Mayor's adjusted budget proposes changes for 2014

On Monday, October 7, I will present to the Bellingham City Council my 2014 adjusted budget, containing proposed expenditures guided by direction from the Council, our on-going discussions about priorities, and principles and proposals developed with my leadership team. A spending plan for 2014 was adopted by the City Council along with the 2013 budget. ... Read more

City exploring best uses of public buildings

T​he City provides public services and houses employees at more than 30 locations throughout our community. Our oldest and newest buildings are part of the Whatcom Museum campus, with the Old City Hall Building, completed 121 years ago in 1892, and the Lightcatcher Building, completed just four years ago in 2009. Most City buildings, however, ... Read more

City taking action on affordable housing

A​ffordable housing is an issue that faces everyone in our community at one time or another – from the young families who are first-time homebuyers trying to find a neighborhood home, to the students who are renting and trying to get through school, to the homeowner who wants to convert a garage to a mother-in-law ... Read more

City busy building, maintaining and repairing throughout construction season

It is officially summer, and our busiest time of the year for building, maintaining and repairing City streets, parks and other properties. You’ll see evidence of our hard work all over the City — traffic flaggers and orange cones, fenced off parks and trails, street detours and closures — as we make progress on new ... Read more

Creating jobs and improving our quality of life

C​ommunity leaders talk a lot about economic development, but what exactly is it?  What can City government do to encourage a thriving local economy? How do we make sure that our economic development efforts match our community’s goals?  And how do we know if these activities are successful? City officials are considering these questions and ... Read more

Stewarding our natural resources a priority for Mayor and community

As a lifelong Bellingham resident, I share the community’s strong commitment to stewarding our natural environment.  These values are reflected in the City's Legacies and Strategic Commitments, interwoven into the City’s day-to-day work, and an important part of my personal vision.  My vision is a community that can rely on safe drinking water, clean air, ... Read more