Ceremony for new fire engine: The Bellingham Fire Department invites community members to a “push-in” ceremony for a new fire engine at Fire Station 2, 1590 Harris Ave, at 2 p.m., Nov. 13. At the ceremony, attendees will help push the engine into the station. This is a scheduled replacement of an older fire engine. After the event, the Firefighter’s Benevolent Association will provide coffee and snacks. The push-in dates to the 1800s, when crews unhitched horses to push equipment into the stations. As firefighting equipment became motorized, the need to manually move equipment disappeared, but the tradition remained.
Severe weather shelter: A severe weather shelter at the former Bellingham Central Lutheran Church at 925 N. Forest Street is expected to be ready by Nov. 15. Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) will manage and operate the shelter. The shelter has space for up to 70 people and will be open from 4 p.m. to 9 a.m. on nights when the forecast meets criteria established by WCHCS with community input. When possible, WCHCS will notify the public 48 hours before the shelter will be open. You can sign up to receive these announcements via email or text. To learn more, to donate food or warm clothing, or to apply to work at the shelter, visit the WCHCS website.
Understanding lead and drinking water: As part of our commitment to providing safe drinking water, we recently submitted an inventory to the Environmental Protection Agency and Washington State Department of Health confirming that we do not have lead pipes in the lines that connect our water mains to water meters. This inventory is part of a national effort to improve transparency and protect communities from potential lead exposure. Lead in drinking water can pose health risks, especially in children. Lead pipes have been banned in construction since 1986, and the City has proactively removed lead pipes from our service lines. Some homes built before 1986 may have lead pipes, fixtures, and fittings. We constantly monitor and test our drinking water and adjust treatments to minimize a risk of lead leaching into drinking water. Visit our Understanding Lead and Drinking Water webpage for a searchable inventory of all service lines by address and for information about testing homes built before 1986.
Improving public spaces
Temporary South Bay Trail impacts: Heads up, South Bay Trail users! Starting Tuesday, Nov. 12, a section of the trail that crosses over the railroad tracks near Boulevard Park may be blocked by construction equipment from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for safety upgrades. Detour signs will direct trail users to State Street and Bayview Drive. We expect the closure to last up to a week while we install pedestrian gates at this railroad crossing. While in the area, please expect some construction noise and possible dust. This closure allows us to make important safety improvements as part of our ongoing effort to establish the Fairhaven Quiet Zone. A quiet zone is a section of railroad track where all crossings have been upgraded to meet safety standards so that, except in emergencies, trains are no longer required to sound their horn at each crossing. Learn more about our work to create two quiet zones in Bellingham. Thanks for your patience as we work to make the trail safer and quieter for everyone.
A few other project updates: Starting the week of Nov. 11, we’ll be doing some daytime work from 5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the Meridian Sewer Replacement project for a couple of weeks. Work will take place in the northbound lanes around Orchard Drive and Meridian Street. Traffic control signage will be in place. We’re also installing some new sidewalks and ADA ramps along 32nd Street between Fielding and Elwood. Re-striping for this project, however, is on hold until warmer, drier weather in the spring. For more information on other Public Works projects, check out our monthly newsletter at cob.org/pw-updates.
Give us your take
We’re looking for feedback on our draft growth strategy: Bellingham is growing, and we need to plan intentionally for more housing, jobs, and services. We spent the past year getting input from the community on how we should grow. Then, we developed a growth strategy based on what we heard and changes required by state laws. Now, we’re ready to hear your thoughts on the strategy we’re proposing. Join us at an open house on Nov. 14 or Nov. 20, or provide your feedback online at engagebellingham.org.
Have your say about Civic Athletic Complex: We want your feedback about the four options we’ve presented that show how Civic Athletic Complex could grow and where new amenities – like a new school building for Carl Cozier Elementary or a community recreation center – might go. Now through Nov. 22, you can watch a video presentation of the four development scenarios, take our online survey to give your input, or ask us questions about the project, all on Engage Bellingham. We’ll share the results of your feedback and the preferred development scenario in early December.
