City launches public engagement website to get feedback on these issues
Bellingham residents can now share input with the city on a new public engagement website launched Friday, July 31.
The website, Engage Bellingham, allows people to offer feedback on city projects and policies, according to a news release. For some topics this feedback can manifest through comments, quick polls, surveys and discussion boards.
The city created the website, engagebellingham.org, amid the coronavirus pandemic to enable public engagement without in-person meetings, said Bellingham Planning and Community Development Department Director Rick Sepler in the release.
“Meaningful engagement with stakeholders is important to city decision making,” Sepler said. “Restrictions on in-person gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 mean we cannot engage with our community in our typical ways.”
Three projects are currently listed on the site for public feedback. First, the Multi-Family Zoning project aims to change land use codes and neighborhood plans to enable higher density housing in the city.
Second, the Bellingham Climate Action project is soliciting ideas for a plan to implement strategies that would reduce the impact of the city on the climate. Lastly, the Family Definition project is requesting feedback on how to update the current family definition in the city municipal code.
The city subscribed to a platform from Bang at the Table, a company dedicated to digital public participation, to create the site. The move follows similar actions by city governments in Olympia, Sammamish and Vancouver to utilize this platform, the release read.
The site replaces open houses, focus groups, public meetings and other in-person meetings for city projects that are not legally required, according to the release.
It does not replace mandatory meetings conducted virtually such as Planning Commission and City Council meetings, public hearings and neighborhood meetings for planning permits.
Anyone can visit the website but registration is required before giving feedback. New registrants only have to provide an email address and consider answering some demographic questions, the release read.
Once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, the city intends to continue using the site to supplement in-person meetings, according to the release.
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