MAYO
“JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE”—Information of
Interest
You’ll be hearing a lot about the New Whatcom Master Plan in the coming
months, as City and Port officials work together to make our vision of a
healthy, vibrant waterfront a reality.
Stay tuned as the New Whatcom Master Plan project comes to life!
What is the New Whatcom Master Plan?
The
City of
During
the next five months, the “New Whatcom Master Plan” will be created. It starts
with Strategic Guidelines, released for public review in early November, which
outline the primary goals and visions for the project. After these are reviewed
and adopted in December, site designers will apply the guidelines to actual
site plan concepts, creating 4-6 options that will be available for public
comment and review in January 2006.
This
represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform
City
and Port officials are committed to working together, and with the public, to
develop a master plan that ensures this area adds value and vitality to the
surrounding neighborhoods and becomes a source of pride for the entire
community. The City will provide extensive new roads, utilities, parks and
trails. The Port will conduct a comprehensive environmental cleanup of the site
and the waterway in keeping with goals defined by the Bellingham Bay
Pilot Project, and will develop new visitor and permanent moorage.
This
is a great time for everyone in the community to stay informed and get
involved. You may simply want to get the latest information as the plan takes
shape, or you may want to roll up your sleeves and get involved in a public
planning workshop. Whatever your level of interest, the Port and City encourage
you to be part of this important process.
How to get involved:
Visit the project website: www.newwhatcom.org
The New Whatcom website includes a meeting schedule, project
overview and more.
Watch BTV10
All key meetings and events related to the New Whatcom Master Plan
will be filmed and aired on BTV10, the city’s government and education access
channel. Check the BTV10 schedule at www.cob.org/BTV10
Attend meetings and workshops
Public meetings and workshops are scheduled this fall and early in
2006. Check the website for a specific schedule.
Schedule a speaker
Invite a speaker to make a presentation to your neighborhood
association, service club or other group. Contact the Mayor’s Office for
details.
Check out the library
New Whatcom Master Plan materials and copies of video
presentations are available at the Bellingham Public Library.
We now have a new neighborhood
association for Guide Meridian/Cordata thanks to the work of a small group of
dedicated neighbors led by Julie Guy and Edie Norton. Julie and Edie gathered
this group in March of this year to lobby for parks and trails for the
area. Meeting every two weeks to
identify resources and plan action steps, the group attracted more and more
neighbors interested in the cause and willing to work for it. They invited city and county officials to
speak to them and sought information about zoning, city codes, parks plans,
etc.
Richard Maneval, president of the
Association of Neighborhood Associations, attended virtually all of their
meetings, advising and encouraging them. By late August they had discussed,
developed, and adopted their by-laws. In September, 70 neighbors met at
Birchwood Presbyterian Church and elected the 11 member board of directors who
then elected officers and established committees. Co-presidents are Cathy Starr and Adrienne
Lederer.
The initial focus on parks and trails
in the Guide Meridian/Cordata area continues, but as residential development
has increased exponentially in recent months, traffic and transportation issues
have also become a priority. Through subcommittees, members are pursuing
information and following city and county activities regarding parks and
trails, new residential developments in the area, transportation and traffic
issues, comprehensive plan development, and city council and planning
commission meetings. Committees also focus on programs and publicity and
include an online newsletter titled “The Insider.”
As Edie
explained, many Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood Association members are new
to
360
738-8966) or Cathy Starr (crstarr@comcast.net - 360 647-6069).
The City
Council is reviewing the draft chapter by chapter during a series of public
hearings and work sessions. (see
schedule on last page). The Mayor’s
Neighborhood Advisory Commission’s review and recommendations have been forwarded
to Council as soon as completed for their consideration.
The
City and County are working on an inter-local agreement that would revise the
schedule for making zoning and boundary changes in
In addition,
our work on the Shoreline Master Plan will continue into the first quarter of
2006. Contact Steve Sundin (ssundin@cob.org) of our staff for more
information.
Except for
the above, we expect the City Council to complete their review by the end of
the year. The target date for final vote
is December 12. For further information
contact Greg Aucutt at gaucutt@cob.org or
676 6982.
The
winter storm season is here, along with the potential for high winds, flooding,
frigid temperatures, and heavy snowfall. Normally, the Bellingham Fire
and Police Departments provide essential services without interruption.
However, during big storms emergency services face big challenges. During
the blizzard of 1996 fire and law enforcement resources were overwhelmed and
crippled by over four feet of snow, 50 mile per hour winds, and snow drifts 2
stories high. A countywide disaster was declared. 911 medical,
rescue, and fire calls were triaged so our limited resources could be used for
life threatening emergencies.
As
we saw with Hurricane Katrina, it is critical that our citizens realize that
every household must prepare for taking care of themselves and looking out for
their neighbors during a disaster. While you can count on your local
emergency services for routine localized emergency events, you need to count on
yourself and your neighbors to help in the initial stages of a catastrophic
regional disaster. Washington State Emergency Management and your
Bellingham Fire Department recommend the following disaster preparedness action
steps:
v
Stockpile consumable items that can last a minimum of 3
days (consider stocking up for a minimum of 7 days):
Ø
Bottled water- - one gallon per person, per day
Ø
Non-perishable food that can be easily prepared (think cases of
Top Ramen for example!)
Ø
First aid supplies - enough to handle basic needs
Ø
Extra important prescription medicines (you likely will be unable
to refill your prescriptions for several days)
Ø
A portable radio-with extra batteries
Ø
Flashlight(s)-with extra batteries
Ø
A list of important contact phone numbers – include email
addresses too!
Ø
Clothing and bedding/sleeping bags for low temperatures and loss
of normal heating
v
If electricity and/or gas utilities are cut off, use extreme
caution in using candles and alternate heat sources.
Ø
Don’t leave burning candles unattended or next to
combustibles.
Ø
Don’t use alternate heat sources like barbeques or non-ventilating
fuel burning heat sources indoors without adequate ventilation. Using
these devices indoors exposes you to deadly levels of carbon monoxide – a
silent and stealthy killer. Be careful with any alternative heat source you
use.
Ø
Ensure that electric ranges and other appliances are turned off.
This reduces the chance of fire and/or appliance damage as power is restored.
v
If you have an emergency and must call 911, realize that it may
take longer to reach your location, if possible at all.
v
Check on your neighbors if you can, especially those you know may
need help.
Fire
Chief Bill Boyd says, "rest assured, when disaster strike here we will do
everything in our power to keep you safe, ensure continuity of government, and
help recover as quickly as possible. But we can't do it alone.
We'll need your help too. Get prepared!"
For
more information on preparing for all types of disaster events, contact the
Bellingham Fire Department at 676-6831, or Whatcom County Division of Emergency
Management at 676-6681. Winter preparedness information is available to
download through the Washington State Emergency Management Department at:
http://www.emd.wa.gov/5-prog/prgms/pubed/winterprep/winter-prep-idx.htm
Engineering Manager, Ravyn Whitewolf, reports that
we are wrapping up these PW projects:
v
Downtown/CBD: Our
overlay of the
alleys off of
v
Meridian / Guide Meridian: The roundabout at the
intersection of Cordata Parkway (second roundabout on Cordata) and Westerly
Drive and resurfacing of Cordata Parkway between Bakerview Road and the new
roundabout improvement. This is a
cooperative effort with
v
Fairhaven/Edgemoor/South: Our installation of curbs,
gutters and sidewalks on Chuckanut Drive from 12th Street to Iris Lane and the
bicycle lane and new streetlights!
We’re done, come see!
v
v The
Birchwood Neighborhood Park picnic shelter.
v Sunnyland
Neighborhood Memorial Park Veterans’ Memorial—dedication
is—11 AM on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11.
For
folks who use public parking downtown, we want to let you know about changes to
both parking rates and fines, and the installation of automated pay stations in
the Parkade and
Automated Pay Station
Installations (LUKE)
We
will be installing automated pay stations (brand name “LUKE”) in the Parkade in
November and on
v
In
the Parkade--LUKE pay stations will be located at each of the three main floor
stairwells and will be available for short term parking use beginning in
November.
v
Along
These
will be much more convenient as you can use US cash (only), debit or credit
cards and won’t be dependent on the presence of a cashier.
Parking Rate Changes
Parking rates
and fines will increase
v
Hourly
parking rate will increase from $.25/hour to $.50/hour.
v
Parking
enforcement will be in operation from
v
Fines
for meter infractions will increase from $5.00 to $10.00. There will no longer be an early pay discount
(currently reduced to $3.00 if paid within 72 hours).
v
All
other parking infractions increase from $10.00 to $20.00.
v
Rate
increases for monthly permit parking varies.
Parking
meter rates and fines are increasing for several reasons:
v
To
discourage meter-feeders (concentrating enforcement on meter feeders is
time-intensive and expensive).
v
To
generate needed revenue to plan for and implement system expansion.
v
To
promote alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle travel.
v
To
keep up with inflation.
Ø
Meter rates have not changed since
1992. Simply adjusted annually for inflation,
meters should cost $.77/hour.
Ø
Ticket fines have not changed since
1986.
For
more information on our parking services email parksmart@cob.org.
The Bellingham
Public Library Board of Trustees continues weighing options for an expanded or
new library facility. The Board has been meeting twice monthly in 2005 to move
this important community project forward.
Planning
for expansion began several years ago because the current library building no
longer can efficiently serve the library and information needs of the growing
For 2006 the
Board’s work plan includes a structural study of the Fairhaven Branch library,
a review of options for better serving the northern part of the community, and continuing work on potential sites for a
replacement central facility. Funding
for preliminary design work is included in the Mayor’s proposed 2006 budget, so
site selection is an important step in this process. While continuing to look at
various other sites, our work of late has focused on two options:
The current “library block” as an
option
The City
commissioned an engineering study for the current library building and “library
block”. Completed in May, the study
provided good information about the feasibility of expanding here. We have details about the structure and
seismic stability of the building as well as what is under the surface of the
park behind the library.
Additionally,
the Board used the Bellingham Planning Group for volumetric studies and
developing models for potential remodel or replacement on the current property,
(but with an eye to the retention of a much-loved public green space). We now have a good visual sense of what a
larger facility could look like on the block retaining some open, usable public
green space.
The Municipal Court site as an option
The Board is
looking carefully at the current Municipal Court property on the corner of
Girard and “C” Streets. Since the city
owns this block and the two adjacent blocks, this site has a number of
advantages for a new library facility.
Preliminary
discussions with city officials and contacts with citizens in the neighborhood
are beginning, and will provide important input that will be considered when
the Library Board makes its final recommendation to the City Council.
Your input is welcome!
All Library
Board meetings are open to the public and are held at the Bellingham Public
Library. Each regular meeting contains
an opportunity for public comment. Meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, November
15th and December 20th at
For further
details on the need for a new library, please check the library’s website (www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org)
and click on “Facilities Needs”.
Some say the
mark of a true north westerner is to welcome the opportunity a rainy day brings
to hunker down with a good book or to take the cabin fevered children to our
great Museum. Hours are from
Our fabulous, popular (over 18,000 attendees from
all over the
Then, go across the street to see "Victorian
Architecture: Gingerbread & Fish-Scale Shingles," in the 1892
For smaller kids, go down
Afterwards, when it is nice and sunny, stroll your
neighborhood with your kids and identify the Victorian homes there. Almost all our neighborhoods have a few
Victorians.
Published by City of Bellingham Mayor’s Office: mayorsoffice@cob.org
Upcoming
Public Meetings of the Planning Commission (P.C.) and City Council (C.C.) at
|
Date |
Subject |
Type |
|
Nov. 9 Nov. 10 |
Comprehensive Plan Joint City/County UGA |
C.C. Work Sessions P.C. Work Session |
|
Nov. 14 |
Preliminary Budget |
C.C. Public Hearing |
|
Nov. 15 |
Comprehensive Plan |
C.C. Work Sessions |
|
Nov 16 |
|
Meeting |
|
Nov. 17 |
Shoreline Master Program Review of New Whatcom
Strategic Guidelines |
P.C. Work Session |
|
Nov. 21 |
Historic Preservation
Ordinance; Birchwood NPA/ rezone;
Demo Program for Permanently Affordable Home Ownership ordinance. |
C. C. Public Hearing |
|
Nov. 22 |
Comprehensive Plan |
C.C. Work Sessions |
|
Nov. 29 Nov. 29 |
Joint Council/Port
Commission Work Session on Waterfront Strategic Guidelines Comprehensive Plan |
C.C. Work Sessions |
|
Dec. 5 |
Rezone |
C.C. Public Hearing |
|
Dec 7 |
Council / Port Action on
New Whatcom Strategic Plan |
City/Port Special
Meeting |
|
|
Shoreline Master Program |
P.C. Public Hearing |
|
|
|
|