THURSDAY, Feb. 24
WWU Environmental Speaker Series, 4:30 p.m., virtual or in-person
“Watershed Restoration: The Rest of the Story — Bringing Land Use and Upper Watershed Processes into Focus” by Oliver Grah. In-person for Western Washington University students, faculty and staff only. Pre-register online.
Mount Baker School Board, 6 p.m., District Office or virtual meeting
Agenda and remote-access instructions will be online.
Whatcom County Planning Commission, 6:30 p.m., virtual meeting
Agenda and meeting materials include a public hearing on transferring three development rights from the Lake Whatcom watershed to a rural 24-acre property zoned for one home per 5 acres.
Lake Whatcom Watershed Advisory Board, 6:30 p.m., virtual meeting
Agenda online.
SATURDAY, Feb. 26
Upper Rutsatz Forest Community Walk, 9:30 a.m.
Near Deming. Hosted by the Center for Responsible Forestry. More information on Facebook.
MONDAY, Feb. 28
Bellingham City Council (multiple meetings), 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., virtual meetings
Agendas and meeting materials online. 7 p.m. full council meeting. Council committees meet at 10 a.m. (Public Works and Natural Resources), 10:30 a.m. (Public Health, Safety and Justice), 11:15 a.m. (Community and Economic Development), 11:45 a.m. (Parks and Recreation), 1 p.m. (Climate Action) and 2 p.m. (Committee of the Whole). A public hearing is scheduled at 7 p.m., about the city relinquishing a utility easement at 1215 W. Holly St.
Whatcom County Child and Family Well-Being Task Force, 4:45 p.m., virtual meeting
Agenda online. The task force makes recommendations to county officials about how to improve outcomes for children in Whatcom County.
Blaine City Council, 6 p.m., virtual meeting
Agenda will be available online before meeting.
Anacortes City Council, 6 p.m., virtual meeting
Agenda online.
“Befriending our Climate Grief,” 6:30 p.m., virtual meeting
Rev. Martha O’Hehir will create a sacred space to “acknowledge our great love for the suffering world.” Register online in advance. Sponsored by the Multifaith Network for Climate Justice.
TUESDAY, March 1
Board of Natural Resources, 9 a.m., virtual meeting
Agenda includes timber sales proposals for April and auction results from February.
Whatcom County Council informational retreat, 9:30 a.m.
The agenda and a link for joining the meeting have not been posted online. The agenda includes discussion of open public meetings and records laws, the code of ethics, and an overview of county boards and commissions.
Skagit County commissioners, 10:30 a.m., virtual meeting
Public hearing on updating the Shoreline Master Program.
Bellingham Broadband Advisory Workgroup, 6 p.m., virtual meeting
Agenda and meeting materials will be available online in advance.
WEDNESDAY, March 2
Whatcom County Food System Committee, 3:30 p.m., virtual meeting
Agenda online. The Food System Committee maintains a plan to strengthen the local and regional food system.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMENT
Ferndale parks. Deadline: Feb. 28
The city of Ferndale has an online survey to take input on its slate of parks activities for this summer.
Waterfront cleanup. Deadline: March 1
The engineering design report for cleanup of the RG Haley site on the Bellingham waterfront is available for public review and comment.
Anacortes Shoreline Master Program. Deadline: March 9
Periodic update of Anacortes’ shoreline regulations, goals and plans. Details available online.
Register early for the Bellingham police chief candidate forum. Deadline: March 17
Candidates will introduce themselves and answer selected questions from the public.
Funding for affordable housing in Skagit County. Deadline: March 31
Money for planning or construction comes from real estate excise taxes collected in Skagit County. Details and application online.
Fairhaven Park entrance sign. Deadline: March 31
View design proposals for a new sign at the entrance of Fairhaven Park and provide your comments. The city of Bellingham takes comments on various projects at engagebellingham.org.
Climate Action Fund. Deadline: April 30
Bellingham city officials seek feedback on a proposed property tax to fund carbon reduction and climate change adaption projects.
Jail planning. Deadline: Late 2022
The Whatcom County Justice Project’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee is accepting comments on a new jail and associated behavioral health services as long as the committee continues to meet, at SAC@co.whatcom.wa.us.
YOUR PROPERTY TAXES
How much do I pay, and where does the money go? Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties report how much each jurisdiction collects in property taxes, and how much each individual pays, depending on where they live and the value of their property.
