Bellingham City Council approved a 10-year levy proposal on Monday, March 6 that would collect an estimated $44 million. To meet the legal deadline for placement on the May 16 ballot as initially expected, however, a Council majority must take a final vote by Monday, March 13. Council and community members are divided on particular points in the proposal and Monday's measure passed by a slim majority. The future of Chuckanut Ridge remains a point of contention among Council members and Bellingham residents, whose opinions have been gathered in a number of ways during the past year.
Results of a survey gauging citizen interests in parks, trails and open space conducted in early February were presented to the Bellingham City Council on Monday, Feb. 27. This information, coupled with public hearings and extensive work with citizens’ groups, is helping city Council members decide what to include in a Greenways levy proposal. Survey results provided city officials with useful information about Greenways levy length and amount. However, the results indicate the community is divided over a few key points, such as where property acquisitions should be made.
The survey was conducted and analyzed by an independent social science research firm. Survey questions, including those solicited from stakeholder groups, were used to collect opinions from area citizens via telephone and the Internet about Greenways in general as well as the importance of particular parks and trails and specific proposed levy elements.
The telephone survey polled 400 randomly-selected Bellingham registered voters. The telephone survey results are considered representative of voter opinions throughout Bellingham, with less than a five-percent margin of error. The website survey, which drew 902 responses, paralleled the telephone survey. Because people self-selected to participate in the on-line survey, the results are not considered scientifically accurate, though they were somewhat similar to the telephone survey results.
City of Bellingham Greenways Survey, February 2006:
Posted: March 9, 2006
