Greenways and Parks board merger
City of BellinghamThe City is weighing merging the Greenways Advisory Committee and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board into one Parks, Recreation and Greenways Advisory Board. Next: the boards met Oct. 14; no result is posted yet. Check back for the result. A merger would need a Council ordinance.
What we get, the trade-off, what's next
What we get
The boards would become a single Parks, Recreation and Greenways Advisory Board, by ordinance (Cascadia Daily News). Today the Greenways committee (11 seats, 7 filled) advises on land, trails and how Greenways levy money is spent, and forwards its project recommendations through the Parks board (BMC 2.20.040). The Parks board (11 seats, 8 filled) advises on parks plans, programs and fees.
What it costs
Not stated in the record yet.
The trade-off
Not stated in the record yet.
Timeline
- Nov. 7, 2023Voters approve Greenways Levy 5, about $8.6 million a year, 2024 to 2033
- Oct. 14Boards meet to consider an ordinance merging them, 7:30 a.m.
- Nov. 4Parks board's next regular meeting
- Nov. 5Greenways committee's next regular meeting
- Not setCity Council ordinance
How to weigh in: The Oct. 14 meeting is at the Pacific Street Operations Center, Room 114, 2221 Pacific St. (entrance on Carolina St.), or online by Zoom; details on the City's events calendar. Board agendas are at meetings.cob.org.
The question: If the committee merges, which body would carry the levy's citizen oversight, and would members with Greenways experience keep seats?
Greenways Advisory Committee duties (BMC 2.20.040) · Greenways Levy 5 resolution · Greenways Advisory Committee page
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