Represents: 6th Ward
Term: Jan 2006 - Dec 2009
Bellingham City Council member Barbara Ryan is Chair of the Lake Whatcom Watershed Committee, a member of the Planning-Neighborhoods & Community Development Committee, the Parking-Capital Projects-Real Estate Committee, and the Public Works-Public Safety Committee. Council member Ryan also has other council assignments including serving on the Chamber of Commerce, the Open Space Committee, and the Whatcom Transportation Authority.
Council member Ryan was born in Tacoma, Washington and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She moved to the East Coast where she studied and worked for several years. She graduated with a degree in Public Communication from Boston University and worked as Communication Director for Boston University’s Institute for Responsive Education, the Lake Washington School District, and later Planned Parenthood of Delaware. Council member Ryan has always had a commitment to keeping the public informed, which has been instrumental in her success here in Bellingham. After receiving her Masters in Administration Council member Ryan decided to come back to the West Coast. She searched for an area with similar cultural opportunities as San Francisco without the excessive population. Moving to Bellingham was a very easy decision to make.
Council member Ryan became concerned with the direction the city was moving several years ago. She felt that the city needed to more effectively manage growth to protect the communities’ neighborhoods and environment. This concern motivated Council member Ryan to pursue a position on the council.
Her Priorities as a Council member Include:
Some of the projects that Council member Ryan is most proud of include chairing the Task Force on Communication in 1990 and co-chairing the Northsound the Connecting Communities Project. The former looked at ways that or city could improve communication with citizens and local organizations. It worked on the premise that in order for citizens and organizations to effectively get involved they must understand how their government operates. Many of the recommendations of the Task Force have become integrated into the way our city communicates. The latter is a composite of elected officials and planners from various Northwest Washington counties. It is interested in promoting more transportation choices such as rail, transit, and ferry to connect our region together.
Bellingham has been a perfect place for Council member Ryan. She loves art, music, hiking, the use of off-leash dog parks, and music. The Bellingham Festival of Music is one of her favorite events every year. For several years she has sung with the Festival Chorus. Council member Ryan’s current term ends in 2009.
Home
621 Canyon View Drive
Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: (360) 671-8376
Work
Waycross Investment Mgmt. Co.
1326 Commercial Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: (360) 671-0148
Fax: (360) 671-8936
