Successful regional planning begins and ends with citizen participation. Bellingham’s Community Forum was led by a Mayor-appointed steering committee charged to develop recommendations that reflect the values of Bellingham and Whatcom County citizens.
How to accomplish this? For instance, the process:
- Engaged steering committee members with a wide range of backgrounds and affiliations, including neighborhoods, elected leaders, and affordable housing experts
- Developed a diverse “delegate list” of over 500 residents
- Garnered local television and newspaper coverage
- Invited participation through ads in local papers
- Taped and broadcast features on Cable TV-10
- Established a downtown forum headquarters as a resource and to inform passers-by
- Scheduled presentations, taking discussions directly to neighborhood meetings and civic events
- Initiated a "Visual Survey" by residents - images taken showing the best (and worst) of urban design for Bellingham
- Surveyed residents at area stores, parks, and public places
- Posted web pages (these and the City of Bellingham's) to inform citizens
- Hosted four public meetings, featuring lectures, open-house booths, charrette exercises, policy forums and more!
