York Neighborhood Board Meeting
Minutes APPROVED
Wednesday, February 10, 2010; 7-9 pm
Garden Street United Methodist Church
Babysitting Available by Donation (certified baby sitter & first aid)
I. Welcome and Introductions, Tom
II. Agenda review and approval, Tom
All in favor
III. Approval of minutes from previous meeting
Anne moves to accept minutes of December and January minutes. George seconds. All in favor.
IV. Announcements of upcoming events
- Next meeting will be General Meeting, March 10, 7pm at GSUMC, re: neighborhood plan amendments, details and discussions, committee organizing, etc. Pre-meeting potluck around 6pm. Tom motions to pass. Kirsti seconds. All in favor.
Part of obligation regarding neighborhood plan update is to educate the neighborhood. Makes sense to have General meeting before plan amendment meeting in April.
- This Saturday, Feb. 13 from 9am to noon, will be a work party for Franklin Park, on berm. Lots of weeding to do!
- Chris Wolf announced that the community gardening group has begun helping neighbors prepare their gardens for the spring.
- Kirsti announced that RATS will meet in Franklin Park at 8:45am on Feb. 28
- Quality Committee will meet Sunday the 14,. at 7pm at Nelson’s Market.
V. Washington Department of Transportation Regarding 1-5 Ramp Construction, DustinTerpening (terpenid@wsdot.wa.gov), in charge of communication outreach for project and Mark Hammer (hammerm@wsdot.wagov), Construction Engineer for ramp project
- There is no contractor yet
- Samish, Lakeway, Iowa and Sunset interchanges are included in current projects.
- Work will begin in July, nights, may spill into next year.
- NB Lakeway off-ramp: replace sign-bridge
- SB Lakeway on-ramp: lengthen by 600 feet, improve lighting, improve guardrail, sign work, landscaping
- Written question regarding major loss of vegetation, noise increase and safety.
- No plan for a noise wall. Some vegetation will be removed, re-landscaped when done (combination of trees and shrubs).
- Why was the first indication of this plan through a December Bellingham Herald article? What happened to public process for neighborhood input and involvement? Understanding was that a sound/safety wall would be part of this project.
- Mark answered that construction for this project will be less noisy than previous work done on 1-5.
- We are bothered that quality of life in neighborhood is not a primary concern. (Traffic increase of 40%, truck traffic increase and noise increase will negatively impact quality of life.)
- Another neighbor is quite frustrated with lack of notification and neighborhood involvement. No sound wall, no project, he says. We are willing to wait.
- A Humboldt Street resident tells of how twice there have been crashed cars in her yard coming from the SB Lakeway on-ramp.
- A neighbor asks about the bigger plans for re-routing exits and simplifying 1-5 to lessen inter-city traffic. Wasn’t Lakeway exit meant to be removed?
- Dustin answers that funding is limited and that the DOT tried to ascertain most costeffective safety improvements possible for the time being. Noise wall information can be found on the website: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/15/bellinghamonofframps
- Lighting? Two luminaries at merge points. Also increased lightirig during construction, but an attempt will be made to point lights away from neighborhood.
- Kirsti points out that public process is paramount!
MOTION: Anne makes a motion that Planning Committee discuss this further at next week’s meeting, and that they then schedule a follow up meeting within the next month that includes DOT and our council members. Nick seconds. All in favor.
VI. Consumer Fireworks Concern Presentation, Clay Butler
Pet peeve: the early barrage of fireworks during the 4th of July! After last July, Clay called Rep. Barbara Ryan with complaints about consumer fireworks. Discussion began regarding implementing a ban. He has since presented to nearly all of the 24 neighborhoods in Bellingham.
Noise is overwhelming but safety is real issue. Fireworks are particularly dangerous during dry summers.
In researching positions on fireworks around the state, Clay found that many cities and unincorporated areas already ban or restrict fireworks in some way. Spokane has banned fireworks for 19 years, and is particularly relevant given its proximity to a local location for the sale of fireworks.
Let him know if you’d like to get involved!
VII. Rental Property Licensing Ordinance, David Hopkinson
- CDC says complaint-based systems for housing safety do not work.
- David says that he and Anne have met with all City Council members encouraging support of a licensing system for landlords based on third party inspections.
- Estimated fee of $30-$36/year.
- We are all encouraged to write or email City Council: info@cob.org
- How will inspectors be qualified?
- How will this affect historic homes?
- How will house-sharing be affected?
- Will licensing be per landlord or per property?
- Will costs be passed on to renters?
- Would our own homes pass inspection according to the Gresham list?
- What will repercussions to neglectful landlords be?
- Maybe forced compliance is a better plan than licensing. (Response that there is no funding available to enforce compliance.)
- No leverage for neighbors or complainants because landlords are not treated as businesses with licenses that can be revoked.
VIII. Neighborhood Plan Amendment Process, Status, Areas for Adjustment & of Concern, Strategy, Anne Mackie
Planning Committee will meet Tuesday the 16•b at 7pm at Nelson’s.
Helen and Anne have met with Chris Koch, and are in the process of refining language on the amendments.
IX. Board Officer Elections
The Board as elected at the January 13 general meeting consists of:
- Lisa Anderson
- Jessica Bandstra
- Vale Bates
- Kirsti Charlton
- Chris Collison
- Gary Gerard
- Nick Hartrich
- Don Hilty-Jones
- David Hopkinson
- Helen Jackson
- Lesley Keenholts
- Jacob Lunden
- Anne Mackie
- Carolyn Milling
- Carolyn Mulder
- Carrie Schwarz
- Tom Scott
- Chris Wolf
Officer nominations:
Helen nominates Anne Mackie for President. She accepts.
Anne nominates Kirsti Charlton for Vice President. She accepts.
Tom nominates Lisa Anderson for Treasurer. She accepts.
Helen nominates Jessica Bandstra for Secretary. She accepts.
MOTON: The motion to approve the officers was passed unanimously.
X. Newsletter Editor: Chris Collison, chrisgcollison@gmail.com
Early March distribution. Short bios of Board members will be included. Feb. 25th deadline to get things to Chris.
Tom will update YNA Board email list.
XI. Adjournment
Helen motions to adjourn. All in favor.
Tom adjourned meeting at 9pm.
Minutes submitted by Jessica Bandstra, Secretary
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Officer signatures:
[signed] Anne Mackie, President
[signed] Kirsti Charlton, Vice President
[signed] Jessica Bandstra, Secretary
[signed] Lisa Anderson, Treasurer