BOARD MINUTE SUMMARIES 2020

General notes

 

• Jane Campbell started the Zoom meeting at 6:35 pm.

• President’s Report – Jane Campbell

o Various ways for neighbors to volunteer with neighborhood Association

o Still have positions open on the board.

o The subcommittees have openings. 

o Need people to adopt sandwich boards used to notify people of our meetings.

o Need grant writer to develop grants to raise money for the association.

• Mayor Neighborhood Advisory Commission (MNAC) – Tara S

o Meets monthly to hear concerns of the neighborhoods.

o Attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Public Operations Center.

o Announced that the next funding cycle is open for Small & Simple Grants. KMNA received a grant in the 2020-21 cycle.

o KMNA is depended on grants and donations for its funding.

o Next development area is a 4-story/48 unit housing complex on Telegraph Road where the storage units are and next to the Habitat for Humanity housing.

• School – Hannah Jones

o Design concept for Elementary School #15 is done. Bellingham School District is talking to the contractors. 

o Bellingham School District is targeting completion in Fall 2025.

o There is still time to express your concerns about the school, for example, about traffic or noise. Please send your concerns and questions to Hannah at HannahJones@johnlscott.com.

• Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces (PROS) – Elizabeth Chace

o Work on the Van Wyck Community Garden is proceeding. The multi-modal path to Van Wyck Park from Kellogg is due by the end of 2023. Work has begun on laying out the gardening plots, driveway access, and parking for the Van Wyck Community Garden. It doesn’t look like the plots will be open for this summer’s growing season though.

• Treasurer’s Report – Rick Pannemann

o Rick extended a hearty thanks to our prior treasurer, Cheryl Kelly. He thanked her for years of service and dedication.

o Current bank account balance is $88.34. 

o Ongoing expenditures include the website and email communication ($130), the nonprofit annual report required by the state ($20).

o All reimbursements require a receipt.

o KMNA does not have a Zoom account and would like sufficient funds to be pay for one annually rather than relying on board member’s personal accounts. 

o Future funding is a concern. People can donate to KMNA by using the Donate button on the website. Donations are received through PayPal.

o Potential fundraising ideas could include a chili cook off contest. COB has a block party trailer that can be reserved that has chairs, tables and other supplies. https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/block-party-trailer-guide.pdf

• Guest Speaker – Blake Lyon, Director, COB Planning & Community Development Department

o Has been with the city for about a year.

o Spoke on how the city develops land use plans. City is in the process of developing the 2025 comprehensive plan required by the state. This plan will help create the priorities, values and visions for the development of the city. The report is due in mid 2025. The city will be opening up avenues for citizens to comment during this next year.

o COB has a development dashboard (arcgis.com) that is close to real time for development projects in pre-application and application stages throughout the city. The dashboard (need link)

o Blake’s presentation is available on our website (need link)

o Blake’s contact information is bglyon@cob.org and (360) 778-8300.

• Guest Speaker – Analiese Burns, Manager, Habitat and Restoration, Public Works Natural Resources

o Focus is the Urban Forestry Plan and the restoration of valued trees and forest. Bellingham has been recognized as a Tree City USA Community and planted over 7,000 trees last year. But there is a need for a strategic plan to oversee and manage the tree canopy. For more information, see https://cob.org/services/planning/environmental/ufmp

o Analiese’s presentation is available on our website (need link)

o Analiese’s contact information is acburns@cob.org and (360) 778-7968.

• Question and Answers

o To register complaints, requests for repairs, etc., with the city, use the See-Click-Fix app that is available for both Apple and Android phones.

o The next phase of bike lane for James is due for completion in 2025. The funding is available, 

o For those concerned about failing septic systems on McLeod, Blake said the city was unaware of any failing systems. However for those on the east end of McLeod, a gravity-feed drain could be installed at the cost of the homeowners. For the east end of McLeod, a gravity system is not feasible and will require a pumping system. This will also have to be paid for by the affected homeowners. Blake urged the homeowners to contact the city’s Public Works Department

• Next board meeting is TBD

• Next general meeting is May 8th, 2023

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Action Item

Owner

Notes

Date Completed/Resolution

• Create survey to gauge neighborhood members concerns about Elementary School #15

Hannah

Waiting on Bellingham School District for feedback.

 

• Need neighborhood member to take ownership of sandwich boards. The boards are used to announce our meetings. You would be responsible for writing the information about the upcoming meeting, setting the sign out a couple of days before the meeting, and storing the sign between meetings.

Jane

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• Need neighborhood members to volunteer to be board members.

Jane

(list responsibilities of board members)

 

• Need grant writer to help draft Small & Simple Grants to be submitted to the City of Bellingham for funds

Rick

$500 is available from the COB as a grant. We must apply to get it.

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