City of
MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION
“JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE”—Information of Interest
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Mayor
proposes Neighborhood Services Pilot Project
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Citizen
Survey Results presented to City Council
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Join with
your neighbors for National Night Out Against Crime – August 1st
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Waterfront—LEED-ND
Concepts Explored
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Cornwall-Sunnyland—
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Puget
Neighborhood—
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South side
neighborhoods especially—Be Alert for Car Prowls
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July
Inside
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Presentations
highlight city planning ,housing, development projects
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Family
Heritage Research “How To” at
Mayor
Mark Asmundson has proposed a new initiative to improve services to City
neighborhoods. City Council is expected
to consider the proposal at their July 24 meeting.
During
the past year city staff has worked closely with neighborhood leaders,
particularly members of the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission, to better
understand neighborhood needs and interests. We have made changes to our
business practices as the result of this feedback, and are poised to make more
significant improvements to our neighborhood services programs. Among
suggestions we heard from MNAC members has been the creation of a program of
City government specifically dedicated to neighborhood services. Council Member Joan Beardsley has been
particularly interested in this idea.
Mayor
Asmundson will review the proposal with MNAC at their July meeting and take a
formal proposal to City Council on July 24.
The proposal includes the funding of a dedicated staff position for
neighborhood services with the larger goal of researching, recommending, and
piloting a neighborhood services program over the next year.
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Use various (past and future) research and evaluation methods to
understand neighborhood and citizen needs and priorities, and recommend ways to
meet those needs.
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Partner with neighborhood leaders and other volunteers to preserve
and enhance neighborhoods.
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Assist in amending or updating neighborhood plans.
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Provide improved public involvement programs, specifically
targeting neighborhoods.
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Provide timely, effective, easy-to-access information on
neighborhood issues.
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Improve coordination and
effectiveness city-wide among our many neighborhood-oriented programs, funding
opportunities, and communication tools
We
will keep you informed as this project unfolds as well as other purposeful
efforts to enhance public involvement and communication in City
government. (We’re working on a
fabulously helpful neighborhood information web page).
City officials commissioned a scientific survey in June
2006, assessing citizens' priorities and satisfaction with city services. More
than 500
Chief among the survey findings:
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Quality of life in
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Respondents are optimistic and believe
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Their major concern is growth and its effects. In response to an
open-ended question, 38% listed growth-related issues as the most important
problem city officials should address.
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City government is doing a good job meeting community needs, and
provides about the right amount of service;
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Respondents want to be informed and involved, and they receive
information about city government from many different places.
City officials expect to use these
results in a variety of ways, including to:
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Provide information to help make budget decisions;
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Identify satisfaction with city service delivery;
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Determine levels of support and priority for various services;
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Aid in involving the public in decision making;
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Help determine if vocal individuals and groups represent broad-based
opinions and perceptions
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Establish benchmarking data and identify trends over time.
The
complete survey, as well as a Powerpoint presentation of survey analysis and
highlights, are posted on the city’s website at www.cob.org.
For information, contact Janice Keller, communication coordinator, in the
Mayor’s Office at 676-6979.
Bellingham
Neighborhoods and the Bellingham Police Department will be involved in the
National Night Out Against Crime program for the 6th year running. It is a tradition for many
National Night Out
activities are designed to
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strengthen
neighborhood spirit and community partnerships,
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send a
message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
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heighten
crime and drug prevention awareness,
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generate
participation in local anti-crime programs,
From
To participate:
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Schedule
an event in your neighborhood. Events
could be something as simple as an ice cream social, neighborhood BBQ or a
progressive neighborhood dessert or dinner. Get ideas, information, and
assistance from Officer Tara Fleetwood
of the Bellingham Police Department (see below)
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[In
lieu of an event, turn your porch lights on between
To register your planned event (this helps us measure success and get you
ideas)
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Go to
our website at
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Complete the participation form
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Email,
call in, or send a completed Participation Sheet (PDF) to Officer Fleetwood at
Officer Fleetwood
tells us that on the form you can request a Police Department representative
speak at your function. You can choose
appropriate brochures for your neighborhood at the
Crime Prevention Information Fair on July 31 (see below).
Afterwards, let us
know of your success by calling or emailing your participation and hi- lights
of your event to Officer Fleetwood. It
would be great to let your neighborhood association know of your activities,
also, as this encourages others to participate.
Pre-function: Plan
to join us for the 2nd annual Crime
Prevention Information Fair on Saturday, July 29th at
City
and Port officials are exploring opportunities for integrating the principles
of smart growth, urbanism, and green buildings on the waterfront. Local
government staff, developers, and elected officials recently attended a
workshop hosted by Sustainable Connections, a local non-profit group, which
examined new LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Neighborhood
Development standards which are currently being developed to help communities
become more sustainable.
The
LEED-ND standards include compact design, proximity to transit, green building,
mixed housing types, and pedestrian- and bicycle- friendly design. Warmly received by the workshop participants,
these principles could help inform a better location, design, and construction
of neighborhoods and buildings on the waterfront. For questions, contact Nicole Oliver,
676-6982.
The
IMP defines appropriate uses, circulation patterns, storm water and utility
improvements, building height, landscaping, setbacks from property and/or
adjacent uses, signage and parking for the entire Area 7. The purpose of the IMP is to guide
development of this specific area and to supply the framework for
development. The application processing
will continue with a full City staff review and notification of the Public
Meeting before the Planning Commission.
Brian Smart in the Planning Division is handling the IMP application
process.
A public meeting on
the West Street Improvement Project is expected to attract many
As part of the City’s Six Year
Transportation Plan and 2006 Capital Budget, various public meetings have been
held as the project was developed.
Neighborhood Interest has been high. The project is designed to make the
street more attractive, have more traffic calming, and be much safer for
bicyclists and pedestrians. It will
provide the opportunity for neighbors turning left onto
The meeting will be at the
Efforts of
The Public Works Department will make crosswalk and sidewalk improvements along Donovan Avenue and Larrabee Avenue, including an overhead flashing crossing at 21st Street and Donovan Avenue. The Bellingham Police Department has agreed to assist with enforcement of crosswalk use and vehicle speeds in the school vicinity.
Part of the project is to implement a “Walking School Bus”
program, where trained parents walk with a group of children to school. A Safe
Routes to School community media campaign will target safe driving and
pedestrian awareness in school zones.
For more information, please visit the City’s website at www.cob.org or Kim Brown, Transportation Options
Coordinator, Public Works ,
Puget
Neighborhood met to consider various issues, including
Although some parking will be eliminated, concerns about possible use of the swale for parking by sports fans or employees of adjacent businesses should be addressed and discouraged by good signage. The elimination of this parking is important to the water quality of the creek as well as for safety of pedestrians using this corridor. The neighborhood requested street lighting and the city added ten lights every 100 feet for improved pedestrian safety.
On
Thursday, July 13th, the first neighborhood meeting regarding the
Our Crime Prevention Officers want you to know that we are
seeing an increase in car prowls around the south end of
Reminder: It doesn't work to leave your purse under the seat! If you are
going for a leisurely stroll around the
valuables at home! This does not prevent you from having your car broken
into but it reduces the risk as you have removed a potential opportunity. For more advice contact Officer Tara Fleetwood (tfleetwood@cob.org. Or to report suspicious activity or a break in phone 911!
July Inside Bellingham features new planning
director, fun at
Meet the city’s new
Planning Director, join the fun at Fairhaven Village Green, prevent crime by
meeting your neighbors, and more, on the July episode of Inside
Inside Bellingham airs on BTV10, the city’s government and
educational access channel, several times each week. Inside
Bellingham also is available to view on the city’s website. For BTV10 schedule information and access to
on-line television programs, visit the city’s website at www.cob.org.
The
July episode features:
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Walking around
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Preventing crime by meeting your neighbors during National Night
Out Against Crime;
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Joining in the fun at Fairhaven Village Green, with community
member Brian Griffin;
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Getting outside to volunteer at parks and trails;
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Conserving water by collecting rainwater;
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And more!
Inside Bellingham, produced by the City of
Presentations highlight city
planning, housing, development projects
The hour-long presentations will take place at noon in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, and will include time for discussion. The topics are:
Noon, Wednesday, July 19 – Priority Residential Code Fixes. Hosted by Planner Chris Koch, this broad overview will define current housing trends, detail problems with outdated regulations, and describe code solutions now underway that will enable the types of residential development that we want in our existing and new neighborhoods.
Noon, Wednesday,
August 16 – Community Housing Report.
Hosted by
Noon, Wednesday,
September 20 – Adventures in
Noon, Wednesday,
October 18 – Home Rehabilitation Program.
Joyce Bennett and Matthew Bautista of Community Development will present
several home rehabilitation success stories from this wonderful city
program. Information will be provided
regarding who can qualify for this low-interest loan program.
Noon, Wednesday,
November 15 – Historical Buildings in
Each noontime presentation will be aired on BTV10 and available at the Bellingham Public Library. The Planning & Community Development Department is committed to improving public information and outreach, so please come and help make this series a success. For more information contact Nicole Oliver, Department: Planning & Community Development, (360) 676-6982, Email: noliver@cob.org
The Whatcom Genealogical Society and Bellingham Public
Library are offering free introductory classes on how to use HeritageQuest
Online, a genealogy database.
Class participants will learn how to trace their family’s history by searching HeritageQuest Online resources including the US Federal Census (1790-1930), Revolutionary War records, Freedman Bank Records from the close of the Civil War and a wide variety of genealogy and local history books and journal articles.
HeritageQuest Online is available in the library and from home via the Internet for library card holders.
The 45 minute class will take place in the Central Library’s catalog area before the library opens. Class size is limited to ten and patrons must call to register (676-6860). You must be comfortable using a computer mouse. (Free mouse tutorials are available at the library for patrons who want to learn, or brush up on their mouse skills.)
19 July 2006 Wednesday 9:00AM - 9:45AM
19 August 2006 Saturday 9:00AM - 9:45AM