“Just So You Are Aware”

Information of Interest to Our Neighborhoods

Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission

October 13, 2005

Update on Neighborhood Calming Efforts

We want to let you know of our efforts to assist our neighborhoods with problems of disruptive and noisy neighbors, and other public nuisances. Last year we began looking at how we could obtain greater cooperation from rental property owners in dealing with noisy tenants, garbage, and illegal parking. Here are some of the concrete steps we are taking to address these issues:

v Enforcement Action: The City has identified a legal basis for taking action against rental property owners who fail to control or evict those tenants who continue to create a public nuisance. We have found that under existing case law the noise provisions of our current Municipal Code should enable us to address these situations, including abatement of the property (potentially including acquisition of the property through court action). We are working with our legal and code enforcement staff and police department to better utilize this enforcement mechanism.

v More Enforcement Action--Party Patrol: Last month we reported on the initiation of emphasis patrols to address underage drinking parties and related problems such as fighting, vandalism and trespassing. Beginning September 16, we put emphasis patrols of four officers in York, Sehome, Happy Valley and Central Business District neighborhoods on the weekends. Lieutenant Scott Snider of the Bellingham Police Department reports that walking the neighborhoods and relieved of other calls, these emphasis patrols proved very effective. Citations include

Minor in Possession	78
Drinking in Public	21
Disorderly Conduct (party host)	23
Driving Under the Influence	6
Furnishing Alcohol to Minors	2
Littering	2
Assorted traffic and other offenses	25

We are able to provide the extra patrols through existing Bellingham Police Department (BPD) overtime budgets and grant funds awarded to Western Washington University for the Campus Community Coalition (CCC) by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the Washington State Department of Alcohol and Substance Abuse. For further information, contact Bellingham Police Department 676-6924.

v WWU-Bellingham Campus Community Coalition (CCC). This group is under the staff leadership of Western Washington University but includes Chief Carroll and BPD community policing and crime prevention staff, code enforcement officers and staff, legal and judicial staff, a representative from the City Council and representatives from Whatcom County Sheriff, Washington Liquor Control Board, Neighborhood Associations, and WWU students. The Coalition’s activities include:

Ø Neighborhood Mediation Project: CCC is working with Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center to develop a trained cadre of neighbors and students to work as co-mediators on conflicts between students and neighbors. See information on these training opportunities below.

Ø Late Night Activities: The university is working on a sustainable program to provide on-campus late night activities for students.

Ø Transitional Off Campus Living orientation provided for students moving off campus helps them transition to living ‘neighborly” in a neighborhood.

v Neighborhood Accountability Pilot Project. CCC/Bellingham Police Department/Municipal Court and the York Neighborhood Association are doing a pilot program in which the Police and Municipal Court identify offenders for referral for community service with their Neighborhood Association. Sehome and Happy Valley Neighborhood Associations are also interested in participating.

v Notice Letters. The City’s Crime Prevention Officer and Patrol resources work together to provide a notice letter to the manager or owner of properties that have been cited for these problems explaining the citation, requesting intervention with the tenants, and providing suggestions on ways to address the problem.

v Landlord Training Program. This comprehensive 8-hour class through the Bellingham Police Department is offered to owners/managers of rental property to provide education and tools to prevent crime in rental property.

v Neighborhood Watch Program. The Bellingham Police Department conducts meetings and provides handout materials for tenants to help educate them in their role in reducing crime and complaints from adjacent properties.

v Property Activity Reports. A list of police reports/arrests at specific addresses are provided to owners/managers on a request basis and provided to certified properties at least on an annual basis.

v Attendance at neighborhood meetings. On an as requested basis, BPD officers attend neighborhood meetings to address concerns in the area.

v Regular Patrols. The Mayor’s proposal to add 5 additional officers to the BPD and a Deputy City Attorney Senior will provide additional staff resources to supplement those currently responding to and processing complaints in this area.

v MNAC Information—We hope to expand the information exchange with our neighborhoods over this issue, through this newsletter and through various neighborhood meetings.

Chuckanut Bay Greenway --“Longest, Wildest Public Shore in Area”

The City of Bellingham received a $600,000 state grant from the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation to assist in the acquisition of shoreline at Inspiration Point/Woodstock Farm in the Chuckanut Bay Greenway. This enables enhanced shoreline and wildlife protection and provides public access to Chuckanut Bay.

The addition of this property creates the longest and wildest public shore in the area. Funds will be used for site planning and constructing public trails, which will be accessible from the Interurban Trail.

Bellingham’s project application was the top-ranked project from among 17 proposals submitted in a statewide competition in August 2004. The available grants were to support the purchase, improvement, and protection of aquatic lands for public purposes. The funds are from the Legislature’s Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account, established in 1984 to ensure that money generated from aquatic lands managed by the state Department of Natural Resources is used to protect and enhance those lands. Since 2003, the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation has administered the program.

Contacts: Paul Leuthold, Director, Bellingham Parks and Recreation, 676-6985 or Laura Johnson, Director, Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, 360-902-3000

Robust Community Involvement Planned as Waterfront Redevelopment Begins

Late 2005 through to Spring 2006 will mark a highly significant time in the redevelopment of Bellingham’s waterfront, and we hope you’ll get involved!

The Bellingham community collaborated with the City and Port on a new vision for the community’s waterfront, led by the citizen Waterfront Futures Group. This diverse group established a vision that calls for redevelopment in some areas, support for enhanced economic development, and preservation of open spaces that will allow substantial public access to, and enjoyment of, the Bellingham Bay waterfront.

The “New Whatcom Master Plan” is the next step in achieving this vision. Beginning this October, the City and Port begin the process of moving from the vision to a concrete plan for waterfront renewal. Working closely with the Bellingham community, the project team, which includes City and Port staff and a consulting team, will craft a number of design concepts. These design concepts will then be refined, also through a robust public process, into a single “preferred design scheme” for waterfront restoration and revitalization. The final design alternative is expected to be adopted by the Bellingham City Council and Bellingham Port Commission by March 2006.

Both the City and the Port want to ensure that the Bellingham community can “see their fingerprints” on the final design, knowing they have shaped how this revitalization effort is carried out over the long term. Plans to involve the public include two community open houses in January 2006, newsletters, video presentations on BTV10, a project website, meetings with interest groups and neighborhoods, and more.

You’ll be hearing a lot more about this project in the weeks and months to come, including specific dates for upcoming events. For more information in the meantime, please visit the city’s website at www.cob.org and click on “waterfront planning.”

Memorial Park Dedication—Honoring Our Veterans

On this year’s Veteran’s Day, our community will dedicate a new central memorial to the almost 500 local servicemen and women who gave their lives for our country from WWI through the current Iraq War. The organizers of this event--Veterans groups, KGMI Radio, and the City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department--expect this to be a very wonderful and well attended dedication. It is a project for which many veterans and community volunteers have been working for sometime and which KGMI Radio promoted, nurtured, and is seeing to completion. Thanks to all these folks for this important work!

The new central monument will honor all the fallen soldiers from Whatcom County from WWI to the current Iraq war. The monument will be made up of 6 slanted granite walls and each wall will represent a war with the names of the soldiers who died serving in that war. The walls will be placed in a circular plaza with a lighted flagpole in the center, and benches between the walls providing a sitting area for visitors to reflect. Leading into the central monument will be a sidewalk made up of more than 1000 pavers that people can purchase (600 purchased so far) and have engraved for service men and women who did not die in a war. Along the sidewalk will be more benches and trees. The original archway will remain the same, but will be restored.

Altogether local businesses and community members have donated over $100,000 in cash, goods and services for the memorial and park. The ceremony will begin at 11 A. M. Come honor all those who served our county so well. Memorial Park is located a block from James Street behind Sunnyland School. Off site parking and shuttle buses are being arranged.

In the Neighborhoods -- Parks’ Projects Progress

v Birchwood Neighborhood: The new trailhead parking lot and trail connection to the Bay to Baker Trail is now complete off Marine Drive at Timpson Way, providing access to Little Squalicum Park. This is part of the Coast Millennium Trail.

Squalicum Creek Park: This $2.3 million dollar project funded partly by the Olympic Pipeline Disaster Settlement is in design stage with construction beginning in 2006. The park will include one combination baseball/softball field, trails, parking, restroom and storm water treatment. First we have to do some site and utilities preparation

The Birchwood Neighborhood Park picnic shelter is almost complete….part of our original Parks master plan and funded by your Real Estate Excise Taxes. Completion is anticipated for the end of October.

South Neighborhood: Construction of the Interurban Trail Segment of the Coast Millennium Trail is in progress. Your Greenway and Department of Transportation dollars at work for you!

Mount Baker Neighborhood: We continue to work on the Northridge Park Phase One Trail connecting Woodside Way with the existing park trail that winds around the Tanglewood development. Real Estate Excise Tax revenue is the funding source. We hope to complete next month.

Puget Neighborhood: City Council has taken steps to move the improvements to the Civic Athletic Complex ahead by making additional REET and Sewer funds available to help cover the costs. (Remember we had to go back to the drawing board because of higher than anticipated bid proposals). For now, we have eliminated the artificial turf proposed for Joe Martin but may be able to add it back to the project later. We will still be installing a new concession and restrooms, new roof and new entry. Civic Stadium improvements include new locker rooms, remodeling of existing locker rooms, enlarged restrooms, improved access and game management area. In addition, the parking lot will be paved and landscaped. The project will be bid later this year with construction beginning 2006.

Whatcom Falls Neighborhood: The installation of new, safe, accessibly equipment for Whatcom Falls Park Upper Playground will be completed next week.

South Hill Neighborhood: Tiger construction will begin work on the Taylor Dock Upland Park (10^th Street and Taylor Avenue) by the first of November. The park development will include restroom, wood gateway entry, landscaping, covered picnic shelter on the dock, and a floating dock and ramp. The Taylor Dock itself will be closed from time to time during this project.

Sunnyland Neighborhood: We will be dedicating our new veterans memorial at Memorial Park—11 AM on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11.

In the Neighborhoods: Public Works Projects Getting Done

v Birchwood and Columbia: We completed structural reinforcement of 4 existing culverts along the Squalicum Truck Route and incorporated fish passage elements as part of the project. Each of the culverts has two or three barrels measuring roughly 6 feet by 5 feet and range in length from 100 to 475 feet. Our Biennial Bridge Inspection Program identified these as needing work.

v We also completed a project to improve a portion of Lower Squalicum Creek which used integrated stream bank protection features to restore salmon habitat and provide protection for the eroding banks. The work included the creation of a small channel, the installation of four engineered logjams and one ”crib wall” fashioned from logs and root wads (using natural solution to do our work).

Downtown/CBD: We’ll be overlaying the alleys off of State Street.

The construction of Depot Market Square on Railroad Avenue between Maple and Chestnut Street started in September. The contractor has fenced off only the lower part of the parking lot while the Farmers Market is in session through October. In November, the remainder of the parking lot will be restricted for construction. Existing permit parking on the lot has been relocated and the remainder of the lot has been opened up for free, two hour use. Additional street parking has been arranged and signing has been provided.

Two more in the works: A new storm overflow structure will be constructed on C Street southwest of Holly Street. In addition, structural rehabilitation of the Holly Street bridge over Whatcom Creek will be getting started over the next few months.

Meridian / Guide Meridian: We are constructing a roundabout at the intersection of Cordata Parkway (second roundabout on Cordata) and Westerly Drive and resurfacing Cordata Parkway between Bakerview Road and the new roundabout improvement. This is a cooperative effort with Whatcom Community College to improve traffic flow in the area. The project will be substantially complete by the end of October.

Another project benefiting these neighborhoods is the construction of the Kearney Road Reservoir. We need additional water storage to provide fire protection and more uniform pressure in the Cordata-Bakerview areas. A 2.48 million gallon reservoir will replace a smaller tank in the service area.

Fairhaven/Edgemoor/South: The project to install curbs, gutters and sidewalks on Chuckanut Drive from 12th Street to Iris Lane is near completion. We’re also adding a bicycle lane and new streetlights as part of the project.

v In Fairhaven, we have completed street overlays on parts of Cowgill, Wilson, and 12th.

v Happy Valley: Street overlays completed on portions of Donovan, 21st, 34th, Douglas and Mill,

v Samish: More street overlays completed: Donovan between Connolly and Taylor, including parts of 34th and 35th.

South Hill: The construction of the new water pump station will provide fire flow protection for W.W.U.’s student housing. We will eventually remove the tower and the site will be landscaped. We are also putting in about 1,300 feet of new water main, sanitary sewer main and structural pavement overlay on Highland Drive.

Resolving Neighborhood Conflicts Through Mediation!

v Want to know how to prevent and resolve conflicts with neighbors, renters, or co-workers?

v Want to help build a culture of friendship and cooperation in Bellingham’s neighborhoods?

If your answer is yes, then consider the Neighborhood Mediation Program developed by the Campus Community Coalition (CCC) in partnership with the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center. The Neighborhood Mediation Program will provide training to WWU students and neighbors to work together to address neighborhood conflicts. It is part of the NEST (Neighborhoods Engaging with Students) Project which seeks to connect students and non-student neighbors in positive ways. The NEST Project focuses on the Happy Valley, Sehome, and York Neighborhoods, but residents of other neighborhoods are also welcome to attend.

These upcoming trainings are free of charge, but please register ahead of time to ensure your space!

Dealing with Conflict

This introduction to conflict management focuses on prevention by addressing the root of conflict and how different people respond to it, and exploring constructive ways to approach challenging situations.

v Thursday, October 27, 6-9pm, at the WECU Ed Center, 511 E. Holly St.

v Saturday November 5, 9am-Noon, at the WECU Ed Center, 511 E. Holly St.

v Monday, November 7, 6-9pm, at the WECU Ed Center, 511 E. Holly St.

Neighborhood Conflict Management

This interactive training builds skills in both conflict prevention and intervention. It introduces participants to a conflict resolution process and prepares them to take a proactive role in resolving conflict. The training will include time to begin developing neighborhood-specific approaches to responding to conflicts, and participants will become empowered to serve as Neighborhood Conflict Managers.

v Evenings: November 28 & 29 and December 7 & 8, 6-9pm, location TBA

v Saturdays: December 3 & 10, 9am-4pm, location TBA

To register, please call the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center at 676-0122. For more information about the Campus Community Coalition or the Neighborhoods Engaging with Students project, please contact Lara Welker at 650-6863 or Lara.Welker@wwu.edu.

City Upgrades Utility Billing and Introduces New Bills

We have completed upgrades to our utility billing system. The most visible improvement is the introduction of new full-sized utility bills.

We have recently completed a necessary upgrade of our utility billing software program. As part of this upgrade, City utility bills (for water, sewer and storm water) are changing from a postcard bill to a full-size bill with return envelope.

City Finance Director Therese Holm said the software upgrades and new utility bills will help her department provide better customer service both now and in the future.

“The new bills will provide customers more detailed information about their utility accounts and eliminate mail issues we were having with the postcard-size bill. Customers have also indicated they would like a return envelope and the new bills enable us to provide that,” Holm said. In the future, the new billing system will allow utility customers to view utility information and make payments on-line.

Dick McKinley, Director of Public Works is also pleased with the upgrades and new billing format. “Providing a detailed bill is important as more metered customers are added to the system,” said McKinley. “Metered water customers, in particular, will now have the ability to track their water consumption and conservation efforts on an on-going basis,” McKinley said.

Utility rates shown on the new bill format have not changed from the prior billing. Annual utility rate changes have been approved and are scheduled to go into effect over the next several years. For more information about the new utility bills or to view a schedule of utility rate changes, please visit www.cob.org/finance.

City Planning Director Resigns to Address Family Needs

Planning and Community Development Director Jorge Vega has submitted his resignation so that he and his wife Sarah can move to Georgia in December to be close to her family, especially her aging mother.

The Vegas found a house in Georgia last December, intending to relocate before the end of 2005, and have made frequent visits to the south in preparation for the move.

Expressing regret that Jorge is leaving, Mayor Asmundson said, “Jorge filled an important role during a critical time in our community, and I am grateful for his leadership, He gave 110%. He worked countless hours, tackled difficult issues, and did so with enthusiasm and good humor.” Asmundson said Vega’s leadership has been essential in addressing growth planning needs and launching the city’s one-stop permit center, which has greatly improved customer service and timely building application permit processing. The department also began the process of developing a Single Unified Development Code to provide a concise, timely, and predictable permitting process, while at the same time protecting the qualities and character that mean so much to our community.

Vega was appointed as Planning Director in May 2003. His resignation is effective December 15. Greg Aucutt, a long-time Bellingham Planning Department employee and a senior planner with the Department, will be appointed interim director while the City searches for Vega’s replacement.