. The north grandstands will be closed to closed to the public while construction is the public from June 9 - August 29. The Cornwall Park: Cornwall Park South underway on retaining wall repairs and track and field will be open to the public Playground construction is expected mid- trail realignment. Due to wet weather, during these times. August through mid-October. completion has been delayed until the end of July. Whatcom Falls: Whatcom Falls Park Construction will begin on July 7 on Lower Playground and restroom is the Whatcom Creek Trail connection under construction. The entrance to between Racine Street and I-5 along Park, Recreation and Whatcom Falls Park via Silver Beach the south shore of the creek. The project Open Space Plan Road will be closed to the public for includes a new limestone trail along the one day in early July for delivery of the south shore of Whatcom Creek, new Update: prefabricated restroom building. The bridge over Lincoln Creek, and trail A public hearing is scheduled before the public parking area near the fish hatchery connection to Meador Street. Planning Commission on July 17 at 7 will also be closed to the public during PM in the Council Chambers of City Hall. this time. Additional delays are expected The Arne Hanna Aquatic Center will be For more information and to review the throughout June, July and August while closed for maintenance from August draft plan, go the City’s website: http:// construction progresses. 11 through August 24. During this www.cob.org/issues/parks-plan.aspx time, regular pool maintenance will be Mount Baker: Northridge Park Phase conducted and new acoustic baffles will For more information about Parks and Two design has started and includes the be installed to improve sound quality in Recreation, contact Leslie Bryson, final build-out of the park master plan. the pool area. Design and Development Manager, Public meetings will be announced to Bellingham Parks and Recreation present design alternatives. Department, 360-778-7000 City of Bellingham washington September 2008

Neighborhooda newsletter for bellingham neighborhoodsNews Waterfront Update Options presented to community this fall Mayor Dan Pike invites community redevelopment options. Dates will be members to weigh in on options that will announced soon. shape the look and feel of our downtown and waterfront for generations to come. Here’s how to stay up-to-date on waterfront planning processes: This fall, City and Port officials will bring In this issue to the public the results of extensive work • Look for a detailed schedule of public over the summer, including reports detailing involvement opportunities in the 2 small and Simple environmental impacts of waterfront October issue of Neighborhood News redevelopment and options for street layouts, and in the local news media. Grant Program parks, historic preservation and more. • Watch for waterfront updates during Bellingham City Council meetings “I have every confidence that in the end, 2 storm Water and on Inside Bellingham, both airing City and Port officials will adopt a plan that regularly on BTV10 and available to Solutions reflects our community’s deepest values and seamlessly connects our past, present and view on the city’s website at www.cob. future,” Pike said. org/btv10. 3 The Latest Scoop • Also visit the city’s website for details Latest waterfront news about ways to learn more and get City officials expect to host involved, including the schedules for 4 Preserve America public forums planned for Fall 2008. opportunities throughout this fall for the Grant public to learn more about waterfront 5 Police Recruitment A letter from Mayor Dan Pike 6 Downtown Like most local governments, the City We also have taken steps to reduce Celebration of Bellingham is feeling the effects of our spending for the rest of 2008. This prudent slowing economy. At mid-year, some of measure will help us meet immediate the city’s key revenue sources are coming revenue shortfalls and provide additional 6 Arts District Gateway in as predicted, while others are lagging financial cushion for the future. Proposed behind. actions include postponing some capital projects and delaying the filling of These challenges will be addressed vacant and new staff positions. thoroughly as we develop the 2009 budget over the coming months. This is a public Neighborhood leaders involved with process I invite community members to planning and growth issues may notice actively participate in, as we work together the immediate impacts of shortfalls in our to identify priorities and establish our development services fund, which at Dan Pike financial course for the future. mid-year is an estimated 22% behind Mayor of Bellingham expected revenues. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Small and Simple Grant Mayor’s Letter CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Program Revisions are Underway Plans are underway to revise the City’s and continue supporting a diverse set of I am working closely with Small and Simple Grant Program. The projects. Neighborhood associations will Planning Director Tim Stewart purpose of revising the program is to return be encouraged to apply in partnership to address this challenge, to the original intent of providing resources with community organizations and and we have initiated some for small neighborhood-led projects. neighborhood schools. Community changes to address this issue Another revision priority is to create a organizations will also be eligible to apply now and stabilize the fund for structure for Small and Simple projects for project or special event sponsorships and the longer term. These steps that will illustrate the City’s commitment be a part of neighborhood-led projects. include postponing hiring to supporting the local comprehensive and focusing department effort to create a healthier community. Revision updates will be published work on implementing the The revised Small and Simple structure in Neighborhood News, posted on the city’s Comprehensive Plan should strengthen existing community City’s website, and discussed at Mayor’s by master planning urban relationships, encourage new collaborations Neighborhood Advisory Commission villages, supporting waterfront and promote broader healthy community and neighborhood association meetings. redevelopment, and creating tools outcomes. Workshops will be scheduled later this year, to implement urban infill. for the community to learn about the new At this time, the City does not Small and Simple Grant approach. I want to emphasize that we anticipate discontinuing the program For more information, please contact: are in a manageable situation and or decreasing the total program budget. The program revision is still in process Linda Stewart, Neighborhood Services in good shape to avoid the kinds and project categories are not yet final. Coordinator, Mayor’s Office, (360) 778-8100, of financial crisis we are hearing The plan is to restructure the funding or [email protected]. about in the news. Previous package to maximize available resources leaders have been prudent with past financial decisions, and our management team is skilled and experienced at working together Neighborhood/City collaborate to identify priorities and reduce costs. on storm water solutions The City of Bellingham has been creative solutions to storm water pollution, I am confident that with working for several years to improve the resulting in a win/win for everyone, our community’s vision and effectiveness of storm water facilities, with including the drinking water reservoir. wisdom, and especially with a priority on those in the Lake Whatcom the active engagement of our Watershed. The Northridge Detention There are 70 homes in this development neighborhoods, together we will Retrofit is one example of how citizens and they are bound by covenants with weather these financial difficulties and city staff can work together to find and remain very well positioned CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 for a bright, prosperous future.

Sincerely, Get involved in City financial decisions

Mayor Dan Pike For a comprehensive update on the city’s Mayor Dan Pike is expected to discuss financial position, see Finance Director budget issues with the Bellingham City John Carter’s July 21 presentation to the Council throughout the fall, and formally Bellingham City Council. It provides a present his proposed 2009 budget to thorough context for the actions being Council and the community in early taken now and decisions needed during the November. Watch for details on the city coming months. Go to www.cob.org and website and in the local media. follow the links to view video programming For more information, please contact: the online. Finance Department at (360) 778-8000 or [email protected] storm water solutions in improving the quality of water in our CONTINUED watershed. This is a true win/win for everyone involved. We are fortunate to Public Works in oversight by the Northshore Hills have John Matzinger, civil engineer, on our Community Association. The Northridge neighborhood board to help with project Our Neighborhoods detention pond handles storm water from development and execution. ” approximately 38 acres of the subdivision. Project Updates Water from the pond drains into Lake With a final land exchange agreed to Whatcom and when tested this water by all parties, the swap was completed, Central Business District shows high levels of metals, suspended deeds recorded and the project is began Bay & Holly Streetscape solids and phosphorus. construction the third week in August. The Improvements – Construction city is grateful for the cooperation of the commenced in August. (See The city owns the land where the pond Northshore Hills Community Association related article.) is located along with a nearby lot. The and as they continue working to improve Depot Market Leased Space Northshore Hills Community Association other storm water facilities throughout Improvements – Retail tenant owns a parcel immediately adjacent to the Bellingham, will be looking for assumed occupancy in August. pond and uses it as a neighborhood park. other opportunities to work Mount Baker When looking at options for upgrading with neighborhoods to find Sunset Drive Reconstruction the facility, storm water staff found that creative solutions that benefit Phase II – Construction scheduled the soils in the city-owned lot were not all parties. to begin early September. well suited for storm water filtration, and the logistics of creating a second Puget facility away from the existing Whatcom Creek – Red Tail Reach: pond were problematic. At this Construction commenced in point city staff approached August. the neighborhood Samish association with a proposal Padden Creek Daylighting – to swap properties. Property purchased on 20th Street to help facilitate project. Association President Rob Westford says, “We realized Silver Beach that by changing the boundaries Northshore Road and Drainage of our park, we could assist the city Improvements –Surface preparation for paving in process. Northridge Detention Basin Retrofit – Construction The Latest Scoop commenced. (See related article.) on Dog Poop Multiple Neighborhoods 2008 Traffic Safety This spring, the City of Bellingham Improvements – Contractor bids contracted with Applied Research opened in August. Northwest to survey residents in the What is the right thing to do? 2006 – 2007 Sewer Whatcom Creek Watershed to determine • Bagging dog waste and cat litter and Replacements – Holly Street how pet owners dispose of their pet’s waste. placing it in the garbage is currently the replacement complete. Next safest method of disposal. Landfills are Information from the survey will be used to phase includes trucks parked equipped to safely handle pet waste. design a program focused on reducing pet over manholes on “F” and Forest waste pollution in Whatcom Creek. • Even if your yard is not in direct contact Streets, to jet clean and line with a stream, contaminants from pet underground pipe. Results from the survey were waste can travel far. In the City of encouraging. Out of 300 pet owners Bellingham, pet owners are required to Information about these and other surveyed, 75% pick up their dog’s waste dispose of their pet waste properly even Public Works projects can be when walking in parks and on trails and in their own yard. found in the “road closures and restrictions” notice posted each most disposed of the waste in the trash. • Do not compost pet waste. Home week in the “news” section of the Of dog owners surveyed, 87% said they compost systems do not heat pet waste picked up the dog waste in their backyard to the high temperatures needed to kill City’s web site at www.cob.org. at least every week. Interestingly, while harmful pathogens. Pet waste cannot Ravyn S. 75% put it in the trash, less than half of that be placed in FoodPlus recycling bins. For more information contact: proportion (29%) said they think it is the Whitewolf, P.E., Engineering Manager, • Currently, landfills are the best option City of Bellingham Public Works right thing to do. for pet-waste disposal. Engineering Division, (360) 778-7900

For more information, please contact: Kym Fedale, Environmental Educator, Bellingham Public Works Department, (360) 778-7970. City releases draft Samish Way Urban Village Planning Bellingham infill toolkit Process Unfolds The initial draft of the Bellingham carriage houses and small lots, up to Infill Toolkit is posted on the city’s higher density townhouses and multi- Approximately 50 people website, offering owners, developers and story buildings. attended public input workshops the residents of Bellingham the tools for the Samish Way Urban Village to make infill practical, efficient and Developed with the assistance project this summer. Each session beautiful. of the architectural consulting firm was attended by stakeholders LMN Architects, the forms were representing property/business “Creating opportunities for infill initially presented during spring 2008 owners, neighbors, real estate inside the city limits is the key to at four public workshops that made up professionals, developers and other preventing sprawl,” said Planning and Planning Academy II: Achieving Infill; interested stakeholders. Staff Community Development Director Tim Enhancing Character. received helpful and thoughtful Stewart. “We are very enthusiastic about input from everyone who these new forms and look forward to The Toolkit is still a work in participated in the various activities. working with neighborhoods to identify progress. Feedback and comments All presentations, activities and appropriate areas where these forms on the initial draft should be sent public comments from each meeting should be allowed.” to Christopher Koch, Planning are available at the project page on & Community Development the City’s website: http://www.cob.org/ The draft toolkit outlines 13 forms of Department, at [email protected] or (360) services/neighborhoods/community- infill housing, including standards and 778-8300. planning/urban-villages-planning/ regulations for how those forms need to fit samish-way-urban-village/meeting- on a site, how much open space is required To view Bellingham’s Infill Toolkit, see materials.aspx and how large they can be. The forms the city’s website at http://www.cob.org/ range from lower density types, such as government/departments/pcd/major- Staff is now meeting with projects.aspx. various departments and agencies and studying the alternatives to better inform the new master plan Preserve America Grant and development regulations. Next steps include: Notable progress has been made on officially begin “Phase II” of the project, the survey and inventory project of historic and will consist of a presentation of • Hiring a professional to conduct resources of the Lettered Streets, South results and recommendations for National a geotechnical analysis of Hill and York Neighborhoods since the Historic District-eligible areas, as well as drainage and soils in the area project kick-off in February of this year. providing an opportunity for neighbors • Surveying property owners and The consultant team, Historic Preservation to ask questions about the nomination business owners to gather ideas Northwest, has completed photography process, and to better understand what it and plans for the future of their and basic description for each survey means to be part of a National Historic property resource in all three neighborhoods, and Register District. neighborhood volunteers and Western • Conducting an economic

analysis of the alternatives Washington University students have Mark your calendars for the next been actively involved in the architectural How to Research your Home or Property • Conducting a traffic analysis of survey, photography and research work. Workshop, Saturday, October 4th, some new design options for City staff and key project partners have from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the State Samish Way worked with the consultant team to present Archives / Center for Pacific Northwest volunteer training sessions and to give Studies on the Western Washington These studies will occur informational presentations to neighbors, University campus. This workshop is open throughout the fall, with the goal City commissioners, and elected officials. to the general public and is being held of having a draft master plan and GIS mapping to track integrity of resources independently of the Preserve America regulations by the beginning of 2009. is being completed concurrently by the project. City’s GIS specialist. For more information, please For more information, please contact: Katie contact: Darby Galligan, There will be a Public Open House Franks at [email protected] or (360) 778-8388 Development Specialist II, with general questions about the Preserve Bellingham Planning and on Wednesday, October 15th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the Whatcom Museum America project, or to have your name added Community Development, (360) to the workshop notification email list. 778-8389, or [email protected]. Rotunda Room. This meeting will Police Recruitment Working closely with our neighborhoods The Bellingham Police Department is Officer Tawsha Dykstra has been Bellingham Police Officers. This was my looking for men and women with honesty with the Bellingham Police Department for first contact with members of the BPD and integrity to serve as police officers. more than eleven years. She is currently and I feel to this day that they are a great assigned to the Bicycle Unit and was group of people to work with. If you have The Police Department will host recently promoted to the rank of Master ever thought that of becoming an officer an Information Night on Tuesday, Patrol Officer, which means her Bicycle I strongly encourage you to check out September 16th, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Unit assignment will end soon. As an the criteria on our website and attend the at the Bellingham Police Department, MPO, Officer Dykstra is looking forward to upcoming information night.” 505 Grand Ave. training new officers.

Working closely with neighborhoods Besides working patrol, Officer Dykstra For additional information is an important part of the Police has also spent time as a K9 Officer and is about becoming a Bellingham Department’s mission. In this spirit, two currently a member of the Honor Guard. Police Officer: Bellingham Police Officers are being As a Bellingham Police Officer, she has spotlighted in this issue of Neighborhood visited the Law Enforcement Memorial in • Visit the City’s website at www.cob.org News. Washington D.C., traveled to Kyrgyzstan and click “Employment” for information on a police exchange program, and became and application forms; applications are Officer Brock Crawfordhas been involved with the Law Enforcement Torch being accepted 9/2/08 – 10/3/08 with the Bellingham Police Department for Run for Special Olympics campaign. eleven years. He grew up in Bellingham • Contact City of Bellingham Human and left the area for college, graduating “I am a local girl raised here in Resources (360) 778-8223 from Southeastern Louisiana University Whatcom County. I attended WCC and with a Degree in Criminal Justice in 1996. WWU and became interested in a police Officer Crawford was hired by the Police career when I took Criminal Justice classes Department in 1997. at the community college. Several of the instructors were During his career, he has worked as a detective in the Special Investigations Unit, which mostly focuses on narcotics investigations. He is currently assigned to the patrol division. Officer Crawford’s Community Outreach Plan (COP) area is the Birchwood Neighborhood. He attends neighborhood meetings and works with citizens on specific neighborhood issues and problems. He also works in the community, coaches baseball and football at the local high schools. He was fortunate enough to participate in the World Police and Fire Games in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2001.

“Being a police officer is challenging Neighborhood and rewarding. The work is different from day to day, exciting at times, and I News Online like working with the public. We have an www.cob.org/news/ awesome work schedule on patrol and neighborhoods.aspx the training and equipment are excellent. We are looking for good people who like teamwork and want the opportunity to serve our community. If this sounds good to you, please look into what it takes to become an officer with our department.” Arts District Gateway Downtown Celebration at Bay & Holly September 18th! The Arts District: Making Places for People project is providing Ten years ago, the City of Bellingham What: Downtown Celebration improvements to the publicly sponsored the downtown development Date: September 18th (Thursday) workshops to continue ongoing owned property (sidewalks, streets, Location: Mount Baker Walton community efforts to revitalize the City and related areas) within the Arts (formerly Studio) Theater District of downtown Bellingham. Center, after the mall and other factors had emptied downtown of most activity. Time: 5:00 p.m. - Reception, refreshments and slide show The improvements focus 5:30 p.m. - Opening remarks on providing amenities and The City and Downtown Renaissance 6:00 p.m. - Film encouraging activities that will Network invite you to attend a reception enliven and optimize use of these and film to celebrate the successes that The film, which highlights downtown public spaces. This project involved have occurred since that time, including projects and the people that helped make substantial re-development at the corner of Railroad them happen, is approximately 30 minutes public and Holly Street, Depot Market Square, long. This event is open to the public. involvement new businesses and facade improvements, and comment from historic renovations, and the restoration of For more information, please contact: a wide range of stakeholders to Whatcom Creek. Darby Galligan, Development Specialist craft a vision and design that will II, Bellingham Planning and Community provide the maximum benefit and These are among many other public Development, at (360) 778-8389, or encourage partnerships to extend and private investments that have led to [email protected]. improvements to the private sector. the renewal of downtown activity and economic health. The improvements at Bay and Holly are designed to serve as the gateway to the Arts District, accommodate businesses to spill out into the sidewalks and plaza area, and facilitate outdoor community events on Bay Street, such as Pickford Cinema. “BACK TO CENTER” - AN OUTDOOR ART SHOW

City of Bellingham partners Featured Artists: Brennan Conaway, included Bellingham Whatcom Mary Kuebelbeck, Weston Lambert, Dylan Public Facilities District, Campaign Mortimer, Steve Satushek, James Schmidt, for the Arts, Whatcom Community Denise Snyder and SuttonBeresCuller Foundation, private donors, and adjacent business and property Connecting Our owners. Generous private donations Community with the Arts totaling $150,000, have also made The Bellingham Arts Commission is this project feasible. producing this show to emphasize the power of art in public spaces. Information about this project Eight temporary installations will can be found on the City’s project highlight key pedestrian corridors throughout the Arts District. webpage at www.cob.org/services/ neighborhoods/arts-district/index.aspx.

For more information, please contact: Tara Sundin, Special Projects Manager, Bellingham Planning and Community Development, (360) 778- 8300, [email protected], or Ravyn For more information, please visit Whitewolf, Engineering Manager, http://www.cob.org/services/arts/ Bellingham Public Works, (360) 778- index.aspx (Under Quick Links -click 7900, [email protected]. on VELoCITY) Contact: Shannon Taysi e-mail: [email protected] 360-778-8360 City of Bellingham WASHINGTON NeighborhoodNewsOCTOBER 2008 A NEWSLETTER FOR BELLINGHAM NEIGHBORHOODS Emergency Preparedness A single disaster causes many individual • Develop a neighborhood skills and emergencies at one time. Professional equipment inventory. emergency response to your situation may • Verify which neighbors need extra help be delayed for hours, even days. Out of in a disaster such as elderly, those with necessity you and your neighbors become a disability, or children who may be the first responders. home alone.

Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) is While supplies last! The Office of In this ISSUE a simple, free plan to increase your safety Emergency Management (OEM) has during a disaster until police, firefighters, received a grant to provide one personal 2 Help Keep Our and public works can arrive to help equipment kit per household. The kit you. Neighborhoods that are prepared includes a wind-up flashlight, a gas valve Streets Safe for disasters and emergencies save lives, wrench, a lightweight helmet, leather reduce the severity of injuries, and reduce gloves, goggles, a whistle, matches, and 3 Questions About property damage. other items. Chickens? To date, over 400 Bellingham Also while supplies last, OEM is households and more than 500 individuals providing a weather/alert radio to each have participated in the MYN training. household that hosts a MYN planning 4 Applications for event. Arts Grants In a single 90 minute meeting you can sit down with your neighbors to: For more information contact: Don Davis, • Learn nine important steps to take Office of Emergency Management, 360-778- 4 Preserve America immediately after a disaster. 8440, [email protected]. Grant

A letter from Mayor Dan Pike 5 Infill Toolkit Project Update Recent headlines tell the latest tragic Emergency Management Institute in disaster story - “Texas struggles after Maryland. Hurricane Ike”; “Thousands of residents 6 Waterfront remain stranded by Ike”; “Ike wipes out The course brought together 70 people Connections Plan entire neighborhoods”; Ike survivors may representing Bellingham and Whatcom wait weeks for hot meals, baths.” It will County governments, businesses and take millions of dollars and years for these non-profits. Our work was based on the communities to recover, in addition to the challenges we would face in the natural toll it will take on individuals, families, disaster many of us fear the most - a and neighborhoods. major earthquake.

How would our community respond? Classroom training stressed planning This question was tested recently by local ahead and working collaboratively. Dan Pike Simulated emergencies exposed us leaders, including myself and Whatcom Mayor of Bellingham County Executive Pete Kremen, during to operating under rapidly changing a week-long training at the federal CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Mayor’s Letter CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Help Keep Our Streets Safe conditions and limited resources. It’s important to remember that YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS Away from interruptions, we motorists who exceed the speed limit on Pedestrians have the right-of-way focused on responding to a residential streets represent all age groups at intersections whether crosswalks are disaster as it unfolded, putting and all walks of life - they are not just painted on the street or not! Be aware that previous experience and new teenagers or commuters. Studies have children are the primary pedestrians on ideas into action. shown that: neighborhood streets and that they are the most likely victims of careless drivers. Most • Local residents drive faster on their young children — especially those under We built relationships and local streets because they feel familiar nine years of age — have great difficulty in respect, strengthening our ability and comfortable, AND to work together. Executive making sound and safe judgments about • Outsiders use local streets as short cuts traffic dangers. Kremen and I came away with to busy arterial roads. profound appreciation for our TEACH YOUR CHILDREN respective governments’ and THE RULES OF THE ROAD community agencies’ capabilities, What Can YOU do to Ensure that your children know and expertise and commitment Reduce Traffic Accidents understand the rules of the road. to excellence. It was truly a and Save Lives? community success. DRIVE SLOWER Studies have shown that smaller children have difficulty in making safe If a large earthquake hits our Speeding through residential neighborhoods will make very judgments about traffic region, what will the headlines dangers. Do not let your say? “Bellingham struggles after little, if any, difference in the total time children play in the street. earthquake”; “Thousands isolated it will take to Warn them against darting by earthquake”; “Whatcom complete a trip. into the road after pets or County earthquake wipes out In addition, toys. Teach your children entire neighborhoods”;“Bellingham driving at slower to stop, look both ways, survivors may wait weeks for hot speeds allows and listen before crossing meals, baths.” more time to react streets. Make sure your to the unexpected, children know that Please ask yourself: “Am I such as a child even though cars are ready? Is my community ready?” darting out from supposed to stop, they We have asked this question and behind a parked car. may not. committed ourselves to helping you answer “yes.” • Remember that the legal speed limit on DON’T ILLEGALLY PASS SCHOOL BUSES all residential streets is 25 mph, unless You can be cited $394 for illegally Sincerely, otherwise posted passing a school bus. The majority of those cited are reported via a system where • Make a conscious effort to drive 25 mph the bus driver submits an affidavit to the Mayor Dan Pike or slower on all residential streets and Police Department. There is a subsequent remind family members and neighbors investigation and if police investigators of the speed limit. For more information, please believe there is probable cause, the driver is cited via summons. Last year the contact: the City of Bellingham AVOID USING LOCAL Bellingham School District reported 55 Office of Emergency Management at STREETS AS SHORT CUTS drivers for this violation and 30 drivers 778-8440. Whenever residential streets were cited. Three additional drivers are used as short cuts, the quality of were cited after being observed by police life in neighborhoods in disrupted. officers. Between 50-65 percent of reported Neighborhood cut-through traffic increases incidents result in citations on an annual noise and pollution in residential areas and basis. results in a greater threat to the safety of children. For more information contact Kim Brown, Public Works Department, 360-778-7900 or [email protected]. Questions Public Works in About Chickens? Our Neighborhoods PROJECT UPDATES The Bellingham Municipal Code regulates how and where chickens can CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT be kept within City limits. Bay & Holly Streetscape Improvements – Project on 7.04.010 schedule. BUSINESSES Administration ARE OPEN DURING CONSTRUCTION! and Enforcement MOUNT BAKER Administration and Sunset Drive Reconstruction enforcement of the provisions of Phase II – Commenced work in this title shall be the responsibility of the September. Bellingham-Whatcom County Humane Bakerview and Irongate Traffic Society under the direct supervision and Signal – Council awarded project control of the Chief of the Bellingham to Granite Northwest (Wilder Police Department. Construction) in September. Construction should commence in October. 7.12.060 Keeping Animals In The SILVER BEACH C. All stables and other buildings and Northshore Road and Drainage City - General Regulations - Improvements all enclosures and premises upon which – Project nearing completion. Penalty any such animals are kept and confined A. Any person being the owner or shall be kept in a clean, healthful, and SUNNYLAND entitled to the possession of any animal of sanitary condition by the person owning, James Street 2008 Enhanced Pedestrian Crossings – Complete! the species of horse, mule, ass, cattle, sheep, possessing, or using any such premises for goat, domesticated fowl and exotic animals said purposes; and no persons owning, MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOODS (except domesticated fowl maintained in possessing, or using any such premises shall 2008 Traffic Safety a residence), including but not limited to, permit any nuisance to be formed or to Improvements – King Street and duck, chicken, goose, turkey or peafowl accumulate thereon. Victor Street projects commenced or swine of any kind, shall be permitted in September. Alderwood speed to keep the same within the limits of the D. It is the duty of the animal control hump and Pacific Street speed City except as the same is now or may authority to inspect all premises whereon table projects delayed due to be hereafter forbidden by ordinance, by any such animals are confined or kept, and budget shortfalls. securely confining the same in a stable or to enforce the regulation of this chapter. 2007 Bridge Rehabilitation other building; or an enclosure surrounded If any such premises are not kept in the Crack Repair – Complete; project by a secure, well-built fence of sufficient manner provided in this chapter, such includes preventive crack repair height and strength to confine such animal officer of officers shall at once notify the to various structures as identified therein; or the same may be securely staked persons owning, possession, or using the in the 2006 and 2008 bridge out in a vacant lot in such manner that it premises for such purpose to place the inspection report. cannot get upon any street, alley, or other same in a safe, secure, clean, healthful, and public place within the City provided that sanitary condition, and such person shall Information about these and other Public Works projects can be the same is so confined or staked out as to forthwith comply with such order. found in the “road closures and effectively prevent it getting within 50’ of restrictions” notice posted each any dwelling or other building in which E. Any person violating any of the week in the “news” section of the persons work or are accustomed to be, or provisions of this section shall be deemed City’s web site at www.cob.org. near enough to the property of another guilty of an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not to to do any damage thereto or commit any For more information contact: exceed $250. Ravyn S. nuisance thereupon; and provided, further, Whitewolf, P.E., Engineering Manager, that any such animal shall be considered as City of Bellingham Public Works For more information, please contact: running at large when it breaks away from Engineering Division, (360) 778-7900 Whatcom Humane Society, (360) 733-4746. its fastenings or is herded or permitted to feed upon any of the streets, alleys or other public places of the City. Accepting applications for arts grants Parks in Our The City of Bellingham is accepting website at http://www.cob.org/services/arts/ Neighborhoods applications for municipal arts program grants.aspx. grant funding. People creating new and PROJECT UPDATES interesting art experiences in Bellingham Proposals must range in value from are encouraged to apply. $500 to $5,000, and be open to the general PLAYGROUND PROJECTS public. Complete eligibility requirements These projects will replace and Applications for this grant program are included in the application packet for update the existing playgrounds, will be accepted until 5 p.m. October this program. improve accessibility, comply 24, and will be evaluated through with current playground safety a competitive process guided by For more information, contact: Darby standards, and include pedestrian the Bellingham Arts Commission. Galligan, Planning and Community amenities Applications are available in the Planning Development Department, at dgalligan@ COLUMBIA & Community Development Department cob.org or 360-778-8389. Carl Lobe Park Playground – at City Hall, 210 Lottie Street, or on the city Construction is underway and will be complete in mid-October. CORNWALL National “Town-Making” Expert Cornwall Park South Playground – Construction is underway and will presents Oct. 14 in Bellingham be complete in mid-October. Dan Burden, a nationally recognized showcase ways to plan and design better WHATCOM FALLS authority on “walkability,” bicycle and streets, town centers, and neighborhoods. Whatcom Falls Park Lower Playground and new restroom are pedestrian facilities and environmental open! Go check out the new play sustainability, will make a public Burden has visited the Bellingham equipment. presentation 7 p.m. Oct. 14 in Bellingham area several times, facilitating workshops City Hall. and making public presentations. During SILVER BEACH his most recent visit in late August, he Big Rock Trail – Watch for the Burden’s vision is to assist elected led more than 30 growth experts and completion of this great new trail officials, business and community innovators from across the globe through connector between Big Rock leaders in their quest to create streets, Bellingham as part of his four-day Great Garden and the Klipsun Trail. activity centers, business districts and Pacific Northwest Town Making Tour. PUGET neighborhoods for people. He brings - New seats that have been an energizing message about creating For more information about the Oct. 14th installed at Civic Stadium are community for people, not just cars. His presentation, contact the Mayor’s Office at being enjoyed by fall football fans. highly visual, information-rich workshops 778-8100 or mayorsoffi[email protected] This completes the Civic Athletic Complex Improvement project! - Construction continues on the Whatcom Creek Trail connection Preserve America Grant Update between Racine Street and I-5 Lettered Streets, York, and South Hill along the south shore of the creek. The project includes a new All are invited to attend a PUBLIC limestone trail along the south OPEN HOUSE to see the preliminary shore of Whatcom Creek behind results of the Preserve America Haskell Business Park, new grant historic resource survey of the bridge over Lincoln Creek, and Lettered Streets, York, and South Hill trail connection to Meador Street. Neighborhoods. The open house will be - New, colorful acoustic baffles held on Wednesday, October 15th from have been installed The Arne 6:30 — 8:30 p.m. at the Whatcom Museum Hanna Aquatic Center which have Rotunda Room, 121 Prospect Street. Sign- greatly improved on the noise in begins at 6:15 p.m. level at this popular facility. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 City staff, project consultants, and neighborhood volunteers will share the preliminary results of the historic resource survey and inventory initiated

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 in February of this year. The two hour of Historic Places Districts for each Parks in Our meeting will be of special interest to anyone neighborhood. The open house is designed living or owning property in the survey to give neighbors the chance to learn about Neighborhoods neighborhoods, and will also draw the the district nomination process, and what attention of those interested in the historic it means to be part of a National Register of PROJECT UPDATES architecture of their own neighborhoods. Historic Places district. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 The meeting marks the beginning of For more information, contact: Katie CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT the second phase of the Preserve America Franks, Planning and Community The segment of Whatcom Creek project, which will involve research and Development Department, kfranks@cob. Trail from Maritime Heritage Park writing nominations of National Register org, (360) 778-8388, or visit www.cob.org. to Dupont Street along the south shore of the creek is now open. PARK, RECREATION AND OPEN Infill Toolkit Project Update SPACE PLAN UPDATE Planning and Community • in “Planned Commercial” and mixed use The Planning Commission will Development Director Tim Stewart districts, continue their public hearing on announced at the September 18 meeting • in Multifamily Residential Districts, and October 2 at 7 PM in the Council Chambers of City Hall. The City of the Bellingham Planning Commission • as a “vocabulary” for contract rezones Council is scheduled to hold that major work is still needed on the Infill or other legislative actions subject to a a public hearing to consider a Toolkit Project, to craft the final ordinance Type VI process. comprehensive plan amendment and integrate the new housing forms with for the plan on October 20th. For engineering standards for streets and He will also recommend that the more information and to review utilities. It is likely that final adoption of the Toolkit NOT apply: the latest draft plan go to: http:// Toolkit will not occur until 2009. • in any single family district, and that www.cob.org/issues/parks-plan. aspx Because the community has not • the underlying density of the zone not yet had a chance to review the actual change with the toolkit NORTH BELLINGHAM ordinance, Director Stewart proposed a TRAIL PLAN 60 day advance release of the Final Draft Changes to single family or density A City Council public hearing Staff Recommendation before Planning might occur in the future but it would to consider a comprehensive Commission hearing. The Final Draft not be part of this legislative package for plan amendment for the North Bellingham Trail Plan is scheduled Ordinance will be released only after the the toolkit. Each change would require a for October 6th. City has agreement on content and form separate Type VI process. This additional from Planning, Public Works, Fire and Law. process in single family areas is where For more information contact: Leslie Planning hopes to work with neighbors Bryson, Design and Development Also clarified on September 18 were to find appropriate places for additional Manager, Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department, 360-778-7000, “applicability” issues (where the new density and infill. [email protected]. housing types will be permitted). Director Stewart stated he will recommend to the For more information contact Nicole Oliver, community, Planning Commission and Planning and Community Development Department, 360-778-8300 or Council that the Toolkit housing types be [email protected]. applicable: Neighborhood Interviews Sunnyland Charrette Project on KMRE Radio! Starting Saturday, October 4, The Sunnyland Neighborhood project accomplished in Bellingham. The current tune in to KMRE-FM 102.3 at will be held over into the 2009 Annual time frame is not sufficient to attend to the 7:00 pm, to listen to “Community Review process. The project has received details that this site and the neighborhood Connections,” a series of inter- a great deal of attention from the City, the deserve.” views conducted this summer neighbors and the property owners. The with representatives from Belling- City in mid-September received a letter The City looks forward to continuing to ham neighborhoods. For more from the owners, Sunset Commons, LLC work with the community in 2009 on this information about the broadcast, requesting the proposal be tabled until great opportunity for infill close to services. contact Alena Feeney Adam, 2009 “...to have more time to work with Director or Operations - AMRE/ Station Manager - KMRE, (360) the neighborhood and City staff on a site For more information contact Chris Koch, 738-3886. plan that is mutually beneficial, and that Planning and Community Development sets a high standard of how infill can be Department, 360-778-8349 or [email protected]. Why is street direction important? Mayor Dan Pike said an area WATERFRONT of considerable discussion is how streets in our new waterfront ConnectionsPlan neighborhood will connect to Bellingham’s downtown.

Why does the direction of the streets matter? Because the location Connections are the key to a of public parks and trails, adopting mixed- of the streets – together with parks successful waterfront redevelopment, and use zoning, and creating opportunities to and trails – will form the very fabric a plan unveiled this week by Mayor Dan host Western Washington University and of this new neighborhood. Street Pike highlights connections that he wants the National Oceanic and Atmospheric locations will determine building to make sure are included in final plans Administration. locations: where buildings can and for Bellingham’s waterfront. cannot be built, where historical Pike said city and Port officials are structures must be torn down or Pike presented his still negotiating options for street where they might be redeveloped. Waterfront Connections alignment, connections Plan to the Bellingham to downtown, Street locations also will City Council and preserving historic establish essential connections community on buildings, and between downtown and the September 29, and city infrastructure waterfront, and determine how hopes to engage the costs and timing. public in considering The Waterfront and whether Bellingham Bay and its pros and cons. Connections Plan the islands can be seen from the lays out ideas for rest of downtown. The streets help Public open houses these areas and more, determine how the neighborhood scheduled for November 13 he said. looks and feels. and November 17 offer members of the public opportunities to review the “The City is committed to these key Pike said he wants to make Waterfront Connections“BACK TO Plan CENTER” and weigh - AN values:OUTDOOR making ARTsound SHOW financial decisions, sure that both street patterns are in on options that will shape the look and using the triple bottom line, creating a equally and fully examined, so that feel of our downtown and waterfront for unique neighborhood, and honoring the our community can weigh the pros generations to come. needs of our community,” Pike said. “The and cons of each and make wise, new waterfront neighborhood will belong informed decisions about our new This fall, Port and City officials to all of us and must represent all our neighborhood. are bringing to the public the results best ideas. I hope you will join us in this of extensive work during the past year, essential step by participating in this public The Port’s proposal, which has including reports detailing environmental process.” been extensively studied, includes impacts of waterfront redevelopment a street grid that turns at an angle and options that will contribute to a final For more information, visit the city’s from the existing downtown street master plan. website at www.cob.org. Regular waterfront grid. Port and City officials have redevelopment updates also are provided agreed to conduct further study City and Port officials are in during Bellingham City Council meetings, which can be viewed on-line or on BTV10. of how the waterfront might be agreement about most items, such as developed using the traditional balancing economic, environmental and social values, developing at least 33 acres street grid. Waterfront Connections Public Open Houses Pike said the Waterfront Connections Plan provides us all 7 p.m. November 13th & 17th with an opportunity to study the Depot Market Square pros and cons of each and make the best choice for Bellingham.

Neighborhood News Online www.cob.org/news/neighborhoods.aspx City of Bellingham washington NOVEMBER 2008

Neighborhooda newsletter for bellingham neighbNewsorhoods

WATERFRONT

ConnectionsPlan In this issue 2 Bellingham Weigh in on Waterfront Options in November Police Department Senior Volunteer Open houses scheduled for Nov. 13 City and Port officials are in agreement and Nov. 17 offer public opportunities to about most items, such as balancing Program weigh in on options that will shape the look economic, environmental and social values, and feel of Bellingham’s downtown and developing at least 33 acres of public parks waterfront for generations to come. and trails, adopting mixed-use zoning, 3 samish Way Urban and creating opportunities to host higher Village Update This fall, Port and City officials are education institutions and the National bringing to the public the results of extensive Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. work during the past year, including 3 Public Works in reports detailing environmental impacts of City and Port officials are still waterfront redevelopment and options that considering options for street alignment, Our Neighborhoods will contribute to a final master plan. connections to downtown, preserving CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 4 Best Defense Against Windstorm Damage A letter from Mayor Dan Pike 4 survey Shows I recently presented my proposed from our citizen advisory groups, and our High Quality of Life 2009 budget, a recommendation shaped best professional judgment. by economic uncertainty, as well as by our desire to provide quality, cost effective Even within a constrained financial services that meet today’s needs and form a picture, my budget proposal keeps us on strong foundation for the future. course with previously launched priority initiatives. It maintains momentum on Despite economic challenges, our moving Lake Whatcom toward health, citizens expect that the City will continue managing growth, redeveloping the its tradition of providing quality, essential waterfront, boosting economic prosperity, services to the community. We are ever strengthening cherished cultural facilities, mindful of these expectations and meeting engaging neighborhoods, and Dan Pike these needs was a top priority as we building or maintaining key capital Mayor of Bellingham formulated this budget. We also are guided infrastructure. by City Council goals and objectives, input CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Waterfront Connections Plan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mayor’s Letter historic buildings, infrastructure costs and The meetings are scheduled at Depot CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 timing, and have presented plans to the Market Square at 7 p.m. on Nov. 13 and 17, community that offer options for the public to with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. for attendees It also presents a few new items consider. to view displays. that will help us better respond to neighborhood disturbances, and Meeting participants will be asked to For more information, visit the city of address the needs of local businesses consider these plan elements and give their Bellingham website at www.cob.org or – especially those entrepreneurs opinions and advice. Do you favor one plan contact the Mayor’s Office at 778-8100. who wish to join or grow our local more than the other? Are there ways to mix economy and those producing and match ideas from both plans? What “green jobs.” These new initiatives values from each plan do you agree with or include: disagree with? • Forming a Police “Neighborhood Anti-Crime Team” • Launching the Bellingham Public Development Authority to support economic development • Co-founding a public-private Sustainability Strategies Council

Our economic picture is far from settled, and we may have Bellingham Police Department more fine-tuning in the weeks and months ahead. This spending Senior Volunteer Program - plan could not have come this far, without the excellent team work of Seeking New Members all City departments. They stepped up to meet today’s economic Are you interested in a challenging hours a week, please think about joining challenges while guiding their and enjoyable volunteer opportunity and our team. There is no financial cost to teams’ innovations to meet our the chance to serve your community? The volunteers and uniforms are provided. obligations, and for this hard work I Bellingham Police Department is looking am grateful. for a few good people to join the Senior The unit’s primary responsibilities Volunteer Program. include: Abandoned Vehicle Processing, The Bellingham City Council Disabled Parking Enforcement and and community will consider the If you are 55 years or older, have a good Vacation Home Checks. proposed 2009 budget during work driving record and can contribute four sessions and meetings in November CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 and December. I hope you will join in the conversation.

Sincerely, 2009 Preliminary Budget By The Numbers: Total Budget: $214 million Positions Added for Priority Initiatives: 5.7 FTE Mayor Dan Pike General Fund Total: $72 million. Vacancies Eliminated: 13 FTE Est. Ending General Fund Reserves: $7.7 million Total Proposed 2009 Workforce: 910.5, Proposed Property Tax Increase: 0% including 62.6 FTE in temporary labor The Mayor’s 2009 Preliminary Budget can be TOTALTOTALTOTALTOTAL BUDGETED BUDGETEDPAID PAID WORKFORCE WORKFORCE POSITIONS POSITIONS FTE'sFTE's per per 1,000 1,000 City City Population Population found at www.cob.org

950.0950.0 14.014.0

900.0900.0 13.013.0 12.412.4 850.0850.0 12.012.0 11.811.8 800.0800.0 11.011.0 750.0750.0 20002000 2001 2001 2002 2002 2003 2003 2004 2004 2005 2005 2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008 2009 2009 20002000 2001 2001 2002 2002 2003 2003 2004 2004 2005 2005 2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008 2009 2009 ESTEST

Police Senior Volunteer Program CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Public Works in Abandoned vehicles in our Our Monday thru Friday Vacation Our Neighborhoods neighborhoods invite car prowls, vagrants, Home Checks provide peace of mind to and vandalism. Since 1996, over 1000 many of our residents while they are out Project Updates such vehicles have been towed from the of town. streets of Bellingham by our force of Senior Central Business District Volunteers. Another 4000 autos have been If you are interested in joining the Bay & Holly Streetscape removed from the streets by their owners program, please call Sergeant Colin Improvements – Project on after being contacted by the volunteers. Emmett at (360) 778-8666 or come to the schedule. BUSINESSES Bellingham Police Department and fill out a ARE OPEN DURING Our Senior Volunteers patrol parking short application at the reception area. The CONSTRUCTION! areas throughout the city to ensure lawful Police Department is located at 505 Grand Art and Children’s Museum – use of parking spaces reserved for the Avenue. Outside building skeleton in place disabled. They are empowered to issue and interior work underway. parking citations to unauthorized users. Mount Baker Theatre Lighting and Electrical Improvements – Majority of acoustic, HVAC Samish Way Urban Village Update and electrical improvements complete; contractor completing Work continues on the plan to RMC Architects have been hired to final restoration in preparation for redevelop Samish Way. Project progress conduct a sample “highest and best use” December grand re-opening. includes: study based on the preliminary assumptions for the project. This will be sent to the Mount Baker Sunset Drive Reconstruction The geotechnical feasibility study economist in November to determine Phase II – Under construction. (Merit Engineering) is complete and is whether the initial assumptions are feasible. available on the City’s website. The purpose Bakerview and Irongate Traffic of this study was to address the feasibility Staff met with Whatcom Transit Signal – Under construction. of underground parking and stormwater Authority, Western Washington University, Silver Beach infiltration capacity and to receive Washington Dept. of Transportation, the Northshore Road and Drainage recommendations on additional studies that Fire Dept. and interested neighbors to Improvements – Project complete. might be helpful. discuss potential problems and ideas as Northridge Detention Basin they relate to these entities. A ‘low-impact Retrofit – Project complete. Staff consulted with single-family development team’ of City staff and local property owners along Edwards Street professionals also met to brainstorm how Multiple Neighborhoods and 34th Street to discuss whether or not sustainable development concepts might be 2008 Traffic Safety these properties should be included in the incorporated into the plan. Improvements – King Street traffic project boundary. Staff presented different diverters and Grant Street speed housing types being prepared in the urban A public meeting will be held in humps compete. East Victor infill toolkit that may be considered within January to present the results of this work Street speed pillows (also known the “Residential Transition Areas” along and the draft concepts for the Master Plan as “speed cushions”) complete. the northern and western boundary of the and Development regulations. Public project area. More information on these comment in response to this first draft will Information about these and other housing types may be found at: h t t p : // be encouraged at that time. Public Works projects can be www.cob.org/government/departments/ found in the “road closures and pcd/urban-infill-toolkit.aspx Additional information and restrictions” notice posted each background on this project, can be found week in the “news” section of the Property owners in the area have on the City website: http://www.cob.org/ City’s web site at www.cob.org. been surveyed regarding their future services/neighborhoods/community- plans to gather input on their perspective planning/urban-villages-planning/samish- For more information contact: Ravyn of the project and help develop a rough way-urban-village/index.aspx S. Whitewolf, P.E., Engineering redevelopment timeline. Manager, City of Bellingham Public If you have questions about this Works Engineering Division, (360) project, contact Darby Galligan, City of 778-7900 Bellingham Planning and Community Development, (360) 778-8389. Preparedness is Best Defense against Windstorm Damage Windstorm season is upon us again. • Do not, under any circumstances, • Never use a gas stove for heat. Our region’s long history of 60+ mph go near downed power lines. Avoid • Do not use outdoor cooking windstorms is littered with reports of anything that may be touching equipment (BBQs) inside the home. damage ranging from blown out windows downed lines, including vehicles to crushed homes, road closures, power or tree branches. Be aware that • Never use a generator indoors or in outages and fatal injuries. Much of the the ground near downed power a garage or carport. Improper use damage comes from fallen trees and flying lines may also be electrified. of generators can cause carbon debris. The following is a short list of Warn others to stay away. monoxide poisoning. Important Safety Tips: • Do not touch anyone who has been Additional information about emergency shocked or who may be in direct or preparation can be found at: Before a Windstorm: indirect contact with a power line. http://emd.wa.gov/preparedness/ • Do a home safety evaluation to documents/ERG-45Windstorms.pdf identify hazards such as trees that Indoors: are vulnerable to high winds and • Move away from windows or http://emd.wa.gov/preparedness/prep_ materials in yards, patios, roofs objects that might fall. personal_preparedness.shtml or balconies that could blow away and cause damage or injury. • Stay on lower floors of For more information contact Don Davis, multi-story homes. City of Bellingham Office of Emergency • Fill your vehicle with gas. • Tune in to local weather Management at [email protected] , (360) 778-8443. During a Windstorm: forecasts and bulletins. • Only call 9-1-1 to report a life threatening emergency. Outdoors: Survey shows high quality of life, • Take shelter and remember concerns about growth to shelter pets. A recent survey of Bellingham The results of this comprehensive • Watch for falling tree limbs, residents found continued high satisfaction survey, as well as a presentation to the street signs, downed power with quality of life in Bellingham, Bellingham City Council about the results, lines and other objects that may alongside concerns about growth, can be viewed at www.cob.org. For more fall during strong wind gusts. development and traffic and feedback information, contact the Mayor’s Office at about a whole host of city priorities, 778-8100. services and neighborhood characteristics.

Neighborhood News Online www.cob.org/news/neighborhoods.aspx City of Bellingham washington DECEMBER 2008

Neighborhooda newsletter for bellingham neighbNewsorhoods Winter’s a Great Time to Get Movin’ Neighborhoods are invited to join this Kick-off a healthy 2009 by attending the year’s Get Movin’ Winter Resolution Winter Get Movin’ Resolution Kick-Off, program by encouraging kids and families Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008 from 6 - 9 pm in their neighborhood to register for at the Bellingham Sportsplex where the Get Movin’ Program. Get Movin’ all kinds of activities will be offered free! challenges participants to be physically active five days a week, 30 minutes a day, Start the new year off right with a brisk jog throughout January 2009. Register at www. or walk around beautiful Lake Padden! In this issue cob.org/ezreg or pick up registration forms This event is free and it starts at 11 am at Bellingham Parks and Recreation by sharp, January 1, 2009, at the bath house 2 save Money and January 1, 2009. on the west end of Lake Padden Park. Breathe Easy Neighborhoods are also encouraged to plan Program organizers include the Whatcom a Get Movin’ event. Why not organize a County Health Department, Bellingham 3 urban Transportation run or walk at a park or trail, plan a dog Parks and Recreation, Whatcom Physical walkers’ get together at an off-leash park, Activity Coalition, Whatcom Coalition Challenge or schedule a play event for kids at a nearby for Healthy Communities and dozens of park? To advertise your event on the organizations and businesses planning free 3 Public Works in Get Movin’ calendar, contact Cori Kauk, events for participants to attend throughout Recreation Coordinator at Bellingham the month of January. Our Neighborhoods Parks and Recreation, (360) 778-7000 or [email protected] by December 18. Information on Whatcom County’s Get Movin’ program and how to participate is 3 Preparedness available at www.GetMovinWhatcom.org Message from Emergency Management A letter from Mayor Dan Pike

I look forward to the holidays and successful city. We’ve worked hard this 3 Have You Mapped celebration of the New Year as a time to year to continue building our partnerships Your Neighborhood? reflect on the accomplishments of the past with neighborhoods, such as by directing 12 months and set goals for the coming resources toward neighborhood nuisances, year. This reflection comes at a time when partnering with other agencies to I also am completing my first year as the provide neighborhood training and other Mayor of Bellingham. And what a rich, services, and identifying ways to promote rewarding, fast-paced year it has been! infill while protecting neighborhood character. I’ve been delighted to work with so many thoughtful, engaged citizens, We’ve also made progress on key especially neighborhood leaders and community priorities, such as promoting volunteers who give so generously of a “green,” sustainable Bellingham, Dan Pike their time and expertise to promote protecting Lake Whatcom - our Mayor of Bellingham strong, robust neighborhoods. Healthy neighborhoods are key to a healthy, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Mayor’s Letter CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 precious source of drinking water - and redeveloping the city’s waterfront into a vibrant, successful new part of our downtown.

Last month I wrote about the financial challenges we face. Our fiscal realities today remain uncertain, but we are confident that we’ll continue to serve the citizens of Bellingham with wise, informed financial decisions. I look forward to working closely with the community as we make decisions Save Money and Breathe Easy that strengthen the city’s long-term financial outlook. There is an effortless act we all can do to Modern engines need no more than a few help lower our gasoline bill, extend the seconds of idling time before they can be When I took office one year life of our cars, and improve the quality driven safely. Moreover, the best way to ago, I particularly focused on of the air we breathe. The answer is to warm up a car is to drive it. Driving your bringing the broadest possible turn off our engines whenever idling, out vehicle warms up the catalytic converter spectrum of our community to of traffic, for over 10 seconds. You may and other mechanical parts of the car, in the table to address critical needs think: ‘Doesn’t it take more gas to restart addition to the engine. and decisions. From our diverse the engine than it is to idle? Won’t turning backgrounds and common values the engine off and on cause damage?’ The By cutting just 5 minutes of idle time a we will find our way in a future answer for both questions is no. There day, you may save up to $241 annually and that is filled with opportunities are many myths associated with idling, keep 440 pounds of carbon dioxide out of and challenges. I offer my heartfelt but the facts will save you money and the the air. Turn the key on this issue and save thanks to all who have been environment. money and the world you drive in. involved in the many important issues facing city government. I A common misconception is that restart- The City of Bellingham is reducing its have learned from you and grown ing your car burns more gas and causes gasoline bill and reducing air pollution from your wise counsel. Together, engine damage. In fact, the opposite is by implementing a new anti-idling policy we have tackled key issues and true; idling an engine forces it to oper- for the vehicle fleet. City employees have positioned city government to ate in a very inefficient and gasoline-rich committed to changing their driving address even more. mode that, over time, can degrade the habits and reducing their idling time by engine’s performance and reduce mileage. over 70%. Special thanks as well to Experts say there is a maximum 10 second the many highly competent, break-even rule. If you are idling longer For more information contact: Kym Fedale, enthusiastic city staff who I’ve than 10 seconds, both you and the engine Environmental Educator, Bellingham Public come to know as key partners in are better off if the engine is turned off Works Department(360) 778-7900 or serving the citizens of Bellingham. and restarted. [email protected].

May the winter holidays bring It is not necessary to warm up your engine joy and special times to you, your on a cold winter day. friends and your families.

Mayor Dan Pike

Neighborhood News Online www.cob.org/news/neighborhoods.aspx Public Works in Our Neighborhoods Project Updates

Central Business District Urban Bay & Holly Streetscape Improvements – Project on Transportation schedule. BUSINESSES ARE OPEN DURING The purpose of the Urban CONSTRUCTION! Transportation challenge is to harness the creative potential Mount Baker Theatre of local community members to Lighting and Electrical – generate innovative programs for ideas. The events are opportunities Improvements Restoration work reducing single occupant vehicle (SOV) for citizens to learn about the winning complete. trips and/or vehicle miles traveled (VMT). entries, explore alternative vehicle technologies (an Alternative Vehicle Flora and Grand – Excavation for Winning Challenge entries will be Expo will accompany the second event) streetscape commenced. programs local agencies can actually put and discuss the transportation challenges into practice to help achieve the SOV trip facing our community. Mount Baker reduction goal in the City of Bellingham’s Sunset Drive Reconstruction Comprehensive Plan, and/or the All Whatcom County residents are Phase II: – Storm drain installation greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal eligible. Projects must be implementable, complete. in Washington State’s Western Climate economically feasible, measurable and Initiative. transferable. Challenge events will include Information about these and other Public Works projects can be a Kick-Off on 1/8/09 and a Main Event found in the “road closures and The challenge is both a contest and a and Alternative Vehicle Expo on 3/7/09. restrictions” notice posted each pair of community events. The contest week in the “news” section of the will offer prizes as incentives for college For more information contact Whatcom City’s web site at www.cob.org. students, neighborhood advocates, and Transportation Authority at (360) 527-4725. community members to develop their For more information contact: Ravyn S. Whitewolf, P.E., Engineering Manager, City of Bellingham Public Works A Preparedness Message from the Engineering Division, (360) 778-7900 Office of Emergency Management As the weather turns colder, consider To learn more about this and other important Have You Mapped how you might protect and store your emergency preparedness topics, check out the important documents so you have quick, Washington State Emergency Management Your Neighborhood? easy access to them during or after a Division website at: http://emd.wa.gov/ Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) disaster. preparedness/prep_infocus.shtml or contact is a simple plan for you and your City of Bellingham Office of Emergency neighbors to help each other in Why is this important? When disaster Management, (360) 778-8440 the event of a disaster until fire, strikes, you may need financial assistance ambulance, police and utilities afterward and will want to document can get to you. Depending on the property loss for insurance and income emergency situation, this could be tax purposes. Having ready access hours or days. to documents and important papers will help you complete applications To learn about MYN, contact Don for assistance, as well as assist in Davis, City of Bellingham Office of substantiating claims. Emergency Management, (360) 778- 8443, or [email protected]. City of Bellingham washington JANUARY 2009

Neighborhooda newsletter for bellingham neighboNewsrhoods 2009 Small and Simple Grants Available

Applications for 2009 Small and Simple and plan for or make physical changes to Grants are due Friday, February 13. Project neighborhood spaces. Project awards in proposals will be reviewed by a panel of this category range from $1,000 - $2,500. community partners and neighborhood Only recognized Bellingham neighborhood representatives and awards will be associations are eligible to receive Healthy announced the last week of February. Neighborhoods Initiative funding.

Small and Simple “Healthy Small and Simple “Community In this issue Neighborhoods Initiative” funding is Event Sponsorship” funds are available available for neighborhood associations to to businesses or non-profit organizations 2 Neighborhood organize and lead partnerships that build for events or activities that demonstrate a Transportation community engagement through healthy citywide benefit and encourage community activities, connecting neighborhoods to engagement. Project awards in this Planning Update school, business and non-profit partners, category range from $1,000- $2,000.

For information about the 2009 Small 3 Municipal Arts and and Simple Grant Program contact: Linda Tourism Grants Stewart, Bellingham Neighborhood Services Coordinator, (360) 778-8100, or visit the City is website, 3 Airport Water www.cob.org Service Agreement

3 Public Works in Our Neighborhoods

A letter from Mayor Dan Pike 4 emergency Resolutions are a common topic of I am often impressed with the sense of Preparedness - conversation at the beginning of a new responsibility those living in Bellingham Out of Area Cards year. Most of the time, these are promises have for our community and by the level we make to ourselves to eat healthier, of commitment to civic involvement. maintain a consistent fitness schedule, or Hundreds of volunteer hours are donated spend more quality time with family and every year by countless neighborhood friends. Following through with any of residents, tending to the business of these resolutions can promote a feeling neighborhood associations, participating of individual well-being and help build in public process and engaging city resilience for tougher times. As 2009 begins government on a variety of topics. and we continue to tackle, together, some of the toughest economic challenges in our However, there is a recurring theme national and local history, it’s an especially of “burn-out” for citizens whose Dan Pike Mayor of Bellingham good time to reflect on resolutions. burden of commitment becomes

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Mayor’s Letter CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Neighborhood Transportation too heavy. This happens more Planning Update often when citizens over-extend themselves, committing time Significant budget cuts and financial traffic calming in 2008 and nearby side and energy to our community challenges will limit current procedures streets to ensure that traffic shifts have not without enough support from established to incorporate more occurred. their neighbors. It is especially neighborhood input into annual happening in our neighborhood development of both the 6-Year If NTSP funding is available in 2010, then associations, where often a core Transportation Improvement Program the priority of any budgeted resources for group is responsible for the myriad (TIP) and the Neighborhood Traffic Safety the program will be obligated to the two of tasks associated with building Program (NTSP). traffic calming projects that were over- and maintaining association budget in 2008, listed in order of funding membership, communicating with Public Works Director Dick McKinley priority below: the neighborhood and seeking out explained, during the December Mayor’s new and interesting ways to make Neighborhood Advisory Commission One speed table/elevated their neighborhood, and the city, a meeting, that 7.5% of the sales tax money pedestrian crossing on Pacific better place to live. that has previously been directed toward Street at the Railroad Trail crossing the City Street Fund has been re-directed (Roosevelt Neighborhood). Please consider adding a to the General Fund for other municipal resolution to your list this new services. In addition, Real Estate Excise Four speed humps on Alderwood year, to support your neighborhood Tax (REET) revenue, which has been Avenue between city limits association and the volunteers who used primarily for bicycle and pedestrian and Cherrywood Ave (Birchwood commit time and energy to making projects, is significantly diminished due to Neighborhood). your and other neighborhood the national economic downturn. associations successful. Small Public Works invites inquiries about commitments of time to McKinley explained that Public Works this development, which is seen as an neighborhood projects can make still intends to construct pedestrian interruption, not a discontinuation, of all the difference in the world to crossings on Lakeway Drive and on the process to solicit neighborhood traffic folks who have been handling most North Samish in 2009 (as well as one near safety priorities from neighborhood of the “heavy lifting” and maybe Northwest/Maplewood), but in order to associations. even help prevent burn-out. And do so, will re-direct most, and likely all, of Chris Comeau, what better way to build resilience the $150,000 programmed for NTSP For more information contact: Transportation Planner, at (360) 778-7900. for tough times and support our in 2009. community than getting to know your neighbors? Because there will be no NTSP funding available in 2009, Public Works will not accept requests for traffic calming, nor Happy New Year! conduct new NTSP traffic counts on residential streets in 2009. Public Works Mayor Dan Pike will conduct follow-up traffic counts on streets that received Public Works in City Awards Municipal Arts Our Neighborhoods and Tourism Grants Project Updates The City of Bellingham has awarded eight spread the night in local hotels. These Birchwood Municipal Arts grants totaling $30,000, grants range from $3,000 to $60,000 for Birchwood Neighborhood and 17 Tourism Promotion grants totaling organizations including the Bellingham Pedestrian Improvements – $667,495. Both are competitive grant Bay Marathon, the Chamber’s Ski to Consulting with Bicycle programs that support a multitude of Sea race, the Bellingham Festival of Pedestrian Advisory Commission Bellingham cultural and performing Music and the Maritime Museum. The in early 2009 and review plan with arts organizations, as well as tourism- Bellingham Whatcom Tourism Bureau neighborhood association. generating organizations and events. The receives the majority of the fund, with – Municipal Arts Program, funded by the a grant totaling $434,720 to support West Illinois Street Extension Review plan with neighborhood City’s General Fund, provided grants their wide array of regional marketing association in early 2009. of $2,000 - $5,000 to eight recipients, activities. In addition, the City’s Tourism including the Whatcom Symphony’s Fund also helps support the Whatcom Music in Schools program, La Bella Strada Museum of History & Art and the Mt. Lettered Streets arts festival, and ReSources recycled art Baker Theatre, both city-owned tourism RE Store Demolition – Contract and fashion show. facilities. Recommendations for grant has been awarded to begin awards are made to the Mayor by the Arts destruction activities at the RE Store’s former site. The project The City’s Tourism Promotion program, Commission and the Lodging Tax will recycle and salvage building funded by local hotel and motel taxes, Advisory Committee. materials as well as address requires grantees to use their funding for asbestos abatement. advertising and marketing that attracts For more information visit the City’s website at out-of-town visitors, preferably those that www.cob.org Multiple Neighborhoods 2006-07 Sewer Replacements – Repairing City Hall basement sewer; equipment parked along City and Port Reach Agreement Lottie Street and Grand Avenue may affect access to public on Airport Water Service parking; work in the building may restrict access to some areas of In December the Port of Bellingham projects, one of which will become the the City Hall basement. and the City of Bellingham reached an 2010 Olympic Coordination Center for agreement to suspend a lawsuit regarding Homeland Security. The Port has waived Information about these and other water service and annexation in and its claim for damages due to the delay in Public Works projects can be around the Port’s airport properties. leasing those properties. found in the “road closures and restrictions” notice posted each This “standstill agreement”keeps “The standstill agreement recognizes week in the “news” section of the the lawsuit in place, but the parties common ground between the parties City’s web site at www.cob.org. agree to not move the lawsuit forward and recognizes the partnership and good while working jointly on details of an faith needed to resolve issues between For more information contact: Ravyn S. annexation agreement. The standstill the jurisdictions,” said Mayor Dan Whitewolf, P.E., Engineering Manager, agreement notes that the City would not Pike. The agreement also supports the City of Bellingham Public Works pursue annexation of the airport and City’s interest in coordinating urban Engineering Division, (360) 778-7900 airport-related properties, but would development with urban services, which is instead focus its annexation on the the City’s responsibility under the Growth adjacent airport industrial park area. Management Act. In addition, the agreement furthers the Port’s interest in As part of the standstill agreement, operating an economically viable airport the City agreed to provide water to facility for the citizens of Whatcom two Port tenants, Pacific Cataract and County. Laser Institute and Homeland Security, to enable them to move forward with For more information contact: Bellingham City building projects. These two tenants are Attorney’s Office, (360) 778-8270. seeking immediate development of their Emergency Preparedness - Out of Area Cards

If you were in Bellingham when the to think about how to communicate in the For more information contact City Whatcom Creek gas line erupted, you may event of a wide-scale disaster. of Bellingham Office of Emergency remember that the local phone system was Management at [email protected] or 778-8443. overloaded with calls. People had a dif- Out-of-area contact cards can help you Or go to the Washington State Emergency ficult time getting a local line. In light of communicate with loved ones across town Management website: http://www.emd.wa.gov/ our recent weather events, it is a good time when the phone system is overloaded. preparedness/documents/piy_out_of_area.pdf Here’s how it works:

Long distance calls have a greater chance of going through during an emergency Have You Mapped event than local calls. Have local family Your Neighborhood? members agree on ONE person who lives more than 100 miles Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) away to be the “Out-of-Area is a simple plan for you and your Contact.” Everyone in the family neighbors to help each other in the can then carry the Contact’s long event of a disaster until fire, ambu- distance phone number at all lance, police and utilities can get to times. The Out-of-Area Contact you. Depending on the emergency will relay information between situation, this could be hours or family members in the disaster days. zone. This will help family mem- bers know each other’s condition To learn about MYN, contact Don and location. Davis, City of Bellingham Office of Emergency Management, (360) 778- 8443, or [email protected].

New Neighborhood Services Page on the City Website! The Neighborhood Services page on the City’s website will connect you to all kinds of information about neighborhoods, including convenient links to Planning, Public Works and the Mayor’s Neighbor- hood Advisory Commission. Check it out at www.cob.org/services/neighborhoods/ resources/index.aspx Neighborhood News Online www.cob.org/news/ neighborhoods.aspx City of Bellingham washington February 2009

Neighborhooda newsletter for bellingham neighborhoodsNews

A letter from Mayor Dan Pike During recent weeks the City has implemented steps to coming months and a new official budget may result, that will address declining revenues as a result of continued local and act as our spending plan for the duration of 2009. In any event, nationwide economic difficulties. Updated revenue figures there will be shifts in staffing and services; however, we are indicate that the downward trend is occurring at an even taking great care to minimize any impact on service provision. more rapid rate than previously predicted. Recent sales tax preliminary numbers, based on November’s retail activity, During times like this it can be difficult to dissect show receipts for that month down by speculation about the city’s financial state as much as 16% from a year ago. and potential next steps. We are making it a priority to provide The proactive steps we took accurate information related to what in 2008 to soften the effects of is an ever-changing financial climate, these declining revenues were communicate frequently about steps being substantial; however, we recently implemented, and remain consistently accessible implemented a strategy to reduce to answer questions and provide information. our workforce, resulting in lay-offs for five city staff. The emotional impacts I want to express my gratitude to city of this action are felt by the entire city employees, who care so much about the services team and we are doing everything possible they provide to the public and care about each other. to avoid further staff reductions. It remains Neighborhoods and neighborhood associations are to be seen whether that will be possible. similarly committed to our community and to making our city the best it can be, even during times of austerity. This While we are doing all we can to maintain quality dedication is among the many qualities that make the City of public services and protect people’s jobs, each increment Bellingham known for its good people and top-quality services. of declining revenue brings new challenges. As such, we have identified that discontinuing the Neighborhood News, at least for 2009, is a necessary cost-savings step. While you will not see the newsletter in future months, we will continue to communicate with neighborhoods through our established and effective connections with neighborhood associations and maintain our commitment to posting current, accurate and emerging information on the city website. Dan Pike There is a process in motion to review current department Mayor of Bellingham budgets and decide where further cuts might be made. A set of recommendations will be brought to the City Council in the