Actually, there are TWO citizen advisory boards.   Greenways  is tactical, and works from the system of priorities that are with the Greenways Strategic Plan.   The Park and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) is strategic and works from the system of priorities in the PRO plan (Parks, Recreation and Open Space).  Both should be used, respected, and provided with a deliberative process to assure that the Greenways Funds are used to benefit all the citizen’s of Bellingham.    

Advocates for a permanent heron reserve at Post Point have stepped back from recommending that the city use the Greenways program for the land acquisition up on Shorewood Drive.  It’s clearly not up to us to advise city government on how to fund anything.  We do believe, however, that the ball now lies in the court of City Council to take action to create the reserve through acquisition of ALL remaining undeveloped land on Shorewood Drive—land that has been sitting vacant for a very long time. 

We had been sending messages to Mayor Kelli but since she has indicated her support for the acquisition and heron reserve, the focus now shifts to council.  I’d be more than happy to provide council with information about the colony, the undeveloped plat, the history of this issue that’s been knocking around since at least 2003.  There is a lot of great data and scientific findings that were gathered for the hearing before the Hearing Examiner on the matter of the Critical Areas Permit.  I would like all this research to be part of the public record since the hearing was cancelled.  And I also urge council members to call upon the expertise and knowledge of the Great Blue Heron expert that has been contracted by the city since 2003 to monitor and report on the health of the colony.