Ghoulish goodies galore: Get ready for a frightfully fun Halloween! Join us for festive trick-or-treating at all Bellingham Public Library locations from 4 – 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31. And don’t miss the ghoulish good times in Downtown and Fairhaven, where local businesses will be handing out treats too. As your excited little ones gather their goodies, please keep these spooky safety tips in mind: As the sun sets on Halloween night, be sure to keep your little ones safe. Dress your ghosts and ghouls in reflective costumes, hold hands with little monsters while crossing streets, and use protected crossings whenever possible (even if you’re flying on a broomstick). If you’re driving, watch out for spooky surprises and drive slowly. Make this Halloween a safe and fun delight for everyone.
Prep now for winter: Fall is definitely here! With fall comes rainy weather and fallen leaves. Those leaves and other debris can block our storm drains, causing flooding. You can help out by safely removing leaves from clogged storm drains or reporting issues to the City using SeeClickFix online or via the mobile app. Fall is also a good time to make sure you are prepped for winter weather! Take steps to ensure your home is ready to tackle the elements:
- Get outdoor hose covers to prevent freezing faucets
- Check pipes for insulation
- Eliminate drafts by insulating vents and caulk and seal any openings near water pipes
- Dig out that snow shovel, or buy a new one
Our crews are ready to respond to whatever nature throws our way. You can report urgent issues to our Public Works department 24/7 at (360) 778-7700.
New regional law enforcement training academy: This week Bellingham Police Department’s Honor Guard and Chief Mertzig attended the soft opening of the Criminal Justice Training Commission’s Northwest Regional Campus in Arlington, WA. Soon new Bellingham police recruits can attend an academy class within weeks of starting their employment, streamlining a process that used to take many months due to a shortage of academy spaces. The Northwest Regional Campus will also allow new officers to be closer to the communities they will serve, giving them the ability to go home to their families at night.
Interim tree protection ordinance extended: At their Oct. 21 meeting, Bellingham City Council approved a six-month extension of the interim ordinance protecting Bellingham’s most significant trees. The interim landmark tree ordinance, approved in May 2024, established a process for evaluating trees that are 36 inches in diameter or greater (at breast height) for a landmark tree designation and established fines for those who cut down landmark trees without appropriate approvals. This extension maintains these protections while staff work through implementation concerns that have come to light since the ordinance was first adopted. This time will allow us to collect data and input to create a permanent ordinance or recommendation for protecting landmark trees while balancing development considerations.
City budget update: On Oct. 21, the City Council also had the first reading of a $10.8 million budget amendment. This amendment adds $7 million to the Fire Department and $3.8 million to the Police Department budgets for the 2023-2024 biennium. The City anticipated needing a budget correction, and this ordinance ensures these departments can legally continue providing their critical services to the community through the end of the year. Though this budget adjustment does not impact the City’s proposed spending plan for 2025, it will draw more heavily from the City’s reserves than projected. This underscores the need for a strategic review of public safety services and revenue options, a commitment we’ve made for 2025. “We’ve experienced incredible growth as a City, which comes with increasing needs for police, EMS, and fire services,” Mayor Kim Lund said. “Our funding mechanisms for these services haven’t kept pace with the growing needs. We will be bringing this conversation forward to City Council and the community in the weeks and months ahead.” See meetings.cob.org to learn more about the Council’s action on Oct. 21.
Library leadership position open: The Bellingham Public Library Board of Trustees seeks candidates to fill a vacancy on the board. Pending City Council approval, the successful candidate will serve a full-term beginning Feb. 10, 2025. A first review of applications will begin Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 for applications received by 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14. To apply, learn more about the requirements and process on the City of Bellingham’s Boards and Commissions page. Then fill out the online application or submit a print application to the City of Bellingham Mayor’s Office.
Improving Public Spaces
Environmentally-friendly concrete project: A recent pedestrian improvement project on 32nd Street offered us an opportunity to partner with Washington State University to test out a new type of concrete that reduces carbon emissions. Traditional concrete production is one of the most carbon-intensive processes in the construction industry, but a new portion of sidewalk on 32nd Street between Fielding and Elwood was made using the biochar concrete, which combines biomass waste with traditional cement. The concrete will be monitored over a three-year period through sensors in the sidewalk panels that measure humidity, temperature, and strain. Next time you’re in the area, check it out!
