City of Bellingham officials are accepting applications for people to serve on the governing board for the Bellingham Public Development Authority. This newly created public corporation, approved by the Bellingham City Council last week, is expected to provide leadership and expertise to redevelopment on the waterfront, downtown and other city-owned real estate. Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike said he is looking for board members with finance, legal and real estate project management expertise who represent the community's vision for waterfront redevelopment.
Pike said he has received several applications already and expects more in the coming weeks. He expects to forward his selection of members to the City Council for confirmation in late June or early July. The deadline to apply for a position on the seven-member board is June 2, 2008.
The Bellingham Public Development Authority was formed to serve as the city's implementation entity for developing city-owned real estate, both city-wide and at the Waterfront District. The governing board will be responsible for hiring and directing professionals with the specialty skills necessary to achieve the city's vision for waterfront redevelopment and other development efforts.
Pike said he and the City Council expect the work of this public corporation will be consistent with the vision of the Waterfront Futures Group, as applicable, and with the financial, social and economic sustainability principles often referred to as the "triple bottom line."
Pike said the Waterfront District redevelopment will require an extended management effort on behalf of the City of Bellingham, estimated at several decades.
"As we envision it, the Public Development Authority will facilitate the launch of early Waterfront District redevelopment projects as well as long-term management and oversight for redevelopment efforts on behalf of the City," he said.
According to Pike, careful composition of the governing board is essential to its success. Pike expects to appoint board members who have expertise in finance, economic development, corporate management, real estate development, industrial development, law, technology and construction design and management. These skills are necessary to implement a project of this size, complexity and public/private nature, he said.
Other municipalities have used public development authorities successfully to manage large, complex projects by professionals independent of the city government, given the untraditional nature of such enterprises and the importance of responding to the unique needs of the private sector.
Information about the Bellingham Public Development Authority and an application for the board positions can be found below, or by contacting the Waterfront Redevelopment Office at (360) 778-8103.
Date Posted: May 14, 2008
