ENA President's Report
During our May meeting, the ENA voted to support the efforts of the Fairhaven Neighbors to make changes to the Fairhaven Design Review Code (see letter from ENA to Tim Stewart posted on the
Edgemoor Neighborhood Blog). The changes were intended to close loopholes that currently are in the design review code. Shortly after our meeting, the merchant’s association and commercial property owners were successful in getting the proposed changes taken off the city docket after applying significant political pressure. Currently the status of future design review code changes is up in the air. There are efforts to get together a committee made up of residents, property owners, merchants and other stake holders that will hopefully be able to come up with the necessary changes that will make all sides happy. In communication with Tim Stewart - the city Planning Director – about this, I have asked that Edgemoor - and the other south side neighborhoods - also have a seat at that table.
In addition to having the code change proposal thrown out, there are efforts to create a new neighborhood association for Fairhaven. This new association would effectively take the voice of the neighborhood away from the 1000 or so residents and put it in the hands of the Commercial element of Fairhaven. This is a disturbing chain of events and puts the status of every Neighborhood Association in jeopardy. It will be interesting to see if the city sides with the residents of neighborhoods or with those that only have a financial interest in them. Stay Tuned.
In addition to the developments in Fairhaven - pardon the pun – there has been significant progress made in finalizing the ENA survey. We hope to have the survey sent out soon. Then the serious work can begin on updating our neighborhood plan.
The Coalition of Southside Neighborhoods (CSN) has started to put together a couple of events that should be useful to Edgemoor residents. First of which is a Candidates Forum to be held in the middle July – this forum will include Mayor candidates, and the candidates that are running for Ward 5 and At-Large City Council positions. Secondly in anticipation of a completed Draft EIS for the Fairhaven Highlands development on Chuckanut Ridge, the CSN will be putting on Workshops that will explain the elements of the Draft and allow the residents that will be affected by the project the ability to respond to the draft with intelligent, fact based analysis. There will be a general CSN meeting sometime in the next month so residents of the Southside can become more involved in helping shape their future.
Thanks for your time…
Brad Rose
Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Committee Report
There was some discussion by neighborhoods on the challenges of their plan
update processes and building consensus. Great reports from the
neighborhoods on their various small and
simple grant initiatives.
Chris Comeau brought us up to date on NTSP and
TIP proposals submitted by the neighborhoods earlier this year.
.
Kim Brown spoke about the work of the bike/ped
committee and how to make requests to them
on bike/ped issues.
Pam Kiesner explained current library planning
and offers to come to any neighborhood
association meeting to speak. She also announced library
service centers are being established at WCC and
at Barkley Village thanks to the Barkley
Corporation and WCC (Food Co-op) is also interested in helping
with the north side.
Mayor Tim spoke about the acquisition of the
20-acre park for the north side and also
stressed, in regards to the waterfront, that the costs
associated with waterfront improvements are
spread over time and that these will not
be at the expense of the neighborhoods needs. He also passed out
the brochure Stewards of the Lake and gave great
thanks to Janice Keller and Emily Weiner
and other volunteers and staff on this publication.
Please do take a look. It is posted on line as
only limited copies have been actually
printed.
Malcolm Flemming reported on the EIS study going
forward for the waterfront.
As always, check out the May installment of – “Just So You Are Aware”
Coalition of Southside Neighborhoods Report
The Steering Committee for the Coalition of Southside Neighborhoods met Saturday morning, May 26th 2007 at Brad Rose's office in Fairhaven. In attendance were neighborhood presidents: Vince Bicunas (Fairhaven); Brad Rose (Edgemoor); Steve Wilson (South); and Donna Auer (South Hill); as well as Sue Kaun and Pam Went, support staff.
We arrived at consensus on the following items:
CANDIDATE FORUM: We decided to offer a CSN Candidate Forum to address Southside issues on July 19th from 7 to 9 PM. Pam will look into reserving an available location. Steve will get back to the Herald and MNAC. June 8th is the last filing date for candidates; those running for mayor, and the 5th Ward, and At-Large positions on City Council will be invited to the forum informally in advance and formally, by letter, after the deadline. Pam agreed to do this as well. We will solicit questions in advance from our neighbors: each president will contact their neighborhoods through their meetings and via email asking for suggested questions which CSN will submit to the candidates in advance and requiring written responses. The Steering Committee will collect the questions and sort them on or before June 14th. The final written questions will be supplied to the candidates well in advance of the forum and written responses will be expected to be returned before the forum itself. Brad Rose graciously agreed to preside over the forum and a timer will be used for questions and answers.
FAIRHAVEN HIGHLANDS (AKA CHUCKANUT RIDGE) EIS: We expect that the consultant (chosen from 5 applicants) will be chosen and announced by the end of May. There will follow a 30 day scoping period where public comment will be accepted by the consultants. Then there will be a 90 day period where the consultants will put together their draft. This will be followed a 60 day period of public comment. During this time period (anticipated to be next fall), CSN will offer a series of workshops (e.g.. on transportation, environmental concerns etc.) in order to assist the public in offering informed and thoughtful comments. Then, the last EIS, to be prepared after the public comment on the draft, will be the final EIS.
FAIRHAVEN: It was agreed that there are many stakeholders on the southside who need to be at the table for design review and other important considerations for our urban village of Fairhaven. The presidents agreed that they would each write to Planning Director Tim Stewart asking that they be included in any future meetings with identified stakeholders in order that they may represent their neighborhoods' citizens.
It was further decided to offer a CSN Meeting on June 20 (or 21 if
necessary) at the Fairhaven Library Fireplace Room. We will invite Planning Director Stewart to address two topics of paramount importance to southside
residents: 1. What's Up in Fairhaven? and, 2. The EIS
Process for the Proposed Fairhaven Highlands. Steve agreed to contact Mr. Stewart with an invitation and to follow up with reserving the Library.
For the Coalition of Southside Neighborhoods,
Pam Went
Summer Safety Tips
Bellingham
Police Department ,505 Grand Ave. Bellingham, WA 98225, Telephone (360) 676-6920
Randall H. Carroll, Chief of Police
PRESS RELEASE
Chief Randy Carroll (Bellingham Police Department) and Chief Jim Shaw (Western Washington University Police Department) are asking all students and citizens to think proactively about their safety and habits as we move into our summer months.
As warm weather encourages outside activity it becomes impetrative to remember some simple safety tips.
At home, keep your doors and windows locked, even if you are there. If you must open a window use a window block device such as a wooden dowel to prevent access through large openings. Use a dead bolt on all your exterior doors.
Do not open your doors to strangers and never let a stranger into your home.
Don’t let people know you are home alone.
In the last week Bellingham Police Department has investigated 3 reported crimes within the 500 and 600 block of E. Maple. These 3 crimes include 1 burglary, 1 rape and 1 suspicious circumstance. The only description of the suspect is a Hispanic or Native American male in his 30-40s. Victims have been females in their 20s. These crimes occurred during late evenings and early mornings.
Call 911 if you see or hear suspicious activity or noises.
Keep a light on at the front and rear doors during hours of darkness. This may necessitate placing a timer on some light fixtures or switches.
Keep your shrubbery trimmed and away from your windows.
If you have been away from home, when approaching your door, look for anything suspicious. If you see something is not right, do not go in, call 911.
Consider starting a Block Watch program in your neighborhood or join an existing one in your area.
Make sure your address is visible from the road.
For further information on staying safe contact Crime Prevention Officers Tara Fleetwood or Mark Young at 676-6924.
