Volunteer boards, commissions, committees, and task forces serve our community by advising policy makers and providing essential support to City programs and activities. These groups are required by the City Charter, City Ordinance or enabled by state law. Members are appointed by the Mayor, sometimes requiring City Council approval. Most are advisory to the Mayor and/or City Council.
Boards and Commissions
Details about each advisory group, including its mission and responsibilities, meeting schedule, and other information can be found below:
- Arts Commission
- Bellingham Public Library Board of Trustees
- Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District
- Bellingham / Whatcom Commission Against Domestic Violence
- Civil Service Commission
- Community Development Advisory Board
- Design Review Board
- EMS Oversight Board
- EMS Technical Advisory Board
- Greenways Advisory Committee
- Historic Preservation Commission
- Housing Authority Board of Commissioners
- Immigration Advisory Board
- Lake Whatcom Watershed Advisory Board
- Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission
- Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
- Planning and Development Commission
- Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors
- Shoreline Committee (appointed Planning Commission members)
- Sister Cities Advisory Board
- Tourism Commission
- Transportation Commission
- Whatcom Museum Foundation Board
- WHAT-COMM Administrative Board
Limited-Duration Task Forces and Work Groups
- Climate Action Research Technical Working Groups
- Salary Commission
- Broadband Advisory Workgroup
- Climate Action Plan Task Force
- Community Solutions Workgroups
- Fairhaven Parking Task Force
- Countywide Housing Affordability Task Force
- Energy Task Force
