THURSDAY, Feb. 3
Lynden Police Department, 4 p.m., virtual meeting
The Public Safety Committee will hear monthly and annual Fire Department reports and a monthly police report, among other agenda items. Call Holly Vega at 360-354-2828 for the meeting link.
MONDAY, Feb. 7
Bellingham City Council (multiple meetings), 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., virtual meeting
Agenda online. Live public comment is only taken during public hearings. Otherwise, the council is taking public comment online. Council committees meet at 10 a.m. (Public Works and Natural Resources), 10:30 a.m. (Planning), 1 p.m. (Climate Action) and 2 p.m. (Committee of the Whole). The full council meeting at 7 p.m. includes a public hearing on a proposal to streamline the review process for Comprehensive Plan amendments.
Ferndale City Council, 5 p.m., virtual meeting
The agenda and a link to the meeting will be available online before the meeting.
Anacortes City Council, 6 p.m., virtual meeting
The agenda and meeting materials are available online.
Lynden City Council, 7 p.m., virtual meeting
The agenda will be available online before the meeting.
TUESDAY, Feb. 8
Whatcom County Council (multiple meetings), 9:50 a.m. – 6 p.m., virtual meeting
Agendas online. Live public comment is only taken during the 6 p.m. full council meeting. Council committees meet at 9:50 a.m. (Natural Resources), 11 a.m. (Finance and Administrative Services), 1 p.m. (Planning and Development), 2:05 p.m. (Public Works & Health), 2:25 p.m. (Criminal Justice and Public Safety) and 2:45 p.m. (Committee of the Whole). Five public hearings are scheduled at 6 p.m., including one about repealing the Cherry Point Ferndale Subarea Plan and four separate traffic changes.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 9
Department of Natural Resources Forest Practices Board, 9 a.m., pre-register online
Agenda available online.
Tour of waterfront cleanup site, noon, pre-register online
RE Sources is leading a tour of the Bellingham waterfront site contaminated by RG Haley International’s chemical wood treatments. The site is the stretch of shoreline immediately north of the white tarps at Cornwall landfill.
Whatcom County Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, 6 p.m., virtual meeting
Agenda available online.
ELECTIONS
Deadline: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8 in Whatcom County drop boxes
Bellingham School District
$122 million bond for construction of new schools, other facility improvements and site acquisitions, to be repaid with a property tax levied for up to 20 years. More information is available in the Voter’s Guide.
Ferndale School District
$23 million property tax levy for 2023 and 2024, to pay for ongoing school operations. More information is available in the Voter’s Guide.
New library for Birch Bay
Voters in the Birch Bay area consider the formation of the Birch Bay Library Capital Facility Area, which would collect property taxes for up to 20 years to repay a $4.5 million bond to build a library for Birch Bay. More information is available in the Voter’s Guide. A map of the Capital Facility Area showing where eligible voters live is available on the Whatcom County website.
Macaulay Creek Flood Control District Election
Only for registered voters who own property in the Flood Control District. A map of the district and election details are available at the Whatcom County auditor’s website.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMENT
Ferndale skatepark. Deadline: Feb. 11
The city of Ferndale is taking suggestions on the design of a new skatepark for BMX bicyclists, scooters and skateboarders. Metalworks Skatepark will be built this year off 2nd Avenue near Pioneer Park.
Waterfront cleanup. Deadline: March 1
The engineering design report for cleanup of the RG Haley site on the Bellingham waterfront is available for public review and comment.
Jail planning. Deadline: Late 2022
The Whatcom County Justice Project’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee is accepting comments on a new jail and associated behavioral health services as long as the committee continues to meet, at SAC@co.whatcom.wa.us.
