# Greenways Committee Charts Course for 2025 Amid Record Spending Year The City of Bellingham's Greenways Advisory Committee convened on November 7, 2024, for what Chair Sarah called their "penultimate meeting of 2024" — a gathering marked by significant budget discussions, leadership transitions, and reflection on an unprecedented year of land acquisitions. ## Meeting Overview Eight committee members gathered in person at 7:00 PM, with City Parks staff including Peter [last name unclear from transcript] and Lane Potter providing updates on acquisitions and budget matters. The meeting followed a structured agenda covering membership renewals, 2025 planning, and concluded with an executive session to discuss a new property acquisition. The November session came at a pivotal moment for Bellingham's ambitious Greenways program. The city has spent $3.59 million on land acquisitions in 2024 — more than triple the typical annual spending of about $1 million. With another $4.8 million in properties currently under consideration, the committee found itself balancing unprecedented opportunities against the reality of finite resources. ## Record-Breaking Acquisition Spending The evening's most substantive discussion centered on acquisition spending that has reached historic levels. Peter presented a detailed spreadsheet showing four major closings in recent weeks: the Newland property at the end of Telegraph Road for $1.4 million, two Robinson properties (donated but valued), and the DNR property that closed November 5 for $2.19 million. "We purchased more in the last 2 years, more by acreage than ever before in that couple of years span of time," Peter explained to the committee. The spending surge has depleted reserves significantly. Lane Potter, another city staff member, noted that after completing current purchases in the pipeline, "we'll be down to a little bit under 1 million in our whole reserves for acquisitions." The committee operates with roughly $6.6 million in total funding — $3.3 million from the current year's Greenways levy allocation plus $3.5 million rolled over from previous years. The 2025 budget anticipates $5 million for acquisitions, assuming some rollover funds. Peter emphasized the strategic thinking behind the spending spree: "Next year, we're going to be super focused on what we can build and what we can plan for in the future and not buying property because we're basically buying it all this year." Lane Potter reinforced this message, explaining that 2025 would focus on "updating the parks, recreation and open space plan and get our operations and maintenance and stewardship teams time to catch up on the hundreds of acres we've purchased." ## Leadership Succession Questions The committee grappled with succession planning for 2025 officers, revealing the challenges many volunteer bodies face in cultivating leadership. Current Chair Sarah expressed willingness to continue but hoped others might step forward. "I would love it if someone else wants to step up," she told the group, acknowledging her busy schedule while remaining committed to the role if needed. Committee member Tina provided perhaps the evening's most colorful explanation for declining leadership roles: "I promised my husband I would not do any officer role at all — he saw what happened with Free Geek! I was the board chair for 5 years... it was 12 hours a week at least, and my husband said, promise me you won't do any officer position." The chair role requires a weekly 30-minute planning meeting on Wednesdays before the monthly gathering, plus meeting facilitation and note-taking responsibilities. As Sarah noted, "this isn't 12 hours a week. This is like 2 and a half hours a month." Jacob, one of the newer members, acknowledged his reluctance: "I don't wanna be chair," while others remained similarly hesitant about stepping into leadership roles. The formal leadership election will occur at December's meeting, following committee bylaws. ## Membership Renewals and Calendar Planning The committee unanimously approved reappointments for Sarah and Jacob, whose terms expire this month. Both indicated willingness to serve another term on the advisory body. For 2025 scheduling, the group decided to move their July 3 meeting to July 10 due to the proximity to Independence Day. This follows precedent from 2024 when they made a similar adjustment. Committee member Aaron noted the varied expiration dates across the membership, with some terms ending in 2025 and others in 2026. The staggered structure has evolved organically as members have left and been replaced at different times. ## Trail Standards and Equity Considerations The committee touched on two interconnected issues that will likely feature prominently in 2025 planning: developing more cost-effective trail standards and advancing geographic equity in acquisitions. Members recalled previous discussions about excessively high costs for trail development on some properties, leading to conversations about creating "more natural trail, natural Greenways" standards for low-use areas that would reduce both environmental impact and expenses. Sarah raised important questions about proactive acquisition strategies, particularly following the Diversity and Equity Subcommittee's findings that North End neighborhoods were underrepresented in access to trails and open space. "I wonder if the opposite is kind of in the works, too, where there's an awareness of what areas need to be better represented and how we might be... front loading that in our decision making," she said. Ray offered a practical suggestion for applying equity analysis: "When you are considering a purchase, do a what if and see if the purchase went ahead? What would that do to the data, to the calculations... and see if it's moving equity in the right direction." Peter acknowledged that recent acquisitions have actually addressed this concern: "Look at where all our trail projects are right now. We've got Stewart Road. We've got Bear Creek. We've got Jill's Court... They're all on the north side. So that is what we're focused on." ## Strategic Planning on the Horizon Multiple references throughout the meeting pointed to significant planning work ahead in 2025. The committee will engage with updates to both the Comprehensive Plan and the Greenways Strategic Plan, work that may require additional time commitments from members. Peter and committee member Dean are currently developing the Sandwich Crest Greenway Trail Master Plan, which they hope to present in draft form by December. They're navigating the delicate balance of technical planning work while ensuring appropriate public process through city channels. "We're trying to walk this fine line because it needs to be public process to it. But we're not the ones to do the public process," Peter explained. The plan will include acquisition targets, trailhead proposals, and extensive mapping. ## Property Matrix Development The discussion revealed ongoing work to develop a more systematic approach to evaluating potential acquisitions. Committee members referenced an "acquisition matrix" that would provide consistent criteria for assessing properties beyond simple availability and price. This systematic approach takes on added importance as the committee moves into a period of budget constraint. As the conversation highlighted, they're transitioning from an era of abundant acquisition opportunities to one requiring "particular scrutiny" of each potential purchase. Jacob reminded the group of their existing "properties of interest" map where committee members had previously identified potential acquisitions citywide. Staff noted this work had been presented to the City Council for approval, providing a foundation for future prioritization efforts. ## Routine Business and Updates The committee approved October meeting minutes unanimously and received several announcements. Whatcom County is hiring a senior planner for trail planning, working with Bennett Knox whom the committee knows from previous interactions. Upcoming volunteer work parties were announced for 100 Acre Wood and other locations, providing opportunities for hands-on involvement in land stewardship. The meeting included an update on the Civic Athletic Complex planning process, where over 100 people attended a recent open house reviewing four potential sites for future development. Lane Potter noted that staff are currently summarizing public feedback from these engagement sessions. ## Executive Session and Future Acquisitions The meeting concluded with a 32-minute executive session to discuss a property referred to only as "Property Number One." Upon returning to open session at 8:22 PM, the committee unanimously approved conducting due diligence on this unnamed acquisition. The brief post-executive session discussion was limited to the procedural vote, maintaining confidentiality around details of the potential purchase while advancing the evaluation process. ## Looking Ahead to December As the committee prepares for their final meeting of 2024, several major items await resolution. Officer elections will occur, potentially determining whether current leadership continues or new voices step forward. The Sandwich Crest trail planning work may be ready for presentation, and ongoing budget discussions will likely continue as the city finalizes 2025 spending plans. The December meeting will also provide opportunity to reflect on an extraordinary year of growth for Bellingham's Greenways program — a year that saw record acquisition spending and significant expansion of the city's trail and open space network, setting the stage for a 2025 focused on planning, development, and stewardship of these new community assets. The committee's work exemplifies the ongoing balance between seizing opportunities and maintaining long-term sustainability — challenges familiar to many communities investing in permanent land conservation while managing public resources responsibly.