Welcome, Mayor Kim Lund! Mayor Kim Lund took office at midnight January 1, 2024, and immediately joined a New Year’s Eve overnight Bellingham Police Department patrol and visited the What-Comm 911 dispatch center. “It was an honor to spend time riding along watching some of Bellingham’s safety professionals hard at work. I witnessed extraordinary patience and professionalism and thank all our first responders for their work,” Mayor Lund said. “It is with great joy and a clear vision that I take my place at City Hall in service to this wonderful community.” She also joined in the Whatcom Museum’s Access for All Free First Fridays activities today (see photo above and description below). Learn more about Mayor Lund on her Welcome page. Happy New Year from Mayor Lund and all of us at the City of Bellingham. We’re looking forward to a healthy and joyful 2024!
Elected official swearing in: The Bellingham City Council will host a public swearing-in ceremony for new and returning City elected officials at 7 p.m. January 8, 2024, in City Council Chambers. Municipal Court Judge Debra Lev will administer the ceremonial oath of office to Mayor Kim Lund, new City Councilmember Jace Cotton (who we will highlight in our news summary next week), and returning City Councilmembers Lisa Anderson, Dan Hammill and Hannah Stone. Each officially assumed their responsibilities on January 1, 2024.
Free First Friday: Beginning January 5, on each first Friday of the month, the Whatcom Museum will have free admission, extended hours until 9 p.m., and special, free programming! Each month will bring a different mix of artists, performers, and experts to lead workshops and activities for all ages. View our local history, fine art, and Indigenous cultures exhibitions in the Lightcatcher and Old City Hall (don’t forget the birds!), visit the Family Interactive Gallery for special crafts and programs for children, and check out the calendar to see the incredible events lined up.
Renewable energy focus groups: As part of our climate action work, we’re hosting four focus groups later this month to hear community perspectives on a plan to promote renewable energy use in Bellingham. The 60-minute, online focus groups will help us gather input from a few specific groups. Sign up online by January 25 for one of the times below. A Spanish language sign-up form is also available, and interpretation and translation will be available for Spanish speakers.
- Renters: January 30, 7 – 8 p.m.
- Homeowners: January 31, 6 – 7 p.m.
- Renewable energy installers and developers: January 29, 2 – 3 p.m.
- Commercial business property owners: January 30, 11 a.m. – noon
MLK Day Community Event: Join us and several other organizations on Monday, January 15 at Sehome High School for a free community celebration in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Everyone is invited to this day of service, gratitude and community. Starting with a free breakfast at 10 a.m., the event features an intergenerational discussion of “Hope in Action” by local community leaders Isabella McFrazier and Brian Young. From noon to 2 p.m., participate in one of the many community service projects. Get details at on the WWU event page.
Speaking of community events: Join us for our annual volunteer work party in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and be a hero for habitat! We are partnering with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) to plant native trees and shrubs at our Squalicum Creek Re-route project site, which was constructed in 2020 to improve water quality and restore salmon and wildlife habitat. All ages and abilities welcome. We provide tools, gloves, and free coffee and pizza. Spots are limited, please register in advance on our website.
Prepared for colder weather: You may have noticed that colder weather is in the forecast for next week, with temperatures potentially dropping into the twenties and teens. City crews are well prepared for winter weather, constantly monitoring weather patterns, and will deploy plows, deicers, and sanders if needed. More info on can be found on our Winter Weather Preparation webpage. For current information about winter shelter options, visit the Whatcom County winter shelter page.
Last call for comments: The Bicycle Master Plan draft is available for review for two more weeks. The recommendations in the plan were identified, shaped, and prioritized with help and direction from the Bellingham community. Review the story map to let us know if the projects, priorities and policies represent our community vision for a safer and more accessible biking network. The comment period will close on Friday, January 19th.
