Birchwood Neighborhood Association Meeting

Birchwood Elementary School     May 24, 2010     6:30-8:00 pm

Board Members in attendance:

Adrienne Battis, Pres.   John Coleman, V P.      Linda Long, Treas.      Dan Welch                              

Barb Campbell, Sec.    Becky Schlotterback            Andrew Davis

Welcome: Adrienne Battis, President, welcomed neighbors to the meeting.  Recognition was given to Little Caesar’s for donated pizzas.

Announcements: 

Picnic:  Adrienne Battis announced that the Annual Birchwood Neighborhood Picnic would be held on Sunday, August 1^st, from 4-6pm.  There will be food, games and neighborhood news.  Hamburgers and veggie burgers will be provided.  People are welcome to bring side dishes if they wish.  More information will be sent out by e-mail closer to the picnic date. 

Newsletter:  The Birchwood Newsletter is printed and is available in letterboxes around the neighborhood. 

Faith Lutheran Community Garden:  Andrew Davis announced that Faith Lutheran Church on McLeod and Northwest will be creating a community garden with raised-beds.  Neighbors who are interested in garden space should contact Sharon Swanson, pastor at Faith Lutheran. 

Urban Gardens

Dan Welch presented information supporting the development of urban gardens in Birchwood Neighborhood.  Our neighborhood’s large lots make it ideal for preserving of green space and creating garden opportunities for the residents.  Dan introduced several local groups that support the development of urban gardens:

1. Bellingham Food Bank:  Max Morange, Bellingham Food Bank manager, explained the various ways that the Food Bank uses local farming to support its clients.  The Food Bank has a 3-acre farm that produces food for the Food Bank.  It has also created raised bed-gardens for low-income families.  Small Potatoes is an organization that uses volunteers to glean local produce for the Food Bank.  If you have produce to be gleaned or would like to volunteer, contact Max Morange at the Food Bank.
2. B.U.G.S.  The Bellingham Urban Garden Syndicate started 6 month ago.  They are promoting urban food production by providing resources and education.  Various landowners have allowed this group to develop 9 garden plots.  Go to their website at www.bellinghamurbangardens.org to find out more about the group and classes they offer.
3. Homestead Habitats: This landscape design group, located on Cedarwood Ave. offers consultation, installation and education for an ecological approach to landscaping.  They were very active in the design of the Birchwood School garden. 
4. Whatcom School Garden Collective:  There are 11 schools that are members of this collective.  The member schools have access to a garden educator who will help them get the garden activities integrated into the school curriculum.    Shuksan Middle School garden stared in March 2010 and had a work party on April 17^th.  They have received a $5000 grant for native plants, which will be planted soon.  Starbucks has also contributed funds and volunteer hours to the project.  Many students work in the garden as part of the service-learning program.    Birchwood Elementary School garden is in its second year.  They also had a native plant grant and funds from Starbucks.  Lowe’s has provided a $5000 grant that the school plans to use for a tool shed and covered learning center.  Future projects include showcase gardens and garden visits.  Volunteers are needed to continue watering and maintaining the garden this summer.  If you are interested in becoming a “garden angel”, contact Kelly Morgan at Birchwood Elementary, kmorgan@bham.wednet.edu.
5. Backyard Beans and Grains:  Krista Rome, BBGP Director, explained the value of using seed that are grown in our own region.   She is able to provide seed kits and technical assistance for gardeners and farmers who wish to develop and share local seeds.  You can contact her at gardenmentors@yahoo.com.

The next general BNA meeting will be Tuesday, September 28^th. 

Birchwood Elementary School March 23, 2010 6:30-8:30 pm

Board Members in attendance:

John Coleman, V P., Barb Campbell, Sec., Linda Long, Treas., Sue DenAdel, Stephanie Twiford, Cari Duffy, Becky Schlotterback, Andrew Davis                                   

Welcome: John Coleman, BNA Vice President, welcomed neighbors to the meeting.  Recognition was given to Albertson’s for donated cookies and Little Caesar’s for donated pizzas.

Announcements: John Coleman announced the 3^rd Annual Birchwood Community Party to be held on March 30^th at Shuksan Middle School from 6-8 pm.  Proceeds from the event will be used for a college scholarship fund for local students.

Fireworks Regulation: Barb Campbell introduced Clay Butler, a Fairhaven neighbor who would like to see the city of Bellingham ban fireworks.  Clay has presented to all of the neighborhood associations in Bellingham.  He handed out information about current State, County, and City fireworks regulations.  Included was a spreadsheet listing cities that ban or regulate fireworks for all of the counties in Washington State.  Clay plans to ask the City Council to consider a ban on fireworks sometime in the future.  If neighbors have questions or wish to be involved in his campaign to change Bellingham’s fireworks regulations, they can contact Clay Butler via e-mail at butlers@Juno.com 

Bellingham Airport Plans: Stephanie Twiford introduced Art Choat, Aviation Director for Port of Bellingham. Art gave a presentation covering the history of development at Bellingham Airport from 1941 to the present.  Currently the airport handles over 300,000 passengers a year.  Allegiant Air has 44 flights per week.  Horizon, Alaska and Allegiant Air provide the commercial flights from Bellingham airport.  Allegiant Air offers the most flights per week (44).  Canadians make up 50-55% of the passengers using Bellingham Airport.

Art’s presentation also gave details on a large project to rehab the runway.  The project will cost 27 million dollars.  Work will start in April, with the majority of the work happening September 1^st  – 21^st when the Airport will be closed.

Art answered questions about the type of airplanes that use the Airport, the differences in noise levels of those planes, the type of planes that will be able to use the Airport after the runway rehab, the hours of flights, the flight paths of planes, and the limits to airport growth. 

Art also showed plans for a second project, the improvement and enlargement of the terminal, which will be done over the next 7 years.  The current terminal is operating at 300% of capacity.  The terminal project will cost 25 million dollars.

If neighbors have complaints about the Airport or specific aircraft, they should call 425-227-1999.  In order to follow up on airplane complaints, the tail number of the offending airplane is usually necessary. 

Bellingham Technical College Project: Debra Jones updated the Neighborhood on plans for construction of the Campus Center project.  Construction should start in April or May and continue into the fall.  Excel Pacific, a local contractor, will do the construction.  Some current parking lots around BTC may be disrupted by the project.  Additional parking will be built during the construction.  More information on the Campus Center is available in the following article: http://www.btc.ctc.edu/welcome/News/BBJ-StudentCenter.pdf

Linda Long noted that there is already a large amount of truck traffic through the Neighborhood, especially on Cedarwood Ave.  She asked that BTC have the contractor route the construction traffic down Bennett and Marine Drive to enter BTC in order to lessen the impact on the Neighborhood. 

The issue of speeding cars leaving and going to BTC was discussed.  It was suggested that signs be placed around the Neighborhood to remind drivers about the speed limits.   If BTC is able to make the signs, the neighbors will put them in their yards.

Problems with the intersection at Nome, Lindbergh, and Nequalicum were noted.  BTC cannot make any modifications to the intersection.  It is a Bellingham Public Works responsibility. 

Any questions about the BTC project can be forwarded to:

Debra Jones djones@btc.ctc.edu or Eve Magyar@btc.ctc.edu

Approximate attendance at the meeting:  35



 Birchwood Neighborhood Association Meeting

Birchwood Elementary School  January 26, 2010, 6:30-8:00pm

Board Members in attendance:

Adrienne Battis, Pres., Barbara Campbell, Sec. , Linda Long, Treas., Sue DenAdel, Rebecca Schlotterback, Stephanie Twiford, Dan Welch, Cameron Garcia, John Coleman                       

Welcome: Adrienne Battis, BNA President 

Announcements:  Adrienne Battis reminded people to fill out a membership form.  The donation is $15.  She also noted that BNA newsletters and announcements would be sent via e-mail.  Adrienne introduced Linda Stewart, City of Bellingham Neighborhood Services Coordinator.

Board Member Elections: Becky Schlotterback reviewed the requirements to be a Birchwood Neighborhood Association Board Member.   A person must live, have property, or have a business in the Birchwood neighborhood.   The term for a Board Member is 3 years.   At the time of the meeting, there were seven Board positions open.  Six nominees; Barb Campbell, John Coleman, Sue DenAdel, Rebecca Schlotterback, Stephanie Twiford, and Andrew Davis gave personal background information concerning their interest in the Neighborhood and Board.  Barb Campbell read an e-mail from the seventh nominee, Cari Duffy, since she was not able to attend the meeting due to illness.  It was moved, seconded, and passed that we accept the slate of seven nominees as new Board Members.  Officers for vacant positions will be elected at the next Board meeting on Feb. 22nd

Louise Bjornson Recognition:  Stephanie Twiford introduced our recently retired City Council person, Louise Bjornson.  Louise gave a quick review of her history working on the City Council for Bellingham.  She told us about the special things in Birchwood Neighborhood.  The City’s recycling program was started in our Neighborhood.  Louise was instrumental in preserving the 25mph speed limits on our neighborhood streets.  Louise brought a map showing the coalmine tunnels under Birchwood Neighborhood.  The mines closed in 1956.  Due the existence of the mine tunnels, the area just west of Northwest Ave. might need engineering investigation before heavy development.   Birchwood has been known for its good soil.  The big lots allowed for Victory Gardens during World War II. It is important that the Neighborhood work to conserve this good soil.  In earlier years, the Birchwood Neighborhood was known as a low crime area.  Over time there have been changes in the housing density in Birchwood.  In 1980, the apartment area zoning density increased.  Louise encouraged us to protect against major increases in the density of the Neighborhood.   She noted the recent development of parks in Birchwood.  The first park was on Maplewood Ave. by Shuksan Middle School.  Now we have parks on Cedarwood Ave. and Squalicum Parkway.  New parks are planned along Little Squalicum Creek and at the intersection of McLeod and Maplewood.  Louise noted that Birchwood still needs more parks and open space for the number of people in our neighborhood.  She asked that we watch as parks are developed to be sure they meet the neighborhood needs.  She said, “Great neighborhoods do not happen by accident”.

Councilman Jack Weiss  Jack thanked Louise Bjornson for her years of Council service.  Jack informed us about planned bus service reductions that would affect our Neighborhood.  The current plan calls for Routes 3 and 4 to be eliminated.  There will be no changes to the Green Go line.  There will be no Sunday bus service in the city.  There will be a ballot measure in April to increase the sales taxes by .2% to retain the current level of bus service. In answer to a question about the plans for the airport expansion, Jack said the City has little control over the airport.  The Port of Bellingham controls airport decisions. 

Social Time: People in attendance were given time to chat with Louise Bjornson, Jack Weiss, Board Members, and each other.  They were invited to enjoy cake and coffee in celebration of Louise Bjornson’s service to our Neighborhood and City. 

A special thanks to Little Caesars Pizza on Northwest for providing pizza for our meeting!

Approximate attendance: 35

Birchwood Elementary School, Tuesday, Nov. 17^th 200, 6:30-8:00pm

Welcome: Adrienne Battis, BNA President

Announcement:  Birchwood 5^th grade student, Sam Morgan, invited neighbors to participate in the Birchwood Elementary School Food Drive.  Drop off food during school hours through Nov. 25^th.  All food goes to the Lighthouse Mission.

Vision Committee: Becky Schlotterback described plans for the formation of a Vision Committee in early 2010.  This committee will thoroughly evaluate the information from our neighborhood survey.  That information will be used to guide future neighborhood decisions and plans.

Board Member Elections: Becky Schlotterback gave background on the re-formation of the Birchwood Board in 2005.  We will be holding an election for seven vacant Board positions at the  next Birchwood Neighborhood meeting on January 26^th, 2010.  To be a Board Member, you must live in the neighborhood or be a property owner or business owner in the neighborhood.  You must also be a member of the Birchwood Neighborhood Association.  Anyone interested in running for the Board should e-mail Barbara Campbell, campbell2920@comcast.net.  Please include your name and a few sentences about yourself and your neighborhood interests.   She will enter your name on the ballot for the January election. 

Bellingham Police Department:  Detective Allen Jensen, Bellingham Police Department, and Officer Kat Dearborn, Crime Prevention Officer, talked about their work on gang prevention in Bellingham.  There are six major gangs with approx. 600 members in Bellingham at this time.  There are four officers on the Neighborhood Anti-Crime unit that move from neighborhood to neighborhood as needed.  Call 911 when you see suspicious activity.  Call when you see graffiti.  This helps the Police determine what gangs are operating in our city.  

            Vehicle prowls and car fires have happened in the neighborhood.  Block Watch seems to cut this activity down a lot.  If you want to start a Block Watch, contact Kat Dearborn, kdearborn@cob.org. There must be 3 or 4 houses in a block with interested people in order to form a Block Watch.  One person needs to host meetings. 

            On the Bellingham Police Department website you can view crime statistics for all neighborhoods: www.cob.org/PIRCrimeStatistics/

Transportation Project  Ravyn Whitewolf, COB Public Works Engineering Manager, gave update on what is happening with Birchwood transportation improvement projects.

• A sidewalk will be constructed on Northwest under I-5 to connect with Bakerview. 
• Construction on a roundabout by I-5 at Jerry Chambers will start this fall.  Most work will be on storm drains, with more work to be done in Spring 2010.  The project should be finished in Summer 2010. 
• After completion of the roundabout north of I-5, work will start on the roundabout at Northwest and McLeod.  A roundabout will be put in that location because signals cannot be installed there due to potential of traffic back-ups on I-5.
• The crosswalk on Northwest at Albertson’s should be finished soon.  Public works is waiting for State to approve the signal light.
•  West Illinois extension is going out to bid soon.  Construction will start early next year.  
• Public Works was limited on determining the traffic access at Shuksan Middle School since it is reconstruction of a school and not a new school site.  The School District decided against access on to Northwest because it would dissect the play field area.
• Transportation project information is available on the City’s website.  www.cob.org/government/departments/pw/index-current.aspx

If you have questions about the transportation projects, contact Ravyn Whitewolf, rwhitewolf@cob.org or call 778-7900.

Kulshan Community Land Trust Affordable Housing Project  Paul Schissler gave information on how the KCLT helps people become homeowners by providing affordable housing.  KCLT also helps people afford land for farming, as well as providing classes for people who want to be 1^st time homeowners.  For more information about the KCLT, visit their website: www.KulshanCLT.org

Paul briefly described a potential KCLT affordable housing project in Birchwood neighborhood.  The area under consideration is between W. Indiana and W. Illinois between Madrona and Lafayette streets.  The KCLT invites anyone interested in more information on the possible project to a meeting at Bellingham Technical College, Building G, Room A-B on December 8^th, at 7:00pm. 

Birchwood Toy Store:  There will be an opportunity for families in need to buy very affordable new toys (75% off the original cost) at the Birchwood Toy Store.  The Toy Store will be in the Birchwood Elementary cafeteria on Friday, Dec. 11^th from 6-9 pm and Sat. Dec. 12^th from 9asm-12pm.  If you are interested in making donations of toys or your time, contact Cameron Garcia at cameron@mybirchwood.org or visit the Toy Store website: www.communitytoystore.org.

Birchwood Honorees:  Adrienne Battis noted that several Birchwood residents were being honored for their contribution to our City:

• Iris Maute-Gibson and Sarah Twiford, Bellingham High School students, for their work to preserve the Shuksan Middle School student made mural. 
• Dave Adams, Birchwood President and Kelly Morgan, 1^st grade teacher at Birchwood, for their work creating the Birchwood School Community garden. 

A special thanks to Little Caesars Pizza on Northwest for providing pizza for out meeting!

Meeting Attendance: approx. 40

Board Members in attendance:

Adrienne Battis, Pres.                  Barbara Campbell, Sec.     Linda Long, Treas.    

Sue DenAdel                            Rebecca Schlotterback            Stephanie Twiford      

Dan Welch                               Cameron Garcia                     Laurie Saling 

Neighborhood contact information: 

Birchwood Neighborhood website:  www.birchwoodneighborhood.org

Barbara Campbell, BNA Secretary:  campbell2920@comcast.net

Birchwood Neighborhood Association General Meeting

Tues., Sept. 29, 2009    Birchwood Elementary School   6:30-8:00pm

Little Squalicum Creek Park Master Plan:  Dan Welch presented the city’s work on the Master Plan for Little Squalicum Park.  He explained the features of the proposed parks, presented overview maps and answered questions.  The last public input meeting is in November 12^th, 7pm in the Fireplace Room at 625 Halleck St. 

Birchwood Neighborhood Plan:  John Coleman discussed the type of changes made in our Neighborhood Plan.  The City Council accepted our revised plan at their Sept. 14^th meeting. 

Birchwood Survey Results:  Rebecca Schlotterback discussed the survey results from the random sample mailing using a PowerPoint presentation and summary sheet.  Neighbors can still take the survey through December by going to the Association website www.birchwoodneighborhood.org or calling Barb Campbell, Secretary, at 676-1390.  The survey results will be used in making decision concerning the future of the neighborhood.  

Birchwood Victory Garden:  A garden committee representative discussed the progress made on the Birchwood Elementary School garden.  The school has taken over the development of the garden and is excited about integrating it into the curriculum. 

Birchwood Newsletter Distribution:  Cameron Garcia noted that the Birchwood newsletter is now available in flyer boxes around the neighborhood as well as at local businesses. 

Open Discussion: A school board candidate outlined his opinions on schools.