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Greenways Advisory Committee

BEL-GRN-2025-10-02 October 02, 2025 Committee Meeting City of Bellingham 39 min
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The Bellingham Greenways Advisory Committee convened virtually on October 2nd for a comprehensive review of environmental programs and budget allocations. The meeting featured three major presentations that highlighted both the city's water quality protection efforts and significant fiscal pressures facing the Parks Department. The committee received an extensive briefing on the Lake Whatcom Management Program, a multi-jurisdictional effort involving the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District to protect the region's primary drinking water source. Environmental Coordinator Sara Brooke Benjamin outlined the program's origins in the 1980s-1990s when water quality concerns first emerged, leading to a 1992 joint resolution establishing comprehensive watershed protection goals. The most significant discussion centered on the Parks Department's 2026 budget presentation by Director Nicole Oliver, revealing how the city is managing a $10 million general fund gap through strategic reallocation of resources. The department is transferring 4.21 FTEs from general fund to Greenways levy funding, bringing total Greenways-funded positions to 33.84 FTEs. This shift represents a philosophical change from earlier Greenways levies that deliberately avoided funding staff positions. The meeting concluded with feedback from committee members who attended a recent field trip to Bakerview Park, praising the site's potential and historical significance, including its connection to the historic Gold Rush Trail.

The committee approved the September meeting minutes by a vote of 5-0 with 1 abstention. This was the only formal vote taken during the meeting. Staff provided informational updates on several budget allocations including $1.5 million for skate park development (partial Greenways funding), $600,000 for Squalicum Creek Park field improvements, and $6 mill…

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**Lake Whatcom Watershed Management:** The committee explored the complex balance between water quality protection and recreational access on watershed properties. Sara Brooke Benjamin explained that the program prioritizes "protection over treatment," focusing on preventing contamination rather than filtering it later. Committee members questioned whether recreational easements could be established on acquired watershed lands, particularly for trail connections that would allow circumnavigation of Lake Whatcom. Staff noted this creates tension between conservation goals and public access, complicated by tribal usual and customary rights on reconveyed state lands. **Greenways Levy Philosophy:** Director Nicole Oliver's budget presentation sparked extensive discussion about …
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**Daniel Probst** (public commenter) thanked staff for including the Bellingham Mount Baker Trail in corridor mapping, noting a minor correction needed on the eastern route section but expressing satisfaction with the general corridor representation. **Zach Cook** advocated for recreational access on watershed properties, particularly trail connections between the Hertz Trail and Blue Canyon Road that would enable lake circumnavigation. He questioned the current prohibition on recreation given existing social trails on properties like Agate Bay Preserve. **N…
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**Sara Brooke Benjamin, on watershed protection priorities:** "It's a lower lift, to just have clean water to start with, and using natural systems to provide that ecosystem service." **Forrest Longman, on recreational access conflicts:** "Recreation is counter to the purpose of preserving these woods. So, that's one consideration. But we do have areas where, like you say, there's social trails on these." **Nicole Oliver, on budget philosophy:** "My number one philosophy was not to lose peop…
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October 17th: Potential Sunset Pond construction site visit (pending sufficient interest from committee members and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board). October 23rd, 5:30 PM: Public open house for Bakerview Park Master Plan at Valentine Covenant Church on East Baker View Road. November 6th: Next Greenways Advisory Committee meeting…

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The Parks Department officially shifted 4.21 FTEs from general fund to Greenways levy funding, representing a fundamental change in how the city finances parks operations. This increases Greenways-funded positions from 29.63 to 33.84 FTEs. The committee gained comprehensive understanding of Lake Whatcom watershed protection efforts and the complex jurisdictional arrangements involving city, county, and water district c…
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# Greenways Committee Navigates Budget Crisis Through Lake Whatcom Program Overview and Funding Shifts The City of Bellingham's Greenways Advisory Committee convened virtually on October 2, 2025, to address pressing budget realities and explore the intricate world of watershed protection. What emerged was a meeting that highlighted both the complexity of environmental stewardship and the creative financial maneuvering required to maintain essential park services during a municipal budget crisis. Chair Kelsey Wylie led the evening session, which drew a solid quorum despite the virtual format — a continuation of pandemic-era adaptations that proved necessary when meeting logistics required full Zoom participation. The committee included regulars Kathy Furtado, Derek Ormerod, Zach Cook, Sarah Gardner, and Neil Schaner, along with staff members Peter Gill from Parks and Nicole Oliver, the Parks Director. ## The Lake Whatcom Management Program Deep Dive The meeting's centerpiece was an educational presentation on the Lake Whatcom Management Program, delivered by Sara Brooke Benjamin, an environmental coordinator from Public Works Natural Resources Division. For many committee members, this marked their first comprehensive look at one of the region's most significant environmental protection efforts. "Lake Whatcom is a treasure worth protecting," Benjamin began, sharing a recently updated video that traced the program's origins to water quality concerns that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s. The program, formalized through a 1992 joint resolution, represents a multi-jurisdictional effort involving the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District. The scope of the challenge became clear as Benjamin explained the environmental transformation: "The loss of old-growth forests has weakened the protective barrier that prevents water and pollution from flowing into the lake. Extensive residential development over the past 60 years, particularly in the northern watershed, has further transformed the landscape." Zach Cook, who joined the committee just last year, pressed…
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### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Greenways Advisory Committee met virtually on October 2, 2025, focusing on three major topics: the Lake Whatcom Management Program, the 2026 Greenways budget adjustments due to city-wide budget challenges, and updates on the Bakerview Park field trip. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Lake Whatcom Management Program:** A multi-jurisdictional effort between the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District to protect water quality in the region's primary drinking water source through land acquisition, stormwater management, and habitat restoration. **Eutrophication:** A process where excessive phosphorus in Lake Whatcom promotes algae growth, which then decomposes and consumes oxygen needed for aquatic life. **303D List:** EPA's list of water bodies that fail to meet water quality standards. Lake Whatcom was added in 1998 for dissolved oxygen issues. **Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL):** EPA's 2016-approved cleanup plan setting limits on phosphorus and bacteria entering Lake Whatcom. **Watershed:** The 56-square-mile area that drains into Lake Whatcom, including forests and residential areas that affect water quality. **General Fund Gap:** The $10 million budget shortfall facing Bellingham in 2026, requiring layoffs and creative funding solutions. **1937 Union:** The city's largest union representing most operations staff, recently completing a market wage study. **Work Groups:** Parks Department organizational units created to better track spending and allocate Greenways funding more precisely. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kelsey Wylie | Committee Chair | | Peter Gill | Parks Planning Manager | | Sara Brooke Benjamin | Environmental Coordinator, Public Works | | Nicole Oliver | Parks Director | | Forrest Longman | Budget Manager, Mayor's Office | | Zach Cook | Committee Member | | Neil Schaner | Committee Member | | Kathy Furtado | Committee Memb…
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Budget & Finance Environmental Parks & Recreation Government Operations Americorps Lake Whatcom Water Sewer District Washington Conservation Crew Western Washington University Whatcom County Whatcom Land Trust Daniel Probst Derek Ormerod Forrest Longman Kathy Furtado Kelsey Wylie Neil Schaner Nicole Oliver Peter Gill Sara Brooke Benjamin Sarah Gardner Zach Cook Budget Finance Grant Funding Greenways Habitat Restoration Infrastructure Investment Lake Whatcom Watershed Land Acquisition Parks Recreation Recreational Access Stormwater Trails Urban Forestry Volunteer Programs Water Resources