Deborah Danner

This document details the Community Streets Program for 2025, a plan to address traffic safety and road conditions within the City of Bellingham. It includes comprehensive location-specific studies with data on traffic volume, vehicle speeds, and collision history. A significant component involves collating extensive resident feedback and concerns related to speeding, visibility issues, and infrastructure design. The program identifies preferred treatments like speed humps and assesses locations based on a scoring criterion to prioritize interventions aimed at improving pedestrian and vehicular safety.

This document outlines the Draft 2020 Surface & Stormwater Comprehensive Plan Update for the City of Bellingham. The plan analyzes existing stormwater management programs for compliance with the NPDES Phase II Permit, identifies capital project opportunities, and provides recommendations for staffing and funding resources. Key recommendations include funding a 'medium' capital improvement program, implementing a phased rate structure to shift costs to larger footprint properties, adjusting system development charges, increasing permit costs, and eliminating charges for city streets and WSDOT billing. The update aims to ensure the utility appropriately charges based on proportional impacts, funds required programs, and achieves long-term funding stability.

This plan outlines goals and policies for the Fairhaven Neighborhood and Urban Village, focusing on enhancing multimodal transportation infrastructure to support pedestrian and bicycle activity. Key priorities include addressing traffic, pedestrian safety, and various parking challenges, such as current limitations, vagrant parking, and the need for appropriate parking facilities in new developments. It also emphasizes preserving existing jobs, promoting development of new jobs through infrastructure, and maintaining facilities, while aiming to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips and maintain the unique character of the area.

The Public Works and Natural Resources Committee meeting agenda included discussions and potential votes on several significant items. Key topics involved the award of a contract for the James Street Multimodal Improvements - Segments 3 and 4 (Project ES565), for which RAM Construction submitted the lowest bid. Additionally, the committee addressed a resolution authorizing the City to apply for three Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board Grants intended for fish passage improvements in Squalicum Creek, covering projects at Baker Creek, Meridian/Birchwood, and the Squalicum Creek Estuary. The agenda also listed an agreement to extend sewer service to 2496 Yew Street Road.

The Committee of the Whole meeting addressed several agenda items. Key discussions included the resolution adopting the Bellingham Public Library Facilities Master Plan, which was recommended for approval. An ordinance imposing an additional sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for criminal justice purposes was discussed, amended to ensure reporting distribution to the City Council, and recommended for approval with further stipulations regarding compliance before the final reading. Furthermore, the committee voted to reconsider a previous decision regarding the Britton Road/Northern Heights Annexation and ultimately moved to direct staff to bring back the proposal in late 2026 or early 2027 after the City completes its Annexation Plan. Feedback was provided on a draft letter concerning union negotiations, and council members expressed intent to review rental fee ordinances. The session concluded with an executive session to discuss potential property acquisition.