Shop with a Cop (and Firefighter!)
Bellingham Police and Fire Department staff had tons of fun picking out holiday gifts and cold weather gear with 50 local kids earlier this week at the annual Shop with a Cop event! More than 50 public safety personnel from South Whatcom Fire, Washington State Patrol, Ferndale PD, Lynden PD, Washington State Parks, Blaine PD, and Lummi Nation PD volunteered alongside City staff at the special shopping extravaganza. That doesn’t count the civilian volunteers from WhatComm Dispatch, Support Officers of Whatcom County, Bellingham PD, and retired BPD personnel and family members. Thanks to everyone who made this an extra special holiday treat!
Please, no holiday decor in parks
Here at the City, we are huge fans of the holidays, but we are not fans of trees decorated in parks, trails or other natural areas. We know it can feel whimsical to see decorations out in open spaces, but the materials can be dangerous to pets and wildlife and can create litter that is difficult to clean up. We hope you enjoy decorating your own spaces, but please don’t decorate public spaces. Thank you for helping keep our natural areas healthy for everyone, including the critters!
Speaking of holidays, celebrate New Year’s Eve with us
Ring in the New Year with one of Bellingham’s favorite local bands Baby Cakes at Whatcom Museum’s historic Old City Hall! We’re counting down to 2025 along with Times Square with a balloon drop and champagne toast at 9 p.m. – perfect for both early birds and night owls just getting the evening started. Cash bar and complimentary drink ticket included. Visit the Whatcom Museum event page for more details and to purchase tickets.
Plans take shape at Civic
Based on community feedback collected in surveys and an open house last month, we are moving forward with a site plan for Civic Athletic Complex. In the scenario that was the clear community favorite, the new elementary school would be located at the northeast end of Civic Athletic Complex, at the corner of Fraser Street and Puget Street, along with upgraded multiuse fields and an interpretive wetland park to the west. Eventually, the City would renovate and expand indoor community recreation facilities at the corner of Lincoln Street and Lakeway Drive, creating a new hub for indoor recreation and community gathering. Head over to Engage Bellingham to get more details about the emerging site plan and the next steps to finalize our plans.
Central Library renovation update
The City of Bellingham is excited to announce that the Bellingham Central Library has been included in the Governor Inslee’s proposed 2025-2027 capital budget as part of the Library Capital Improvement Program through the Department of Commerce. While this does not guarantee funding, it is a significant milestone in securing the funding necessary to renovate the Central Library children’s area and community meeting space. If awarded, the grant will total $2 million.
City Council moves parking reform forward for final vote
On December 16, Bellingham City Council voted 6-1 in favor of moving forward with an interim ordinance that would eliminate minimum parking requirements in the city. Before going to a final vote on Jan. 13, 2025, Council will hold a public hearing the same evening. Presenting this interim ordinance for Council consideration is part of Mayor Kim Lund’s recent executive order that aims to address our community’s urgent need for more housing. How does this measure help with housing? By not mandating how much parking to build, this move would let property owners and developers right size the amount of parking to fit the demand. In many cases, building less parking means the land can be used for other purposes, like more housing units. You can see the draft ordinance, Dec. 16 Council discussion, and more details on the Dec. 16 Committee of the Whole agenda and visit our Parking Reforms webpage to learn more about why parking reforms are needed.
