ENA Newsletter January 2004

The proposed bylaws were read at the January ENA meeting, but there was no time for comments or discussion. Bylaws are the backbone of an organization, so please take the time to read them. Email contact at edgemoorneighborhood dot com if you have any suggestions for changes to the proposed ENA Bylaws or would like to attend the next ENA Bylaws Committee meeting. There is also a category on the Edgemoor Neighborhood Forum created for discussion of the proposed bylaws.

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The Communications Committee has lost a few members due to busy schedules. Additional committee members are needed to help determine the future direction of the website and to develop content. Please consider joining the committee to help us continue to provide this service to Edgemoor neighborhood.

As the website has developed, you may have noticed a few changes. The structure and content has evolved as needs arose and members made suggestions. As I see it, the purpose of the website is to provide news and information to Edgemoor residents, to connect Edgemoor neighborhood (which has many diverse organizations and communities), and to create a sense of community. When the new Edgemoor Neighborhood Association was formed last summer, it also became the vehicle for providing information about ENA activities.

A proposal has recently been made to create a separate ENA website strictly for the business of ENA. Hopefully, this decision will be made with the best interests of Edgemoor residents and ENA members in mind. Please email your thoughts on this matter to email at EdgemoorNeighborhood dot com.. This proposal will be discussed at the next ENA Communications Committee meeting.

I invite you visit the new Edgemoor Neighborhood Forum. It was recently added to the website for Edgemoor residents to post messages about upcoming meetings, local events or topics of interest. The forum is currently under development, so your ideas and suggestions are welcome. Forum moderators are needed to visit the site often and monitor postings. If you would like to be a forum moderator, please let me know.

Your feedback is always welcome.

Sandie Koplowitz

The Growth and Land Use Committee gathered this month to discuss development issues that are happening in the surrounding area. We discussed the application process regarding the 10th and McKenzie development as well as other projects that we've heard about.

We also discussed the speakers for the upcoming ENA meeting on the 3rd of Feb. Currently we have Jorge Vega (Planning Director), Chris Spens (Environmental Planner), and Dick McKinley (Director of Public Works) presenting at the meeting. The purpose of these speakers is to educate all of us on the development permitting process and where public input is included. This session is for educational purposes only. It is not to complain about issues we may have.

Another topic we discussed is our involvement in the Southside Coalition. We came up with some motions to be brought before the association. These Are:

1. Move that the ENA be part of a Southside Coalition of neighborhoods to work on issues of commons concern.

Update the Fairhaven Neighborhood Plan immediately and designate Fairhaven as one of the urban villages recommended by the Grimes Report.

3. Move that the ENA Land Use Committee and its representative have flexibility to support the work of the Coalition as long as the activity supports the sense of the membership on related land use issues.

The proposal for a Hospitality Committee was unanimously approved at the last ENA meeting. This committee will serve three functions initially:

1. Greet new residents with a friendly welcome and provide information about our local community.

2. Organize two social events- plans are for a summer picnic at Fairhaven Park and neighborhood caroling groups in December.

3. Family emergency assistance. This committee hopes to lend a caring hand where possible with untimely health issues or the arrival of new babies.

We are asking for neighborhood “captains” in each of the three areas above who will connect with their friends and fellow residents to provide a friendly welcome, lend a helping hand and organize caroling groups. These “captains” would be Hospitality Committee members. We need people to help plan our first ever Edgemoor Neighborhood Picnic which is slated for July. This is a great opportunity for us to connect with our neighbors and develop a sense of community. Please consider joining the Hospitality Committee.

Currently there are 107 ENA members. Please feel free to forward this monthly newsletter to your friends and neighbors. If you are not already a member of Edgemoor Neighborhood Association and would like to join, visit the membership page on the website to print the membership form, or send a check for $15 (per member) along with your name, address, telephone number to Edgemoor Neighborhood Association, PO Box 4420, Bellingham, WA 98227. Include your email address if you wish to receive email notices from the ENA.

The View Committee report was presented at the January ENA meeting by Chair, Paul Stephenson. He pointed out the committee considered their work done and proposed they disband. In short term, peer mediation was introduced to the membership and Nancy Joseph volunteered to attend the January training sessions. A speaker on covenants was proposed for a future meeting. In long term, they recommended ENA associate itself with Citizens View and work toward changes in the municipal codes. This was determined a difficult process that will require a citywide effort to protect views.

“Thank you Paul and the View Committee for your time and contributions to the Edgemoor Neighborhood.”

There will be a public meeting on February 2, 2005 at 7 PM to hear comments and questions about plans for 334 Bayside Road. The meeting will be held at the Fairhaven Village Inn, 1200 10th St. Any questions contact Jeffrey McClure - RMC Architects at 676-7733

Please send us your suggestions. If you would like your email address changed, removed or a new one added to this mailing list, send a request to email at EdgemoorNeighborhood dot com.