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Real Briefings

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

BEL-PRB-2024-09-11 September 11, 2024 Parks & Recreation Committee City of Bellingham
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The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board convened for a packed meeting featuring passionate public comment about cyclocross racing and lifeguard safety, updates on the Storybrook Park art selection process, and extensive budget discussions for 2025. The meeting's centerpiece was the selection of Holly Miller for a vacant board position from among five qualified candidates. Public commenters emphasized Bellingham's strong cycling culture and made urgent pleas for restoration of lifeguard services at Bloedel Donovan Park after none were stationed there this summer. Parks Director Nicole Oliver presented a comprehensive overview of proposed 2025 budget items totaling millions in new capital projects, while staff provided updates on the volunteer stewardship program and various ongoing park projects. The meeting highlighted ongoing tensions between recreational demand and operational capacity, particularly regarding special event permits for cyclocross races and staffing challenges for lifeguard positions. Board members grappled with balancing advocacy for cycling infrastructure against other community needs while addressing legitimate safety concerns raised by longtime community supporters who had donated significantly to park amenities.

**Board Member Selection:** Holly Miller was unanimously selected to fill the vacant Parks and Recreation Advisory Board position. Miller, a longtime Bellingham resident and trail safety advocate, was chosen from five candidates after brief presentations and board discussion. Her selection was based on her demonstrated community involveme…

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**Lifeguard Staffing Crisis:** Extensive discussion centered on the complete absence of lifeguards at Bloedel Donovan Park during summer 2024, despite community donations of $500,000 for dock restoration. Parks Director Nicole Oliver clarified this was not a budget issue but a staffing shortage due to uncompetitive wages. The department budgeted approximately $60,000 for lifeguards but couldn't attract qualified candidates at offered wage levels. A market study was conducted and pay reclassification occurred, but wages remain below market rate compared to private sector alternatives. **Cyclocross Event Permitting:** Discussion revealed th…
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**Brett Hartwood** (James Street resident): Advocated for continued city support of cyclocross events, emphasizing the sport's role in building community resilience and the importance of accessible, bike-friendly venues. Noted artificial caps on race participation due to space limitations. **Bill Vonzel** (Fairhaven resident): Supported cycling infrastructure, emphasizing how cycling events foster community connections and provide inclusive opportunities for residents without cars to participate. **Karina Cheever** (Sunnyland/Roosevelt neighborhood): Promoted women's participation in cyclocross through the Queens of Dirt team, highlighting the importance of accessible race locations and barrier reduction. Noted 42 women racers at last year's Cornwall race. **Spencer Cahill** (Sehome neighborhood): Requested improved bike safety infrastru…
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**Dr. Eddie Hanson, on lifeguard urgency:** "A wage issue can be managed by people. A death cannot. A drowning is not a comeback." **Bill Geyer, on community investment:** "School kids took quarters out of their pocket to donate to build the docks. Parents and grandparents wrote us checks, $5, $7, $8." **Karina Cheever, on accessibility:** "If you can bike to the start line, that's another barrier down, you can be there. They're familiar with that's another barrier down." **N…
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- Holly Miller onboarding process to be scheduled, likely combined with new Greenways member orientation - Maggie Kriger's board term expires in February 2025, creating another opening - Storybrook Park art semifinalists to present design concepts in 2025 - Civic field complex master planning public meeting scheduled for early Nov…

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After this meeting, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board gained a new member with demonstrated advocacy experience and community connections. The public gained clarity that lifeguard absence was a wage competitiveness issue rather than budget constraint, potentially shifting advocacy focus toward pay equity rather than …
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# A Morning of Civic Passion at the Parks Board The September 11, 2024 meeting of the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board began at 7:30 AM with a land acknowledgment recognizing the traditional territory of the Lummi people and other Coast Salish tribes. What followed was an unusually packed agenda featuring passionate public testimony, budget presentations, and board member selection—a full spectrum of local government in action. ## Cycling Community Makes Its Case The meeting opened with what felt like a cycling convention in city chambers. Three members of the local cycling community stepped forward to share their experiences and advocate for continued support of cycling events in Bellingham's parks. Brett Hartwood, a resident of the James Street neighborhood since 2006, delivered prepared remarks about the importance of cyclocross to his personal journey and the broader community. "Cyclocross is more than just a sport. It's a testament of resilience, camaraderie, and it brings together individuals from all walks of life, fostering a sense of unity," he said. Hartwood praised Bellingham's recognition as a gold bicycle-friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists—one of only two Washington State cities to earn this distinction. Hartwood spoke about the Cascade Cross cycling race held this past January at what appears to be a city park location, describing it as "a huge success" despite challenging conditions. The event was artificially capped at 100 participants due to limitations, with many more interested cyclists turned away. "We had to limit it to 100 drivers, which was a real bummer that we had to tell them they couldn't," he explained. Bill Vonzel, who moved to Bellingham around 2010, followed with personal testimony about how cycling and cyclocross events helped him find community in a new city. He described his first cyclocross race as "one of the wettest, muddiest arguably, most mountain bike races that we've ever seen," but emphasized how the community "fostered the desire to be resilient and really try to struggle and enjoy that struggle as a community." Karina Cheever brought a particularly compelling perspective as both a participant and advocate for women in cycling. She moved to Bellingham in 2007 and "never left because of how bikable the town is." Cheever is part of the Queens of Dirt bike team, a local all-women's group focused on getting more women to race. She described how intimidating cycling events can …
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### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met on September 11, 2024, to discuss budget proposals, park stewardship program updates, and select a new board member. The meeting featured extensive public comment about lifeguard services at Bloedel Donovan Park and cyclocross events in city parks. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRB):** A citizen volunteer board that advises the Parks and Recreation Department on policy matters and budget priorities. **Bloedel Donovan Park:** A popular waterfront park featuring swimming docks donated by community fundraising, which had no lifeguard services during summer 2024. **Greenways Levy:** A voter-approved funding source that supports park maintenance, improvements, and staff positions within the Parks Department. **Park Impact Fees (PIF):** Development fees paid by new construction projects that fund park improvements and expansions to serve growing populations. **Real Estate Excise Tax (REIT):** A tax on property sales that provides funding for capital infrastructure projects, including park improvements. **Park Steward Program:** A volunteer program allowing community members to adopt and maintain specific park areas or trails. **Cyclocross:** A form of bicycle racing that takes place in parks, requiring course setup with barriers and potential impacts to park grounds. **Storybrook Park:** A planned neighborhood park in the Birchwood area that will feature public art selected through a community jury process. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Nicole Oliver | Parks and Recreation Director | | Brett Hartwood | Cyclocross advocate and commun…
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Parks & Recreation Budget & Finance Public Safety Government Operations Bellingham Bay Rotary Parks Recreation Advisory Board Plastic Create Queens Of Dirt Bill Geyer Brian Henning Eddie Hanson Freya Brandenburg Holly Miller Jed Anderson Maggie Kriger Nicole Oliver Bloedel Donovan Park Board Appointments Budget Finance Cycling Infrastructure Cyclocross Lifeguard Safety Parks Recreation Storybrook Park Volunteer Stewardship