Community Development Advisory Board

The Community Development Advisory Board (CDAB) mainly advises the Mayor and City Council on a variety of policies, plans and projects and typically meets on the second Thursday of each month.

Meetings can be attended either in-person at City Hall (210 Lottie Street), or virtually via Zoom Webinar with Meeting ID: 986 9045 9994 / Password: 21 (unless otherwise indicated on the agenda).

Meeting Materials

Visit meetings.cob.org/meetings/cdab to view meeting agendas and supporting materials, which are posted approximately one week prior to the meeting date.

CDAB makes recommendations, as appropriate, concerning the formulation of policies and plans, and identification of projects in order to carry out the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Program. Specifically:

To maintain familiarity with the current federal, state, and local regulations affecting community development and to advise on policies and programs in which the City may have an interest.
To assess the community development and housing needs of the City and to propose and evaluate City plans and programs to meet those needs in cooperation with City Boards and Departments or other bodies, both public and private.
To ensure citizen participation in all phases of the CDBG and HOME programs according to federal requirements.

The Board reviews community human service needs, establishes criteria for funding, evaluates applications, and arrives at recommendations for the distribution of the City’s annual allocation of CDBG and general funds for human services. The Board also recommends the targeting and allocation of CDBG funding for neighborhood improvements. Through the planning process for the five-year and annual Consolidated Plan of Housing and Community Development, the Board recommends the allocation of CDBG and HOME funds to the City’s Housing Development Fund for the retention, rehabilitation and development of affordable housing. Funds are also allocated for the rehabilitation of low and moderate income single family owner occupied homes and for investor owned 1-4 family rental housing units occupied by low or moderate income individuals and families.

Meetings are typically held on the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Mayor’s Boardroom, 2nd Floor of City Hall, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham. Meetings generally last approximately two hours. Time requirements may vary, but is usually two to four hours in a typical month.

The Board consists of up to fifteen members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council. At least one member shall be from each of the Wards of the City, and one member from the City Housing Authority Board or staff. One or more members shall have professional or business expertise in the financing, construction, or marketing of housing. One or more members shall have background and experience in advocacy for low and moderate income housing concerns, tenant issues, social services needs or housing consumers in general. Generally low income, minority, people with disabilities, or elderly interests shall also be represented.

Appointments are limited to two consecutive, three-year terms, and no compensation is paid to members of this Board. Members must presently live within Bellingham City limits and have done so for at least one year. No member of the Advisory Board may be employed by the City.

Current Boards & Commission Vacancy List

Updated: 05/06/2026

Representative	Member	Term
1st Ward	Katherine Freimund	06/03/24 – 11/01/26
2nd Ward	Jasmine Fast	01/19/24 – 06/01/27
3rd Ward	Matthew Unger	06/03/24 – 01/19/27
4th Ward	Amy Navarro	01/05/26 – 01/05/29
5th Ward	Ben Spicer	02/14/24 – 02/14/27
6th Ward	Lola Thompson	04/28/25 – 09/10/27
Bellingham Housing Authority	Andrew Calkins	Continuous
Community Rep	Shannon Laws	01/13/22 – 08/21/26
Community Rep	Denise Catalano	04/27/26 – 04/27/29
Community Rep	Matthew Main	04/28/25 – 04/28/28
Community Rep	Bernice Portervint	11/03/25 – 11/03/28
Community Rep	Saachi Chugh	01/05/26 – 01/05/29

Main Office
Community Development Advisory Board
Planning & Community Development Department
210 Lottie Street – Bellingham, WA 98225

Phone: (360) 778-8300
Email: cd@cob.org

Resources