MINUTES OF AUGUST 28, 1990 YNA MEETING

President Michael Chiavario called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm with a quorum present. He then gave a brief summary of the 8/16/1990 meeting between the mayor and neighborhood representatives concerning affordable housing (copy of letter of understanding attached).

Donna Grasdock then reported on Franklin Park playground equipment project. The grant has been approved, most of the necessary paperwork (including the environmental impact statement) has been completed, and we are just waiting for approval from Bill Geyer in the planning department. Vice-President Wally Dunn reported that John Ivory from the Parks Department indicated that some of the playground equipment has already been ordered. Fundraising efforts to raise our 25% share of the cost were discussed, and a sign-up sheet was passed around for persons interested in working on those efforts. Donna asked that a letter be written to the Parks Department thanking them for encouraging us to apply for the grant and for assisting us in filling out the grant application. Secretary Lynn Torno agreed to write the letter.

Wally Dunn then reported on the Rock Hill improvement project. Because of the time that has expired since the grant entered the approval process, the planned improvements will cost more than expected. Thus, it was decided that picnic tables would be cut from the plan, unless it turned out that money was left over after the other improvements were completed. Wally also reported that playground equipment would not be available for Rock Hill unless and until the City agreed to take on maintenance of Rock Hill as a park (rather than its current designation as open space), because of liability issues.

The membership decided to have a potluck neighborhood picnic on Sunday September 30th at 2pm at Franklin Park. The picnic will be announced in the bulletin for the September meeting. Mike Scherba from the 1100 block of Grant agreed to coordinate the project.

The big issue on the agenda was the closure of Humboldt and Franklin streets at Edwards. The city has erected barricades to test the viability of its plan to cul-de-sac Humboldt and Franklin Streets. While the membership unanimously agreed that something needed to be done to relieve the traffic flow on Humboldt and Grant Streets, the current barricade solution has caused new problems. Three major problem areas were identified: (1) the traffic has been diverted to the alley between Humboldt and Grant, causing serious safety and noise problems, (2) people's driveways are being used as turnarounds, and (3) cars are cutting across people's lawns to avoid the barricades. There was general agreement that the latter problem would be solved by the permanent solution. However, the other two problems will not go away. There was lengthy discussion of possible alternatives to street closure. After the discussion produced two viable alternatives, Michael agreed to go back to Public Works and ask them to try again.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 9 pm.

August 23, 1990

Mayor Tim Douglas
City Hall
Bellingham, Wa 98225

RE: Letter of Understanding
Meeting of 8-16-90

Dear Mayor Douglas: We feel it would be helpful to have a summary of our conversation with you and neighborhood representatives regarding numerous development and planning concerns; including what we understand to be your immediate intentions regarding several of these issues as well areas which we feel were unresolved.

A. Areas of agreement

  1. TREE PRESERVATION AND CUTTING ORDIANCE: You stated that an ordinance would be forthcoming in Sept., however, you also indicated that it may not be entirely to our satisfaction. We strongly encourage you to follow the examples of communities with already existing and successful tree cutting ordinances such as; Redmond, Bothel, and Island County.
  2. STAFF ENHANCEMENT: a) The Parks Dept. will be adding new staff to replace Tim Wahl who will be working full time on Greenways projects. b) Planning Dept. will be expanding staff to include a Biologist; and Urban Planner, with environmentally sound designing abilities and experience; as well as a facilitator (expeditor) to respond to neighborhood concerns, monitor activities in the field with enforcement capabilities (stop work order, impose fines, citations etc.)
  3. INFORMATION PAMPHLET: Would include descriptions of city departments, boards, commissions, council; how projects move through the process and how citizens can become involved in the process.
  4. PARKS DEDICATIONS ADJUSTMENT: Past research and recommendations for an update in land dedications for parks of 10% (by Bill Hagger) should b e brought forward for immediate approval by City Council. Without this, we lose an enormous arm of our Greenways and Parks buying power.

B. State v. City Responsibility: The following are areas you indicated will be resolved at the State level. We would agree, if action were immediately forthcoming; however, if these cannot be implemented by early 1991, then local ordinances will be necessary.

  1. PLAT VESTING: -A plat should be vested at time of final plat approval rather than at time of application.
  2. AIR QUALITY CONTROL: a) Emission controls for all motorized vehicles. b) Planners should encourage builders to install pellet stoves as opposed to wood burning stoves.

C. Issues needing further direction

  1. SENSITIVE AREAS ORDINANCE: This would include steep hill sides, flora/fauna habitats, unstable terrain, drainage mitigation. It is imperative that this ordiance be given top priority for implementation by Jan. 19091 to protect areas most threatened by immediate development. We need direction from you as to who will be responsible for developing this important ordinance.
  2. VIEW ORDINANCE
  3. PARK DEDICATION/MULTI-RESIDENTIAL: Needs to be brought forth in conjunction with the Park's land dedication adjustment.
  4. IMPACT FEES: Developers must share in the responsibility of the impact their developments will have on our community: schools, water, fire protection, streets, police, sewer, and drainage.
  5. WETLANDS ORDINANCE: The size of wetlands and the depth of the buffers need be defined by the function and value of each individual wetland rather than by an arbitrary number and those sizes (once determined) may not be changed with a change in ownership.
  6. ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES: a) city shall abide by all ordinances as well as the private sector, b) adequate city staff to monitor projects (on-call) weekends and holidays, c) fines and penalties which will have an impact and be a deterrant.
  7. URBAN LOGGING: 2929 has given cities authority over the DNR to control urban logging. Planning Dept. and the City Council need direction from you as to how to implement this new and important responsibility (the application of which would have greatly improved some recently approved plats, protecting the hillsides and the viewscape therein).
  8. URBAN PLANNING vs. ECONOMIC PLANNING DEPT: At this point in Bellingham's development, the emphasis must be on quality urban planning rather than on economic expansion. An urban planner should be in charge of the Planning Dept. under which sub-depts would include; economic development, environmental planning, long range planner, biologist, general planners, and a facilitator.
  9. LAKE WHATCOM WATERSHED: Attention to and enforcement of watershed protection on all fronts. Water runoff from developments and street improvements cannot be allowed to run directly into the lake (this includes city project) without sedimentation control.
  10. AERIAL ACTIVITIES ORDINANCE: a) The police be directed to take a more active role in enforcing this ordinance. b) Consideration of Fairhaven residents as to the appropriateness of the ducking of seaplanes in the proposed Fairhaven Marina. c) St. Joseph's Med Flight shall originate at the airport, their flights be limited to life threatening situations. The number of flights necessary should reflect the original agreed upon number of 12. A complete investigation into the finances of Med Flight is appropriate.
  11. AFFORDABLE HOUSING: It is imperative that the city administration, staff, developers and residents come to an agreement as to the definition of affordable housing, and then work in a cooperative manner to start implementing this concept.
  12. 2010 GROWTH STRATEGY: We fully support a "holistic" environmental ethic for our community. We will be involved with this process, but another entity other than the city should sponsor such an event; for example, Puget Sounders or some other non-profit organization. However, the aforementioned concerns cannot wait for this process to be completed and we urge you to mitigate these issues prior to committing to other matters.

Lastly we urge you to take a stronger leadership role in directing staff, dept heads, and council to respect and reflect current citizen attitudes concerning the quality of life as it is affected by planning, development, and environmental needs. We thank you for your time, and offer our help and support in achieving these important goals.

Respectfully,

[signed]
Cathy Beaty
SAMISH NEIGHBORHOOD		 [signed]
Leslie Richardson
ALABAMA NEIGHBORHOOD

cc.
Bill Geyer Parks Dept.
City Council Members
Public Works

Neighborhood Representatives

Dottie Ross
Jeff Feemster
Margot Terry
Nick Wizinsky
Marcus Fairbanks
Clarence Smith Jr.
Peter Willing
Susan Taylor & James Williams
Lyon Mulhauser & Richard Cooper
Theresa Smith
Michael Chiavario

John Blethen
Paul Schissler
Jim Humphrey
Al Gill
David Mason
Cindy Anderson
Joy Keenan
Lavonne Williams
Fred Miller