Help choose Bellingham’s official bird!
The North Cascades Audubon Society and Audubon Washington are inviting the Bellingham community to nominate the “Official Bird of Bellingham.” Nominations will be gathered through mid-September and then the top 10 birds will soar into the finals. You can then vote for your favorite finalist during Bellingham Bird Week, happening Oct. 5-11. After voting wraps up, the City of Bellingham will issue an official proclamation recognizing the community’s avian icon. Submit your nomination online.
How should we spend City funds for affordable housing and shelter?
The public comment period is now open for our draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report. This report outlines how actual spending compares with priorities and goals for our programs that support affordable housing and shelter, first-time homebuyers, community facilities, human and social services, and other housing services. You can share your thoughts on these priorities and goals through noon on Sept. 15 at cob.org/action-plan.
Speaking of housing: Low-interest loans available for home repair
Did you know we offer low-interest loans that support low-to-moderate income homeowners in making repairs to keep their homes safe and livable? And these loans don’t need to be paid back until the homeowner moves out of the home. You can apply any time to be considered for our Home Rehabilitation Loan program. We are also looking for more contractors to support this important community program — you can learn more about joining the program’s contractor pool on our website.
Road work coming to Lincoln and Fraser Streets
Travelers can expect some temporary slowdowns and pedestrian detours along Lincoln Street between Elwood Avenue and E. Maple Street, and on Fraser Street between Puget and Valencia Streets as we prepare for roadway resurfacing, bus stop improvements, and pedestrian improvements. More information and updates can be found on our project page.
Uptick in scam emails targeting permit applicants
We’ve noticed an uptick in the number of scam emails Bellingham permit applicants have reported receiving since we first reported on a national phishing scheme in April. If you receive an email prompting you to make a payment related to a permit, please remember: The Permit Center will only ask you to make online payments through our eTRAKiT system.
These emails are tricky. They could include specific details related to your permit application — details they are getting from publicly-available documents. Additionally, the sender email addresses look very similar to those of real Permit Center team members.
Learn what to do if you receive a suspicious email about your permit application on our Permit Center page.
New metered parking spaces coming downtown in mid-September
Beginning next week, some downtown parking spaces will transition to metered parking, primarily in areas that currently have time limits. Paid parking helps parking spaces turn over more often, keeping spaces available throughout the day and making it easier to access nearby businesses and services. Plus, a significant portion of parking revenue is invested back in downtown, supporting improvements and programs through organizations such as the Downtown Bellingham Partnership.
Look for freshly marked stalls and new parking meters downtown over the next few weeks. For more information, visit our Parking Services page.
