Edgemoor Neighborhood Association

Monthly Board Meeting

October 3, 2013

 

 

The meeting held in the Library at Fairhaven Middle School was called to order at approximately 7:01pm by ENA President Lylene Johnson. Lauri Grove recorded the minutes.

 

Minutes: The September meeting minutes were approved as submitted.

Agenda: The evening’s agenda was approved

Introductions: Lylene asked that the round of introductions include ideas for future guest speakers. Topics of interest were rain gardens, information about security systems and landscaping.

 

Treasure’s Report: Diane MacLean

     Diane reported she deposited the $500 reimbursement check from the city and disbursed a $469 payment to Sandie for the website expenses. The ENA account balance is $1488.80.

 

Guest Speaker: Dr Baker, Mark Peterson

     Dr Baker, Superintendant of the Bellingham School District began with an explanation of the difference between a school bond and a levy. The vote this November would be for the proposed bond issue, which by law can only be used for construction and upgrades to facilities. Whereas a school levy funds teachers and teaching material. A community based task force was put together to study school conditions in the district as a whole, to determine needs and make recommendations. Mark Peterson, the Chairman of this Facilities Planning Task Force further educated us about the process and reasoning behind the school bond that would be on the November ballot. The committee had representation from all 22 schools, each brought specific need to the table, but also worked together to consider every child in the district. He expressed the fact that Bellingham has several tired facilities that weren’t working to create a positive learning environment. The group struggled with the economy and the hard decision to ask for a lot but felt that it was important to include each of the following recommendations.

 

·     Rebuild Sehome High School

·     Get students out of portables – build Options/Innovations High School

·     Rebuild Happy Valley Elementary School

·     Protect the community's investment in all schools with roof repair, heating, ventilation and energy-efficiency upgrades

·     Make safety improvements at schools

·     Build a central kitchen for healthier food for all students

·     Plan for environmental learning upgrades at the Lake Whatcom Gordon Carter Conservation Site

·     Renovate Lowell and Parkview elementary schools

·     Make safety improvements and renovations at the existing student transportation and district office buildings

·     Upgrades to high school fields for physical education, sports and community recreation

 

The construction would be done in phases over a ten year span. The cost to taxpayers is estimated at 49 cents per $100,000 of assessed property value the first year. For more information and a detailed list of proposals click into www.bellinghamschools.org/bond.

 

 

 

Guest Speaker: Neighborhood Anti-Crime Team.

     Lylene contacted Officer Harper who along with Officer Bean came to the meeting to address concerns over recent criminal activity in Edgemoor. There were vehicle prowls and a couple robberies in the neighborhood – one while the resident was asleep.  Officer Harper passed around a photo of a female suspect and offered that the suspicious car was an old Buick Wildcat. He asked that we all be extra diligent, lock doors, lock cars, and do not leave valuables in the car. Neighbors are the best ‘watch-dogs’ so make the call and report anything that looks suspicious.

 

MNAC Report: Diane MacLean

     Ted Carlson, Public Works Director gave an update of the assessment of city owned buildings and plans to use them more efficiently by consolidating city offices. The Federal Building downtown was mostly vacant and will now house city staff and Public Works. MNAC decided to hold the October meeting in the Federal Building.

 

Business and Issues:

    ENA Account:  Questions were brought up about how we want to solicit donations, how we should spent money, whether or not to fund a brochure mail-out, how to best manage our yearly expenses.

    GP Coal Terminal: The scoping process is over. Lummi is not for the project and has voiced disapproval. This lead to a discussion of oil transportation which will add to train traffic. Shannon Wright may have more information to educate us on oil trains.

     Community Forest Municipal Park District: John Brown reported the CCFMPD is working on the Inter-local Agreement and the Conservation Easement. The two must come together. The City Council will have the final say then off to the attorney to make the deal. Hopefully this will happen by the end of the year.

  

Closing:

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45pm

 

The next meeting will be held 7-9pm on Thursday, November 7th in the Library at Fairhaven Middle School. Everyone is encouraged and welcomed to come meet your neighbors and get to know your neighborhood.

      

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Lauri Grove

(Minutes are subject to approval)