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Weekly Watchdog: Oct. 3–9, 2024

This week's meetings, hearings and opportunities for public input

GET INVOLVED

Fire Protection District 1 Town Hall
Monday, Oct. 7, 6 p.m., 101 E. Main St., Everson

The fire district will host a town hall to discuss its $13-million, 20-year bond on the November ballot to fund the construction of a new station in Everson.

Bellingham City Council
Monday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m., 210 Lottie St., or online

Council members will hold the first public hearing for the city’s 2025 budget.

Whatcom County Council
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 1:40 p.m., 311 Grand Ave., Suite 105, Bellingham, or online

Council members will discuss a draft scope for human resources consultant services for the council, related to the ongoing investigation into sexual harassment by a former county manager.


FULL CALENDAR

THURSDAY, Oct. 3

Whatcom Transportation Authority Board of Directors meeting
8 a.m., 4011 Bakerview Spur, Bellingham, or virtual meeting

Agenda may be posted in advance.

Whatcom County Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force Information Needs & Data Exchange Subcommittee meeting
2:30 p.m., 311 Grand Ave., Suite 105, Bellingham, or virtual meeting

Agenda online.

Anacortes Forest Advisory Board meeting
6 p.m., 1220 10th St., or virtual meeting 

Agenda online.

Bellingham Greenways Advisory Committee meeting
7 p.m., 210 Lottie St., or virtual meeting

Agenda online.

FRIDAY, Oct. 4

Whatcom County Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force Pretrial Processes Workgroup meeting
12:30 p.m., 311 Grand Ave., Suite 105, Bellingham, or virtual meeting

Agenda online.

MONDAY, Oct. 7

Bellingham City Council (multiple meetings)
9 a.m. – 7 p.m., 210 Lottie St., or virtual meeting 

Agendas online. Council committees meet at 9 a.m. (Committee of the Whole); 1 p.m. (Community and Economic Development Committee); 7 p.m. (Council).

Ferndale City Council meeting
5 p.m., 5694 2nd Ave., or virtual meeting

Agenda may be posted in advance.

Anacortes City Council meeting
6 p.m., 904 6th St., or virtual meeting 

Agenda may be posted in advance.

Lynden City Council meeting
7 p.m., 205 4th St.

Agenda may be posted in advance.

TUESDAY, Oct. 8

Whatcom County PUD Commission meeting
8:15 a.m., 1705 Trigg Road, Ferndale, or virtual meeting

Agenda may be posted in advance.


Whatcom County Council (multiple meetings)
10 a.m. – 6 p.m., 311 Grand Ave., Suite 105, Bellingham, or virtual meeting 

Agendas online. Council committees meet at 10 a.m. (Finance and Administrative Services Committee); 11:15 a.m. (Climate Action and Natural Resources ); 1:40 p.m. (Committee of the Whole); 6 p.m. (Council).

Whatcom County Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force Legal & Justice System Subcommittee meeting
11:30 a.m., 311 Grand Ave., Suite 105, Bellingham, or virtual meeting

Agenda online.

Bellingham Historic Preservation Commission meeting
4 p.m., 210 Lottie St., or virtual meeting

Agenda may be posted in advance.

Ferndale Equity Advisory Committee meeting
5 p.m., 2095 Main St., or virtual meeting

Agenda may be posted in advance.

Bellingham Transportation Commission meeting
6 p.m., 2221 Pacific St., or virtual meeting

Agenda online.

Port of Bellingham Marina Advisory Committee meeting
6 p.m., 1801 Roeder Ave., Bellingham

Agenda may be posted in advance.

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9

Bellingham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting
7:30 a.m., 210 Lottie St., or virtual meeting

Agenda may be posted in advance.

Bellingham Civil Service Commission meeting
2 p.m., 210 Lottie St., or virtual meeting

Agenda may be posted in advance.

Whatcom Council of Governments Board meeting
3 p.m., 14 E. Champion St., Bellingham, or virtual meeting

Agenda may be posted in advance.

Whatcom Transportation Policy Board meeting
3:30 p.m., 14 E. Champion St., Bellingham, or virtual meeting

Agenda may be posted in advance.

Ferndale Arts Commission meeting
5 p.m., 2095 Main St., or virtual meeting

Agenda may be posted in advance.

Anacortes Planning Commission meeting
6 p.m., 904 6th St., or virtual meeting 

Agenda may be posted in advance.


OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMENT

Holly Street Bike Lane Pilot. Deadline: Fall 2024

Starting in May, the City of Bellingham will be piloting a new bike lane on Holly Street, from Ellis Street to Bay Street, to improve safety, mobility, and accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians. The city is collecting feedback from the community about how safe the bike lanes make moving on Holly Street feel for all users. This information will be evaluated in the early fall to decide the final design of a capital project. Survey online.

Water Adjudication Assistance survey. Deadline: Fall 2024

The Washington State Legislature is providing funding to Whatcom County to develop and implement outreach and provide filing assistance to water users. Survey online.

The Bellingham Plan: “Ways the City Could Grow.” Deadline: 2024

Bellingham could grow in a variety of ways. Let the City of Bellingham know the pros and cons of each of the listed approaches on its individual comment boards. Add pros and cons (or up-vote someone else’s comment). Go to this webpage and scroll halfway down to see the comment boards.

City of Bellingham Downtown Forward Engagement Hub survey. Deadline: Ongoing

Downtown Forward is the city’s plan to prioritize actions and thinking to ensure a thriving future for downtown Bellingham. Have the city’s recent efforts to improve safety and make downtown more welcoming made a difference? Is it on the right track? Share your thoughts. Survey online.

Urban Forest Plan. Deadline: Ongoing

The Urban Forest Plan will guide how the community protects and enhances the trees and forests that make up Bellingham’s urban forest. An urban forest includes everything from street trees, parks and forested open spaces to trees on private property. Survey online.

Weekly Watchdog is published online Thursdays and in print Fridays. To submit a meeting for consideration, email newstips@cascadiadaily.com.

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