Bellingham City Council Committee of the Whole

The Bellingham City Council Committee of the Whole convened for a single-item informational presentation demonstrating how to access the recently adopted Bellingham Plan and its related resources on the city's website. Chris Behey, Long Range Planning Manager, provided a comprehensive guided tour of the digital comprehensive plan, which was adopted in December 2025 following a two-plus year development process. The presentation focused entirely on navigation tools and accessibility features rather than policy content, emphasizing the plan's design as a "living document" intended for annual updates and digital-first usage. Key features demonstrated included interactive hyperlinks between related policies across chapters, an integrated GIS mapping tool for land use designations, a searchable policy database, and multiple format options including screen reader accessibility. The session concluded with brief questions about accessibility features before moving to an executive session on property acquisitions. No formal action was taken, as this was an informational presentation only.